One Piece: My Evolving Aircraft

Next Bonus, 100!!

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While the upper echelons honed their deadly skills, the Winter Blossom Kingdom launched a public initiative that shook the world.

The "Great Conscription Act" was passed by parliament and broadcast to the four corners of the globe.

They utilized three primary channels:

Full-page ads in the World Economic Journal. Features in Playbill magazine. Daily broadcasts via the Winter Blossom Kingdom's radio network.

Much like the Marines hid behind "Justice," the Winter Blossom Kingdom rallied under the banner of "Peace."

"We fight to safeguard the peace of the world!"

Aspiring soldiers from every sea, regardless of race or gender, could contact the kingdom via Transponder Snail or the Bounty Hunter's Guild.

The offer was tempting: recruits could bring their immediate families, who would be granted citizenship and housing within the kingdom.

This recruitment drive caused a sensation worldwide.

Every major power turned their gaze toward Jin. 'The Winter Blossom Kingdom is sharpening its blades and feeding its horses. What are they planning?'

The official explanation was innocuous enough: protecting territorial waters, fending off pirates, and guarding against the Revolutionary Army. The kingdom's territory had expanded, after all; they needed boots on the ground.

Besides, it was only an expansion of 100,000 troops. Was that worth such a fuss?

It seemed reasonable on the surface.

Yet, several member nations lodged formal protests.

Expansion in the name of "Peace"? What kind of peace is that?

Isn't the protection of the World Government and the Marines enough? Do you not trust them?

They argued that Jin's ambitious arms race was destabilizing the "Paradise" half of the Grand Line. They claimed he was abusing his Warlord privilege of "legalized pillaging" to trample on the interests of other nobles.

Nations like the tripartite alliance on Swan Island were sovereign in name only; in reality, they had become Jin's backyard, his officials coming and going as they pleased. Even their internal appointments were managed by the Winter Blossom Kingdom.

What kind of system was this?

The Paradise has suffered under Jin for too long!

A coalition of lesser kings petitioned to have Jin stripped of his Warlord title.

It was clear that the Five Elders and the World Government were maneuvering behind the scenes, slowly stripping away Jin's privileges to curb his growth. The struggle had begun the moment the "balance" was broken, and it would not end until one side fell.

However, some small nations scoffed at the idea of expansion.

Expand the army?

As the saying goes, "When the cannons roar, ten thousand taels of gold are spent." That kind of military expenditure was absurd. It was better to just pay the Heavenly Tribute.

Pay the tribute, and you might have a few scraps left for yourself.

Spend it on an army? If you miss a tribute payment and get expelled from the World Government, your kingdom collapses overnight, looted by pirates and neighbors alike.

As for oppression and exploitation? Well, weren't commoners and slaves born to serve their betters?

You couldn't entirely blame these small nations. They had no real choice. Whoever sat on the throne had to tax the life out of the people to pay the Heavenly Tribute.

If they couldn't pay, they ended up like the former Melcyse Island—overrun by pirates, the nation bankrupt, the people scattered.

Better to make the people suffer a little more. I'll take the infamy...

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Alabasta — Yuba.

In a small tavern that served as the headquarters for the "Sand-Sand Clan."

"Kohza, what do you think?"

Thanks to the influx of revenue from Jin's trade deals and the restructuring of Baroque Works under Crocodile, Alabasta was in a far better state than it had been in the original timeline.

King Cobra was, by the standards of this world, a wise and benevolent ruler. The nation was stable. Kohza and his friends had no reason to rebel. There was no insurrection.

The speaker was Kebi, a member of the Sand-Sand Clan, wearing goggles and holding a newspaper featuring the recruitment ad.

"Do you guys want to join?" Kohza asked.

Kebi grinned. "Of course! It looks so cool, doesn't it?"

"I heard the Winter Blossom Navy and the Royal Guard are really popular with the girls at the port!"

"Besides," he added, his voice turning serious, "joining them means getting stronger. In an era crawling with pirates, how can we protect everyone without power?"

Farafra rolled his eyes. "Why not join the Marines then?"

"The Marines?" Kebi scoffed. "No interest."

"You just worship that king, don't you?" Farafra teased.

Kebi's eyes lit up. "Who wouldn't? He's the representative of our generation, a man who stands on equal footing with the Yonko!"

Kohza swirled the drink in his glass. "Erik, you're the brains here. What do you say?"

"The Winter Blossom Navy comes and goes frequently," Erik said thoughtfully. "Although they say it's to protect merchant ships, they really have driven the pirates away. Our two countries are effectively allies, right? If we join, we can protect Alabasta even better."

"That's what I think, too," Kohza nodded. "Let's put it to a vote."

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Fish-Man Island.

The underwater nation was buzzing with excitement.

"Conscription? Is it real?"

"Even Fish-Men can join?"

"I'm signing up!"

The reaction to the Winter Blossom Kingdom's recruitment drive was overwhelmingly positive.

For one, Jin had brought "light" and hope to Fish-Man Island.

For another, serving in the military offered a path to citizenship for the soldier and their family.

It was an incredibly attractive offer.

Unfortunately, the quota for Fish-Man Island was set at only 1,000 recruits. The number of applicants had already exceeded 100,000.

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The New World.

On a certain stretch of ocean, two legendary ships drew near to one another: the Moby Dick and the Red Force.

Red-Haired Shanks, carrying a massive jug of sake, boarded the Moby Dick alone.

He released a wave of Conqueror's Haki so potent it felt physical.

Crewmen collapsed, foaming at the mouth.

The wooden railings of the ship creaked and splintered under the pressure.

Only the Division Commanders like Marco and a handful of elites remained standing.

Shanks walked up to Whitebeard.

THUD.

He set the heavy jug down on the deck and sat cross-legged. "I'm here out of respect for the code of the sea," he said calmly.

"Gurararara!" Whitebeard laughed, waving his hand to dismiss his crew. "Leave us."

"Right, Pops!"

Marco and the others ushered the unconscious crewmen away, retreating to a safe distance.

Shanks lifted the heavy jug with one hand and poured the clear sake into a massive bowl.

Then, he tossed the jug to Whitebeard.

In this era, fresh water was scarce and hard to store on long voyages, so sailors often hydrated with low-alcohol grog. It was a habit that often led to heavy drinking.

Whitebeard was no exception. He had tasted the finest wines from across the world.

He took a sniff.

"Sake from the West Blue... Kano Country? Top shelf stuff."

"Try it," Shanks said with a smile.

Whitebeard took a long draught. "Not bad."

Drinking together was a ritual among pirates, a sign that past grievances and skirmishes were, for the moment, set aside.

"Have you heard?" Shanks asked, his tone shifting. "Shiki the Golden Lion is dead."

Whitebeard paused. He let out a sigh, looking at Shanks' familiar face, and couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia.

"The times... they really are changing."

"I'm not as young as I used to be," Shanks said. "Roger, Oden... the people we knew are leaving one by one."

"Sigh," Whitebeard rumbled. "It's the natural order of things."

"The only thing fair in this world is time."

Whitebeard looked at him. "I remember when you were just a brat on Roger's ship."

Then, a grin split his face. "Is that funny red nose still alive?"

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~ 70 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon

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