After the brief meeting ended, Ian immediately summoned Aunt Linlin, Redfield, and Shanks.
He told them to hurry and call back all of their top subordinates.
"So soon?"
Shanks was a little surprised. "I thought we'd have to wait a while longer!"
"Because things have been progressing far more smoothly than I expected."
Ian replied, "At most, in a little over a month, the war should begin."
Hearing this, the three no longer hesitated. Each of them went back to contact their people, ordering them to head toward Wano at the fastest possible speed.
Well, strictly speaking, it should have been only two of them. Redfield didn't really count.
After all, Cross Guild was already directly under Ian's control. The only remaining major officers, Shiryu and World, were already Ian's subordinates.
In short, Aunt Linlin and Shanks contacted the Charlotte Family and the Red-Haired Pirates respectively, urging them to rush to Wano and regroup.
About three weeks later, the Charlotte Family's fleet and the Red Force arrived in Wano at almost the exact same time.
Both sides even boarded the enormous lift at the same time, descending together into the depths of Wano.
When they ran into each other on the lift, Katakuri looked at the members of the Red-Haired Pirates and spoke calmly.
"I never thought there would come a day when we'd be fighting side by side."
"Thank Ian for that."
Red-Haired Pirates' vice-captain, Benn Beckman, replied flatly.
"That man really is a creator of miracles. Who could've imagined that one day the most terrifying pirate crews in the world would stand together?"
With the Whitebeard Pirates effectively disbanded, the world's strongest pirates had indeed gathered in this country—gathered under Ian's command.
Katakuri fell silent, while the other officers of the Charlotte Family wore complicated expressions.
Unlike the Red-Haired Pirates, who had already chosen to cooperate with the Beasts Pirates, they had been forced into this alliance. Naturally, resentment and unwillingness lingered in their hearts.
But there was no other choice.
They lacked the power to resist the Beasts Pirates, and even less the power to resist Ian.
All they could do was hope this war would end well—and that they themselves would have a good outcome once it was over.
At the upper port of Hakumai, Shanks and Aunt Linlin were waiting to receive them.
"So, Captain, what exactly is on the final island?"
"Mama! What is the great treasure, really?!"
As their ships headed toward Onigashima, the members of the Red-Haired Pirates and the Charlotte Family officers almost simultaneously asked similar questions.
By the time they arrived at Onigashima, both sides had already learned everything that had happened during this period.
As a result, they all stared in awe at the massive black warship moored in Onigashima's harbor.
"Pluton, huh?"
Even Beckman couldn't help but feel astonished.
"A legendary Ancient Weapon… I wonder just how much power it holds."
On the Charlotte Family's side, Cracker could barely contain the excitement in his voice.
"Mama! If you just turn that ship into a Homie, then what is there to fear from the Beasts Pirates?!"
The Charlotte officers froze for a moment before suddenly realizing that what Cracker said actually made sense.
Turning the Ancient Weapon Pluton into a Homie—wouldn't that make it the strongest weapon in the world?
But Aunt Linlin rolled her eyes.
"That ship can't be used right now. It has no energy source."
And besides—
Even if it did have power, how could that bastard Ian ever give her such an opportunity?
They didn't even have the right to get close to Pluton. Bullet and Mihawk were always stationed aboard that massive warship.
The brothers and sisters of the Charlotte Family couldn't hide their disappointment.
After all, if they truly could seize Pluton, then they would possess the power to turn everything around.
But now, they could only obediently submit to Ian's control.
Shiryu and World, acting as representatives of the Cross Guild, arrived even later than the others.
Since Shiryu had already pledged allegiance to Ian, he naturally felt no psychological burden at all. The moment he set foot on Onigashima, he enthusiastically went straight to Ian and began fawning over him.
World, on the other hand, was far more straightforward. As soon as they met, he urged Ian to hurry up and start the war.
Not long after Shiryu and the others arrived, yet another group showed up.
"Sabo!!"
A ship had only just entered the hidden harbor and come to a stop at the port deep within the cavern when a figure impatiently leapt onto the deck.
Ace's gaze swept greedily across the deck, quickly locking onto one particular person.
A slightly worn black trench coat, a top hat perched on his head, a steel pipe strapped to his back. Golden hair, handsome features.
"Ace!!"
The young man, the same age as Ace, burst into tears the instant he saw him and rushed forward.
The two embraced tightly without hesitation.
"You bastard! How many years has it been since we last saw each other?!"
Ace pounded his brother's back hard, so excited that a bubble of snot formed at his nose. He looked utterly disheveled, yet incomparably happy.
"I nearly got scared to death when I heard you joined the Beasts Pirates! In the end, none of the three of us even formed our own pirate crew!"
"I'm the one who should say that! Who would've thought you'd become part of the Revolutionary Army? But thank goodness, Sabo—you're alive!"
"That just leaves Luffy. No idea how that kid's doing now."
"I heard he's doing pretty well at Marineford. We'll have to figure out a way to get him and Gramps out of the Marines!"
"Yeah…"
The two boys, reunited after so many years apart, eagerly reminisced.
Standing nearby were Dragon, smiling faintly, along with the Revolutionary Army's cadres.
On the shore, Kuma and his wife were also there to welcome them.
Even slower than the Revolutionary Army's arrival was the team from the Giant Kingdom.
They had come aboard ships belonging to the Giant Warrior Pirates, but the one personally leading them was neither Dorry nor Brogy.
It was the Giant King himself.
All the strongest giant heroes of the entire Giant Kingdom were gathered aboard that single vessel.
At this moment, the Land of Wano had assembled an unprecedentedly terrifying concentration of power.
All that remained now was to wait for results from Vegapunk's side.
The wait was not long.
Just a few days later.
Navy Science Unit Base.
Before a massive metal container resembling an enormous furnace, Vegapunk and the scientists of the Navy Science Unit stood tense, peering through transparent glass as they observed what was happening inside.
Inside the glass was a transparent, unidentified liquid, and at its center, a faint glimmer flickered.
The tiny light jumped continuously, and suddenly, a small spark burst forth.
"Oh!!!"
Outside the container, all the scientists erupted into cheers, thrilled by what they were witnessing.
Even Vegapunk couldn't hide a rare smile. He raised his right hand and announced loudly, "It seems our research direction is correct!"
"If we continue along this line of study, in another three or four months, the research will be complete!"
"Truly worthy of Dr. Vegapunk!"
"An incredible idea—principles I've yet to fully comprehend!"
"Exactly! But that is Dr. Vegapunk!"
Every scientist spared no praise in expressing their admiration.
Only one figure, huddled in the corner, frowned in displeasure, pouted, and vanished into thin air as gas.
Amid the laughter and celebration, Vegapunk sighed softly to himself.
Finally, it was finished.
All that remained was to add the last ingredient, and the half-completed energy furnace would be fully operational.
Then…
**********
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