Wright stroked his chin and asked,
"So, everything I know, you know too?"
"No…"
The "Wright" in front of him shook his head.
"There's no way something that overpowered could exist."
"Hmm? It's not like that?"
"Not exactly… I still retain basic instincts and combat techniques, but beyond that, I only know the things that the original you was most emotionally attached to at the time I was created."
"For example, since I was created based on your recent state as a 'coordinate,' my combat techniques are the same as yours."
"I recognize people like Tanuki too, and even my thought patterns are preserved to some extent—but if you asked me what you had for breakfast yesterday, I wouldn't have a clue."
"Also, if there were secrets the original deliberately kept hidden, I wouldn't know them either."
"Hmm... that's a bit disappointing."
Wright frowned.
"I was thinking maybe I could copy Doflamingo or one of the Gorosei and force them to spill the secrets of the Celestial Dragons' treasure..."
"Looks like that's not happening."
"Of course it's not,"
"After all, the reason I can even talk with you like this is because 'I' am you. No one knows you better than yourself. That's why my mind is complete, my reasoning intact, and I can hold a proper conversation with you."
The duplicate "Wright" shook his head and said helplessly,
"If it were just someone you fought or met once, the duplicate would inherit only a fragment of their consciousness—and even fewer memories or attachments."
"As for combat techniques and abilities, those are rooted in instinct."
"I see... so by that logic, Nico Robin's archaeological knowledge must also exist as an instinctive skill in her, right?
"Or maybe, Redfield didn't even realize that the Robin duplicate's archaeological knowledge was incomplete?"
Wright slowly nodded.
"Exactly. The limitations on duplicating intelligent beings are too many… even so, this ability is insanely overpowered."
"But changing the terrain—that part is seriously useful."
"Right? You could create an oasis in a desert, an ocean in a forest, or even build structures out of thin air... tsk tsk..."
"Wright" clicked his tongue in admiration, then his expression turned a bit odd.
"Still... it's a little weird talking to yourself like this. Luckily, the Leaf has a time limit... probably just a few hours before I dissipate."
"There's a time limit too?"
Wright didn't mind. After all, the Transfiguration Leaf was meant to be a consumable.
"Alright then. Come spar with me a bit. Since you're here, might as well put you to good use, right?"
"…Hey! Sparring is fine, but don't go too hard, or I'll disappear!"
"..."
Pato could only gape at the two Wrights having a full conversation, clarifying things even he hadn't fully understood...
"Fleet Admiral-sama's Observation Haki is just as terrifying as the boss's!"
"So that's how the creatures from Transfiguration Leaves work? I had no idea…"
"Am I... am I a fake ability user, tanuki?"
...
Meanwhile, still in Dressrosa—
This country, positioned so well in the New World, remained one of the few great nations in its front territories.
Since Doflamingo's downfall, more than half a year had passed. Under the efforts of the Riku Royal Family, the nation had mostly regained its order and was gradually recovering.
Dressrosa harbored a deep hatred toward pirates—almost to the point of blind hostility.
Years of Doflamingo's pirate rule had nearly turned Dressrosa into a pirate nation itself. Its citizens now despised pirates with a passion.
And it was on the deck of the Sunny that the Straw Hat Pirates lay, nursing their wounds after barely escaping Dressrosa.
"Hey~ listen, Dressrosa just got out of pirate rule, and right now the Navy's reputation is at an all-time high!"
Nami said weakly,
"We were just out shopping peacefully… until you had to start trouble again, Luffy!"
"We agreed to stay undercover—you just went around loudly announcing you're pirates! Of course they'd want to kick us out!"
A thoroughly battered Luffy, sporting a head full of lumps, stubbornly argued:
"But... but we are pirates!"
"You idiot! You were supposed to hide that fact!"
Nami roared.
Chopper angrily applied ointment to Luffy's bruises—nobody knew exactly how Nami had managed to beat up a rubber man so badly.
"We didn't even finish resupplying!"
"Tch… no surprise there. The Navy's completely dominant here."
Zoro yawned and shook his empty sake bottle.
"Che… didn't even get to buy booze."
"Yohohohoho~ No worries! Let's enjoy some music to lighten the mood~"
Brook lifted his violin as Usopp and Franky clapped in encouragement.
"Hahaha! Brook, plenty of people recognized you! You even signed a bunch of autographs! Soul King!"
"Yohohohoho... it was an honor~"
Beautiful music filled the air. Nami sighed and then smiled helplessly:
"Well, this kind of trouble is just part of being pirates."
"Haha… that's true. And under Fleet Admiral Wright's leadership, the Navy's becoming more and more a symbol of 'justice,' even here in the New World."
Robin chuckled as she scooped up the excited Merry, who exclaimed:
"Even though we're pirates, I still really like Fleet Admiral-sama!"
"Nami-san~ Robin-chan~ Merry-chan~"
Sanji burst through the door, pushing a dessert cart.
"I made some sweets—come and enjoy!"
"Whoa~ Is there meat?! I want meat!"
Luffy cheered, causing Chopper to scold:
"Stop moving! You'll ruin the bandages!"
"Tch... still wish I had sake..."
Zoro lazily stretched out. As a hardcore drinker, sweets didn't exactly excite him.
Lying on the grass, Zoro stared at the clouds. His mind was starting to drift—without sake, sleep sounded pretty good.
"Hmm... that shadow up there—looks like a bird? Kinda interesting... hasn't moved much."
"Huh? It's getting bigger? Guess it's coming down to rest?"
"Wouldn't be bad to catch it for dinner... looks big enough."
Zoro idly thought, hand resting on his swords.
"A change of pace wouldn't hurt... wait!"
Suddenly, Zoro's face darkened. He shot up and stared more closely at the rapidly enlarging "bird" overhead.
"This... this isn't…!"
"Oi! You guys! Look up!"
Everyone enjoying their snacks turned their heads upward—
There, rapidly expanding in their vision, was a bizarre-looking… bird? No, a ship?!
"That's... a Navy warship?!"
It could barely even be called a ship at this point. A colossal Marine emblem was painted boldly across its hull!
"Prepare for battle!"
The Straw Hats immediately sprang into action, weapons ready.
If that thing crashed into the Sunny, their ship would be done for!
Whoosh—
About three or four hundred meters above them, the warship came to a sudden, unnatural stop.
As they stared in shock, a figure in a Justice cloak, a long blade at her waist, gracefully leapt off the ship—
"Long time no see, Straw Hat Pirates!"
Zoro's face twisted into a scowl, Sanji's eyes turned into hearts, Luffy's jaw hit the ground, Nami's face went pale, and Usopp fainted dead away…
"Usopp~ who is she?"
Chopper trembled, tears in his eyes. There was no doubt—it was someone they knew all too well.
"The Navy's Fleet Admiral Wright's kohai… the Navy Headquarters' Rear Admiral…
"'Skyblade' Kuina!"
"A one-woman army… user of the Float-Float Fruit!"
Usopp wailed in despair:
"She almost wiped us all out back in East Blue at Loguetown~~!"
"Ahhh~~ so scary~~"
"Waaaahhh…"
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