Ian naturally coveted Vegapunk.
Not to mention, the new-type energy "Mother Flame" that he had developed in the original story—Ian had dreamed of getting his hands on it.
After all, it wasn't just the World Government that needed a powerful energy source to activate the Ancient Weapons.
Beneath Wano, Pluton, buried for eight hundred years, was also in a state of energy depletion.
It too required that kind of powerful, new-type energy to recharge.
Only by obtaining sufficiently strong energy could Pluton unleash that terrifying power capable of sinking an entire island with a single blast.
According to Stussy, the research on the energy source should be nearing completion.
When that time came, all that was needed was to seize the energy from the government, and the final decisive battle could begin.
It was almost time.
Thinking this, Ian couldn't help but feel a small thrill in his heart.
After ending the call with Stussy, Ian summoned all his subordinates who were currently stationed on Onigashima.
Golden blocks radiating a brilliant, dazzling light were placed before them.
"Pure gold?"
Kaido leaned down, his copper bell-like eyes wide as he carefully examined the gold in front of him.
"Ian, are you saying this can give us lifespans of tens of thousands of years?"
"At least tens of thousands," Ian emphasized again.
"Any living being bathed in the light of pure gold will have the passage of life drastically slowed."
"Even living for a hundred thousand years—perhaps that isn't impossible."
"A hundred thousand years?"
Jack couldn't help but gasp.
Such an enormous number—just thinking about it sent his mind reeling.
What kind of unfathomably long stretch of time was that?
The World Government had only existed for eight hundred years, yet the world had already changed beyond recognition.
And a hundred thousand years—that was more than a hundred times that span of history.
"So, that means…"
Hancock looked at Ian with eyes full of tender affection.
Ian's lips twitched slightly.
She hadn't said a word, yet those lingering eyes seemed to have said everything.
Probably the same things Yamato had said before—about walking together for a hundred thousand years or something like that.
"Such a long life… yet it almost feels like it could lead to losing one's purpose, doesn't it?"
Drake said, "In a stretch of time this nearly unattainable, is there really enough to strive for?"
If life loses its purpose, wouldn't it be unbearably empty? Living would hold little meaning.
That's what Drake thought.
"That doesn't matter at all," Black Maria said enthusiastically, "Ian, you said that if we bathe in the light of pure gold, the rate of aging slows infinitely. Doesn't that mean we could stay young forever?"
And which girl could resist such temptation?
"Hmm…"
Ian thought for a moment. "Even if it slows, time still passes. The period of youth might be long, but the time of aging will also be long, right?"
"Tch."
Viola clicked her tongue in disbelief.
To be an old lady for tens of thousands of years before finally dying… that's just too cruel.
Might as well just go straight to the grave after aging.
Ian smiled.
Actually, solving this problem was very simple. Many Devil Fruits could accomplish it.
Foremost among them was the Return-Return Fruit originally possessed by Ain in the story.
Activating it once could make the person touched age backward by twelve years.
That alone was practically an immortality ability.
Combined with pure gold, it was nothing short of a game-changer.
"Though it's still too early to talk about this now," Ian said with a smile, "Slowing aging doesn't mean you can't be killed. Pure gold can't grant true immortality."
"If we lose the final battle against the World Government, then everything is empty talk."
If they lost, the ending would be the same as Joy Boy and his companions: erased from the world — erased from history — by the World Government.
By that time, no matter how much pure gold could delay aging, it would be useless.
"Then we'll crush the World Government!"
Bullet's eyes flashed with a feral light. "Do I even need to say that?"
"Exactly! You must destroy the World Government! I'll help too! Nobody will stop me from keeping my youth!"
The one speaking was the Beast Pirates' chief songstress, the striking girl with red-and-white hair — Miss Uta.
The songstress was only sixteen, and she had already grown into a breathtaking beauty.
Naturally, she could not resist the temptation of eternal youth.
"So, Ian!"
Kaido grinned broadly, excitement shining as he looked at his favored apprentice. "When do we go to war with the World Government?"
"Soon."
Ian said, "It should be soon."
Once Vegapunk's energy source is finished and we seize it, that will be the moment to strike.
But before the fighting starts, there were preparations to make.
For example, they needed to head to the Final Island and obtain the world's ultimate secret — and, while they were at it, inherit the legacy that bastard Joy Boy left behind.
Before that could happen, they had to visit the Whitebeard Pirates and take the last Road Poneglyph from Whitebeard himself.
And, incidentally, the other monsters of the sea needed to be dealt with.
They would be given a choice: pick a side in the coming war.
There would be no option to remain neutral this time.
"Uhohohoho!"
At Ian's answer, Kaido laughed out loud with excitement. "Then don't make me wait too long!"
"Right!"
Bullet, the Beast Pirates' number-two warmonger, laughed loudly as well. "Hurry up and start this war to seize the world!!"
The eyes of every officer shone with uncontrollable excitement.
They were truly close to taking this world.
Among the crew members, the hefty Blackbeard, Teach, tried hard to look excited, but inside, he couldn't help but sigh.
There's no hope left.
He had been with the Beasts Pirates for six years, and during that time, he had come to fully understand the true strength of this pirate crew.
No exaggeration— even if he got his hands on the long-coveted Dark-Dark Fruit, there was no way he could shake the Beasts Pirates even a little.
As for the idea of taking advantage of the war between the Beasts Pirates and the World Government to profit from the fallout, that was pure nonsense.
What a joke. Where on earth could he even find a team capable of scoring in a war between two such colossal powers?
The bigger issue was that Teach couldn't imagine any scenario in which he could defeat Lord Ian.
This lord's strength far surpassed even the peak of Whitebeard. It was beyond human comprehension, reaching a level of power in a completely different dimension!
All he could do now was one thing: obediently follow behind Lord Ian and witness his conquest of the entire world.
And, honestly, that didn't seem so bad.
Teach thought to himself.
After all, there'd still be a share of pure gold for him.
**********
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