Chapter 13 : A Planned Economy, Systemic Reform, and Hannabal Island's Dead End Race
❁❁❁❁
The Merit Voucher was Jin's first experiment.
Besides, what transmigrator who'd gone through the nine years of compulsory education would ever overlook the importance of controlling the currency?
With it, he could implement a semi-planned economic model within the Winter Blossom Kingdom and begin accumulating capital.
And this was only the beginning.
"Reward military merit and prohibit private duels. All men of age are required to serve in the military. I am hereby establishing a twenty-rank system of nobility based on military achievement."
"Promote the family system. Reward farming and weaving. Encourage childbirth."
"Establish schools. Promote adult education. All children of age must attend."
"Levy commercial and customs taxes..."
"Rebuild and improve the healthcare system."
Jin announced a dozen new laws in one breath, building a completely new system for the Winter Blossom Kingdom from the ground up.
Although Drum Island wasn't large enough to be a true utopia, it also meant that Jin's policies were easier to implement.
He had killed Wapol, then eliminated Musshuru, and then created the Ice Mushrooms to bring wealth to the people. His prestige was already sky-high.
No one objected.
And if they had, Jin wouldn't have minded showing a bit of a "tyrant's" willfulness—making an example of one or two to warn the rest.
In addition to the new laws, Jin also made some personnel changes.
Dalton's position remained unchanged.
Jeston was promoted from Patrol Captain to Minister of Finance.
Razor Dahm, having passed his trial period and turned over a new leaf, changed his name to Sal and was appointed captain of the Ice Mushroom trade escort fleet.
He was short on talent. He had to make do with what he had.
Wilson, the helmsman of the Vulture Pirates who had transferred his loyalty to Jin, was temporarily appointed as the captain of the First Fleet of the Winter Blossom Navy.
Jin had also wanted to ask Dr. Kureha to be the Minister of Education, but the old witch had a fiery temper and wanted no part of it.
As a second choice, he had Chopper act as the interim minister. Manipulating Chopper was a lot easier than dealing with the old witch.
I killed Wapol for you. I got your revenge.
That's a debt you have to repay, Chopper.
The sun had risen on Drum Island.
And the King's kindness was a debt that could never be fully repaid.
Loyalty!
And with Chopper in his pocket, getting the old witch to fall in line would be that much easier.
—————————
Time flies when you're busy.
In the blink of an eye, another month had passed.
While managing the internal affairs of the kingdom, Jin continued his extreme training, pushing past his limits every single day.
Sal, Wilson, and Dalton also served as his sparring partners, helping him gain valuable combat experience.
After another round of tests, Ai provided a new assessment.
[Name: Jin]
[Height: 185cm]
[Weight: 76kg]
[Body Fat Percentage: 15%]
[Grip Strength: 1.6t]
[Bench Press: 9.8t]
[Average Speed: 150m/s]
[0-100km/h Acceleration: 1.0s]
[Composite Doriki: 660-1570]
[Analysis: Through training, Master's potential has been activated. You are in excellent health and possess superhuman strength and speed.]
——————
In a very short amount of time, Jin had already reached a Doriki level comparable to the members of CP9 on Enies Lobby.
The only thing he lacked was a systematic set of techniques like the Six Powers.
As for Haki training, he was still fumbling in the dark.
Although Ai had powerful data analysis capabilities, it had no data on Haki. It couldn't just create a training regimen out of thin air.
That was the limitation of an AI.
"You can't become a true powerhouse by training in isolation," Jin mused, a sharp glint in his eyes. He looked at his sea chart, which had several known pirate hangouts and gathering spots marked on it.
"It's time to go hunting."
His finger traced across the map, finally landing on a red dot.
"Hannabal Island."
"According to Sherlock, that island periodically hosts a 'Dead End Race at Sea'. The next one is about to begin. It attracts a large number of pirates seeking big prize money and adventure. It's the perfect place to train and gather materials."
This time, Jin was taking the Devil Fruit carrier with him.
To avoid attracting attention, he had the ship's hull covered with wooden planks and a single mast erected. It was disguised as a simple sloop.
He named it: The Empress.
It flew a black dragon flag.
The crew consisted of Wilson, 12 former members of the Vulture Pirates, and 17 elite soldiers selected from the militia.
A total of 31 men.
Using a Log Pose, they sailed for three days and two nights and arrived at Hannabal Island.
—————————
Night.
A monsoon wind blew across the coast.
The dirt roads of the port town were wet and muddy. At the end of the road was a collection of crooked wooden houses that formed the town.
Dirty, chaotic, and run-down.
It was a typical pirate island.
This was where the pirates who had made it to the Grand Line, seen the cruelty of the world, and were unwilling to return to the Four Blues came to squat.
Over time, it had become a "paradise" for pirates to rest and recuperate.
As Jin and Wilson walked into the town, they were immediately met with a barrage of looks, each with a different meaning, sizing them up from head to toe.
A burly ruffian with a vicious glint on his blade licked a scar on his cheek, looking for his next meal.
A scantily clad woman leaned against a post, arms crossed, and called out in a seductive voice, "Hey there, handsome. Looking for a good time?"
A shifty-eyed youth scanned them, looking for the location of their wallets.
However, upon seeing Wilson, many of the unfriendly gazes were quickly averted.
"A Fish-Man?"
"Looks like it."
Someone whispered.
Yes, Wilson was not human. He was from Fish-Man Island.
A tiger shark Fish-Man, standing at a height of three meters and two centimeters.
He wore blue leather pants and tall boots. A simple short-sleeved shirt was stretched taut across his eight-pack abs. Several savage scars crisscrossed his grayish-brown, rock-like skin.
His body was a mass of coiled muscle. His left arm was wrapped in bandages. He stood there like an iron tower, his snow-white fangs protruding from his mouth.
He was the very picture of ferocity.
Jin's assessment of him was simple: All bark and all bite.
According to Sherlock, he had saved Wilson by chance, and that's how he'd gained such a powerful subordinate. After Sherlock had "retired," Wilson's status as a Fish-Man made it difficult for him to find a place in Kilauea, so he was entrusted to Jin.
Of course, Jin's lack of prejudice against Fish-Men was also a key factor.
With Wilson as his bodyguard, Jin couldn't exactly walk around like he owned the place, but at least the average pirates kept their distance, which saved him a lot of hassle.
After stuffing five thousand Berries into the streetwalker's cleavage, she led Jin and Wilson to a tavern in the center of town.
"These two are short on cash," she whispered to the bartender. "Looking for a big, exciting adventure."
The bartender glanced at them, then at the bounty board on the wall, which was plastered with a few dozen wanted posters, all of them pirate captains. The bounties ranged from twenty to thirty million to over ninety million.
New faces?
The bartender sighed. "Don't get in over your heads, kids. Don't throw your lives away so carelessly."
He'd seen too many arrogant rookies end up dead in their quest for "adventure."
Especially this time.
The man with the highest bounty on the wall, the one known as the "Greatest Stain on the Marines," Gasparde, was here.
"The bigger the storm, the more valuable the fish," Jin said. "If you want a big score, you have to take a big risk, right?"
The bartender saw the serious look in his eyes. You can't save a man who's determined to die.
"Fools and pirates," he muttered. "Both are beyond saving."
"Alright. If you're in such a hurry to die, then follow me."
<><><><><><><><>
~# Keep the chapters coming — Support with Power Stones!
~# Every 100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
~# Add to Library!