When speaking of the four seas in the world of the King of the Pirates during this era, and which one could be considered the weakest, perhaps no one could give a precise answer.
(And I am certainly not talking about pirates—I never said which sea had the weakest pirates, not when Garp is always returning to the East Blue.)
However, if one were to ask which sea was the most chaotic, everyone could give the exact same answer: the North Blue.
As for the reason behind this, it was actually quite simple and easy to understand.
Throughout that long span of eight hundred years, the World Government had always maintained a firm grip on the global oceans, yet there was a time when the vast and boundless waters of the North Blue truly broke free from the shackles and control of the World Government.
The key factor that brought about this situation was a name that, whenever mentioned across the entire North Blue, would cause people's hair to stand on end and fill their hearts with terror: the Germa Family.
Going back some three hundred years, the Germa Family, born in the North Blue, rose rapidly on the strength of their irresistible and formidable military might, successfully conquering and ruling the North Blue.
Their formidable reputation spread far and wide, striking fear into the hearts of both the Marines and the World Government. The mere existence of this family had long since transformed into a terrifying legend that people in the North Blue spoke of with bated breath.
Yet such an aggressive rule was bound to touch upon the untouchable taboo of the World Government.
And so, the World Government secretly plotted in the shadows, constantly sowing discord and driving wedges between factions, until the royal families of the many kingdoms in the North Blue turned against each other and betrayed the Germa Family.
In the end, the rule of the Germa Family shattered and vanished like smoke. Not only that, but even the territories they had originally possessed were ruthlessly stripped away, reducing them from then on to a ghostly nation drifting endlessly across the vast seas.
Of course, a few years ago there was that troublemaker Doflamingo running amok in the North Blue selling weapons everywhere, but the most famous of all remained the evil military forces of Germa 66—that Germa Family which had long entrenched itself in the North Blue, harboring the ambition to restore the Germa Kingdom and reclaim the ancient glory of unifying the North Blue.
Because Vinsmoke Judge had risen more than twenty years ago and successively massacred the kings of four affiliated nations, his might had shaken the North Blue so deeply that it cast a massive shadow of terror over all its inhabitants.
Once again, the faction known as Germa 66 became the nightmare of the North Blue.
Even within storybooks and comic books, Germa 66 always played the role of the grand villains.
Yet in the original story, Oda deliberately downplayed their true capabilities.
One had to realize that the mainstream methods of growing stronger in the world of the King of the Pirates were nothing more than training Haki and consuming Devil Fruits to gain abilities, while their technological prowess had been glossed over.
One had to understand that whether it was clone technology or Lineage Factor modification technology, both were immensely useful.
Putting aside the fact that clone technology could provide an abundant labor force and military strength, just look at the Lineage Factor modification technology alone.
Was Magellan of Impel Down not strong enough in the original story? A single man holding his own against the Four Emperors, a user of the Paramecia-type Doku Doku no Mi, yet regrettably he lacked any natural resistance to poison and was constantly afflicted by the side effects of his own ability—either on his way to being poisoned and having diarrhea, or right in the middle of being poisoned.
What if he were subjected to Lineage Factor modification?
That was right, modified in the same manner as the Poison Pink Reiju.
One had to know that Reiju's modification was an acquired Lineage Factor modification, which meant this capability could equally be applied to Magellan. If there were a Magellan who no longer feared his own poison, would that not signify the birth of yet another truly supreme Admiral-level combat force?
Consequently, for technology of this caliber, Eleco could only gaze upon it with covetous eyes.
Next came the Raid Suit technology.
This was undoubtedly one of the most heaven-defying technologies in existence—or rather, if it were combined with the technique of feeding Devil Fruits to inanimate objects, it would unleash power beyond imagination.
One had to understand that Germa's Raid Suit technology could be controlled through the thoughts of the correspondingly modified Lineage Factor subjects.
What if this were further combined with the technique of feeding Devil Fruits to inanimate objects?
Would that not mean multiple Devil Fruit abilities could be realized in an entirely different way?
Let us not forget that the original story only demonstrated feeding Zoan-type Devil Fruits to inanimate objects because Zoan-type Devil Fruits inherently contained the will of an animal, whereas other types of fruits could not be fed to objects in that manner.
Yet there was also Devil Fruit cloning technology—even if it could only clone Zoan types, what if one cloned the Phoenix fruit of Marco?
A Phoenix Raid Suit—tsk tsk, just ask yourself, how would anyone cope with that?
What if one were to manufacture several corresponding, controllable hidden weapons, feed them clones of the Azure Dragon fruit, and simply toss them out to summon a multitude of Azure Dragons for battle? How would you even crack that?
You say insufficient stamina makes it difficult to control?
Do not forget Vegapunk's Green Blood technology. As long as one copied the ability of Big Mom's Soru Soru no Mi and turned the Raid Suit into a Homie, allowing it to control itself, would not that problem be solved instantly?
The modified soldier would only need to command the Raid Suit, and furthermore, if a Devil Fruit were fed to a Homie-fified Raid Suit, what kind of transformation would occur?
All of these were elements intentionally weakened by Oda in the original work; after all, if things were allowed to develop in that direction, it would run entirely counter to the style of a passionate shonen manga.
Therefore, Eleco had specifically instructed Princess Cifre this time to make contact with members of the Germa Family.
At this moment, in the port of Swallow Island, several colossal, snail-like creatures rested quietly. They were none other than the representatives of the Germa Family who had arrived here in accordance with their agreement.
They were the eldest daughter, Poison Pink—Vinsmoke Reiju, a seductive and enchanting beauty with her left eyebrow coiled to the left, capable of absorbing deadly poisons, wearing headphones and a white silk scarf, her cape shaped like butterfly wings, wearing specially made black gloves, bearing the Germa "66" insignia on both legs, and stepping into technological boots equipped with explosive bouncing and jet-propelled functions.
The eldest son, Spark Red—Vinsmoke Ichiji, a young man with his right eye obscured, his left eyebrow coiled to the left, wearing sunglasses, a white silk scarf, and a black cape marked with the number "1", along with specially made white gloves and a belt bearing the spark insignia.
And the fourth son, Winch Green—Vinsmoke Yiji, a young man with both eyebrows coiled to the left, bearing a striking resemblance in appearance to Zoro, sporting a spiky hairstyle, wearing headphones, sunglasses, a white silk scarf, and a cape marked with the number "4".
His clothing bore the Germa "66" insignia, with specially made white gloves and a belt, while on his feet were technological boots featuring explosive bouncing and jet-propelled capabilities, shoes that allowed a person to briefly hover in mid-air.
Indeed, the instructions Eleco had given Princess Cifre before her departure proved to be entirely correct: Vinsmoke Judge, the current head of the house of Germa, had indeed not come.
As for Judge, Eleco simply did not know how to describe him. To call him hypocritical and cowardly would be entirely accurate, just as it would be accurate to call him an irresponsible father and an incompetent husband.
Yet at the end of the Whole Cake Island arc, he was willing to clear a path for the Straw Hat crew, and even after his wife took special medicine behind his back resulting in irreversible damage, he still devoted himself entirely to curing her, never taking another wife after her death.
One had to realize that given his status, the political marriages could have brought immense benefits.
Then, upon realizing the gap in strength between Sanji and his other brothers, he merely kept him isolated and raised him differently, without subjecting him to any further modifications.
After all, even Reiju was able to match innate modified humans like Ichiji through acquired modifications, yet Judge never subjected Sanji to any modifications after his wife's death.
He merely locked Sanji away and raised him in a peculiar manner.
Moreover, while on the one hand he denied Sanji, on the other hand he still remembered Sanji's dream and his desire to acquire the power of invisibility, purposely crafting the Raid Suit—Stealth Black.
One had to know that North Blue pirates like Law and Drake had read the comic book *Sora, Warrior of the Sea*, which was based on Germa, ever since they were children, making them loyal fans.
And the presence of Stealth Black, which represented Sanji in the story, proved that Judge had never forgotten Sanji.
You say he sold Sanji to Big Mom? But look at it from another angle. You know there is a kingdom whose people are passionately devoted to all kinds of cuisine, whether it is making food or eating it, and your son also loved the culinary arts—was this not a match made in heaven?
And when he parted ways with Luffy and the others during the Whole Cake Island arc, every shortcoming of Sanji's that he pointed out to Luffy was actually a strength. How many fathers could manage to care to that extent?
Therefore, regarding a fellow who was so thoroughly filled with contradictions, Eleco truly did not know how to evaluate him, but he could be certain of one thing: Judge would not come.
As expected, everything unfolded precisely according to his calculations.
"Greetings, Princess Cifre."
Descending from the giant snail ship, the members of Germa led by Reiju offered Princess Cifre a standard aristocratic greeting.
At present, the Germa Family still belonged to the ranks of the World Government's affiliated nations, and Germa held the status of royalty and nobility, so they naturally observed all the proper forms of etiquette.
For a meeting of this nature, greetings exchanged through aristocratic etiquette served as the finest way to open a dialogue between both parties.
"Tsk, he really didn't come, did he? To put it bluntly, I imagine your intelligence networks have already investigated the background of my family quite thoroughly by now. So, have you prepared yourselves to present Reiju to my Imperial Elder Brother?"
Princess Cifre had no desire to waste any more time; if not for Eleco's injunction that the Germa Family would be useful, she would hardly have cared to exchange more than a few words with them.
In truth, everything that needed to be discussed had already been largely settled, and the reciprocal exchange of benefits had been hashed out between Eleco and Judge before Princess Cifre even set out. Looking at the situation now, Judge had made the correct choice.
Reversing the flow of time, let us return to two days before Princess Cifre set out for the North Blue.
"Imperial Elder Brother, what are you still busy with?"
Gazing at Eleco, who had woken up for once without running off to wreak wanton havoc, Princess Cifre felt a deep sense of satisfaction in her heart.
One had to understand that in recent years, as the periods of time Eleco remained conscious each day grew progressively shorter, his temper had swelled like a bursting dike, becoming increasingly volatile.
He would frequently torture servants and slaves, committing all manner of outrageous acts simply to vent the pent-up frustration in his chest.
A day like today, where he sat so quietly in the study reading and practicing calligraphy, was quite literally the first time in history.
"Cifre, how much do you know about the Germa Family of the North Blue?"
At this moment, the study was lined with all sorts of materials concerning the Germa Family of the North Blue. Photographs of several key members of the family were pinned to one of the walls, densely annotated with all manner of information.
"Germa of the North Blue?"
"That notorious mercenary army? That celebrated assassination family? The World Government affiliate that once ruled the North Blue for sixty-six days through sheer force?"
"Correct, I am very interested in them."
To this basic information provided by Cifre, Eleco merely offered a brief response. His primary objective at the moment was to guide his family toward the informational advantage he was already familiar with, allowing him to execute many of his plans with greater ease.
Due to the unique geographical environment of the world of the King of the Pirates and its highly unequal channels of communication, the chasm of information was as vast as a natural moat, difficult to cross.
Coupled with the policies and behind-the-scenes machinations of the World Government, unless someone dedicated themselves to studying and investigating it, ordinary residents were entirely unable to mobilize available resources effectively. And this was precisely Eleco's current advantage.
"If you ask me, Imperial Elder Brother is interested in this girl named Reiju, isn't he? Well, it figures—the information here notes that after her modifications, she possesses a body of steel. A girl like that must be able to keep Imperial Elder Brother entertained for a few more days, right?"
Cough, cough! Cough, cough!
"What kind of nonsense are you babbling about?"
Startled by Cifre's astonishing declaration, Eleco spat out the milk he had just taken a sip of, breaking into a fit of coughing.
"Could it be that I am wrong?"
Cifre tilted her head playfully.
Ah, curses upon the original owner of this body—his reputation was truly atrocious!
"Let us return to the serious matter at hand. As for my condition, I imagine you are well aware of it.
Over this past period, I have repeatedly pondered and weighed the pros and cons, and now I have finally thought it all through completely.
If conventional medical treatments prove ineffective, then I am resolved to undergo a clone consciousness transfer surgery."
Hearing these words, Princess Cifre could not help frowning, asking with deep concern: "Would taking such a measure now be far too late? Furthermore, why must we choose Germa?
I only know that Vegapunk is likewise proficient in clone technology, but as far as I am aware, cultivating a clone requires at least five years or more!
Given your current physical condition...
And have we not already obtained certain clues regarding the user of the Ope Ope no Mi?
Once our people below fully confirm the situation, I can set out immediately to track down that ability user."
Faced with Cifre's doubts, Eleco answered with an expression of unyielding determination: "Although we already have a few traces of the Ope Ope no Mi user, who can guarantee that it will definitely cure my illness?
The Ope Ope no Mi is miraculous indeed, yet it is hardly omnipotent.
I fear that this sleeping sickness of mine is far too intractable; even if we find the user of the Ope Ope no Mi, it will likely prove difficult to cure.
For this affliction touches upon the issue of Lineage Factors, and within the field of human Lineage Factor research, the most renowned figures are Judge of Germa and Vegapunk.
Therefore, rather than pinning our hopes on an Ope Ope no Mi whose success is uncertain, we would be better off utilizing Germa's advanced technology directly to attempt the clone consciousness transfer surgery. Perhaps that will leave us with a glimmer of hope."
"It is true that they were all once members of MADS—Vegapunk, Caesar Clown, Queen under the command of the Four Emperors Kaido, and Buckingham Stussy whose whereabouts are currently unknown. But why choose him above all others?"
Cifre continued to voice her doubts.
"Simply because he is the easiest to control. Vegapunk and Caesar Clown are currently at Punk Hazard (Note: according to Bartholomew Kuma's recollections, Punk Hazard had not yet been blown up by Caesar at this time; the destruction occurred in the year 1518), ostensibly under the jurisdiction of the World Government. Queen is with Kaido, and Buckingham Stussy's actual scientific capabilities are truly hard to judge. Therefore, Judge alone is the most suitable choice."
"Moreover, since we have decided to forge a cloned vessel, why not directly forge the most powerful vessel imaginable?"
"Imperial Elder Brother, you mean...?"
"In this vast world, there are numerous demi-human races: the giants, towering like majestic mountain peaks; the dwarfs, possessing explosive strength many times their own size; the fish-men, endowed with physical prowess ten times that of ordinary humans; the merfolk, graceful as ethereal fairies; the oni race, gifted with formidable combat lineage traits; the Buccaneer race, resembling valiant little giant warriors; the Lunarian race, with their unique environmental adaptability; the Three-Eye tribe, with their awakened abilities; the Mink tribe, capable of Sulong transformations and wielding electricity...
If the strengths of all these races were gathered into a single vessel, would that not grant a head start far surpassing everyone else?"
The powerful physical endowment of the giant race, a lifespan of three hundred years, the nimble stature of the dwarfs, the oni race...
And the only one capable of achieving this was Judge; his modified human technology was already quite mature, which was why I intended to make contact with Germa and subjugate them.
"So that was it. But there remains the same question: will the timeline allow for it?
What if the Ope Ope no Mi fails to cure you, and you fall into your slumber once more? Executing the consciousness transfer at that juncture will likely prove troublesome."
"You need not worry about that either. In these past few days, I have already dispatched men to search for the whereabouts of this fruit, and news has already been found."
Eleco reached behind him to pull a Devil Fruit encyclopedia from the bookshelf, turning the pages to the entry for the Paramecia-type Mature-Mature Fruit.
Eleco naturally knew that this was the fruit consumed by Shinobu in Wano Country in the original work, but since he had to keep up appearances, how could he reveal it directly without making things seem too contradictory when he could only stay awake for less than two hours a day?
"The Mature-Mature Fruit—it accelerates the growth of things, is that it?"
Leaning against Eleco's back from behind, Princess Cifre moved like a light butterfly, using her youthful fingers to tap gently upon the contents of the book while speaking in soft, murmuring tones.
Yet for Eleco, this situation was proving exceedingly perilous.
For today, Princess Cifre was not clad in her formidable knight's armor, but rather wore a long dress of pink and white silk, making her look like a blossoming, delicate flower.
At this moment, her curvaceous form pressed against Eleco's back, and those towering assets pressed like a volcano on the verge of eruption, throwing Eleco's mind into utter turmoil.
Her golden hair swept continuously past Eleco's ear like a waterfall, feeling precisely like teasing feathers lightly brushing against the strings of his heart, nearly costing him his life.
With a sudden motion, he swept his arms around Princess Cifre, pulling her tightly into his embrace as if cradling a rare and peerless treasure, and whispered softly to her: "Cifre, though you rarely speak of it on ordinary days, whenever we are together in that fashion, you are never truly satisfied, are you?
Hehe, when the time comes, I shall most certainly design a size that satisfies you to the utmost, hehe!"
"Imperial Elder Brother!" Cifre cried out with a coy pout.
"The time we have today is so brief, why don't we give Livina a little younger brother or sister?" A hint of teasing laced Eleco's words.
And thus, for the remaining half-hour, Eleco and Princess Cifre indulged themselves to their hearts' content in the study, staging an absurd spectacle beneath the brilliant midday sun.