Chapter 138: The Power Of Strategic Level
Thirty-seven years old is often considered the prime of life, whether you're a man or a woman.
At this age, a woman carries a mature and refined elegance, like a ripe peach.
Similarly, a man at this age is often seen as a distinguished, mature figure.
In Kahn's previous world, physical fitness might not have reached its peak at this age, but in the world of pirates, thirty-seven is still the height of one's golden years.
Shanks, for example, was this age in the original story.
Blackbeard, on the other hand, is just a year older than Shanks.
In other words, Shanks and Blackbeard, two of the Four Emperors in the original timeline, along with Charlotte Linlin and Kaido, symbolize both the old and new guard before Luffy rises as a new Emperor.
This year, Shinobu is also thirty-seven.
As a result, compared to a few years ago, her strength hasn't diminished—in fact, it's grown even stronger.
A few years ago, when she used her ability to mature Robin, Boa Hancock, and their sisters to eighteen years old, it only consumed a small amount of her energy.
Keep in mind, among the people she matured, there's Sonia, an enhanced human, and Hancock, who, though she seems normal, is actually a remarkable super-genius.
Back then, maturing the four of them only took a small toll on her energy.
Now, Shinobu has managed to mature 300 clone soldiers at once before exhausting her physical strength.
So, Kahn had Mary and Monet, who had already left the Flower Capital, bring Shinobu into the castle and prepare a lavish meal for her to help her regain her strength.
When Shinobu saw the delicious spread on the table, her stomach growled, and she couldn't help but drool.
Under Kahn's generous hospitality, Shinobu, who hadn't had such a meal in years, couldn't resist and devoured it eagerly.
Kahn, using his natural Observation Haki, secretly read her memories and learned about her experiences over the past few years while gently patting her shoulder.
As a loyal servant of the Kozuki family, Shinobu showed the same level of dedication as the Nine Red Scabbards.
Even though Kahn had given her a large piece of gold in the name of Wano's safety, after learning of Kozuki Hiyori's whereabouts, Shinobu found her princess and handed over the gold.
Kozuki Hiyori, seeing the suffering of the people of Wano, had the gold melted down and secretly used it to aid them.
Additionally, Shinobu, being a ninja, had no business acumen, so she lived in poverty for years.
Food like this was something she had only dreamed of in recent years.
Despite such a tough life, Shinobu's strength hasn't waned but has actually increased.
This shows just how hard she's worked over the years.
Perhaps it was this dedication that kept her from becoming the chubby and unattractive woman from the original story.
"Your Excellency Kahn, may I ask how Izo is doing now?" Shinobu asked between bites, still concerned about Izo.
"Izo is doing well," Kahn replied without hesitation. "He's become the captain of the sixteenth division of the world's strongest pirate crew. But we haven't seen each other in years. As our strength and status have grown, we each have our own responsibilities and territories to manage."
"It turns out... that's how it is."
With her mouth full of food, Shinobu's small cheeks puffed up like little buns, and her words came out a bit muffled.
Kahn's generosity toward those he found useful gave him a reputation that wasn't exactly favourable in the eyes of Shinobu and the black market.
Aren had no reason to doubt Kahn's words.
After finishing her meal, Aren took a short rest.
Once her strength was restored, she continued helping Kahn mature the clone soldiers.
She could mature 300 at a time, repeating this three times a day.
In just one day, Shinobu managed to mature 900 clone soldiers.
Within three days, the 2,500 clone soldiers Kahn brought were all matured to the age of twenty.
As a reward, Kahn gave Shinobu a piece of gold even larger than the previous one, which moved her to tears and led her to once again bow deeply in gratitude.
With this gold, not only would Kozuki Hiyori's life improve, but they could also secretly raise a private army.
Just by spending three days of energy, she received such a generous reward.
In Shinobu's heart, Kahn had become her greatest benefactor.
Seeing her thoughts clearly through his Observation Haki, Kahn left Wano with Monet and Mary, satisfied, and planned to bring the second batch of clone soldiers for Shinobu to mature.
The gold he gave her was just a drop in the ocean for Kahn.
In the original story, the Straw Hat Crew brought a sack of gold that was only exchanged for hundreds of millions of berries.
The piece of gold Kahn gifted might only be worth two to three billion berries.
With that amount, he saved five years of waiting and gained over two thousand weakened Pacifista troops.
This couldn't be described as anything less than a bargain.
After the war, Kahn decided to try recruiting Shinobu.
Given her ability to mature the weakened Pacifistas to the age of twenty, Shinobu's Ripe-Ripe Fruit had become a strategic asset in Kahn's eyes, on par with an ancient weapon.
Since he couldn't take her Devil Fruit ability for himself, he intended to make sure she worked for him.
And if she refused, Kahn had ways to ensure she became "one of his own."
Coincidentally, Kahn had someone with just the right ability for that.
After returning to Amazon Lily, Kahn announced, "The Cross family is entering a state of war preparation."
This announcement wasn't public but intended for internal ears only.
With his Observation Haki and Viola's Paramecia Stare-Stare Fruit, no undercover agents could infiltrate Kahn's base camp.
Even the spies stationed in the Kingdom of Dressrosa and "Grandine New World" were allowed to stay with Kahn's tacit approval.
Even so, it was time for Kahn to deal with these operatives.
The Cross family's war readiness only involved the Kuja Pirates scattered across the Grand Line, Robin and the girls, the Kuja Warriors on Amazon Lily, and the fighters from Dressrosa led by Viola.
Upon receiving the news, Sonia handed command of "Grandine Paradise" to Margaret, who had eaten the Logia Snow-Snow Fruit. Then, using her unique Haki, fused with ultrasonic waves, she led the Kuja Pirates aboard an ordinary ship, quietly leaving Paradise.
Meanwhile, "Grandine New World" turned back toward Amazon Lily.
In the future, their navigation routes will be controlled so that the Golden City can reach Amazon Lily within a day.
At the same time, Gekko Moria, who had regained his Haki, was frantically hunting pirates in the first half of the Grand Line, capturing shadows for his zombie army, and he, too, received a call from Kahn.
He was to prepare to head to the New World.
A stormy atmosphere began to settle over the entire New World, unnoticed by most.
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