Chapter 236: The End
[Special Commentary on the Reward Map: After you accepted this appointment, you once again, without realizing it, changed the course of history in this world. In the original historical timeline, Blackbeard's death at the hands of the British fleet in North Carolina in 1718 greatly dampened the morale of the Nassau pirates. In 1719, Welsh privateer Roger Wood, recommended by Weatherby Swann, became the Governor of the Bahamas, splitting the pirate factions and driving them all out of Nassau. But due to the butterfly effect of Blackbeard's death at your hands, Britain did not declare the Bahamas its colony until 1723, when you replaced Roger Wood as Governor of the Bahamas. The four years of development greatly strengthened Nassau's power, and the butterfly effect would lead history onto a completely different path.]
[Title Upgrade Progress for "History Changer": 2/5]
[You didn't even need to think about it—you knew that accepting the post of Governor of the Bahamas meant standing against all pirates. But beneath your calm composure, you still had a streak of madness and a love of adventure. You believed that only by being smart enough and decisive enough could you live the life you truly wanted.]
[And at the same time you accepted the post, you finally failed to resist and fell in love with Weatherby Swann's daughter, Elizabeth Swann. She was already eighteen. Though her figure was nothing remarkable—especially her chest, which could rival a private airstrip—as a gentleman, you did not believe in judging a girl for such things. After a few dates, with drinks making you pleasantly tipsy, you naturally spent a wonderful night together. What left an especially deep impression on you was Weatherby Swann's expression when he saw you coming out of Elizabeth's room the next morning—his face turned green, and the murderous glare in his eyes was impossible to hide.]
[On November 5, 1723, you became engaged to Elizabeth Swann, because she was pregnant. Weatherby Swann suggested you could forgo going to the Bahamas; he had other ways to get you into London's high society. But you had never been one to let a woman sway your decisions. Three days after the engagement, in Port Royal, you encountered Jack Sparrow again. From your conversation, you learned of his tragic fate. Four years ago, after Jack told his crew the location of a treasure, they immediately mutinied, gave him a single pistol and a cutlass, and marooned him on a deserted island. He spent a month on the beach until every bird and sea creature in the area was used to him, and then he tied a raft to dozens of sea turtles and made his escape.]
[It was a ridiculous tale, of course—you knew he was bragging, so you just laughed. Jack then asked if he could temporarily travel with your ship until he could retake the Black Pearl. Naturally, you had no reason to refuse. You knew he was essentially asking for your help, and you truly wanted to help him. In this world, friendship was always tied to interests, but sometimes, friends could be more important than interests.]
[From November 6 to November 11, 1723, with Weatherby Swann's help, you expanded your fleet to thirty-nine ships, all equipped with modified cannons. According to Jack Sparrow, these cannons were already superior to those of the Black Sea pirate king Ammand, who was famous for his firepower.]
[On November 11, you led your fleet to the Bahamas. Arriving at Nassau, you simply declared your identity and intentions, holding back your forces for the time being. As per your motto: the best threat is to take no action; once you act without effect, people will no longer fear the threat. During this time, a few sailors from Nassau defected to rejoin the pirates, but you didn't mind—everyone had their own choices. Only when everything was ready did you strike with lightning speed.]
[Using the connections of your soon-to-be father-in-law, Weatherby Swann, you submitted a proposal to the British Crown, suggesting the government outsource the Bahamas from the lord to a private investor company, which would provide all the military, economic, and human resources needed to pacify the pirates and build the colony. All the Crown needed to do was issue a pardon in its name to pirates who agreed to peacefully surrender to the new governor—you. Your leadership and astonishing political skill were on full display. The moment you arrived in Nassau, the amnesty decree designed to split the pirate factions began spreading like wildfire among them. The idea of turning over a new leaf (while keeping their ill-gotten gains) was like salvation from heaven, and these outlaws—who thought there was no way back from their criminal path—rushed to submit letters of surrender. Even legendary pirates like Hornigold (the historical inspiration for Whitebeard from One Piece) washed their hands of piracy and joined the ranks welcoming you.]
[Of course, where there were surrenderers, there were also diehards. From December 1, 1723 to February 1724, you were attacked by countless famous pirates, including Charles Vane, Edward Kenway, and William Kidd—each a legend in history and among the so-called "Four Emperors" of the Golden Age of Piracy. They were either defeated or captured by you. William Kidd, the historical inspiration for Eustass Kidd in One Piece, was so impressed by your charisma that he joined your fleet.]
[On February 7, 1724, near Nassau's port, you were attacked by the Atlantic Pirate King Jocard, the only Black pirate king among the Nine Pirate Lords, whose position came entirely from his powerful black magic. But you had black magic master Mason Hicks aboard your ship! Thus, a battle of dark sorcery erupted between the Pineapple and Jocard's flagship, the Betel & Rum. Two giant voodoo revenants fought fiercely on the deck, locked in a deadly stalemate. But with the Pineapple—empowered by the Triton Sword—being a legendary ship of the Seven Seas, Jack Sparrow and William Kidd's timely arrival turned the tide, and Jocard was forced to retreat.]
[Six days later, you faced yet another pirate king—this time Villanueva, Pirate King of the Adriatic Sea, whose territory included the Adriatic, South America, and the Lesser Antilles. With a bounty of 2,000 gold coins—exactly matching your compass's value—he was the weakest of the Nine Pirate Lords. In the sudden encounter, your fleet gained a decisive advantage after just a few rounds of cannon fire, winning the battle cleanly.]
[From February 8 to September 7, 1724, your easy victories over two pirate kings greatly increased your deterrence in Nassau. At least on the surface, the pirates there treated you with the utmost respect. When your men brought in the defected sailors, you unexpectedly pardoned them. To you, forgiveness and forgetting could sometimes be more effective than punishment. If you wiped someone out entirely, even the lowliest man—if he kept his eyes open—would eventually find a chance to take revenge on the most powerful.]
[Your mercy moved the defectors to tears, and they returned to your side, loyal to the bone. With their help as native Nassau pirates, you further divided the local pirate factions—without even needing to draw a gun—and took initial control of Nassau. Now, half the members of Nassau's Pirate Council were your people.]
[On September 8, 1724, your first son was born, giving you the greatest bond you had in this world. Since forming a family with Elizabeth, no matter how busy you were, you always took time to be with them. To you, that was the most basic duty of a man to his family.]
[On January 19, 1725, after more than a year of work, you completed your initial transformation of Nassau, fully reorganizing the Pirate Council and beginning your rule over Nassau and the Bahamas. Your first act was to push the council to pass an agreement shifting Nassau's main business from plunder to mercenary work. Pirates still yearning for freedom and battle could continue raiding, but in a different form—by working for other nations for high pay. In addition, you issued a second "Act of Pardon" as governor, encouraging pirates to return to normal occupations. You promoted commerce as well, knowing—as a time traveler—that Nassau would one day be the capital of the Bahamas, with an excellent location as a natural international seaport.]
[By 1726, thanks to your relentless efforts, Nassau had undergone an earthshaking transformation. You respected and understood everyone, and in return, everyone respected you. In just two years, more than two-thirds of the pirates had been either driven out or reformed into law-abiding citizens. The "Pirate Republic" was no more. You were now, in every sense, the master of the Bahama Islands.]
[During this time, you also helped your friend Jack Sparrow regain the Black Pearl, allowing him to resume his adventures. You fulfilled another friend and subordinate, Mason Hicks's dream by building him a fully equipped alchemy tower. His greatest wish was to make achievements in alchemy, and when you gave him this surprise, he wept with gratitude, telling you he planned to return to England to bring his good friend Isaac Newton—yes, that Newton—to join in alchemical research. William Kidd's wish was to become a prosperous farmer with his own rubber plantation, and you granted that too, buying him a large estate. As always, you were generous to your friends.]
[On September 7, 1727, when you believed everything was on track and prepared to return to Port Royal to be with your family, you were ambushed near the Lesser Antilles by an alliance of the Eight Pirate Kings. Aside from Jack Sparrow, all the Pirate Kings of the Seven Seas took part. They even used nine pieces of eight to break the seal of the sea goddess Calypso in exchange for her aid. The ocean was filled with countless whirlpools, making it impossible for your fleet to move. In the end, a bullet pierced your chest, bringing an end to your "happy yet short" life. Your vice-captain, William Kidd—a hardened killer—ignored the rain of bullets, cradled your body, and wept like a child. With the departure of the era's protagonist, the Caribbean once again fell into the age of pirate warlords.]
[Title Upgrade Progress for "History Changer": 3/5]