From the very first day Magnus arrived in this world, he understood one truth.
This was a world ruled by strength.
If you were strong enough, the world bent to your will.
If not—then when disaster struck, you could do nothing but curse your weakness.
"Can we talk now?"
Magnus pressed down the aged swordmaster with one hand, looking far more relaxed than the samurai realized. With his reserves of Haki, he could coat his body in Armament and fight until every last one of them fell.
Unless their Ryuo reached the level of internal destruction, none of them could break his defense. And only a handful in Wano even had that skill.
"Don't give up!"
"The samurai of Wano never yield!"
"Better death than surrender!"
"He's only one man!"
Magnus turned his gaze toward the voices.
"Then try again."
A crescent of frozen-white light split the air, cutting down the loudest samurai in an instant, encasing him in ice before he could even cry for help.
Magnus's eyes hardened.
"Don't be mistaken. The only reason you're still standing is because I let you. Centuries of isolation, no true top-class warriors—and you think the world revolves around you?"
The world had changed. If Wano refused to adapt, they would fall. Just as in that other timeline, when the nation was pried open and reduced to a weapons mill, its people slaves, its land barren, its rivers poisoned.
This time, if they stayed shut away, their end would be worse.
Strength was a curse too. Stronger than ordinary nations, but not strong enough to defy the world government forever.
Magnus was certain: one day the World Government would set its eyes on Wano. Better for him to bring Wano under his banner first.
But these samurai were even more stubborn than he expected.
"Forget it."
He wasn't here to enslave them. He didn't like Wano, but he didn't plan on slaughtering its warriors either.
Would allying with him truly harm them? A trade route linking Wano to Sphinx and Elbaf—mutual profit. A win-win.
But if they refused, he would not beg.
Magnus let his aura recede.
"If you won't open your country, then let's discuss something else."
His sudden restraint left the samurai bewildered. He had crushed them with overwhelming force, then pulled back. Still, none dared raise their blades again.
"What do you want?"
Amatsuki Takiichi's chest heaved. For the first time in decades, he had fought to exhaustion—and Magnus hadn't even broken a sweat.
"To show strength," Magnus answered bluntly. "If I didn't, you'd never have listened."
The samurai clenched their teeth, voices sharp as steel.
"Give up—we will never open our gates!"
"Better death than dishonor!"
"Wano will never kneel!"
Magnus sighed, sheathing his blade. Explaining the threat of the World Government would sound like lies to them anyway.
"I see your resolve. And though I'm a pirate, I'm not unreasonable. Since you refuse, I won't force you."
He let the silence hang for a heartbeat, then smiled faintly.
"So let's talk about something else."
He hadn't come to win Wano's loyalty. They weren't worth that much. He'd come for another reason—his crew.
"If you won't trade, then at least grant this. One year. Allow my crew to stay here and train for a single year, and I'll abandon the idea of forcing Wano open."
He knew people. If he had asked for training rights outright, they would have refused. But after demanding their nation's gates be thrown open, this lesser request sounded almost merciful.
"Only that?"
Even Shogun Sukiyaki blinked in relief. They had feared monstrous conditions. A single year was… nothing.
"Yes," Magnus said. "All I need is sparring partners for my crew."
The warriors still standing were exactly what he wanted—fighters skilled enough to endure his Haki and frost, each a bearer of dual-color Haki. Perfect opponents for Shiki and Zephyr to temper themselves against.
And the stronger daimyō retainers, masters of advanced Haki, would be Ripley and Whitebeard's stepping stones. They were strong already, but stuck just short of the summit. One breakthrough—future sight or internal destruction—and they would stand where Magnus now stood.
This way, his crew could grow into true monsters.
The samurai's faith gave them dignity in defeat. Yes, they bowed their heads to Magnus's demand. But they had also shielded Wano from the far worse fate of forced opening.
So it was settled. For one year, the White Wolf Pirates would sharpen their blades against Wano's warriors.
Magnus had given them the best crucible possible.
And far away, in the first half of the Grand Line—Rocks stood alone.
Unlike Ripley and the others, Magnus could not shield him.
The boy had to grow by himself.
…
"I never thought I'd run into a White Wolf here. Scared me half to death—I thought Magnus himself had come."
Grindwin, chief of CP0 operations, cursed his luck. Twice already he had failed, humiliated before the Celestial Dragons. Twice, Magnus had been involved. Once in Elbaf. Once in Mariejois.
This time, when reports tied the White Wolves to the Kingdom of Magra, Grindwin took the mission personally. But if Magnus appeared, he would flee without hesitation. He wasn't suicidal. His superior had been beaten half-dead and still lay in a coma.
Grindwin's orders to his men were clear: if they saw Magnus, they vanished.
But Magra was different.
Here, Grindwin found only one White Wolf—Rocks, the so-called Calamity Child. A billion-berry rookie. Dangerous, yes. But alone? Without Magnus?
The truth dawned on Grindwin like a blessing.
If he captured Rocks, the Government could parade his execution, baiting Magnus and his crew into a trap.
The glory would be his. Promotion. Power. Wealth.
And so he laid his net wide, hemming in the entire island.
Rocks would not escape.
(End of Chapter)
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