Merchant's Island was becoming well-known, and with a Marine Admiral visiting often, pirates didn't even come near.
I started using my spare time to train on an uninhabited island. My goal was to master Ryuo and Future Sight, which I hadn't learned yet. I also began learning the Six Powers from Hina.
"Hina's surprised. This is the first time I've seen someone learn this fast."
Hina was shocked at my learning speed. It made sense—with my high physical stats plus [Martial Arts],, and [Mind's Eye] abilities, the result was obvious.
The Six Powers were a martial art the World Government created to awaken Haki, so having Haki already made it even easier for me. Unfortunately, Hina didn't know all six techniques, so I only learned what she could teach me.[Genius]
After several months of training while making deliveries, I managed to learn Conqueror's Haki release, Future Sight, Ryuo, and the Six Powers' Shave, Moonwalk, and Tempest Kick.
Since I had already handled and used [Armament Haki] extensively, Ryuo didn't take that long. Thanks to that, my [(D) Martial Arts] rose to C-rank, and I obtained [(C) Six Powers]. I also awakened the [Dark-Dark Fruit] and the [Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire].[Control]
For a while, deliveries went smoothly and the staff got used to the work, so nothing major happened—until trouble broke out near Loguetown.
"Boss Taejin! A merchant ship from Loguetown was attacked by pirates. All the barrels we ordered were burned."
Loguetown handled a huge amount of our supplies: clothes and books for the orphans, daily necessities, and the wooden barrels for our liquor. Many goods constantly moved between Loguetown and Merchant's Island.
"Do we have info on the pirates who attacked?"
"According to a survivor, the Jolly Roger had a skull with an hourglass on each side…"
"Were there guys like that in the East Blue? Anyway, got it. Do we still have reserves?"
Honestly, I wasn't interested in East Blue pirates. What's there to care about from people who can't even use Haki? The Marines had kept them in check lately, so I'd mostly stopped paying attention.
"Yes, about 1,000 barrels left."
"Then we're fine for now. Something like this could happen again, so keep extra stock of everything from now on."
"Understood."
They'd hurt us, so I couldn't just let it slide. I needed to know who was responsible, so I decided to go to Loguetown and ask Smoker.
"Yo~ Smokey."
"Every time you come, it's 'Smokey.' Can't you quit it!"
I visited Loguetown often, so Smoker and I had gotten pretty close. I'd even gifted him premium Cuban cigars.
"Hahaha, think of it as a nickname. Take it positively."
"Sigh… I get a headache every time I see you. So, what brings you here today?"
"A pirate attack happened near Loguetown waters. They burned supplies heading to Merchant's Island. You know about it, right?"
"Yeah."
"Do you know which crew did it?"
"It's the Krieg Pirates. They have a grand fleet of 50 ships, so we're on high alert and have strengthened patrols."
"I see. Thanks for the info."
I handed Smoker a finely crafted wooden box filled with premium Cuban cigars.
"Thanks. I've been thinking about the aroma. I'll have to savor these. Don't you sell them?"
"No. They're not for sale. I make them occasionally as gifts, but the cost's too high. I gave up on mass production."
"That's a shame."
Honestly, I just didn't want to make them. I got the info, but since they were related to the original story, I figured I shouldn't kill them all—just teach them a lesson. And test my awakened Fruits while I was at it.
"Didn't the Krieg Pirates have around 1,000 men in the original?"
I immediately pulled out [Jack Sparrow's Compass] and boarded the Talaria to find the Krieg Pirates. Their fleet was anchored at some uninhabited island. With a grand fleet that size, they were easy to locate. I teleported to the island and started killing the pirates I saw.
Swoosh! Slice! Thud!
"Gah!" "Argh!" "Urgh!"
Seeing that, the pirates shouted loudly.
"It's an enemy attack!!"
In an instant, hundreds of pirates surrounded me with swords and guns. I was actually waiting for this.
"Dark Blood Path."
From where I stood to where the pirates encircled me, darkness spread across the ground in an instant. The pirates panicked when the ground beneath their feet turned black. A few sensed something was wrong and tried to flee, but it was already too late.
"Life Harvest."
The pirates began withering in an instant.
"Aaaaagh!" "Save me!" "Mom!"
It was an original technique I created by linking the [Dark-Dark Fruit] and the [Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire] to easily absorb lifespan. In a flash, 300 pirates died, reduced to mummies. That one move alone netted me thousands of years of lifespan. The remaining pirates watched in horror.
"Eek! It's a monster! Run!"
The Krieg Pirates' crew ran madly toward their ships. I wasn't about to let them go. I immediately used the [Rumble-Rumble Fruit] to reverse gravity and lift the anchored ships into the air.
"Gasp!!"
Seeing that, the pirates froze in place. Some even wet themselves. At that moment, a guy wearing a white tracksuit-like outfit with a headband approached, knelt, and pressed his head to the ground. One look and I knew it was Gin.
"I don't know why someone as strong as you is attacking us, but isn't killing this many enough? Please spare us."
"I'm Taejin. You attacked a merchant ship headed to Merchant's Island, didn't you?"
"Gasp! You're 'Merchant King' Taejin!"
In Konosuba I was called 'Silver Flash,' in the MCU I was 'The Magician,' and here I was apparently 'Merchant King.'
Bang!
Suddenly, a bullet flew in from behind. I just caught it with my hand. Looking toward the shot, I saw Krieg sniping from a tree.
"Sniping from behind your subordinates? That's his idea of honor."
I immediately flicked the bullet I caught right back.
Ting!
The bullet flew at terrifying speed and pierced Krieg's shoulder.
"Gyaaa!"
Krieg screamed from the impact and fell out of the tree. I teleported instantly, grabbed Krieg's head with one hand, and dragged him over to Gin. Krieg tried to pry my hand off with both of his, but it was useless.
"Urgh. Please let go. My head's going to explode."
I said nothing and released him.
"Kh… thank… you…"
Before Krieg could finish speaking, I began mercilessly beating him in front of the pirate crew.
Thud! Thud! Whack! Thud! Thud! Crack!
"Gyaaaaa! Stop! Stop! Gyaa!"
I was beating him so badly he looked like he might die, so Gin slammed his head to the ground again and said,
"Please stop! Spare the captain. Take my life instead. And we'll compensate you for the merchant ship."
I paused the beating and looked at Gin coldly.
"With what?"
"We'll give you all the treasure we've gathered. And we'll never go near Merchant's Island again."
"I don't need your life. I'll decide after I see the treasure."
I never planned to kill him anyway, but he was so despicable I beat him a bit hard. I lowered the ships and sat on the unconscious Krieg while I waited. The pirates moved busily under Gin's orders, carrying treasure before me. As expected of a grand fleet, the amount was considerable.
"This is all of it. Please spare the captain."
"That's not everything, is it?"
Gin looked flustered and said to me,
"It's not a lie. This is all of it…"
"The women you've captured. Bring them all."
"Ah… understood."
While they moved the treasure, I had already read Krieg's memories with [Mind Intrusion]. The Krieg Pirates raided villages and kidnapped beautiful women who could be sold as slaves, keeping them locked up on their ships. Gin hurriedly gave orders to his subordinates.
After a wait, seven women in tattered clothes and shackles were dragged before me, trembling.
"Now there really is nothing left. Please hand over the captain."
"Wait."
I used [Matter Conversion] to unlock the women's shackles, then pointed at the unconscious Krieg and said,
"If you want to do anything to him, feel free."
The women hesitated for a moment, then one stepped forward and started kicking and hitting the unconscious Krieg. Then the others joined in, beating him too. Some cried as they hit him—they'd clearly built up a lot.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
"This bastard burned down our village!"
"Give me back my parents!"
Suddenly, one woman snatched a sword from a pirate, raised it, and tried to stab Krieg.
"Die!"
"Ah! No!"
Gin hurriedly covered Krieg, taking the blade in his back instead.
Stab!
"Urgh…"
The woman dropped the sword and sat down, sobbing bitterly. Seeing that, the other women stopped beating him and began to cry.
"Get out of here."
"Understood."
Gin, bleeding, supported Krieg and carried him to the ship. The other subordinates, watching nervously, returned to their ships and hastily left the island. I gave the women time to collect themselves and fed them first. Once again, they all ate ravenously.
"Do you all have somewhere to go?"
"My village was burned down…"
"I was forcibly captured on the condition they wouldn't attack my village."
"My parents were killed and my house burned down too…"
Again, each had her own story. I was reminded once more that the One Piece world was hell for powerless civilians.
"Then come to Merchant's Island. We're short on workers anyway."
"Got it. I'll work hard."
"I'll work hard too."
"I want to repay you for saving us."
I read their memories too—no problems, so I put the treasures into my inventory and teleported everyone back to Merchant's Island. The staff were surprised when I suddenly brought women back.
"Boss, who are these women?"
"I rescued them from pirates. Help them adjust here."
"I see. Understood."
Hina, watching, said to me,
"Hina's confused. Doing good things is fine, but why are they always beauties?"
"It just turned out that way when I rescued them. What can I do? Are you jealous?"
I said it as a joke, but Hina's face turned bright red at my words.
"Hina… doesn't know!"
She said that and suddenly ran off somewhere. Hina talked like she was in her own world, but she was quite the girl crush type. Seeing her act like that was baffling. Then one staff member smiled and said,
"Puhuhu! Boss, you really don't understand a woman's heart."
"Ahem…"
Anyway, with more people and orphans around, hygiene could become an issue, so I decided to build a large bathhouse next to the main building.
Since there were eyes on us and I had work to do, I commissioned the structure from Loguetown, making it sturdy with stone, and designed it with ocean views so people could enjoy bathing while looking at the sea.
And for the safety of people commuting from Loguetown, plus shipping goods, we needed a few large ships. I headed to Water 7 to order them.