Next Bonus, 100!!
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"Alright," Jin said with a smile. "But you don't have to start as a common soldier. I'll have Suleiman be your second-in-command. You can serve on the different fleet ships."
In a world dominated by the sea, the importance of a navy was self-evident. Jin took it very seriously.
"As you wish."
Jin and Issho returned to the Empress. It was currently in the process of mining rare earth metals, refining the trace elements contained within.
Even before he had boarded the ship, Issho had sensed that it was different.
He opened his eyes, as if trying to see it clearly, but his eyes were white. He could only make out a rough outline. An outline that was shrouded in a mysterious, distorted aura, radiating a strange energy that filled one's heart with a sense of awe.
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The mining and smelting of the rare earth metals would take some time. Jin arranged a room for Issho. He went to his own quarters, took a shower, and then went to his office.
Robin was there, a cup of coffee in her hand, her legs crossed as she leaned back in her chair, reading a book, a faint smile on her lips.
She wore a purple dress that left her pale arms bare, her curves elegant and her bustline simply astonishing. She was tall and slender, with an air of refined grace, tinged with a hint of languid laziness.
"What's so funny?" Jin asked, leaning over her shoulder. It was a knightly romance novel, something about a knight and a princess. "I didn't know you read this kind of thing."
Robin shot him a look. "I'm analyzing the concept of love from a scholarly perspective."
"Analyzing love? It's not something you can analyze," Jin said, shaking his head. "You have fun with that."
He sat down at his desk. A stack of documents, organized by Robin, was waiting for his signature.
Even with an administrative system in place, there was still a lot for him to do. It wasn't as easy as people thought. Fortunately, with the help of Robin, Ai, and the others, for most of the government affairs, all he had to do was get the gist of the situation and sign off on it. It was only the strategic-level decisions that required his full attention. If he had to personally handle every little detail, he'd be buried in trivialities.
Robin glanced at him.
Since she had joined him, they had traveled almost the entire world: the Four Blues, Paradise, the New World, Sky Island... Her horizons had broadened, and her outlook on life was no longer so bleak.
Mainly, it was because Jin was different from her previous bosses. He was strong, so strong that she felt completely safe.
And it wasn't just his strength. His ideals were different.
Most of the time, all she had to do was her job. Jin rarely asked anything more of her.
Except for the occasional "special training."
And it was special training.
It was a "special training" that made Robin question her own existence. More than once, she'd woken up the next day so sore she could barely move.
But the results... the results were undeniable.
Jin's training was tailored to her strengths and weaknesses. It had given her a new way of thinking, and her strength had increased rapidly. He would even give her advice, suggest new directions for her development.
And it wasn't just her. Everyone who came on board was put through the same training.
Robin liked this life.
She no longer had to live in constant fear.
Every day, she worked, she read, she pursued her hobbies, she trained.
It was fulfilling.
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After mining enough rare earth metals, the Empress left Little Garden.
Jin paid a visit to Alabasta. Ever since their first trade mission, the two kingdoms had maintained friendly relations.
"Princess Vivi, you've grown so much," he said. "You're even more beautiful."
Vivi, who had just turned fifteen, shot him a look. "So I wasn't cute or beautiful before?" She had blue hair, red lips, and pale skin, like an elf.
"You were too young before. I couldn't tell."
"Hmph." Vivi rolled her eyes.
They had traveled through Alabasta together, and their two countries had had a lot of dealings since then. They were on good terms and often joked around when they met.
Jin spoke with Cobra. The king expressed his concern about the Revolutionary Army's activities in the South Blue.
"There have been signs of revolutionary activity in some parts of Alabasta as well," he said. "Not long ago, there was a terrorist attack in Katorea. A noble was killed in an explosion, and a group calling themselves the Revolutionary Army claimed responsibility. Targeting nobles is one thing, but a dozen bystanders were also injured. An innocent woman and child were killed."
"Do you know who was responsible?" Jin asked.
"No," Cobra said, shaking his head. "I sent Pell and Chaka to investigate, but everyone involved was killed. We couldn't find any leads. And it's not just our country. This month, there have been terrorist attacks in countries all over the world. The impact has been devastating. The revolutionaries are claiming it's retaliation for what happened in the Sorbet Kingdom."
Jin raised an eyebrow.
Dragon was still hiding out at his place. He had ordered all revolutionary cells to go dark, to suspend all activities. If it was just one country, it could have been the work of a rogue element. But all over the world... it was as if it had been planned.
"Here's what you should do," he said. "Post a request at the Bounty Hunter's Guild. Have them send someone to help you investigate."
Jin knew that Cobra was asking for his help, but he didn't have the time to get involved personally. Besides, the attack in Alabasta was just one piece of the puzzle. It didn't require his direct intervention. The Bounty Hunter's Guild could handle it.
"Alright," Cobra said with a nod and a smile. "I'll have Vivi show you around. I need to take care of this."
Jin realized what he was doing.
Did Cobra not know he could just hire the Bounty Hunter's Guild himself?
He was asking for Jin's advice to put pressure on Crocodile.
Cobra going to Crocodile on his own, and Cobra going to Crocodile with a suggestion from Jin... to Crocodile, the importance would be completely different.
But it was a good move. Jin was also concerned about the situation.
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After visiting Alabasta, Jin traveled to Water 7 to attend the launching ceremony for the first three steamships from the Galley-La Company.
The technical team, led by Biera—the old boiler-stoker from Gasparde's ship who had adopted Anaguma—had already inspected the ships' core components.
Biera might not have looked like much, but as a boiler-stoker with years of experience, he knew a good boiler when he saw one. His skills were top-notch. And in his years on the Salamander, he had trained a number of technicians for the Winter Blossom Kingdom.
The three steamships would be retrofitted with cannons and other armaments upon their return and would be given priority for induction into the navy.
The captains of the three naval fleets—Wilson, Van Augur, and Sai—were all in attendance, ready to sail the new ships back home.
Suleiman from the strategy office was also there.
Jin introduced Issho to them.
As the winner of last year's colosseum tournament, the blind swordsman was a well-known figure. They were all very respectful.
For the retrofitting of the steamships, Jin had specifically hired Franky.
Even as an apprentice, he had built incredibly powerful warships. He had even modified his own body with scrap metal. His talent was undeniable.
Although Franky was currently reluctant to work on military vessels, Jin's plea that it was for the defense of his homeland, combined with the lure of the "Treasure Tree Adam," was enough to convince him.
In addition to Franky, Jin also recruited a number of shipwrights from Water 7.
He needed them for routine ship maintenance, as well as for new construction.
The Winter Blossom Kingdom was now quite famous in Paradise. The moment he put out the call for recruitment, dozens of shipwrights had applied.
Iceburg's Galley-La Company had a monopoly on most of the work in Water 7, and he only hired the best of the best. But even the shipwrights who had been turned down were more than qualified to work in any other country, like the members of the Franky Family.
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After returning to the Winter Blossom Kingdom and getting everything in order, Jin "teleported" to the New World for his rematch with Loki.
But this time, he would bring no one with him. Not even his ship.
He needed to infiltrate Punk Hazard.
And for that... a ship would be far too conspicuous.
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