I began teaching Haki to the integrated forces of the new recruits, the Sky Island police White Beret unit, and the Shandian warriors. Since Sky Island already knew [Observation Haki] as "Mantra," I explained that it was a different type and trained them in the other forms.
Because of that, I built a separate training ground and set up a weapons development department that used Dials to produce more advanced weapons.
Of course, I also started making weapons specifically to counter Devil Fruit users. I supplied all the Seastone myself. Once I removed the useless gold from the 'Maxim' and changed its design, it became faster and could carry far more supplies and personnel.
Now that things were somewhat organized, I gathered everyone and changed the title from "god" to "king." Both Gan Fall and the Shandian chief accepted it positively. When they asked me to decide a nation name, I gave several suggestions, but neither Gan Fall nor the chief liked them.
I guess I have no talent for this. With no other choice, I used Nano's help and settled on 'Elysium Kingdom' as the nation name, then announced it to the people of Sky Island and held a festival.
This was right around the time Luffy and his crew would arrive in Alabasta and start making their move.
Brrrring brrring brrring
"Who is it?"
"Merchant King, please help us! Pirates are attacking and our kingdom is about to fall."
Judging by the voice, it was Dr. Kureha from Drum Kingdom.
'No way, did that black pig (Teach) attack now?'
"Got it. I'm on my way."
I teleported to Drum Kingdom and arrived. When I looked around, the kingdom was already devastated, and the people were clearing corpses and using debris from destroyed houses to light fires to keep warm.
I immediately pulled out food and blankets and started distributing them to Drum Kingdom's citizens. Then Dr. Kureha approached and said.
"Thanks for coming to help."
"What happened?"
"Pirates invaded, and the kingdom's army and guards fought desperately to stop them, but they were too strong and we couldn't do anything. The people had no choice but to evacuate, then came back."
"Do you know what the attacking pirates looked like?"
"I live on the kingdom's outskirts, so I didn't see them, but the surviving kingdom soldiers would know. Follow me."
I followed Kureha's guidance to where the kingdom soldiers' survivors were. There, seriously injured kingdom soldiers were lying down receiving treatment, and further inside, Dalton was being treated.
"Hey! Dalton, the Merchant King came to help."
"I see. Thank you."
I asked Dalton right away.
"Can you tell me anything about the pirates who attacked?"
"Um... Overall they wore black clothes, and the guy who seemed to be the captain was missing several teeth, had an O-shaped body, and looked over 3 meters tall. And his laugh was strange β he laughed 'Zehahaha.'"
Hearing that, it was definitely Teach. He probably came here again to treat his abnormal body.
"Was there anything else special?"
"I heard they captured the king and executed him in a peculiar way."
"How?"
"I heard they piled up a ton of fruit and executed him inside that. I couldn't figure out why. And after that, they rounded up doctors and demanded they cure his illness, but since they couldn't, many doctors were killed."
"Do you know where they executed him?"
"In front of the castle."
"Got it."
I went outside and teleported to the top of Drum Kingdom's chimney-shaped mountain. There, countless fruits were stacked in a donut shape, and Wapol's corpse was in the center.
This looked like something Teach did to obtain Wapol's [Munch-Munch Fruit]. If Teach knew about Devil Fruits well, it was definitely something he could think of. But I couldn't figure out why he needed the [Munch-Munch Fruit].
'Why? No way!? Is he planning cannibalism?'
Because his body was abnormal, it was entirely possible. Maybe he couldn't get the fruit he needed, so he was planning to eat Devil Fruit users to gain their powers.
'If that's the reason, he's crazier than I imagined...'
I looked around a bit more, but there didn't seem to be anything else unusual, so I went back down to the village. Then I gathered the people.
"As you all know, I'm the Merchant King. So here's my proposal. Your kingdom has been destroyed by pirates, and at this rate, many more people will die from the cold and hunger before long. In that situation, if pirates attack again, even the survivors will be in danger, so come with me to the Merchant's Island. I'll give you jobs and support you with food for a while."
Hearing that, the people murmured. Dalton came forward, dragging his injured body.
"Do you have a way to transport this many people?"
"It's possible. The Merchant's Island always keeps large merchant ships ready to transport goods. Moving this many people is nothing."
"I see... But leaving our homeland isn't easy. Give us time to think."
"Understood."
In the original story, the kingdom is rebuilt through many sacrifices. But at this point, they wouldn't want those sacrifices.
The next day, Dalton and Kureha came to me and said.
"We've decided to go with you. Please take care of our people, Merchant King."
"Understood."
I contacted the Merchant's Island and asked them to prepare to receive people. Then I went to the coast and pulled the completed Maxim from my inventory.
The people were amazed at the Maxim's enormous size. I made this decision because Drum Kingdom wasn't a very populous nation due to Wapol's tyranny and the weather, and after Teach's attack, many people had died, so the Merchant's Island could take them all.
I loaded the people onto the Maxim and started heading for the Merchant's Island. The Maxim was a ship that could only move with the power of the [Rumble-Rumble Fruit], but I couldn't use that, so I installed a 'large arc reactor' on Sky Island so it could move without the ability. I also changed all the wood in the Maxim to 'Adam' using [Matter Manipulation], so it was incredibly sturdy too.
The people couldn't close their mouths β not only had a huge ship suddenly appeared, but it was flying. Once they got used to it, they came out on deck and started looking down. Dalton, still shocked, asked.
"Since when did the Merchant's Island have this kind of technology..."
"We built it because our merchant ships kept getting attacked by pirates."
"I see."
I glossed over it with a lie again. The Maxim was a ship enhanced with Sky Island and MCU technology, so it was hard to explain. Even so, because its propulsion was giant propellers, it still took three days to reach the Merchant's Island.
"We've arrived."
Because the Maxim was a flying ship, it didn't need the lift and docked directly at the Merchant's Island harbor to let people off. The island residents had prepared meals in advance, worried the kingdom people would be hungry. They all knew the situation since they were people who had fled pirates and war, so they worked together to help.
"To be welcomed so warmly... sniff..."
Dalton started shedding tears at the sight. Starting that day, we called in the construction companies we often used in Logue Town and began expanding the village. The island residents and the kingdom residents all gathered and started helping together.
Children who became orphans because of Teach were all taken in by the orphanage. Dr. Kureha decided to work at the hospital and started teaching aspiring doctors and those still lacking in skill directly. Because of her personality, screams could often be heard from the hospital.
The Merchant's Island was gradually developing into a city. In the meantime, I decided to visit Alabasta for a bit. To recruit new staff and check on Luffy's situation. There was another reason too, but I didn't know if it would be possible.
"What a mess."
Looking around the kingdom, several cities were destroyed, and the rebel army and the kingdom's army were preparing for war. I went to 'Rainbase' to find Luffy. When I got there, Vivi was tied to a chair and Luffy's crew were all locked in a Seastone prison. In front of them, Crocodile was smiling and explaining his plan.
"They'll all be thinking this inside. 'We're the ones protecting Alabasta' hahaha~"
Vivi couldn't listen anymore and shouted.
"Stop!!! Why do something so cruel...!!"
I appeared naturally on the spot.
"Hey~ Crocodile, liquor delivery."
"You're the Merchant King!"
"You know me well."
"Hyung!!! Help us!!!"
"Hey merchant!!!"
"Boss!!!"
I took two barrels of liquor from my inventory and set them down in front of Crocodile.
"Your order's here."
Crocodile frowned and stared at me.
"How much did you hear?"
"I heard everything."
Crocodile immediately swung his arm and started using his [Sand-Sand Fruit] ability.
"Desert Spada!!"
A sand blade flew at me, so I lightly dodged to the side, coated my arm in Armament Haki, quickly approached Crocodile, and grabbed his face.
Squeeeze!
"Kyaaack!!"
"Hey~! Customer, what's this about?"
Crocodile tried to break free somehow, but it was useless. Sensing the power difference, he immediately backed down.
"Keugh... Fine, my bad."
I let go of Crocodile's face right away.
"Ugh..."
Vivi said in shock at the sight.
"He took down Crocodile in an instant..."
Luffy and the others shouted urgently too.
"Hyung! Let us out!"
"Hey! Merchant!!"
I looked at Luffy's crew and said.
"Sorry, but I can't do that. Crocodile is a Warlord. He's under the World Government's protection. If I release pirates that a Warlord captured here, I'd be turning against the World Government. That means the Merchant's Island could be attacked by the World Government. I can't release you guys, who chose to become pirates, at the cost of that sacrifice. This is the path you chose. Handle it yourselves."
"Then..."
At those words, Crocodile laughed loudly and said.
"Kyahahahahaha! The Merchant King is unexpectedly a sensible person."
At that moment, Smoker, who was locked up with them, shouted.
"Hey! Taejin, now's not the time to worry about that! You heard Crocodile! He's trying to swallow the whole kingdom."
"Oh~ Smokegarbage, I don't know why you're in there, but long time no see. Did you turn pirate too?"
"What nonsense. I'm a Marine."
I asked Crocodile.
"Hey, why are you holding a Marine?"
"That's..."
Crocodile couldn't say anything.
"This isn't releasing pirates, it's releasing a Marine. Got it, Crocodile."
I went to the prison, grabbed the prison door, and ripped the whole thing off.
Creek! Clang!
"Huh!"
"It's a Seastone prison for sure..."
Everyone trapped in the prison was shocked at that.
"This damn...!!!"
Crocodile cursed at the sight and hurriedly turned into sand and fled. Luffy's crew and Smoker got out of the prison.
"Hyung, thanks!"
"Merchant, you really are a monster."
"Boss, thank you."
"I just rescued a Marine."
Smoker immediately aimed his Seastone jutte at Luffy as soon as he got out. Seeing that, Luffy took a fighting stance and said.
"Smokey! You gonna fight!!??"
I tapped Smoker's shoulder and said.
"Hey, Smoker. Looks like you've got something more urgent?"
Hearing that, Smoker sighed and lowered his jutte.
"Hah... Go! This is the only time I'm letting you go."
Luffy said with a grin at that.
"Hehehe, I don't dislike you~"
"Get lost!!!"
Whoosh whoosh~
"Uwaaah!!"
At those words, Smoker swung his jutte and chased Luffy's crew out. Smoker had a tsundere side. After Luffy's crew and Vivi left, I followed Smoker.
"Taejin, thanks. But how long are you going to follow me?"
"Ah~ I'm going to see Tashigi, who's suffering under you."
"Tashigi, why?"
"She's working hard backing up a lacking Smokegarbage, so I wanted to say hi..."
"Die!!!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh~