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On the far side of the island, Luffy's crew was joyfully continuing their adventure completely unaware that their base had already been taken over.
Meanwhile, Nami and the others, still unconscious from the gas, had been tied up and locked away in a secure room.
For Caesar's subordinates, this wasn't unusual.
It was standard procedure so routine that none of the guards even questioned it anymore.
---
Neji stood calmly before Law and said, "I'll leave that side to you."
"Huh?"
Before Law could react, Neji activated his spatial transference, instantly teleporting him to the room where Nami and the others were imprisoned.
With Law handling that matter, Neji turned his attention elsewhere. Those captives were of no concern to him what mattered now was the laboratory itself.
It could serve as a perfect base of operations with some light remodeling.
As for Caesar, well... he'd make a useful tool. His scientific expertise was undeniable though his ethics left much to be desired.
---
Glancing at the three comatose guards, Neji murmured, "This is a good spot to set up the Dimensional Gate."
With the Tenseigan's all-seeing vision, he scanned the entire complex and locked onto the central hall of the facility.
In a blur, he appeared in the first-floor chamber a wide, open space ideal for construction.
Channeling his focus, Neji visualized the structure of the [Dimensional Gate]. A spectral outline appeared before his eyes, shimmering like a projection in midair.
It was like building in a simulation game he adjusted its placement with meticulous care before finalizing it with a thought.
Streams of golden chronal sand spiraled from his palm, forming a majestic pillar engraved with intricate runes.
With a soft hum, the pillar split open like an unfurling scroll, revealing a swirling black vortex flecked with starlight.
Before long, a colossal Dimensional Gate stood proudly in the center of the hall, linking directly to [Seria's Inn].
---
Neji sighed softly. "Maybe I shouldn't have saved that woman… but what's done is done."
He recalled the theories some claimed Seria herself might be an otherworldly being, perhaps even an Apostle. Whether that was true or not no longer mattered.
It had been decades since his second life — now his third.
"The Harmony Beast was too strong…" he muttered bitterly. "Even my system couldn't bypass its influence. It literally broke the Wheel of Time in half."
Shaking off the memory, Neji stepped into the Gate.
It was like walking through a curtain of light smooth, seamless, and without resistance.
---
The inn's lobby had the cozy warmth of a moonlit tavern, though its design clearly bore Seria's distinct aesthetic.
Tree trunks formed the walls; tables and stools seemed to grow organically from the wooden floor.
Behind the counter stood a holographic menu of food and drinks — simple but elegant.
All could be purchased using Chronal Sand, though gold or other currency worked just as well.
Of course, the innkeeper was technically Neji himself but even he had to pay for his meals.
Profits were split evenly: half went to the inn for growth and upgrades, and the other half could be reinvested by Neji if he wished.
Not that he cared to. "Pay-to-upgrade? Nah… not worth the grind," he muttered, chuckling. "The system eats Chronal Sand faster than I can earn it."
Looking upstairs, he saw the second floor open rows of doors leading to countless rooms.
Each one existed in its own pocket dimension; guests entering any door would find themselves in their personalized space.
So far, only Izumi had checked in. Her room, of course, was specially attuned to her essence.
---
Neji ascended to his own quarters. The room was peaceful, untouched.
He turned toward the back three portals that awaited: the golden [Dimensional Gate], the circular doorway woven from tree branches, and another leading to the courtyard.
Without hesitation, Neji stepped into the golden one.
Light folded.
And just outside, Izumi stood waiting for him.
When she saw him return, her eyes shimmered with relief. She rose quickly, approaching without a word — but her gaze said everything she felt.
Neji gently ran a hand through her hair and smiled. "Don't worry. I told you I'd come back."
He added teasingly, "But this time, bringing you along costs me one whole Chronal Sand. You'd better be worth it."
Izumi blushed, lowering her eyes. She knew the price each world jump consumed one Chronal Sand.
Taking her with him meant one less chance to explore a new world.
That was the rule for anyone crossing dimensions: a ticket paid in Chronal Sand.
---
"Everything ready?" Neji asked softly.
Izumi nodded and turned. Behind her, the gate opened to reveal rows of mechanized puppets polished, silent, and battle-ready.
They were pure mechanical constructs, devoid of independent will, meaning Neji could store them in his inventory system.
Artificial lifeforms with consciousness, however, couldn't be stored perhaps because the system recognized them as sentient beings.
He didn't dwell on it. With a wave of his hand, thousands of puppets vanished into storage each one strong enough to rival a seasoned jōnin.
"All set," he said, grasping Izumi's hand. "Let's go."
"Mm."
She smiled softly and followed him through the [Dimensional Gate].
---
Moments later, they emerged in the Punk Hazard research facility.
No alarms. No witnesses. The takeover had gone unnoticed.
The massive central hall stretched before them. Izumi looked around curiously. "So this is another world? It feels… oddly familiar."
Neji didn't answer. He stepped forward and released the swarm.
One by one, thousands of mechanical puppets appeared, filling the room in tight formation.
Glowing threads of blue light drifted from Neji's palm like fireflies, embedding into each construct.
A deep mechanical hum filled the air. Then, in perfect unison, every puppet knelt down.
"Master!" they intoned.
Neji nodded. "Take control of the facility. Replace every guard."
"Yes, Master!"
The synchronized voices echoed like a war chant.
As the puppets dispersed, the sounds of battle briefly rippled through the corridors then silence returned.
Within minutes, Punk Hazard had fallen completely under Neji's control.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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