With a Marine battleship escorting at their side, not a single pirate crew with half a brain dared to test their luck.
Four uneventful days later, Jin returned to Drum Island.
All throughout the voyage, Commander Hina had taken her task to heart. She ate when he ate, slept where he slept, shadowing him step for step.
Yet, to her surprise, Jin never once overstepped. A few teasing words here and there, yes—but beyond that? Nothing. He knew she was sharp, dangerous, not the sort of beauty one toyed with lightly.
At the docks, Dalton was waiting with his guards, the loyal bull-man bowing low as villagers gathered, curious faces peering toward the Marine ships.
"Is that the Navy?"
"What are they doing here?"
Whispers spread. For most citizens, the Navy was not a symbol of safety, but of fear. After all, when Wapol's tyranny crushed them, had any Marines come to save them?
"Commander Hina, care to disembark with me?" Jin asked politely.
"Yes," she agreed at once. Escorting him was the pretense, but her true mission was to investigate Drum itself.
Jin stepped ashore. Guards flanked him in crisp formation, Dalton leading, bowing deeply.
"Your Majesty!"
The townsfolk bent their backs in respect.
Behind them, Hina watched quietly. A frown tugged at her lips—yet what she saw eased her suspicions. The people truly seemed to adore him.
He wasn't lying. He really was their king.
And more than that, their beloved king.
"Any trouble while I was away?" Jin asked Dalton.
"None at all," Dalton answered.
That was the way of Drum. Remote, snowbound. If pirates stayed away and rulers didn't crush them, its people lived quietly, content with a full belly and a warm roof. Endurance was their greatest trait. Even under Wapol's absurd misrule, they had not revolted.
Jin had sensed that quality. That was why he had issued twelve reforms—to shake them awake, to spark ambition where once there was only resignation. But he wanted more. Expansion. To seize Hannabal, to claim unaligned islands, to expand his nation's reach.
Land meant people. People meant resources. And resources meant the metals, the minerals, the rare materials that his Carrier needed to evolve.
He ordered Dalton to unload the supplies from the ship, then threw a feast in the town. Meat and liquor flowed. The Marines, sour and weary after days of servitude, finally cracked smiles. The townsfolk sang and laughed, hospitable and merry.
Hina wandered alone through the streets, asking questions, testing stories. But every villager—child, elder, farmer—spoke of Jin as though he were heaven-sent.
A divine envoy who brought light to banish the shadows.
A warrior-king who alone had crushed pirate crews.
A wise ruler who created the ice mushrooms, who opened trade, who fattened their purses.
One refrain echoed over and over: Wapol was filth, the new king is everything.
A single word summed him up in their eyes—mighty.
Thankfully, she hadn't asked anything about Jin's relation to Wapol.
"Can he really be so good?" Hina muttered under her breath. Yet the more she thought on it, the more she admitted it—this youth was no fool. In these past days he had teased her, yes, but with control. He had commanded, but without arrogance. He was sharp, capable, a blend of wisdom and will.
A true figure of note.
And, most importantly, not a Revolutionary. This was no rebellion—just an internal succession of Drum. Hina's shoulders finally loosened.
Back aboard her warship, she reported her findings to Vice Admiral Tsuru.
"Not so fast," Tsuru said calmly. "You cannot return yet. New intelligence has arrived."
"What?" Hina asked sharply.
"Vice Admiral Yamakaji has waited three days on Aska Island. Not a single pirate ship arrived. At first we suspected Gasparde misled us with a false endpoint. But after investigation, the truth is clear—Aska was indeed the finish line."
"Then what happened?" Hina joked bitterly. "Gasparde went mad and slaughtered them all? Hina refuses to believe it."
"No," Tsuru said gravely. "It was someone else. Our informants at Hannabal confirm—on the eve of the race, a newcomer entered. He wagered one hundred million berries on himself to win. Do you know who it was?"
Hina froze. "...King Jin?"
"It was him."
"He participated in the Death Tournament. And he was the first, the only, to reach the finish. He even claimed the prize right under your nose—and you, Commander, escorted him yourself."
"..."
A thousand curses thundered through Hina's skull. She had been tricked. The Navy had been tricked.
She remembered how she had almost defended him, how she had praised him to others. And all the while—he was the very shark circling beneath them.
Her face flushed hot, smoke practically rising from her head.
"That bastard! Hina is furious!" she hissed through clenched teeth. "Hina will drag him back in chains!"
Her fists cracked as she clenched them, bones popping, teeth grinding. If Jin were here, she would have bitten him in half.
"Wait," Tsuru cautioned. "Don't be reckless. This tournament included Gasparde, the giant brothers, Fisherman Willy—and all of them vanished. There is only one explanation: Jin killed them all."
Her blood ran cold. "...All of them?"
"That man is strong. Far beyond you, Commander."
Not stronger than me…? Hina's pride roared in defiance.
Tsuru continued. "And remember, he is not a pirate. He is the king of a World Government member nation. The Navy has no authority to arrest him."
"But—he took part in a pirate's contest!" Hina protested.
"So what?" Tsuru replied smoothly. "He destroyed pirates. For us. Do you understand? The Navy should be awarding him a medal, not shackles."
Hina faltered. It was true. A king who fought pirates, who erased threats before they festered—what could be more useful to the Navy?
A model ruler.
A benevolent king.
Impossible to touch.
"Therefore, your assignment is this," Tsuru said. "Two days ago, Gasparde's proxy in Hannabal was seized by Jin's men. I believe he intends to take control of the island. The Navy had its own plans for Hannabal, but now… they must change. You will remain. Sound out Jin's intentions. Serve as liaison."
"Yes, Vice Admiral," Hina replied stiffly.
"And… if you insist on testing him, you may. But be cautious. Do not push too far."
"Understood."
The line went dead.
But even as logic cooled her temper, the fire inside Hina would not die. She cracked her knuckles, eyes blazing.
Not as strong as him? Avoid him?
Hina snarled.
Avoid nothing. Hina will see for herself.