Infrastructure Self-Improvement: Alliance Formed

"Get out of the way, get out of the way!"

Luffy, carrying a giant log, sprinted past, his shouts carried on the wind.

"I'm definitely going to be the king of moving bricks!!"

Watching Luffy energetically shuttle between the construction site and the logging area, the other workers were infected by his enthusiasm.

"Everyone, let's put in some extra effort!"

"Haha, Nami's nakama are really enthusiastic~~~"

"With their help, it'll only take ten days... no, just a few days to build a fortress, right?"

This world had no excavators or large construction machinery. But in terms of efficiency, it was no less than Roman's previous life. The key was the physique of the people in this world:

Not to mention versatile workers like Luffy who were like 'Mighty Type' all-purpose tools, Zoro's speed in felling a row of trees with one swing could make even the bravest bears tremble with anger, and Sanji could casually kick giant rocks like soccer balls...

With them around, it was far quicker and more efficient than any mechanization. Anyway:

In Roman's words, before he fully recovered, it was a good opportunity for the trio to do some more rehabilitation training.

And Roman, who claimed he hadn't "fully recovered," was currently:

"...Above are the outlines of the 'Alliance' that I have proposed."

In the widest building in Cocoyasi Village—that is, the village chief's house—Roman sat at the head of the conference table. To his right was a scarred policeman named Ken, and to his left was Nami, acting as the meeting recorder. Behind him, like guardian deities, stood Joseph and Johnny, swords in hand.

And at the long conference table sat twenty people. They came from other villages and towns previously ruled by Arlong.

Incidentally, before Roman and his group arrived, the neighboring Housha Town had just been destroyed by Arlong's crew for failing to pay the 'Poll Tax.' More than half of the population was massacred, and they were now gathered in Cocoyasi Village.

"I have finished speaking,"

Roman surveyed the room, his calm gaze devoid of any threat, yet no one dared to meet his eyes.

No wonder! This was a formidable man who had utterly annihilated Arlong in a one-on-one fight!

It was like sitting with a tiger... no, a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

"Who agrees, and who opposes?"

In response to Roman's words, after a moment of silence, there was, as expected, a chorus of 'agrees.' —Whether sincere or not, at least for now, the prominent figures from these villages and towns, previously ruled by Arlong, dared not voice any objection to whatever Roman did.

"Very well, then we will proceed with my proposal as the basis. As for the details of daily maintenance, military expenses, and material transactions..."

Roman stood up and moved aside.

"The subsequent meeting will be handled by the village chief of Cocoyasi Village and yourselves."

"Is this really okay?"

Walking out of the village chief's house, facing Nami's question, Roman stroked his chin and replied seriously.

"It's better than doing nothing, isn't it?"

This world was in a turbulent era. Whether it was called the 'Great Pirate Era' or the 'Great Age of Exploration,' behind the revelry of the 'Heroes,' there was plenty of blood and tears of the 'commoners.'

When a hero draws his sword, it brings ten years of suffering to the common folk!

Perhaps Roger had his own considerations, perhaps Roger was just following his heart, perhaps Roger... was just playing a joke on everyone.

But regardless, when the King of the Pirates shouted: "You want my treasure? If you want it, I'll give it to you all! Go find it, ...the Grand Line! I've put everything I have into it!" back then, it sealed the coming of this world's turmoil.

For the strong, it was naturally the starting point of their dreams.

But for the vast majority of ordinary people, it was the beginning of a nightmare.

"We will be setting sail for the Grand Line soon. Before that, at the very least, Cocoyasi Village needs to have the power to protect itself."

Heroes are unreliable, because heroes who uphold justice are destined to wander the seas.

Marines are unreliable, because too many unjust individuals have infiltrated the cause of justice.

"Therefore, I have formed this 'Alliance' of twenty-one villages and towns so that the people here can possess a certain strength. With the 100 Million Berries you provided as startup capital, combined with the weapons on my ship, we can form a militia and build a coastal fortress, which should be enough to deal with ordinary pirates."

Of course, if they encountered 'experts' like Roman or Luffy, or even someone like Black Cat Kuro who was skilled at 'stomping on weaklings,' an army composed of a large number of ordinary people would still be very weak.

"Joseph, Johnny."

Roman turned his head to look at the two third-rate pirate hunters behind him.

"What do you say? Have you considered my previous proposal?"

"Uh~~ Brother Roman..."

"...We... still want to be pirate hunters."

"Don't be foolish,"

Roman rubbed his forehead. "I'm not trying to stop your dream, it's just that with your haphazardly practiced swordsmanship..."

How should I describe Joseph and Johnny? If measured by their bounties, their resilience has reached the Ten Million level, but their swordsmanship skill is still at the 2.5 Million level. To put it bluntly, it's 'sloppy hacking.' Yet, they are bad at fighting but love it, and insist on going out to sea every day.

They always lose by a small margin...

"Calm down and hone the swordsmanship I taught you. It's not too late to pursue your dreams after that."

Although Roman always claimed he only knew 'a little bit' of everything, his 'little bit' was vastly different from Joseph and the others. Roman's 'little bit' was a level that most pirates could hardly reach in a lifetime.

Therefore, his swordsmanship was more than enough to bring about a qualitative leap in their strength for Joseph and Johnny!

Indeed, Roman had to trick these two tanky swordsmen into staying to solve Cocoyasi Village's problem of lacking 'experts'. With Joseph and Johnny's strength, combined with a large number of militiamen armed with firearms, they would have no problem protecting themselves in the East Blue, as long as they didn't encounter opponents like Krieg.

"You must have noticed it too, right?"

"Just wildly swinging your swordsmanship on your own will only get you slaughtered when you meet true experts. By staying in Cocoyasi Village, you can both protect Nami's family and immerse yourselves in improving yourselves."

Roman said, deliberately smiling, "Or, are you planning to take my swordsmanship and run?"

"That... how could that be!"

"Don't joke, Brother Roman!"

"We accept it—"

"Very good, manpower, weapons, 'strong individuals'... Once the seaside fortress is completed, this place will have the strength to resist ordinary pirates."

Roman mused as he walked.

It wasn't wrong to do good deeds and then leave gallantly, but this was Nami's hometown after all. Roman didn't want to suddenly see news like 'Cocoyasi Village Destroyed' in the newspaper someday.

Self-improvement is the right way!

As for the Marines...

Although he couldn't remember clearly, Roman knew that Luffy's grandfather was in the East Blue around this time. He had also created a classic meme, 'Axe-Hand' Morgan. Given that person's status and authority within the Marines, he would definitely 'closely' monitor his grandson, so:

"The internal affairs of the Marines will be handled by that old man."

Even though Vice Admiral Garp often appeared unreliable, he never wavered on matters of great importance. This was very similar to Luffy.

"Roman, what were you just saying?"

Facing Nami's question, Roman waved his hand.

"It's nothing. Let's go check the progress of those guys at the construction site first."

"While it's not impossible for them to help with construction, our identity is pirate, not construction workers. Staying too long is not good for anyone."

"Alright, put those stones over here..."

"Erect the logs—"

"Dig half a meter deep here..."

By the time Roman and Nami arrived at the construction site, the prototype of a 'fortress' had already appeared. The foreman was:

"Usopp, how's the progress?"

"Mhm, the main building will be completed in two days at most..."

Don't forget, Usopp was a truly 'talented and versatile' person. After Roman provided the main structure, he quickly drew out the architectural sketch and directed everyone in the construction.

"Excellent. Once the main construction is completed, the Second Alliance will also be established."

With the courage of Cocoyasi Village to fight against Fish-Men, and with the weapons provided by Roman, ordinary pirates would be no match for them. In that case:

"In two days, we'll prepare to set sail—Luffy, what do you think?"

"Hee hee hee, sure!"

PS: Thanks to readers 'Silent Empty City' and 'Brother Liang Loves to Read' for their monthly votes.

The issue of the female lead is quite obvious. Although many people support the Empress, I thought about it. To have Hancock as the female lead, one must face three problems: First, immunity to the Mero Mero no Mi ability; Second, enduring the Empress's tsundere personality; Third, beating up Celestial Dragons.

For most transmigrators, the third point, the most difficult in the One Piece world, is actually the easiest. But the first and second...

In the One Piece fanfiction I've read before with the Empress as the female lead, those protagonists faced Hancock with a calm exterior but wild hearts. I always wondered how they were immune to the Mero Mero no Mi ability? Was it just the author bending the rules?

Regarding the Empress's personality... as everyone knows, naturally tsundere characters are difficult to handle. For a 'true queen' like Hancock, simple kindness doesn't work. You need someone like Luffy, who can be naturally gentle, to win her over. In the fanfiction I've read, most authors directly reduced the Empress's IQ to negative, or even distorted her personality to make her the female lead. If that's the case... I can't write like that.