Julian silently calculated, Next year will be Grand Line Era 1497, when Roger reaches the summit and becomes the Pirate King. By his estimate, there were around eleven months left. Once that happened, Roger's name as the Pirate King would spread across the seas, then the Roger Pirates would disband and send Kozuki Oden back to Wano Country.
When Fool King Kozuki Oden returned to Wano Country, an even bigger surprise would be waiting for him. Kurozumi Orochi would usurp the throne and join forces with the Beasts Pirates to plot against Wano Country. The heroic Kozuki Oden believed Kaido and Orochi's words—that if he danced naked for five years, they would return Wano Country to him. After Naked Dance Master Kozuki Oden danced naked for five years, he discovered he had been fooled.
Heroic Kozuki Oden would lead the Nine Red Scabbards against Kaido. Julian thought, One of the greatest double agents in Pirate World history, Kanjuro Kurozumi had sold Kozuki Oden out completely long ago. He had infiltrated Oden's side as a child. Even the color of Oden's underwear was reported to Kurozumi Orochi by Kanjuro Kurozumi.
Julian grumbled, "Oden had brought the Roger Pirates to Wano Country in search of the historical Poneglyph rubbings. If he had asked Roger and Rayleigh to help him take down Kaido, Kaido in his thirties would have been pinned to the ground and beaten until he questioned his entire life. Kozuki Oden really was a certified fool king."
Clearly, when he returned to Kuri, he had already discovered that pirates had invaded Wano Country. The retainers in Kuri all tried to keep Kozuki Oden there, telling him that Wano Country's situation was dire: pirates had invaded, and chemical factories had even been built. Yet Fool King Kozuki Oden simply said, "I need to help Captain Roger fulfill his dream," then took Roger off to search for historical rubbings. Rayleigh even asked whether Oden needed help, but the fool king said, "You don't need to worry about Wano Country. I'll handle it."
The second time was after Roger became the Pirate King, when the Roger Pirates brought Kozuki Oden back to Wano Country. Rayleigh again asked Fool King Oden, "It seems Wano Country is in trouble. Do you need our help?" The fool king himself said, "Wano Country is a matter for the Kozuki Family. The Kozuki Family can handle it." And the result of handling it was that Fool King became Naked Dance Master.
Julian already had a plan. When Oden led the Nine Red Scabbards into their great war against Kaido, I'll raid their home base. There are so many Devil Fruits in Wano Country, including several Mythical Zoans. Isn't that tempting? Why pass up something free? Julian complained again, "Maybe I can even steal Filial Daughter Kozuki Yamato's Dog-Dog Fruit, Mythical Zoan, White-Eyed Wolf form. That's a Mythical Zoan! Ordinary people could go their whole lives without ever seeing one."
After thinking it over, Julian happily said, "I'll get to watch the live show: Naked Dance Master Fool King Kozuki Oden being executed in a boiling pot. Maybe I can even beat that little beast Momonosuke to death on the spot, and find a chance to raid Kaido's lair too. Three birds with one stone." Julian added, "I still need to increase my strength quickly. With my current strength, if I run into an expert who knows Armament Haki, even someone at vice admiral level could pin me down and beat me senseless once they got close."
Julian continued, "I should properly develop Earth-Penetrating Crevice. If I can't beat them, I'll learn from Akainu and burrow into the ground. What's shameful about burrowing underground? Crawling through a dog hole isn't shameful either. Akainu comprehended the Earth-Penetrating Crevice skill during the Summit War, and it was an epic-level boost. He could burrow underground to attack Jinbe and Luffy while they fled on the surface, and use magma from beneath the earth to strike enemies above. Jinbe was terrified by Akainu's Earth-Penetrating Crevice skill back then." Julian said, "There's no copyright in Pirate World. My inspiration comes from Akainu."
Julian sighed over his shortcomings. Body Techniques are also one of my current weaknesses. I'll have to spend a lot of time training them. I'm genuinely afraid of people who are too fast, who can just leap right into my face. I might not even know how I died.
Julian thought that he had been in this world for four or five months already, and his development had been quite impressive. He already had more than six hundred men under him, but there were only a few real experts. He truly felt that he did not have enough crewmen. The Division Captains under him were indeed not strong enough either; they all had Zoan Devil Fruits. The only one worth mentioning was George, with his Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit ability. Julian had also sent Allison and Pierre to Herbert to learn swordsmanship. Having another sword style to fight with was always good. A second Zoan Devil Fruit user was naturally strong, so it would be a huge waste if Allison did not learn more sword techniques.
Julian considered the Paramecia Magnet-Magnet Fruit he still had. Maybe I should let Beatrice eat the Magnet-Magnet Fruit. She's the person I love most in this life, second only to Empress Hancock. Julian thought again, Besides, the Magnet-Magnet Fruit really is an extremely powerful Devil Fruit with many possible applications. But Beatrice is already seventeen, so there probably isn't much room for improvement. This would be like feeding ginseng to a pig.
Julian said, "I'd better give it to Logistics Officer Pierre. He really has managed the logistics department well, and he's also a swordsmanship expert. He's only twenty and already has decent strength. If he develops it properly, reaching quasi-admiral level won't be a problem. More importantly, the Magnet-Magnet Fruit can use magnetism to control steel objects and reassemble them into new forms, or break down steel and reshape it." Julian thought, Maybe Pierre can become a major fighting force someday.
Julian took out a Den Den Mushi and called Pierre. "Hello, hello?" Pierre answered through the Den Den Mushi. Julian said, "Brother Pierre, come over here. I have something good for you." More than ten minutes later, Pierre arrived outside the captain's cabin and knocked on the door. "Captain, you sent for me? What is it?"
Julian opened the door and said, "Pierre, I have good news for you." Smiling, he patted Pierre on the shoulder. Pierre asked, "What kind of good news, Captain? Are you giving me money again? I already have more than enough." Julian said, "I have a very powerful Devil Fruit ability in my hands. I'm planning to give it to you so you can gain this power and serve our Mud Dragon Pirates even better. Keep shining and giving your all. Are you willing to accept it?" Pierre looked utterly sincere as he said, "Thank you, Captain. I really want it. I definitely won't let down your trust. I'll help our Mud Dragon Pirates grow and prosper."
Julian handed the Devil Fruit to Pierre and said, "This fruit is the Magnet-Magnet Fruit, a Devil Fruit that can control electromagnetic force. Eat it first, and I'll teach you how to develop its powers." After Pierre finished eating the fruit, Julian explained his ideas for developing it. Electromagnetic force could control steel, and the most powerful possibility was reaching Magneto's realm—casually unleashing super-wide-range attacks. It was unbelievably awesome.
Julian said, "You can turn all that scrap metal into multiple steel flying swords, then stand on one of them and use Sword Flight." Pierre looked puzzled. "That simple?" Julian gave another example. "Pierre, don't underestimate those flying swords. In the legends of my hometown, once someone becomes a Sword Saint, they're hundreds of times stronger than a Great Swordmaster. If you stand on a flying sword and shout, Sword Come, wouldn't you become the first person in Pirate World to use Sword Flight?" Pierre said, "Thank you, Captain. I'll practice hard." Julian added, "There's also Heaven and Earth Without Limit, Universe Borrowing Method, One Sword's Edge Across Fourteen Provinces, and Myriad Swords Return to Origin. Those are all chants for Sword Control Technique and Sword Flight." Pierre said, "Sword Come, Heaven and Earth Without Limit, Universe Borrowing Method, Myriad Swords Return to Origin—they're all incredibly powerful names. I'll remember them." Julian said, "And One Sword's Edge Across Fourteen Provinces."
Pierre said, "I've remembered it." Julian continued, "Pierre, you will definitely become Pirate World's first Sword Saint. Maybe you'll even become the Sword God someday." Pierre said, "Thank you, Captain. I'll work hard to become stronger." Julian said, "Keep it up. I think very highly of you, Pierre. I always felt that you were exceptionally outstanding from a young age. You're definitely a one-in-ten-thousand genius." Pierre was deeply moved. "Thank you, Captain." At that moment, Pierre thought, I definitely won't disappoint you. I'll make my name known across the four seas and become the strongest Sword Saint. I'll become the captain's pride.
Before you continue