One Piece: Conquering Wanokuni at Start

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Sea Circle Calendar, Late 1511

By the end of 1511, Alex had established himself as a dominant force, commanding three top-tier swordsmen. Among them, Mihawk stood out as a remarkable talent, while Gion and Koshiro were destined to rival Alex himself in the art of swordsmanship.

Looking toward the future, the potential within Alex's ranks was undeniable. Aspiring warriors like Zoro, Kuina were still growing but held immense promise. In terms of sheer strength and skill among swordsmen, Alex remained unparalleled.

However, with the rise of the Alloy Machinery Corps, Alex's reliance on recruiting strong individuals had begun to decline. The saturation of his forces mirrored the World Government's concept of abolishing the Shichibukai system after the development of their Seraphim project.

In particular, the acquisition of Charlotte Linlin's powerful bloodline factor would further enhance the Alloy Corps. Each mechanical soldier infused with this technology would rival, if not surpass, the strength of a Shichibukai. This technological leap would enabling him to disregard much of the so-called "strong" forces of the seas.

Still, Alex remained selective when it came to exceptional talents like Mihawk or individuals with unique and rule-defying abilities.

One such person was Baccarat, who ate the Luck-Luck Fruit. After the events at Golden City, Alex instructed his shadow guard to search the seas for Baccarat, convinced that this ability could bring immense fortune to his plans.

Alex wanted to see the result of combining this fruit's power with Buggy, who has Luck Haki.

If Baccarat refused to cooperate, Alex wouldn't hesitate to extract the fruit for his own purposes. With the Munch-Munch Fruit, his methods of recruitment had grown more aggressive and less restrained.

This newfound boldness came naturally, given the strength of his forces and the security of his "ace in the hole." Even Uta, the singer capable of threatening entire nations, was part of Alex's considerations.

When Alex eventually took to the seas, he would plan carefully to bring Uta into his fold. In cases where loyalty couldn't be guaranteed, the extraction of a top-tier Devil Fruit and the cultivation of a more obedient user was always an option. For an emperor who ruled much of the New World, nurturing a world-class singer was hardly a challenge.

Sea Circle Calendar, 1512

By this time, Mihawk had moved to the quiet and remote region of Kuri, a place sparsely populated and ideal for his training. The year 1512 marked a symbolic turning point in many ways.

The Elegia Incident occurs and Uta is left alone there without knowing the truth

Shanks sacrificed his arm to save Luffy.

Amid these events, Alex remained focused on his long-term plans. After dispatching his shadow guard to monitor Elegia , he turned his attention to the year's World Summit.

Years earlier, Alex's machinations had sown discord between the World Government and Fish-Man Island. Now, that conflict had reached a boiling point.

The recent clash between the Sun Pirates and Marine Admiral Aokiji had escalated matters even further. Despite the mermen's mastery of the sea, they found themselves utterly outmatched.

When Kuzan unleashed the devastating power of his Ice Age, the Sun Pirates were captured in their entirety and sent to Impel Down.

The growing tensions between The Fish-Men Island and the World Government naturally sparked unrest in Fish-Man District. Frustration boiled over, fueled by years of fear and isolation, leaving many mermen and mermaids unwilling to leave the safety of their island. Protests erupted, including parades and speeches denouncing the World Government.

These protests, however, dealt a heavy blow to the legacy of Queen Otohime, whose lifelong dream had been to move The Fish-Men Island to the surface and foster unity with humans. 

For the World Government, this situation wasn't a concern. As Alex observed, the Celestial Dragons, led by Palazzo Lor Jabbert, had no regard for The Fish-Men Island. Even the World Government itself viewed the island's status with disinterest, using the threat of expulsion from the allied nations as leverage.

By toying with the notion of removing The Fish-Men Island from the ranks of member nations, the World Government could exact higher Heavenly Tribute payments and impose stricter demands on the island. Without member status, the island, located 10,000 meters beneath the sea, would perish.

However, the World Government wasn't likely to actually expel The Fish-Men Island. The tribute provided by the island was substantial—far greater than many smaller member nations.

Instead, the government's goal was clear: remind The Fish-Men Island of its subordinate status and assert control.

Through his shadow guard branch in Mariejois, Alex learned of the World Summit's upcoming agenda. Recognizing an opportunity, he prepared to enact his own plans for The Fish-Men Island.

Sea Circle Calendar, 1512

The World Summit was fast approaching. Invitations were sent to every member nation of the World Government—except for The Fish-Men Island.

When King Neptune reached out in desperation for clarification, all he received from the staff was a vague and dismissive response: "The Fish-Men Island will not be participating this year."

Neptune slammed the den den mushi onto the receiver, his face darkened with frustration.

"Unbelievable!" he bellowed, slamming a massive fist onto his desk. Papers and items scattered across the floor from the force of his blow.

Otohime, seated beside him, quietly stood and began picking up the fallen objects. Her graceful, deliberate movements momentarily calmed Neptune's stormy mood.

Watching his wife's serene response, Neptune sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

"I just don't know what to do anymore," he admitted tiredly. "This time… this time The Fish-Men Island might truly face disaster."

Otohime gently patted her husband's arm. "It will be alright."

But Neptune shook his head, his worry unshaken.

"We've heard rumors of expulsion from the allied nations," he muttered. "If that happens, The Fish-Men Island will face threats on all sides. We're the primary gateway to the New World—if we lose our member status, even flying Whitebeard's flag won't guarantee our safety."

"After all we've done… we're still in this situation. What else can we do?" Neptune asked, his voice heavy with despair.

Step! Step! Step!

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the palace halls. A frantic voice rang out:

"King Neptune! Trouble! A large number of pirates have passed through the gates—and at the entrance to the corridor, someone spotted the flag of the Big Mom Pirates!"

"What?!"

Neptune's pupils shrank in shock, and a cold sweat broke out across his massive frame. A wave of dizziness overtook him as the realization struck.