The Strongest Lunarian in One Piece

"The situation is as I've explained," El said calmly. "Since Wano is your homeland, I need to consider 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 can remain here on standby."

He continued, "However, Totto Land's plans will not change based on your personal decisions. What I can 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 islands—there's no need for me to elaborate further."

Within less than an hour, several samurai, including Shimotsuki Ushimaru and Shimotsuki Kouzaburou—now core officers of the Fallen Angel Pirates—were specially summoned by El to Atlantis. Upon hearing El's plan to invade Wano Country, their expressions wavered, their emotions visibly stirred.

"So, the day has finally come…" Kouzaburou sighed softly, pipe in hand. He had long anticipated this moment, and it wasn't particularly hard to accept. After all, despite their label 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 claimed, 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 misunderstand," another samurai spoke up firmly. "Over the past few years, we've returned to Wano and witnessed its decline firsthand. The Kouzuki family has lost all support. If you can lead an army to liberate the country, it would be a blessing. Frankly, the territories under Totto Land's rule—even those outside its core islands—offer far better living conditions 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 homeland ruined under Sukiyaki's rule, they no longer felt any loyalty toward the Kouzuki clan.

While the seas outside Totto Land were filled with bloodshed and chaos, Totto Land itself was a paradise by comparison. Moreover, they were satisfied with their lives there. The Fallen Angel Pirates treated them well and offered generous benefits. Even the families of samurai who had died in service were brought to Totto Land and cared for. These families lived comfortably, given stable jobs, and their children attended school for free. If their descendants chose to serve in the military or government, they were guaranteed opportunities for advancement.

Compared 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 opportunities to rise. "I have no objections, El-sama," Ushimaru finally said, his expression complex but resolute. "The Kouzuki family stripped the Shimotsuki clan of its title long ago. We owe nothing to a tyrant like Sukiyaki."

After witnessing the vast, fascinating world outside Wano, Ushimaru realized how narrow his previous perspective had been. Even if offered the position of Daimyo of Ringo to replace his deceased father, he would decline. El was not only his brother-in-law 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 continued growth on the path 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 understand," 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 was precisely 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 techniques, it offered little else that was irreplaceable. The Hell Trading Company already secured Seastone through trade, rendering Wano's resources largely dispensable.

As for the Ancient Weapon Pluton buried beneath Wano, El had already taken precautions. Using Sebastian's Water-Water Fruit abilities, Ryan had infiltrated the site to investigate 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 significant breakthroughs.

Their advancements led to the development of laser technology, now fully integrated into Totto Land's Homie Army. The Queen-class, Rook-class, and Bishop-class Homies had all been upgraded and were capable of unleashing devastating laser barrages.

Even without Pluton, Totto Land's technological might was enough to terrify its enemies. With further enhancements, the Homies' combat power had more than doubled. Combined with the destructive power of lasers, Totto Land's forces could crush any opposition that lay ahead.