Wano Country, once closed off to the world, now stood as a shadow of its former self. The land had barely recovered from Kaido's tyrannical reign and the calamity of war that followed. But peace, like all things, was fleeting.
In the depths of the New World, far from the eyes of most, Figarland Shamrock sat in silent thought.
Two fruits already rested within him. The Dark-Dark Fruit, stolen from Blackbeard's corpse, and the Memory-Memory Fruit, plucked from the dead Pudding.
Only one remained. The Time-Time Fruit.
And now, intelligence from his CP-0 network revealed its location.
"Wano," Shamrock whispered. "Of course it would be Wano."
After the death of Kozuki Toki, the Time-Time Fruit had resurfaced, falling into the hands of none other than Toki's daughter: Kozuki Hiyori.
It was absurd, almost laughable. Fate seemed intent on keeping that cursed fruit within the hands of the same pathetic bloodline.
But Shamrock was done laughing. Fate would be shattered.
He stood up, summoning his CP-0 commanders.
"Prepare the fleet. We're going to Wano. Also contact that celestial dragon who promised me his forces. It's time to use it."
"Best to use the memory fruit power in order to change these forces' allegiance to me." Shamrock thought.
As the sleek, black-armored ships of the God's Knights began their quiet journey across the sea, Shamrock's thoughts drifted to the very name that sickened him more than most.
Momonosuke.
That revolting worm. A creature so useless, so pathetic, that even his own survival had been a cosmic mistake.
Born from a fool and martyred by fools. Kozuki Oden, that dancing clown who fancied himself a hero, had allowed his entire clan to be wiped out while he performed humiliating rituals at Kaido's behest. All in the name of some promise. Some future.
And his son? Momonosuke? A whimpering disgrace who relied on others to do the dying while he pretended to lead.
He had no strength.
No resolve.
Not even Kaido had bothered to kill him.
Shamrock clenched his fists as he remembered how this insect had dared to command the loyalty of the Scabbards, had dared to speak in front of an entire nation with the arrogance of inherited legacy, not earned authority.
Wano's future, entrusted to someone like that?
Unacceptable.
Not that he cared about the future of Wano but just by imagining how such a waste is still alive and doing well, sickens Shamrock.
Even Luffy the supposed liberator and savior of the world, acknowledges such a waste and gave him the straw hat flag.
But Luffy is now dead. There will be no one left to wipe his ass. No plot device will save him. The forces on Wano are insignificant. Even a single admiral Ryokugyu was enough to drive them to despair. If not for that fool Shanks interfering, they would have died then and there.
In the war room aboard the lead vessel, Shamrock spread out the latest intelligence maps. CP-0 had already infiltrated the outskirts of Wano. Hiyori was believed to reside within the rebuilt Flower Capital, hidden under layers of protection by the remnants of the Red Scabbards and sympathizers to the Kozuki cause.
Momonosuke now sat as the nominal Shogun of Wano but his title was as hollow as his character. Reports said he was weak, indecisive, and hated battle. More interested in attending meaningless court ceremonies than ruling with strength.
"A disgrace to the title of Shogun," Shamrock muttered, reading the summary reports. "He should have died alongside his pathetic father."
He turned to the room of masked CP-0 agents. Among the ranks are Blueno and his squad of former CP-9 agents from Enies Lobby incident such as Lucci, Kaku, etc.
"Burn their city to the ground. Spare no one who bears the name Kozuki. That bloodline ends here."
His words were met with silent nods. No one questioned him. No one dared.