With Skypiea's laws sorted out, I began integrating the new recruits, the Skypiea Police White Beret unit, and the Shandia warriors, and started teaching them Haki. Since they basically know [Observation] Haki, called Mantra in Skypiea, I taught and trained them by explaining it was a different type.
So I made a separate training ground and created a weapon development department using Dials to produce more advanced weapons. Of course, I also began making weapons to counter Devil Fruit users. I supplied all the Sea Prism Stone. The 'Maxim' also had all the useless gold removed and its design changed, becoming faster and able to carry a lot of supplies and personnel.
Now that the system was somewhat established, I gathered the people and changed the title from God to King. Both Gan Fall and the Shandia chief accepted it positively. They asked me to decide on a country name, so I suggested several ideas, but perhaps because they didn't like them, Gan Fall and the chief's expressions weren't good. I guess I really have no talent for this kind of thing. With no choice, I received Nano's help and decided on the country name 'Elysium Kingdom', announced it to the Skypiea people, and held a festival.
This was exactly the time when Luffy's crew would arrive and be active in Alabasta.
Pururururu
"Who is it?"
"Merchant King, please help us! Pirates attacked and the kingdom is about to be ruined."
Listening to the voice, it was Doctor Kureha from Drum Kingdom.
'No way, did the black pig (Teach) attack now?'
"Understood. I'm coming now."
I teleported and arrived at Drum Kingdom. Arriving and checking the situation, the kingdom was already devastated, and people were clearing corpses and making fires with the debris of destroyed houses to escape the cold.
I immediately started taking out food and blankets and distributing them to the citizens of Drum Kingdom. Then Doctor Kureha approached and spoke.
"Thanks for coming to help."
"What happened?"
"Pirates invaded, and the kingdom army and guards desperately tried to stop them, but they were too strong and were defeated without being able to do much, so people had no choice but to evacuate and then return."
"Do you know what the pirates who invaded looked like?"
"Since I live on the outskirts of the kingdom, I couldn't see, but the kingdom army survivors would know. Follow me."
Following Kureha's guidance, I moved to where the kingdom army survivors were. There, kingdom soldiers in serious condition were lying down receiving treatment, and going inside, I saw Dordon being treated.
"Hey! Dordon, the Merchant King came to help."
"I see. Thank you."
I immediately asked Dordon.
"Can I get information about the pirates who attacked?"
"Hmm... They were all wearing black clothes, and the one called the captain had missing teeth, an O-shaped body, and looked over 3m tall. And his laugh was unique, he laughed 'Ze-ha-ha'."
Listening to the story, it was definitely Teach. I wondered if he came this time too to treat his abnormal body.
"Was there anything else special?"
"I heard they captured and executed the king in a somewhat peculiar way."
"How?"
"I heard they piled up a lot of fruit and executed him inside it. I don't know why they did that. And after that, they captured doctors and demanded they treat his illness, but perhaps because they couldn't treat it, many doctors were killed."
"Do you know where the execution took place?"
"In front of the royal castle."
"I see."
I went outside and teleported to the top of the mountain that looked like Drum Kingdom's chimney. There, countless fruits were piled in a donut shape, and Wapol's corpse was visible in the center. This seemed like an action Teach took to obtain Wapol's Devil Fruit, the [Munch-Munch Fruit]. For Teach, who knows Devil Fruits well, this was something he could easily think of. But I couldn't understand why he needed the [Munch-Munch Fruit].
'What's the reason? No way!? Is he trying to become a cannibal?'
Since he has an abnormal body, it was entirely possible. Perhaps he couldn't get the fruit he needed, so he's trying to capture and eat Devil Fruit users through cannibalism.
'If that's the reason, then he's a lunatic beyond imagination...'
I looked around a bit more, but there didn't seem to be anything else unusual, so I came back down to the kingdom village. And I gathered the people.
"As you all know, I am the Merchant King. So I propose this. Now that the kingdom is destroyed by pirates, many more people will die from cold and hunger before long. In such a situation, if pirates invade again, even the survivors will be in danger, so follow me to the Merchant's Island. I'll provide jobs and support food for a while."
Hearing that, people buzzed with conversation. Dordon came forward, dragging his sick body.
"Is there a means to transport this many people?"
"It's possible. The Merchant's Island always prepares large merchant ships to transport many goods. Moving this many people is nothing."
"I see... But leaving one's hometown isn't easy. Give us time to think."
"Understood."
In the original, the kingdom is rebuilt with many sacrifices. But at this point, they wouldn't want such sacrifices.
The next day, Dordon and Kureha came to me and spoke.
"We decided to follow. We entrust our people to you, Merchant King."
"Understood."
I contacted the Merchant's Island and asked them to prepare to receive the people. Then I came out to the coast and took out the completed Maxim from my inventory. People were amazed at Maxim's enormous size. The reason for this decision was that Drum Kingdom wasn't a kingdom with that many people due to Wapol's tyranny and the weather's influence, and with many people dead from Teach's attack, I judged the Merchant's Island could sufficiently receive them.
I started moving people onto the Maxim and heading to the Merchant's Island. The Maxim was a ship that could only move with the [Rumble-Rumble Fruit] ability, so it couldn't be used without me, but I had installed a 'Large Arc Reactor' in Skypiea so it could move without using the ability. Also, since all the wood used in the Maxim had been changed to 'Adam' using [Matter Manipulation], it was incredibly sturdy.
People couldn't close their mouths in amazement at the enormous ship suddenly appearing and then flying through the sky. Once they adapted somewhat, they came out to the deck and started looking down. Dordon, still with a surprised face, asked.
"Since when did the Merchant's Island have such technology..."
"We made it because our merchant ships kept getting attacked by pirates."
"I see."
This time too, I passed it off with a rough lie. The Maxim was a ship enhanced with Skypiea and MCU technology, so it was hard to explain. Even so, since the propulsion was a giant oar, it took 3 days to get to the Merchant's Island.
"We've arrived."
Since the Maxim was a flying ship, it docked directly at the Merchant's Island port without using the lift and let people off. The island residents, worried the kingdom people might be hungry, had prepared meals. Since they were also people who had fled from pirates and war, they understood the situation and worked together to help.
"To be welcomed so warmly... Sniff..."
Dordon started crying seeing that sight. From that day on, I called the construction companies we often used in Loguetown and began village expansion construction. Both island residents and kingdom residents all gathered and started helping together.
The children who became orphans due to Teach's incident were all taken in by the orphanage. Doctor Kureha decided to work at the hospital and began personally teaching aspiring doctors and doctors who were still at a low level. Since she has a strong personality, screams were often heard from the hospital.
Now the Merchant's Island was gradually developing into a city. Meanwhile, I decided to briefly visit Alabasta. To recruit new employees and check on Luffy's movements. There were other reasons too, but I wasn't sure if they were possible.
"It's a mess."
Looking around the kingdom, several cities were destroyed, and the rebel army and kingdom army were busy preparing for war. I went to 'Rainbase' to find Luffy. Going there, I saw Vivi tied to a chair and Luffy's crew all imprisoned in Sea Prism Stone cages. In front of them, Crocodile was laughing and explaining his plan.
"They're probably all thinking this inside. 'We're protecting Alabasta' hahaha~"
Vivi, unable to listen anymore, shouted.
"Stop!!! Why such a cruel act...!!"
I naturally appeared in that place.
"Hey~ Crocodile, alcohol delivery's here."
"You're the Merchant King!"
"You know well."
"Bro!!! Help!!!" "Merchant!!!" "Boss!!!"
I took two barrels of alcohol from my inventory and placed them in front of Crocodile.
"I came to deliver your order."
Crocodile frowned and looked at me.
"How much did you hear?"
"All of it."
Crocodile immediately swung his arm and started using his [Sand-Sand Fruit] ability.
"Desert Spada!"
A sand blade flew towards me, so I lightly dodged to the side, wrapped my arm in Armament Haki, quickly approached Crocodile, and grabbed his face.
Crunch!
"Gaaaah!!"
"Hey~! Customer, what's this about?"
Crocodile tried to break free somehow, but it was useless. Perhaps sensing the difference in strength, he immediately backed down.
"Guh... I understand, I was wrong."
I immediately released Crocodile's face.
"Ugh..."
Vivi, seeing that, spoke in surprise.
"To subdue that Crocodile in an instant..."
Luffy's crew also urgently shouted.
"Bro! Free us!" "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 free pirates captured by a Warlord here, it would be turning against the World Government. That means the Merchant's Island could be attacked by the World Government. I can't free you, who became pirates, while taking on such sacrifice. It's the path you chose. Solve this yourselves."
"Then..."
Hearing that, Crocodile laughed loudly and said.
"Kehahahaha! So the Merchant King is unexpectedly a sensible person."
Then Smoker, who was imprisoned together, shouted.
"Hey! Cassian, now's not the time for that! You heard what Crocodile said! He's trying to swallow the whole kingdom."
"Oh~ Smokey, I don't know why you're there, but long time no see. Did you switch to being a pirate too?"
"What nonsense. I'm a Marine."
I asked Crocodile.
"Hey, why are you keeping a Marine captive?"
"That's..."
Crocodile couldn't say anything.
"This isn't freeing pirates, it's freeing a Marine. Understand, Crocodile."
I went to the cage, grabbed the cage door, and tore it off completely.
Crunch! Thunk!
"Gasp!"
"It's clearly a Sea Prism Stone cage..."
All the imprisoned members were amazed seeing that.
"You son of a-!!!"
Crocodile also saw that, spat out a curse, turned into sand, and quickly fled. Luffy's crew and Smoker came out of the cage.
"Bro, thank you!" "Merchant, you really are a monster." "Boss, thank you."
"I only saved a Marine."
As soon as he came out, Smoker aimed his Sea Prism Stone jitte, his weapon, at Luffy. Seeing that, Luffy took a fighting stance and said.
"Smoke! Are you picking a fight!!??"
I tapped Smoker's shoulder and said.
"Hey, Smoker. Seems like there's something more urgent?"
Hearing that, Smoker sighed and lowered the jitte he was aiming.
"Sigh... Go! Just this once, I'm letting you go."
Luffy laughed at those words and said.
"Ehehehe, I don't dislike you~"
"Get lost quickly!!!"
Whoosh whoosh~
"Uwaaah!!"
At those words, Smoker swung his jitte and chased Luffy's crew away. Smoker had a tsundere side. Thus, Luffy's crew and Vivi left, and I followed Smoker as he moved.
"Cassian, thanks. But how long are you going to follow me."
"Ah~ I want to see that kid Tashigi who works hard under you."
"Why Tashigi?"
"She works hard covering for the incompetent Smokey, so I should at least say hello..."
"Die!!!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh~