One Piece - I Am A Different Luffy! - Chapter 434 - World's Reaction to the Impending Wano War 01!

Chapter Size: 2100 Words.]
Third Person POV

New Word.

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Luffy was now with his entire crew: Yamato, Zoro, Kuina, Shirahoshi, Usopp, Chopper, Lami, Reiju, Nami, Nojiko, Alvida, Vivi, Robin, Hachi, Baby-5, Chouchou, Bepo, Enel, Hugo, Jimbei, Lucy, Domino, Monet, Perona, Rebecca, Bonney, Franky, Brook, and Uta.

Everyone gathered in front of the golden castle built by Skypeia as he announced their next steps and how they would handle Wano. The meeting lasted for an hour, during which he looked at each of his crew members individually. This was the official Black Pearl crew, 29 members, with more expected to join in the future after Wano. Luffy was confident in them.

"I understand, Captain... you want us to gain the country's support first..." Bepo commented, showing admiration.

"Yes... I don’t just want to take down Kaido... Wano needs to be freed differently... Wano needs to support us, too. I don’t want to do everything for them, or they’ll think they’ll be treated the same way Kaido did once we take over. That’s why I want the country’s internal support. We need the samurai," Luffy said seriously.

"Luffy, I understand your reasoning... but how do you plan to do that? As soon as we're seen, we won’t even reach Wano’s lands without facing direct conflict..." Kuina remarked.

"Because support from the lesser folk... they should worship and obey us after we defeat these guys," Enel sneered from the side.

"I think we should just defeat them and head to Egghead; we’ve wasted too much time here already," Bonney said, eager to see Vegapunk as soon as possible.

"..." Luffy took a deep breath after each comment from his crew, though Kuina had a more logical approach.

"We have two ways to do this, addressing Kuina’s point..." Luffy began. "Through the air... Kaido and Big Mom can’t control the airspace, and when we move the fleet, they’ll know we’re drawing a lot of attention. So, we’ll proceed with an aerial invasion. As for gathering support from the samurai, we’ll do it in small numbers, just a team working under the shadows in various parts of Wano. It should be fairly simple, and from what the samurai we’re in touch with has mentioned, Kaido is depriving the people of food. That must be causing major unrest in the country, especially with Big Mom there as well." Luffy explained with his arms crossed.

"I see... that sounds interesting. I'd like to take part," Zoro said with a smile.

"Great, then you all have two days to prepare. Meanwhile, we need to handle some things happening on this sea right now. That Shichibukai has still been contacting us constantly?" Luffy asked Jimbei, who had taken on the role of a kind of foreign minister, organizing everything for them and their allies.

"Yes, he seems quite hurried now that the World Government’s meeting is being expedited," Jimbei replied.

"I figured... after all, at this meeting, some interesting things will be on the agenda: firstly, the declaration of all the countries that won’t attend, and clearly, they’re turning their backs on the government. And believe me... there are many," Luffy said.

"Are you saying that..." Vivi murmured, looking at Luffy with concern.

"Your father will be safer in Alabasta, trust me, Vivi. Anyway, it’s the only country I’ll remove from the first line of the Grand Line; I’ll place it in Wano once we take the territory," Luffy said. He had asked Cobra not to attend the meeting, unlike other countries.

The Goa Kingdom, with Queen Makino, the Syrup Kingdom with Queen Kaya, and the Cocoyasi Kingdom with the mayor as the acting king—these were the East Blue kingdoms participating in the meeting due to the state of their nations and how they had developed. Syrup Kingdom had become a sort of Water 7 for shipbuilding in that Blue, and Cocoyasi was known for its agriculture and powerful port, established long ago due to the clash of two Eikons.

Luffy stopped pondering this and spoke again. "Returning to the Shichibukai topic, he’s desperate and will do anything to join our crew. After all, the program is about to end at this meeting, and he needs to infiltrate our crew," Luffy explained, knowing that there was one of the Seven Warlords, with three still unknown, due to Doflamingo’s death, the absence of Trafalgar Law, and Hancock’s announcement as his wife to the world. They were still a mystery to Luffy.

Although one of them wanted to join, it was obvious he was a government spy… likely a Holy Knight placed by the government’s force, and Luffy still didn’t know how to handle him.

He knew that even with everything set to go to Wano, things were far more complicated than they seemed. First, he had to deal with some people he hadn’t faced since arriving in Dressrosa, allowing him to focus solely on building up his fleet.

His crew absorbed his words about the Shichibukai being abolished at this moment, looking at him in surprise.

“You’re saying that…” Bonney murmured.

“Your father is still useful to the government, so everything will be fine until we reach Egghead…” Luffy continued. “Don’t ask me how I know this; I just do.” Luffy shrugged.

“So… what’s the plan, Luffy?” Nami asked.

“As I said, many things will happen at this meeting, but what matters to us is the war with Wano. We’ll deal with the government later, though I’m expecting an attack from them both in Wano and Dressrosa,” Luffy said.

“They would attack here with an admiral already in custody?!” Rebecca murmured.

“I’m not sure, but let’s assume they will and prepare. I’ll leave a few captains here,” Luffy replied.

Everyone nodded, and then Lucy approached her brother. “You said we’re going somewhere else. What would that be?” she asked curiously.

“There’s someone with a very dangerous plan to destroy the New World, so we’re going to stop him. I want you to do this on your own because he is… Zephyr,” Luffy said.

“Trainer Zephyr?!” Lucy exclaimed in surprise.

“Yes… be ready tomorrow; we’ll leave at dawn,” Luffy said as Lucy nodded.

“Luffy… did you see today’s newspaper? It just arrived…” Usopp approached Luffy as Lucy left.

“No, but I can imagine what it might be…” Luffy commented, glancing at the newspaper Usopp handed him.

Since he’d spoken with Morgans yesterday, while the journalist was trying to infiltrate to gather information about them, Luffy had confronted him and decided to share a few important things—after all, it would be good for the world to know these things.

In the newspaper, unsurprisingly, was Luffy’s declaration that he was preparing his crew to head to Wano. The paper detailed the movements and steps of the Straw Hat crew, declaring to the world that, finally, a large-scale war was about to happen in Wano. Meanwhile, Dressrosa appeared to be in full preparation for battle.

He couldn’t help but wonder how the world would react to this, with two major events happening simultaneously. People were eagerly waiting for the outcome of the meeting at Mary Geoise among all the kingdoms affiliated with the world government, as many things were happening globally, and the government needed to make a decision. Others speculated on what would happen in the New World in the Yonko conflict and how the government would respond to the end of this war.

Although Luffy had earned a great deal of prestige by now, he would still be up against two Yonkos simultaneously, with two entire fleets. It was clear that Kaido and Big Mom had far more people than he did, exceeding one hundred thousand soldiers, while he was advancing with a force of around twenty to thirty thousand—a much smaller number. Even so, the Straw Hats stood firm.

Luffy turned the newspaper, putting the subject aside, as he couldn’t see the public’s reaction immediately, though he was curious to know how people would respond. On another page, the newspaper mentioned the sixth child of a certain couple, which made Luffy think of Shanks and how he would react to this news of him and Uta having a child.

Luffy then set the newspaper aside. “Anyway, thanks, Usopp. I’m going to organize a few things now,” he said, leaving his companions for a moment.

Everyone nodded as Luffy walked off alone, moving forward to prepare the details of his plans, even without revealing everything to the crew. He knew he always needed a strategy to handle this kind of situation, avoiding any disadvantage and even planning the next steps all the way to the final island. After all, he was the leader responsible not only for his companions and friends but also for his family and children, whom he had to protect.

Meanwhile, in Dressrosa, the city woke up bustling with activity. A man was walking through the streets with a cane, his hands gripping a Seastone chain firmly. This had become a daily routine for him, as ever since Luffy declared that he liked him, he hadn’t kept him in a cell and had even given him a house on the condition that he wouldn’t harm the country or attempt to escape.

Fujitora walked calmly, but soon his ears picked up on the conversations of the townspeople that morning.

“So it’s starting… They’ll be leaving soon.”

“Will Dressrosa be alright without them? After all, we’re enemies of the government now, aren’t we?”

“Who needs the government or the Marines? But yes… they might attack us. Still, I believe the Straw Hat must have some plan in mind!” someone else commented.

“Yes, they’re heading to Wano to defeat those evil guys. They say Wano is like our kingdom was under Doflamingo, enslaved in silence… no, it’s even worse. I heard that over there, they’re starving while the shogun and Kaido treat their people like real slaves.”

“That’s terrible! I hope the Straw Hat and his crew free the country like they did with Dressrosa.”

“Let’s wait and see what happens. I’m sure they’ll succeed and soon be back here, protecting Dressrosa again.”

The conversations continued, all focused on the great war that was about to happen. Since the Battle of the Best at Marineford over a year ago, the world once again found itself on the brink of a new war, now among pirates, which would decide the future of the New World.

Fujitora said nothing as he walked. He knew this would happen, but hearing people speak this way made him feel strange. After all, everyone saw the pirate as a hero, not as someone the Marines should be fighting. In a way, Fujitora thought this perspective made sense, considering the Marines hadn’t done anything to change Dressrosa. It took a pirate to transform this kingdom into what it is today, and now Wano would likely go through the same.

“I hope he succeeds. These people seem quite happy with the way things are,” Fujitora murmured to himself as he entered a betting establishment he frequented daily.

He could go there as long as he earned his own money, something he managed by doing various jobs. He was quite kind to the locals, who found it curious how an admiral behaved and didn’t complain.

“You came?” a voice sounded from a corner as Fujitora approached.

“Yes, I’m here, and this time, I’ll beat you,” he replied.

“Good, that’s great! More money for me and a way to ease my boredom,” the mysterious man responded, while Fujitora nodded in silence. This man was extremely powerful, as his Haki sensed—perhaps as strong as he was, or maybe even stronger, even without using his Devil Fruit.

This mysterious opponent he had met while betting had been in Dressrosa for a long time, saying he was there for Monkey D. Luffy. He had even managed to enter the country, but Luffy always said he would talk to him later. And so, the man had spent a month in Dressrosa, gambling and enjoying what the kingdom had to offer, as if on vacation, waiting for the day he could fight Luffy, as the young pirate had proposed since they met in Impel Down.