OP: My Aircraft Carrier Evolves#21+22: A Capitalist's Potential, Asuka Island, and Marine Vice Admiral Comil! The Legend of the Seven Stars Sword, a Clue to a Mythical Zoan, and Hina the Black Cage!

After Biera left.

Jin fell into thought. Among the pirates of this world, there were many who had suffered similar hardships. He couldn't just paint them all with the same brush.

"After I take Hannabal Island, I'll need a force to keep order there. And I'll need people to expand my trade operations. Manpower is a resource. I have more than enough soul crystals for the carrier's next upgrade. It might be a better idea to keep some of the prisoners and... exploit their labor for a while. Give them a chance to turn over a new leaf. I'm not a monster, after all. Once I have enough men, I can weed out the ones who are truly evil and make a public example of them. That way, I still get my soul crystals, and I earn the goodwill of the people and warn against any future corruption. It's a win-win."

After listening to his monologue, Ai offered a sharp critique: "Master has the potential to be a great capitalist."

—————————

Asuka Island.

It was a beautiful island, neither hot nor cold, but blessed with an eternal spring.

The organizers of the Dead End Race had placed a token here in advance. The first to arrive and claim it would be the winner.

On the far side of the island, three Marine warships were anchored.

The Marines had received intelligence a short while ago and had set up an ambush to capture the pirates arriving on Asuka Island.

"This intelligence... it came from Gasparde, didn't it?"

"That bastard. He probably leaked the information to the Marines just to make his little game more interesting."

"When he was a Marine, he betrayed the Marines. Now that he's a pirate, he betrays pirates. Which side is he on?"

"And why hasn't Headquarters sent a real force to crush him? It's infuriating! Hina is very angry!" a pink-haired woman with a cigarette dangling from her lips said in a disgusted tone. She wore a Marine coat of justice over her Lieutenant Commander's uniform.

In front of her stood Vice Admiral Comil. He was puffing on a cigar, a broad smile on his face as he gazed out at the sea.

"There's always a reason for a man like Gasparde to exist," the Vice Admiral said gently. He held a sheathed sword, and a thick, brown beard covered his chin.

"In any case, his value lies in his ability to draw these hidden pirates out into the open. Compared to the big names like the Four Emperors or the Seven Warlords, it's the lesser-known pirates who often cause the most direct damage. They're like rats, scurrying around in the dark, burning, pillaging, and preying on innocent civilians. But the Marines' resources are limited. The only way to clean them out is to set a trap and let them walk right into it."

Hina understood.

So this was a deal between Gasparde and the Marines?

The World Government used the Warlords. It was only natural that the Marines would make use of a valuable traitor.

Still, very few people must have been aware of it.

"Sir! A ship has been sighted!" the lookout on the mast shouted. "It's... the giant brothers, Bobby and Pogo! They're coming! Wait... there's another ship behind them! Bobby and Pogo are being pursued! They're catching up! They've vanished!"

"Vanished?" Hina said. "Hey! What are you talking about? What do you mean, 'vanished'?"

"They're gone, ma'am!" the lookout replied. "The other ship caught up to them and passed them... and then they were just gone! It happened on the other side of the ship, so my view was blocked by its sail. I couldn't see what happened. It was like... they were eaten! The flag... it's strange. I've never seen it before. A new pirate crew?"

"What flag?" Hina leaped up, jumping to the top of the mast. She took the spyglass from the lookout and gazed into the distance.

A ship, thirty to forty meters long, came into view. Its flag fluttered in the wind, a faint pattern visible on it. She looked closer. It was a serpentine creature with claws... Hina had heard of it. It was a mythical creature called a "dragon."

Other than that, there was nothing particularly remarkable about the ship.

"Hey, are you sure you saw what you saw?" Hina asked. She couldn't see any sign of the giants or their ship, not even a trace of a battle.

"Eh?" The lookout was no longer sure. The whole thing had been so surreal. Such a large ship, such massive giants... gone in the blink of an eye. Had he just been seeing things?

"Contact Headquarters," Vice Admiral Comil ordered. "Confirm if that flag belongs to any known pirates from the Four Blues. I don't want any mistakes."

"Sir!"

After the ship had docked, the communications officer reported, "Headquarters confirms, there is no corresponding bounty record."

The officers were all confused.

No bounty record? So they weren't pirates?

"What are your orders, Vice Admiral?"

Arrest them or not?

"It could just be a merchant ship, here to resupply," Comil mused. "Our targets are the pirates from the Dead End Race. We can't blow our cover. However... Lieutenant Commander Hina, take a squad and a small boat. Conduct a routine inspection, just in case."

"Sir!" Hina replied. "You're with me! Let's go!"

—————————

Jin set foot on Asuka Island, taking in the scenery of the spring island. The mild climate was delightful.

"Once the transportation issue is sorted out—" Jin thought, "—if I build a resort here and develop the tourism industry, I'll make a killing."

The port town was geared toward visitors. Not far from the town, on a hill, was a Marine training base.

As Jin walked into the town, he could feel that something was off. There were few people on the streets, and those who were there were acting furtively.

They were obviously plainclothes Marines.

"Are they pirates?"

"Doesn't look like it. Never seen them before."

Jin didn't have to strain to hear the whispers from the shadows. Since his awakening, his five senses had been greatly enhanced.

"So the Marines have set up an ambush. Gasparde, you really are a piece of work."

In the original story, Gasparde had given out a bunch of fake Log Poses, luring the pirates into a Marine fortress where they were executed by firing squad.

He'd completely played them for fools.

Jin walked calmly through the streets. He didn't have a bounty; he had nothing to fear. He arrived at the tavern where the race token was hidden.

"The Seven Star Sword?"

As he pushed open the door, he heard a discussion taking place. Everyone turned to look at him.

New face?

They went back to their conversation.

"What's that?"

"They say it's the most beautiful legendary sword on the Grand Line."

"Isn't that just a legend?"

"No. It's on this very island. A long time ago, the people of this island believed that the red moon, which appears once every hundred years, would bring disaster. They were terrified of it. So, the god they worshiped, to protect them from this calamity, gave their King three sacred jewels to act as a shield... But in the end, the sword was turned against its purpose. When the red moon is full, the sword will unleash a power that rules over the darkness."

"Is that for real?"

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

"The Seven Star Sword?"

Jin walked up to the bar. He remembered now.

The Cursed Holy Sword. No wonder it sounded so familiar.

But the legend was incomplete.

According to Robin's research of the island's ruins and the old shaman's stories, the sword came first.

Three princes, all in love with the same shamaness, went to war. The resentment and blood of the fallen corrupted the sword, unleashing the darkness and the blood moon, which destroyed the ancient kingdom of Asuka.

To seal it, the shamaness gave her life.

The three princes, filled with remorse, prayed to their "God" and were transformed into three sacred jewels, which suppressed the sword's power.

But every hundred years, when the blood moon appears, the sword's power grows, luring those with weak wills to its side.

Zoro's childhood friend from the dojo—Saga—was one of its victims.

In the end, it was Zoro's words that reawakened Saga's "heart of justice," allowing him to destroy the sword with his own will.

It was a very mythic-sounding tale. It almost made it seem like "Gods" really existed.

But Jin preferred to interpret these embellished legends from a more "realistic" perspective.

"A Devil Fruit?" he mused. "The King of ancient Asuka obtained a Devil Fruit sword. With it, he became incredibly powerful. When the King grew old, his three sons, all coveting the throne, fought over the sword. But it had been stained with the blood of too many, had absorbed too many souls. It Awakened. Just like the demon of the Sing-Sing Fruit, it unleashed the darkness and the blood moon, and it destroyed the Kingdom. In the end, the shamaness sacrificed herself, her soul entering the sword to fight the awakened demon with her own will. And the three princes poured their own power into the jewels, to stand guard over the sword for all eternity and prevent the disaster from happening again."

Stripped of its mythic and legendary trappings, Jin thought this version of the story fit the worldview of One Piece much better.

His interest was piqued.

"When Saga used the sword, he took on snake-like characteristics. A Zoan-type Devil Fruit? It's even possible it's a Mythical Zoan, with characteristics related to the moon, darkness, and desire..."

Jin had already sent Wilson and the crew back to Hannabal Island on the pirate ship to take control of the boss. Getting the token was just a formality, a way to make his victory official. He wasn't in a hurry.

If he could get his hands on another Devil Fruit...

The demonic carrier would be just one step away from its second evolution.

"But this fruit is a tricky one," he thought. "For one, it has guardians. For another, it has a strong Will of its own. And with the Marines sniffing around, now is not the time to take it. I can't afford to screw this up. I'll wait, get my affairs in order, and then come back for it."

After careful consideration, Jin decided that a steady approach was the best one.

He stood at the bar, produced two 100-Berri silver coins, and handed them to the bartender.

The bartender froze.

He sized Jin up.

He turned, took a box from the counter, and set it down. Then he shot a look at the group of men who had been arguing.

They fell silent. They couldn't believe it. Had something gone wrong? Where was the General? And who was this guy?

They were Gasparde's men, stationed here to make sure no one interfered with the race or got to the token before him.

"Hey, kid. Hand over the box."

"Don't touch what's not yours."

"You'll get yourself killed."

They stood up and walked toward him.

At the same time, the bartender, his hand hidden below the counter, pulled out a flintlock pistol and fired.

BANG!

Jin slapped his hand on the table and backflipped, dodging the bullet. He snatched the box and, in a single, spinning motion, kicked the bartender, knocking him unconscious.

The moment he landed, he shot forward like a bullet himself, closing the distance to the other men in an instant. A flurry of kicks sent the six burly men flying.

They crashed to the floor, smashing tables and chairs.

Jin straightened his clothes. His hand suddenly split open, revealing a "hole," and he swallowed the wooden box.

Since his first awakening, his "bond" with the demonic carrier had grown stronger. With practice, he had learned to use the powers of the various fruits the carrier had swallowed, within a certain range.

For example, he had just used the power of the Munch-Munch Fruit to swallow the box and "teleport" it to the demonic carrier.

In essence, he and the carrier now shared the sub-space created by the fruit's awakening.

—————————

A commotion?

The Marine soldiers who had been staking out the place all rushed out.

They formed a firing line and aimed their rifles at the tavern.

Just as the tension reached its peak, the door was kicked open. A figure shot out, weaving through the bullets with incredible agility. He reached the encirclement and leaped into the air, clearing the wall of soldiers and landing on the other side, then sprinted toward the port.

"Is he a pirate?"

"Get him!"

Hina, who had just arrived at the docks with her squad, heard the gunshots and shouting. She looked over and saw a young man running toward her.

"STOP!" she yelled.

Without a second thought, her men opened fire.

She charged toward Jin, and as she ran, iron bars extended from her arms, forming an enclosure.

"Lined Kimono Feather Cage!"

She brought her arms together, and the iron bars closed.

"Hm? Black Cage Hina?" Jin thought. "What's she doing here?"

Then it occurred to him: he wasn't a wanted man. He was a King. Why was he running?

He stopped, allowing the cage to trap him.

The other soldiers caught up.

"I am Lieutenant Commander Hina of Marine Headquarters," she said. "What happened?"

"Ma'am, it's like this..."

After hearing their report, Hina looked at Jin. The pirate who had taken the token?

"Pirate? What pirate?" Jin scoffed, putting on an air of arrogance. "Hey! Do you have any idea who I am? I am the King of a nation affiliated with the World Government!"

"EH??"

The soldiers and Hina were all dumbfounded.

A King??

No way.

"Then why were you in that tavern, and why did you get into a fight with the people inside?" Hina asked, still wary. "And why did you run?"

Jin rolled his eyes. "I went in for a drink. Is that a crime? Then some idiots started insulting me, so we fought. When I came out, I saw you all and thought you were with them! If it were you, wouldn't you have run?"

The soldiers looked at each other.

It seemed... they hadn't really gotten the full story.

Was it all a misunderstanding?

Hina shot a look at her men, a headache coming on. "Are you really a King?"

"Do I not look like one?" Jin replied. "I'm from Drum Island. I recently succeeded King Wapol to the throne."

Drum Island? King Wapol?

"King Wapol attended the Levely just last year," Hina said. "What happened to him? And who are you?"

During last year's Levely, Hina had been part of a King's escort. She'd heard her colleagues at Mary Geoise talking about that ridiculous King.

"King Wapol passed away in an unfortunate accident—"

Jin said smoothly. "—I am Jin, the illegitimate son of the former King. I was chosen by the people of Drum Island to succeed to the throne."