"I'm very glad you were able to make the right decision."
Looking at Reiju's face—an odd pie chart of three parts worry, three parts confusion, three parts unease, and one part reluctant compromise—Red immediately broke into a satisfied smile, formally accepting the Vinsmoke Family's allegiance on behalf of the Straw Hat Pirates.
At first glance, the Vinsmoke Family's combat strength wasn't impressive. They couldn't even compare to the slightly stronger forces among the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
But the technology they controlled was undeniably world-class.
Unfortunately, Judge had clearly chosen the wrong path.
Obsessed with scientific research, he fundamentally failed to understand the true road walked by the strongest in this world.Whether it was the three types of Haki or Devil Fruit abilities, all those who could reach the very end relied on personal spirit and will.
Yet he had chosen to abandon precisely those things. As a result, even his seemingly successful test subjects—after factoring in combat suits and equipment—were only barely on par with elite Marine vice admirals.
That was why, in Red's eyes, the truly valuable part of the Vinsmoke Family wasn't their technology or combat power at all, but rather their high-quality research facilities and scientific personnel!!!
After all…
Usopp and Chopper had been able to cultivate all kinds of powerful, highly specialized insects using nothing more than rough textbook knowledge and limited experience.
Now, with the Vinsmokes' equipment and assistance, combined with the power of lineage factors, who knew what kinds of lifeforms Usopp and the others might create next?
Red was genuinely looking forward to Usopp's creativity.
In the end, the Vinsmoke Family officially became a member of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet.
Immediately afterward, Red had Katakuri—being a local—select an open area within Totto Land's waters, where the mobile Germa 66 Kingdom was stationed, becoming the thirty-fifth island in Totto Land besides Whole Cake Island.
And apart from Germa 66, not far from Totto Land's waters, there was yet another mobile island, slowly approaching Totto Land.
...
...
"Hee hee hee hee~"
"I never imagined… the Straw Hats would really pull it off…"
"Lord Moria, the New World is far too dangerous. We should have the Straw Hats send someone to escort us!"
"That pirate group that just invaded already forced us to deploy Tailed Beast No. 7!"
"If this keeps up, our identities are going to be exposed!"
Inside the gloomy and terrifying Thriller Bark, Moria and his three subordinates stood on the castle's terrace, each wearing a different expression.
At the sound of Moria's laughter, Absalom was the first to react.
Although Thriller Bark no longer had any zombie generals for him to command, thanks to Hogback—who, under Red's inspiration and with the mechanical framework Franky had left behind—had produced more and more massive zombies, Absalom had successfully risen from commander of zombie generals to commander of zombie sea beasts.
These zombie sea beasts weren't particularly intelligent, making them even easier to command than zombie generals.
As a result, Absalom had been in exceptionally high spirits lately.
But all of that vanished the moment they entered the New World.
Although, at Franky's suggestion, Thriller Bark now possessed a hamster-cage-like power system, with various massive sea beasts providing propulsion for the entire island…
The New World's seas were simply too unpredictable.
To ensure Thriller Bark's safety, they had no choice but to slow down and carefully inch their way toward Totto Land.
And that slow pace meant encountering more and more pirate intrusions.
At first, they were merely small-time pirates with bounties of a few tens of millions of Beli. But as they ventured deeper into the New World, the pirates accidentally landing on the island now possessed bounties worth hundreds of millions!
Although the existence of Zombie Blackbeard meant they feared no strong enemy, just as Absalom said, they didn't want to reveal that trump card at this time.
If they did…
The World Government and the Marines would stop at nothing to hunt them down!
After all, not only had they publicly controlled Zombie Blackbeard to kill a Celestial Dragon, they had also toyed with the Marines and the World Government's forces for an entire month!
However, compared to Absalom's panic, the other members of the Gecko Pirates held very different views.
"Horohorohoro~"
"Don't embarrass yourself, Absalom~"
Having successfully acquired a Ghost typing and perfectly integrated it with her Devil Fruit ability—greatly increasing her strength—Perona let out her distinctive eerie laugh and teased:
"Relax. With Lord Moria around, what does it matter even if the World Government's forces show up!?"
"Fosfosfosfosfos!"
"That's right! I thought the New World would be something truly special!?"
"We've been here for days, and I haven't even had a chance to deploy Tailed Beast No. 9!"
"I was really hoping my precious creations could show their worth here!"
"Kishishishishishi, there'll be a chance, Hogback!"
At that moment, Moria suddenly stepped forward, holding a newspaper reporting the Straw Hat crew's defeat of the Big Mom Pirates and their ascension as the new Four Emperors. A hopeful gleam flashed through his eyes.
In just a few short months, Moria's appearance had undergone a massive change.
Though his overall size hadn't shrunk much, one glance was enough to clearly see the muscular contours hidden beneath his dark shadowed attire.
More importantly, the firmness and confidence shining in his eyes suggested a profound transformation, giving him an extraordinary presence from the inside out.
Of course.
This state was not unfamiliar to Moria at all.
Because this powerful body was exactly what he had looked like twenty years ago!
Encouraged by the Straw Hat crew, after months of effort, Moria had finally reclaimed his peak through his own hard work.
Now, he was a genuine top-tier right-hand-man-of-an-Emperor-level powerhouse.
And the reason he had been able to complete such a transformation in such a short time owed much to the Pokémon template's trait of gaining experience simply through training, as well as his unique buff that halved the experience required to level up.
The reborn Moria was like a completely different person. His behavior and mindset had undergone earth-shattering changes.
He suddenly spread his arms wide toward the sea breeze, his coat flapping wildly behind him.
Revealing his sharp fangs, Moria laughed wildly:
"The times change with each passing day, the stars shift and the heavens turn—the turning point of the era has arrived!"
"The darkness of the old era will be driven away by the brilliant light of the new era, and what follows that light will be an even greater shadow!"
"To be born in such an age—what fortune is that!?"
"To personally take part in such a grand event—what honor and challenge!"
"Open your eyes wide and watch closely…"
"This era belongs to the Straw Hat Pirates!!!"
"Kishishishishishi!!!"
Once content to hide within thick fog rather than face reality, Moria—reborn—now felt boundless admiration for the Straw Hat Pirates who had granted him this second life.
The dreams of the past had been cast aside.
Just like those years of decadence and despair.
Now…
He was the Shadow King, Gecko Moria—preparing to follow the Straw Hat Pirates to the summit of the world and sound the horn of revenge against Emperor Kaido!!!
"Let us look forward to this grand feast together!!!"
"ROAR—!!!!!!"
With Moria's thunderous laughter, Thriller Bark seemed to come alive, as deafening beastly roars erupted from every corner of the island.
Pairs of enormous eyes snapped open at that very moment, as if preparing for the coming war.
...
...
Meanwhile, in the Calm Belt.
The Amazon Lily Kingdom.
Granny Nyon gazed gloomily at the harbor, where the Kuja Pirates were preparing to set sail.
Even the surrounding cheers and celebrations of the citizens couldn't smooth the deep furrow in her brow.
"Snake Princess, this matter is far too entangled. One wrong step could plunge all of Amazon Lily into true hell…"
"Do you really intend to wade into these troubled waters!?"
"Shut up, you old hag!"
Listening to Granny Nyon's nagging once more, Hancock, standing at the bow, replied bluntly:
"Don't forget—we're already an affiliated force of the Straw Hat Pirates!"
"The Straw Hats are facing an enormous crisis right now. How could we possibly not go!?"
"Don't force your philosophy of barely scraping by onto me and Amazon Lily!"
"Red is right. As the world develops, the Calm Belt will eventually be set foot on by humanity. When that happens, do you really expect people to continue treating the Kuja Tribe kindly!?"
"What the Kuja Tribe needs isn't hiding—it's true strength and power!!!"
"And the Straw Hat Pirates are the key that can bring that power to the Kuja Tribe!"
"Even if the Straw Hats didn't ask us for help, if we don't show up at a time like this… do you really think they'll help us in the future!?"
"Th-this…"
Under Hancock's relentless questioning, Granny Nyon was rendered speechless.
Even though she knew these weren't Hancock's true reasons for aiding the Straw Hats…
Having personally witnessed how terrifying the power of Pokémon could be for an entire group, she too didn't want the Kuja Tribe to lose such strength.
After a long pause, she let out a deep sigh.
"I understand~"
"Since you've made your choice, then you should indeed trust it to the end."
"In that regard, I'm inferior to you."
"You truly are the strongest empress of Amazon Lily."
"Hmph, as if that needed to be said!"
Hancock scoffed disdainfully, though the corners of her lips lifted slightly. With a single command, the Perfume Yuda sailed slowly out of the harbor, pulled forward by two massive serpents.
...
...
Elsewhere, on Whole Cake Island.
Red, having just received the Germa 66 Kingdom, was now rushing around nonstop with Nami and Robin, so busy that they barely had a moment to breathe.
Although, with the combined efforts of the Supernova pirate crews and those former Big Mom Pirates who had pledged allegiance, every island in Totto Land now had its own appointed lord…
Many of those lords were merely filling positions. Managing an island in peacetime was one thing…
But preserving an island during war was asking too much of them.
Thus, during this period, Red could only bring Nami and Robin along to survey the surrounding seas of each island while recording and analyzing the defensive forces.
The Straw Hat crew indeed no longer needed to fear the World Government too much.
But within Totto Land, there were still countless ordinary civilians.
They had no ability to survive a war.
To prevent the World Government from venting its fury on civilians, Red needed to master the exact location of every island, so he could fully prepare to use the power of Hyperspace Hole when the World Government's forces closed in.
However… Totto Land's waters were simply enormous, and every island possessed its own unique characteristics…
Integrating and utilizing those traits was itself a mentally exhausting task—this was what truly gave Red a headache.
"Sigh~ If I'd known this would happen, I never would've wanted Totto Land in the first place. Why does everything feel even more troublesome now~"
After two days and two nights of nonstop work, Nami suddenly sighed in exhaustion, pulled out a stamina-restoring potion, and gulped it down.
Beside her, Robin smiled helplessly and gently comforted her:
"Hang in there a bit longer, Nami."
"We've already completed more than half of the island deployments. In another day or two, everything should be done."
"After that, we can leave all the coordination issues to each island's lord."
"That's right," Red added.
"And don't underestimate these islands!"
"These are all New World islands. Although Big Mom's crew spent decades transforming them into dessert-themed islands…"
"Before that, many of them were special islands that produced rare resources!"
"Usopp and Franky both found exactly what they needed in the data we sent back."
"And more importantly…"
"With these massive resources, the Wapol Factory on Whole Cake Island can finally begin full production!"
"Once the Wapol Factory starts up, producing—"
"Exoskeleton units designed by Usopp and personally built by Franky, combined with the Vinsmoke Family's formidable clone soldiers…"
"That's a force not to be underestimated!!!"
"Y-yes, yes, I get it~"
Listening to Red's sermon-like explanation, Nami immediately pressed one hand to her forehead and raised the other halfway in surrender.
"I get it… I'll keep going."
"Honestly… if I'd known it'd be like this, I wish Luffy and the others had just knocked those Five Elders flying back in Mary Geoise!"
"Then we wouldn't have all these headaches."
"Hey, hey, isn't that asking a bit too much!?" Red shot her an amused glance.
But Nami immediately shot back:
"Who knows…"
"Haven't you always turned the impossible into possible!?"
"Right, Robin?"
"Hehe… that does sound pretty convincing~"
Robin smiled warmly, siding with Nami.
(End of Chapter)