"This is what true vengeance looks like," thought Daniel Davis as he silently observed the impoverished villages of Wano Country. The sight of emaciated villagers, children crying out in hunger, and the general desolation stirred a complex mix of emotions in him.
For most people, vengeance might mean killing the perpetrator or, at most, their family and close associates. Such cases were not uncommon. However, to take revenge on an entire nation for over twenty years, as Kurozumi Orochi had done, was unprecedented in Davis's experience.
While Daniel Davis admitted he wasn't a particularly forgiving person, and would seek revenge when wronged, the scale and duration of Orochi's vendetta were something he found remarkable. He realized he had much to learn from such relentless vengeance.
With a sigh, Daniel Davis left the suffering villagers behind. He had no intention of playing the savior for Wano's people—that role was better suited for the protagonist, Luffy.
Daniel Davis's visit to Wano Country had two primary purposes: to personally explore the land for future strategic purposes and to study its renowned swordsmanship. Wano was famous for producing powerful swordsmen and several of the world's finest swords, such as the Supreme Grade and Great Grade swords.
During the era of Kozuki Oden, the country's strength, bolstered by the Akazaya Nine, rivaled that of a Yonko crew. The strength of the Minks, who served under Oden, was evident in their ability to contend with Kaido's top officers.
Oden himself had managed to wound Kaido, the "Strongest Creature." Had it not been for trickery on Kaido's part, the battle's outcome might have been different.
Daniel Davis wasn't in Wano for a Supreme Grade sword; though these were valuable treasures, he had no personal need for them. His vibranium alloy weapons were superior. However, their value made them worth acquiring for trade—one Supreme Grade sword could fetch the price of a Devil Fruit, theoretically.
However, the actual transaction value would vary. For instance, the price of Dracule Mihawk's "Yoru" would undoubtedly exceed ten billion berries.
Davis's interest lay in Wano's swordsmanship.
In the capital, Flower Capital, now under Kurozumi Orochi's control, Davis sought out the ancient sword techniques that were once closely guarded under the Kozuki clan's rule. Orochi, however, had little interest in such matters, making it easier for Davis to access these secrets.
For most people, swordsmanship techniques held little appeal, seen merely as methods of applying force.
Before his transmigration, Davis had encountered many martial arts techniques online, many of which were genuine. However, without the proper method to exert force, they seemed unimpressive.
In his previous life, Davis had seen real martial artists, though none with the exaggerated abilities seen in the pirate world. The most impressive feats included taking on multiple opponents or breaking walls with a single punch.
While impressive, these skills held little value in a modern world dominated by firearms, useful mainly for bodyguards.
The saying "martial arts require wealth" held true; serious training required time and resources, often inaccessible to those busy with daily survival. Even Davis, despite his advantages, had to dedicate significant time to training, studying magic, and researching new techniques.
"That guy really knows how to indulge himself. No wonder he lost to Luffy and his crew," Davis thought, referring to Kurozumi Orochi's decadent lifestyle. He occasionally heard news about Orochi and sometimes glimpsed him reveling in his palace. With a mix of envy and contempt, Davis cursed Orochi, wishing he could live such a life himself.
He recalled hearing about Ace passing through Wano, stealing clean food from Orochi's men, which had infuriated them. Orochi's forces, in alliance with Kaido's, had pursued Ace until a giant interfered, saving him.
Unlike other factions, Kaido's crew did not fear the Whitebeard Pirates, leading to frequent clashes between the two Yonko.
Red-Haired Shanks and Big Mom, on the other hand, had not engaged the other Yonkos for years, focusing instead on internal matters and securing their territories.
"Could it have been Little Oars?" Davis wondered, thinking of the giant who had saved Ace.
"One-Sword Style, Two-Sword Style... Zoro is impressive for creating a Three-Sword Style, though it seems unique to him," Davis noted. Wano's swordsmanship was primarily divided between these two styles, with most swordsmen practicing one of them.
Zoro's use of a third sword held in his mouth was unique and unlikely to be widely adopted, as few people had teeth strong enough to endure the strain.
Styles beyond three swords, such as four or eight, were generally seen as gimmicks unless the practitioner had additional limbs.
In Kuri, Daniel Davis encountered Tama, a young girl from Wano. Moved by her plight, he discreetly left some food, vegetables, and clean water along her path.
After doing so, he quickly departed, leaving behind a Kitetsu sword, which he decided not to take.
The reverse waterfall at Wano's entrance, teeming with golden koi, was a sight to behold. However, for the residents, the beauty did not alleviate their hunger.
Given Wano's unique geography, fishing was nearly impossible, leaving the inhabitants reliant on scarce resources. The region of Kuri, where Davis had visited, was particularly destitute, being a target of Orochi's harsh policies.
Kozuki Oden had governed Kuri before becoming the Daimyo of Wano. Many of the Akazaya Nine hailed from Kuri, which explained Orochi's vengeful focus on the area.
"Next stop, Totto Land," Davis thought, deciding to visit Big Mom's territory.
He had no immediate interest in exploring deeper into the New World.
"Totto Land would be a paradise if not for the soul-extraction tax," Davis mused, marveling at the fairy-tale-like scenery of Totto Land. The roads sang, the trees spoke, and food was abundant—everywhere he looked, the land was vibrant and full of life.
Here, unlike Wano, food was plentiful, with edible plants, buildings, and even a candy amusement park.
The land was patrolled by Homies, animate objects brought to life by Big Mom's powers.
Davis reflected on how easily Totto Land could solve food shortages elsewhere. Big Mom's head chef, who possessed the Bread-Bread Fruit, could turn anything into bread, potentially feeding millions.
Unfortunately, the chef was loyal to Big Mom, having served her since she was a child.
"It's astonishing how many food-related Devil Fruits they've amassed," Davis mused, sampling various foods as he toured Totto Land. In Big Mom's castle, the food would even prepare and present itself, catering to the laziest of eaters.
"Now I have two of the Road Poneglyph rubbings," Davis thought. His visit to Totto Land was partly for reconnaissance, but also to obtain a rubbing of Big Mom's Road Poneglyph.
He had already secured a rubbing of Kaido's Poneglyph in Wano, taking advantage of Kaido's absence and the absence of his top officers.
With these two rubbings, Davis was halfway to possessing the complete set needed to find Raftel. Though he had no personal interest in the One Piece, the value of the rubbings as a bargaining chip was immense.
"Leaking the existence of the Road Poneglyphs in the next issue of 'The Truth of the World' could cause chaos among the pirates," Davis pondered, considering the implications of revealing such information.
Only the highest echelons of the pirate world knew about the Road Poneglyphs. Most pirates ventured into the New World unaware that battling the Yonko was not the only way to find Raftel. The Straw Hat Pirates had stolen a rubbing from Big Mom, and Roger had used similar tactics.
Over the years, many pirates had ventured into the New World, often perishing in their quest, with only a few returning to join the scramble for the Road Poneglyphs. The rest were lost in the depths of the New World, a mysterious and deadly place.
With his objectives achieved, Davis left Totto Land, taking a final glance at Big Mom from afar before departing.
The disparity in starting points between individuals was stark; for some, what others could only dream of achieving lay far behind them from the outset.
Reflecting on this, Davis opened the Gate of Secrets and reappeared on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Island No. 1 of the archipelago was bustling with activity, rebuilding the destroyed auction house. Although Daniel Davis's pamphlets had sparked secret discussions, few dared to openly challenge the status quo.
"Build away. Once you're done, I'll just blow it up again," Davis thought, amused by Disco's frantic efforts to expedite the construction.
In the world of pirates, few settled old scores. Arlong hadn't returned to Nami's village for revenge, nor had Crocodile sought retribution in Alabasta.
However, for Davis, settling old scores was simple.
Noticing a new influx of slaves and potential buyers, Davis sighed. Trying to change the world alone, even with his foreknowledge, seemed futile.
"Must I resort to mass slaughter?" he wondered, readying himself to appear as Claude. But a sudden thought stopped him—could this be a trap?
Deciding against direct confrontation, Davis opted for a more covert approach, bringing out a specially modified Barrett sniper rifle, ready to act from the shadows.
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