Chapter 26: Shogun of Wano
Mary Geoise
Umi was summoned back to the garden with a frustrated expression. They then noticed the other Elders including the currently obscured ones in the same garden.
"Where were you?," asked Darwin previously known as Warcury.
"How is Garling adjusting?," asked Umi, dodging the question.
"Well, enough. He kept on eyeing the Empty Throne when he monitored when you went missing for several minutes as we all did once the meeting to induct him into our ranks concluded. He IS one of THAT family. Ambition runs in the blood. It's really something to keep an eye on just in case he tries to act on it and force you on the run.," spoke Abraham previously known as Mars.
"Don't you dare question me? I am the Ruler of the World.," Umi replied.
"A puppet ruler. Imumumumumu. A scapegoat since the true Ruler needs THAT to get back into proper shape.," said one of the shadows.
"Lord Imu.," noted Darwin as they kneeled before one of the Shadows.
"Imu is here.," said Umi, gesturing to herself.
"You're just identity-thieving the real deal for centuries as the real Imu was detained. I'm back now. And I know you've been enjoying your freedom too much. We give you a garden and hide your identity since you're a slothful hedonist who happened to be the firstborn. Gūgū-Gūgū-Gūgū.," said Xavier one of the shadows. His shadow has a prominent bull-skull.
"Shit, I almost got Artemis. Zunesha is crafty to send it away for safekeeping. His punishment gave him too much freedom. We should purge him. "Mao-mao-mao.," Arcas commented.
"It's alright. They're on Elbaf. Someone just saw them, even if they didn't stand out in the crowd. They're either up in the Heaven Realm...or down below with HIM. Acacacaca.," spoke Acala one of the shadows. His shadow was large with his eyes with golden ripple patterns glowing.
"He's one of the few members of (stopped mid-sentence as Imu jerked with the indication of their head looking in their direction)...that crew who hasn't died or retreated to the OLD WORLD. He'll inevitably tell him everyone and our Empire will be in jeopardy. Irerererere.," spoke Irene.
"Luffy doesn't take after his mother's side, thank us. Even if he denies it, he is a Monkey and the Monkey clan has always served us even if they oppose us- their actions end up in our favor. Their Lineage Factor compels them to obey our will subconsciously. He'll have to die to appease the masses, but he's our pawn. Prarararararararara.," spoke Platinum one of the shadows, which indicated a large handlebar mustache with a prominent grin.
"Speaking of Elbaf. I need to go there. Pandora said THAT was almost threatened. We got rid of the Tree of Ohara and we need to eliminate Adam before we destroy the Sunset Tree Eve when we no longer need the Red Line to terraform this planet. Rurururururururu.," Ruth, one of the shadows noted. Her shadow was obese and gigantic in stature with an indication of a pointy nose.
"Hopefully, your ilk can be responsible enough not to have to waste all of the resources-," Abraham spoke.
"We'll just repeat on another planet and another till there's nada left. I'm ok with dying if the universe dies with us- just not dying at the hands of others.," Ruth replied.
"Just give it up, Mars- I'm sorry- I mean Abe. You just do what you can to aid our whims.," spoke Germain previously known as Ju Peter.
"Sakazuki doesn't seem pleased with all of these developments recently. We should just brand them instead of just allowing them on metaphorical leashes. Nerorororororo.," spoke Nero, his shadow having a distinct singular visor for "eyes" in the darkness as his grin with his tongue sticking out flashed in the blackness.
"Damnit. Ever since Guernika and Kaido failed to kill the next Nika, my powers to keep the OLD WORLD at bay have been lessening- the barrier I set up 800 years ago is fading. He needs to die so our plans don't get messed up before those 19 end up screwing us over. Howawawawawawa.," spoke Howard, one of the shadows, which had a long, thin head with a stout body.
"The women...I can keep them as part of my collection, right? Wriririrriririri," asked Wright, one of the shorter shadows as they lecherously licked their lips.
"Ramumumu. That's far too extreme even for blood traitors.," said Ramses, one of the shadows, whose silhouette was obscured deliberately.
"Misesesesese. Serves them right that they have no king now. We can just implant one of yer kids on the throne. Cobra was just defunct garbage any-," said Miser, one of the shadows before Ramses got him in a chokehold out of disgust.
"Ow...even if we're immortal...please...can't breathe...," begged Miser.
"Vi...vi...vi...Can't we just reinstate the Privateer system and choose benign pirates instead of strong ones? Luffy could be one of them as could Law and Bonney. The Supernovas could be assets we could exploit.," spoke Victor, whose shadow had a bulbous head to go with his rotund body. The others stared at him like he was insane.
"O-or not.," Victor backtracked.
"Berriririririririririri. I know the plan is to send HIM to lower Luffy's guard, but he just needs to die in any way right? Cortez is at my beck and call as my son. He's not a disappointment like my descendants, Charlos for failing to get Poseidon, or the other Rosward for letting the Buccaneer, Kuma go. Shalria is beginning to question certain things because she was so vain that she didn't pay attention to the Void Century lectures of how WE really came into power that we hide from those Marines and everyone else. I fear she might be another Homing or Mjosgard waiting to happen.," spoke Midas, the red sclera of his obese shadow as he continued munching on something.
"God, what you eating now? We're out of resources due to the Revolutionaries. How did you get to the remaining supplies?," asked Germain.
"What supplies shortage? We can always get the slaves to breed more to replace the missing ones.," replied Midas. Ramses fainted from realizing the implications while Imu and Nero laughed their asses off.
"Replace?...MIDAS NO!," cried Darwin in exasperation as he realized what was going on. Midas viewed Humans as so beneath him he literally saw them as cattle/
"What it's just babies. Want one?," asked Midas as he passed a limb.
"NO! We're trying to maintain a positive public image even after Egghead revealed our Zoan forms. We had to justify it as a necessary evil to do as a last resort against "evil". Eating babies is something every nation to join the Revolutionary Army. Besides, teaching the current generation of Nobles to indulge in that behavior is going to cause the Marines to try and murder us on the spot.," Darwin argued.
"We managed to get the cloning technology from Egghead along with anything of value after Sat...Ezekiel's disappearance. We managed to rescue it with the Marines bringing it to us. We can clone from the sample of the hairs to avoid suspicion.," spoke Abraham.
"Why aren't we rescuing him?," asked Midas.
"Because he's a liability. You 9 times centenarians.," spoke Garling as he arrived.
The lunar-haired-bearded former Holy Knight arrived in the room as they escorted Umi to their feet.
"That's not the point. He knows too much. And killing him will send him to Hell where THEY will definitely exploit. Substitute.," spoke Midas.
"Where's Nusjuro-I mean Byakuo?," asked Garling.
"He's off trying to get Pluton for us to counter the next Nika.," spoke Germain.
"Or he could be getting for himself.," noted Garling.
"Imumumumu. He just needs to be reminded of the pecking order and where he lies on the totem pole.," spoke Imu.
"What does that mean?," asked Garling.
"It's a Void Century reference. In any case, ARMOR will be split to go and potentially clean up after Byakuo's mess and also to Elbaf to get some Giants to be enslaved. We don't need sycophants. I don't mind despairing children stolen from their parents and brainwashed.," Imu replied.
"ARMOR is splitting up?," asked Abraham with Garling looking shocked.
"Their authority now lies with me.," Imu spoke as they looked at Umi. "And not with some false Sun Gods."
Umi narrowed her vision at the statement.
"What do you mean, 'not with some false Sun Gods'? We are the chosen ones, the protectors of the World Government's truth!," Abraham protested.
Imu responded by releasing Haki to restrain the other 18 as they bent to their knees but after a few moments they were forced to prostrate before this shadow revealed to be an old man wearing a hooded robe to hide their eyes but with the rest of the unassuming face.
"I will decide what is to be done from now on. And is MY design that will be followed.," spoke the figure.
"You visited Koby in the hospital...what was the purpose?" asked Darwin.
"You looked down at his speech at Marineford, but when I was...helpless and without freedom...I still heard how he swayed an entire battlefield. The Admirals are jaded men whose compromises will be their undoing- even Sakazuki. We need a pure and unbending soul for the masses to lean on. A hero to aid us.," spoke Imu.
"But he's a child-," spoke Germain.
"And the only one to be worthy of THAT power.," spoke Imu.
"You don't mean...," spoke Garling.
"Now that Garp is out of the way. He can be persuaded by using the right words to appease his sense of justice. He's not like Luffy who can detect the true nature of the soul. I thank me that he is so dense...," spoke Imu.
The room remained tense for a moment before Abraham spoke up. "But what if Luffy finds out?"
"That's why we're throwing everything else at him while I prepare Koby for the role of his adversary. And he'd be too distracted by his goal to find Laughtale in the OLD WORLD to notice.," said Imu.
"But what will he do once he finds it?" asked Irene.
"Alilililili. Unlike with Roger, he has no means of blackmailing us so we don't have to trick him. Plus he'll just assume it's just an empty treasure chest or a mundane object and just accept it as One Piece and tell the crew to move on as we then move to execute him as things go back to normal. That the journey was the important thing to get others to realize how fruitless trying to fight over nothing was.," spoke another voice. It formed itself into the shape of a man-
it was a tall, lean man of a light complexion with purple hair that was slicked back, with a lone strand left to fall into his face on the right side. He had intimidating olive iris eyes. He wore a grayish-green suit with a dull green undershirt, a green tie, and green shoes. He wore an Admiral jacket with a standing collar draped over his shoulders.
Cromwell Alister- Warrior God of Exploration.
"Sorry. I was making countermeasures on Elbaf in case they try to do anything with Plan A for Elbaf. This Plan B, which will be more long-term and subtle but we have all the time in the world to do it once we also deal with Red Hair.," spoke the handsome man. Some of the older Elders were envious of his vitality in comparison to them.
"We have to speed things ahead of schedule. They're onto us.," spoke Ruth.
"It's better to remove him off the board along with Luffy using THAT now that it's being brought to our attention. First Red Hair and Luffy then the other two. Out of all the Emperors, Red Hair and Teach are the only ones who can be actual players rather than pieces. Buggy and Luffy are just dolts with competent subordinates and fortune on their side..," Allister noted.
"Doesn't that seem a bit too hubristic to claim to do so easily? What if we have to eliminate Elbaf and the Giants while in the process of eliminating two Emperors at once?" asked Abraham.
"One less inferior race to worry about. We can just create one more loyal to us. We can also kill off the Giants in our employ and pretend they never existed.," replied Allister.
All of the others gave agreeing "hmph" aside from Victor, Malcolm, and to a lesser degree, Abraham and Darwin.
"As useful as they are. I prefer a world of just us Gods and Human Insects.," spoke Irene.
"And of course OUR Gods.," said Umi.
Suddenly, Imu sensed a powerful Haki from a far distance as did the stronger members of the group.
"I sense something coming to Wano...it's the same that wiped out Ezekiel. The Human-Human: Madden, the Tremor-Tremor, and the Turtle-Turtle: Genbu...," noted Malcolm.
"What?," asked Arcas.
"It's Blackbeard- Teach. He's heading to Wano- no he's splitting his forces to head to Fishman Island. Those are deliberate- they want Pluton and Poseidon and eventually intend for Uranus- our copies at least," spoke Howard.
Germain scowled.
"It looks like he's someone to kill now to remove a troublesome chess piece who moves on its own.," spoke Allister. "Allow those agents to deal with him now."
"Let's hope Byakuo is more durable than Ezekiel...when he and this whelp clash.," noted Ruth.
Wano
Momonosuke would reluctantly serve Byakuo sake as the Scabbards watched on. The Elder of the Government made himself far too comfortable in the palace.
"This used to be the Country of Gold till I exploited it and used the wealth to supply the World Nobles' vast resources to this day. I still think you're hiding something.," he spoke.
"You're over 800 years old?," asked Denjio. "You don't look a day over 100."
"Don't be coy with me. You know the Seastone reserves we get from Wano isn't nearly enough. That's why PLUTON is needed- it creates that material. And there's a reason why others aren't allowed to leave Wano. I need as many workers as possible to forge it to use it-," spoke the Elder.
"For 20 years, our nation was forced to endure under a tyrant- losing our ability to fight back, how to live, and even how we could express ourselves. Even though I was sent into the future because there was no other option because of Lady Toki along with my peers, that weight was felt by those left behind.," spoke Kin'emon.
"So, what's your point?," asked the Elder as he lounged around.
"How dare you claim what's rightfully belonging to the Shogun of Wano.," spoke the samurai, which caused the Elder to smirk.
"Bya..Byayayayayayayayayayayayaya. You showed the Road Poneglyphs right...you know how to forge them right?...This is just precious...," the Elder giggled.
"Why are you babbling about? Senility in your older age?," asked Denjiro.
"He's saying that-," spoke Kouzuki Sukiyaki.
Elbaf- Myrkheim
The group walked down a site where Dwarfs were refining lost relics of olden times as they walked to their destination.
"What're you doing with old junk that could just buried? Why not just focus on here and now?," asked Luffy, which caused him to feel uneasiness as he turned to see Robin with a smile that seemed dissonant with rising tempers.
"Luffy," she scolded "You're simple but... there are limits to what you can say. I might snap."
"Eeek!," Chopper yelled. "Robin's angry!"
"R-right, this is important to you. M-my bad.," spoke Luffy before Nami and Sanji punched and kicked him respectively.
"Damn right, not everyone ignores the past like you.," argued Sanji.
"You're not gonna be popular with ladies if you're not tactful.," Nami remarked. "Well, you're just dumb and no Emperor title's changing that."
"Not like I got a future past finding my dream anyway.," spoke Luffy in an uncharacteristic introspective tone that freaked out the group. Franky came to as did Jinbe.
"Luffy...O-of course you got things past that weird dream of yours!," Usopp argued. "Like maybe going around seeing everybody we've met to hang out with."
"You're too simple to worry about dying right away.," Nami spoke. "W-what's with you? You're supposed to be the fearless one."
"You haven't caught any diseases from eating something you shouldn't right?," asked Chopper. "D-don't joke about that. I'll cure you of course!"
Luffy jolted as if the reindeer hit the mark.
"Don't do anything stupid like try to bargain with the World Government to spare our lives in the case you actually have little time to live and if it doesn't look like you'll reach Laugh Tale before you die and you want to go off on your own terms to follow Roger's footsteps just because it inspired you. They never uphold their deal. You saved me from a scenario of me doing just that.," Robin spoke.
Luffy jolted as if Robin guessed him correctly.
"Luffy...you're too young to talk about dying young. It's for the adults to worry about those things so the young can live their lives to the fullest.," Jinbe spoke.
"Please, let us know if you have any symptoms if you do of course. I've lived and died through a similar case along with my old crew and my previous captain. I don't want to have to see that...especially to someone who hasn't lived a full life.," spoke Brook with a rare sign of maturity.
"That's Super uncool if you up and died and we had to take responsibility for cleanup and obligations.," Franky said.
"Say you're not dying, Luffy bro. I've just met you.," Bonney spoke.
"...If you are going to succumb to disease, I'm getting impregnated by you so your lineage continues.," Clisson spoke bluntly.
"You have issues.," spoke Lillith.
"But seriously, what's going on Luffy?," Sanji asked, his usual cool demeanor replaced with genuine concern.
"It's not like that. Chopper would've found out. It's just...Rayleigh said something...," Luffy replied cryptically which made Usopp, Nami, and Sanji very concerned.
"Let's go back to a more positive topic...like that.," spoke Galahad as he pointed to a familiar square object.
It was a Real Poneglyph- one of the four indestructible cubes made in Wano to preserve the message of the Void Century. One in Wano, One captured by Big Mom from an unknown location, One on Zou, and one taken from Fishman Island.
"White-Mustache asked me to take it somewhere after Jones and Linlin began to suspect things and felt that things were gonna go south if Blackbeard managed to take his territories to find it and Poseidon. So I take it here since the Giants are really divided for the first time in 800 years.," explained the Fishman.
"Thank you.," Robin spoke. "That was a true self...Eh?"
The crew then noticed a Dwarf chiseled it...it shattered into pieces. Robin went blank and turned white as a sheet. One of the things she searched for her and Luffy's sake...all gone.
"You...bastards...," Sanji began to speak with severe anger as he, Luffy, and Zoro began to march towards the Dwarf.
Alius got in their way as he did a protective pose before taking a bowing position.
"Forgive me...you would've found out anyway...," said the Dwarf as the fragments floated in the air in a specific pattern as if by magic as Robin memorized them along with the information she gathered.
"I know the full message...We have the coordinates.." she spoke as the crew outside of the new members were overjoyed. The Vegapunks smiled less earnestly while Gaban was scowling while Colon was bewildered.
"Yeah! That was anti-climatic but We've come so far! Laugh Tale ahead! Of course we gotta knock some sense into the Giants first!," shouted Usopp. "I don't know if you guys have beef that's justified or not, but a party can resolve all that tension."
"Wait...how come the World Government just stood by while Roger and his crew went to Laugh Tale?" asked Robin. "They seemed hellbent on killing off anyone who knew of how to read the Poneglyphs let alone know about the Void Century."
"Unless...they knew that they wouldn't...," spoke Franky. "Oh, come on. They're not that evil..."
Luffy then turned to Gaban who was trembling for the first time.
"Father...," spoke Colon.
"We were happy at the time of finally finding it...imagine years later when everything went to shit to find out it was a lie set by the Devil...We...didn't find Laughtale...I'm the only one alive that knows this...Rayleigh, Buggy, and Shanks have no idea...I've tried to tell them, but they didn't believe me...after what I had to do...," spoke the man as he struggled to find the words to say.
"Heheheh. Don't joke around like that...you're just being modest and trying to scare us...," Usopp spoke.
"What does the rest of it say, Robin?," asked Luffy.
Robin gulped as she replied with tears,
"This is where Laughtale is...Not! Byayaya. You actually believed this. I had to sprinkle some information since eventually people would try and find it. You should see the looks...on your faces...this island...is just an artificial creation...your Laughtale is too far away...but if you become our slave, you'll find it for us...One Piece...no, it's not sake...no it's not underwear...no it's not an empty treasure chest...yes it's real...it's just not here...you fools. Hashtag Shimotsuki V Byakuo future ancestor of Kuro. P.S. I hope he finds a place to relax from this pirate nonsense. P.S. The Real Poneglyphs were tampered with by the Kozuki Clan who are my vassals 800 years ago till their succeeding generations isolated and turned on me. Nefertari D. Lili's ploy was found out by Figarland Imu and he had her imprisoned since as a fellow King, she became immortal via the Eternal Youth Surgery...she was distraught...to find out her brother, Ramses not only gave the throne away to his son, but became a World Noble in her place...I'm sure the D Clan also anticipated this...and have set up countermeasures...but for you have found this island and spread misinformation. Congrats on deceiving the world...I can't wait to see your faces when you realize it's a lie, much like Frost Claus is a lie.," she spoke as she fell to her knees.
"What's Frost Claus-," asked Chopper before recognizing the severity of the tone.
Usopp punched a nearby rock with a serenely, eerily serious look with his eyes boiling with rage.
"I feel like this is gonna be a detour.," Sanji spoke. "But I sense that geezer's really makin' himself comfy in Wano. Seeing a one Government shot making himself comfy in our turf and making the people we're protecting isn't really our style. Imagine what he might be doing to Hiyori."
"I understand being tricked-," Alius spoke before noticing Luffy's Haki spike up as it caused intense pressure.
"I'm leaving how to fix Elbaf's mess in Usopp's hands. This is his dream and it's being ruined by bastards from outside. He wants to prove himself a brave man of the sea to them. Don't sell him out short. He's strong," explained Luffy as Zoro, Sanji, and Jinbe joined him.
"Sir Galahad. We may have only known each other for a little while but I deeply appreciate you saving my life and that of Franky despite how I did nothing to prevent your father's antics and having to repress resentment for him being more favored in your mentor's eyes. Protect the others.," he spoke.
"Luffy. He's got swords. I'll deal with him. If any bastard tries to take advantage of the chaos- drive 'em out. We all have duties. You guys deal in Elbaf while we take care of what we do as an Emperor crew. Egghead was a bad first impression, time to really show the Government what we're made of.," Zoro spoke.
"That's reckless and stupid to leave up to us...but I'm used to us splitting up to cover more ground.," Nami said as she looked at the rest of the crew.
"You're talking like I have a way to get there...which I do...Give him hell.," Alius spoke as he muttered in an ancient tone as a portal appeared right in the Wano throne room.
Momonosuke was in angered tears as were his vassals. Byakuo glance in the right side turned to absolute bewilderment as he saw Luffy and his three commanders emerge from a portal.
"We didn't eliminate the Nidavell? Damnit, Allister, Ruth, and Caramel. You weren't thorough eno-," he said before Luffy punched him to several floors into the basement.
Momonosuke was overcome with emotions at the miracle.
"Sorry. Had to punch him. He pissed me off. Zoro...you take it from here...Blackbeard...and another guy...I gotta remind them not to mess with my friends.," spoke Luffy as he dashed out of the tower.
Zoro noticed that Kouzuki Sukiyaki was unconscious with several teeth missing and his eyes rolled back.
"It's good to see you. Zorojuro. I'm not sure how you came here, it must be through the bonds you built in a short time to pull off a miracle. It's shameful time and space has to warp for you to take care of our messes.," Denjro spoke.
"Why is he knocked out? Was it the geezer?," asked Zoro.
"No, it was karma. Karma for informing Byakuo of Oden going with Roger and then conversing with a man called Allister- a fellow member of a cabal of 20 or more who have run the world for centuries. He tampered with his friends' dream...and allowed Oden to be murdered at the hands of that four-eyed demon. And not by Kaido as we once thought.," Kin'emon spoke.
"Oi. Oi. This feels like a retcon. Your story's sounding weird.," said Sanji.
"Kaido claimed that he killed her but through the Illusion-Illusion and his Observation Cloaking- he was able to trick the former Emperor that he slew Higurashi but in truth it was Higurashi who died boiling in the pot, convinced she was Oden. The real Oden was taken in Mary Geoise after he was tricked by Higurashi and killed by Byakuo who revealed his treacherous actions in creating Wano as a vacation spot for him. No one was allowed to leave here due to him wanting as many vassals to survive a purge via a flood planned by the World Government," spoke Denjiro.
"Sounds like a convoluted mind fuck. Higurashi must've had Kurei's Devil Fruit to pull it off. Still, even if I don't know everything. He's no Shogun of Wano to me. I want to know...how to cut down an immortal.," Zoro said as he leaped down towards the hole Luffy created.
He landed only to see a shocking sight-
Accompanying Byakuo was a woman with dark blue hair and large, dark eyes dressed in a beige kimono with red flame trimming patterns.
"Tashigi...no...Kuina?," asked Zoro.
"So you know a member of my KATANA? No. 5?," asked the Elder.
"You're alive?," Zoro asked before the woman slashed at him.
Next Chapter: King Durinn
Author Notes: From now on, the stories will be inter-spliced when things are relevant.
The first half was mainly to introduce Alister who will play a big role in Elbaf, but especially Usopp's narrative. The 2nd half was to give Luffy and his top commanders a reason to leave so Elbaf can retain some tension due to the Monster Quartet not being there to undermine them while facing a threat of their caliber. And a reasons to justify their leaving such as the dreams of the Roger Pirates being tarnished.