The Immortal Body, although it hadn't reached its peak, still made Jack awe-struck.
Every sensation coursing through his body, from the subtle rhythm of his organs to the flow of blood like a steady stream, was a feeling he had never experienced before. It was as if every cell in his body had awakened with a will of its own, responding to his movements with optimal precision. It felt indescribable—like his body had become a towering fortress under constant construction, or a parched pond finally blessed by a torrential downpour.
After half a day of adjustment, Jack finally got used to the sensation.
"Tch... damn it!" Jack winced as a sharp pain shot through his chest, sweat breaking out on his brow.
The pain reminded him of the drawbacks of mastering the Navy's Rokushiki techniques. Most were practical and powerful, but Tekkai (Iron Body) was an exception—a double-edged sword.
By accelerating blood flow to reinforce the body's muscles, Tekkai allowed for incredible defensive strength, impervious to most attacks—bullets, swords, you name it. Yet its major flaw was glaring. If hit by an overwhelmingly strong attack, Tekkai would force the body's organs to overcompensate, redirecting blood flow to the point of self-damage. In short, a strong enough blow could make the technique backfire, leaving the user worse off than before.
"Damn useless technique!" Jack cursed aloud, sitting on the deck, a fishing rod in hand. "No wonder Kaido… I mean, Kaido-san scoffs at Rokushiki. Train for years, use Tekkai in a real fight, and you're as good as dead. What a scam."
Although the ship's doctor had treated his wounds, Jack knew better than to push himself. It would take a few weeks of careful rest for him to fully recover. Even so, the Immortal Body's regenerative abilities were astounding, after just a week, he felt almost back to normal.
Nearby, Yamato struggled against the seastone chains binding her. Jack's oversized pet wolf, Two-Ha, sat triumphantly on her back, effectively immobilizing her.
"You traitorous mutt! I'm your master! You've forgotten who feeds you?" Yamato barked, struggling in vain.
Two-Ha glanced at Jack's spiked kanabo resting ominously beside him and immediately drooped his ears, feigning sleep. Jack chuckled under his breath.
A news coo circled above the ship, its squawk interrupting the calm. Jack waved it down, and it landed neatly by his side. Rim, standing nearby, handed over a few coins in exchange for the newspaper. Jack tossed the bird a small fish he had just caught. The coo nodded gratefully, clutching its prize before taking off again.
"Thanks, Rim," Jack muttered as he unfolded the paper. His eyes narrowed as he read the headline:
"The Fall of a Hero? Fisher Tiger Dead!"
The report detailed the ambush on Fullshout Island, where Fisher Tiger of the Sun Pirates succumbed to his wounds after humans refused him a life-saving blood transfusion.
"What a waste," Jack sighed, his voice low. "Still… this could be an opportunity."
He stared out at the horizon, the gears in his mind turning.
The Sun Pirates were no ordinary crew. Their members were undoubtedly among the finest Fish-Men. If Jack could recruit them into the Beast Pirates, their strength would be an invaluable asset.
"Rim," Jack said, handing him the paper. Then, fishing his Den Den Mushi from his pocket, he made a call. After a long wait, a languid voice answered on the other end.
"What is it, Jack-sama? Kaido-sama is resting."
Jack glanced at the setting sun, smirking. "Nothing urgent. Just let Kaido know that Yamato's pregnant."
"What?!" came the furious roar from the other end.
Jack chuckled, wiping the spit off his face from the Den Den Mushi's exaggerated expression.
"I'm kidding! Don't get so excited! Listen… Fisher Tiger's dead, and the Sun Pirates are adrift. They're strong. I want to bring them into the fold."
There was a pause before Kaido's deep, rumbling laugh filled the line.
"Hah! Not a bad idea. Go ahead, Jack. Do what you need to. But don't screw it up."
"Wait!" Jack interrupted before Kaido could hang up. "What about Ailen Island? Who's going to manage things there while I'm gone? Rim and Finder have to come with me. They're essential for this mission."
Kaido's voice turned dismissive. "Send Yamato. She's strong enough."
"What?! She'll wreck the place!" Jack protested, but the call abruptly ended.
Jack sighed, running a hand through his hair. It was going to be a long trip.
As word of Fisher Tiger's death spread, tensions flared among the Fish-Men aboard Jack's ship. Anger against humans boiled over, with some even clashing with their human crewmates. Finder, a Fish-Man himself, contacted Jack, pleading for vengeance against Fullshout Island.
But Jack wouldn't have any of it. He reprimanded Finder harshly and swiftly put down the dissenting Fish-Men. By the time he was done, the ship's troublemakers were strung out on the deck, drying under the sun like salted fish.
Upon arriving at Ailen Island, Jack gave Yamato a thorough beating—not enough to harm her but enough to make a point. Grumbling, she finally agreed to take charge of Renske Port.
"According to Finder," Jack mused aloud, "most of the Sun Pirates were once slaves of the Celestial Dragons. They're all wanted men, so they're unlikely to return to Fish-Man Island."
"Then why head there?" Rim asked, tilting his head.
Jack's lips curled into a sly grin. "Because the Sun Pirates have ties to Ryugu Kingdom. Fisher Tiger was close with Neptune, and Jinbe served as a soldier there. If I'm going to track them down, I'll need to start with the Dragon Palace."
He paused, fingers tracing his chin thoughtfully. "That Queen Otohime… her strange power to sway minds… I wonder what would happen if I destroyed Ryugu Kingdom. Would it be worth the trouble?"
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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg