Developing the Jōhō

(Kairo's POV)

Alright... first things first, I need to plant a loyal mole into every major powers.

How to do it? How do I make sure they won't betray me for benefits?

Ideas popped into my mind, and I hesitated to try them out either because of the risks or because of the time required.

'I guess you can't get good results if you don't spend more time on it.'

I decided to try out 2 methods, the riskiest, and the most time required.

'Let's see which one works the best.'

I tested the riskiest method first; bribing.

If the recipient manages to overcome their corrupt tendencies/or is too loyal to the organization, I would both lose resources, and there would be a risk of them feeding me false information.

I looked at the Marine branches where there were a lot of pirate attacks/or no pirate attacks at all.

I found corrupt marines at both of them, but they were low in rank, but on the bright side, they both use swords.

I went into my armory and took out 2 Skillful Grade swords.

...

I visited the one with the most pirate attacks first because they would likely develop faster due to the constant threats of pirates.

I found the marine, whose name was Fuji, standing alone in the training ground, constantly slashing his sword.

'My cannon fodder sense is not tingling...this means that he's not a cannon fodder.'

I disguised myself with a Marine uniform and walked towards him.

He noticed me and pointed his sword hostilely at me, asking "Who are you?" with a wary look on his face.

'Why is he so hostile towards me?'

"Someone with your power should not be here..."

'Ah, he can sense my powers? Is that an innate talent?'

"Fuji-san, I'll get straight to the point, what is it that you desire?"

He hesitated before answering, "I want to become the strongest. I want to defeat all the swordsmen in the world and become the strongest swordsman."

'Ah, this guy might've died to Mihawk'

"Fuji-san, I would like to make a deal with you.? I will make you the strongest swordsman, but of course, I require benefits from you."

He was cautious, good. "What exactly does this deal entail?"

"I will give you what you need to become the strongest swordsman, but first, I need to ask you an important question. What is your opinion on the Marines?"

He did not hesitate before answering, "They're just a stepping stone for me. I will become the strongest, and I will use any means needed."

This guy is like me. I used the Marines as a stepping stone as well. I milked them of benefits before causing a mess and leaving.

"If I asked you to pick between me and the Marines, who would you pick?"

"Depends on the benefits."

I can tell he's not lying. If I offer more benefits than the Marines, he would gladly follow me.

"Alright... That's enough for now, I'll give you this for starters. Come to Lisren Island when you want more."

I was confident that he would come.

After all, he's still low in the rankings of the Marines, and with my betrayal, it would be mandatory to serve a certain amount of time before ranking up.

Next...the option that would take more time.

...

For this option, I'll be picking an orphan with potential from the streets, and raising them.

'My cannon fodder senses are tingling...' I thought as I walked into the slums.

I looked at every orphan I could find, and my cannon fodder senses reacted to all of them.

It's fine. It would take a little more time.

I heard the sounds of a beating, something that I've grown accustomed to during my time in the slums.

I looked at the recipient and saw that it was a little girl and boy.

My cannon fodder senses didn't react to either of them.

I quickly got rid of the people beating them, and I asked, "Are you alright?"

'Goddamn, of course, they ain't. They just got beaten.'

They looked at me warily, and the boy asked, "Who are you, mister?"

Hmmm...

"My name is Kairo, and I'm just a young man passing by when I saw you guys getting beaten by the brutes. Would you like to come with me? I will provide you food and shelter." I said with a smile on my face.

"No. We'll be going now."

They said as they ran off, not noticing my smile becoming strained.

'You little f*cks. I just saved you from getting beaten, possibly r*ped, and this is how you repay me?'

This is why I said the method would take more time.

'You better hope a meteor doesn't fall and destroy this slum.'

No, that would be too obvious. I'm the only one in the world that is known to throw meteors.

That would give the Marines a reason to raise my bounty even more, then tarnishing my image as a person who attacks innocents.

'Dammit, guess I gotta be less conspicuous.'

I walked one more time around the slums, trying to find an orphan with potential, but to no avail, I failed.

'Dealing with Fuji didn't take this long...'

I decided to erase all of my traces here.

I also disliked the disrespect that everyone has shown me. One of those bastards even dared to spit on me.

I'm sure that's an assault.

I used the method that would leave no traces behind; I started a fire.

I gathered up flammable materials in one area and made sure that they would spread around the slums, and I lit them on fire.

...

I decided to make life easier on myself and bought an orphanage.

I needed to spend time with them to make them trust me, and it worked.

I needed to make them at least as strong as a Rear Admiral, or teach them the basics of the Rokushiki.

It shouldn't take super long.

A lot of the children here weren't cannon fodder.

I understood why after a Cipher Pol agent came here to take some of them away.

This is an orphanage for potential agents.

I taught them the basics of Rokushiki, then I let them develop it on their own, visiting them once in a while to ensure their loyalty.

They were all grateful to me.

Some because I bought this orphanage and showed them love.

Others because I saved them from a life in the streets.

I sent some of them to join Mafia families.

I sent others to join pirate crews.

I gave them all my Den Den Mushi number for them to report to me.

I just hope that they'll develop and be in an important position in their respective crews/organizations.

...

"Hello there."

Fuji replied with a nod.

It seems like he has chosen me over the Marines.

Wise choice, I would've killed him otherwise.

"What would you like to do, Fuji-san?"

"I want training. Training in whatever it is that allows me to sense others' presence."

'This guy is just like me! He's more attuned to Observation Haki, despite being a close-range fighter.

Ah... he's just like me when I was starting out in this world. Good ol' days...'

"Fuji-san, you would like training in Observation Haki?"

He looked confused at that, and he asked me to explain what Haki is.

"Haki is a power that allows the user to utilize their spiritual energy for various purposes. It can be used to reinforce attacks, which is Armament Haki, or used to sense others' spiritual energy and perceive their presence, which is Observation Haki. There is a type of Haki that can only be used for a group of chosen ones, and it allows the user to overpower others with their own will.

The first two types of Haki can be used by anybody, and as I said before, the last type can only be used by a group of chosen ones."

"Then does that mean that my ability to perceive others is Observation Haki?"

"I believe so."

"Then give me training in Observation AND Armament Haki."

I like him. He's not afraid to demand things of me, even if he knows that I'm countless times stronger than him.

But... that's disrespectful, is it not? I guess I gotta give him a lesson before he angers those who he shouldn't have.

I used x3 gravity on him to make him fall onto the ground, and then I released my bloodlust at him.

"Fuji-san, you shouldn't demand things of others, especially when you know that they are stronger than you."

I kept him on x3 gravity for a few more minutes before he stood up on his own, with a crazed look in his eyes.

"I changed my mind, instead of training my Haki, I want to train my body first! Multiply my gravity, I'll train my body faster that way!"

'Well, I was planning to do it to myself, but he wants it too? Guess I'm gonna train with him then.'

"Alright, well, I need you to stay in the Marines to pass information onto me, so you can't train outside for too long. How long can you train for without impeding your performance in the Marines?"

"8 hours a day", he answered without hesitation, eager to start.

"Alright, let's get started."

I put him on x3 gravity and made him run around Lister Island.

'I hope he won't get eaten by the animals under x3 gravity. Oh well, pain is what makes people grow faster, is it not?'

I silently wished him good luck before getting started on MY training.

'Body exercises won't work as well as fighting others... guess I'm challenging the beasts then.'

I put x10 gravity on myself, instantly feeling the changes.

'It's much harder to move around. I can barely run like this... how did that bastard take on x1000 gravity? Is my body just that weak compared to his?'

The answer was; yes.

My body could not be compared to his.

It's like comparing a dog to an armed human.

Who would win?

The dog has a small chance to win and depending on the personality of the human, it can get away.

And I got away due to Raiser's personality.

I became even more motivated to train, and I started working on my body, starting from the weakest beasts and working my way up.

...

(Week 1)

"GODDAMMIT, THESE MONKEYS! I WANNA RIP THEIR BRAINS OUT AND FEED THEM TO THE TIGERS!"

I was having a hard time fighting the monkeys. They kept swinging around and throwing rocks at me, even wounding me sometimes because I deliberately turned off my body reinforcements.

'If I kept it on, this wouldn't hurt at all; the rocks would be destroyed on contact...'

"OUCH! STOP HITTING MY HEAD, YOU LITTLE BASTARDS!"

I heard a shout from the other side of the forest, which undoubtedly came from Fuji.

(Week 2)

"HAHAHAAHAHA! GET F*CKED UP YOU LITTLE SHITS!"

I laughed like a crazed maniac, happy at the fact that I finally could use Geppo under x10 gravity and killed a monkey with it.

"RALALALALALA! DIE YOU F*CKING BASTARDS!"

That came from the other side of the forest, so it just means that he's doing well.

(Week 5)

"F*CK! THAT HURTS YOU, GODDAMN BASTARD!"

The tiger swiped at me with his paws, the claws cutting deeply into my arms, but it was worth it.

His claws were stuck in my arms, and he couldn't move because of that.

I used a tremendously weakened [Rankyaku] and it managed to cut his head off before disappearing.

"AHHHHH!!!!"

Oh? That scream sounded like Fuji's. I wonder what happened to him, and how he would explain the wounds that he got to his superiors.

(Week 12)

I could finally move freely under x10 gravity, so I'm moving up to x20.

"OH SHIT!"

I bent my knees, feeling the pressures of x20 gravity.

'Guess I'm moving back to the monkeys'.

I felt Fuji's presence coming closer, and he looked the same as he looked every day, albeit with a more grown beard.

"Yo, I need you to apply stronger gravity on me."

So I did just that. I put him on x6 gravity.

He couldn't handle it at all, and it took him 10 minutes to get up, and another 5 minutes to walk around.

He then headed back to his side of the island, limping on his way there.

(Week 32)

Sh*t. x50 gravity is too hard for me to handle.

I wonder, is this how Fuji feels every time I try to crush him under x10 gravity?

Speaking of Fuji, he's at x12 gravity now and is improving quickly.

'I wonder how x100 gravity would be like?'

"SH*T! THAT HURTS YOU LITTLE SH*TS! I'LL PLUCK YOUR F*CKING BRAINS OUT AND FEED THEM TO THE SEA KINGS"

I shouted as a rock, thrown by the monkeys, hit my head.

This kept going on and on, and eventually, I reached x100 gravity after a year passed.

(Week 52)

I did it... I DID IT!

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

I F*CKING DID IT!

I DID IT!!!!

I FINALLY REACHED X100 GRAVITY!

*CRACK*

'Fuck... my bones hurt from this...'

Fuji walked over to me with a raised eyebrow and asked, "How strong is the gravity on you?"

"x100."

"Ah... I see... anyways give me a stronger gravity. I'm done with the one that you put on me."

I put him under x18 gravity, and like routine, he fell to the ground.

We laid there on the ground for a while, before I mustered up the strength to get up and walk around.

It took me months before I could fight under x100 Gravity, and it took me even longer to fight the tigers.

Eventually, as months passed, I was able to defeat all the beasts under x100 gravity.

My body has gotten stronger.

My devil fruit has gotten stronger due to continuously applying gravity on 2 people for days on end.

I'm stronger now and more durable now.

I also have more stamina.

Now, I'm confident in fighting that bastard, Raiser.