The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

Regardless of the young master's identity... will you, and the Navy behind you, really... help Wano Country?

Will you help the people of Wano Country who are enslaved by Kaido and Orochi and are suffering terribly?

He needs a clear commitment, even if that commitment may come at a huge cost.

Faced with Kin'emon's question, Guern abandoned his interrogative stance towards Momonosuke, turned around, and met Kin'emon's gaze with composure.

The answer was given without any hesitation, and with unwavering certainty.

"meeting."

One word: clear, powerful, and unquestionable.

This answer invigorated Kin'emon and rekindled a glimmer of hope in the eyes of the limp Momonosuke.

But they did not realize, or rather, selectively ignored, the deeper meaning in Guern's words.

Of course, Guern will "help" Wano Country.

From the very beginning, his goals were never limited to the navy.

His main goal is to completely free the Navy from the shackles of the World Government and make it a truly independent ultimate force capable of carrying out his will.

To achieve this goal, resources, foundation, and strategic locations are needed.

Wano Country... is practically a plump, mouthwatering cake lying on a chopping board!

First of all, it is the only known country in this sea that can stably produce and process "sea stone"!

What is sea stone?

It is a strategic-level resource that restricts ability users, and a key material for naval handcuffs, prisons, and even some warships. Its value is immeasurable!

Kaido has been entrenched in Wano Country for so many years, and the Beasts Pirates have been able to grow so powerful largely by monopolizing the underground trade of Seastone, thus accumulating massive wealth and resources.

How could Gern not be envious of this core resource?

Secondly, Wano Country has an extremely unique geographical location, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

It is located in the latter half of the New World, surrounded by enormous waterfalls and treacherous currents.

The natural barrier makes it difficult for even the World Government's naval fleet to enter.

This is also an important reason why it was able to close its borders for so long.

Such a natural fortress, difficult for external forces to interfere with, has self-evident strategic value for Guern, who intends to become independent.

Although sea levels may rise in the future, no one knows when that will be.

Finally, and most importantly!

It is one of the three ancient weapons capable of destroying the world.

The super battleship known as "Pluton" lies dormant beneath Wano Country!

How could Gern possibly let go of such an ultimate weapon that could change the world order?

Having taken control of Fishman Island, they possessed Poseidon; having conquered Wano Country, they possessed Pluton; only Uranus remained, and he was now in the hands of the World Government!

And now that the core of the driving weapon, the "Mother Flame," is in his hands, it's not impossible for him to drive Hades in the future!

Kaido occupied Wano Country for its Seastone resources and to turn it into his own weapons factory and military fortress.

What Gern wants... is the sum of all of this!

It represents the monopoly on the mining of Seastone, the potential control over Pluton, and a strategic move to bring Wano Country, this natural fortress, into its sphere of influence.

This would also completely sever a vital economic lifeline for the world government (the supply of seastone), and add another cornerstone to its grand future plans!

........

Hearing Guern's resolute "Yes," Kin'emon felt a huge weight lifted from his heart.

At the same time, a complex emotion that was hard to describe welled up within me.

There was shame about relying on external forces, and worry about the future, but more than anything, there was the determination to finally see a glimmer of hope.

For this hope, for Wano Country, he must risk everything, including honesty.

"I...understand!" Kin'emon nodded heavily, then, under Momonosuke's somewhat panicked gaze...

He took a step back, straightened his clothes, and solemnly performed the highest-level dogeza bow in Wano Country to Guern!

His head was pounded deeply into the ground.

"Your Excellency Tianzhen! To show my sincerity and to avoid future misunderstandings, I will now reveal everything!"

He maintained his kneeling posture, yet his voice was clear and firm as he recounted the greatest secret of the Kozuki clan.

The true identity of young master Momonosuke (son of Kozuki Oden and Azuki Toki), the crushing defeat twenty years ago, and how Lady Azuki Toki used the power of the Time-Time Fruit.

At the end of their lives, they sent themselves and their servants to the "future" (i.e., the present era).

And the prophecy left by Lady Tengetsu about "twenty years from now, nine shadows will be cast on the rising sun".

Gern listened quietly, his face revealing neither joy nor anger. This information corroborated what he already knew and filled in some gaps in the details.

Just as Kin'emon finished speaking, Momonosuke, who was standing to the side, jumped out impatiently.

It seems that Kin'emon's honesty was enough to "buy votes," and that his own stance as the "future shogun" was the key.

So he puffed out his little chest, tried his best to look dignified, and said loudly to Gern, "Lord Tianzhen!"

If you help me successfully restore my kingdom, I will be granted the position of general!

In the future, regarding the cooperation between Wano Country and the Navy, you can have whatever you want…

"I want it?"

Gern's tone suddenly changed, from the previous calm and playful tone to a cold and questioning one, directly interrupting Momonosuke.

Then, tilting his head slightly, he looked at the kid in front of him who was still dreaming of a "transaction" and frowned.

“Why do I… need to ‘want’?” Gern repeated.

Momonosuke was taken aback by the sudden question. His expression froze on his face, his mouth slightly agape, not understanding what he had said wrong.

Gern took a step forward, and the shadow completely enveloped Momonosuke.

He looked down at this so-called "future general," exposing the other's pathetic, self-righteous trump cards.

"The things I captured..."

"Shouldn't it be mine?"

"I used my own strength to defeat the enemy, occupy the land, and acquire resources..."

"Why does all of this need to go through 'you'?"

"!!!"

Momonosuke was struck dumb, his whole body trembling violently, his pupils dilating due to extreme fear and realization.

He finally understood!

Guern is not looking for a "partner" or a "supporter" at all!

He is declaring ownership!

In his eyes, Wano Country is not a country that needs the Kozuki bloodline to "legitimately inherit" its status.

Instead, it was a "trophy" that was now in their possession!

Momonosuke's unrealistic fantasies and pathetic sense of superiority shattered at this moment.

A violent tremor spread from her toes to the top of her head, her pupils dilated to their maximum due to extreme fear and realization, her face was as pale as paper, and even her lips had lost all color.

Before he could react at all, before the trembling of fear had fully spread throughout his body...

Gern moved.

With his right hand, he reached out and grabbed Momonosuke by the neck, then effortlessly lifted him up!

"Ugh... Guh!!"

Momonosuke's small, thin body was instantly lifted into the air, his legs kicking weakly as his throat was gripped tightly.

He let out a short, painful whimper, as a feeling of suffocation overwhelmed him like a tidal wave, and his face quickly turned from white to blue.

"Young Master!!" Jinweimen roared, his eyes wide with rage.

Without a moment to think, his body's instincts and his loyalty to his retainer drove him forward recklessly, wanting to save Momonosuke from Gern's clutches!

Unfortunately, a blinding bolt of lightning suddenly appeared between Kin'emon and Guern!

It's Enel!

He was standing in front of Kin'emon, his expression indifferent, his right index finger pressed against the center of Kin'emon's forehead!

The distance is so short!

"Who gave you permission to disturb the gods' game, mortal?"

Enel's eyes showed no emotion, only indifference and displeasure at the unauthorized actions of ants.

He didn't even give Kin'emon a chance to explain or react; the lightning on his fingertip pressed against Kin'emon's brow suddenly intensified.

"Sizzle!!!"

A high-voltage but extremely precise current burst forth instantly and drilled into Kin'emon's head!

"Ughhhhh!!!"

Kin'emon let out a piercing scream, his whole body went limp, he convulsed violently, his eyes rolled back, and he foamed at the mouth.

The momentum and power that had just been gathered instantly dissipated, and he fell straight backward.

With a loud thud, he crashed to the ground, his body convulsing uncontrollably, his consciousness beginning to fade.

He understood; Momonosuke, the so-called "future general," was not the key at all in the other's eyes.

It's not even a bargaining chip... it might not even be a decent stepping stone!

This time, Gern did not intend to play the role of the Kozuki family's "savior".

"He wants...and, of, the, country."

Chapter 562 'Attack' (Part 1)

"Uh...ah...uh uh..."

Momonosuke felt the clamp on his neck tightening, and his vision began to darken.

He kicked and scratched wildly with both hands and feet.

And Gern just watched him struggle quietly, his eyes showing neither murderous intent nor pity.

Momonosuke possesses the bloodline of Kozuki Oden, making his physical potential inherently extraordinary.

In addition, there's that artificial Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit that, aside from its different color, almost perfectly replicates Kaido's Azure Dragon form, making its future growth potential terrifying.

More importantly, his identity as "the son of Kozuki Oden"

Even in the closed-minded Wano Country, which reveres Bushido, it still possesses immeasurable appeal and symbolic significance.

If I want to completely control Wano Country and make it my own, this brat with legitimate status and enormous potential... cannot be allowed to live.

Thinking of this, just as Guern was preparing to have Momonosuke challenge the Guinness World Record.

"Brubrubru... Brubrubru..."

The small Den Den Mushi in his arms, which mimicked Tesorokin's shimmering expression, suddenly rang urgently.

Gern frowned and slowed his movements slightly, but he did not loosen his grip on Momonosuke.

Instead, he took out a Den Den Mushi with his free left hand and answered the call.

On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Tesoro's voice came through, without any pleasantries, going straight to the point with just one sentence, his tone serious.

"Marshal Gern, the World Government is determined to obtain the 'Mother Spark'..."

After speaking, the Den Den Mushi fell silent, clearly indicating that the situation was urgent and did not allow for further discussion.

Gern's eyes sharpened instantly.

The Mother Spark... Vegapunk's ultimate energy source, the key to powering the Ancient Weapons.