In an opulent conference room, the Gorosei sat on several gold-threaded sofas, the air thick with a cold, murderous tension.
The scar-faced, buzz-cut Financial Warrior slammed his palm on the long table, his coarse voice filled with displeasure:
"Absurd! Shadow Garden wantonly slaughters nobles of member nations and even seeks to overthrow the World Government. Such a fully formed rebel force can only be permanently eradicated through extermination!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the bearded, mustachioed Scientific Defense Warrior objected:
"Do you think exterminating them is simple?
With that damned Space Fruit Ability User among them, even deploying the three Admirals would hardly ensure their annihilation.
Moreover, we have no idea where Shadow Garden's base is located. They're like rats hiding in the shadows, biting us whenever they please, yet we can't catch them.
Therefore, we should offer them a title like the Seven Warlords of the Sea. That way, it would be like tying a leash to them—far more cost-effective than expending great effort to besiege them!"
For a time, the two argued incessantly.
Then, the short, bald Legal Affairs Warrior made the decision: "Since none of us can convince the other, why not implement both policies simultaneously? On the surface, we promise them a position among the Seven Warlords of the Sea, while secretly we search for their base and then exterminate them!"
The other four Gorosei exchanged glances and nodded in unison.
"Seconded!"
"Seconded!"
Thus, the policy regarding Shadow Garden was decided.
However, something soon occurred that left the Gorosei helpless.
No matter how they searched, they could not find a single trace of any Shadow Garden member.
They had a plan, but no way to execute it.
...
Ivan, of course, had no idea that his existence had already attracted the attention of the world's most powerful organization.
He was still cruising the waters near Alabasta.
[You are deeply admired by the oppressed common people. [Homelander] Approval Rating +20%]
[Template: Homelander (Approval Rating: 36%)]
[Congratulations, you have acquired the skill: Life Force Field!]
[Life Force Field: Forms a special field on the body's surface, possessing unique abilities such as defense, cushioning, and environmental adaptation.]
The Life Force Field brought Ivan significant enhancement, as if constructing an invisible shield over his body, greatly boosting his defensive capabilities.
More importantly, with the Life Force Field, he could now rely on it to fly, a speed far surpassing that achieved through Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue!
[As a powerful individual, you punish evildoers and slay demons. [Gojo Satoru] Approval Rating +15%]
[Template: Gojo Satoru (Approval Rating: 92%)]
[Congratulations, you have acquired the skill: Black Flash!]
[Black Flash: Through a special exertion of force, wraps attacks in black lightning, dealing massive additional damage. Extremely difficult to trigger.]
Seeing the changes in the Gojo Satoru · Reverberation template, Ivan unconsciously tightened his grip on the cola can.
After the Gojo Satoru · Reverberation Approval Rating rose above 90%, he had gained a new skill: Black Flash!
In Jujutsu Kaisen, triggering Black Flash required the most precise control of Cursed Energy. Adapted to the rules of the One Piece world, it had undergone some changes but remained equally difficult to trigger.
Although Black Flash has many flaws, its merits far outweigh them.
The massive damage provided by Black Flash alone is enough to compensate for all its shortcomings!
This is the beauty of sheer numbers!
Suddenly, Ivan realized that when Black Flash is triggered, it is accompanied by black lightning, which bears a striking resemblance to Conqueror's Haki Infusion.
Perhaps Black Flash could be used as a substitute for Conqueror's Haki Infusion!
Moreover, Ivan was absolutely confident that he would awaken Conqueror's Haki, and Black Flash could also be stacked with Conqueror's Haki Infusion.
When the two combined, Ivan dared not imagine the sheer destructive power of that single strike!
Aside from these two templates, the other two templates had also improved to varying degrees.
The Approval Rating for the Yamato template increased by 5%, while the Minato Namikaze template increased by 10%. However, neither gained new skills, only providing minor enhancements to Ivan's physical attributes.
In addition to the changes in his templates, under Kizaru's relentless pursuit, Ivan was just one step away from crossing the threshold of Observation Haki, thereby awakening both types of Haki.
While Nami and the others were distracted, Ivan created several Wood Clones and sent them in different directions to search for the Celestial Gold.
At that moment, a News Bird flew overhead. Ivan's eyes flickered as he used Moon Walk to shoot into the sky, appearing right in front of the News Bird.
The sudden appearance of a figure caused the News Bird to crash into Ivan's chest before it could stop. If Ivan hadn't reached out and caught it in time, the poor little creature might have met its end.
Once the News Bird regained its senses, Ivan handed it one hundred Berries and smiled, saying, "One newspaper, please."
Realizing what Ivan wanted, the News Bird's face visibly flushed red.
Seriously? Just to buy a newspaper, did you have to fly up and scare a bird like that?
Despite its immense displeasure, faced with White Dove Vice Admiral, the News Bird didn't dare act out. It could only reluctantly hand a newspaper to Ivan.
However, when Ivan placed a piece of pastry in its beak, the News Bird instantly burst into laughter, cawing happily. After bowing to Ivan, it finally flew away.
"Ivan, come down quickly! Let us see the latest news too!" Nami urged from the top deck.
Ivan landed on the deck just in time to see Nami lying on a beach chair while Tashigi applied sunscreen to her back.
Nami lay completely relaxed on the beach chair, her hands resting beneath her chest, revealing her snow-white back and two towering peaks.
Her large-sized swimsuit couldn't fully contain the peaks, exposing two curves of pale flesh. Below them was her perfectly sculpted spine. Though she wasn't as mature as she would be three years later, her figure was still stunningly hot, with alluring curves that captivated the eye.
This seductive sight caused Ivan to pause for a moment. Combined with his increasingly astonishing physique and heightened vitality, he involuntarily bent forward slightly.
Subtly using Life Return to prevent any noticeable reaction from startling the two girls, Ivan lay down on the beach chair beside Nami and began reading the latest issue of the World News.
Before long, two warm bodies pressed against him on either side. Nami complained, "Ivan, I told you I wanted to see it too! Hurry up and flip to the page about Shadow Garden."
"That's right, that's right! I also want to know what Shadow Garden has been up to lately."
Feeling the softness pressing against his arms, Ivan sighed and obediently flipped to the back page.
To his surprise, the entire back page was filled with news about Shadow Garden.
[The World Government Sincerely Invites Tanuki to Replace Hana-Fuda as One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!]
[Tanuki Massacres Water 7, Killing Hundreds—Is This the Collapse of Morality or the Distortion of Human Nature!]
[We are those who lurk in the shadows, who hunt in the shadows. Shadow Garden warns all underground forces on the seas!]
After reading it several times carefully, Nami excitedly shook Ivan's arm. "Ivan, look! Shadow Garden has done another great deed!"
Although Ivan, Nami, and the others belonged to the Marines, what they upheld in their hearts was justice, not the World Government.
Thus, when faced with Shadow Garden, which punished evildoers and eliminated villains, they felt not disgust but exceptional excitement.