One Piece: Conquering Wanokuni at Start

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The moonlight was faint, and the stars scattered sparingly in the sky above the flying kingdom of lights.

Having returned to Flower Capital, Alex quickly resumed his usual extravagant and carefree lifestyle.

Biting into the kebabs Nami handed him, he didn't have to wait long before Carina poured him a glass of wine. Alex took a sip, savoring the flavors of the grilled meat and rich wine, and let out a satisfied sigh.

"Ah, nothing beats days like this," he said contentedly.

Toki, smiling gently, prepared more of Alex's favorite dishes and fed them to him herself. Naturally, she didn't hold back, slipping a few bites into her own mouth as she worked. Seeing her roll her charming eyes but continue to fuss over him, Alex couldn't help but laugh.

Eighteen years had passed, transforming time, tides, and fortunes, shaping Alex into the commanding figure he was now. The thought of how the ghosts of Wano would react to this sight in two years filled him with anticipation.

"Speaking of which," Gion remarked from a nearby table, her tone serious, "there are only two years left before the decisive battle you plan to start after the Summit War. Are two years… enough?"

Despite the brighter and more comfortable life she had found with Alex, Gion hadn't forgotten her original purpose and the promise that tied her to this path. As someone who had come to rely on and care deeply for Alex, she couldn't help but worry about his plans.

"For now, we've laid down a solid foundation of trump cards," Alex replied from his seat at the head of the table. "But you're right, Gion. The more cards we have to play, the better—especially for a decisive battle of this scale."

He tapped his fingers against the table rhythmically, deep in thought.

The ultimate legion of awakened Devil Fruit users, his world-shattering techniques, Carina's influence as a world-famous singer, the Shadow Guard embedded within the Celestial Dragons' forces, and the Anti-beast Bomb created through SMILE fruits—all of these were key assets.

On top of that, he had two "temporary" allies, the Revolutionary Army and Kaido. Not to mention Shirahoshi, who had already learned to wield Poseidon's ancient power, and the legendary battleship, Pluton.

With all this, even against the colossal might of the World Government, a victory wasn't out of reach.

However, one factor remained uncertain: Im, ruler of the world, and the mysterious national treasure of the Celestial Dragons. Alex also wondered if this treasure was connected to Uranus.

Breaking his train of thought, Alex turned to the group. "Zou. Do any of you know about it?"

Robin answered, "The country on the back of the giant elephant?"

She explained further. "It's a land atop an elephant thousands of meters tall. Zou's forests, rivers, and the unique civilization of the Mink Tribe make it an extraordinary place."

Alex nodded. "At the top of Zou, in the Whale Tree, lies one of the Road Poneglyphs. Arrange for someone to retrieve it."

His words took the group by surprise. Over the years, it was rare for Alex to take the initiative to collect the Road Poneglyphs, so this sudden interest was unexpected.

"Understood," Robin said, her expression calm but curious. She mentally noted the task, planning to send word once the banquet ended.

"Speaking of which," Gion said, leaning forward slightly, "do you know the location of the fourth Road Poneglyph?"

Her question was filled with intrigue. To her, Alex's sudden focus on the Poneglyphs likely had something to do with gathering the complete information needed to reach Raftel.

According to Whitebeard's words, even the great treasure of Raftel might not necessarily serve as Alex's ultimate trump card.

Alex noticed how Gion's thoughts seemed to differ from his own, but he chose not to delve into her mind. He rarely relied on such invasive methods when it came to his retainers.

"If I'm not mistaken, the location of the final Road Poneglyph leading to Raftel is likely at Elbaf."

"Elbaf?!"

The name caused a ripple of reactions among everyone present. None of them were strangers to the legendary land of giants.

Particularly Pudding, whose eyes flickered with emotion. She had once been sent to that very country under Alex's direction, helping her sister.

Through marriage, and the fact that Alex killed Big Mom, the Sky Kingdom and Elbaf had quietly established amicable ties.

"Should we send someone to retrieve it? Or should Lola take charge?" Robin inquired.

Before anyone could respond, Yamato, who had been quietly eating, lit up with excitement. With his mouth still full, he tried to speak but ended up swallowing hastily. Thumping his chest, he declared eagerly, "Let me go! I've never been to Elbaf!"

The thought of visiting the land of giants filled Yamato with childlike excitement, fueled by the fairy tales he had adored since he was young.

"Now that you mention it... I kind of want to go, too," Mihawk interjected, his sudden interest startling everyone at the table.

Even the typically nonchalant banquet-goers paused in surprise, turning their attention to him. Noticing their reactions, Mihawk added with a casual tone, "I'd like to see the techniques of the giants."

His words sparked curiosity in Zoro as well, who couldn't help but perk up at the idea.

"Being proactive is admirable," Lafitte commented, "but we must remember that Alex's theory is still speculative. The location of the Poneglyph hasn't been confirmed yet."

"True," Alex agreed. "But speculation requires elimination to uncover the truth. That said, I'm somewhat concerned about the ones volunteering for the task."

Alex's gaze shifted between those eager to go, finally landing on Robin. "If anyone goes to Elbaf, Robin will need to take charge."

Robin smiled playfully, giving a small wink. As someone who mostly handled strategic matters, field assignments were a rarity for her, but if it was Alex's request, she was more than willing.

"However, there's no rush for this just yet," Alex added. "Robin, you may already have too much on your plate in the coming months."

The aftermath of the Summit War was bound to attract attention from numerous opportunists, all eyeing Alex's arsenal of weapons and Big Mom legion.