Its happening again but this time with yonko title.
Oda wasn't joking after all. He was just stating facts when he compared Zoro to Big Mom, Kaido, and Onigashima the island of the strongest.
when Luffy was just starting his career as a pirate everyone
"Roronoa must be the real captain using luffy and co to keep a low profil" 2 years later after luffy beat crocodile, lucci, doflamingo, Moria , kaido and become more famous
"He is this strong and he arent the captain? he is very humble or he murst be the real deal".
Oda about to do same with yonko title kinda like he did with mihawk in 1058 stating he is just not interested in the title by having Lucci wonder why Zoro isnt the emperor, same lucci who prior denied Luffy as a yonko yet think highly of the admiral like
@Topi Jerami stated so Lucci isnt a biased powerscaller. He can recongnize real yonko and admiral when he see one.
The fact that he acknowledges Kizaru this chapter tells, Lucci is not just an arrogant, delusional, denial moron. He will acknowledge those who deserves it. It is coming, not the first time anyway people questioning Luffy and wondering why Zoro isn't the Captain.
Like I have say next chapters will be interesting.
So many things that need to be done
-Make Lucci aknowledge the crew as emperor level
-possible clash vs lightsaber kizaru
-Take care of the upcoming marines
-since Luffy cant solo two top tier yet, he will be left weakened after Kizaru so Zoro get to save his captain from a superior foe again this arc.