The Golden Dragon silently sailed across the vast seas of the New World.
Behind this enormous ship, a few smaller warships followed, forming a fleet that was enough to instill fear just by looking at it.
"But, Ian,"
Ian was sitting under a sunshade, playing cards with Law and Sanji.
While playing, Law casually asked, "Do you really think this will fool the World Government?"
"The Five Elders will never understand," Ian replied calmly, "the bond between Kaido-sensei and me."
How could the Five Elders believe that the cold and ruthless Kaido had now turned into a man who cares for his disciple?
They couldn't even begin to understand. Let alone being cautious, Kaido would actually want Ian to grow stronger, so they could have an intense battle together.
From their perspective, without any provocation from them, Ian and Kaido should naturally be at odds with each other.
After all, what ambitious ruler would tolerate having someone so powerful, influential, and formidable under their command?
If it were them, they would have eradicated Ian long ago. There's no way they'd allow him to grow this strong.
"It's a simple matter," Ian said casually. "We have plenty of reasons to go to war, and we've already started. What reason does the government have to doubt now?"
"Is that so?" Law was noncommittal about Ian's answer.
"Ian!!"
A dissatisfied shout came from nearby. It was Yamato, "Didn't you say you were going to help me train? What are you doing over there playing cards!"
"You promised to help me train!" Hancock, standing beside her, retorted in dissatisfaction, then smiled sweetly at Ian, her gaze gentle like water. "Ian…"
Ian sighed, putting down his cards. "Who's going to take over for me?"
"I, I, I!"
Viola raised her hand repeatedly.
Law immediately rolled his eyes, "Who wants to play cards with a woman who can see through everything?"
Viola provocatively said, "Law, you can use your ability too."
"So, you really plan on using your ability to see through everything?"
Law's lips twitched.
Sanji, however, said seriously, "Law, refusing a lady's request is not something a gentleman should do."
Law rolled his eyes and shouted loudly, "Drake, do you want to join?"
"No thanks!"
Not far away, Drake was fighting Jack.
Neither of them was using their abilities; they were simply clashing through hand-to-hand combat.
Drake was currently training in Haki.
His Observation Haki was on the verge of awakening, and his Armament Haki was about to reach the level of hardening.
Jack was fully assisting him.
He was attacking him ruthlessly, trying to force Drake to break through and evolve.
Just like what Ian was planning to do now.
"Are you two ready?"
Ian clenched his fists.
The Conqueror's Haki burst out in an instant, swirling like ominous black smoke rising into the sky.
"Being hit by a punch infused in Conqueror's Haki isn't something pleasant."
"Bring it on!"
Yamato had already entered her Beastman form, shouting loudly, "I'll definitely learn to use Conqueror's Haki!"
"I'll definitely learn it before her!"
Hancock also said firmly.
"Huh? What did you say?"
Yamato immediately flared up, "I definitely learned it first!"
"Alright," Ian waved his hand with a meaningful smile, "It's fine, gah, I'll beat both of you the same!"
Ian, the Martial God, advocates for gender equality.
"Here it comes!"
With a powerful leap, his fists swung in unison.
"Hiss—"
Not far away, after finishing his training, Ace, who was sitting on the deck and panting, watched wide-eyed as Ian sent both Yamato and Hancock flying with a single punch each. He couldn't help but gasp.
"Is this really training?"
"This is how it was when Ian asked Mihawk to help him train," Kuina explained, "Back then, Ian was beaten up pretty badly too."
Ace clicked his tongue.
Could it be that he would have to go through this kind of training in the future?
Not even allowed to fight back, just taking the beatings—how tragic!
Next to them, Zoro, sitting cross-legged on the ground, straightened his back.
Beside him were two swords, and a third sword with a purple scabbard was lying across his knees.
The green-haired boy took a deep breath and placed his hand on the hilt of the sword resting on his knee.
"Hey! Zoro! Another round?"
Ace couldn't help but ask, "That sword shouldn't be drawn so casually, right?"
"Do you really want to be sucked dry like a mummy?"
"I promised Ian I'd conquer these three swords!"
Zoro just grinned, "Enma is the most special! So I'll start with it!"
He gripped the hilt tightly and slightly unsheathed the sword.
It was in that instant that Zoro's body suddenly trembled, his pupils constricting.
A terrifying suction force came from the sword, Enma.
In just a moment, Zoro's palm had already become shriveled, and this shriveling spread from his wrist to his entire arm.
"Hey! I told you so!"
Ace couldn't help but move forward, wanting to snatch the sword from Zoro's hand.
This sight was not something they hadn't seen before. That sword had a problem!
But...
Kuina reached out and stopped him.
"Kuina?"
Ace was confused.
Did she want to watch Zoro get drained to death?
The blue-haired girl said seriously, "This is Zoro's fight!"
"What we need to do is trust him!"
Ace opened his mouth, unsure of what to say in response.
Zoro, however, gripped the handle of Enma tightly, unwilling to let go even though half of his arm had already been drained.
"Give it back to me!!"
He roared.
In an instant!
Though it was only for an instant, the upper part of his withered arm briefly regained its original fullness.
It quickly shriveled again, but Zoro's face bloomed with a smile.
"This is it! This is exactly it!"
Zoro grinned, "In the end, it's just a sword, right? Just listen to me and slash things like you're supposed to!!"
Then, before Ace's astonished eyes, Zoro's arm started to switch back and forth between fullness and withering.
"He actually did it?"
Ace blinked in surprise.
"Just like Zoro!"
Kuina couldn't help but admire.
This guy had the will of steel.
No matter how difficult it was, he would never give up.
Although in the past, Kuina would have called it sheer stubbornness.
"But, he's still far from it."
Ace glanced at the Enma.
It was just a slight unsheathing, the blade not even fully exposed.
Just this much required all of their strength. To completely draw the sword and reach the level of full control, who knows how long that would take.
"Keep going, Ace!"
Kuina flipped herself upright.
If Zoro was constantly putting in effort, then she certainly couldn't fall behind.
"Okay!"
Ace's gaze was equally intense.
After witnessing the battle between Kaido and Ian, a goal had already formed in his heart.
If he wanted to change the world, at the very least, he needed strength like Kaido's, right?
On the Golden Dragon ship, there was a vibrant atmosphere, with everything flourishing and competing for growth.
Solem and Himir, the two giants, were also learning the Six Styles from Black Maria.
Even Black Maria, standing over seven meters tall, could skillfully use the Six Styles, so surely they, over twenty meters, wouldn't be far behind?
Enel was over to the side, tinkering with his Observation Haki.
Even Law and Sanji, who were originally playing cards, were caught up in this atmosphere, instinctively beginning to train harder.
Everyone had a bright future ahead of them.
After another two weeks of sailing, the Golden Dragon ship returned to Hive Island.
The first thing they did upon returning to Hive Island was send out the pirates who had followed them.
They stationed them on various islands within the Hive Island Sea and began large-scale construction.
Building factories, airports, and bases.
The Shinuchi members who had consumed artificial Devil Fruits served as commanders, and with the scattered giants, they were more than capable of taking control of the entire situation.
Ian's arrangements had just been completed when Stussy came knocking.
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