OP: My Aircraft Carrier Evolves#13+14: A Planned Economy, Systemic Reform, and Hannabal Island's Dead End Race! The Marine's Disgrace, General Gasparde, and a 100 Million Berri Bet!

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."

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

The bartender turned and walked toward the back of the room.

At the end of a short hallway, he unlocked a door.

Behind it was a pitch-black tunnel leading into the unknown.

He lit an oil lamp and handed it to Jin. "Just keep going straight. You'll get to where you want to go. This is as far as I can take you. You'll know what to do when you get there. Oh, and one more thing. When you reach the end, take out two 100-Berri coins. It's the password. I hope you make it out alive."

At the end of the tunnel, a vicious, ugly-looking man stood guard. After Jin produced the two 100-Berri coins, he opened the door.

Light spilled in.

Beyond the door was a massive underground casino. Hordes of pirates were gambling, drinking, and carousing.

The noise was deafening.

As they walked up a flight of stairs, they passed dozens of pirate flags hanging on the walls. A full-sized pirate ship was even suspended from the ceiling.

"Hey, new faces. You here to gamble?" a man called out from near the entrance. "The boss is on the next floor up."

Jin smiled. "No. We're not here to gamble."

"Eh?" the man said, surprised. "You're here for the race?"

He laughed and waved his hand dismissively. "You might as well turn back now. It doesn't matter how many lives you have; it won't be enough."

Someone else snickered. "Hey, do you even know what this race is about?"

Jin shot him a sidelong glance.

"It's a race held by pirates," he said slowly, his voice carrying over the din. "A no-holds-barred 'race to the end of death'. The finish line is different every time, but the starting line is always here. The destination is determined by the Log Pose you're given. The rules are simple: the first person to reach the finish line wins the prize money. Anything that happens along the way is fair game. That's right. Anything... including sinking your opponents' ships... and killing them."

The man who had been mocking him, now looking foolish, just snorted.

"Well, well," the gambler said, "you know your stuff. About a third of the people here are in it for the race. If you want to sign up, go see the boss upstairs." He pointed them in the right direction.

As Jin and Wilson headed up the stairs, they heard two booming laughs. Looking down, they saw two giants at the bottom of the room.

"Those are the number three seed for this race," a voice said. "The fishermen from the Giant Tribe, Bobby and Pogo."

Jin looked over. A fat man with a blonde woman on his arm was smiling at them. He had a yellow mohawk, a massive gut, and a gold chain around his neck. This was the public "boss" of the establishment.

"And over there," the boss continued, "is the number two seed, the killer whale Fish-Man, Willy!"

Willy was chugging a flagon of ale. His hearing was sharp, and he glanced over in their direction. He looked surprised to see Wilson.

That guy?

By the time he set his drink down, all he could see was the tall, imposing back of the Fish-Man disappearing into the attic with the boss.

"What is it, brother?"

"I thought I saw someone I knew."

—————————

In the quiet attic.

Jin signed the entry contract, paid the 200-Berri fee, and was handed a Log Pose for the finish line.

"Asuka Island."

"So that's the finish line?"

"That's right," the boss said, his arm still around the woman. "The currents around there are a mess. Creates a ton of whirlpools, both visible and hidden. Without a top-notch navigator, one wrong move and you'll be swallowed by the sea. You'd better be careful."

Jin smiled faintly. "Compared to that, the other contestants are the real threat, aren't they?" He glanced at the contract. "Number three seed, the Giant Brothers. Number two seed, the Fish-Man. Who's the number one seed?"

"Gasparde," the boss replied. "Bounty: 95,000,000 Berries. He was originally a Rear Admiral at Marine Headquarters. For some reason, he stole his own warship and defected. The Marines consider him a disgrace. His main ship is a steam-powered warship—the Salamander. He won the last race."

Jin grinned.

So it's you. Candy Man.

User of the Logia-type Candy-Candy Fruit. Weakness: flour.

He was the perfect prey.

"By the way," the boss said, "aren't you going to place a bet? Anyone can bet. The payout is 350 to 1."

Jin's interest was piqued. "Is there a limit?"

"Theoretically," the boss said, "no."

"In that case," Jin said, "I'll bet on myself to win."

He held up one finger.

"Heh," the boss chuckled. "A million Berries? You're pretty confident."

"No," Jin said, shaking his head.

"Hm?"

"One hundred million Berries."

THUD!

The boss fell out of his chair in shock. The color drained from the woman's face.

"One... one hundred million Berries?!"

The grunts in the room were all speechless.

Is this guy an idiot? Betting a hundred million on himself?

The boss scrambled to his feet, slamming his palms on the table. "Do you have any idea who you're up against?"

"Is there a problem?" Jin asked calmly. "Or are you saying you can't cover a 100 million Berri bet?"

The boss's eyes were practically bulging out of his head as he tried to size Jin up.

Who the hell this guy? He'd never seen him, never heard of him. Was he just arrogant? Or was he a wolf in sheep's clothing?

After a long moment of hesitation, he suddenly burst out laughing. "Welcome! We love high rollers here!"

A plan was already forming in his mind.

"As long as you can put up the 100 million Berries up front."

Jin's eyes crinkled into a smile. "No problem. But... if I win and you can't pay up... everything here belongs to me."

The takedown of the Razor Pirates had netted him about sixty million Berries. That, plus the profits from the Ice Mushroom trade and the "collection" of Berries via the Merit Voucher Act, had brought his cash on hand to 200 million.

Lately, Ai had been analyzing the composition of the Berri. Once they could successfully counterfeit it, Jin would never be short on cash again. And flooding the market with "fake" Berries would inevitably trigger a financial crisis, shaking the very foundations of the World Government.

But until he had enough power to back it up, he had to keep a low profile. Build his walls high, store up his grain.

When Jin actually produced the 100 million Berries and signed the contract, the boss watched him leave, a puff of smoke curling from his lips.

"The nature of this race has just changed," he said. "Tell everyone that whoever takes out the Black Dragon Pirates tomorrow gets an extra fifty million Berries."

—————————

Within half an hour, the news that someone had bet 100 million Berries on himself had spread throughout Hannabal Island, becoming the talk of the town among the pirates.

"Is that guy an idiot?"

"Guess he's in a hurry to die."

"I've seen plenty of arrogant fools who didn't know their place. They're all at the bottom of the sea now."

"The prize for this race is 100 million, plus another 50 million on the side? This is getting interesting."

The 100 million Berri bet had turned up the heat on tomorrow's race.

The spectators were buzzing with excitement.

The real contenders were rubbing their hands in anticipation.

Onboard the Salamander—Gasparde's voice was low and gravelly. "Is he just an idiot with more power than brains? Needless, go test him out."

The giants, Bobby and Pogo, made a bold declaration: "That fifty million is as good as ours!"

The Fish-Man, Willy, sneered. "What a fool. Humans really are an inferior species. His head is mine."