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Skypiea had long been on Jin's list of targets—a personal treasure vault waiting to be claimed.
It held not only a vast fortune in gold, but also a Logia-type Devil Fruit—the Rumble-Rumble Fruit—and a Poneglyph.
Furthermore, securing Skypiea would allow him to deploy his fleet of aircraft to the sky, far from the prying eyes of the World Government.
After the incident with Hanafuda, Jin was certain that Cipher Pol had agents embedded on Drum Island, Hannabal, and Asuka Island.
He just couldn't make any overt moves against them yet.
For now, he was still playing the part of a "loyal king."
But before his journey to the sky...
Back in Hannabal, while construction of the grand arena was still in full swing, a new, magnificent music hall already stood tall against the skyline.
It was modeled after the stadiums of his past life, though it was far larger, with a special "Giants' Section" for the island's larger patrons—at a premium, of course.
A ring of VIP boxes for nobles and wealthy merchants circled the top.
The entire venue was constructed from a high-performance alloy synthesized by the demonic carrier, strong enough to withstand the collateral damage of a Vice Admiral-level battle.
Of course, Jin had made it perfectly clear that anyone who dared to start a fight here would learn the true meaning of the word "cruelty."
"Not bad..." A voice chirped. "As long as the diva and the music don't disappoint, a venue like this could attract a high-end clientele. An island full of nothing but pirates isn't exactly conducive to long-term growth."
"Big News" Morgans, as always, was in his full albatross form.
He was the picture of an elegant gentleman. A crisp, light-colored shirt was buttoned to the neck, adorned with a bow tie and layered under a sharp blue suit jacket. A gold pocket watch hung from his breast. Over it all, he wore a black cloak that draped over his feathered tail. His ensemble was completed with a pair of red-and-white striped trousers and pale leather boots. He even carried a cane, looking every bit the part of a medieval lord.
The Zoan-type Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Albatross.
Awakened.
While Jin had no interest in Du Feld's loan sharking, he was very interested in the president of the World Economic Journal.
So, for the music hall's debut concert, he had personally invited Morgans.
It was partly for publicity, and partly to build a relationship.
Morgans wasn't the only one.
Jin had also invited King Cobra and Princess Vivi of Alabasta.
The King of Kilauea and Sherlock.
From the Germa Kingdom, Judge and Reiju had come—mainly to show their faces and quell any inconvenient rumors.
From Asuka Island, Commander Hina and the shamaness Izaya.
A number of his own people had also received invitations: Dr. Kureha, Dalton, Wilson, and others.
Mayor Enru stood at the entrance, greeting the guests.
Brogy, along with his two giant underlings, Bobby and Pogo, stood guard. Their massive frames, clad in gleaming armor, were an imposing sight.
Cobra and the other royals were already seated.
Jin personally escorted Morgans inside.
The open-air venue, which could hold ten thousand people, was designed not just for concerts, but for sporting events as well, a way to diversify Hannabal's "entertainment" offerings and give the high-rolling pirates and gamblers a way to unwind.
Morgans was highly impressed.
"It's not as extravagant as Tesoro's Gran Tesoro," he commented, "...but it has a certain style."
Gild Tesoro's golden ship was now a world-famous entertainment city, a place even the Celestial Dragons frequented.
Hannabal was a long way from that level.
But Jin's goals weren't so lofty.
With natural-born divas like Uta and Carina, and Gordon, the former leader of Elegia, Jin had been planning his media strategy since he was back in the East Blue.
The first step was to make them famous. Once they had a following, he could start slipping in a bit of his own messaging. Certain catchy, seemingly innocent songs were the perfect vehicle for propaganda, for influencing the masses.
And Uta's Sing-Sing Fruit possessed a powerful "infectious" quality, able to create a deep, resonant connection with anyone who heard her voice.
And so, the Hannabal Music Hall was born.
Director: Gordon.
Lead Diva: Uta.
When Carina returned, she would be the secondary diva.
The acting head of the dance department was Porche.
Jin had left the specific operations entirely to Gordon. He was just the money, the man who had organized the construction.
Gordon had once been a world-renowned pianist and musician. He had connections. As the former king of the island of music, he knew how to run a theater. In this, he was the authority.
And ever since he'd learned that Jin had "killed" the musical "demon," he had been filled with a profound sense of gratitude. The loss of Elegia still hurt, but Uta was alive. That was all that mattered.
And now, Jin was supporting their musical dreams. The old man's body was filled with a new fire.
He had called upon his old network, contacted old friends, and invited them to form a new troupe in Hannabal. Jin had even offered to cover their travel expenses, allowing them to use the safe route through Mary Geoise.
Restoring the glory of Elegia—it was a duty he could not forsake.
At the same time, they had placed ads in the World Economic Journal, recruiting talented musicians and dancers. By the time the theater was built, they had already assembled a core team.
Once they were open, they would gradually expand.
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After getting Morgans settled, Jin went to the next box to greet King Cobra, Princess Vivi, and their guards, Pell and Chaka.
He'd had Ai personally pick them up in his ship to ensure their safety.
Since his last visit and the signing of the trade agreement, the volume of trade between the Winter Blossom Kingdom and Alabasta had skyrocketed.
Jin's escort fleet, sailing the Salamander, made the round trip once a month, protecting the merchant ships. After a few foolhardy pirate crews who had dared to challenge the black dragon flag had been wiped out and their captains flayed alive, no one dared to cause trouble.
The biggest challenge was the chaotic weather of the Grand Line.
But after numerous trips, Jin and Ai had mapped out a relatively safe route. For over a year now, there had been no major incidents.
Jin sold Ice Mushrooms, various other fungi, and medical supplies to Alabasta, and in return, he purchased perfumes and other local specialties, which he then sold in Drum Island, Kilauea, and the Four Blues, making a considerable profit.
Cobra, in turn, collected taxes on the trade, replenishing the royal treasury and easing the country's financial burden.
The main reason for their success was that the trade between Cobra and Jin could bypass the Berri, using the "Merit Voucher" as a medium of exchange.
Jin could sell his goods for Berries, which went into his treasury to pay the Heavenly Tribute and other expenses. But when he needed to buy supplies, he could use the vouchers.
And, Jin still owed him for the mineral rights. Cobra had decided to forget about installment payments and just take the vouchers instead.
And if one mine wasn't enough? Alabasta was a vast, resource-rich country. What he lacked wasn't resources, but the means to turn those resources into money.
And Jin, who was short on resources, had the ability to turn them into valuable commodities.
It was a perfect synergy.
That was why Cobra had agreed to make this risky visit.
Jin was too important to Alabasta.
He had even entertained the thought of a political marriage between Vivi and Jin, with their child one day inheriting his throne.
But Vivi was still a little too young.
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