Wano Country was destroyed.
Though several hundred samurai escaped, in these survivors' hearts, Wano was no different from annihilated. No one could imagine what they'd encountered.
Undead enemies. Comrades suddenly becoming enemies.
If Silas's appearance only made Wano samurai realize the outside world had terrifying powerhouses capable of fighting ten thousand alone, then what happened afterward truly made them realize Silas hadn't been joking. Wano Country had been eliminated by the times.
Before world-class powerhouses, current Wano without even one great swordsman was meat on the chopping block.
Shimotsuki Shinko looked dazed. She'd once dreamed of leaving Wano Country, but when that day truly came, she infinitely wished nothing had happened.
"I understand the situation."
When Shinko's group found Silas, it was three months after Wano's fall. During this time, Silas and White Wolf Pirates had been busy preparing to face the World Government. They hadn't expected the World Government to strike three months earlier.
Why Wano Country? Because as initially stated, possessing elite samurai yet lacking top-tier fighters, Wano was like fragrant cake. Their nature was actually the same as Elbaf's.
However, Elbaf still had a Giant King. Years ago, Marines and CP organizations captured Elbaf through surprise attacks because Elbaf was completely unprepared. Now, Elbaf remained in high alert. Even if Imu personally acted, taking the prepared Giant Kingdom was impossible.
Moreover, Harald was stronger than five years ago. Though missing a leg, for top-tier fighters, injuries were inevitable. What truly determined their strength was still Haki.
Continuous battles, clashing with top-tier fighters—for prime-aged Harald, this was excellent training. Silas had even forgotten Harald was only over a hundred this year. By human standards, under thirty, his combat power is still in rapid growth.
After adapting to his missing leg, his barely Admiral-level strength had risen rather than fallen. Rona could no longer defeat him.
Rona, reduced to a combat power measurement unit, was quite displeased, but she was an aging woman. Though Pure Gold now guaranteed her condition wouldn't decline further, becoming stronger depended on luck.
Regardless, Wano Country's fall had already happened. News of eleven allied nations withdrawing ultimately made the World Government feel crisis, so they hastily enhanced combat power.
Bad news: Wano fell.
Good news: Elder Tentsuki Takiichi escaped.
Wano samurai still had some backbone. After the Flower Capital fell, regional daimyo ultimately chose to cover the retreat, helping Shinko and Takiichi, these elderly, young, sick, and weak, escape. Among them were Kozuki family retainers who desperately protected Kozuki Oden's escape.
Initially, Wano samurai suspected this enemy might have been summoned by Silas. After all, the timing was too coincidental. Shortly after Silas left Wano, enemies attacked.
Before Silas appeared, Wano had seen no outsiders for over a century, let alone invaders. But after understanding outside news, they immediately fell silent.
They'd thought White Wolf Pirates was just an evil pirate crew, never imagining that in the outside world's newspapers, White Wolf Pirates was actually the world's most vicious pirate crew. Not only repeatedly defeating the world's strongest violence organization, the Marines invasions, but even once attacking the world nobles Celestial Dragons' Holy Land.
Comparing newspaper information, they discovered those who attacked Wano were likely White Wolf Pirates enemies, namely, these seas' controllers: the World Government!
Though Kozuki Sukiyaki was captured and Wano occupied by enemies, the escaped samurai hadn't given up. Because hope remained. Their served lord still had descendants.
As long as Kozuki Oden lived, they had hope for national restoration! The enemy's enemy is a friend. Though very displeased with Silas who'd recently invaded Wano, facing the terrifyingly powerful World Government, probably only Silas worldwide could help them.
So they spent months finally finding White Wolf Pirates Sphinx Island base, finding Silas.
"You're saying you want me to help Wano restore their nation?"
"Correct!" The man named Shimotsuki Kouzaburou spoke resolutely. "If you help our Wano restore, then we can become your backup, assisting you against the World Government!"
After months, Kouzaburou's face showed less naivety and more composure. Even loving swords, when talking with Silas, he no longer stared randomly at Silas's famous blades.
"Stop, stop, stop." Silas stopped Kouzaburou from continuing. "First stay at Sphinx. With your strength, you at least won't starve. Don't mention restoration now. I can't help you short-term."
Ignoring Kouzaburou's anxious expression, Silas directly sent everyone away.
"Where did these people come from?" Sitting in White Wolf Pirates reception hall, eating cookies while watching this farce from beginning to end, Rona muttered, "Why are they all empty promises? If I'm not mistaken, all of Wano is just these few hundred people, half elderly and weak."
So-called restoration was basically no different from White Wolf Pirates alone facing Wano plus the World Government. After all, among these hundreds, strong samurai could be counted on two hands. Effort and gain were completely disproportionate!
"They at least brought us one piece of news, didn't they?" Without knowing about Wano's fall, when White Wolf Pirates and the World Government fought next, they'd be surprised to discover the enemy suddenly had an undead army.
"Worst case, we can only abandon our hard-won achievements."
"Can you bear it?"
"You must give to gain."
Those eleven allied nations were entirely Silas's single-handed achievement. No conspiracies or tricks. He'd honorably stormed Mary Geoise, honorably faced the World Government, and finally honorably departed.
Silas's current subordinate forces: White Wolf Pirates, New Marines, and Giant Kingdom Elbaf. Ordinary people wouldn't distinguish allies. They only knew defector former Admiral Rona was close with Silas, and Giant King Harald had fought alongside Silas multiple times.
Thinking this way, just Silas's forces could rival the entire Marines. Fighting the entire World Government might be difficult, but in the New World's territory, even the World Government probably couldn't easily make Silas submit, right?
This was why those allied nations were willing to gamble. Because just Silas's displayed strength already completely matched the World Government's Marines!
As for the Five Elders and Holy Knights, even allied nation kings attending World Conferences might not know the truth, not realizing they were the World Government's final guarantee for maintaining power.
So they stepped forward, choosing to bet everything on Silas. But if Silas retreated this time, White Wolf Pirates entire momentum would plummet. World Government prestige would recover to its previous peak.
But as Silas said, sometimes you should abandon when necessary. Giving up on ventures without visible victory was also a better choice.
"However, the World Government's cards are all showing, while mine haven't been played yet."
Not just top-tier fighters. They had huge gaps. Including mid-low-level forces, they had massive differences from the World Government. But this wasn't without solutions!
The World Government had hundreds of allied nations as reserve troop sources, but worldwide, many strong fighters were unwilling to obey them. Years earlier, when his strength and prestige were insufficient, he definitely wouldn't have done this.
But now, the time was ripe!
Helping Wano restore? Silas currently wouldn't consider it. Supporting those eleven allied nations was the top priority!
Soon, news from Sphinx spread, eventually sweeping these seas.
Want to know why White Wolf Silas regained youth?
Want to know why White Wolf Silas became so powerful?
The answer lies at Sphinx!
White Wolf Pirates possessed secret medicine that could restore youth. Come and get it!
Once this news broke, the entire sea boiled. White Wolf Pirates possessing Pure Gold was no longer secret. Reportedly, White Wolf Pirates had an entire Pure Gold lanternfish. Just staying inside the lanternfish could greatly slow aging.
This alone was enough to drive many wealthy individuals suffering from severe illness or aging's torment crazy, but before White Wolf Pirates confirmation, they still had concerns. Moreover, Pure Gold only slowed cellular aging, not restored youth. The difference was quite large.
Many people's ideal immortality was eternal youth. Removing any prerequisite greatly reduced temptation. And White Wolf Pirates possessed secret medicine restoring youth plus Pure Gold? Wasn't that the most ideal eternal youth?
Suddenly, forget the world. Even pirates and merchants doing business at Sphinx grew restless. What kept them sober was Silas's name!
From first setting sail to now standing at the world's peak, Silas's reputation was built through battles! Ninety-nine percent of people couldn't even pass Silas's Haki judgment. Another ninety-nine percent would be killed by Silas's casual large-area attacks.
Finally, the one-in-ten-thousand remaining could still stand facing Silas, yet they'd directly faint. Seeing Silas was like glimpsing something utterly beyond comprehension!
So even the most vicious pirates, hearing Silas's name, would restrain their restless hearts. Silas didn't need their loyalty. This was just a transaction. Silas traded youth for their service.
And this youth naturally wasn't permanent.
"These are ten thousand youth hormone doses. One dose can restore youth for one day. Combined with Pure Gold, duration can extend indefinitely." Stussy held up a small vial. "The drawback is excessive Haki use will greatly shorten youth restoration time. Shortest might be instantaneous reversion."
At this point, Stussy couldn't help glaring at Silas. After leaving Wano, Silas had grabbed Stussy as labor. Making ten thousand youth hormone doses in under half a year meant she spent almost all her time on this.
But results were gratifying. Only those who'd experienced aging knew how tempting youth was. Not just women. Men likewise.
For those who'd once possessed great power, the hardest thing to endure wasn't just their aging appearance, but carefully trained muscles gradually atrophying with time. That feeling of stamina declining from its peak and battles becoming increasingly exhausting was unforgettable for life.
So with just this small vial, Silas could win over countless once-powerful individuals now weakened by aging. And Silas had tested the medicine's effectiveness.
Hundred-million-level Haki wouldn't affect the medicine at all. Two-hundred-million-level Haki would halve duration. Three-hundred-million-level Haki would drastically reduce duration to minutes.
And this was just using Haki, not deliberately resisting the medicine's effects. Otherwise, any Admiral-level fighter could directly nullify the medicine.
Even so, these medicines were enough to make old folks nearly dead yet unwilling to fade quietly crawl from coffins to serve him. Might not have top-tier fighters, but hundred-million-level great pirates in the New World were definitely numerous!
Seven Warlords? Holy Knights? I'll use overwhelming numbers and drown you all!
The World Government first dealt with Wano rather than directly warring with them, ultimately providing considerable breathing room. What White Wolf Pirates needed now was precisely time!
Looking at Stussy's created medicine, the delighted Silas was about to leave when he didn't notice Stussy had somehow pressed close. The warmth of her body pressed against his back, the girl's tone playful yet melancholic.
"Captain Silas, have you forgotten what you promised me?" Her breath was warm against his ear. "I worked so hard. Can't Captain give me a small reward?"
Whether figure or looks, Stussy was at life's most youthful peak. Wasn't this also a kind of youth's temptation?