One Piece: Conquering Wanokuni at Start

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After the encounter with the Footballfish, Alex gained a deeper understanding of Baccarat's luck-luck fruit.

It became clear that the more "luck" she stole from others, the greater the likelihood that her desires would happen. This made Baccarat, with her innate treasure-hunting talent, an invaluable asset. Upon returning to Wanokuni with the massive pure gold orb, Alex elevated her to the position of a special "lucky" member of his Royal Court.

Word of Baccarat's abilities quickly spread, and her popularity soared. Everyone sought her blessings, hoping to gain a share of her extraordinary luck.

Even Gion, locked in an intense training rivalry with Mihawk and struggling to keep up, took advantage of Baccarat's abilities. Feeling the pressure of being surpassed, Gion whisked Baccarat away on an expedition, hoping to find a Devil Fruit that would strengthen her abilities and align with her fighting style.

The price for this is naturally another day of bad luck for a town or even a country.

Still, the expedition will take months, as navigating the vast sea based on "lucky" probabilities was far from an exact science.

Therefore, Alex did not continue to follow. instead, he focused on handling matters related to the pure gold and turning his attention to Uta, who had been captured and brought to him by his shadow guards.

Uta, having the Paramecia-type Sing-Sing Fruit, represented a unique opportunity. Alex, however, had no interest in gradually winning over her loyalty. If she could not prove as useful and devoted as Baccarat, he would take more decisive measures.

The result was also as predicted by Alex.

With Uta's stubborn personality after the country was destroyed, and the hatred of pirates after being abandoned by Shanks, she resisted Alex .

Her defiance reached dangerous levels. Without Alex's foresight in having his men wear earplugs, they might have been drawn into her song-space. In light of her resistance and clear unwillingness to cooperate, Alex deemed her a lost cause.

The decision was swift. With the Munch-Munch Fruit, Alex extracted the Sing-Sing Fruit from Uta's body.

The Sing-Sing Fruit, a Paramecia-type ability with the power to trap entire worlds in a dreamlike state, was far too valuable to waste. To maximize its potential, Alex began considering a new user—someone who could wield the power effectively while contributing to his goals.

A name quickly came to mind: Carina.

A talented singer with a sweet voice, Carina was destined to become a renowned performer. Her agile mind, exceptional theft skills, and intelligence-gathering capabilities made her a promising candidate—not just as a singer but as a potential member of Alex's shadow guard.

Unlike Uta, whose life had been shaped by extreme trauma and loss, Carina's younger age and more adaptable personality made her easier to mold and control. Sharing a similar age to Nami, Carina was both relatable and manageable, giving Alex confidence in her potential.

With his decision made, Alex ordered his shadow guards to begin their search. Using the extensive network of the World Government, locating Carina was merely a matter of time.

Six months later.

The sky was bright and clear, with long, wispy clouds stretching across the horizon.

Under such perfect weather, Alex reclined leisurely in a chair beneath the shade of a tree, taking a rare moment to relax.

Instead of watching Hancock and Yamato sparring on the training ground, Alex's attention was on today's newspaper, brought to him by Robin.

The Red-Haired Pirates, who had recently garnered fame for the massacre in Elegia, had reemerged on the Grand Line. This time, however, the article prominently featured Shanks' missing arm in an enlarged close-up.

This unexpected detail sparked widespread interest and speculation. As the red-haired Shanks, now an influential figure in the first half of the Grand Line, came under scrutiny, theories and debates about his actions began to spread.

Alex couldn't help but smirk.

'The so-called bet on the new era… has it begun?'

Still, he wondered whether these ambitions and dreams of others would hold any meaning within the framework of his plans. Were their aspirations anything more than pawns moving across his chessboard?

Boom!

The sound of thunderous collisions erupted from the training ground, pulling Alex's focus back. The air crackled with power as Yamato and Hancock continued their heated sparring.

The environment was chaotic, filled with strong winds and the oppressive pressure of clashing Conqueror's Haki. The once-clear sky was now fragmented, clouds torn apart by the intensity of their confrontation.

As the fight progressed, Alex shifted his gaze from the newspaper to the two women.

Another clash sent a ripple of force across the field. Yamato's Conqueror's Haki infusion was visibly stronger this time, and the impact forced Hancock back several steps, putting her at a disadvantage.

Seeing this, Yamato burst into laughter, placing her hands on her hips triumphantly. "Haha! I win again this time!"

Hancock bit her finger lightly, her expression tinged with frustration. Her pride, especially in front of Alex, would not allow her to take this lightly. Straightening, she pointed at Yamato and said, "Don't get cocky! You may have won this time, but in some ways, my body far surpass yours."

Hancock's confidence was unwavering as she brushed back her hair to reveal the pure gold earrings she wore.

Yamato, unimpressed, placed her hands behind her head and replied casually, "I don't care about stuff like that. Besides, Alex said that when I grow up, I'll get something even better!"

Hancock smirked, her tone dripping with disdain. "What I'm referring to goes far beyond anything you could understand."

Yamato tilted her head, momentarily confused by Hancock's words. Choosing not to dwell on it, her body suddenly transformed into lightning. In a flash, she disappeared and reappeared next to Alex.

"This time I won again, Alex!" she declared cheerfully.

Hancock's expression darkened, and she quickly adjusted her cheongsam before dashing to Alex's side as well. "I was merely careless. If we continued the fight, the result would be far from certain!"

The two women now stood on either side of Alex, each vying for his attention like determined rivals.

His arms were extremely heavy, as if they were buried in some terrible place.

Initially, Yamato had no interest in competing for favor. Her carefree and independent nature meant she simply followed Alex out of admiration and personal choice. But once Hancock began treating her as a rival, their interactions turned into a playful competition.

As she grew older and her understanding of Alex's goals deepened, Yamato's sense of purpose sharpened. Whenever Hancock was present, Yamato's efforts to stand out became even more pronounced.

Both women possessed extraordinary potential, and despite their vastly different personalities, their competitive spirits pushed them to excel. Alex saw no reason to intervene; in fact, he found their rivalry encouraging.

After all, their growing mastery of Conqueror's Haki and other skills had been honed through these very contests.