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Chapter 20 - The Key to a New Era

With the world changing around him, Juno was still in Vita, his body drenched in sweat as he completed his training. Wiping his face with a towel, he tossed it aside and took a deep breath. "With my physique increasing, it's getting harder to improve," he muttered to himself. The grind was more difficult now than ever before. It was exhausting, and every step forward felt like it required more effort than the last. "But at least I still have the Visionary Device," he thought. The device had always been a valuable tool in his arsenal, helping him enhance his abilities by stimulating his growth.

The way it worked was simple in theory: the Visionary Device helped him push his limits, it drew from his own stamina reserves to fuel the growth. And as his physique increased, the energy demand also surged. especially when it came to his physique. The higher his physique level, the more stamina it took to improve. For example, if his physique reaches level 90, then let's say he will have 100 stamina to level up to 91. he would need 110 stamina. The Visionary Device could only supply that extra 10 stamina if he had the energy in reserve.

But there was a risk: if he didn't have enough stamina to meet the device's demand, it didn't stop—it would consume whatever stamina he had left. In Juno's case, once his stamina fell below the required threshold, the Visionary Device would drain him completely, using up the remaining 100 stamina, leaving him unconscious for hours. And the worst part? There was no refund. The stamina consumed wouldn't come back, and he would have to wait to replenish his energy before attempting again.

Juno sighed heavily, his frustration mounting. "If only the Visionary Device could store energy…" he thought bitterly. The idea of losing all that stamina with no way to recover it was a painful thought. As he looked at the device, the flickering light in its interface seemed almost mocking. It's a double-edged sword, he thought. He could feel his muscles growing stronger with every passing day, but his body's limits were becoming painfully clear.

But there was a silver lining—Vegapunk, his father. With Vegapunk's brilliant mind and expertise, Juno knew he wasn't alone in this struggle. The scientist had always been a crucial ally in his journey, and with the Visionary Device at their disposal, Vegapunk could push the boundaries of what Juno's body was capable of. In the past, the serum Vegapunk had developed had played a pivotal role in enhancing his physique. Juno knew that, with his father's help and continued research, new and more effective serums could be created to keep up with the increasing demands of his training. If the Visionary Device reached its limits, Vegapunk would find a way to break through them.

As if summoned by his thoughts, Vegapunk walked into the room, looking as calm and collected as always.

"Juno," Vegapunk began, his tone businesslike, "All personnel have entered Vita. We can now close the gates."

Juno nodded, his mind still swirling with his concerns. "Did you give them the final warning?" he asked, wiping the last bit of sweat from his brow.

"Yes, I did," Vegapunk replied, his eyes scanning the room. "Can you have a little faith in me? All the people I chose are trustworthy."

Juno gave him a look that was half a smile and half serious. "Alright. But remember, once we close those gates, no one can leave Vita—not even if they want to. All doors to the outside world will be sealed."

Vegapunk nodded in agreement. "I understand."

Juno then turned to Tera, who had been standing silently, awaiting instructions. "Tera, close all the doors leading outside of Vita. Leave only the Infinity Door of Netra open."

Tera's voice came through clearly, as if the order had already been processed. "Closing all doors... leaving only Infinity Door... Done."

Juno sighed, feeling the weight of the decision settle on his shoulders. "From now on, no one can leave the island without my permission," he added, locking eyes with Vegapunk.

"Yes, sir," Tera confirmed in her usual calm tone.

"Okay, now I can tell you my next move," Juno said, turning toward Vegapunk. The tension in the room was palpable.

Vegapunk raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Tell me. You've always kept your plans to yourself. I've been curious."

Juno hesitated for a moment, then spoke slowly. "It's not that I don't want to tell you, but four months ago, Tera wasn't capable of it. Now, she can."

Vegapunk's curiosity was piqued. "What's that?" he asked, leaning in, eager to know what Juno was talking about.

Juno and Vegapunk walked to the room where Tera's body—the computer that served as its consciousness—was located. The walls hummed with faint energy as they approached the large, sophisticated screen. Standing before it, Juno addressed the AI, his tone serious.

"Tera," he said, "Using all the data gathered from the chats and calls over the past four months, what is the current world population?"

There was a brief pause as Tera processed the request.

"Okay, sir... Accessing all user data... Chats... Calls... Removing unnecessary data... Removing repeated data... Calculating…" Tera's voice echoed in the room, calm and methodical.

The screen flickered, and a detailed list of regions appeared. Tera's voice cut through the silence again.

"Here is the breakdown of Netra users by region:

East Blue: 100 million

West Blue: 90 million

South Blue: 80 million

North Blue: 70 million

Grand Line: 200 million

New World: 150 million

Total World Population: 690 million."

Vegapunk, standing beside Juno, looked grim. "Only 690 million? How many years has life existed on this world, and yet we're left with just this number? It's... It's hard to comprehend."

 The world was a chaotic and cruel place, with so many lives lost every day. Some died from hunger, others from the brutality of war, and many more were lost to the violence of pirates or marines. But what struck Juno most was the horrific "Human Hunting" game, a twisted spectacle where Celestial Dragons, in all their arrogance, hunted innocent people for sport.

In unprotected, lawless regions outside the World Government's grasp, these innocent souls were set free, only to be tracked down like animals by the Celestial Dragons for their entertainment. It was an injustice beyond measure. Yet, despite the overwhelming cruelty of the world, the fact that 690 million souls were still alive was, in some way, a blessing.

Juno's expression hardened, his resolve growing stronger. "Don't worry, Father. All of that will change."

Vegapunk turned to Juno, eyes filled with concern. "How?" he asked softly.

Juno didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned to Tera. "How many of those 690 million are users of Netra?" he asked.

Tera responded after a brief pause, "...Calculating..."

"Active Users: 607.2 million, Occasional Users: 82.8 million. million."

Juno furrowed his brow. "What's up with 'Occasional Users'?"

Tera explained, "Babies (less than 2 years old) make up 2% of the population, which is 13.8 million. The elderly (80 years and older) make up 10%, which is 69 million. These users are excluded from regular activity, as their interaction with Netra is minimal."

Juno nodded slowly, processing the information. "So that leaves 607.2 million who are only Active Users, and 82.8 million Occasional Users. Now let's start the real work."

Juno took a deep breath and turned to Tera. "Based on the data gathered from users, I want you to calculate their exact locations. Show me the geography of the world, where people are."

Tera's voice responded coolly, "Calculating… It's done, sir."

On the screen, a map began to materialize. At first, it was empty, but slowly, blue dots representing Netra users started to appear across the vast oceans and continents. Juno watched intently as more and more blue dots filled the map.

Juno narrowed his eyes. "Remove the marks of the users. Now, gather all data from chats and calls over these four months and cross-reference it with known landmarks, islands, and geographical features. Refine the map so it reflects real locations, using the coordinates from the users' positions."

"Okay, sir. Accessing all user data... Removing unnecessary data... Removing repeated data... Calculating…"

The map began to shift. What was once an empty white canvas gradually filled with contours of oceans, seas, and islands. Boundaries divided the world into regions: East Blue, West Blue, South Blue, North Blue, Grand Line, and the New World. As more calculations were done, the map began to take shape, showing the locations of islands and kingdoms.

Juno smiled faintly, satisfied with the progress. "Now, refine the coordinates further. Triangulate the positions of users who are close together. Get extremely precise coordinates for each island. Determine the distance between each island."

"Okay, sir," Tera responded.

Juno watched as the map continued to refine itself. The islands that had once been vague outlines now stood as exact locations, and the distances between them were clearly defined. The map was no longer just a representation—it was becoming a living, breathing map of the world.

Juno leaned back slightly, a sense of accomplishment settling over him. "From now on, use real-time updates. As more users log in from new islands, pinpoint and add those islands to the map. Update the map continuously. I want to know the world in real-time."

"Understood, sir," Tera replied.

Juno sat back, a sense of satisfaction on his face as he gazed at the map—an interconnected world, visible in its entirety, right in front of him. The possibilities that lay ahead were endless, and he was ready to take the next step. The world, for better or worse, was about to change forever.

Vegapunk looked at the map, his gaze intense and thoughtful as he processed the implications of what they had just created. "For civilians, this map is revolutionary," he said, a touch of awe in his voice. "No more getting lost. No more wondering where the nearest town is or how to get from one island to another. Merchants will have a clear view of trade routes, making their journeys safer and more efficient. Travelers won't have to rely on outdated maps or rumors—they'll know exactly where they are and how to navigate the seas. And for those stranded on deserted islands, like survivors of shipwrecks, this map is a lifeline. With this system, they can send their location and call for help, and rescue teams will be able to pinpoint them in an instant."

His thoughts deepened as he considered the far-reaching benefits. "With this map, if you add the ability to send your location to others, civilians can send distress signals directly to the Navy when they need help, allowing for faster responses. For the Navy, this means they can track distress calls and coordinate rescue efforts with much greater efficiency." Vegapunk paused, his mind working through the implications. "But it also brings benefits to pirates. With the map, they can avoid Navy strongholds and patrol routes by staying clear of areas where Navy bases are located. They could also identify islands without Navy protection and use the map to target safer places to raid."

He stared at the map, his expression now one of focus. "But the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. This map isn't just a tool for survival—it's a tool for progress. It could change the way the world navigates the seas entirely."

Vegapunk turned to Juno, a proud yet cautious expression crossing his face. "This is a good invention, but it's not enough to change the world. It can only make the world a little smaller."

Just as Juno opened his mouth to speak, Vegapunk's eyes suddenly widened in realization. "I get it! I get it now!" he exclaimed, his voice full of excitement. "Now that we know the exact location of every island and user, we can use the Door Door Devil Fruit powers to open doors that lead directly from one island to another. Imagine the possibilities!"

Juno watched as his father's eyes burned with enthusiasm. "For civilians, they wouldn't have to endure long, dangerous sea voyages anymore. They could simply step through a door and instantly reach their destination. Merchants could save enormous amounts of time and money, cutting down shipping times and opening up new trade routes. The economy would explode with new opportunities. Islands with an abundance of one resource could trade instantly with islands that need it. For example, an island that grows food but lacks fruit could trade with another that has an abundance of fruit but no food. The possibilities for commerce are endless."

Vegapunk paused, his voice softer as he leaned forward. "And for security, the Navy could deploy forces instantly, preventing crime or military threats from escalating. They could reinforce any island under attack or protect isolated islands. It's the kind of breakthrough that could bring real peace." He smiled slightly. "But that's not all—this could change entire nations. Islands ravaged by war could be directly linked to peaceful, deserted islands where people could start anew. We could create new homes and opportunities, sending workers to islands that need manpower. People would have work, and the islands would thrive."

His gaze grew distant as he thought about the grand scale of it all. "This system could bring prosperity to the entire world. It could bring balance—ending isolation, fostering trade, and helping people rebuild their lives wherever they are. But... of course, pirates can't be allowed to use it. I can't let this power fall into the wrong hands. If pirates gained access, they'd ruin everything."

Juno nodded, understanding his father's concerns. "Yes, that's exactly what I meant. This map and the system we're building will change the world. It's the key to unlocking a new era. I've had this plan for a long time, and now that we're safe here in Vita, we can begin. There's no turning back now."

Vegapunk's smile widened as he met Juno's eyes. "Let's do it. Let's change the world."

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