Chapter 54

Once Jack returned to the Pearl, he silently watched Marco depart before letting out a weary sigh. "Let's go—back to Marineford."

"Yes, sir!" Lena responded immediately. Seeing Jack return unharmed eased her worries—the sheer presence of two of the Four Emperors had been overwhelming.

Jack, however, was in a foul mood. For the first time, he truly felt the weight of the so-called "plot." He had always believed that his knowledge of future events gave him the power to alter them with ease. That confidence had made him complacent, never truly testing the limits of his influence.

But deep down, another reason had kept him from interfering—he feared disrupting the storyline too much. If events deviated too far from what he knew, he would lose his advantage as a prophet. Now, after actively trying to change Ace's fate, he realized just how powerful the inertia of the plot was. It wasn't something he could alter on a whim. That realization filled him with a mix of regret and unease.

"Sir, what did you discuss with Whitebeard?" Lena's soft voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Once we return to headquarters, the Fleet Admiral will definitely ask about it."

"It's nothing," Jack said, shaking his head. "I just hope he recalls Ace. Blackbeard is a very dangerous man."

"Is Blackbeard really that strong?" Lena asked in surprise.

She had been by Jack's side for a long time and was well aware of Ace's strength. She knew that Jack had been searching for Ace, but she had never imagined it was out of concern for his safety. After all, Ace was already a well-known figure in the New World, strong enough to have been invited to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea—an offer he had turned down.

Now, this so-called Blackbeard was just another pirate trying to seize power in the wake of Crocodile's downfall. She had never even heard of him before, and the idea that he could pose a real threat to Ace seemed absurd.

"The world will underestimate Blackbeard," Jack said, his tone heavy with certainty. "In my eyes, he's even more dangerous than Whitebeard."

"What? That's impossible!" Lena exclaimed.

Whitebeard was known as the strongest man alive. Even in the treacherous waters of the New World, his strength and influence were unmatched. He was the one closest to the title of Pirate King.

"Forget it," Jack sighed. "This isn't the time to discuss it. Let's return to headquarters first."

Though he tried to push the thought aside, a deep unease lingered in his mind. He feared that the worst was inevitable. If things played out the way he suspected, he had to prepare accordingly. And for that, he needed to find someone—someone crucial.

Even if it wasn't for Ace, his own plans hinged on gaining this person's approval.

Moreover, while this journey had its own objectives, it also resulted in the capture of numerous pirates. Currently, many New World pirates remained imprisoned aboard the Pearl. Even if Jack's rank did not advance, the wealth he had accumulated—his "diamonds"—had grown significantly. With these resources, he would be able to further strengthen himself upon returning.

Meanwhile, as Jack arrived at headquarters, far above in the sky, Luffy and his crew had finally defeated the self-proclaimed God, Enel. Their victory culminated in the ringing of the great bell of Shandora, its chimes echoing across the heavens.

Down on Jaya Island, Cricket stood in silent tears, a cigarette resting between his lips. At last, the truth of his ancestors had been revealed, freeing his family from the weight of a long-standing curse.

Behind him, the saruyama alliance clutched each other's heads and wept. Having previously learned the truth from Jack, they immediately understood the significance of the bell's ringing. Their boss had finally achieved the dream for which he had gambled his life.

Back at Marine Headquarters, an event of notable importance had also unfolded—Admiral Aokiji Kuzan had vanished without a trace. His sudden disappearance sent shockwaves through the upper ranks, even alarming the Five Elders. However, given Kuzan's reputation for embodying "lazy justice," they ultimately decided to let him go, unable—or perhaps unwilling—to act against him.

Meanwhile, having completed their adventure in Skypiea and returned to the sea with a ship full of gold, Luffy and his crew soon found themselves facing a new challenge. On Long Ring Long Land, they crossed paths with the Silver Fox, Foxy, and were drawn into his infamous Davy Back Fight.

Foxy, was a master of the Davy Back Fight, boasting an undefeated record of 920 matches. Though most of his victories were achieved through underhanded tactics, he still managed to give the ever-stubborn Luffy a hard time.

—

"Jack, is this the reason you ventured into the New World and made contact with Whitebeard and Red-Haired Shanks?" Sengoku glared at Jack, his face dark with barely contained anger.

"Aah~ I had no idea Red-Hair would be there too. Two of the Four Emperors—it was terrifying! If they had decided to keep me there, I might not have made it back!" Jack replied, his tone lighthearted.

However, as he spoke, his mind drifted back to the moment Shanks blocked his path on his way back. At that time, Jack had genuinely believed a confrontation was inevitable. Yet, instead of attacking, Shanks simply spoke with him for a while before departing.

Among all the Four Emperors, Shanks remained the most enigmatic to Jack. It was as if he were carrying out some secret directive left behind by Gol D. Roger, or perhaps he had a mission yet unknown to the world. Either way, Jack found him to be an unsettling figure.

"Have you forgotten that your orders were to complete your training at headquarters? Instead, you defied protocol, set sail on your own, and made contact with the Four Emperors! Do you even acknowledge military discipline?" Sengoku bellowed, slamming his fist onto the desk in frustration.

"Ah! Sorry Sengoku, don't get so worked up. You know, as people get older, they tend to doze off more easily. Now, where were we?" Garp, who had been sitting off to the side, suddenly looked around in confusion before turning to Sengoku with an innocent expression. His so-called apology, however, was as insincere as Jack's had been.

It turned out that Garp had fallen asleep mid-meeting and was jolted awake by Sengoku's furious outburst. Mistaking the anger as being directed at him, he casually tried to brush it off.

"Get out! The two of you—master and disciple—are going to be the death of me one day!" Sengoku, usually known for his composure, had completely abandoned any pretense of calm. He waved them away irritably, unable to deal with them any longer.

"Let's go, Sensei! If we stay any longer, the Fleet Admiral might actually explode!" Jack quickly grabbed Garp, who looked like he had more to say, and hurried out of the office before things could escalate further.

"Tch, I just nodded off for a bit—no need to get so worked up about it," Garp muttered as they walked. Then, as if just remembering something, he grinned. "Hey, Jack, you must've brought back some good stuff this time, right?"

"I got my hands on some top-quality sake this time, Sensei. I'll send a batch over to you later. We also captured a lot of pirates, and I 'set aside' a portion of their treasure. Next time we set sail, I'll exchange it for money—we'll have enough to indulge for a while."

"Now that's what I like to hear! The Navy's pay is terrible. I've been a marine my whole life, yet I'm not nearly as well-off as you young folks. You lot are really clever! Bwahahaha!" Garp roared with laughter.

Meanwhile, Sengoku, who had overheard the master and disciple blatantly discussing their blatant disregard for regulations and hoarding pirate loot, felt his forehead twitch as veins bulged in frustration. His expression practically formed the shape of the kanji for "rage."

'One day… One day, I swear I'll teach these two a proper lesson!' he fumed internally.

Once they arrived at Jack's private courtyard, Garp's usual humor faded, and his tone turned more serious. "Jack, you were a bit reckless this time."

"Sensei, this involves Ace. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing," Jack replied, shaking his head.

Garp frowned. "Is it really that bad?"

"Ace's life is on the line," Jack said quietly.

Garp fell silent for a moment before placing a firm hand on Jack's shoulder. "I'm getting old. It's your time now—you'll have to make your own choices from here on out."

"Don't worry, Sensei. I'll uphold the justice I believe in," Jack said resolutely.

Garp let out a bitter smile, his heart heavy with unspoken thoughts. The justice you believe in… I fear it may one day clash with the Navy's justice.

But he kept those words to himself. He had seen it happen too many times before—brilliant officers who strayed from the Navy's path, not because they were weak, but because their own sense of justice led them elsewhere.

"Sensei, don't worry. I will succeed. The path of a pirate isn't for me—I will lead the Navy to embody true justice!" Jack declared firmly, sensing Garp's unspoken concern.

Garp let out a heavy sigh. "Kid, that's an incredibly difficult road."

"If dreams were easy to achieve, they wouldn't be worth chasing. So don't lose faith, Sensei—I'll need your help when the time comes," Jack said with a grin.

Garp shook his head with a smile. "I'm afraid these old bones won't be much help."

"Having you as my sensei is the greatest support I could ask for," Jack replied with a sincere smile.

"Ah—right! Speaking of that, I almost forgot. On my last trip to the East Blue, I brought back two kids. If you have the time, keep an eye on them for me. Oh, and send half of that sake you brought back to my place later. Anyway, I won't stick around!" Garp abruptly stood up, as if eager to make his escape.

Jack's smile stiffened, and he clenched his teeth. "You old man, that's way too much! You're not getting a share of the loot this time!"

"What?! Just a minute ago, I was 'Sensei' when I helped you escape from Sengoku, and now I'm just an 'old man'? How ungrateful!" Garp turned back and delivered a swift punch to Jack's head, instantly leaving a sizable lump.

Jack knew full well that Garp was using his strength to bully him, but there was nothing he could do. Since he couldn't fight back, he could only nod with tearful resignation. "Fine, fine! I'll take care of my juniors, and I'll send your share right away!"

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