One Piece: The Strongest Creature

After Kahn obtained the Door-Door Fruit, his journey to the outside world came to a temporary halt.

This trip had been quite fruitful. 

First, securing the Door-Door Fruit, a Paramecia-type ability, added a new strategic asset to the Cross Guild. Second, Kahn was able to strengthen his bonds with Nami and Carina. 

While he was on Amazon Lily, Kahn was surrounded by beautiful women, and his focus on scientific research occupied much of his time. The discovery of Pure Gold also ensured that they could live for hundreds of years.

Over the past few years, apart from fully deepening his relationship with Mary, Kahn hadn't made much progress with others, like Baccarat or Viola, who, while not his maids, were part of his circle. He simply hadn't had the time to build relationships with them.

However, during his travels, Kahn finally found time to strengthen his bonds with his maids. In just a few short months, Carina and Nami, who had been with the Cross Guild for nearly four years, grew significantly closer to him, with Nami even gradually taking after Kahn's ways.

If not for their young age and the fact that they hadn't fully matured yet, Kahn might have already claimed them. In a few years, he believed they would fully integrate with Robin and the others as close sisters.

This clearly shows how skilled Kahn had become at "cultivating" these relationships over time. 

It must be noted that, apart from Scarlett, Monet, Baccarat, and Yamato, most of Kahn's personal maids had met him when they were young and had grown under his care, becoming loyal to him. Kahn, with his strong Observation Haki and experience, had become quite adept at handling innocent young girls.

Back to the present.

After acquiring the Door-Door Fruit, Kahn, along with his two companions, flew the Grandigne over the Red Line and returned to Amazon Lily in the New World.

On their way, Kahn didn't stop at Fish-Man Island, 10,000 meters below the surface, to aid Shirahoshi, who had been harassed by Vander Decken IX and was forced to hide in the Hard-Shell Tower.

Just as Nami hadn't yet developed her deep obsession with money, Kahn hadn't made a move to recruit her at that early stage. 

Now wasn't the right time for Kahn to interfere.

Only those who have been trapped in darkness for a long time truly crave the light. Shirahoshi, while currently lacking her freedom, was otherwise safe from harm. If she were in immediate danger or if the situation around her became more perilous, Kahn might reconsider and step in early. 

For now, however, Shirahoshi's situation didn't require his intervention.

If he did decide to get involved with Shirahoshi, he knew that it would likely mean facing Neptune and his people unless he secretly whisked her away.

Moreover, Kahn's priority was awakening Nami's Paramecia-type Golden Fruit. Even if he were to befriend the Ryugu Kingdom, it would likely happen only after Nami dealt with Jinbei.

Making friends with the Ryugu Kingdom ahead of time would lead the kind-hearted Nami to let go of her grudge against Jinbei. This might reduce the chances of Nami awakening the Paramecia-type Golden Fruit or at least delay her Devil Fruit awakening by a few years.

Additionally, if Neptune refuses to let Kahn take Shirahoshi, but Kahn forcefully does so, Whitebeard would undoubtedly stand up for his sworn brother. This could lead to a confrontation between the "Cross Family" and the Whitebeard Pirates.

Kahn doesn't want to face Whitebeard until the "perfect work" is mass-produced in sufficient numbers. Even if the "Cross Family" wins, their secrets would be exposed, and they would suffer significant losses. Although defeating the Whitebeard Pirates would make the "Cross Family" and Kahn the strongest in the New World, it wouldn't mean much to him. Whitebeard has long passed his prime. With his body weakened by age, Whitebeard no longer possesses the agility to soar through the skies or the endurance to battle for days on end. Even his use of Haki is limited, so defeating him at this point wouldn't bring Kahn any satisfaction.

Kahn's true focus is on the mysterious Imu, Luffy as the liberation fighter, and figures like Dragon. Since the start of the final chapter, Kahn, who travelled to this world, is fully aware of the abilities and strengths of not just Whitebeard but also Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, Shanks, and even Blackbeard, who has acquired two Devil Fruits. Their powers hold no secrets for him. Now, he can confidently compare his strength with theirs.

For Kahn, the allure of facing these powerhouses pales in comparison to confronting Im, Luffy, or Dragon. Their threats far outweigh those of the others. Only by surpassing the strength of these three can Kahn truly rest easy.

Imu, the leader of the World Government, is likely one of the final antagonists. The Celestial Dragons consider themselves gods, descendants of the creators, and Im, as the most noble of them, represents their divine authority. To draw out this 'god,' only the descendants of D, the natural enemies of the gods, or liberation fighters like Luffy, can succeed.

Kahn needs to use Luffy, the liberation fighter, to gather intelligence on this "god." This is why Kahn didn't intervene when Shanks obtained the Paramecia Rubber-Rubber Fruit. He wanted Luffy to eat the fruit, grow into one of the world's strongest, awaken his Devil Fruit, and force out the hidden 'god.'

Kahn doesn't want to expose the full might of the "Cross Family" too early, potentially forcing the 'god' out before the right time. Facing the Whitebeard Pirates now wouldn't benefit him, even if he claimed the Paramecia Shock-Shock Fruit. Without the ability to wield two Devil Fruits, Kahn wouldn't risk consuming the strongest Paramecia-type Devil Fruit.

After giving Nojiko the Paramecia Menmen Fruit, Kuina and Orojia are the only two of Kahn's maids without Devil Fruit powers, but the Shock-Shock Fruit doesn't suit them. 

Before reaching the point of challenging the World Government, even if the rest of the Four Emperors united against him, they wouldn't stand a chance against the "Cross Family."

Upon returning to Amazon Lily, Kahn asked Nami to bring Nojiko, and he gave her the Paramecia Menmen Fruit. From then on, the mystery surrounding the "Cross Family" deepened.

When the world's number one family, and the most enigmatic among the Five Emperors, decides to unveil some of its secrets, the power they reveal will shock the world.

------------

You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion