OP: My Aircraft Carrier Evolves#45+46: Assigning Positions, Kuma the Cook, and Power on Par with a Yonko! Princess Vivi! Crocodile's Threat

At the port.

Dalton was supervising the loading of a shipment of Ice Mushrooms.

In the distance, Biera and his men were training on the steam-powered warship.

The crew Jin had taken to G-3 had returned and were now dispersed across the three islands, training the new militia recruits.

Of course, Jin had made some changes to their training regimen, to better suit his own aesthetic.

Military improvement is not an overnight affair.

And even grunts have their uses.

The appearance of a massive Hiking Bear caused a brief panic, but Maya quickly intervened, telling the guards to lower their weapons.

She explained that this was an intelligent "Bear King," a new crew member, just like Chopper, who had joined at the king's request.

The king's orders?

Then there was no problem.

Inside the bear costume, Kuma could feel the trust the people had in their king from their words and their relaxed demeanor.

It really was a happy country.

And after hearing from Chopper about Drum Island's past, about how King Wapol had been just as absurd as King Bekori... and how the new king had descended from the sky, killed the old king, and established a new order...

Kuma now had a deeper understanding of the words Jin had spoken to him that day. He hadn't just been talking.

Jin had actually done it. He had killed a king. He had given the people a new life. He created wealth for the nation—and made their lives better.

In that moment, Kuma was filled with a profound sense of admiration.

He couldn't do it, but Jin had.

So that path... it was possible.

"He's a powerhouse, just like Dragon," Kuma thought as he boarded the demonic carrier.

The moment he stepped on board, he was enveloped by an invisible pressure.

The ship felt... alive. For a fleeting moment, Kuma thought he saw a massive, drooling mouth, ready to swallow him whole.

"Hm??" Kuma was startled.

"Easy now," Jin said, appearing at the rail and patting the ship's side, calming the demonic carrier.

Kuma's Devil Fruit was a powerful one. It was only natural that it would trigger a reaction from the other fruits.

"This ship..." Kuma said, confused. "Is it... alive?"

"Yes," Jin said with a smile. "It's special."

He waved a hand, and a massive door opened in the hull. He gestured for Kuma to go inside.

Though he felt a sense of unease, Kuma stepped through the doorway.

He found that the space inside was much larger than it appeared from the outside. Even for a man of his size, it didn't feel cramped.

"A Devil Fruit?" Kuma wondered.

Outside the door, Jin looked at Kuma. 'Should I do it now? Kill him and take his fruit?'

He sighed.

No. He wasn't that kind of person.

Besides, a good general is hard to find.

It was just a fruit. And if he gave the Paw-Paw Fruit to someone else, they wouldn't be as strong as Kuma.

The compatibility between a fruit and its user was a crucial factor.

"Master, you could try assigning one of the carrier's positions to him," Ai suddenly suggested.

"Hm?"

"There are three positions: Boatswain, Gunner, and Cook," Ai explained. "Once assigned, they will be bound to the carrier. It's possible his fruit will be integrated into the ship."

Jin's eyes lit up. "Let's try it."

He stepped through the doorway.

"A position?" Kuma asked.

"Yes."

Kuma hesitated. "Can I be the cook?"

As timid as ever.

Jin sighed. "Can you cook?"

"Yes—" Kuma replied. "—When I was a pastor in the Sorbet Kingdom, I often cooked for the elderly."

"Alright then. Cook it is. But... if something strange happens in a moment, don't resist. I need my ship to accept you."

Kuma was confused, but he nodded.

Jin immediately opened the ship's interface. In the "Cook" position, he entered the name "Bartholomew Kuma" and, at the same time, focused his will on him.

"Woooooooooom..."

The demonic carrier let out a long, low moan. The steel plates and pipes around them transformed into a writhing, organic wall, enveloping Kuma.

He instinctively raised his hands, tense, but Jin's warning echoed in his ears: "Don't resist."

Kuma relaxed and allowed himself to be swallowed.

Then, Kuma's information quickly appeared in the "Cook" section of the interface.

——————

[Position: Cook]

[Name: Bartholomew Kuma]

[Permission Level: 3]

[Height: 689cm]

[Ability: Paramecia Paw-Paw Fruit]

[Lineage: Buccaneer]

[Haki: Armament, Observation]

[Composite Doriki: 24,000-58,000]

[Evaluation: Buccaneer lineage, exceptionally powerful physique. Fruit mastery at its peak, one step away from Awakening. A top-tier combatant. Pacifistic and submissive nature makes him susceptible to manipulation and prone to trouble.]

——————

"He's strong," Jin marveled at Kuma's stats.

He was at a minimum, on par with a Yonko commander, with the potential to reach the level of a Yonko.

If only he wasn't so timid...

"Assigning a position—is that all?"

Jin glanced at the Biological Matter requirement. It was still "1/10." Kuma was bound to the carrier, but his fruit had not been integrated.

The writhing cabin returned to normal.

Kuma opened his eyes.

It had been a strange experience.

"How do you feel?" Jin asked.

"I feel... comfortable," Kuma said. "At ease. The sense of unease I felt when I first came on board is gone. And... something has entered my body."

Kuma pulled open his bear costume and the clothes underneath, revealing his chest. A crest had been branded onto his skin.

It was a circular crest, with the stylized character for "King"—and a strange "Dragon" in the center.

When the crest appeared, Jin's eyes flashed.

He could now sense Kuma's thoughts, his emotions, his location... He could even speak to him through the crest.

'What the—??' Jin was stunned.

Isn't this Imu's ability? The relationship between Imu and the God's Knights... it must be something like this.

"And—" Kuma said, placing a hand on the cabin wall, "I feel a connection with this ship."

Jin immediately sensed a wave of Armament Haki flowing from Kuma's body and into the ship's hull.

Then, Observation Haki.

Both were now coiling around the ship, tempering it.

And his Devil Fruit ability.

It could now be channeled and released through the ship's hull.

But... it wasn't a complete fusion. The carrier could use it, but Jin couldn't.

Even so, it was a significant power-up.

"Excellent!" Jin laughed.

Since Kuma was a self-proclaimed pacifist, he would have him spend his days tempering the carrier with his Haki.

Black Blades?

He was going to forge a Black Ship!

—————————

With the supplies loaded, the demonic carrier set sail, still disguised as an ordinary sloop.

Although its hull was large, it was surprisingly light. The Devil Fruit had turned its interior into a sub-space.

In essence, the hull was just a thin shell.

"The next upgrade requires 2,000 tons of refined steel," Jin mused. "It seems there will be some changes."

He couldn't help but look forward to the day when the demonic carrier would evolve into a ten-thousand-ton warship, a hundred-thousand-ton behemoth.

"But, so many materials... a small island won't be able to provide them."

Jin picked up a Log Pose.

"Alabasta."

<><><><><><><><>

Sandy Island.

The island where the Kingdom of Alabasta was located.

"One of the few major islands in the first half of the Grand Line," Jin mused. "A long history, rich in minerals like copper and iron..."

When Jin had first developed the Ice Mushrooms, he had two primary markets in mind: Kilauea and Alabasta.

Given Crocodile's presence, he had focused on Kilauea first.

Now, that market was stable and saturated.

So Jin turned his gaze to Alabasta.

Such a large piece of the pie.

'Sorry Crocodile... But you can't handle it all. Let me help you with that.' he thought.

Before heading to Alabasta, the demonic carrier first stopped at Asuka Island to harvest a batch of fresh mushrooms and deliver the latest generation of farmed seeds to Izaya.

The Marine training base there was in the process of being upgraded into a full branch base, and the black dragon flag of the Winter Blossom Kingdom now flew over the port town.

Good news travels slow, but bad news travels fast.

The stories of Jin defeating the Warlord Hanafuda and the bloody purge of Hannabal Island had already spread through the pirate Underworld.

Now, when pirates saw his flag, they felt a sense of awe.

—————————

Five days later.

Alabasta.

Nanohana, the kingdom's official port of entry, was famous for its perfumes. It was here that Luffy and Ace would one day be reunited.

The blistering heat was reflected in the city's desert architecture—rows upon rows of rammed-earth houses. Merchants in turbans bustled through the streets, while strange animals like camels and Super Spot-Billed Ducks served as the primary mode of transportation.

Dancers in revealing outfits performed energetic routines, and the air was thick with the scent of incense.

It was a vibrant, bustling city.

When the noble of Nanohana heard that the king of the Winter Blossom Kingdom had arrived, he first placed a call to the royal capital to confirm that the visitor was indeed from a member nation of the World Government.

Only then did he go to the docks with an honor guard to welcome him.

The king's youth surprised the old noble. When he learned that Jin was on his way to the capital to meet with King Cobra, he immediately arranged for a luxurious carriage and an escort of royal guards.

—————————

Rainbase.

The Rain Dinners, under Crocodile's management, had become the largest casino in the kingdom, a playground for the nobility.

The news of Jin's arrival in Nanohana and his reception by the local noble had already reached him.

Crocodile sat behind his desk, a cigar clenched between his teeth, his brow furrowed.

"The king who defeated Hanafuda—" he growled. "What is he doing in Alabasta? This is a problem..."

The door opened, and Robin walked in. "You wanted to see me?"

"We're going to the capital," Crocodile said.

"Why?"

"The king of the Winter Blossom Kingdom is on his way there. I have a bad feeling about this."

"A king from some small nation," Robin said coolly. "Is he really worth our attention?"

Crocodile shot her a look.

He knew she was throwing his own words back at him.

This woman... she holds a grudge.

—————————

Jin had left Kuma to guard the ship. He traveled light, with only Maya, to the royal capital Alubarna.

Though King Cobra didn't know the purpose of his visit, he had prepared a full reception. The accumulated etiquette of a thousand-year-old kingdom was not to be underestimated.

It was... elaborate.

Maya went ahead. She nervously ascended the steps and presented the official letter of state to a minister, who then passed it to King Cobra.

King Cobra read the letter aloud. Then he dispatched the minister to accompany Maya in a royal carriage to meet Jin outside the city. After confirming his identity, he was welcomed into Alubarna.

The citizens watched from the central avenue as the procession passed. As they approached the palace, the royal orchestra began to play. A red carpet was rolled out from the palace entrance, all the way down the grand staircase.

At the top, King Cobra stood in his full regalia, flanked by guards and palace servants holding various ceremonial objects. It was a display of pure, civilized power.

"As expected of a thousand-year-old kingdom," Jin said, impressed.

The minister beside him puffed out his chest with pride.

'A pity... this splendor won't last much longer,' Jin thought.

He ascended the steps and met King Cobra.

Crocodile's "Operation Utopia" had not yet begun. Cobra's reputation was still untarnished. He was a kind, benevolent ruler, beloved by his people. The perfect peacetime king.

But in the face of a major crisis, he could be naive and indecisive.

Princess Vivi, also in full regalia, stood beside her father. Though she was only twelve, she was already wise beyond her years, kind and strong, with a legion of admirers throughout the kingdom.

After the official pleasantries were over, Cobra hosted a state banquet in Jin's honor.

After three rounds of drinks, Cobra set down his cup and looked at the young king across from him.

"I heard about the... incident... from the World Government," he said. "The death of King Wapol is a great tragedy."

"It's not." Jin said.

Cobra, who had just been making polite conversation, was taken aback.

Vivi looked at Jin with curiosity. She remembered Wapol. During the Levely, Wapol, enraged at being publicly rebuked by her father, had deliberately bumped into her, slapped her, and insulted her. Worried about causing a diplomatic incident, Vivi had apologized to him, then cried in secret afterward.

When she'd heard he was dead, she had been secretly happy for a while.

She'd heard that this new king was Wapol's illegitimate brother, but he was nothing like him. He didn't seem to care at all about Wapol's death.

Jin wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked up. "King Cobra, let's talk about something more practical."

"Practical? What do you mean?"

Jin raised his hand and drew a circle in the air.

Cobra and Vivi watched in amazement as a black hole appeared. A Devil Fruit?

The sub-space of the Munch-Munch Fruit opened—and Jin produced two chests. One contained Ice Mushrooms from Drum Island, the other, Delicious Mushrooms from Asuka Island.

The black hole closed.

"I'm here to sell my country's products," Jin said. "And to sign a free trade agreement with your kingdom. I'm interested in purchasing minerals and other goods from you. In short, I'm here to do business."

"Ice Mushrooms?" Cobra stood up abruptly and walked over.

Although the mushrooms were currently only sold in Kilauea, some enterprising merchants had already begun reselling them in Alabasta. Cobra had tried one. It was tasteless, but it was filled with water. For the drought-stricken, water-starved Kingdom of Alabasta, it was a miracle.

He opened the chest. A large, crystalline mushroom, radiating a cold mist, lay inside. The temperature in the room dropped.

"This is it!" he said, his voice filled with urgency. "This is a product of the Winter Blossom Kingdom?"

The drought and desertification in Alabasta hadn't started with Crocodile; he had just accelerated the process. One Ice Mushroom might have been a drop in the bucket, but to a person in the desert, a single drop of water was more precious than gold.

"Yes," Jin replied. "Current monthly production is 100,000."

This number was based on Ai's analysis of Drum Island's climate and overall environment. As a winter island, it snowed on Drum Island for at least 300 days a year. Siphoning off some of the snowmelt wouldn't affect the island's ecosystem and would even help to stabilize the existing snow line.

"The wholesale price is 10,000 Berries per mushroom. I will sell them exclusively to the royal family, and you can handle the distribution."

Cobra was both overjoyed and worried.

100,000 Ice Mushrooms a month, each weighing about eight pounds... it wasn't a huge amount, but it was enough.

But—

"The kingdom... has no money," Cobra said, his shoulders slumping. "We have the Heavenly Tribute to pay, and with the years of drought, I've had to waive the taxes to ease the burden on my people. The royal treasury is empty."

Jin smiled. "Minerals, land, people... these are all resources that can be converted into money, aren't they? We can barter. Of course, for the sake of convenience, we can use the Winter Blossom Kingdom's Merit Vouchers for calculation. And these are Delicious Mushrooms. They're edible. I hope to be able to sell them in your kingdom."

"This is a matter of great importance," Cobra said, deep in thought. "I will need to consider it overnight. Tomorrow. I will give you an answer tomorrow."

"Alright."