Filtering Devil Fruits, pursuing multiple paths at once

After thinking it over, rather than waiting two years,

it would be better to use those two years to completely gain Saint Nerona Imu's trust, then bring Law under his control and see what happened afterward.

If there really was no opportunity, Kurozumi Kanjuro would have crossed over by then anyway.

Besides,

Sumer thought of several Devil Fruits.

For example, the Memo-Memo Fruit, Soul-Soul Fruit, Munch-Munch Fruit, Shadow-Shadow Fruit, and Age-Age Fruit—

especially the Memo-Memo Fruit. It looked pretty useless, but it was actually ridiculously overpowered.

Once he ate the Memo-Memo Fruit, Sumer could use the Celestial Dragons' authority to capture powerful martial artists and Haki users, then copy their memories.

He could retain only their "combat memories" and implant them into himself. Maybe he could inherit their fighting abilities without a teacher.

Just like Gecko Moria used the Shadow-Shadow Fruit to inject other people's shadows into a target's body.

As for the Soul-Soul Fruit, Sumer guessed it would make it easier to possess others.

As for the Munch-Munch Fruit,

Sumer naturally wanted to take the route of genetic mutation and modification.

For instance, he could fuse the advantageous genes of special races like Kaido and King into himself.

Wouldn't that give him monstrous physical strength, endurance, recovery, and resistance to damage?

And according to online rumors,

Blackbeard was able to eat two Devil Fruits because he had been modified by the Munch-Munch Fruit.

Furthermore, after devouring other Devil Fruit users, the Munch-Munch Fruit could also use their Fruit abilities.

Then there was the Age-Age Fruit.

It was powerful, but it consumed too much stamina. Otherwise, through self-hypnosis and twisting the future, he could become whatever he wanted.

It was equivalent to having limitless possibilities.

For example, transforming into Ultraman, a Saiyan, Superman, and so on...

For now,

the best plan was still to work on multiple fronts.

He would first get several target individuals under his control. Haste made waste.

Kurozumi Kanjuro, Charlotte Linlin, Charlotte Pudding, Wapol, Gecko Moria, Trafalgar Law, Jewelry Bonney...

"The most savage body, the most civilized mind, and an unconquerable spirit?"

While Sumer was lost in thought, Doll murmured the three basic conditions for becoming strong that he had summed up.

The more she considered them, the more correct they seemed.

"The most savage body" definitely did not mean being crude. It should mean a strong physique and endurance. After all, the body was the foundation of everything.

"The most civilized mind" definitely referred to wisdom.

"An unconquerable spirit" must mean a strong will.

Sure enough.

From their discussion of the theoretical knowledge behind the Six Powers and Haki last night, she had already noticed it.

This Saint Germain Sumer was different from certain ignorant and utterly detestable Celestial Dragons.

Not only was he neither haughty nor arrogant and cruel, he also possessed a certain amount of knowledge and refinement.

"Vice Admiral Doll, forget the Six Powers and Haki for now. Teach me some basic fighting techniques first."

With a rough plan in place,

Sumer stopped obsessing over the Six Powers and Haki. Instead, he wanted to start with simpler fighting techniques.

He needed to thoroughly master the power brought by signing the Deepest-Sea Contract as soon as possible.

He had already crossed over.

Even for the sake of this wonderful, vibrant world, he needed to change.

"Yes."

"Then, Saint Sumer, attack me with all your strength!"

Doll leaped back and immediately entered work mode. As long as he did not sexually harass her or demand that she share his bed, this was the most favorable situation for her.

"Ha!"

Sumer gave a low shout and charged at Doll with a right hook. As expected, Doll easily dodged it.

In Doll's eyes, Sumer was like an infant with a little strength but absolutely no combat experience.

His entire body was full of openings.

"Lord Sumer, your right hook is too slow, and both its force and angle are wrong. It should be like this, then this..."

For a time,

under Doll's professional instruction, Sumer, still carrying the fresh excitement of having crossed over, began his first training session.

Inside the cabin,

Saint Marcus Mars took everything in.

He paid it no attention. Instead, he was communicating telepathically with Saint Saturn and the other four on Mary Geoise.

Yesterday, he had already reported to Lord Imu.

He stated that they had brought the Rumble-Rumble Fruit user and Poseidon's Poneglyph, and were heading to Water 7 to seize the Pluton blueprints while also capturing Straw Hat.

As for Sky Island and the subsequent plan, that would be left entirely to the Marines.

After hearing Saint Marcus Mars's arrangements, Saint Nerona Imu had no objections and cut off the communication.

"Saint Mars, Saint Sumer, Water 7 is almost here!"

For three consecutive days,

the warship sailed across the glittering sea. Whenever they encountered pirate crews, the pirates immediately detoured and avoided them upon seeing a vice admiral aboard.

Today,

the weather was bright and clear.

It was a very fine day.

Standing at the bow with a telescope, Doll spotted Water 7 and turned to report to Saint Marcus Mars and Sumer, who were leisurely drinking red wine and coffee on the deck.

"Are we there already?"

Sumer set down his coffee and walked to the railing. A Marine promptly handed him a telescope.

Out on the sea stood a uniquely shaped Venetian city resembling a fountain, rising from the vast, boundless ocean.

There was even a rainbow in the sky.

All around it were countless strange and varied ships.

Some were pirate ships, some merchant vessels, and some fishing boats—

most incredibly, in the distance, a train was traveling over the sea, chugging into Water 7's harbor.

"As expected of the pirate world!"

Sumer lowered his telescope with a sigh. Such an unbelievable sight could only exist in a fantasy world.

"Prepare to enter the harbor."

The warship slowly sailed toward the harbor. The moment it docked, the Marines aboard stood ready, disembarking first and taking positions on both sides with their eyes fixed straight ahead.

At the harbor,

Iceburg, the mayor of Water 7 and president of the Galley-La Company, led his secretary Kalifa and employees Paulie, Rob Lucci, Kaku, and the others as they waited.

Before deciding to come to Water 7, Marine Headquarters had already notified Iceburg, the city's mayor.

To be honest,

this welcoming party was still far too modest.

If Saint Marcus Mars had not wanted to keep things low-key, all of Water 7 might have been surrounded by Marine warships by now.

The entire city would have been placed under martial law.

Spandine from Enies Lobby, certain government officials, and members from CP1 through CP8 would all have arrived at Water 7 in advance to wait.

Strictly speaking,

a Marine admiral should have accompanied them as well.

After all, one of the World Government's highest authorities had come here.

And there was also a Celestial Dragon of noble status.

Splash, splash, splash—

The moment Saint Marcus Mars and Sumer stepped off the ship and onto the ground, everyone at the harbor, regardless of status or position, dropped to one knee.

Some civilians farther back even knelt on both knees, pressing their foreheads to the ground as they trembled uncontrollably.

Farther away,

some pirates watched from high places, looking down at the harbor where a vast crowd had fallen to its knees.

"Hey, hey, hey!"

"Looks like some big shot has come to Water 7!"

"The one leading the kneeling is Iceburg, the mayor of Water 7."

"That's Vice Admiral Doll from Marine Headquarters!"

"Could it be a Celestial Dragon?"

"I was wondering why Water 7 had felt so strange these past two days. So many places had been cleared out and placed under lockdown. Turns out a World Noble has arrived."

"Pass the word. Tell everyone to behave themselves. There absolutely must not be any trouble."

"They say that anyone who offends a Celestial Dragon will bring down a Marine admiral—"

"..."

Quite a few pirates watched the scene at the harbor through telescopes and speculated wildly. Some clever ones immediately decided they should leave Water 7 at once.