Chapter 43

"After all, your god-husband is an existence that makes the goddess consorts 'addicted'!"

Robin nodded, reassured by Ethan's countermeasures, relieving her of any worries. She thought for a moment and gently advised:

"Ethan, you don't need to show up and kill the World Government's people for me. Their lackeys are endless."

"I don't hate them, nor even the Navy—they're just tools of the World Government. What I despise is the World Government itself! Their absurd decisions disgust me."

"The hatred for O'Hara's destruction is deeply buried in my heart. One day, I'll witness you overthrowing the World Government with my own eyes. But now is not the time. We are still far from being strong enough."

As she finished speaking, Robin attempted to break free and roll over. Surprisingly, she managed without any resistance.

"Don't worry; I'm not reckless. The world's development and changes are always within my control."

Ethan's eyes radiated immense confidence as he gently held onto these entrancing, heart-stirring allies.

After a long time, the two finally drifted into each other's dreams.

Not far from them, a half-open door wobbled slightly as Nami quietly slipped in, ready to play a little "prank."

Days later, Ethan's mind wandered to the alluring image of the ghost princess, Perona.

Perona was a true loli type, something he still lacked among his companions.

Now, don't get him wrong—Ethan wasn't into lolis! Absolutely not!

He just wanted to indulge his collecting impulse and provide the cute little loli princess Perona with a home.

More importantly, Perona's ghost fruit ability was incredibly powerful. She could wipe out Luffy's entire crew on her own. She'd be an invaluable ally.

Thus, the Devil's Triangle became his next destination.

It was the territory of Gekko Moria, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. His eerie, three-masted ship drifted mysteriously through the area, making it difficult to locate.

Ethan took out a Den Den Mushi and contacted Shura to rally all priests on Skypiea to head out.

The priests were dispatched to the Blue Sea, to search the Devil's Triangle near Water 7.

Ethan wasn't idle either. While talking with his companions, he pondered ways to strengthen himself further.

The growth of his Conqueror's Haki relied on the expanse of his "heart." To become stronger, he needed to seize higher power, gain greater status, and personally experience profound mysteries, which would naturally lead to improvement.

Training his Armament and Observation Haki required persistent effort. But with time, his physical prowess would inevitably become the strongest in the world.

After conversing with his companions, he began developing his new Devil Fruit ability.

"Door Door Room!"

When he first acquired the Door-Door Fruit, he could only perform basic abilities.

For instance, he could open and close various types of doors, transform into a door, create a door in the void to open an alternate space, and perform short-distance spatial jumps.

His alternate space could store items or creatures, but they would remain stationary unless they followed him out of the space.

For a true storage effect, he needed to develop a specific ability.

He could sense any foreign objects in his alternate space, so he wasn't afraid of someone sneaking in undetected.

If Kizaru entered at light speed, it wouldn't matter; without food or water, he'd eventually starve.

In fact, Ethan would welcome enemies into his alternate space—it would mean certain death for them.

Unfortunately, the door's speed was too slow to capture enemies in battle.

He thought about some advanced abilities, like opening any door to a chosen location or even creating elemental doors for attacks.

High-level techniques like the Gate of All Worlds, Gate of Eternal Life, or Gate of Summoning would only be possible once his Door-Door Fruit fully awakened.

At that same time on Enies Lobby, CP9's studio:

"Rokuogan Tour…Hand In!"

Fukuro clenched his fingers, measuring the full force of Jabra. After evaluating, he announced his verdict:

"2100 Douriki. You've gotten stronger, Jabra. You're a monster, perhaps even surpassing Kaku, tsk tsk~"

"Hmph! Kaku? I think even Lucci isn't on my level."

Jabra sneered, holding a grudge against Lucci, who was indifferent toward him. Kaku and Lucci's closeness only deepened their rivalry.

"Yo yo yi~ Lucci scored almost 3000 Douriki last time, didn't he? You're still a ways off!"

The owl-masked Fukuro chuckled, closing his zipper mouth quickly to avoid further hostility.

"Enough! What's the status of Lucci and his crew? How dare they go missing!"

Spandam burst in angrily, cursing Lucci.

"They might have gotten the Pluton blueprints and absconded with Iceburg," Jabra suggested with a sneer, never missing a chance to slander Lucci.

"They're just dogs; how dare they!" Spandam pounded the table in frustration. "If we can't find them, you'll share their fate!"

Jabra chuckled to himself, but no one dared voice agreement.

A dozen days later, Ethan finally heard from the priests.

"So, my God Shock Team was captured by Moria?"

The God Shock Team was a group of elite Shandians, with Wiper as their current captain.

The Shura-like Den Den Mushi reported, sweating profusely, trying to defend the team.

"Yes, my Lord, they were cautious, but the currents are unpredictable. Moria's ship pulled them in."

Ethan was unperturbed. As long as his orders were fulfilled, they were loyal subordinates in his eyes.

"Have the others gathered in the Devil's Triangle?"

"I have alerted the other priests. We'll all be assembled shortly."

"Good, wait for me."

Click.

With that, Ethan turned into lightning and streaked from Skypiea to the Devil's Triangle.

Skypiea had special mother-and-child oysters for precise tracking, linking his position with that of his fleet.

Before long, Ethan descended upon a ship flying the Kingdom of God's flag.

"My Lord!" the priests and guards greeted in unison.

"Hmm?" Ethan's eyes narrowed, and a sudden flash of lightning struck the soldiers below.

A high-pitched scream broke the silence, and a bizarre-looking man with a lion's mane-like face appeared, writhing in pain.

"There's an unusual monster on this ship~"

Unperturbed, Ethan gestured for the guards, who swiftly subdued Absalom on the deck.

"Were you not using Observation Haki to check?"

"God, we did, but he eluded us. Our Haki pales in comparison to yours."

Ethan's soldiers' Haki training was elementary compared to the rigorous training Rayleigh provided Luffy.

But mastering Haki was a long journey—something he would eventually remedy.

"Who are you?" Absalom wheezed, still dazed from the shock but defiant. "This is Moria's territory. Release me now, or he'll show you no mercy!"

Unimpressed, Ethan gestured, and his soldiers moved in, severing Absalom's lion-masked head.

"Wait! You can't—"

Before Absalom could finish, his head rolled free, and Ethan claimed his Devil Fruit.

The Suke Suke no Mi (Clear-Clear Fruit) had its uses, though limited.

Transparency could hide the body, but not sound or scent, making it less effective in the New World, where Observation Haki was common.

With a casual flick, Ethan stored the fruit in his newly developed door portal, a direct link to his palace's collection room.

This allowed him a portable storage space, with plans to improve it.

Five ships bearing the Kingdom of God's flag sailed in the turbulent Devil's Triangle, the soldiers ready for battle.

"Are all forces assembled?" Ethan asked, seating himself beside the mast.

"Yes, God! The four priests and five squads await your command. Only the sixth team is delayed."

"Then let's begin!"

With a united cheer, the soldiers sailed deeper into the Devil's Triangle.

Soon, an eerie song echoed through the mist.

"♪ Yo ho ho ho~♪"

"♪ Drink up Binx's Brew~♪"

The melody abruptly stopped, and an ancient-looking pirate ship emerged before them.

"Bring that skeleton over," Ethan ordered.

The soldiers retrieved the skeletal figure and placed it beside Ethan.