Chapter 251: Glorious Achievements
[November 9, 1721. As a man of action, you carried out your thoughts without hesitation. You assembled a fleet, accompanied by several loyal subordinates and this world's protagonist, Jack Sparrow—who, during the previous naval battle against Beckett, had led the Wicked Wench into the fight. Captured, he immediately surrendered.]
[At this time, Jack Sparrow was still just a young upstart of barely twenty-two or twenty-three years old—immature in your eyes. At first, he schemed to trick the Wicked Wench back from you, but after suffering repeated setbacks in your hands, he had no choice but to truly join your ranks. With the Hades as your flagship, you set out into the boundless sea.]
[November 11, 1721. According to Cortés's account, he had hidden his treasure somewhere on an unknown island near Tripoli. After conquering the Aztec Empire, he was summoned back by King Alfonso I of Spain. To avoid mishaps, he buried his treasure on a nameless island. Guided by the Compass That Doesn't Point North, you entered a fog-shrouded sea.]
[In these waters you heard mermaids singing—an unnervingly beautiful song. As your ship drew nearer, you spotted them perched upon a reef. Unlike the mermaids of the Apocalypse World or the One Piece world, these mermaids, though shapely and pale-skinned, were far from sweet-looking: their mouths brimmed with sharp teeth, closer to the sirens of legend. Just as the stories say, they sat upon the rocks, luring sailors with enchanting voices—only to make them their prey. Cortés told you that nearby there was an island called Syrena, home to tens of thousands of such mermaids.]
[That night, as you passed Syrena, the seas and the island swarmed with mermaids beyond counting. Perhaps sensing your power, they did not attack but instead sang a gentle farewell tune, as if urging you to leave quickly. Their tact surprised you—you had been prepared to erase Syrena from history had they dared to strike.]
[Jack Sparrow, on the other hand, was reluctant to part. He kept grumbling, even wishing to spend the night with a mermaid maiden—never mind the rows of razor-sharp teeth! You found yourself wishing this world had something like a four-leaf clover of fortune, so Jack could go ahead and spend a night with them.]
[November 19, 1721. Following the compass, you finally reached the Isle of the Dead. Just as in the film, there was a treasury filled with Aztec gold. Guided by Cortés, you uncovered an inner vault not mentioned in the movie, where you discovered great quantities of Spanish gold and Veracruz silver. According to your rules, you kept only 15% and distributed the rest to your men—you had no real interest in treasure.]
[As for the Aztec gold, it carried the curse of heathen gods. Whoever removed even a single coin from the chest would become an immortal skeleton, stripped of pain, touch, and taste. You chose not to take them, leaving the cursed hoard upon the Isle of the Dead.]
[December 1721. Your next target was Fortuna Island, where Cortés had hidden his sword, lying near the Gulf of Mexico. Upon arrival, you were stunned by the sight of the island: a vast lake with an immense tomb at its center. According to Cortés, it was the resting place of Montezuma I, ruler of the Aztecs.]
[Before the tomb, you discovered the Sword of Cortés—a lavishly decorated blade, its hilt inscribed in Spanish with the words "Cruelty and Conquest." It suited your taste perfectly. When you drew it, you also unleashed Montezuma's spirit. Though history pitied the Aztecs, you could not show mercy to one who sought to oppose you. Amid mountains of gold and jewels, you fought his vengeful spirit in a fierce battle, and in the end, reaped immense rewards from the tomb. (You have gained the achievement: Treasure Raider.) (You have gained the Epic Item: Sword of Cortés.)]
[April 1722. The Sword of Cortés indeed possessed extraordinary black magic, forged in lost Atlantis. At its peak, it could command the weather at will—power enough to conquer nations. Sadly, the sword's might had waned after repeated use over the centuries. Now it could only stir small storms, its practical value greatly diminished.]
[April 22, 1722. Your final goal was to obtain Poseidon's Trident. Not only was it a divine weapon, but it could also dispel all curses at sea—a priceless artifact. Though guided by the Compass That Doesn't Point North to a certain island, a Diamond Isle glittering with countless gems, once you arrived the compass spun aimlessly, pointing instead deep beneath the ocean thousands of meters below.]
[You lingered on the island for a long time, several times attempting to dive into the depths. Near the seabed, you glimpsed a temple-like structure, but conditions prevented you from exploring further. Regretfully, you had no choice but to load your ships with gold and gems and return home—this became your greatest regret of the voyage.]
[June 1722. You returned to the Pineapple Confederation, ending this adventure, and resolved to devote yourself fully to your enterprise.]
[July 1722 – September 1727. In these five years, the Pineapple Confederation rose to unprecedented power. Port Royal had already been the world's most prosperous city of its age, and with no shortage of wealth, under your guidance the Confederation became not only the jewel of the Caribbean but the most flourishing nation on Earth, with industry and commerce thriving. Over these years, you established banks, reformed the financial system, founded the National Economic Promotion Association in 1723, and the Manufacturing Guild in 1725. You pioneered the use of the spinning jenny, fueling a boom in the cotton textile industry.]
[During these five years, you also crushed the Nine Pirate Lords in a great sea battle. Once again they summoned Davy Jones, yet the dreaded ruler of the deep fled the moment he saw you. Soon after, you marched on Shipwreck Cove, forcing the Pirate Council to recognize you as the sole Pirate Emperor, empowered to set the laws of the sea. You rewrote the Pirate Code, binding all pirates to your will. In effect, the Pirate Lords became your mercenaries. The Golden Age of Piracy both began and ended with you.]
[True to your word, you compelled the Pirate Lords to surrender all nine Pieces of Eight, releasing Calypso so she could resurrect Cortés. Restored to life, Cortés was deeply grateful, and the famed conqueror became one of your greatest allies.]
[Beyond that, you waged campaigns north and south, seizing Cuba and Haiti, and extending your reach into South America, much of which remained under Spanish and Portuguese rule. In October 1727, with an inferior force, you defeated Spain's superior armies and captured Mexico—Cortés played a decisive role here, his intimate knowledge of the land making him a natural weapon.]
[On May 30, 1728, the fifth anniversary of the Pineapple Confederation, you once more defeated the combined armies of Spain and Portugal, achieving a major victory at the Battle of the Orinoco. This dealt a heavy blow to Iberian power and swayed South America's colonies toward you.]
[In addition, you forced Spain to recognize the independence of Venezuela, Ecuador, and Colombia, effectively ending Spanish rule in northern and central South America. You then united the nations into the South American Federation, with yourself as its leader, placing them under your protection. From this moment on, a new ambition was born within you: to lead your Pineapple Confederation to become the greatest nation on Earth.]