OP: My Aircraft Carrier Evolves#160+161: The World in Shock, a Furious Big Mom! The Five Elders Intervene, A Deal in the Desert!

Gunfire erupted across the shore.

Pirates swarmed the beach, only to be cut down in droves. Only those clad in Armament Haki could weather the storm of rifle fire.

In the New World, Haki was standard issue for any elite pirate. If you couldn't use at least one form of it, could you even call yourself a pirate?

Wilson, Brogy, the Giant Brothers, and the elite Hannabal met the charge, clashing with the veterans of the New World.

The most ferocious of them all was Brogy, clad head to toe in a suit of alloy armor. With a colossal alloy axe in one hand and a matching shield in the other, he was an unstoppable bulldozer. The so-called elites of the New World were nothing before him.

Wilson, the Giant Brothers, and the others had all undergone Jin's special training regimen. Their strength was on a completely different level now—more than enough to go toe-to-toe with a standard pirate officer.

An hour later, the battle was over.

The forces brought by Smoothie and her siblings had been defeated. Two-thirds of them were dead. The rest, seeing that all was lost, threw down their weapons and surrendered.

"They... they won?"

"I don't believe it."

"It seems that not only the king, but his subordinates as well, have become a formidable force."

"A newly-appointed Warlord clashing with one of the Four Emperors? Unbelievable."

"He's got guts, I'll give him that..."

"I wonder how Big Mom will react."

"Get this report out, now!"

Hannabal was a melting pot, and it was crawling with spies from every major power—Cipher Pol, the Marines, the Revolutionary Army—all had outposts here, gathering intelligence.

On the streets of the island, many were cheering.

"Haha! That was awesome! That's our king for you! He doesn't care if you're a Yonko or not—he'll take you all down!"

"Damn right! This isn't the New World! What's a Yonko's crew doing, trying to throw their weight around in Paradise?"

"I heard Big Mom took a liking to our king and invited him to a tea party to be her... husband."

"In her dreams! Our king is young, handsome, wise, and powerful! Why would he ever go for an old hag like that?"

"No wonder a fight broke out."

But others were filled with a gnawing anxiety.

"Hey, are you all crazy? That's one of the Four Emperors! The most vicious woman on the seas! Her desire for revenge is legendary... You're all laughing now, but if a real war breaks out, Hannabal will be wiped off the map. We'll all be killed!"

Ever since Roger had kicked off the Great Pirate Era, the World Government had officially recognized Newgate, Kaido, and Linlin as the "Emperors" of the New World. And with the recent addition of the fourth, Shanks, they had become a force that struck fear into the hearts of nations worldwide—a name that could make children stop crying.

The Warlords were powerful, yes, but compared to the Four Emperors, they were nothing.

The pirates who had seen the true cruelty of the Grand Line had become realists. They had lost their courage. To them, Jin's actions were pure insanity.

They sat in the taverns, sighing, some even planning to leave, terrified of being caught in the crossfire.

"So we're just supposed to kneel?" someone shot back.

"Exactly! Peace isn't begged for—it's won through strength!"

"This is what a man's life is about—climbing to the peak, looking down on the world, a master of all he surveys. THAT'S TRUE GLORY."

—————————

Marine Headquarters.

"That man..." Fleet Admiral Sengoku rubbed his temples. "He's reckless and lawless..."

A headache was blooming behind his eyes.

As a leader, he saw the world situation with a depth and foresight that few could comprehend. He knew what the Five Elders wanted: balance and stability.

Roger's last words had thrown the world into chaos. The "Four Emperors" and the "Seven Warlords" had been the result. But even so, the situation was still under the World Government's control.

Recruiting Jin had been a move to maintain that balance. But Jin was a wild card.

Was he really going to go head-to-head with a Yonko?

And the worst part was, if he did, he would inevitably drag the Marines and the other Warlords into it.

If Big Mom truly lost her temper and charged into Paradise, what were they supposed to do?

Jin's move was like pulling the pin on a grenade and rolling it into the middle of the room—now everyone had to scramble.

Vice Admiral Tsuru frowned and shook her head. "Let's just hope Big Mom doesn't overreact."

With two of the Admirals out hunting for Kuma, only Borsalino was left to guard Headquarters. Their top-tier forces were stretched thin.

If Big Mom really did invade Paradise...

Sengoku sighed. "Alright. Send Gion back to Hannabal. Have her lie in wait nearby. And put Garp and the G-3 base on standby. If Big Mom dares to come... then we'll just have to bury her there."

Worry was one thing. But Sengoku still had the resolve—and the power—to back it up.

With him, Garp, and Borsalino, plus Sakazuki and Kuzan on call, and the full force of the Warlords... they could annihilate the Big Mom Pirates.

—————————

Gion had only just returned from Hannabal when she received the new orders. She was a bit exasperated.

Vice Admiral Tsuru came to deliver the orders personally. "There's one more thing," she said.

"What is it, Vice Admiral?" Gion replied.

"During the conflict, the soldiers of Hannabal used new-model rifles and cannons," Tsuru said, showing her a photograph of the battle. "They inflicted heavy casualties on Big Mom's pirates. I want you to find out where they came from. Discreetly."

Gion took the photograph. "Is there something special about them?"

Tsuru nodded. "The Happo Navy of the Kano Kingdom is equipped with similar weapons. They achieved a decisive victory in their latest war. The power of these rifles is several times that of a standard flintlock. In the hands of a sniper, they are a significant threat. Even a master of Observation Haki could be taken out by a specialized shot from several thousand meters away. I suspect they both came from the same source. The question is... is it Kaido, or someone else?"

Gion's eyes narrowed. "His conflict with Doflamingo on Jaya... was it over these new weapons?"

"We don't know yet," Tsuru said. "That's why I need you to investigate. And if you can, get your hands on one for the tech division to analyze."

"Understood."

Gion's interest was piqued. Another secret connected to him? She loved the process of unraveling a mystery, thread by thread, until the truth was laid bare.

<><><><><><><><>

While Sengoku had a headache, the Five Elders were having a fit. 'We just made you a Warlord, and you've already caused this much trouble?'

It's just a tea party. Just a husband. What's a little humiliation? You even get to... enjoy the fringe benefits.

When she was young, Big Mom was a real beauty.

You didn't want to go? You should have told us. We could have mediated. Did you really have to resort to violence and disrupt the peace?

The Five Elders had Cipher Pol contact Jin and warn him that in the future, he was to report such matters to his superiors before taking action. He was not to act on his own authority.

They also ordered him to return Smoothie and the others, to avoid escalating the conflict.

Jin refused. He insisted on a ransom of three Devil Fruits.

"I'm doing this to uphold the authority of the Warlords," he argued. "If I back down now, what will the world think of us?"

The Five Elders considered this.

He was right...

Hadn't they executed Hanafuda and recruited Jin for the very purpose of restoring the Warlords' tarnished reputation? This was a perfect opportunity.

Jin taking a hard line against one of the Four Emperors... it was a powerful statement. A way to prove the value of the much-criticized Warlord system.

This kid had some moves.

After some discussion, the Five Elders' anger turned to approval.

But... a hard line was one thing. An all-out war was another. A war with a Yonko, even just one, would upset the balance of power and throw the world into a chaos they couldn't control.

"Let Stussy handle the negotiations with Big Mom," they decided. "This time, we'll take a step back. Charlotte Linlin is a businesswoman. She knows the consequences of a real war. We are not without the means to eliminate her."

Stussy, one of the emperors of the underworld, the "Queen of the Pleasure Quarter."

No one knew that she was also an agent of Cipher Pol. And that she and Big Mom went way back.

In truth, the World Government and the Four Emperors, including Whitebeard, had always maintained a certain... understanding.

—————————

Totto Land.

The minks Pedro and Zepo, on their travels, had an unexpected reunion with their old friend, Pekoms.

They were just catching up when a Den Den Mushi rang.

The color drained from Pekoms' face.

"Hey, Pekoms! What is it?" Pedro asked.

"This is bad," Pekoms swallowed. "REAL BAD."

The sky over Whole Cake Island was dark and stormy. Everyone was deathly silent, even Big Mom's own children were terrified.

The news that Smoothie and her siblings had been captured and their escort wiped out had spread, and everyone was in a state of shock.

"That guy has some nerve!"

"The 'King of Paradise'... is he trying to get himself killed? How dare he harm our family!!"

"Let's go! Let's kill him!"

Katakuri, Oven, Daifuku, and the other children all rushed back to Whole Cake Island from their various territories.

"Oi. Everyone calm down..." Katakuri said, his arms crossed. "Our priority right now is to manage Mama's mood. We can't let her go on a rampage. And we need to get Smoothie, Perospero, and Compote back."

"And then?" Daifuku asked.

Katakuri's eyes turned cold. "Anyone who harms my family... I will return their pain tenfold."

—————————

Dressrosa.

Doflamingo had already returned.

When he received the news, he was surprised, then he started to gloat.

"That guy really has a death wish. But... for a new Warlord to take such a hard line against a Yonko... it's possible the five old men put him up to it. Big Mom is obsessed with her little tea party games. She's not as strong as she used to be. I doubt a real war will break out."

Doflamingo touched his cheek. The phantom pain of Jin's punch was still there. This was a debt that had to be repaid. That was not his style.

"Has Monet left yet?" he asked Diamante.

"Yes."

Doflamingo wasn't just strong—he was a master of intrigue. Know your enemy.

His specialty was planting moles in his enemies' camps, getting close to their secrets, and then destroying them from the inside.

Like Vergo, who he had planted in the Marines and who had risen to the rank of Vice Admiral and commander of the G-5 base.

And when he had taken Dressrosa, he had used a mole he had planted years before to take control of the princess.

Once a man succeeds with a certain method, he tends to fall into a pattern.

Doflamingo was no exception.

The moment he had returned, he had begun making arrangements to plant a mole in Jin's inner circle.

And then, he would wait.

For the perfect moment to strike.

—————————

Jin paid no attention to the outside world. After his communication with Cipher Pol and his persuasion of the Five Elders, he had taken Smoothie and her siblings on board his ship and left Hannabal.

He first returned to Drum Island.

He took Kuma, who had been "vacationing" there, with him.

As Jin's profile grew, so did the number of eyes on him. It was no longer safe to leave Kuma on the island.

The upgrades to the port facilities, the construction of the medical center and the ski resort... it was all proceeding at a feverish pace.

Dalton and the others' greatest strength was their loyalty. They would faithfully carry out all of Jin's orders.

Next, Jin went to Asuka Island, dropping off a shipment of supplies and picking up the latest harvest of mushroom products.

At the base, he tested the progress of Nami, Nojiko, Carina, and Kaya's training, easily besting them all. Hina, too.

He didn't just beat them—he pointed out their weaknesses and helped them improve. Their progress was remarkable.

At night, he... developed his relationships with Hina and Nojiko.

Nami, Carina, and Kaya were still too young. Fourteen, fifteen... it would be an unforgivable sin.

After handling his personal affairs, Jin went to Little Garden to harvest some timber for his factories.

He then sailed to Alabasta, docking at Nanohana to unload his cargo and restock.

After that, he headed for the royal capital, leaving the demonic carrier under Ai's control to go to the mining district to refine some minerals.

Jin stayed at the royal palace for two days, exchanging views on the world situation and national governance with Cobra.

Then, with Princess Vivi as his escort, and with Pell and the other royal guards in tow, he went to Rainbase for a "vacation."

He spent a few days at the casino, just relaxing, but in reality, he was waiting for Crocodile.

Crocodile had already made the necessary arrangements in the West Blue. He was planning on entering the Grand Line and expanding his bounty hunter guild.

He was also going to act as the intermediary for the prisoner and ransom exchange between Jin and Big Mom.

After some pressure and back-channel mediation from the Five Elders, Big Mom had agreed to Jin's terms.

Three Devil Fruits in exchange for Smoothie and her siblings.

But... Jin had to give her some face. He had to attend her tea party this year, to maintain the Yonko's dignity.

Both sides had made a concession.

Jin had gotten what he wanted, so he readily agreed.

Besides, he had to go to the New World anyway. Chinjao of the Kano Kingdom had contacted him, wanting to purchase another shipment of arms. A transaction in Paradise would be too easily monitored.

As for Big Mom's family trying to get revenge at the tea party...

Jin wasn't afraid.

If worse came to worst, he'd just have to crash the party.

The one who should be worried was Big Mom.

—————————

Shortly after Crocodile returned to Rainbase, the ship sent by Big Mom also arrived in Alabasta.

The one leading them was Charlotte Katakuri. With him were Charlotte Oven and Charlotte Daifuku.

And Stussy. She was the one who had persuaded the enraged Big Mom to agree to the deal, the one who had vouched for it.

To avoid any collateral damage to Alabasta's towns, the exchange was to take place in Erumalu.

Katakuri and his party were led there by a guide arranged by Crocodile. They arrived first.

Jin was delayed because Robin had discovered an ancient ruin on the way.

"Is that guy here yet?" Oven, hot-tempered and still fuming, was growing more and more irritable in the desert heat. "Is he scared?"

"This incident has brought shame upon our family," Daifuku said, his face grim. "And our family was harmed. It's unforgivable."

Stussy, holding a parasol, her posture elegant, said, "Patience. There was an unexpected delay."

Katakuri, who had been standing ramrod straight, calm and composed, suddenly opened his eyes. He looked off into the distance. "He's here."

"Hm?" Oven and Daifuku both looked.

The desert was empty.

But a moment later, an exquisite, ornate carriage, pulled by a giant turtle, came speeding toward them.

The Baroque Works land-and-sea transport turtle pulled up in front of them.

The door opened.

Crocodile stepped out, a cigar in his mouth. To hide the fact that his left hand was intact, he had fashioned a new, hollow golden hook. It was another one of his trump cards.

"You're early," he said.

Jin stepped out from the other door, and all eyes were on him. He scanned the group and smiled. "Where's the merchandise?"