“The situation is as I’ve expined,” El said calmly. “Since Wano is your homend, I o sider your feelings. If you’re willing, you’ll lead Totto Land’s forces as the vanguard in this campaign. If not, I won’t force you—you remain here on standby.”

  He tinued, “However, Totto Land’s pns will not ge based on your personal decisions. What I promise is that we will treat Wano’s citizens as fairly as possible. I believe they could hardly be worse off than they are now. You’ve seen firsthand what life is like on Totto Land’s isnds—there’s no need for me to eborate further.”

  Withihan an hour, several samurai, including Shimotsuki Ushimaru and Shimotsuki Kouzaburou—now core officers of the Fallen Angel Pirates—were specially summoned by El to Atntis. Upon hearing El’s pn to invade Wano try, their expressions wavered, their emotions visibly stirred.

  “So, the day has finally e…” Kouzaburou sighed softly, pipe in hand. He had long anticipated this moment, and it wasn’t particurly hard to accept. After all, despite their bel as pirates, the Fallen Angel Pirates operated much like a legitimate nation. They were far from the brutal, chaotic image others assumed. If they had been as merciless as rumors cimed, they would have expanded far more by now. And as it stood, Totto Land’s current power was already staggering.

  “El-sama, please don’t misuand,” another samurai spoke up firmly. “Over the past few years, we’ve returo Wano and wits dee firsthand. The Kouzuki family has lost all support. If you lead an army to liberate the try, it would be a blessing. Frankly, the territories uotto Land’s rule—even those outside its core isnds—offer far better living ditions than Wano. The people there have suffered enough under Kouzuki Sukiyaki’s cruelty. Truthfully, we’ve hoped for Totto Land to take Wano for quite some time now!”

  The other samurai echoed their agreement. Many had visited Wano over the years, retrieving their families from its miserable state. Seeing their homend ruined under Sukiyaki’s rule, they no longer felt any loyalty toward the Kouzuki .

  While the seas outside Totto Land were filled with bloodshed and chaos, Totto Land itself aradise by parison. Moreover, they were satisfied with their lives there. The Fallen Angel Pirates treated them well and enerous bes. Even the families of samurai who had died in service were brought to Totto Land and cared for. These families lived fortably, given stable jobs, and their children attended school for free. If their desdants chose to serve in the military over, they were guaranteed opportunities for adva.

  pared to the feudal hardships of Wano, Totto Land offered a far better life. In Wano, many samurai were born outside noble bloodlines and had no real opportuo rise. “I have no objes, El-sama,” Ushimaru finally said, his expression plex but resolute. “The Kouzuki family stripped the Shimotsuki of its title long ago. We owe nothing to a tyrant like Sukiyaki.”

  After witnessing the vast, fasating world outside Wano, Ushimaru realized how narrow his previous perspective had been. Even if offered the position of Daimyo o to repce his deceased father, he would dee. El was not only his brother-in-w but also his mentor, having granted him the Horse-Horse Fruit: Mythical Zoan—Pegasus Form. This ability greatly enhanced his physique and gave him the power of flight, ensuring his tinued growth oh of swordsmanship. His only regret was having to wait ten years to see his sister again. The Time-Time Fruit’s powers were truly unbelievable.

  “It’s good that you uand,” El said, satisfied with their attitudes. “Prepare yourselves. We will march this afternoon. Totto Land will send 30,000 Homies, 10,000 Angel Homies, and 10,000 Totto Land soldiers—a total force of 50,000 troops.”

  This recisely why El had waited five years to act. A Great Swordsman like Shimotsuki Kouzaburou and a future swordsman like Ushimaru were worth the patience. Moreover, Wano would provide Totto Land with elite warriors eager to fight.

  While Wano was resource-rich, aside from Seastone and its refined crafting teiques, it offered little else that was irrepceable. The Hell Trading pany already secured Seastohrough trade, rendering Wano’s resources rgely dispensable.

  As for the A on Pluton buried beh Wano, El had already takeions. Usiian’s Water-Water Fruit abilities, Ryan had infiltrated the site to iigate the legendary warship. While Pluton remained intact, its energy source was nearly depleted. However, through studying Pluton, Ryan—alongside Dr. Vegapunk and Dr. Tsukimi’s research team—had made signifit breakthroughs.

  Their advas led to the development of ser teology, now fully ied into Totto Land’s Homie Army. The Queen-css, Rook-css, and Bishop-css Homies had all been upgraded and were capable of unleashiating ser barrages.

  Even without Pluton, Totto Land’s teological might was enough to terrify its enemies. With further enhas, the Homies’ bat power had more than doubled. bined with the destructive power of sers, Totto Land’s forces could crush any opposition that y ahead.