"El-onii, is this Wano try?"

  At midday, uhe bzing sun, Linlin stood at the edge of the Atntis floating fortress, gazing at the turbulehe waters were treacherous, littered with reefs, and ahead loomed an enormous, seemingly insurmountable waterfall. Her face was lit with excitement.

  "Yes, we've arrived," El firmed, his eyes sharp and a faint smile on his face.

  If not for his pns for Totto Land, he would have e to Wano long ago.

  "It's not far from Elbaf, but this is my first time here!" Sitting atop a giant bubble Homie, Gerd, now visibly pregnant, observed the intimidating sea and terrain. "With such perilous waters and that t waterfall encirg the entire try, it's no wonder even the Wover hasn't been able to i easily."

  "Yes, the try's overall strength is siderable, but it's no lohe 'try of Gold' it once was..." El folded his arms and spoke calmly. "turies of isotion have protected it to some extent, but it has also left the people uneducated and disected from the outside world. Even the Wover isn't fully aware of Wano's true strength, still imagining it as the legendary nd of swordsmanship where warriors like Ryuma could fend off fleets and pirates with ease.

  "That alone has kept the Wover hesitant—not to mention Wano's abundant resources, especially its vast seastone reserves, which would otherwise be enough to make the Gover send aire fleet to cim it."

  El turned his gaze to a golden-haired young woman of about 20 years old, roached with a fident smile. "It's your turn, Ruth," he said.

  After liberating numerous sves from the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, Barry and the others had brought back people of various races: Humans, Minks, Fish-Men, Merfolk, Snake-ribe, Longarm Tribe, Loribe, and Horned Folk, among others.

  There were even hybrids, the result of the Celestial Dragons' twisted indulgences—Longarm and Longleg mixes, Mink and Fish-Men binations, and even the exceedingly rare Mink-Giant hybrids.

  El saw potential in several of these individuals and inteo train them, creating a future geion of reliable mid-level batants for the Fallen Angel Pirates.

  With leaders like Moss, Rock, and Jien remaining in Totto Land to defend its waters and oversee the training of these new recruits, El pced his trust in Ruth, a capable intelligence agent chosen by Sally, the "Shapeshifting Witch."

  Though Ruth was just beginning her Haki training, she had already mastered all six teiques of the Rokushiki.

  "Leave it to me, El-sama," Ruth replied with a fident smile.

  Thanks to her abilities as a user of the Imitation Fruit, she had bee with El to Wano to infiltrate its ranks.

  "Little Oars, you'll apany Ruth for now. Make sure she's safe," El instructed the two-meter-tall, blue-faced Little Oars, who sat atop a bubble Homie.

  Wano, after all, was a nd of samurai with a fierd warlike culture. Ruth's current strength wasn't enough to handle every threat, and having Little Oars nearby would provide an added yer of security.

  Rather than ung a direct assault with his Homie army to quer the nation, El preferred a more subtle approach.

  Ruth, using her imitation abilities, would repce the current shogun, Kozuki Sukiyaki, and assume his identity as a "tyrant." Ag as Sukiyaki, she would systematically elimihersome daimyō and potential rebels while driving the nation into despair.

  By the time "Sukiyaki" had reduced the nation to a starving, chaotic mess, alienating the people from the Kozuki , El would arrive as a savior, liberating Wano from its suffering.

  He would further solidify his position by perf "miracles" using his ability to trol nature, dazzling the popution into revering him as a divine figure.

  In this isoted nation, where the people had little education or worldly knowledge, such demonstrations would easily elevate El to the status of a "Sun God" in their eyes.

  "Leave it to me! I'll make you proud, El!" Little Oars bared his sharp teeth, smming his fist into his chest with fidence.

  "El-sama, why ablish a research base here? It feels safer than Totto Land and less vulnerable tover interference," suggested Ryan, the crew's stist.

  "That was already my iion," El replied with a smirk. "And I also pn to build a rge ons factory here."

  Wano's rich mineral deposits and abundant workforce made it an ideal location for manufacturing ons and dug experiments.

  By showing the people small acts of kindness, he could earn their gratitude and loyalty, turning them into diligent borers willing to sacrifice even their souls.

  However, El knew he had to maintain a bance. Giving the people too much would risk making them pt, which could lead to greed and u.

  Moreover, Totto Land's development remained his priority; he couldn't afford to divert excessive resources to Wano.

  "Before overthrowing the Wover and uniting the seas, sacrifices must be made. For now, Wano will bear that burdehought.

  The Atntis rose over Wano's t waterfall, settling in the try's inner sea.

  Soon after, scouts captured a lone samurai wandering along the coastline.

  El swiftly used his powers to extract the man's memories, gaining insight into Wano's geography and current situation.

  "Aside from Onigashima, the isnd used for exiling criminals, Wano's main regions are divided into six territories: Kuri, Kibi, Udo, Hakumai, and the Flower Capital," he expio Ruth. "The Flower Capital is Wano's political heart, where Shogun Kozuki Sukiyaki resides. The ions are governed by daimyō, who act as regional lords uhe shogun."

  Pointing toward the dire of the Flower Capital, El gave his final instrus. "Your destination is the Flower Capital. Infiltrate the shogun's pad observe for now. Once I've set up my end, we'll coordio avoid any mistakes."

  "Uood, El-sama. You t on me," Ruth replied, her expression fident.

  Using her powers, she transformed into the captured samurai's exact likeness a off toward the Flower Capital with the tiny Little Oars in tow.

  Meanwhile, the Atntis moved north under El's and, heading toward Ringo.

  Bleam