"Captain, is this really a good idea?"
The normally quiet Wilson couldn't help but speak up. He'd spotted more than a dozen lookouts gathering at the docks, with more curious onlookers on their way.
Some were here for the spectacle. Others were here to test their mettle.
Jin betting on himself was one thing, but betting a hundred million Berries? Even Wilson thought it was insane.
It was like a child walking through a den of wolves with a sack of gold. You'd have to be a fool not to expect trouble.
Jin flashed a brilliant smile. "It's fine. Thirty-five billion Berries... if not now, when?"
Wilson was speechless. "Do you really think he can pay that out?"
You're after his massive payout. He's after your massive stake.
Jin pointed toward Hannabal Island. "The island is worth it. Don't you think the Winter Blossom Kingdom is a little too small? If I can take this place for a hundred million Berries... that's a bargain."
He glanced over his shoulder. "Alright, you guys take care of them."
"Every one you capture earns you military merit and Merit Vouchers. The time to make a name for yourselves is now."
On the deck, the crew was already itching for a fight. They drew their swords and guns and leaped from the ship.
"KILL!"
"TAKE THEM DOWN!"
"FOR GLORY AND RICHES!"
Jin's reforms to the nobility system, which gave every commoner a chance to climb the social ladder, were already showing results.
Faith? That would take time to develop.
For now, his systemic reforms were already far ahead of those of other nations. A man who is half a step ahead is a genius. A man who is a full step ahead is a madman.
The best plan was one that adapted to the time and place.
Jin watched the fighting at the docks.
"It's a shame their training was so short," he mused. "Their discipline and coordination are a far cry from a professional army's. In the world of One Piece, there are individuals who can destroy islands, even the world, with their own power—living weapons of mass destruction. But you can't neglect the importance of a team. A well-coordinated team, combined with technology, can unleash incredible power. Look at Germa 66 or the SSG. The Yonko are the exception..."
—————————
The moonlight was dim.
A figure, moving with absolute silence, snuck toward the ship. It suddenly leaped into the air, its claws slashing at Jin, who was standing at the rail.
CLANG!
The towering form of Wilson blocked the attack. His weapon was a vicious, dark-red, spiked club.
He was a master of Fish-Man Karate, a specialist in close-quarters combat.
The reflection in his fierce eyes showed the attacker: a man covered in tattoos, with iron claws strapped to his arms.
The force of the impact sent the man flipping through the air. He landed with incredible speed, then immediately launched himself from the deck for another attack.
Wilson shifted his weight and blocked him again. His massive body was like a fortress wall, and the attacker's brow furrowed in frustration.
"You must be Needless, The 'Iron Claw' of the Gasparde Pirates. Current bounty: 57,000,000 Berries."
"Hm?" Needless raised an eyebrow.
WHOOSH!
Wilson raised his club and brought it crashing down, the wind howling around the blow.
Needless agilely leaped backward.
But the spot where he was about to land suddenly split open, revealing a circular hole, like a gaping mouth.
WHAT?
It was pitch black, a bottomless pit that seemed to swallow everything.
In a moment of crisis, Needless kicked off the air with a loud thump, his falling body lurching upward.
But in the next instant...
WHAM!
Wilson's club slammed into him with brutal precision, the terrifying force sending Needless crashing back down into the hole. The deck sealed shut above him.
Pssssssssssst!
A sound like inflating a balloon filled the air. Needless was hit with a thick, strange odor, and his head began to spin.
With the help of the Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit, the carrier's breeding chamber had already produced several new types of fungi.
The Hypno-Shroom was one of them.
It could be used to create a hypnotic gas, a powerful anesthetic. Its only side effect was a short period of weakness upon waking.
By the time Needless hit the floor, he was already unconscious.
—————————
Soon, the battle at the docks was over. The scouts sent by the various factions abandoned their fallen comrades and fled back into the town.
After the battle, the crew cleaned the battlefield. The bodies and prisoners were all sent to the boiler to fuel the carrier.
Military merits were tallied, and the corresponding Merit Vouchers were distributed. Those who had earned enough were promoted in rank and position.
Ai handled the calculations, so there was no room for cheating.
Merit was rewarded; failure was punished.
And the wounded were treated by a dedicated medical team.
Everything was orderly and efficient.
'This is... different,' Wilson thought.
—————————
Late at night.
Hannabal Island was still brightly lit. The initial skirmish had made it clear to everyone that these newcomers were not to be trifled with.
No one would be sleeping tonight.
Inside the conning tower, Jin was meditating.
On the eve of a great battle, he was surprisingly calm. He closed his eyes and emptied his mind, trying to achieve a state of pure thoughtlessness.
Meditation.
A common practice in martial arts and spiritual training.
It was a method used in the world of One Piece as well, by both Zoro and Luffy.
Jin was just imitating them, trying to feel, to experience.
Listening to the wind, the sea, the waves...
Gradually, he began to feel as if he and the carrier were merging into one. His senses—his sight, his hearing, his smell—all expanded, stretching out beyond his body.
An invisible energy surged from the boiler, flowing through the entire ship, and through Jin's body as well.
THUMP-THUMP...
He could hear a heartbeat, like a war drum, like rolling thunder. A vast, surging power that felt like it could erupt at any moment.
Jin was stunned.
What was happening??
In a flash of insight, he realized that he had been overlooking the bond between himself and the carrier. There was a deep, hidden potential there.
He focused on the feeling, trying to control the flow of power.
And then, he discovered that in this state, he could actually use the powers of the Munch-Munch Fruit and the Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit!
Furthermore, he could consume the carrier's energy—the soul crystals—to enhance his own body and the effects of his training.
"Damn... this is insane," Jin breathed, overjoyed at his new discovery.
He was now even more confident about tomorrow's hunt.
—————————
As the sky began to lighten.
Hannabal Island was already bustling with a noisy, excited crowd.
The first-time racers were holding their Log Poses, looking up at the island's highest peak.
"Strange... why is the Log Pose pointing to the other side of the mountain? Is it broken?"
"The boss said the starting line was here."
"Guhahaha! That's right," someone laughed. "There are a lot of rivers on this island. They all meet up at the river on that mountain. And the summit is the starting point."
"Wait, you mean we have to climb the mountain?"
"No. You've been up Reverse Mountain, right? It's the same principle. Every few years, a reverse current and a strong wind form a sea current just like Reverse Mountain."
"Interesting, isn't it?"
"The racers are all waiting in the different rivers right now."
"Hey, wait a minute. Why are there seven or eight ships over there? The river won't be able to hold them all when the current hits."
"That's the black dragon flag. It's that arrogant kid. Looks like someone wants to take him out during the ascent."
....
In the town.
The boss, a cigar in his mouth and a beautiful woman on his arm, looked out at the scene.
"That fool has no idea what he's gotten himself into," he said with a smug smile. "TAKE HIM OUT AT THE VERY BEGINNING."
<><><><><><>
If you're interested, you can read advanced chapters:
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
~# Every 100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter!
~# Add to Library!