The Strongest Lunarian in One Piece

"El-oniichan, is this Wano Country?"

At midday, under the blazing sun, Linlin stood at the edge of the Atlantis floating fortress, gazing at the turbulent sea. The 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 confirmed, his eyes sharp and a faint smile on his face.

If not for his plans for Totto Land, he would have come 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 towering waterfall encircling the entire country, it's no wonder even the World Government hasn't been able to invade it easily."

"Yes, the country's overall strength is considerable, but it's no longer the 'Country of Gold' it once was..." El folded his arms and spoke calmly. "Centuries of isolation have protected it to some extent, but it has also left the people uneducated and disconnected from the outside world. Even the World Government isn't fully aware of Wano's true strength, still imagining it as the legendary land of swordsmanship where warriors like Ryuma could fend off fleets and pirates with ease.

"That alone has kept the World Government hesitant—not to mention Wano's abundant resources, especially its vast seastone reserves, which would otherwise be enough to make the Government send an entire fleet to claim it."

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

After liberating numerous slaves from the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, Barry and the others had brought back people of various races: Humans, Minks, Fish-Men, Merfolk, Snake-Neck Tribe, Longarm Tribe, Longleg Tribe, 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 combinations, and even the exceedingly rare Mink-Giant hybrids.

El saw potential in several of these individuals and intended to train them, creating a future generation of reliable mid-level combatants 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 placed 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 techniques of the Rokushiki.

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

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

"Little Oars, you'll accompany 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 land of samurai with a fierce and warlike culture. Ruth's current strength wasn't enough to handle every threat, and having Little Oars nearby would provide an added layer of security.

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

Ruth, using her imitation abilities, would replace the current shogun, Kozuki Sukiyaki, and assume his identity as a "tyrant." Acting as Sukiyaki, she would systematically eliminate bothersome 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 clan, El would arrive as a savior, liberating Wano from its suffering.

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

In this isolated 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, slamming his fist into his chest with confidence.

"El-sama, why not establish a research base here? It feels safer than Totto Land and less vulnerable to World Government interference," suggested Ryan, the crew's scientist.

"That was already my intention," El replied with a smirk. "And I also plan to build a large weapons factory here."

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

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

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

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

"Before overthrowing the World Government and uniting the seas, sacrifices must be made. For now, Wano will bear that burden," El thought.

The Atlantis rose over Wano's towering waterfall, settling in the country'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 island used for exiling criminals, Wano's main regions are divided into six territories: Kuri, Kibi, Udon, Ringo, Hakumai, and the Flower Capital," he explained to Ruth. "The Flower Capital is Wano's political heart, where Shogun Kozuki Sukiyaki resides. The other regions are governed by daimyō, who act as regional lords under the shogun."

Pointing toward the direction of the Flower Capital, El gave his final instructions. "Your destination is the Flower Capital. Infiltrate the shogun's palace and observe for now. Once I've set up my end, we'll coordinate to avoid any mistakes."

"Understood, El-sama. You can count on me," Ruth replied, her expression confident.

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

Meanwhile, the Atlantis moved north under El's command, heading toward Ringo.

~~~

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