Developments

During the trip, Victor fully focused on developing new ideas and blueprints to start the business. The poverty and unemployment rate in his territory was more than 60% so to curb it he needed industries. His main focus will be on agriculture, transport and technology to make it self-sustainable before he heads to the Grand Line for his mission and adventure. Grand Line was like a brutal testing ground with immense dangers but also huge opportunities, only by travelling it can one claim to be a true strong man. After travelling for five days they finally reached BlackRock Port and Mr Hugh, Guild Tesoro and the higher-ranking members were also present to welcome them back. 

"Boss!" Everyone greeted enthusiastically as Victor emerged from the ship. They had heard that Victor was returning victorious after a huge war. Even though they were not present, the rumours about his strength had already spread by word of mouth. 

After greeting everyone back Victor said, "Uncle Hugh, we have a troublesome prisoner. I want you to personally escort him to the prison."

"Is that so? Who's it?"

"A bounty hunter, Daz Bones. He has a devil fruit power so be extra cautious."

"I'll do so Victor! Welcome back home Victor and Mrs Robin."

"It's too early, I'll go home and freshen up. Tesoro, come visit me later in the evening."

"Yes Boss!" He answered excitedly.

***

Victor was soaking in the bathtub in the mansion as he closed his eyes and thought about various things. When a devil fruit user falls into the sea he loses his powers and ability to swim. Can anyone decrease this weakness to some degree with constant training? Sanjuan Wolf escaped this limitation by being able to stand higher than the sea level. Was he naturally that tall Is there a limit on how much one has to be submerged till his powers disappear and is it something inside the water that causes it? He tried to activate his cloning powers of the soap but nothing happened as expected. 

Suddenly Robin's voice came from outside, "Victor! Did you fall asleep? You have been inside the bathroom for one hour."

"I'm not sleeping Robin, I'll be out in a minute!" He was brought out of his thoughts and he got up from the water. He walked up to the big mirror after drying himself with a towel and looked at his reflection. 

A very familiar but unfamiliar new face to hide his true self, but however he tries to distract himself he knows he is a demon inside. His past life was spent scouring from one battlefield to another fighting terrorists, first for the nation and then for himself. Why did he target only high-ranking corrupt businessmen and politicians when he became a hitman? Just because he was some rightful hero with the goal of saving the world? Deep inside he knows that he yarned for the thrill of the challenge. It didn't matter how much they earned or how many powerful connections they had, everyone was equal when he pulled the trigger. This time the stakes are higher, I will become the apex prede...

"Victorrr!!"

*Sigh* Shouldn't a man be allowed to have an inner monologue in peace? "I'll be out in a minute dear!"

He didn't dilly dally and wore a comfortable t-shirt and pants before leaving the bathroom. Robin who was sitting on the bed looked at him weirdly. 

"I can understand, it must have been hard after travelling on the sea for five days."

"It's not what you are thinking Robin!" He tried to explain feebly but failed. To divert the topic he said, "Robin! We'll receive two little guests in a few days, I want you to meet them too."

"What do you mean?"

"Have you heard of the island called Flevance in North Blue?"

Robin thought for a while and remembered reading a newspaper article about the "Amber Lead Syndrome" that wiped out the 'White City' a few years ago in 1508. "What of it?"

"Well, It was the World Government.." He continued to tell the story of how the mining and use of poisonous Amber Lead caused fetal disease. How the citizens realised too late because the government was blinded by profits and how they were not even provided help by neighbouring kingdoms because of rumours that the disease was communicable. Later, the nation quarantined the island and wiped them out for 'justifiable' reasons under the Government's orders.

"Trafalgar D. Water Law, at the age of 9 is the only person from Flevance who survived as he managed to smuggle himself across the border by hiding amongst a mountain of corpses. He has suffered enough, I want to give him a better childhood."

Robin was shocked as lots of painful memories rushed into her mind about her similar experiences in the past. She knows what it feels like to lose everyone you know at once.

"What about the other one?"

"A polar bear mink child, Bepo was born on Zou and unfortunately fell down into the seas. He somehow landed up in North Blue and became friends with Law. He is very round and fluffy."

"What do you plan for them?" Robin asked curiously, she knew Victor didn't do anything until he had something to gain from it.

"I'd like to adopt them as my family if they accept," Victor said with a serious tone. 

Robin looked at Victor and understood he was not joking, she said with a smile. "You're right; they've suffered enough. I am now curious to meet them."

"They'll arrive in a week!', Victor said casually as he used his clone powers on the pen to see if he could un-summon his constructs and it worked much to his pleasant surprise. But the energy he lost while creating it didn't return to him and dissipated into shadowy smoke.

"So, you'll get busy once again I guess!"

"Nah, I'll let the clones do the jobs."

"What will you do?"

"Didn't you want to train Haki?"

"I do!!!" Robin became excited at the prospect, she had seen the power of Haki personally. "When do we start training?"

"Take rest for today! We'll start from tomorrow." 

***

Late in the evening:

Victor sat with Tesoro as they sat on an ordinary carriage and passed through the slums in the city. This was the worst part of the islands where the poorest and the outlaws lived and Victor could feel the amount of suffering they had to face. 

"Boss! We have relocated most of the former slaves temporarily to the town hall but we need a permanent solution. We currently have one high school, three primary schools, and 5 orphanages running at full capacity but we lack many essential things. For now, some of the members are teaching the children basic reading and writing along with some physical training voluntarily. The idea of providing free food has brought many children to schools but we are also lacking."

"Don't worry, We'll handle the small issues with time. What about the hospitals?"

"Same situation, we lack talented doctors, nurses and medicine."

"Hmmm, lots of work needs to be done. Tesoro, how's life with your Nutella?"

"Boss! Her name is Stella, she's doing better now." He replied with an awkward smile. "Ohh! She also asked me to invite you and Mrs Moriarty for lunch whenever you are free."

"Is that so? I'll surely not refuse." Victor said he kept looking out. "Tesoro, ask the carriage to return to home, I've seen enough."

***

Inside the meeting hall:

Four people sat before him with various expressions on their faces. A month ago they were just slaves but they were currently sitting in the same room with their liberator, Victor Moriarty himself.

"Don't be nervous guys! All of you have some talent which I highly appreciate. Byron, you are a talented musician and a winemaker, Bob B. with Concrete devil fruit powers, Miss Lilly with the powers to grow plants, and Joshua with the Elephant Zoan devil fruit. I can teach you how to get stronger as well as utilize your power to earn a lot of money."

They calmed down after his assuring words, Lily spoke first, "Boss Victor! I'll be in your care so please take care of us and our family." Others nodded, they knew that this was a great opportunity to improve their lives.

"You guys will not regret your decisions, so first Byron! I'll assign you as a music teacher officially, while you'll work under Gild Tesoro to discover any potential talents. You can also work on Winemaking and for any good discoveries you'll earn a huge royalty."

"Thank you, Boss!" He nodded in gratitude.

"Bob B. you have a powerful devil fruit if used properly. I heard you were an artist before so I'll put you in the architecture department. Your first project will be to build a housing and roads project to transform the slums into a residential district using your talents, I'll assign you some engineers so that you can plan an efficient, well-designed and hygienic housing environment."

"I'll try to do my best!" Bob B was a man of short stature but he had lived as a street artist before being captured as a slave.

"Miss Lily will work for the agriculture and forest department, you'll be assigned to tropico and make it a grain basket of BlackRocks. Use your powers to regrow plants and trees swiftly, others will provide the manual labour and harvest the crops and timber. In return, you'll get a good salary and a share of all the profits." Her eyes started glistening with money symbols.

"Joshua you are still young so you'll be training under Zala's elite unit for now until you are strong enough. I believe you have immense potential with your devil fruit but to harness it you need to get stronger physically."

"I don't know if I can fight!" He said meekly.

"Don't worry little guy, I'll train you well. You just have to follow my orders obediently, and you'll become strong in no time." Zala said with a smirk.

"Joshua, With great powers comes great responsibility. Don't worry about compensation and security, you'll all be highly rewarded for your service. You guys can contact me directly if you have any problems. Finally, I want all of you to join the mandatory physical training programs in schools so that you can at least defend yourself from harm." 

The rest of them bowed to show gratitude and left the meeting hall with their respective mentors. 

A/N: Timeskip coming soon.