One Piece:Becoming the King of the World from the Rocks Era

"No, there's been a structural modification to these weapons, increasing their power, and they use a material for the barrel that I've never seen before," said Saint Saturn, the Science Defense God, shaking his head. He oversaw all scientific research for the World Government, yet he was at a loss due to the scarcity of this unknown material. "I've tried substituting various materials, but every attempt results in the weapon exploding after a few shots. Without this particular component, we simply can't replicate the weaponry."

"In that case, we'll have to turn to the underworld and have them acquire these weapons from the Infinite Pirates, although the cost will be exorbitant," replied Saint Vauchly, the Legal Defense God. "Weren't we also deploying the CP agents to infiltrate the pirate groups to gather intel on their weaponry and Sea Prism Stone operations? Any progress?"

"No, nothing substantial," answered Saint Mars, the Environmental Defense God. "The Infinite Pirates operate like a swamp. We've sent numerous CP agents, but ninety percent have disappeared, and those remaining haven't uncovered anything useful."

"Since we're getting nowhere, let's revisit this after the World Summit. For now, let's focus on ensuring the kings of our allied nations arrive safely at Mary Geoise," Saint Saturn concluded.

---

Outside the Kingdom of Alex, a renowned swordsmanship nation in the West Blue, five massive ships approached, docking not at the main port but at a secluded shore.

Queen Elizabeth Elle of the Kingdom of Alex, accompanied by the nation's sole master swordsman, Elizabeth Roosevelt, came to greet the arrivals.

Soon, thirty figures descended from the sky, landing before Queen Elle.

"So, you still remember me," Li Yuan said, his gaze fixed on Queen Elle with an amused smile.

Years ago, when he accompanied the Rocks Pirates in an invasion of the West Blue, the Kingdom of Alex was among his targets. However, Li Yuan ultimately decided to spare the kingdom, demanding only its submission.

After Rocks' death, Li Yuan had little time to monitor the kingdom until his intelligence network, Luowang, reached the West Blue. Now, he had come to see if the kingdom had remained loyal or if they had betrayed him.

To his surprise, as he approached, his Observation Haki picked up that both Queen Elle and the master swordsman Roosevelt harbored no ill intentions toward him.

"Lord Li Yuan, I remember well that seven years ago, the Kingdom of Alex pledged loyalty to you in secret. We would never betray you."

"The treasure you left here has remained untouched, waiting for you to claim," Queen Elle replied respectfully. She knew well the immense strength Li Yuan and the Infinite Pirates now commanded, making betrayal unthinkable.

Moreover, she realized that with the power and resources of the Infinite Pirates, the Kingdom of Alex could grow far stronger.

"Good. I'm glad you remember. Soon, merchant ships from the Infinite Pirates will come to the West Blue. When they do, you can approach them for trade. This partnership will bring prosperity to the Kingdom of Alex," Li Yuan said, nodding in satisfaction. This queen understood the times. Otherwise, he would have been forced to deal with her differently.

"Thank you, Lord Li Yuan!" Queen Elle's eyes lit up with excitement.

Now, everyone in the world was vying for the chance to work with the Infinite Pirates and the New World's great pirates. While some kingdoms had ships capable of crossing the Calm Belt, they lacked Conqueror's Haki to repel the Sea Kings, making passage impossible.

Moreover, trading across the Red Line was expensive and fraught with pirate threats, making it unprofitable. If the Infinite Pirates brought goods to the West Blue, the nations of the Four Seas would scramble to secure trade with them.

"Roosevelt, your swordsmanship has grown sharper," Li Yuan said, turning to Roosevelt, the master swordsman who had once fought him. Back then, Roosevelt's sword had felt dull to Li Yuan, but now, it was as if it had been honed.

"Thank you, Lord Li Yuan. Without your guidance, I may have reached a dead end in my swordsmanship."

Roosevelt expressed his gratitude. After hearing Li Yuan's words years ago, he had ventured from the West Blue, journeying through the East Blue, North Blue, South Blue, the Grand Line, and even the New World. The countless battles rekindled his spirit and advanced his swordsmanship.

"In that case, let me guide you once more, though I won't step in myself. Ashura Doji, you take the lead!" Li Yuan looked over his shoulder at Ashura Doji, who had been eager to fight.

Though still a swordsman, Ashura Doji's power now surpassed that of Roosevelt, a true master swordsman. Yet he had never sparred with a master swordsman, as those in the New World were beyond his current level. Seeing Roosevelt, who was formidable but manageable, Ashura Doji was eager for a match.

"Allow me, Lord Li Yuan!" Ashura Doji stepped forward, drawing his sword, Earth Extinction, which had been strengthened with a fusion by Youmaz. Initially, Li Yuan had intended to give Ashura Doji one of his three Supreme Grade Blades to replace Earth Extinction, but Ashura Doji had refused. Since receiving Earth Extinction, he had been refining it with his own Haki and didn't want to abandon it mid-process.

"I am Elizabeth Roosevelt. It's an honor," Roosevelt replied, recognizing Ashura Doji as one of the Infinite Pirates' strongest officers, the 'Crocodile Swordmaster.'

Although Ashura Doji was a swordsman, Roosevelt did not underestimate him. Years of battle had taught Roosevelt that a swordsman's strength wasn't defined solely by their level of swordsmanship.

The two moved to a secluded area to begin their duel. While Li Yuan wasn't particularly interested, several swordsmen within the Infinite Pirates, including Kanuo and Kalu, were eager to spectate.

The establishment of the Infinite Sword Dojo within the Infinite Pirates had led to an influx of swordfighters, many of whom Li Yuan had organized into a division called the Sword Division. Now numbering over three thousand, twenty of them were swordsmen of considerable rank, all of whom Li Yuan had brought along.

"Elle, let's have you blend in a bit, and then you can give us a tour of the Kingdom of Alex," Li Yuan said, taking Queen Elle along to explore the kingdom under a light disguise. His true purpose was to assess the state of the kingdom, searching for any signs of spies or threats.

Since the Kingdom of Alex had submitted to him, it was effectively his territory. Developing it further would give him a foothold in the West Blue.

"Yes, Lord Li Yuan," Queen Elle replied without hesitation. She understood well that if Li Yuan wished, he could destroy the Kingdom of Alex effortlessly. With the World Government defeated by pirates, she couldn't rely on them for help. Furthermore, the World Government was hardly better than the Infinite Pirates. Rather than placating them, it was wiser to align with Li Yuan and strengthen the Kingdom of Alex.

"By the way, isn't the World Summit about to begin?" Li Yuan asked as they strolled through the bustling streets, blending seamlessly with the crowd.

"Yes, it's nearly time. Is there anything specific you'd like me to address at the summit?" Queen Elle asked, guessing his intention.

"Yes. The World Government has been printing excess Berries recklessly, devaluing the currency globally. At the summit, could you propose a restriction to curb this inflation?" Li Yuan suggested.

In recent years, the World Government had suffered significant losses and was heavily in debt. To relieve their economic strain, they resorted to mass-printing Berries, resulting in a thirty percent devaluation of the currency. If unchecked, the Berry would depreciate even more, as the World Government was in a far worse state than it had been in the original timeline, largely due to Li Yuan's influence.

Over the years, Li Yuan had amassed substantial resources, converting Berries into valuable commodities and hoarding hard assets. He also avoided Berry transactions in trade, preferring goods and precious items to minimize loss. Limiting the Berry's devaluation would benefit the entire world.

"If most of the allied nations agree, it may be possible to restrict the World Government's currency printing, though it might increase the Heavenly Tribute," Elle responded.

The World Government wouldn't capitulate easily. Curbing their printing would require concessions – namely, higher Heavenly Tribute payments. With enough tribute, they wouldn't need to rely on inflationary practices to manage their debt.

"Do you think you can accomplish this?" Li Yuan asked.

"I'm not confident. The Kingdom of Alex has lost much of its former influence," Elle admitted.

After Li Yuan's previous raid, the Kingdom of Alex's prestige had waned significantly. Many neighboring nations that once traded with and respected the kingdom had begun distancing themselves.

If she raised this proposal at the World Summit, it was unlikely to

gain widespread support and would likely provoke a backlash from the World Government.

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