"That's actually a pretty good idea," Daniel thought, mulling over the possibility of gathering all four Yonko in one place. "But it won't be easy. I'd need something big enough to draw them all in—like the four red Poneglyphs or the record pointer to Raftel. If I can get them to fight over it, then it's a perfect 'mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind' situation. Let them wear each other down, and I'll reap the benefits."
Whether the Yonko or the World Government came out on top didn't matter to Daniel. The confrontation would destabilize the power structure of the world, and there was no way the World Government could coexist peacefully with the Yonko if they all converged on Mary Geoise. Even with Red-Haired Shanks' rumored connections to the Five Elders, a meeting of that magnitude would undoubtedly lead to battle.
"This plan has potential. It's worth exploring," Daniel concluded. He summoned the Baroque Works agents under his control to get an update on Alabasta's current situation.
Since Daniel had openly attacked a Celestial Dragon and even killed one, it had caused a major stir across the seas. While the Celestial Dragons hadn't fallen from power, the event had emboldened various forces. Coupled with the fliers Daniel spread, the number of pirates had surged—not as much as during the Great Pirate Era sparked by Gol D. Roger's death, but still significantly more than before.
With so many new pirates, and no solid intelligence on Daniel's whereabouts, the Marines had shifted their focus to maintaining order. Admirals Aokiji and Akainu were patrolling the seas, hunting down pirates, while Daniel's base of operations, Alabasta, remained relatively peaceful thanks to his presence as a Warlord. The real powerhouses gravitated toward the New World, and only a few ventured backward through Paradise.
"Pure gold... I wonder when it'll show up. Do I really have to wait until Luffy sets sail?" The ongoing chaos didn't concern Daniel much, as it was mostly mid-tier pirates making waves. What interested him was the legendary pure gold, said to greatly extend one's lifespan.
For Daniel, pure gold presented a rare opportunity. While he sought power to combat threats like Thanos, his primary goal was to amass power for himself. Unlike Tony Stark, who believed in science above all else, Daniel believed in gathering both external tools and personal strength. If given the chance, he'd even pursue godhood—though that possibility still seemed distant.
Still, the allure of immortality or longevity was universal. Even the wealthiest individuals sought to prolong their lives. Whether it was the youth-restoring potions in the Marvel universe or the pure gold of the One Piece world, countless people coveted such items.
Though most considered pure gold a myth, the World Government, Marines, and underground factions were quietly searching for it.
"You're learning fast, but you don't have to push yourself. The robots can handle these tasks," Daniel commented as Chelsea set a meal in front of him, smiling as she took a seat opposite him.
Even though Chelsea insisted on acting like his maid, Daniel never treated her as such. The title was more of a playful joke between them.
"It's not that hard. Besides, I'm just practicing in my free time," Chelsea replied with a grin.
Daniel's secret island base was a mix of Eastern and Western architecture, complete with pavilions, pools, and gardens—essentially a luxurious resort. He had even installed the Harvest Tree and the Beauty Hot Spring there. The base was powered by a massive arc reactor, supplemented by the geothermal energy system he had taken from the Hunter x Hunter world.
"Sorry you're stuck here on the island," Daniel said apologetically.
"No need to apologize. This place is amazing, and it's a chance to learn so many new things. Plus, there's no shortage of entertainment with all these games," Chelsea said enthusiastically. Coming from a world where the technology level was far behind, the advanced systems here, like holographic displays and virtual reality, were like an entirely different universe for her.
Chelsea might not enjoy combat training, but she was eager to learn. While Esdeath focused on her martial prowess, Chelsea delved into acquiring knowledge.
"Glad you're enjoying yourself. I'll take you to a more modern world next time," Daniel promised.
"You better not go back on that!" Chelsea warned playfully.
"I won't."
Meanwhile, in the gravity chamber of the base, Daniel watched as Kurome struggled through her training. "Don't push yourself too hard. You don't need to compete with Akame or Esdeath."
Training required not only willpower but also resources. Daniel had built the gravity chamber using Gravium, and it significantly boosted the efficiency of their training.
The power ceiling in the One Piece world was the level of the Yonko. Even Big Mom, with her incredible innate talent, had plateaued after reaching that level. Despite being naturally gifted—capable of defeating giants as a child—Big Mom was no longer the strongest Yonko.
"Time to rest." Seeing Kurome grit her teeth in determination, Daniel picked her up despite her protests and carried her out of the chamber.
Kurome's potential didn't match Akame's, and her long-term use of drugs had severely damaged her body. Even though Daniel had healed her with Philosopher's Stones, her natural talent was still hindered by those past damages.
"If you hurt yourself, your sister will worry. You don't want that, right?" Daniel coaxed Kurome, finally calming her down. Once she was settled, he returned to the gravity chamber to check on Esdeath and Akame's progress before heading into a higher-level chamber for his own training.
Daniel never slacked off in his personal cultivation.
"Esdeath sure is stubborn. Does she really think she can take on the Sea Kings already? The ones in the Calm Belt aren't just for show." Using her Ice Devil Fruit powers, Esdeath had challenged the Sea Kings near the island but quickly found that her abilities couldn't freeze them completely. Even so, she was eager to continue testing her limits.
Meanwhile, Daniel had taught Akame the basics of the Ittoryu sword style. Though Akame wasn't a traditional swordsman, her natural affinity for swordsmanship made her a perfect candidate. Kurome, too, began learning the way of the sword.
Of course, the Rokushiki techniques were also part of their training regimen.
Back in the Marvel Universe.
"I didn't gain much in terms of strength this time, but getting the Ice Devil Fruit was a decent haul," Daniel mused, reflecting on his progress. "Maybe I should visit the Harry Potter world and grab some house-elves to help with potion-making. While I'm at it, I could see if Newt Scamander has any magical creature blood I could use."
The Akame ga Kill world had its dangerous species, which reminded Daniel of the magical creatures in Harry Potter. Many of them, like dragons, Thunderbirds, and Thestrals, could serve as excellent resources for crafting artificial Devil Fruits. Best of all, he didn't need to kill them—just obtaining their blood and genetic material would suffice.
Though the One Piece world had powerful creatures, few of them had unique abilities that could match the magical creatures in the wizarding world. So far, the only notable dragons had been Vegapunk's artificial creations and the rare, legendary Thousand-Year Dragons.
In the wizarding world, rare creatures like Thunderbirds and Thestrals were nearly extinct, mostly due to overhunting by wizards. Only someone like Newt Scamander still cared for them.
Thestral hair, of course, was a key component in making Invisibility Cloaks.
"Looks like Quentin Beck couldn't resist making his move," Daniel muttered as an alert popped up on his screen. He had been tracking Beck ever since placing a marker on him through Red Queen.
"I have to admit, this guy is clever, but he's got no regard for human life." Daniel watched the footage captured by Red Queen. A massive car pile-up on a bridge had involved nearly a hundred vehicles, with several casualties. Had Daniel not marked Beck in advance, he might not have connected the incident to Mysterio at all.
Daniel had to give Beck credit. Using holographic technology combined with attack drones to simulate superhuman powers was an ingenious plan.
In modern society, holographic systems had become invaluable tools, able to simulate all kinds of data easily. However, they were also highly dangerous in the wrong hands. Stark had opposed widespread use of his holographic systems not only because they weren't fully refined at the time, but because society wasn't ready for such technology. The potential for misuse was too great.
Just look at what had happened to Spider-Man—he had been completely fooled by the system.
Holographic systems could simulate entire buildings or vehicles. If someone used such systems recklessly on public roads, it could easily cause mass accidents. A building could be simulated as an empty lot, leading people to unknowingly walk off the edge. Tony and Daniel had made sure that the public versions of their holographic tech required substantial equipment to operate, limiting its misuse.
But Beck had refined the tech to the point that a few drones were all it took.
Had this technology emerged in Daniel's previous life in China, it would likely have been suppressed. But in the capitalist-driven world of the United States, anything that made money was fair game—even at the cost of public safety. Just look at how the gun debate had dragged on for years, with no real progress. The firearms industry simply had too much influence.
"Couldn't Beck have just stayed under the radar? Why did he have to play the hero? With Stark still alive,
pulling a stunt like this is suicide," Daniel sighed. Beck had talent, but he was no Stark.
While Beck had refined his holographic system, Stark had long surpassed such technology. He simply hadn't focused on it as a priority. Much like how Tony had claimed the arc reactor was impossible to miniaturize—until he built one in a cave.
"If Beck wants to die so badly, I'm happy to oblige. This is for the greater good, after all," Daniel decided. Beck's refined holographic system and drones were ripe for the taking. It was time for Daniel to harvest the fruits of Beck's labor.
"Incredible how short-sighted the Skrulls were, too," Daniel thought, recalling the events of Spider-Man: Far From Home. Mysterio's plan had plenty of holes—his simulations created obvious inconsistencies, like the fact that the damage caused by his illusions matched the attacks of his drones, not the monsters he projected. A real SHIELD agent like Nick Fury would have caught on quickly.
Daniel tracked Beck to a small bar in Brooklyn called The Bull Tavern. Once there, he saw Beck and his team celebrating.
"William, Gutman, Vittoria, Janice—cheers to our success! Soon, we'll take down Stark himself!" Beck raised his glass, toasting with his accomplices.
The group was in high spirits, reveling in their perceived victory. None of them gave a second thought to the lives lost in the pile-up they had caused.
"Next time, let's be a little more careful. We don't want to draw Stark's attention just yet," one of Beck's teammates cautioned.
"Why should we be afraid of Stark? This time, I'll make him regret ever firing me!" Beck growled, clenching his glass with fury. Several others around the table shared his sentiment.
Getting fired from Stark Industries had ruined their lives. Used to living large, none of them had saved for a rainy day. With Stark blacklisting them from similar industries, no other company would hire them. Not even Stark himself had actively tried to sabotage them—they had simply burned too many bridges by abusing their positions.
"Why not just go confront Stark directly, if you hate him so much?" Daniel's voice suddenly rang out in the bar.
"Who the hell are you, and how did you get in here?" one of Beck's cronies demanded, reaching for a weapon. But before he could draw it, a red flash streaked across the room, and he dropped to the floor.
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