Onepiece: I Am Aizen, The Strongest Admiral

"It's natural to use different methods to treat different people, isn't it?" Aizen remarked calmly, his tone as steady as ever.

Subduing someone like the Golden Lion? That was impossible. Aizen wasn't aiming for loyalty—he was simply using him. The Golden Lion, in turn, was only pretending to submit, likely driven by self-interest and survival instincts.

"Forget it," Ryder muttered. "It doesn't matter to me. But this so-called Hunter's Guild... are you sure it won't attract too much attention? With both the Golden Lion and me involved, the World Government won't sit idle. They'll want to erase it."

Aizen's smile remained composed. "Although that concern is valid, I can assure you—the World Government won't even recognize you or the Golden Lion. The same applies to him recognizing you, and vice versa. I've ensured no one, except me, can truly identify you both."

Ryder was taken aback but quickly composed himself. He couldn't deny Aizen's confidence, especially given the mysterious methods he'd witnessed so far.

"Besides," Aizen continued, "the Hunter's Guild doesn't require you to act often. You're already aware that the Guild leader plans to target the Whitebeard Pirates' commanders. For now, your role is to intercept the allied pirates supporting Whitebeard's forces. The Guild leader will handle the core of the Whitebeard Pirates personally."

Ryder's expression turned grim. A confrontation with the Whitebeard Pirates was no small matter. For the Hunter's Guild to make a name for itself, it had to emerge victorious. Failure wasn't an option—for either Ryder or the Golden Lion. Aizen's abilities had made that abundantly clear.

"If this is part of the Guild's grand plan, then I'll do my part," Ryder finally said, his voice steady.

"Good," Aizen replied, his demeanor unwavering. "Of course, every mission has its rewards. The Guild operates on a point system. For each mission, points are awarded based on the task's difficulty and value. This time, completing your mission will earn you 1,000 points—the equivalent of ten Hōgyoku fragments."

Ryder's eyes flickered with interest. "A clever system," he admitted. "Exchanging contributions for Hōgyoku fragments… it's a tempting offer for anyone. Even I can't deny the appeal."

Aizen gave a slight nod, his gaze unwavering. "Indeed. It's a system designed to attract strength. Those who desire power will find themselves drawn to the Guild—either to earn fragments or to avoid conflict with those who already possess them. The Guild will grow into a force that cannot be ignored."

Ryder's intuition told him Aizen was no ordinary figure. The man's ambitions were far greater than those of the Golden Lion. In time, Ryder believed, the Hunter's Guild could rival even the World Government, reshaping the balance of power across the seas.

Before Ryder could voice his thoughts, Aizen cut in. "For now, focus on leaving. Marine reinforcements are closing in. If you delay much longer, it'll be impossible to escape."

Recognizing the wisdom in Aizen's words, Ryder nodded and swiftly departed the island.

As Ryder's silhouette faded, Aizen turned his attention inward, opening his system interface.

**[Defeat the infamous Red Earl: Aizen template unlocked to 30%! Hōgyoku's first stage unlocked!]**

In that moment, Aizen felt a profound change within himself. His physical form began to shift, transitioning from the tangible to something more ethereal. His immense Reiatsu, which once suffocated anyone nearby, vanished entirely—hidden beyond mortal perception.

"It's time," Aizen murmured, placing a hand on his chest.

From within, a radiant gem emerged, pulsing with power. Hōgyoku. It appeared as though it was part of Aizen's body—an organ intertwined with his very essence.

For a moment, Aizen marveled at the transformation. The Hōgyoku was already feeding him, amplifying his Reiatsu and granting him true immortality.

"System," he said, his voice calm yet decisive, "can you suppress Hōgyoku's self-awareness?"

**[Confirming Host's request. Warning: Eliminating Hōgyoku's ego will weaken its power by 50%. Proceed?]**

Aizen frowned slightly. A fifty percent reduction in power wasn't ideal, but allowing Hōgyoku to retain its will posed a risk he couldn't ignore.

"I'll accept the trade-off. Do it."

As the system executed his command, Aizen could feel the subtle shift within the Hōgyoku. Its raw power was slightly diminished, but the overwhelming presence of its ego—the unpredictable factor—was gone.

The corner of his lips curled upward. Even weakened, the Hōgyoku was a tool of unparalleled potential. Now fully under his control, it would serve as a cornerstone for his ambitions.

"The first step is complete," Aizen muttered, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "The Hunter's Guild will rise… and the world will kneel."

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