"What is this?"
Rebecca and Viola stared at the glowing orb in Ace's hand, their expressions filled with shock.
The moment the orb appeared, its strange light illuminated the entire room. A wave of powerful energy flooded the space, causing both Rebecca and Viola to gasp in amazement.
"I-I can feel my power..." Rebecca stammered, looking at her hands in disbelief. Beneath the orb's glow, fighting techniques began to manifest in her mind, becoming clearer and more refined. Skills that had once been difficult now felt as natural as instinct.
"The power of my Devil Fruit is increasing, and… my Haki..."
Viola, standing nearby, was equally astonished. She could feel her connection to her Devil Fruit intensifying, her mastery of its abilities advancing at an unprecedented speed. This newfound progress was something she had never experienced since first consuming the fruit.
Even more incredible, Viola could sense a threshold within herself—a limit to her Devil Fruit's potential. Yet, in this moment, she felt certain that if she could surpass this limit, her devil fruit's abilities would achieve full awakening, much like Doflamingo's String-String Fruit had in the past.
Not only that, but Viola's Observation Haki, which she had never been able to awaken, surged to life. Simultaneously, her Armament Haki rapidly strengthened.
This transformation overwhelmed her. Viola had always struggled with Haki. Whether due to her "clairvoyance"-oriented Devil Fruit or her peripheral role in the Donquixote Family, she had never received the same training or attention from Doflamingo that his core members did. As a result, her abilities had remained underdeveloped.
But now, both Observation and Armament Haki were growing at a rate that felt almost surreal.
"This can't be real," Viola murmured, her voice trembling. "Am I dreaming? I feel like I've turned into a genius overnight."
Her disbelief was understandable. If she had possessed such talent in the past, she wouldn't have needed to endure years of subservience in the Donquixote Family. With progress like this, defeating Doflamingo wouldn't have seemed like an unattainable fantasy.
Viola wasn't being arrogant—her current rate of growth was genuinely astounding. She couldn't help but look at Ace in awe. Was this the secret behind his leadership of the most powerful pirate crew in history? The young women who served as his officers were all immensely talented and feared for their strength. Could this mysterious ability explain why?
Viola's gaze lingered on him, the shock evident on her face.
"How does it feel—your power growing stronger?" Ace asked with a faint smile.
"It's… incredible, Admiral," Rebecca finally managed to say, her lips trembling.
Ace explained calmly, "This orb contains the power of what I call the 'Field of Enlightenment.
Within its range of influence, individuals can experience rapid growth in their abilities and enlightenment. Currently, it can affect up to 5,000 people at once."
He paused, watching their reactions.
"This orb," he continued, "is not a tangible object. Unlike the charms I've given out before, it is created entirely from the power of 'Nika.' As my control over Nika's abilities grows, I've gained the ability to create things out of thin air.
Using Nika's power as a medium, I condensed the 'Field of Enlightenment' into this orb. However, since it is an artificial construct, its power has limits. At present, it can affect up to 50 people simultaneously and can sustain its effects for about a year before needing to be replenished."
Ace smirked. "Even so, this orb is a game-changer for the territories under my protection. When its power runs out, I can simply recharge it—even remotely, using the abilities of the Paw-Paw Fruit to transfer energy directly into it."
He gestured towards the glowing orb. "It's incredibly convenient, don't you think?"
Rebecca and Viola listened intently, their awe deepening with every word.
Ace continued, "For now, I plan to use this 'Field of Enlightenment' to test Dressrosa's potential. Let's see how much the kingdom can develop with its help."
Rebecca and Viola exchanged glances, their minds still reeling from the magnitude of what they had just experienced. The future of Dressrosa under Ace's influence seemed boundless.
Ace had no expectations for the emergence of strong individuals in Dressrosa.
The focus of the enlightenment light orb was predetermined by Ace. Its primary purpose was to enhance productivity-related skills and abilities. Construction, agriculture, cultivation, smelting, and other production-related activities were the main areas of improvement within the orb's influence.
As for cultivating strong fighters? That wasn't a priority for Ace.
First, it was unlikely that a small nation like Dressrosa would produce exceptional geniuses.
Second, Dressrosa had only recently joined under his command, and its loyalty was still untested. Strengthening its warriors prematurely could lead to the rise of ambitious individuals with ulterior motives.
Although any such "ambitious" individuals would be laughable threats to Ace, and a single cadre from the Entei Pirates could easily subdue the entire country, it was better to preempt potential issues.
Rebecca and Viola's recent strength enhancements under the orb's influence were an exception. Ace himself had been in control of the enlightenment orb, and as the creator and owner of the field of enlightenment, he could manipulate its effects at will.
Ace turned to Rebecca with a smile. "Rebecca, Robin will handle Dressrosa's future development plan. You can leave it to her."
Although Hancock ruled Amazon Lily as its empress, she was not adept at managing governmental affairs. On Amazon Lily, most governance was handled by Gloriosa, with Sandersonia and Marigold providing support. As a pirate nation, the most important responsibility of Amazon Lily's ruler was to lead the Kuja Pirates on hunting expeditions.
Robin, in contrast, had a deep understanding of history and excelled in creating effective development strategies for nations. With the field of enlightenment in play, Ace decided to entrust Dressrosa's future planning to her.
The development plan included a framework of laws Dressrosa would need to follow, as well as the annual taxes and resources it would contribute to the Entei Pirates.
Naturally, a powerful pirate crew doesn't provide protection to nations out of charity. Every country or territory under their protection had to pay a percentage of its resources and income as tribute to the pirates.
Even for the Four Emperors, wealth was indispensable. Money financed the construction of powerful ships, the crafting of advanced weapons, and, of course, the extravagant banquets beloved by pirates.
For the Entei Pirates, the need for resources was even more pressing. Preparing to face the World Government in open conflict required more than just elite combat forces—it demanded powerful fleets.
When the strongest fighters clashed, they couldn't afford to waste their Haki or Devil Fruit abilities on clearing out masses of ordinary soldiers. In life-or-death battles, conserving Haki and physical stamina was critical. Clearing away fodder forces using such resources would be foolish.
Even someone as powerful as Ace had limits to his physical strength and Haki. He couldn't afford to exhaust himself dealing with lesser opponents.
This was why building a robust fleet capable of rivaling the World Government and Marine Headquarters at sea was now a top priority for the Entei Pirates. And for that, money, timber, and steel were essential.
Ace's choice to target Kaido as his first conquest was deliberate. Kaido's stronghold, Wano Country, held precious seastone resources.
The Marines' ability to cross the Calm Belt and pressure territories like Amazon Lily—forcing Hancock to join the Shichibukai for protection—was only possible because of their seastone-coated ships.
Seastone's value extended far beyond its ability to suppress Devil Fruit users; it had numerous other applications. From the moment Ace set his sights on dominating the world, Kaido's downfall became inevitable.
Wano Country also held another treasure: legendary swords. Many renowned blades were forged there, and they were essential not only for sword collectors like Tashigi but also for warriors like Gion. Her Cat-Cat Fruit (Mythical Zoan: White Tiger form) abilities were deeply tied to the quality and power of her weapons.
For these reasons, Ace had to claim Wano Country.
Before making his move on Wano, however, Ace intended to use Dressrosa as a testing ground. With the enlightenment field in play, Dressrosa would serve as a trial to measure how much productivity a nation could achieve under its influence.
This was why Ace had come to Dressrosa and why he had created the enlightenment orb for Rebecca.
"Yes, Admiral!"
Rebecca accepted the enlightenment light orb with a mix of excitement and surprise. Her delicate features lit up with astonishment.
With this extraordinary power, Dressrosa's development would surely accelerate.
Now crowned as the queen of Dressrosa, Rebecca naturally wished for her kingdom to thrive. However, she couldn't ignore the harsh reality: compared to the overwhelming strength of the Entei Pirates Fleet and their influence across the seas, Dressrosa was pitifully weak.
At present, the kingdom could offer little to the fleet aside from a modest amount of tax revenue.
Rebecca recalled her grandfather saying that as the Entei Pirates continued to expand their influence, more territories and nations would pledge allegiance to them.
If Dressrosa wanted to remain relevant and secure a critical position among the admiral's territories, it needed to seize every opportunity to grow stronger.
With the power of this orb, Dressrosa could potentially achieve rapid progress.
As the first nation to join the Entei Pirates Fleet, this advantage would allow them to set an example for others. Dressrosa had to give its utmost for the admiral.
"Very well, go ahead," Ace said with a faint smile and a nod.
However, after Ace spoke, Rebecca and Viola exchanged awkward glances, their expressions slightly uneasy.
Summoned to the admiral's room late at night, they had both assumed it was for something... unspeakable. They had even steeled themselves mentally for such a possibility.
And yet, this was it?
"Why? Do you still have something on your mind?" Ace asked, noticing their hesitation. His tone grew slightly mischievous. "If you contribute enough to me in the future, there might be opportunities to make certain... ideas of yours come true as rewards."
Ace's words carried a subtle teasing edge, and his expression matched. With his Observation Haki honed to its peak, there was little anyone could conceal from him.
Not only could Ace sense their surface thoughts, but his ability to "hear the voices of all things" in tandem with his advanced Observation Haki made him nearly omniscient in moments like this. For individuals without comparable Haki mastery, hiding their emotions or intentions from Ace was impossible.
And with his current stature, sharing a moment of intimacy with him could indeed be considered a reward—one that might even bring national-level benefits, such as additional resources or support for Dressrosa.
Naturally, such a privilege wouldn't be granted easily.
Leaning back in his chair, Ace studied Rebecca and Viola with a knowing smile, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"I—we're leaving, Admiral!"
Flustered by his sly demeanor and cryptic comments, Rebecca and Viola hurriedly excused themselves, practically fleeing the room like startled rabbits.
Outside, they paused to catch their breath. Looking at each other, their faces were flushed with a deep crimson.
"Was the admiral... teasing us?" Rebecca murmured, still trying to process the situation.
After all, the enlightenment orb was meant for Dressrosa's development. Calling for Rebecca alone would have sufficed. Why involve Viola, a Sixth Division officer of the Entei Pirates Fleet?
Reflecting on the admiral's parting words, the two women couldn't help but conclude that Ace had deliberately played with their expectations.
Yet, strangely, the thought didn't bother them.
The admiral, it seemed, wasn't quite the distant, untouchable figure they had imagined.
Blushing deeply, Rebecca and Viola exchanged another glance before lowering their gazes, their minds still caught on his final remark.
Reward…