"Yes, I understand."
Shakky said. Since acquiring the Mirror-Mirror Fruit, the intelligence network she managed had stabilized significantly, as the teleportation ability of the Mirror-Mirror Fruit was perfect for intelligence work.
"Li Yuan, I've developed a medicinal bath suitable for children. When will you bring Esthers and the others over?"
Lazuli mentioned.
As mothers, both Lazuli and Shakky missed their children dearly after being away for so long.
"Shakky, if I take your mirror to Amazon Lily, can you connect it to Venus Island through the mirror?"
Li Yuan asked Shakky.
"No, it's too far. I still haven't fully developed the Mirror-Mirror Fruit."
"To connect from here to Amazon Lily, it would take at least a year."
Shakky shook her head.
"Alright, then we'll plan for a year. After a year, I'll let those little ones come and live with us."
"That way, I can take this time to conquer Wano Country."
Li Yuan declared.
"You're going to make a move on Wano Country?"
Shakky asked. Over the years, she had learned about the secluded nation deep in these seas, known as Wano Country, which was also Li Yuan's target.
"Exactly. Wano Country is rich in resources and is perfectly suited to become our stronghold."
"However, that country was once very powerful and is still not weak. I didn't attack before primarily because Rocks was still around."
"Now that Rocks is dead, no one can suppress me anymore, so I'll naturally take Wano Country."
Li Yuan stated.
If Li Yuan were to attack Wano Country, Kin'emon and Kanjuro wouldn't sit idly by. While they were weak, they were still of use to Rocks.
At that time, it was possible that Rocks would intervene in the affairs of Wano Country, which was why Li Yuan had not considered attacking previously.
Now that Rocks was dead, he was no longer afraid of anyone. If Kin'emon and Kanjuro dared to obstruct him, he would kill them!
"To conquer Wano Country, it won't just rely on brute force; winning over the people's hearts is also essential."
"To win their hearts, someone needs to play the good cop, and we need a substantial amount of food."
Shakky pointed out.
"I know, so Shakky, during this time, you help me buy a large quantity of food. Lazuli, you send people to plant crops on our islands."
"Also, Lazuli, I plan to have you act as the good cop, doing good deeds for the people of Wano, while I take on the role of the bad cop to win their hearts."
Li Yuan instructed.
"Got it! Over the past two years, I haven't just recruited medicinal apprentices."
"I've also gathered many management and administrative talents; they are exactly the people we need for our future territories."
Lazuli replied proudly.
She was aware of Li Yuan's ambitions, so in addition to studying medicine and pharmacology, she had also learned about governance and management.
She even taught her female subordinates how to manage islands and handle administration.
After two years of managing Venus Island, these recruits were now ready to go, perfectly suited for the task.
"Alright, Lazuli, keep recruiting more of these management talents. We'll have more islands and territories in the future, and the more talent we have, the better."
Hearing Lazuli's words, Li Yuan nodded in satisfaction.
It's easy to conquer a territory, but managing it is another challenge entirely.
Li Yuan could handle both conquest and defense, but when it came to management, he was at a loss.
He could offer ideas, but managing was beyond his expertise.
This aspect would have to be entrusted to his women.
**In Wano Country:**
"The Great Pirate, Li Yuan, has actually occupied the waters near Wano Country! His target must be Wano Country itself!"
After the disbandment of the Rocks Pirates, Kin'emon and Kanjuro returned to Wano Country.
However, upon returning, they saw the flags of the Unlimited Pirates flying on the nearby islands.
This reminded Kin'emon of the time Li Yuan had threatened him to hand over the training methods for the Sakura technique.
Wano Country was now in Li Yuan's sights!
"We need to inform Lord Orochi of this news. If he runs into Li Yuan, he might get killed!"
Kanjuro said.
"Alright, let's hurry and tell Lord Orochi."
Kin'emon replied.
Both of them were members of the Kurozumi clan, and the leader of their clan was Kurozumi Orochi.
"Do you think if Li Yuan comes to Wano, he might cooperate with our Kurozumi family?"
"After all, if pirates want to occupy Wano Country, once they have taken control, they'll need someone to manage it. Could our Kurozumi family ally with him to help govern Wano?"
Kurozumi Orochi, upon hearing this news, quickly shifted from initial shock to considering how to use Li Yuan to achieve his goal of ruling Wano.
He wanted to become the shogun of Wano Country, but his own strength and influence were insufficient. He could only resort to external assistance. Only by overthrowing the Kozuki family would he have the chance to become the shogun.
"Lord, we're not sure about that, but even if we ally with Li Yuan, we'll still be in danger because our strength pales in comparison to his!"
Kanjuro remarked.
They had been out to sea and had spent time in the Rocks Pirates, knowing the brutality of the ocean. They understood that in the face of absolute power, everything else was futile.
Kurozumi Orochi's mindset was limited by the confines of Wano Country, preventing him from seeing further.
"Heh heh, to gain the position of shogun, danger is a necessary sacrifice. Only by taking risks can we reap rewards!"
"Let's settle this. Send someone to contact the Great Pirate Li Yuan and say we're willing to help him take Wano, proposing that the Kurozumi family manage Wano in return."
Kurozumi Orochi said with a manic laugh.
"Yes, Lord! We'll go contact the Great Pirate Li Yuan right away."
Kanjuro responded.
"Li Yuan, I've got no ties with you. What do you want with me?"
Li Yuan answered the Den Den Mushi.
Every officer of the Rocks Pirates had their own contact methods, but such means were seldom used unless there was a significant matter at hand.
Just like Kanjuro using the Den Den Mushi to contact him for the first time in three years.
"Li Yuan, you must be planning to conquer Wano and occupy it, right?"
Kanjuro stated.
"Oh? So you've returned to Wano Country!"
"Indeed, I'm planning to conquer Wano. From what I know, Wano is rich in resources."
Li Yuan was not surprised; his intentions were quite clear, and anyone with sense could see through them.
"If that's the case, perhaps there's room for collaboration between us."
"Or rather, my backing, which is one of the five major clans of Wano Country, the Kurozumi family, can collaborate with you to plot against Wano!"
Kanjuro laid out his purpose directly.
"Oh? So the Kurozumi family is strong? What qualifications do you have to collaborate with me?"
"If I wanted to, I could easily conquer Wano. I don't believe a closed-off nation can withstand my sword!"
Li Yuan said confidently and arrogantly.
"Heh heh, I know you have power, but even if you take Wano, you will need manpower and labor to develop its resources."
"You'll need people to manage Wano, maintain stability, and assist you in resource exploitation."
"This is something our Kurozumi family can help you with."
Kanjuro explained the strategy Kurozumi Orochi had in mind.
"Oh? I see!"
Upon hearing Kanjuro's words, Li Yuan understood that Kurozumi Orochi was aiming to do the same thing as in the original story against Kaido.
He wanted to leverage external enemies to suppress Wano and then position himself as shogun.
"From what you say, it makes sense."
"Then tell me about the current situation in Wano."
Li Yuan smiled slightly at Kanjuro.
Since Kurozumi Orochi was pursuing this goal, Li Yuan naturally played along.
Wano needed a villain, someone whose notoriety could enhance Li Yuan's reputation.
When he eventually conquered Wano by force, there would likely be much discontent.
However, if a universally despised villain appeared, the resentment towards that individual would be far greater than any directed at Li Yuan.
At that point, if Li Yuan killed that villain, the people of Wano would have no animosity towards him and might even be grateful.
"Wano Country is divided into seven regions: Onigashima, Kurazukuri, Hishima, Usopp, Suzume, Shirakawa, and Hanano Kuni."
"Onigashima is the most brutal island, filled with many terrifying beasts."
"Kurazukuri is Wano's land of crime, where evil is rampant."
"Hanano Kuni is the capital of Wano, ruled by Shogun Kozuki Sukiyaki, and is the most prosperous area of Wano."
"Usopp is located to the east of Kurazukuri, here there are rich deposits of sea stone."
"Hishima is in the northernmost part of Wano; it is filled with wilderness and is the most desolate area."
"Suzume is located to the east of Hanano Kuni, known as the Snow Country, where there are vast graveyards."
"Wano has six major families, among which the Kozuki family is the legitimate one, while the other five families support the Kozuki family to jointly rule Wano."
"The six families are Kozuki, Tenki, Shimozuki, Kazemizu, Amatsukaze, and Kurozumi."
"…"
Kanjuro then shared basic information about Wano.
"From what you say, there shouldn't be a major lord in Kurazukuri now; it's a chaotic place, right?"
Li Yuan asked.
"Um, previously, Kozuki Oden was headed to Kurazukuri to eradicate the dark forces there."
"They haven't been completely eliminated yet, but it's said that Kozuki Oden is powerful and should be able to restore peace to Kurazukuri soon."
Kanjuro explained.
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