New World. Marine Headquarters, New Marineford.
The atmosphere in the conference room was heavy with the weight of recent news.
"With Big Mom's death, the seas are poised for another great upheaval," Vice Admiral Tsuru said, setting down the newspaper with a weary sigh. "That man, Leo... he truly is a madman." From the Marines' perspective, she was more concerned with the stability of the world. The collapse of the Big Mom Pirates left vast territories and resources up for grabs—a feast that would inevitably spark a bloody free-for-all among pirates. Katakuri alone could never hold it all.
"From the Marines' standpoint, Big Mom's death is more beneficial than harmful," Fleet Admiral Sengoku stated, massaging his temples to alleviate his fatigue. In just over a month, streaks of white had noticeably multiplied in his hair. The aftermath of the Summit War,安置 (settling) the casualties, recruiting new Warlords of the Sea... a relentless series of crises had left him焦头烂额 (utterly exhausted). He hadn't slept properly in days.
"Ara-ara~ Fleet Admiral," Admiral Aokiji mused, his brow deeply furrowed. "Do you truly believe Leo's actions were motivated solely by... women?" He couldn't wrap his mind around the idea that a man would topple an Emperor's entire crew for two women.
"That lunatic Leo dared to kill a Celestial Dragon. Is there anything he wouldn't do?" Sengoku retorted with a cold snort.
"Whatever his motives, because of him, the Marines have suffered catastrophic losses and a severe blow to our威信 (prestige and authority)!" Admiral Akainu slammed a fist on the table, the temperature in the room beginning to spike. "We must eliminate this damned brat!"
Aokiji gave him a flat look and casually waved a hand. A wave of寒气 (chilling air) surged forth, instantly neutralizing the rising heat. "Sakazuki, Leo is undoubtedly the Marines' enemy. But I believe it's necessary to understand his goals." His gaze sharpened. "Or have you forgotten about your daughter, Isuka?"
Akainu and Tsuru both stiffened, their pupils contracting. Akainu's daughter, Isuka, and Tsuru's granddaughter, Kujaku, were both renowned for their beauty. They were now members of the covert special forces unit "Sword," operating outside standard Marine jurisdiction. If they encountered Leo during a mission... it would be like lambs walking into a tiger's den. Leo wouldn't care about their backgrounds. Among his over thirty women were commoners, pirates, princesses, Marines, and even World Government agents. Isuka and Kujaku would be no exception.
Aokiji's reminder cast a pall over the room. Tsuru and Akainu had taken the warning to heart, their faces turning ashen with dawning, paternal dread.
"Ahem. Tsuru, Sakazuki," Sengoku interjected, shooting a stern glare at Aokiji. "After this meeting, contact them. If they aren't on a critical mission, have them remain at their base. No unnecessary外出 (excursions)."
"Now, back to the main issue." Sengoku cleared his throat, his expression turning serious. "Effective immediately, tracking Leo is our top priority. The moment his location is confirmed, I will report directly to the Five Elders." He turned to Tsuru. "What is the status of our contacts with 'Whitebeard Jr.' and Mad Treasure? Are they willing to accept our terms and join the Warlords?"
After the war, the Warlords roster had been whittled down to just Dracule Mihawk and Donquixote Doflamingo. Following deliberations with the Five Elders, three seats had been filled by Jinbe, Buggy the Clown, and Trafalgar D. Water Law. The final two candidates were Edward Weevil, who claimed to be Whitebeard's son—a simple-minded but formidable fighter—and the bounty hunter Mad Treasure, user of the Paramecia Chain-Chain Fruit, known for his pursuit of the eternal youth substance "Pure Gold."
Tsuru, pushing her personal worries aside, gave a slight nod. "We've received confirmation. Both have agreed to become Warlords."
Sengoku nodded, satisfied. The seven seats were filled again. He could deliver this report to the Elders.
"And the worldwide military draft?" Sengoku pressed.
Akainu responded, his voice still gruff but now focused. "Proceeding smoothly. There's massive public enthusiasm. The first batch of successful applicants has already begun basic training. At this rate, we will not only replenish the losses from the war but have a significant surplus soon."
"Excellent." Sengoku allowed himself a small, satisfied nod. Things were, for now, moving in a positive direction. "And the selection for top-tier combatants? Has anyone met the standard for an Admiral?"
This was the critical issue. The Warlords and thousands of recruits were one thing, but Admirals were the true pillars of naval power. A single Admiral could dictate the course of a war. They were the Marines' true定海神针 (anchors).
"Ara-ara~ Fleet Admiral," Aokiji replied, leaning back. "Two individuals show exceptional promise and merit close attention. One is Fujitora, real name Issho. A Paramecia user of the Zushi Zushi no Mi, the Gravity-Gravity Fruit. The other is Aramaki, a Logia user of the Mori Mori no Mi, the Forest-Forest Fruit. Their strength is in a league of its own among the applicants. They have a very real chance of attaining the rank of Admiral."
"Oh?" Sengoku's eyes lit up. For Aokiji to give such high praise meant their power was substantial. Was the Navy's luck finally turning after the disaster of Marineford? He had been prepared to reluctantly promote either Momousagi or Chaton, but this was an unexpected boon.
"Aokiji, continue overseeing this process personally," Sengoku ordered gravely. "The position of Admiral is of paramount importance. We cannot afford any mistakes."
"Understood, Fleet Admiral."
En Route to Dressrosa. Aboard the Airship.
Leo let out a long, slow breath as the last of the tension left his body. The past three days had been… intensive. Driven by his prior knowledge of the women's unique魅惑 (allure) and his own appetites, he had dedicated almost every waking moment not spent eating or sleeping to thoroughly acquainting himself with his two newest crew members.
Finally… Seeing Leo's interest finally wane, Stussy and Reiju shared a look of profound, weary relief, their eyes holding a deep, instinctive敬畏 (awe and fear) they could no longer mask. The man's stamina and治愈之力 (recuperative abilities) were truly monstrous. They couldn't help but feel a tremor of apprehension for their future lives aboard this ship.
"Captain…" Stussy's voice was a hoarse whisper, her lips slightly swollen. "May we… take our leave?"
Reiju nodded faintly beside her, a silent plea in her eyes.
"Go. Rest," Leo granted, a hint of amusement in his tone.
The two women didn't need to be told twice. They practically fled the room, their steps unsteady, leaving Leo alone.
Once the door shut, Leo's demeanor shifted. He focused inward, calling forth the interface of The Conquest System. The rewards for his latest successes were waiting.
[Congratulations, Host, on successfully recruiting crewmember Charlotte Galette. Claim reward?]
[Congratulations, Host, on successfully recruiting crewmember Charlotte Flampe. Claim reward?]
[Congratulations, Host, on successfully recruiting crewmember Vinsmoke Reiju. Claim reward?]
[Congratulations, Host, on successfully recruiting crewmember Stussy. Claim reward?]
Four prompts. A bountiful harvest. Stussy and Reiju had been won over (or broken in) through his own efforts. Charlotte Galette and Charlotte Flampe had been more simply subdued with the Slave Brand. The methods differed, but the result was the same for the System.
"Claim all," Leo commanded silently.
[Reward acquired: —————————— Autonomous Drone Swarm!]
[Reward acquired: —————————— Large-Caliber Fixed Laser Cannon Array!]
[Reward acquired: —————————— Jewel Meat!]
[Reward acquired: —————————— Sub-Imperial Armament: Ichimonji!]
A dazzling array. Leo examined each reward's detailed annotation.
Autonomous Drone Swarm:
1.
Powered by hydrogen cells for theoretically unlimited flight time.
2.
Each drone has a surveillance radius of 5 kilometers.
3.
Equipped with rapid-fire mini-guns for suppression and anti-personnel use.
4.
Capable of self-destructing with the force of a battleship-level explosion.
5.
Flight speed reaches supersonic levels, with advanced evasion protocols.
Leo stroked his chin, thoughtful. Then he looked at the second reward.
Large-Caliber Fixed Laser Cannon Array:
1.
Unlimited energy supply.
2.
Immobile; must be installed in a fixed location.
3.
Can unleash attacks on par with a Marine Admiral's offensive power.
4.
Effective range of 200 kilometers.
5.
Can be linked and coordinated with the Autonomous Drone Swarm network.
Linked with the drone swarm? Leo's eyes gleamed. An idea crystallized instantly. From the moment he set sail, his need to recruit specific women had kept him airborne, nomadic. Now, in the final and most dangerous sea, the New World, it was time to establish a proper base. A beautiful, defensible headquarters. And his next destination, Dressrosa, was perfect. He would take the women and the territory.
Once Dressrosa was his, the drone swarm would provide omnipresent surveillance. Any threat detected would trigger an instant signal to the laser cannons, which would then unleash (annihilating strikes) from a safe distance. The process would be seamless. Even an Admiral or an Emperor would think twice before attacking such a fortress. Even if he was away, this system would protect his holdings. Perfect. The System was reading his mind.
Satisfied, Leo moved to the third reward.
Jewel Meat:
Origin: A specialty from the world of 'Toriko,' famed for its exquisite flavor and jewel-like radiance.
In short, a supreme delicacy. Leo wasn't disappointed. If the System itself called it "exquisitely flavorful," and combined with Carmoon's phenomenal culinary skills, the resulting dish would be divine. For a connoisseur like him, this was a priceless reward.
Finally, he examined the last item.
Sub-Imperial Armament: Ichimonji.
Origin: A powerful weapon from the series 'Akame ga Kill! Zero.' Four hundred years after the creation of the Imperial Arms, an emperor attempted to replicate them. While the resulting weapons, dubbed 'Sub-Imperial Armaments,' never surpassed the originals, they retained formidable power.
Effect: Wounds inflicted by Ichimonji are notoriously difficult to heal.
Difficult to heal? Leo's interest was piqued. Was it more potent than a Supreme Grade sword? With his current level of Haki, there was virtually no defense in this world he couldn't breach. An opponent who couldn't stanch their bleeding would be doomed before the fight was over. The practical effect would need testing, but the potential was thrilling.
After reviewing the rewards once more, Leo stored them away in the System's repository with a sense of deep satisfaction.
"Open Status Panel."
A virtual screen materialized before him.
[Host: Leo]
[System: The Conquest System]
[Constitution: Innate 'Iron Balloon' Durability]
[Devil Fruit Abilities: Weather-Weather Fruit, Heal-Heal Fruit, Tremor-Tremor Fruit]
[Swordsmanship: Top-Tier Great Swordsman (Equal to Shiki)]
[Observation Haki: Future Sight, Mind Reading]
[Armament Haki: Internal Destruction]
[Conqueror's Haki: Infusion]
[Special Ability: Instant Movement]
[Recruited Beauties: Makino, Carmoon, Nojiko, Marianne, Conis, Laki, Maya, Shirahoshi, Keimi, Shyarly, Sadi, Domino, Isuka, Charlotte Flampe, Kalifa (Paramecia Float-Float Fruit user), Nami (Logia Weather-Weather Fruit user), Kaya (Paramecia Heal-Heal Fruit user), Tashigi (Wado Ichimonji, Black Blade Shusui, Elephant Sword Funkfreed), Vivi (Paramecia Bubble-Bubble Fruit user), Miss Valentine (Paramecia Kilo-Kilo Fruit user), Miss Goldenweek (Paramecia Color-Trap Fruit user), Nico Robin (Paramecia Flower-Flower Fruit user), Doll (Logia Glint-Glint Fruit user), Perona (Paramecia Ghost-Ghost Fruit user), Jewelry Bonney (Paramecia Age-Age Fruit user), Boa Hancock (Paramecia Love-Love Fruit user, Heavenly Bow: Ama no Hikari), Marguerite (Zoan Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: Black Cat), Hina (Paramecia Cage-Cage Fruit user), Charlotte Galette (Paramecia Butter-Butter Fruit user), Vinsmoke Reiju (Paramecia Venom-Venom Fruit user), Stussy (Zoan Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Mythical Vampire)] (31 Women)
[System Warehouse: Ark Maxim, Going Merry, Blank Devil Fruit x5, Tri-Colored Haki Fruit, Tri-Colored Haki Training Manual, Rokushiki Training Manual, Vast Quantities of Gold, Pure Gold, Golden Den Den Mushi, Ancient Weapon Pluton Blueprints, Bust-Enhancing Bra, Storage Ring, Sacred Sword: Seven Stars, Demon Splitter, Sub-Imperial Armament: Ichimonji, Autonomous Drone Swarm, Large-Caliber Fixed Laser Cannon Array, Jewel Meat, Zoan Ox-Ox Fruit, Model: Giraffe, Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, Paramecia Merge-Merge Fruit, Paramecia More-More Fruit, Paramecia Soul-Soul Fruit... Miscellaneous Items.]
During the past three days' lulls, Leo had distributed two fruits. The Paramecia Venom-Venom Fruit went to Reiju. In Germa, she was known as "Poison Pink." Her genetically modified body granted a superhuman constitution, a special resistance to toxins, and the ability to absorb and secrete poison. In Leo's eyes, she was the perfect host for the Venom-Venom Fruit, now free of its original(side effects) like Magellan's digestive issues. In her hands, it would reach its full potential.
To Stussy, he had given the Zoan Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Mythical Vampire. She was already a Bat-Bat Fruit user, albeit the basic animal model. This upgrade was a perfect synergy. With her experience and(innate talent), proper development of this Mythical Zoan could elevate her to Admiral-tier strength. She was its ideal user.
Additionally, Leo had given the Paramecia Float-Float Fruit to Kalifa. This fruit didn't require a specific match; anyone with sufficient physicality could wield its power formidably.
Thus, almost every combatant in the Leo Pirates was now a Devil Fruit user, except for Tashigi, who specialized in swordsmanship and Haki. Several women possessed top-tier fruits. The day he paraded this crew before Mary Geoise would give the Five Elders the shock of their lives.
The warehouse also held other powerful fruits, like the(Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika), awaiting their future masters.
Having taken full stock, Leo closed the system interface and stepped out of his room. By his estimation, they should be approaching Dressrosa.
And there, not one, not two, but (a full five beauties) awaited his… attention.
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T/N :
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