Chapter 308: The Establishment of Wood's Weapons Company

Moreover, after further consideration, Wood noticed that the reward for the Hydra's magic resistance had a hidden downside.

While the ability raised his resistance to magical elements, it also made him as "fragile" as the Hydra itself in terms of physical defense.

In other words, his resistance to elemental attacks would improve, but his physical defenses would be reduced.

If the second reward had been the Hydra's incredible regenerative ability instead, Wood would have chosen it over the magical resistance without hesitation.

But since the reward came with a side effect, Wood had no more doubts about his choice.

After confirming the third reward, two beams of light shot out from the system interface, merging directly into the two swords Wood had placed by his bedside.

When he picked up Tenku and drew the blade from its sheath, he could immediately sense the elemental energy in the air becoming exceptionally active.

With the new attributes layered onto the blades, both Tenku and Asatsuyu not only functioned as magic wands now but also became significantly harder and sharper!

Tenku, which was originally just a Grade 51 Fine Sword, now felt comparable to a Grade 21 Great Sword in all aspects.

As for Asatsuyu, which had already been classified as a Grade 21 Great Sword, it might not have reached the rank of Supreme Grade Sword, but it was undoubtedly stronger than any ordinary great sword.

On the deck of Dark Maru, Robin stood in deep thought, worried as she gazed toward the captain's quarters, where there hadn't been a sign of movement for nearly a month.

When Wood had prepared to enter the Multi-World Life Simulation, he had instructed everyone that he would be staying in his quarters for training and that no one was to disturb him under any circumstances. The punishment for disobeying was expulsion from the pirate crew.

Faced with such a strict penalty, no one dared to interrupt Wood's "training."

At first, Robin and Ruth thought their captain had been inspired to train harder after witnessing the battle between Shanks and Golden Lion Shiki.

So they hadn't worried much—one immersed herself in her devilish training, not wanting to hold the crew back, while the other worked day and night translating the Pluton blueprints in hopes of freeing Wood from the Navy's clutches.

But after half a month passed, both Ruth and Robin realized something was off.

Even if Wood was engaged in some intense, isolated training, he should have emerged by now. He had taken a fair amount of food and water into the room, but not nearly enough to last this long.

Moreover, if he was truly training, there should have been some noise or movement coming from the room.

When twenty days had passed, Robin couldn't sit still anymore. Her work on translating the Poneglyphs had slowed down considerably due to her concern for Wood.

She wanted to check on him, but every time she recalled Wood's stern warning, she suppressed the urge to open the door.

Worried sick about Wood but unwilling to risk punishment, Robin tried to trick Ruth into investigating.

However, after spending so much time with Robin, Ruth had wised up and no longer saw her as an innocent little girl.

On their ship, the captain, Wood, had one cunning mind, and when all the others combined their efforts, they could maybe match that. But Robin? Her scheming was leagues ahead of the rest of them.

Initially, they all thought the title "Devil Child" was just the World Government throwing mud at Robin's name.

But after spending more time with her, they realized how fitting that nickname truly was. Robin might look like an angelic, bespectacled bookworm, but when she showed her true colors, even devils would stand aside.

The incident with Rosinante being dumped near a Navy branch, only to return staggering and clutching his groin, was proof of that.

"Ruth, you're the vice-captain of this pirate crew. If the captain hasn't shown any signs of life for this long, shouldn't it be your responsibility to check on him? If something bad has happened to Wood, you're the one who'll have to take the fall as his vice-captain," Robin said, her tone sharp.

Ruth nearly burst out laughing at the sheer audacity of her words.

Whenever something went wrong, that was when he became the vice-captain. In normal circumstances, though, he might as well have been part of the background.

Of course, Ruth was also worried about Wood's condition. Before going into seclusion for "training," Wood had inexplicably been unconscious for two or three days.

But Ruth also knew that Wood's earlier warning hadn't been a joke. If they barged in and interrupted something important—or uncovered some deep secret—he might actually get silenced for it.

Wood might seem harmless, but Ruth had seen firsthand how the captain had slaughtered hundreds of prisoners in Impel Down in no time at all.

Even after more than a year had passed, the memory of that hellish scene still sent shivers down his spine.

In a way, Ruth thought Wood and Robin were quite the pair.

One was a quiet, bookish girl who turned into the "Devil Child" when scheming, while the other, always smiling and sunny like a neighborhood boy, could transform into a living nightmare on the battlefield.

"Look, I'm not going in there. If you're that worried about the captain, why don't you check on him yourself? After all, Wood dotes on you. If you break the rules, he'll probably just scold you. But if I go in there, I'm dead for sure."

Ruth wasn't exaggerating. Normally, both he and Wood, as captain and vice-captain, were just figureheads. Robin was the one who truly managed everything on the ship.

Wood only made the big decisions, like setting the course or planning significant actions. Other than that, he didn't bother with the day-to-day management. He even had to sweet-talk Robin to get pocket money whenever they docked on an island.

Seeing that her plan to trick Ruth had failed and still deeply worried about Wood, Robin finally steeled herself to open the door. But before she could, the door clicked open on its own.

"What are you two doing?"

Wood stood at the entrance, staring at Robin and Ruth in confusion.

After a brief, awkward silence, Robin quickly shifted the blame.

"Vice-captain Ruth said the captain hasn't left his room in a month, so he ordered me to open the door and check on you."

Ruth was stunned, and as Wood's gaze landed on him, he quickly stammered out his defense. "When did I ever say that—"

"Didn't you just say that because Wood spoils me, I wouldn't be punished too harshly, even if I broke the rules?" Robin interjected before Ruth could finish.

"It's true, I said something like that, but what I meant was—" Ruth tried to explain.

"The vice-captain is in charge, and I'm just a crew member. To avoid being thrown off the ship, I had to follow orders," Robin added with a straight face.

Wood glanced back and forth between the two, quickly piecing together the situation. With a sigh, he said, "I know you're both worried about me, but in the future, just wait for me to come out. Everyone has their own secrets; I'm sure you understand that.

Of course, if it's truly a life-or-death situation, feel free to ignore that rule."

In the end, Wood didn't punish Robin or Ruth. After a hearty meal, he announced the crew's next destination.

Now that they had the initial funds for their operation and the translation of the Pluton blueprints was progressing smoothly, it was time to find a suitable base.

Wood decided to establish their headquarters on an island in the first half of the Grand Line.

His reasoning was simple: while the New World offered a larger market, it was also home to far more powerful forces. Even though Wood himself was strong, his crew wasn't particularly formidable. In fact, they were relatively weak.

To build a sustainable power base, personal strength wasn't enough. If Wood ever left the island, their entire operation could be wiped out.

Therefore, he chose to start by setting up their base in a safer, weaker part of the Grand Line. They would slowly build up their weapons company, eventually expanding into the New World and becoming a major player.

After reviewing several maps, Wood selected an uninhabited island and officially named it "Dark Abyss Island."

Don't ask why it had such a strange name—ask Robin, who had a particular fondness for names related to darkness.

Her reasoning was that their company was built around Pluton's technology and would bring darkness to the World Government, so "Dark Abyss Island" was a fitting name.

The explanation was flimsy, but to the rough-and-tumble crew members like Ruth, it was far better than the name Wood had suggested—"Arena Island."

With the island chosen, Wood and his crew made a brief stop at Sabaody Archipelago, where they recruited the fish-man Tom as their chief engineer. Using the five billion Berries they had stolen from the World Government, they began their ambitious plan.

Wood had initially invited the entire Tom's Workers crew, including Franky, who had a natural talent for building weapons.

After all, Robin had already been recruited, so taking one more of the Straw Hats' members wouldn't make much of a difference.

However, Tom declined Wood's request, stating that he didn't want his two apprentices involved in such a dangerous line of work. Tom himself had no choice but to help Wood, given his immense debt of gratitude and his own bounty, but he wanted his apprentices to live peaceful lives.

Wood respected Tom's decision and didn't push further. After all, when it came to craftsmanship, Tom was the real prize. Iceberg and Franky were just extras in comparison.

With the location chosen, the funding secured, and the technical expertise in place, all that was left was to gather a workforce and begin production.

However, with only around a dozen members in their pirate crew, they lacked the manpower to run a factory.

Recruiting outside workers wasn't a viable option, either. Given the dangerous nature of their work, ordinary people wouldn't be willing to join.

And hiring pirates came with its own risks. Wood worried about attracting individuals with ulterior motives or worse—spies from rival pirate crews.

As a former double agent himself, Wood was particularly cautious about the potential for infiltration. If someone managed to steal the Pluton blueprints or harm Robin, their entire operation would fall apart.

But the solution to the labor shortage soon came to Wood, and it was simpler than he had anticipated: he would recruit the Fish-Men from Fish-Man Island!

Compared to ordinary humans, Fish-Men were far stronger, both physically and in other aspects, and they were eager to live on land.

Wood needed workers, and the Fish-Men longed for a life on the surface. It was a perfect match.

While most people would struggle to convince Fish-Men to work for them due to the deep-seated animosity between humans and Fish-Men, Wood had an advantage—he had ties to Fisher Tiger and Queen Otohime.

With their endorsement, large numbers of Fish-Men flocked to Wood's island to work for him.

Wood provided them with housing, paid them wages, and ensured their safety. In return, the Fish-Men offered their labor, creating a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Thanks to the influx of Fish-Men workers, the barren island was soon transformed into a bustling hub of activity, with buildings rapidly sprouting across the landscape.

At first, some passing pirate crews harbored thoughts of attacking the island. But when they saw the pirate flag flying over it, they quickly abandoned any such notions.

After a series of high-profile incidents, Wood's pirate crew was no longer the obscure group it had once been.

In the first half of the Grand Line, at least, Wood had become a significant figure among the pirates.

He had broken into Impel Down, invaded a Navy branch, destroyed Enies Lobby, and stolen five billion Berries from the World Government.

He had faced down several pirate crews and returned unscathed to the first half of the Grand Line.

These accomplishments proved that Wood had long outgrown the "rookie" label, and the bounty on his head was no exaggeration.

------

The year is 1521 of the Sea Calendar.

In the East Blue's Windmill Village, a 17-year-old boy wearing a straw hat, full of dreams of becoming a pirate, stowed himself inside a wooden barrel and officially set sail.

Within just a few short months, he met Zoro, the swordsman with the three-sword style, Nami, the money-loving navigator, Usopp, the long-nosed sharpshooter, and Sanji, the flirtatious cook.

The Straw Hat Pirates, fresh to the seas, defeated a series of "big shots" in the East Blue before finally arriving at their final destination in the East Blue—Loguetown, the start of the Grand Line.

Upon arriving in Loguetown, it was inevitable that Luffy and his crew would cross paths with the Marine captain stationed there, the man known as "White Hunter" Smoker.

After witnessing Luffy's calm demeanor during his near-execution—eerily reminiscent of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger—Smoker concluded that Luffy had extraordinary potential and would likely grow into a dangerous figure in the future.

Determined to nip this threat in the bud, Smoker abandoned his post in Loguetown to pursue the Straw Hat Pirates into the first half of the Grand Line.

"Captain Smoker, even though we're chasing the Straw Hat Pirates, leaving Loguetown without permission and entering the Grand Line like this... if Headquarters finds out, there could be consequences..."

Aboard the Navy battleship, Sergeant Tashigi looked at Smoker, who sat nearby smoking a cigar, and voiced her concerns.

"I already told you to send a report to Vice Admiral Gion. Did you do that yet?" Smoker replied. "Whatever the orders from Headquarters, we must catch the Straw Hat boy. In all my years stationed at Loguetown, no pirate has ever escaped my grasp. And that kid... he feels dangerous. My instincts have never been wrong. The last person who gave me this feeling is now practically an Emperor of the Sea. Back then, I didn't have the strength to stop them. But this time, I'll crush this threat before it has the chance to grow!"

White Hunter Smoker, a famous Marine captain and a Logia-type "Smoke-Smoke Fruit" user, should have been stationed at Navy Headquarters, given his exceptional abilities.

However, Smoker's straightforward nature and frequent clashes with his superiors resulted in him being sent to a backwater like East Blue to deal with small-time pirates.

If not for the protection of Vice Admiral Gion, Smoker might not have risen to the rank of captain at all. In fact, he could have been demoted a long time ago.

Even Tashigi was shocked when she first learned that Gion, a highly respected vice admiral, was Smoker's senior and mentor.

Tashigi, a rare female Marine officer and a swordsmanship fanatic obsessed with collecting famed blades from criminals, had long admired Vice Admiral Gion, a woman known for wielding the mighty Grade 21 Great Sword "Konpira."

What Tashigi didn't understand was why, despite Vice Admiral Gion's evident care for Smoker, he kept his distance from her and often refused her assistance.

Driven by curiosity, Tashigi once asked another of Smoker's friends, Colonel Hina, about the reason behind this.

Colonel Hina secretly told her that Vice Admiral Gion's care for Smoker was tied to someone from the past—someone Smoker seemingly resented because of his once-strong admiration for them. After being betrayed, that person became the one Smoker most wanted to defeat.

The First Island of the Grand Line: Whiskey Peak

After crossing the Red Line, the Straw Hat Pirates landed on the first island of the Grand Line and were warmly welcomed.

However, this island was one of the strongholds of Baroque Works, a criminal organization that had its sights set on Luffy's 30 million Berry bounty.

In the end, after an epic display of skill from Luffy and Zoro, all the bounty hunters of Baroque Works were defeated. Even Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine, who had come to deal with Princess Vivi, were taken down.

"I can't say it. If I reveal his name, you'll be dragged into this too. Even if you wanted to help me, you wouldn't stand a chance against him. After all, he's one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—Crocodile!"

Nami facepalmed as she listened to Princess Vivi's conflicted words. She had just claimed she couldn't reveal the name of the mastermind but then let it slip anyway.

It was as if Vivi was acting, pretending she couldn't say anything when she'd already spilled the beans.

"Even though we've only known each other a short time, thank you all for everything."

While Luffy and Zoro remained blissfully unconcerned despite their newly acquired enemy, Nami, who had spent years navigating the seas, was well aware of just how dangerous the Seven Warlords of the Sea were.

She immediately bid everyone farewell, intending to part ways with the group.

But just as she turned to leave, a mole-like creature began rapidly sketching something and then proudly presented Nami with a perfectly detailed portrait.

"They're Mr. 13 and Miss Friday, the 'Unlucky Duo,' tasked with punishment and delivering messages for Baroque Works. Looks like your faces have been recorded, and now you're on their blacklist," Vivi explained.

Nami was horrified. She knew of the terror that the Seven Warlords of the Sea represented, and having crossed one of them, the Straw Hat Pirates now faced the very real prospect of annihilation.

No, in this world, Arlong hadn't terrorized Nami's home village, Cocoyashi. But due to the will of the universe, another pirate had filled the void, leaving Nami's hometown in turmoil.

Now that their identities were exposed, and Nami realized she was already involved, she quickly struck a deal with Vivi, making sure she wouldn't be working for free.

"Are the Seven Warlords of the Sea that strong? How do they compare to Buggy?"

Luffy, still a new pirate, had no concept of the power these Warlords possessed. To him, they just sounded impressive.

"The Seven Warlords of the Sea are pirates officially recognized by the World Government. They possess devastating power on par with a nation's military and are considered a balancing force on the seas. Each of the Warlords is a major figure with a reputation capable of deterring countless smaller pirates," Nami explained. "Compared to them, a small fry like Buggy wouldn't even stand a chance—not against Crocodile or even his top agents in Baroque Works."

Hearing this, Nami's anxiety grew, while Luffy and Zoro only became more excited at the thought of facing such powerful foes.

Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, Luffy turned to Vivi and asked, "So, this Crocodile guy—is he stronger than Wood?"

Vivi was initially confused by Luffy's question, unsure of who "Wood" was.

However, after Luffy gave a brief description, Vivi's face paled. "You don't mean that Wood, do you? The one known as 'the Ancient Weapon' Wood..."

"Wait, Luffy, you're not saying you know the legendary Pluton Wood? How do you know him?"

Hearing Vivi's shocked reaction, Zoro and Nami grew curious. They had always assumed that the "Wood" Luffy often mentioned was just some friend from his past. But now, it seemed like something more.

After all, the Warlords of the Sea were already some of the most formidable people in the world, yet Vivi's expression when talking about them wasn't nearly as terrified as when she spoke of Wood.

In other words, the Wood that Luffy mentioned might be someone even more dangerous than a Warlord.

"You've heard of the ancient weapons, right? Said to be superweapons from a bygone era, capable of sinking islands with a single shot. Well, this Wood... he's been given the name of one of these ancient weapons.

"The reason he's called 'Pluton' Wood isn't because he controls one of the ancient weapons—it's because Wood himself has the destructive power and influence equivalent to such a weapon.

"On top of that, Wood is a weapons dealer with a network that spans across the entire world, deeply entrenched in both legal and underground markets. He's a major figure who commands respect from all sides."

"Crocodile may be one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and a powerful pirate, but compared to Wood, he's still several leagues behind.

"Of course, I can't say for certain who would win in a fight between the two. But there are rumors that Wood's influence and strength rival that of the Four Emperors. Years ago, the World Government even tried to recruit him as a Warlord, but he turned them down."

Vivi's explanation left Nami and the others wide-eyed, their understanding of the world forever changed.

Back in East Blue, they had thought someone like Buggy was a top-tier pirate. Now, having entered the Grand Line, they realized just how small their previous world had been.

The Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Four Emperors—these were forces so powerful that the Straw Hats could barely comprehend them.

"Luffy, you know this Wood, right? Can't you contact him? Get him to come deal with Crocodile, and then we'll be safe."

Desperate to avoid certain death and maybe earn a reward from Alabasta, Nami clutched Luffy's shoulders, shaking him frantically.

But Luffy shook his head. "I don't know Wood personally. I know of him because he was a childhood idol of mine and Ace's. We dreamed of becoming strong enough to defeat him one day.

"One of the reasons I set out to become a pirate was because of Shanks, but the other was Wood."

Hearing this, both Nami and Vivi sank into despair.

Nami, at least, hadn't expected much from the start. She'd never heard of this "Pluton Wood" before.

But Vivi had genuinely hoped that, with Wood's help, Alabasta might be saved.

Though the Straw Hats had agreed to assist her, Vivi knew their chances of defeating Crocodile were slim at best.

If Wood, the infamous former Navy traitor, were willing to step in, then Alabasta would have a fighting chance.

In fact, if Wood merely announced that Alabasta was under his protection, Crocodile would likely think twice before making any moves.

In the years that had passed since he first appeared, Wood was no longer a newcomer but a major player in the seas.

After establishing his weapons factory on the Dark Abyss Island, Wood's company had begun mass-producing advanced weaponry.

Initially, selling these weapons had been a challenge, but once Wood made contact with the Golden Emperor Gild Tesoro, the issue of distribution was solved.

Gild Tesoro, the man known as the Golden Emperor, was a "Gold-Gold Fruit" user with the power to manipulate gold, and he controlled the massive entertainment city, Gran Tesoro, along with numerous industries around the world.

Tesoro held 20% of the world's wealth and used his immense fortune to influence both the Celestial Dragons and the World Government.

In the underworld, he ruled as the king of finance, with his influence spreading across the globe.

As for why Gild Tesoro would help Wood and partner with him, the answer was simple—Wood had once saved his life.

Gild Tesoro had been a slave to the Celestial Dragons, along with Boa Hancock and others at Mary Geoise.

Though few knew the story of Wood's connection to the Fish-Man swordsman Yasuo, Tesoro somehow learned the truth.

When he discovered that Wood was selling new advanced weapons but struggling to find buyers, Tesoro approached him and offered to form a partnership.

Thanks to Tesoro's financial backing and Wood's strength, Wood's company grew rapidly, allowing him to become one of the true power players in the underworld.

Wood, in his hidden identity as the "Fish-Man swordsman Yasuo," had a significant grudge against the World Government.

But as his influence grew and with the support of people like Tesoro, who even supplied the Celestial Dragons, the World Government had no choice but to accept him.

Eventually, they even extended an offer to make Wood one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 400+ at p@treon.com/Betek (@->a)