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As expected.
While the Big Mom Pirates were actively preparing for battle, Wilhelm had just finished testing the performance of the Homies-type Pacifista on the second day.
That afternoon, the Charlotte Family's intelligence network received crucial news.
The Marines had mobilized a massive force, pulling troops from the first half of the Grand Line to form an elite expedition fleet of over 50,000 soldiers.
Leading the fleet was Admiral under the direct command of Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself. The force also included the three powerful Admirals-in-waiting—Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru—along with ten formidable Vice Admirals from Marine Headquarters. Additionally, five Vice Admirals from the Titan race and countless other officers and generals were part of the operation.
A total of thirty top-tier battleships were now heading straight for the waters of Totto Land in the New World.
Their approach was overwhelming and unstoppable.
"Oh? So it's begun?"
Far away on the Isle of Love, Wilhelm was in the middle of training, his eyes burning with excitement and battle spirit.
Not far from him, Smoothie was gripping her long sword, her body glistening with sweat from intense sword practice. Her usually calm face was now filled with seriousness.
"Mom is mobilizing the people across the Totto Land islands," she said. "Looks like we need to get ready to move out soon!"
Wilhelm, still in the midst of his workout at 31, remained composed. "No rush. We'll deal with it in two days."
"By the way, that guy Moria wants to see you," Smoothie added.
"Oh?"
Wilhelm raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised, before sneering. "A few days ago, he was acting all high and mighty, ready to die rather than surrender. And now he's coming to me willingly?"
Smoothie shrugged. "After seeing Ryuma—who had been dead for centuries—appear before him fully resurrected, he couldn't hold out for long."
She continued, "In the end, he knows that only by siding with you does he stand a chance at getting revenge against that monster, Kaido of the Beasts."
Death itself isn't terrifying.
What's terrifying is having your corpse played with and your abilities stripped away after you die.
At least, that's what Gekko Moria believed.
Wilhelm didn't know the exact cost of Ryuma's resurrection, but he was confident enough in himself to not dwell on it.
Moria, on the other hand, was likely overestimating his own value, assuming he was indispensable.
Still, having him as an ally would strengthen their forces.
"That guy does have solid combat potential," Wilhelm admitted. "If he regains his confidence and trains hard, he might even surpass Cracker—that crybaby who's afraid of pain."
With that, Wilhelm stood up and clapped his hands, signaling the end of his training.
Wilhelm glanced into the distance, where Hancock, Tezoro, Yamato, and the others were still diligently training. He took the towel Smoothie handed him and wiped off his sweat, speaking indifferently, "Then let's go meet him."
"Wilhelm big brother!"
At that moment, three figures—Snake, Galette, and Prim—came running up to him.
Wilhelm smirked. "What is it, little devils? Trying to slack off?"
"That's not it..."
Galette, her porcelain-like pale skin making her seem almost delicate, shook her head. She raised a small hand toward Wilhelm, then pointed at Hancock and the others in the distance.
"Na~ Na~, Wilhelm big brother, I want to grow up too!" she said eagerly. "Like Hancock and their training schedule!"
"Me too," Snake, the little chubby one, muttered in a low voice.
"Prim too!"
Prim, a half-octopus mermaid girl, raised her small hand high, her voice loud and determined.
She sat atop a massive wolf, several meters tall, exuding an intimidating presence. And yet, the beast was shockingly docile under her control.
It was her doing—tamed through the power of the Paramecia-type Kibi Kibi no Mi, which she had only acquired a few days ago.
"Nonsense! This isn't a game!"
Smoothie frowned and scolded them. "Who told you this was a good idea?"
As their older sister and a member of the Charlotte Family, she didn't want them to throw away ten years of their lives—ten years of their youth—just like that.
Childhood was fleeting. Once lost, it could never be regained.
"It's fine." Wilhelm waved a hand dismissively. "Even if they hadn't brought it up, I was already planning to do this sooner or later."
"Wilhelm, you…" Smoothie looked conflicted but, in the end, sighed. "Fine."
Between Wilhelm and her younger siblings, who weren't particularly close to her, there was no hesitation in where her loyalty lay.
Suddenly, a graceful figure appeared before them.
It was Shinobu, summoned directly by Wilhelm using his Teleportation Devil Fruit ability.
Dripping with sweat from practicing the Rokushiki techniques Wilhelm had been teaching her, she was momentarily stunned by the abrupt shift in location.
"Master Wilhelm... Miss Smoothie..." she greeted, catching her breath.
Wilhelm wasted no time. "Shinobu, I need you to age these three by ten years." He pointed to Snake, Galette, and Prim.
Shinobu's eyes widened in shock. "This..."
She knew full well that these three were Wilhelm's younger siblings—young teenagers still.
"Don't overthink it. Just follow my orders."
Wilhelm's sharp gaze locked onto her. "If you can't abandon your naïve kindness, you're free to leave. You're not suited for this."
His tone was indifferent as he added, "Patton's Raccoon Raccoon Fruit ability can serve as a replacement for your Juku Juku no Mi. Since you've worked hard lately, I'd be willing to let you go."
"I deeply apologize, Master Wilhelm!"
Shinobu's face went pale. Without hesitation, she dropped to her knees and spoke earnestly, "Please believe me—I have no intention of questioning or defying you!"
Since leaving Wano, she had realized just how vast the outside world truly was.
Wano, so isolated and closed-off, had been nothing more than a shallow pond. They had been frogs staring up at the sky, completely ignorant of reality.
Especially after Kurozumi Orochi was killed, Kozuki Oden's vengeance had already been fulfilled.
As for the other culprit, Kaido of the Beasts, he was simply beyond her ability to take down.
Shinobu felt at peace with that.
She had been trained as a ninja since childhood, raised to follow orders without hesitation. Loyalty had been ingrained into her very being.
And just when she had lost her purpose, lost her guiding star, she had met this man.
Wilhelm.
His ambition, his presence, his sheer strength—it far surpassed the late Lord Oden.
She had willingly chosen to follow him.
Even if some of his methods made her uneasy, she had long grown accustomed to the corruption and cruelty of Wano's ruling class.
Compared to that filth, Wilhelm's actions weren't difficult for her to accept.
Over these past few days, she had learned much about the world.
This sea was not a place of simple good and evil. The Marines, who waved the banner of justice, and the World Government, which claimed divine rule after centuries—none of them were as righteous as they pretended to be.
And so, Shinobu had no regrets.
She had chosen to follow this man, no matter what.
His ambitions were far greater than she could even comprehend.
That's why she had devoted herself to mastering Rokushiki, training tirelessly.
She refused to stand by helplessly again, like she had when Oden was boiled alive.
Even if her efforts ended up meaningless.
Even if Wilhelm never truly needed her protection.
At least she would have tried.
And she would have no regrets.
"Stand up."
Wilhelm patted her shoulder, staring into her flushed face.
"It's good to have a soft heart sometimes. But I don't want to see this happen again. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Master Wilhelm!"
Shinobu's eyes were tinged with red. She bit her lip, then nodded firmly.
Wilhelm gave a slight nod in response.
Without another word, he turned and walked away, Smoothie following at his side.