"So, with this blood, we can start making them, right?"
Kaido looked at Judge.
Judge didn't hesitate. "I'll leave the machine that makes the 'seeds' in Wano. Through that machine, we can directly extract the Lineage Factors from the blood and then fuse them with the seeds of any plant. Eventually, we'll have seeds that can grow into artificial Devil Fruits."
"Then we just plant the seeds, and about six months later, the fruits will be ready."
"Wonderful!"
Kaido laughed heartily, looking at Judge with admiration. "Judge, you're a friend of the Beast Pirates! You're doing great!"
Judge puffed out his chest, then threw a challenging glance at Queen.
Queen nearly ground his teeth to dust.
The meeting was about to end.
Kaido was so eager that Ian and Judge decided to go ahead and move that crucial machine.
But there was still one problem: where to put the machine.
Ian had already seen the machine.
It was enormous, like a whole building.
There was no place for it on Onigashima.
Ian planned to place it in the forest of Kūri.
A farm was to be built with that machine at its core.
Coincidentally, the Tontatta tribe was there as well, and they could participate in cultivating the artificial Devil Fruits.
However, just as they were about to walk out of Onigashima to gather supplies for the Germa Kingdom, Ian suddenly smirked, "Judge, how about we watch a play first?"
Judge froze for a moment.
The location was on the coast outside Onigashima, and the characters were some of the Vinsmoke siblings.
The eldest sister, Reiju, stood helplessly to the side, hands on her hips, warning, "Don't forget what father told us when he left!"
Red, blue, and green—the three brothers stood in a triangular formation, surrounding Sanji.
The eldest brother, Ichiji, with red hair, grinned maliciously, "Father only told us not to cause trouble on Onigashima. We're just greeting our brother we haven't seen in a while."
"Yeah, hehe, Sanji," The blue-haired Niji gave Sanji a shove, "It's been over two years, hasn't it? Did you forget what you're supposed to do when you see us again?"
"That's right, Sanji, hurry up and squat down!"
The green-haired Yonji laughed loudly, "We haven't kicked a ball around in so long!"
Sanji remained expressionless, silent.
Reiju quietly watched but furrowed her brows slightly.
"Hey! Sanji! Didn't you hear what your brothers said?"
Ichiji suddenly grabbed Sanji's shoulder with such force that it seemed like Sanji's clothes were about to tear. "Do you really think that just because you awakened your Lineage Factors, you can compare to us?"
"Trash will always be trash!"
Niji cracked his knuckles, "Let's remind you what your past was like!"
Yonji touched his own face, "I still haven't forgotten the slap from over two years ago!"
"Hey, you guys," Reiju couldn't help but speak up. "Enough already. Sanji is from the Beast Pirates!"
"Hahaha, what are you talking about, Reiju! Sanji is just Sanji!"
Ichiji, lacking any human emotions, didn't understand what respect or fear were. He just laughed loudly. "Still that trash—"
But then, a hand grabbed his.
Sanji raised his right hand and caught Ichiji's wrist, the blonde-haired boy finally lifting his head. "Shut up! You idiots!"
He flung Ichiji's hand away, tossing him into the air, then slammed him down hard, sending the annoying guy straight into the ground.
Reiju was stunned.
Such strength!
"Sanji!!"
The other two brothers screamed.
They never expected the cowardly Sanji to fight back. Furious, they charged at him.
Sanji just sneered in disdain. "Soru!"
He vanished from in front of the two brothers in an instant.
Before the two brothers could react, Sanji had already appeared between them. He grabbed one of their heads with one hand and slammed them together.
"Ahhh!"
They both screamed in pain.
The force Sanji applied was so immense that their skulls almost caved in.
"Sanji!"
At that moment, Ichiji had already crawled out from underground.
He had a powerful exoskeleton, so the previous attack hadn't defeated him.
However, waiting for him was a vacuum blade.
"Tempest Kick!"
The deep blue vacuum blade struck Ichi's body, sending him flying backward and crashing into the mountain wall of Onigashima, leaving a deep mark on the rocks.
Ichiji fell to the ground, and a deep mark appeared in the center of his body.
"Sanji!!"
The other two brothers also sprang into action, swinging their fists toward Sanji.
However.
"Paper Arts!"
Sanji's body, not particularly tall compared to his peers, flickered like a phantom, easily avoiding the brothers' punches and kicks.
Then.
"Finger Gun!"
His hands transformed into a storm, and his incredibly hard fingers crazily stabbed into the brothers' bodies.
The brothers' underdeveloped exoskeletons were punctured by Sanji's fingers, leaving deep dents, making them look like a hornet's nest, extremely disturbing.
The two brothers were also sent flying, crashing into the mountain wall along with Ichiji.
Reiju slightly parted her lips.
Is this... Sanji?
The three brothers stared blankly at Sanji.
They couldn't understand—how could the Sanji who used to let them bully him be so strong now?
"Do you think you can be reckless here?"
Sanji looked down from above at the three brothers, feeling nothing but satisfaction, along with a strange thought—was I really bullied by these worthless fools in the past?
No matter what, not anymore.
"Don't show up in front of me again, or every time I see you, I'll deal with you!"
Not far away, Ian and Judge were quietly watching everything unfold.
Ian's expression was calm.
But Judge seemed unable to accept it, stuttering as he said, "H-How is this possible!? Sanji... How could he be this strong!?"
This makes no sense!
Sanji's Lineage Factor had awakened years later than his brothers! Their level of development should be on completely different levels!
But now... how is it that it seems reversed, and they're not even on the same level?
Ian smiled, "Judge, is it possible that Sanji is your greatest creation?"
Judge was speechless, "But, it's impossible—"
"Feelings, Judge," Ian said slowly, "Feelings are what drive us forward. Cold weapons can't surpass the limits set by their creators, but feelings can push human limits beyond measure."
Feelings?
Judge was somewhat confused.
This doesn't make sense.
The fight between Sanji and the others was just a small aside. Ian soon left Onigashima and headed toward Kuri with Judge, planning to move the machines there.
Along the way, the sea was full of fishmen and mermaids swimming around, all casting curious glances at the giant snail speeding across the sea.
Judge was also surprised. Although he had already known that Wano was recruiting immigrants from Fish-Man Island, wasn't this number a bit exaggerated?
After more than two years of migration, the number of fishmen and mermaids who had settled in Wano had indeed grown quite large.
The total number had already surpassed 100,000, which was about one-fiftieth of the total population of Fish-Man Island, not counting the fishman troops.
Wano could easily be called Little Fish-Man Island now.
Upon arriving in Kuri, just as they unloaded the machines and prepared to recruit workers to begin building the farm, a sudden piece of news arrived.
"The Ochoku Pirates are back?"
Ian raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, Lord Ian! Ochoku redirected his second fleet, which was originally heading toward the North Blue, and launched another attack along the route of the third fleet. This time, the one leading the charge is one of Ochoku's top officers, the Cloud Sorcerer Claude!"
"Oh?"
Ian was somewhat surprised.
Ochoku really is stubborn.
Isn't he admitting defeat yet?
Cloud Sorcerer Claude was the number one fighter under his command. Sending this guy out meant that Ochoku was serious.
There was no turning back now.
Since he didn't want to maintain his dignity, then let's help him with that.
"Tell the teams stationed along the way to retreat for now. This is beyond their ability to handle. I'll be there soon."
"Yes, sir!"
At the same time, in a certain sea area of the New World.
The second fleet of the Ochoku Pirates was riding the waves.
The man known as Cloud Sorcerer Claude was a quiet and burly figure, and he now spoke with some doubt, "Boss Ochoku, do you think Ian will really come?"
"Do you think you can draw Kaido over with just yourself?" Ochoku replied irritably. "This battlefield was originally Ian's responsibility. He only just came back from the last victory, and now we're coming back for round two. What do you think he'll do?"
"Impressive, as always, Boss Ochoku!"
Claude replied respectfully.
However, as an older veteran, is it really a bit embarrassing to ambush a kid like this?
Ochoku didn't know what his subordinate was thinking. He only sneered. "Just wait, brat! I'll show you what true power is!"
Although he couldn't take the kid down, teaching him a lesson shouldn't be a problem.
Hurry up, kid!
A big surprise is waiting for you!
**********
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