— — — — — — —
The battle had finally come to an end.
This fight, lasting nearly five hours, resulted in a draw.
Undeniably, the Silver Greatsword's strength was remarkable. A draw with the five Opera brothers was no easy feat.
It was clear that the stand's power didn't lie just in individual might—it was the power of numbers that truly shone.
This was the essence of its true strength. A one-person army.
Perhaps this description was most fitting for Joey.
After the test concluded, everyone took a seat.
— — —
"Master, your pastries!" Momo placed the pastries on the table before retreating.
It had been five days since Joey last ate. Not just proper meals—he hadn't even had sweets.
For someone like Joey, it was pure torture. Thankfully, he had an iron will.
If it had been someone like Big Mom with her lack of restraint?
Heh... by now, she'd probably have gone berserk. There was no doubt about it.
Joey quickly yet gracefully devoured the pastries, wiped his mouth, and said, "Sit down. Let's have a quick discussion. Based on everything, how do you all view my abilities?"
The group settled down.
The four girls took their seats on the sofa, while the five Opera brothers sat cross-legged on the floor.
Gala spoke up with a curious expression, "Big bro, your abilities don't seem like Devil Fruit powers, right?"
Joey nodded. "No, they aren't. It's a different kind of special ability."
"I see!" Gala nodded in understanding. He continued, "Looking at your overall strength—attack, defense, speed—you're easily at the level of a Marine Vice Admiral. But when it comes to your swordsmanship, while it's incredibly precise, it feels more... instinctive?"
Scratching his head, Gala seemed unsure how to put it into words.
Indeed, the Greatsword's swordsmanship was extraordinarily refined, but it felt purely instinctive.
This precision stemmed from the nature of its creation—completely wielding the blade out of pure instinct.
Naturally, if Joey were to study swordsmanship and become a master, his strength would grow exponentially.
Joey explained, "It's simple. The Greatsword is essentially a part of me. It functions on pure instinct. If my own swordsmanship improves, the power it wields will become even greater. Moreover, as time goes on, the Greatsword will continue to grow stronger."
"Hmm!" Joey paused thoughtfully before adding, "Given enough time, the Greatsword can evolve to match my strength, perhaps even surpass it."
Indeed, that was the most unique aspect of this Stand.
A Stand possesses the same potential as its user, with the capability to surpass even them. Joey's Silver Greatsword took this to an absurd level.
Individually, the Silver Greatsword was a skilled swordsman focused on physical prowess. But don't forget—It consisted of 47 entities. When they reached Joey's level, it was akin to having 47 loyal, high-level silver-tier fighters at his side.
Truly Dreadful.
Even more so, the Greatsword's growth potential was ranked as "A," meaning its power could continue to evolve.
The tests confirmed it: this was a Stand with a staggeringly high upper limit as a physical combat-focused swordsman.
Joey's role was to guide its transformation further. When it reached its peak, it could evolve to even greater heights with the Requiem Arrow.
While everyone else marveled at the Greatsword's abilities, Joey was already considering its future development and various evolutionary paths.
At this moment, Opera remarked, "Big bro! I think the most important aspect of the Greatsword isn't just its numbers but its Armament Haki. Its Armament Haki reflects your strength."
Joey nodded. "I'm aware."
He continued, "The Greatsword's swordsmanship and Armament Haki are extensions of me. If I develop them to higher levels, the Greatsword's power will also grow stronger. The same goes for Observation Haki."
In short, enhancing the Greatsword's strength wasn't as straightforward as it seemed.
Besides allowing it to grow naturally, Joey had to train his swordsmanship and master both forms of Haki.
Charlotte Joey was not a man who enjoyed fighting. But he wasn't the type to leave everything to others, either.
He preferred to control everything within his grasp. He indeed disliked combat but insisted on wielding absolute power.
Joey was someone who wanted everything firmly in his hands.
For two hours, they discussed and analyzed the Greatsword's traits and limits.
By the end, Joey fully understood its potential.
Its ultimate strength was hard to gauge.
In a true life-or-death battle, the Greatsword alone could potentially kill someone at the level of Katakuri, a bronze-tier level 9 fighter.
Interestingly, unlike normal Stands, injuries to the Greatsword didn't directly harm Joey.
With 47 entities, even if one, two, or three were defeated, Joey wouldn't be affected. Only when over half—24—were destroyed would it impact him.
In every aspect except its limited range of 30 meters, the Silver Greatsword was nearly flawless.
Moreover, with its growth potential ranked as "A," it was impossible to tell whether its abilities or range would expand over time.
Sometimes, a perfect "A" growth stat was the best. Even when other attributes reached their peak, the growth stat alone determined whether a Stand could still evolve.
Once a Stand hit its true limit, its growth stat would drop to "C" or "completed," signifying it could no longer improve.
Massaging his temples, Joey glanced at the Greatswords standing around him and muttered, "Looks like I have a lot more to study. Plus, I need to find techniques or methods to increase life force and mental energy. Ugh, this is getting more troublesome by the day."
After lamenting briefly, Joey turned his attention back to the tasks at hand.
The system for crossing worlds was set to activate.
There were only 86 years left until then. Within this time, not only did Joey need to grow stronger, but he also had to ensure the Charlotte Family rose to power alongside him.
The next step was clear to Joey. It didn't require much thought.
— — —
The journey from the North Blue to the West Blue had taken five days.
When Joey finally stepped out of his room, he was ready to head toward the final stop.
The Kingdom of Kano!
As one of the world's most renowned and powerful nations, the Kingdom of Kano boasted an impressive military force known as the Happo Navy (Happosui Army).
This military strength was a testament to the nation's prominence and power.
Joey's goal? To further strengthen his ties with the Kingdom of Kano's ruler.
Three days later, Joey finally arrived at the ninth and final stop of his journey: the Kingdom of Kano.
Of course, he still remembers to capture those two giants, Dorry and Brogy, on the way back. Losing them wasn't an option.
The ship docked with a loud whoosh as it approached the shore. Joey smiled and said, "Miss Hana, it's been a long time!"
The person who greeted him was a stunning woman in her early thirties.
She was the ruler of the Kingdom of Kano, Hana.
Hana had taken the throne at a young age and led the nation to new heights, transforming it from a strong country into a bona fide superpower.
From every angle, Hana was a remarkable figure—a woman to be reckoned with.
Joey and Hana had been business partners for years.
Walking with grace, Hana greeted him with a smile. "Lord Joey, it has indeed been some time. May I ask what brings you here today?"
Without waiting for an answer, she continued, "Well, whatever it may be, I've already prepared a banquet. Lord Joey, please, follow me."
Joey smiled back. "Of course."
The two boarded a carriage that carried them deeper into the Kingdom of Kano, toward its heart: Peony City.
The Kingdom of Kano had 99 cities, each named after a different flower.
While the nation didn't normally participate in global conferences or really ally itself with the world government, it was a true superpower unlike others like Fish-Man Island or Germa Kingdom.
The nation boasted an impressive standing army of 300,000 soldiers, spread across the 99 cities, each with 30,000 troops.
In addition to these forces, Hana commanded a personal guard of 3,000 elite soldiers, bringing the total to a staggering 3 million.
This level of military might was only possible for a nation with a population of over 45 million—a jaw-dropping figure.
The Kingdom of Kano wasn't just a single island. Surrounding it were 79 additional islands, all under its jurisdiction.
Even when the Kingdom of Kano faced defeat in wars, it was limited to one or two islands falling, hardly a significant loss.
This was the sheer power of the Kingdom of Kano.
As for the reason Joey and Hana got along so well?
It was simple, 40% of the genetic (Gene) fruits Joey sold were purchased by Hana.
Clink.
As they settled into their seats at the banquet, Joey chuckled. "Miss Hana, you've outdone yourself. Gathering desserts from all over the world must have been no small feat."
Hana responded with poise, "Gathering world-class pastry chefs? That's a simple task for someone like me."
Her confidence was undeniable.
It was the confidence of a ruler of a superpower.
The Kingdom of Kano was formidable from top to bottom.
At the top, it had elite fighters.
In the middle, it had capable leaders.
At the bottom, it had an army of 300,000.
The Kingdom of Kano's power was akin to what Kurozumi Orochi boasted when facing CP0: a powerful country.
The Kingdom of Kano could make the same claim with ease.
With a light laugh, Joey replied warmly, "As expected of Miss Hana. Your abilities are impeccable."
Hana smiled, "I've also arranged for a dance performance. Whatever pressing matters you have, let's discuss them after the banquet."
"Of course," Joey agreed. "I wouldn't want to ruin the mood."
Clap.
At her signal, a group of dancers entered the hall—99 of them, dressed in elegant attire reminiscent of ancient court fashion but with a unique twist.
Their performance was mesmerizing.
The dancers moved gracefully, accompanied by floating petals, creating a scene so enchanting that it was hard not to be captivated.
The guards around the room stood still, their gazes fixed ahead, unmoved by the beauty.
The Opera brothers, ever the stoic types, weren't fazed either.
But the four young girls in Joey's entourage were completely entranced, their eyes sparkling with excitement, as if eager to learn the dance themselves.
Hana glanced at Joey, her thoughts unreadable. She mused to herself, "Charlotte Joey! Are your ambitions truly just to build a superpower? Or is there something more? No matter what it is, I'll see if your resolve holds strong."
With a calm smile, Hana turned her attention back to the dance.
.
.
.