Jin wasn't just building a ship—he was building a floating fortress. A home on the sea. A haven of steel, speed, and freedom. So what if it cost him a fortune? He didn't give a damn. This wasn't about money. It was about control.
"I need a smaller vessel," he told Langatt without preamble. "Fast, light, something I can use to hop across East Blue. No cargo, no bullshit. You got anything that fits?"
Langatt, sleeves rolled up and arms dusted with sawdust, nodded and pointed toward the harbor. "Three options at the port. Pick one."
"Perfect." Jin gestured to Kuina and Kuma. "We're going."
The trio headed off toward the dock. Not five minutes later, Jin was standing in front of three sleek crafts, all built for speed. His eyes scanned over them with a calm pragmatism. Then he pointed.
"That one."
He climbed aboard the largest of the three, hands on the rudder, sails catching wind, and the ship surged out toward Shipwright Island's main harbor.
"Yo, Kuina. What do you think?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the water.
The girl didn't even glance at him.
"It's a boat. We'll swap it out in a year and a half anyway. Don't get sentimental over junk," she said, folding her arms, her voice cool as ever.
"Tch. Ever heard of humoring your captain?" Jin muttered.
"Not when the captain's a jackass," she shot back, walking off with a flick of her ponytail.
Jin sighed and slumped against the mast. "One day, just one fucking day without attitude… is that too much to ask?"
They reached the main port and Jin immediately tracked down the merchant captain who had helped them before. "I've got the ship. Now I need a pilot. Someone experienced, knows the East Blue currents, keeps their damn mouth shut. I'll pay top beri."
The old captain gave a toothy grin. "My nephew. Been sailing since he was twelve. Knows every bounty board and black market harbor in this sea. He's a bit nosy, but he's your guy."
"Done. Fetch him."
A month passed.
One month of nonstop travel from island to island. Kuina and Kuma handled bounty jobs—hunting pirates, mountain bandits, and petty criminals. Jin? Jin found a far more lucrative trade.
Gambling.
With Observation Haki (or rather, the edge of it), he was practically invincible at the table. Roulette, cards, dice—didn't matter. In his hands, luck bent like a dog on a leash.
In thirty days, he'd raked in over three hundred million beri, bouncing from casino to casino, leaving behind nothing but bankrupt gangsters and shattered egos.
He didn't feel bad. Not one bit.
This was training.
"Stand still, you fucking cheat!"
A group of men came barreling down the pier, led by a grotesquely dressed whale of a man dripping in gold chains, rings, and the kind of cologne that killed birds mid-flight.
Jin, a black suitcase full of winnings in one hand, turned and grinned.
"Oh, come on. Cryin' already? That's no way to run a casino."
He bolted toward his ship.
"Crab! Fire up the sails!"
Ten meters from the dock, Jin kicked off the ground, soared through the air, and landed cleanly on the deck of his ship.
"You motherfucker!" the gold-laden boss screamed from the dock. "You took my whole goddamn vault! Who the fuck even are you!?"
Jin turned back, eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Who am I?" he called. "I'm the Gambler King of East Blue. Remember the name."
The boss fell to his knees, sobbing and clawing at the sky. "You bastard! You didn't even let me win once! My wife's gonna kill me! YOU EVIL BASTARD!"
Jin winced. "Ugh. Fuck me. That's disgusting."
Behind him, a familiar laugh rang out.
Kuina leaned against the mast, sipping fruit juice through a long straw. "You really broke him. His tears are practically soaking the damn tide."
Jin groaned. "Don't remind me. That level of emotional blackmail should be illegal."
"Oh, please. You love this," Kuina smirked. "You just don't like being called out on your bullshit."
"Shut up and tell the helmsman we're heading to Windmill Village," Jin muttered, throwing the suitcase into the cabin and collapsing onto his vine chair.
He closed his eyes.
Another win. Another bag of cash. Another fool who thought they could beat a man who could see their tells before they made them.
The legend of the East Blue Gambler King continued to grow—and Jin didn't care.
Let them call him what they wanted.
He was building something bigger than a fortune.
He was building a legacy
This story is inspired from various fanfics i have read from around the world so if you find any similarities please dont mind . Thank you
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T/N :
Access 30 chapters in Advance on my P@treon: patreon.com/GodFic