OP: My Aircraft Carrier Evolves#70+71: Ohara, Robin Shed Tears—Monster Gun Vito!

Crocodile and Daz Bonez disembarked at a town that was the last stop before entering the Grand Line from the West Blue. They went their separate ways.

Jin sold the goods he had brought from the Grand Line—rare fish, perfumes from Amazon Lily, and other exotic items. They were very popular.

Then, his tour of the West Blue began.

Ohara.

Jin had come here simply to see it, to check it off his list.

The island that had once been known as the holy land of scholars... was now a wasteland of ash and ruin.

Under the Buster Call, everything had been turned to dust, and countless lives had been lost.

As Robin, the sole survivor, set foot on her homeland once more, a flood of memories washed over her, and her face contorted in a mask of anguish.

The flames.

The screams.

The nightmare images had haunted her for years. Her eyes filled with terror.

Jin gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Eight hundred years of history, and it's all just a story of fame and fortune. A thousand miles on the path to enlightenment, and it all ends in a quiet life of poetry and wine. The heroes of this world are as numerous as the fish in the sea, and they all dream of conquering that sea. But throughout history, how many of them have been nothing more than shooting stars, burning brightly for a moment before turning to dust in the river of time? Let go of the regrets of the past, and the anxieties of the future. The only thing you should be doing is living in the now."

Robin looked at him. His words were warm, like a spring breeze, and they calmed her heart.

She had to admit, there was a certain charm to this man. He was more reliable, more reassuring, than anyone she had ever met.

"I'm alright," she said, taking a deep breath. She looked around. "Strange..."

"What is it, Robin?" Maya asked.

"There's no trace of any books," Robin replied. "Ohara had the largest library in the world. But there's not a single page left."

"They must have been destroyed along with everything else," Reiju said. She knew something of Robin's story.

"Or maybe someone took them," Jin said. "Why don't we look around?"

He knew who had done it. But if he said so, it would only raise suspicion.

"Right," Robin nodded.

"I'll help!" Maya volunteered.

The others were also curious about Ohara. It had once been a world-famous landmark. They all pitched in.

"Anything?"

"Nothing."

"Me neither..."

Robin walked toward the burnt, half-destroyed Tree of Knowledge, remembering the peaceful days of her childhood.

Suddenly, in the spot where she used to sit, she saw a symbol. Her eyes widened, her heart began to pound.

She whipped around and ran.

"Robin! What is it?" Maya called after her.

Jin glanced over. Did Saul leave her a message?

Robin ran to the spot where she had saved the giant Vice Admiral, Saul.

And there, on a rock in the tall grass, she saw a few words, written in the ancient language.

"ELBAF."

A wave of sorrow and overwhelming relief washed over her.

She clapped a hand over her mouth.

Tears streamed down her face.

"He's alive," she whispered.

The year after Ohara was destroyed, the World Government had erased it from all maps. It was impossible for anyone to find it.

And Robin had been too afraid to come back.

If it hadn't been for Jin's interest, she never would have returned, never would have found this wonderful surprise.

As they left Ohara, Robin's mood was noticeably lighter. A genuine smile now graced her face.

"King Jin," Maya asked, gazing back at the desolate island, "is Ohara really gone forever?"

"Ohara is gone," Jin replied. "But the will that is passed down through the generations, the changing of the times, the dreams of the people... these are things that cannot be stopped. As long as people continue to seek the truth of history, it will never end."

He glanced at Robin, then gently rapped Maya on the head. "Don't slack off. Back to your training."

—————————

Throughout the journey, Jin had been training Law, Maya, Robin, and Reiju, pushing them to increase their strength.

After Roger had kicked off the Great Pirate Era, the world had become more and more chaotic. The rule of the Celestial Dragons was no longer as stable as it once was.

The rapid rise of the "Worst Generation" was a clear sign of the deteriorating situation on the seas.

The world was changing.

And in a chaotic world, strength was the only thing you could truly rely on. The one who holds the gun rules the world.

In the world of One Piece, that meant ultimate combat power and a massive force.

"Law," Jin said, "it looks like you've awakened your Armament Haki."

Law froze. He had awakened it during his training, but he hadn't shown it to anyone yet. How did Jin know?

He didn't know that Jin had assigned him the position of "Gunner." His stats were now listed under that category.

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[Position: Gunner]

[Name: Trafalgar D. Water Law]

[Authority Level: 3]

[Height: 191cm]

[Ability: Paramecia Op-Op Fruit]

[Lineage: None]

[Haki: Armament]

[Composite Doriki: 2150-4850]

[Evaluation: A meticulous mind with a clear objective. Top-tier medical skills. Immense potential.]

——————————

The moment Law had awakened his Armament Haki, his stats had been updated.

And it wasn't just Law. Crocodile had also awakened his Armament and Observation Haki during this time, and was gradually rediscovering himself.

"Use your Armament Haki," Jin ordered. "Spar with them."

Law understood. He wanted Reiju and Robin to experience Haki.

It was the same way Jin had trained him.

Constant hammering.

Literally.

"Reiju," Jin said. "You're first. No raid suit. Law, no fruit."

"Understood," Reiju replied obediently.

Law's arm hardened with Armament Haki.

Reiju launched a kick.

"Robin, Maya, you too. Train."

"Right!"

—————————

Soon, they were halfway through their journey.

Jin visited the various kingdoms of the West Blue, training, hunting pirates... life was simple, and fulfilling.

"The soul crystal count is finally over a thousand," he mused. "But I've only managed to get one more Devil Fruit. The Paramecia Copper-Copper Fruit. Similar to the Gold-Gold Fruit, it allows the user to control copper and turn into a copper man. Unfortunately, you can't create copper out of thin air. But some of its properties can be applied to the production of the Munch-Munch Fruit factory."

Jin watched as the Germa 66 clone soldiers packed Kar98k rifles into crates and loaded them into the warehouse.

Not far away, Judge and Sanjuan Wolf were installing a modified turbojet engine onto a yellow jet fighter.

Jin's idea, Germa 66's technology, and Wolf's craftsmanship.

The Me-262 was being brought back to life.

"King Jin!" Maya called out.

"There's a small boat in distress... they're calling for help."

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"A distress call?"

"A ship in trouble? If we can help, we should," Jin said.

Reiju's voice was sharp with caution. "This could be a pirate's trick. Some of them pretend to be shipwrecked sailors. They play on the sympathy of passing ships, get themselves aboard, and act as an inside man. If there's valuable cargo, their crew moves in."

Jin just chuckled.

"If it's pirates—even better."

—————————

The sea swelled.

On the deck of a large ship flying a pirate flag, Capone Bege took a long drag from his cigar, his deep-set eyes scanning the horizon.

He wore a pinstripe suit, a fedora, and a scarf, his cape billowing behind him.

He loved a challenge.

He loved war.

As a child, he’d already been taking what he wanted at gunpoint. It didn't take long for him to claw his way up from the streets, first as the head of a small gang, then, over two decades, as the leader of his own "Family"—the largest power in the West Blue's underworld, recognized by the Five Families themselves.

They called him the "Godfather."

But ever since he'd unified the West Blue's underworld, Bege had grown bored.

He had reached the top. No one dared to challenge him.

This quiet life was making him rusty.

Then, one day, the news of the new Emperor, Shanks, had hit the papers. The entire West Blue was buzzing. Ambitious men were raising their flags, taking up their swords and guns, and heading for the sea.

"To the sea, men!" Bege had declared. "To the Grand Line! To the New World!"

On land, he was a king.

But at sea, he was a rookie.

The dangers here were different—not just from other crews, but from the Marines, the vicious weather...

After half a year of exploration, he and his Fire Tank Pirates had finally adapted, carving out a territory of their own.

He had even acquired a Devil Fruit.

This was the beginning.

Conquer the West Blue. Then, the Grand Line.

That was the plan.

The towering figure of Gotti appeared behind him.

"Godfather. Vito's aboard their ship."

Bege blew out a puff of smoke. "I hear it's a ship from the Grand Line. And that there's a king of a member nation on board."

As the Godfather of the underworld, his intelligence network in the West Blue was vast.

A cunning look crossed Bege's face.

"Capture him," he ordered. "We'll use him to blackmail the World Government into making me a Warlord."

—————————

"Thank you! Thank you for saving me!" Vito said, bowing repeatedly after Law had pulled him from the water.

He subtly scanned his surroundings.

The ship was a carrack-style three-masted galleon, with a massive, curved stern and a large bowsprit.

Strange...

The crew was... small.

A long-haul vessel like this, fully loaded with cargo, should have had a large crew for security.

Vito was the "Counselor" of the Fire Tank Pirates. For this mission, he was the infiltrator. His job was to get a clear picture of the ship's layout and personnel before they made their move.

"He's the king."

Jin and Maya walked out onto the deck.

The king?

Vito looked up.

The man was dressed casually in a simple shirt, trousers, and sandals, but he was strikingly handsome.

As he was sizing Jin up, Jin was doing the same to him.

He was a tall man, with a long, serpentine tongue that poked out from his grinning mouth. His hands were disproportionately large for his body. His black hair was slicked back in a style similar to Crocodile's. He wore a magenta suit, a yellow bow tie, and a black coat draped over his shoulders.

Standing next to Jin, he was the one who looked more like a king.

In the West Blue, anyone with any status was meticulous about their appearance. Even the poor would scrape together enough for a custom suit, to project an image of wealth and class.

Jin had already become well-acquainted with the unique "Dandy" culture of the West Blue's pirates.

Vito gave an elegant bow. "A kind and benevolent king. Thank you for your assistance."

Jin smiled. He recognized him instantly.

"Monster Gun Vito. Bounty: 24,000,000 Berries. What brings you aboard my ship?"

A pirate?

Maya, Law, and Robin all tensed, ready to act.

Vito's head snapped up, his eyes wide.

Huh? My acting was that bad? He saw through me already?!

Jin produced a stack of wanted posters, pulled one out, and showed it to him.

"Did you really think I don't read the papers from the West Blue?" Jin said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

He'd known about Capone Bege. When he'd first arrived in the West Blue, he'd gathered a good deal of intelligence on the Fire Tank Pirates. Though at the moment, Bege was more famous for his "Godfather" persona than his pirate activities.

Staring at his own wanted poster, Vito felt a surge of embarrassment.

He was in a panic. Who would have thought the king of a Grand Line nation would be paying attention to this? Weren't you supposed to be looking for beautiful women and exotic food, not wanted pirates?

He'd been exposed the moment he'd stepped on board. What now?

"Your Majesty is wise," Vito said, his mind racing. "Your perception is as sharp as an eagle's eye. I am in awe."

As a counselor, his ability to think on his feet was his greatest strength. A little flattery, then he'd find a way out.

But Jin wasn't playing along. "Cut the crap. What are you doing on my ship?"

"What am I doing?" Seeing that the king wasn't buying it, Vito's expression turned vicious.

He lunged forward, his movements swift and agile. In mid-air, he drew the custom-made revolver from his hip.

"Since you've seen through me," he snarled, pointing the gun at Jin, "hands up! Or I'll kill you!"

He figured that if he took the king hostage, he could control the others.

He grinned, his serpentine tongue flicking out, a vicious smile on his face.

Hm?

Vito frowned. No one was putting their hands up. No one was even moving.

"Hey! What's with the looks? I said, hands up! Or I'll shoot him!"

Reiju felt a bead of sweat trickle down her forehead.

Kill the king? What should I do? Just kick this guy overboard? No... I shouldn't interfere. With Jin's strength, if he wanted to act, he never would have let Vito get this close.

Robin looked at Vito with a pitying expression.

Of all the people to pick... you picked the one person you can't beat.

She almost laughed, but her professional training kicked in, and she held it back.

Maya just muttered, "So he really is a pirate. This sea is full of bad people. You can't trust anyone."

Jin smiled. "Take the king first. Smart. But... you shouldn't have pointed that gun at me. I kill everyone who points a gun at me."

"I'm the one with the gun now," Vito snarled. "Your life is in my hands."

"You so sure about that??" Jin asked.