One Piece: Conquering Wanokuni at Start

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The plan began to take shape methodically.

A large portion of the giant pure gold—several times larger than ten colossal ships combined—had been divided into smaller pieces per Alex's instructions.

These pieces were crafted into ornaments, each made of pure gold, capable of drastically slowing the loss of vitality and extending the wearer's lifespan.

Upon their return to Wanokuni, Alex showed no intention of hoarding the pure gold for himself. Instead, he distributed the jewelry among his trusted retainers and subordinates.

The purpose was twofold: first, to solidify their loyalty to him, and second, to extend the longevity of those whose strength and service he deemed invaluable.

The one who benefited the most is Mansherry. Her most advanced ability came at the severe cost of reducing her lifespan. However, under the influence of a pure gold ring, the toll on her life force was reduced to a mere fraction of its previous cost, effectively negating its side effects.

This is how terrifying the impact of a pure gold ring is.

Six months later.

Not long after Alex's return with the pure gold, Gion finally returned home alongside Baccarat, after a long journey to acquire a new Devil Fruit.

Compared to obtaining pure gold, the search for a specific Devil Fruit that matched Gion's needs had proven far more labor-intensive.

As Baccarat nestled into Alex's arms, she sighed, her tone of playful complaint. She explained how their journey had taken them from the New World, across various seas, and even through five towns where they absorbed "luck supplements" from the locals to fuel their quest.

Ultimately, their search led them to a remote island in West Blue, where they secured a Paramecia-type fruit: the Swish-Swish Fruit.

The name was as straightforward as its ability: the user could manipulate acceleration. This power allowed the user to accelerate themselves, their movements, slashes, reactions, or objects they came into contact with. Upon awakening, its effects could even extend to accelerating surrounding objects and the environment.

Of course, it had its limits.

The degree of acceleration depended on the user's physical condition. The faster the speed, the greater the strain on the body. Exceeding the user's physical limits could result in exhaustion, injuries, and even a reduction in lifespan.

But even so, the power of this fruit is beyond doubt.

In the hands of "Momousagi" Gion, it goes without saying how much the improvement will be.

As Alex observed Gion's demonstration, a thought crossed his mind.

'Time itself may begin to speed up.'

While the Swish-Swish Fruit's powers revolved around the physical concept of speed, Alex couldn't help but imagine its potential if developed into a higher-order ability. If it could one day affect the flow of time, the surrounding environment, or even conceptual acceleration, the fruit's true capabilities would be heaven-defying. (T/N: Finally. the word has come)

Alex watched as Gion finally ceased her display. The countless phantoms created by her blinding speed gradually coalesced.

"Based on this," Alex remarked with a knowing smile, "it seems you'll also need to work on increasing your physical endurance."

Gion nodded, brushing a strand of hair aside as her breathing steadied. "True enough," she replied.

Gion flexed her arm, feeling the familiar flow of her newfound ability. In the days leading up to her return to Wanokuni, she had already begun adapting to its powers. She now understood the direction she needed to pursue.

As Alex had advised, achieving the next stage of awakening would require pushing her body to its limits and breaking through the constraints of acceleration.

"Still, even if my acceleration isn't as overwhelming as your hundredfold gains, it's not far off."

Gion knew well that the difference between their abilities was vast, but the thought of fighting against Alex was tempting. Perhaps in the future, when her strength grew, she would face him more seriously.

For now, however, her thoughts turned to Mihawk. Against him, her ability to manipulate acceleration could help her hold an edge in battle.

Even Koshiro, would find it difficult to claim a victory over her with such an ability in play.

The power of a Devil Fruit, however, is always influenced by the wielder. The weak will only scratch the surface of its potential, while the strong could unlock its full force.

Despite Gion's tall and slender appearance, her rise to Vice Admiral is not solely due to her superb swordsmanship but also because of the strength in her body.

A master of Life Return and Marine Six Styles, her physique was honed to perfection, belying her graceful appearance.

Her newfound power did not go unnoticed, especially by Hancock.

The Pirate Empress, couldn't help but turn her attention toward Baccarat, who had only just returned from her journey.

It wasn't out of envy for Baccarat's ability; Hancock held full confidence in her own strength and had never concerned herself with such trivialities. Her thoughts were focused elsewhere—on finding treasures that would bring Alex even greater happiness.

One treasure in particular occupied her mind: the Dark-Dark Fruit.

For Baccarat, who had only just returned after months at sea, Hancock's sudden interest was not appealing. Baccarat had embraced her role as a retainer and member of the Royal Court, but she still wanted a moment of peace.

Having spent over half a year traveling with Gion, absorbing luck from countless towns, and enduring grueling journeys, she was eager for a chance to relax and enjoy Wanokuni.

Yet, she also knew better than to openly defy someone like Hancock, the Nine Snake Empress who had risen to even greater fame after the last year's Fire Festival.

Caught between her desire to rest and Hancock's insistence, Baccarat sought a compromise. With the help of Toki, she approached Alex to explain her situation.

As Baccarat spoke, Alex listened with a smile. He wasn't surprised that she didn't want to follow Hancock's demands right away.

Unlike Baccarat, who sought to please others, Hancock had little regard for others' opinions or concerns. She pursued her goals with unwavering confidence, focused solely on Alex's happiness.

Even so, Alex respected Baccarat's position. Now a retainer and a valued member of his court, she had proven her loyalty and usefulness. Alex wasn't the type to exploit his subordinates' abilities needlessly.

After instructing Robin to mediate the situation and explain things to Hancock, Alex couldn't help thinking.

With Gion's acquisition of the Swish-Swish Fruit, he considered how far his forces had come, particularly with Hancock and Yamato.

Wanokuni, transformed over nearly eight years of steady progress, had grown into a formidable nation. Its military might, core combat forces, weapons technology, medical advancements, and energy resources had all been significantly enhanced.

The foundation was solid.

From this vantage, the time to take the next step was clear. The goal of fully annexing Totto Land and its sprawling territories, ruled by the Big Mom Pirates, could finally begin.

Alex's gaze sharpened as he contemplated the vast possibilities of the New World.

After all, compared to the treasure he luckily found, Alex is now looking forward to take a part of the "cake" of the New World.