Their next destination was Alabasta.
Eight hundred years ago, one of the twenty kings, Nefertari D. Lily, had not gone to Mariejois to become a Celestial Dragon. Instead, she mysteriously disappeared.
Before she vanished, she left a letter for her brother, who is now the ancestor of the Nefertari family, the royal family of Alabasta.
Perhaps something important was written inside.
Although Ian wasn't particularly interested in the "Void Century," if the letter could reveal some secrets about Im, that would be worth it.
The Golden Dragon ship slowly sailed away from the shores of Drum Island.
On the shore, Dr. Hiluluk stared vacantly at the ship as it sailed away into the distance.
"Truly a remarkable group of pirates," he murmured.
A voice suddenly came from behind, "They really paid the money, whether it's the alcohol or the medical books. Seriously, I made a fortune just by selling medical books, but there's no alcohol left on the island!"
Hiluluk turned around. "Kureha, did you sell all the medical books you had?"
"Those things have already been etched in my mind!"
What appeared in front of Hiluluk was gracefully shaped... old woman.
She had white hair, and the wrinkles on her face were noticeable, yet she somehow looked full of energy.
She lazily said, "Besides, medical skills are only useful when shared, right?"
Hiluluk laughed heartily. "I've never been able to understand you."
"Alright, what are you still standing around for, kid?"
The woman, known as Dr. Kureha, clapped her hands. "Everyone is waiting for you. Next is your succession ceremony, Your Majesty the new king."
Hiluluk scratched his head. "It doesn't feel real at all. Am I really going to be the new king?"
"Or, you could refuse, wait for Ian the Skyfire to come back, and turn this country to ashes?"
Hiluluk shivered. "Well, never mind then."
That kind of result was too terrifying.
"So, if you're not going to be the king, then make me the prime minister! I'll help you rule this country!"
"You just want to use this as an excuse to rake in money!"
Either way, this country was on the verge of change.
The Golden Dragon continued to move forward.
On the deck, a group of people surrounded Wapol.
Wapol curled up in fear.
His heart was filled with despair.
He had been living well as the king of the Drum Kingdom, enjoying hot pot and singing songs. How did he suddenly get captured by pirates?
Pirates, they must be eradicated at all costs!
Marines, what the hell are you idiots doing?!
"So, Ian, what's the use of this guy?"
Law looked at Wapol suspiciously.
No matter how you look at him, this guy is useless.
Weak in strength, pathetic in mindset.
"Well then, let's have him demonstrate."
Ian clapped his hands.
"Babanuki!"
He shouted, "Bring over some weapons."
"Yes, Lord Ian!"
Babanuki immediately ran over, followed by several pirates dragging a pile of swords, guns, and even cannons, "What do you need?"
Ian pointed at the weapons and said to Wapol, "Eat them."
Eat them?
Everyone was a bit stunned, looking at Wapol.
Can these things really be eaten?
Wapol was even more confused.
How did this guy know about his ability?!
But he didn't dare to resist, quickly getting up and walking toward the weapons. He opened his mouth wide—so wide that it was several times bigger than his body—and swallowed all the weapons, along with the cart, in one gulp.
"Oh! What an interesting ability!"
Yamato's eyes immediately lit up.
If she had this ability, wouldn't she be able to eat as much as she wanted?
"Wapol Weaponry!"
With a strange scream from Wapol, a large number of weapons burst out from his body, instantly transforming him into a bizarre, spiked form that resembled a hedgehog.
"Does he absorb what he eats?"
Drake speculated.
"Not just that."
Ian shook his head. "Wapol, separate the metal parts and non-metal parts, combine them separately, and then spit them out."
Wapol obediently followed, "Wapol Factory!"
In the next moment, he opened his mouth wide again and spit out a huge metal block, along with another block made from various mixed materials.
"Oh?"
Law's eyes instantly brightened as he started to understand.
"This guy is a Paramecia-Fruit user of the Munch-Munch Fruit,"
Ian said. "He can freely combine and decompose anything he swallows. One person is like a super manufacturing plant."
It was like a naturally-born assembly line.
"Interesting."
Jack seemed a little surprised.
"If he can combine various materials at will," Law, being the scholar, quickly caught onto the key point. "That means he can easily create all sorts of strange materials?"
Ian nodded lightly.
The material science experts from the past life would love this ability.
"That's really," Law's eyes sparkled. "Amazing!"
It was as if he wasn't looking at a person but a factory.
Wapol was sweating profusely.
"And that's not all," Ian smiled and turned his head. "Babanuki, do you mind helping me with an experiment?"
"Of course!"
Babanuki said solemnly, "Your will is my mission!"
"Then, go and bring a fierce beast up here."
Ian instructed.
Immediately, a massive gorilla appeared on the deck, its size so exaggerated it was much larger than two giants combined!
Ian pointed at the gorilla and said to Wapol, "Eat it."
"Eh!!"
Wapol stared in shock, his eyes almost popping out of his head. "No way! It's too big!"
A beast dozens of meters tall—how could he possibly swallow it?
His mouth can't just stretch infinitely!
"Then why not just get bigger yourself?"
Ian had people bring all sorts of random things—unused boxes, spare wood, and other items, and had Wapol swallow them.
In just a few minutes, Wapol had transformed into a giant, dozens of meters tall.
However, he lacked the strength to support such a massive body and collapsed onto the ground, panting.
"Alright, now we can begin."
Ian said, "Swallow the gorilla and Babanuki."
Should he swallow himself too? Babanuki couldn't help but swallow nervously.
This is a bit scary.
But, since it's Lord Ian's order!
Of course, he would carry it out!
With a resolute look in his eyes, as if ready to face death, he said, "Bring it on!"
Wapol struggled as he grabbed Babanuki and shoved him into his mouth.
He staggered over to the gorilla, his mouth widening to the extreme, and then swallowed the gorilla in one gulp.
"No way?"
Black Maria muttered to herself.
"Can something like this really be done?"
Law also clicked his tongue.
The others had mostly realized what Ian was planning.
That's why they were so astonished.
"Combine them!" Ian said, "With Babanuki's will as the leader."
Wapol burped loudly and patted his stomach.
"Wapol Factory!"
After a long moment, he finally opened his mouth again and spit.
The massive gorilla was vomited out once more.
However, now, the gorilla had undergone a drastic transformation.
For example, its face had become Babanuki's.
"Oh!! Oh!!"
The gorilla lowered its head, staring at its own fists, tightening them in excitement, letting out a surprised shout.
"How does it feel, Babanuki?"
Ian asked.
"Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic, Lord Ian!"
The gorilla's mouth emitted Babanuki's voice. "This body is completely under my control now!"
In an instant, the eyes of Ian's companions lit up with excitement.
It seems, this is truly an amazing ability.
After a brief interlude, the Golden Dragon continued its journey toward Alabasta.
Along the way, a flurry of newspapers brought Ian a piece of news.
Or rather, it brought the world a piece of news.
The Golden Lion Shiki has returned!
Just after his return, he attacked Marineford, causing massive destruction to the Navy Headquarters.
The name of the Golden Lion echoes across the world once again.
And at this very moment, this Golden Lion has already arrived at Wano.
"Hahahaha! Kaido! How long has it been since we last met?"
**********
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