OP: My Aircraft Carrier Evolves#9+10: The Kingdom's Industry and the Fourth Emperor, Shanks! Family, Overthrowing a Nation, and Opening the Door to Free Trade!

"Your Majesty, these are all the supplies we confiscated from the Razor Pirates' ship."

Dalton and Jeston approached Jin, carrying two large chests.

"Oh?"

Right. The spoils of war.

"What have we got?" Jin asked with interest.

"One chest contains about five million Berries in cash—Captain Dahm's personal stash. The other chest is full of miscellaneous items. There's a ship's log, a chart of the West Blue, and Log Poses for Sandy Island and Pincer Island..."

Sandy Island?

The name sounded familiar. Jin's mind raced. Wasn't that the island where the Kingdom of Sand, Alabasta, was located?

And Pincer Island was home to Kilauea, where Musshuru had been exiled.

Both were promising trade partners.

'For now, I'll stick to using Drum Island as my base of operations and focus on leveling up,' Jin thought. 'Stay hidden, don't make waves.'

The deck of the carrier split open and swallowed both chests.

They were his spoils, after all.

He looked up. "Dalton, your timing is perfect. I have a crucial mission for you."

Dalton and Jeston immediately stood at attention. This was the first official mission the king had given them since taking the throne.

"Your Majesty, we await your command," they said, bowing.

"Mobilize everyone on the island," Jin ordered. "I want you to gather mushrooms."

"...What?"

Dalton blinked, certain he'd misheard.

"I don't care if they're poisonous or not, whether you recognize them or not," Jin continued. "I want them all. And for every new species of mushroom you bring me, I'll pay a reward of 1,000 Berries."

??

He was going to pay them?

Jeston was flabbergasted.

"Well? What are you waiting for?"

"Oh! Y-yes, sir!"

The king's decree was sent out to every town and village.

—————————

"Is it true? The king wants us to look for mushrooms, and he'll pay us for new ones?"

"This is incredible. Even under the old king, we were lucky if we weren't forced to work for free. He never even provided meals."

"Let's go, let's go! Let's find some mushrooms before anyone else does!"

In an instant, the island was abuzz with activity. People from every household in every town and village set out in search of mushrooms.

A thousand Berries wasn't a fortune, but it was enough to motivate everyone.

Even Chopper joined in.

Soon, a vast array of mushrooms was delivered to Jin. Ai identified and categorized each one, creating a detailed compendium.

Meanwhile, Jin had already constructed a fungal breeding chamber inside the carrier, with Ai managing its operations.

"So, what kind of mushroom should we breed?" Jin mused. "Something unique to Drum Island, but also something that will sell well..."

"Primary trade targets: Alabasta and Kilauea."

"Target characteristics: Hot and arid."

"So, could we breed a mushroom that's edible, has a high water content, or maybe even has a cooling effect?"

"Scientifically, that would be difficult," Ai replied. "But the existence of Devil Fruits is what makes the unscientific, scientific."

Jin nodded. "Let's give it a shot. Time to use my gut feeling."

—————————

Six months passed.

In the forest, Dalton was leading a group of people, harvesting mushrooms the size of a human head that looked like they were made of crystal. They were surprisingly heavy.

"Dalton, are you sure these will sell?" an older woman asked curiously. "They taste just like snow. There's no flavor at all!"

"They will," Dalton replied with absolute certainty.

Down by the shore, a three-masted sailing ship sat moored, the Razor Pirates' skull flag replaced with a large "King" character—the symbol of Winter Blossom Kingdom.

The damage to the hull had been repaired by the island's old shipwright.

Militia members were busy loading blocks of ice into the ship's sealed cargo hold.

Once it was converted into a cold storage unit, they began loading the harvested Ice Mushrooms.

When all the preparations were complete, Jin gazed out at the sea, his spirit soaring.

"Destination: Kilauea! Set sail!"

Dalton watched as the ship departed, praying for a safe and successful voyage.

For this initial trade mission, Jin had left Ai and the carrier behind. They were both far too conspicuous and would likely attract unwanted attention.

The old saying was true: Innocence is no defense against the envy of the powerful.

If the World Government took notice of him, it would be a huge problem.

For now, Jin didn't have the strength to challenge them.

He chose Kilauea as his first destination because it was a shorter voyage. With favorable winds, a round trip would only take five days.

Getting to Alabasta would take at least eight.

Furthermore, Dahm had revealed that he had a secret warehouse on the island containing supplies worth about fifty million Berries.

Jin had brought him along. Not only was Dahm an experienced sailor, but he was also intimately familiar with Kilauea.

Over the past six months, Dahm had served as both a sparring partner and Ai's personal mushroom taste-tester. The constant cycle of being poisoned and then cured had broken the spirit of even this hardened pirate.

—————————

Two days later.

Pincer Island was in sight.

The sweltering heat on the open sea was a harsh change for the militia members, who had spent their entire lives in the snow and ice. Many of them were suffering from heatstroke.

Fortunately, the ship's doctor was competent, and the Ice Mushrooms provided much-needed hydration.

Pincer Island, as its name suggested, was shaped like a giant pincer. It was also home to more than a dozen active volcanoes. It was ten times the size of Drum Island.

As they approached, one of the volcanoes erupted, spewing a massive cloud of ash and lava down its slopes.

It was a breathtaking sight.

To the people on the island, however, it was just another day.

"BIG NEWS! UNBELIEVABLE NEWS!"

They had just docked and were stepping onto the pier when Jin heard a loud shout. He looked over and saw a crewman running with a newspaper in his hand.

"A NEW EMPEROR OF THE SEA HAS APPEARED IN THE NEW WORLD!"

A crowd quickly gathered around him.

"What?"

"Who is it?"

"RED-HAIRED SHANKS??"

"His bounty is 4,048,900,000 Berries!"

"What did he do to be crowned the Fourth Emperor by the World Government itself?"

The crowd buzzed with excitement.

Jin froze for a second.

Shanks... a Yonko?

So it was Sea Calendar year 1518.

There were still four years until the future Pirate King, Luffy, set out to sea...

—————————

"Ice?"

"Are those Ice Mushrooms?"

In the marketplace, the moment the blocks of ice and Ice Mushrooms were put on display, their refreshing coolness immediately drew the attention of everyone nearby.

Who could resist a cold drink in this blistering heat?

Unsurprisingly, the ice and mushrooms sold out in no time. With each clinking handful of Berries that filled their bags, the crew's smiles grew wider.

Just as they were about to pack up...

"Who gave you permission to set up a stall? Have you paid your taxes?"

A man with a neatly curled mustache and the attire of a gentleman approached them with a smile, flanked by armed guards who quickly surrounded them.

"It's the Minister of Finance!" a nearby vendor whispered, quietly packing up his things.

Jeston stepped forward to negotiate, explaining that they had already paid the stall fee.

"That's not enough. We've received a report that your total sales have exceeded ten million Berries," the minister said, his eyes narrowing as he smugly twirled his mustache. "According to the tax laws of Kilauea, you are required to pay a 50% high-income tax. That means another five million Berries!"

"Five million Berries? Are you robbing us?" Jeston exclaimed, his shock turning to anger.

The guards immediately leveled their rifles at him.

The other militia members, furious, reached for their own weapons.

"Alright. We'll pay."

Jin spoke up, stopping them.

"Captain!" Jeston and the others looked at him. To avoid drawing attention, Jin had instructed them to call him "Captain" while they were away from home.

Jin just smiled. "Let's not make a scene."

Jeston sighed in frustration and handed over the five million Berries.

"Heeheehee, I'm Sherlock. I do appreciate obedient captains like yourself. Welcome back anytime!"

As Jin and his crew departed, Sherlock turned to his guards. "Contact the Vultures. Tell them to tail our friends. Find out where they're based, then bring me back my Ice Mushrooms... and the other five million Berries."

"Yes, sir!"

—————————

Back at the pier, Jeston was fuming. "Your Majesty, that man went too far."

Jin smiled, glancing up at their flag. "Flying that flag, we are nothing more than law-abiding merchants."

He looked back and saw the figures who had been furtively following them quickly duck out of sight.

"Good thing I prepared another flag."

"Huh?" Jeston said, completely confused.

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

As the sun set over the coastline.

A group of pirates boarded the ship.

The "Vulture" Sherlock spoke of was a middle-aged man with a thick, bushy beard.

He was bare-chested, wearing simple linen trousers and clutching a long-handled war hammer. The sun and wind had weathered his skin, making it exceptionally coarse.

He had the appearance of a brute, but beneath his heavy brows, a sharp intelligence occasionally glinted in his deep blue eyes.

"Captain Sherlock, we're ready."

His first mate approached.

"Set sail!"

The middle-aged man was also named Sherlock, the same as the Minister of Finance. They were, in fact, from the same family.

They were half-brothers. The minister was the son of the legal wife, while the pirate was an illegitimate child.

The two brothers had grown up together.

After coming of age, one became the Minister of Finance, who held the entire Kilauea in his grasp. The other became a vicious and notorious pirate captain.

For thirty years, they had controlled all trade in and out of the country, one operating in the light, the other in the shadows, in perfect, seamless cooperation.

Before boarding, Captain Sherlock quietly asked his first mate, "What did he say?"

The first mate smirked. "The old man said you can talk about it after this job is done."

Captain Sherlock also laughed.

"Thirty years..."

"And still the same answer."

"We're all still family," the first mate said. "Once a suitable successor is found, the Captain can finally come ashore and be reunited with his loved ones."

"Family."

The word felt like a dagger in Captain Sherlock's ears.

—————————

Night fell.

In the Minister of Finance's residence, Minister Sherlock was savoring the unique texture of the Ice Mushrooms, the oppressive summer heat melting away.

"This is good stuff," he murmured. "If I can control the supply, I can make a fortune selling it, whether it's to our own people or to Alabasta. If I offer it as tribute to the Celestial Dragons, I might even be able to become one of them."

Just as commoners had their social classes, nobles had their own hierarchy.

The most powerful in the world were the Five Elders. Below them were the Celestial Dragons, and then the nobles of the affiliated kingdoms. At the very bottom were the nobles of non-affiliated nations.

Each step up was a massive leap in status, wealth, and power.

"That brother of yours seems to be getting more and more... unruly," a voice said from across the table. Galdino sipped his coffee, his tone elegant. The topknot on his head was styled in the shape of a "3".

Baroque Works was an organization founded by the mysterious "Mr. 0". Its members were active at the major entry points to the Grand Line, spread across the starting points of all seven routes.

Galdino, codenamed "Mr. 3," was stationed in Kilauea. On the surface, he was a merchant purchasing sulfur and other minerals.

In the shadows, he was backing Minister Sherlock, helping him seize control of the nation's government and turn it into a weapons manufacturing base for Baroque Works.

Minister Sherlock picked up his knife and fork.

"He's just like me," he said. "A man who places great importance on family and kinship. His family is here with me. And I... have already written the script for his 'glorious' sacrifice. He, along with all our little secrets, will die in a naval ambush, betrayed by his own men."

Galdino laughed. "You truly are a despicable man, willing to sell out your own family."

Minister Sherlock shook his head. "He was never my family. He was just a little accident. A bastard."

....

Late at night.

All was quiet.

Galdino couldn't sleep. He stood at his window, gazing out at the sea. For some reason, he felt a persistent sense of unease.

—————————

The lighthouse beam swept across the water.

Two ships suddenly burst from the darkness, their pirate flags announcing their identity.

Back at the docks, Jin once again set foot on Pincer Island.

He looked out at the town, shrouded in darkness, and turned to the weathered man beside him.

"Captain Sherlock, a pleasure doing business with you."

Captain Sherlock's gaze was complex. "I hope you keep your word."

"Of course—"

Jin replied. "—I'm just here to get my five million Berries back. You, on the other hand, are here to deliver justice, to rid the people of a tyrant, to rob from the rich and give to the poor. Tonight, you will become the hero who liberated Kilauea."

Behind them, the captured first mate looked on, completely bewildered. "Captain, what are you doing? Are you betraying the family?"

Captain Sherlock turned. At his waist was a slender rapier. With a flash of cold light, the blade pierced the first mate's throat.

Only after the sword was sheathed did the wound split open, blood seeping out.

"Betray?" Captain Sherlock said, his eyes turning hard and resolute. "No. The family betrayed me."

"Harm no civilians," he commanded. "Our target is the Minister of Finance's residence."

Aside from his first mate, Captain Sherlock had personally recruited every member of his crew. Their loyalty was to him, and him alone.

Without a moment's hesitation, the force of four to five hundred men advanced on the town, quickly quelling the few pockets of resistance they encountered.

"Your Majesty... he is 'The Vulture' Sherlock, the great pirate with a bounty of 45,000,000 Berries!" Jeston was still trying to process everything.

It had all happened so fast.

How had they suddenly become the "Razor Pirates," and why were they now working with the Vulture Pirates?

Jin glanced at the militia members he'd brought with him.

Most were young, strong, and full of passion.

But they were still inexperienced, still hesitant to do wrong.

"The Minister of Finance of Kilauea not only stole our money," Jin said, his voice ringing with conviction, "but he also tried to take our Ice Mushrooms—your future. Are you not angry? Are you not furious? Are you just going to let him rob you blind?"

"I'M FURIOUS!"

"I'M ANGRY!"

"I WON'T STAND FOR IT!"

The men shouted, their voices rising in a chorus of indignation.

The memory of the minister's smug face as he'd so easily taken their five million Berries was still fresh in their minds.

"Then it's an eye for an eye," Jin declared. "Let's go take back what's ours with our own two hands!"

"YEAH!"

A surge of excitement ran through the men. Their expressions hardened. Violence exists in everyone. Even the most honest person has a savage side.

Jin had first let them experience the disappointment and humiliation of having their earnings stolen.

Then, under the guise of the "Razor Pirates," he gave them a chance for revenge.

'It's the 'Razor Pirates' doing this, not us good, honest folk.' The guilt was minimized.

The "beast" that had been locked away inside them was quietly let out of its cage.

Are the pirates of the Grand Line born as pirates?

Of course not.

Step by step, they unleash their primal instincts, their savagery, until they eventually become cold-blooded killers.

Of course, those who can control that beast, who can unleash and restrain it at will—those are the ones who become the true powerhouses of the sea, the contenders for the throne.

—————————

DONG! DONG! DONG!

Finally, the alarm bells began to ring out across the island.

"KILL!"

The sounds of battle erupted.

The entire island was jolted from its sleep.

"What's happening?"

"What was that?"

"Are we under attack?"

By the time Minister Sherlock climbed out of bed, the grounds of his residence were already filled with the clash of steel.

He didn't even bother to get dressed, running outside in a daze. "Pirates? Where did these pirates come from?"

The surrounding waters were the Vulture Pirates' territory. What pirate crew would be foolish enough to try and rob the master of this sea?

CRASH!

A wall collapsed. Through the dust and smoke, Captain Sherlock strode in.

"It's me, my dear brother."

—————————

At the Royal Palace.

The guards watched nervously as the "pirates" approached.

"Stop! Any closer and we'll open fire!"

Jin smiled.

He held up his hands, showing that he was unarmed. "I wish to speak with your king," he said. "I have a business proposal for him."

Over the past six months, Jin hadn't just been training and breeding mushrooms. He had also been conducting detailed research on his two potential markets.

Alabasta was already in Crocodile's sights. It wasn't a suitable place to do business just yet—a conflict with him would be unavoidable.

Kilauea—on the other hand—wasn't much larger than the Winter Blossom Kingdom and had no major power players. It was the perfect place for him to make his first move.

The captain of the guard was surprised.

After a moment's hesitation, he sent his second-in-command to report to the king.

A short while later, the man returned.

"The king has agreed to see you. But you must go in alone."

"Alright," Jin said.