Chapter 108

Along the way, Jack shared more about his ideals and his candid view of the navy's current struggles. Issho listened intently, visibly struck by how much their philosophies overlapped. Like Jack, he too believed in a "justice of compassion"—justice that served the people, not power.

"You see," Jack continued with a sigh, "the greatest shackle on the navy right now is money. Without the World Government, we wouldn't even have the funds to operate, let alone maintain the scientific branch—it's a bottomless pit burning through resources."

Issho frowned in thought. "And what's your solution, Jack-san?"

Jack nodded. "It's still rough around the edges, but my plan is to separate military power from political power. The current model is flawed. The navy protects the World Government's member nations—yet it's the Celestial Dragons and the World Government who collect all the wealth. In my vision, the World Government would be a loose alliance where every nation participates equally. Its sole purpose would be to solve people's problems, not exploit them."

Issho's brow furrowed deeper. "Can you explain that more clearly?"

Jack smiled. "In my eyes, the World Government doesn't need to be this bloated empire. Every country would maintain its independence, while the World Government serves as a coordinator and overseer. For example, if a natural disaster strikes one nation, the World Government would connect them with neighboring nations to send aid. Later, as they recover, they'd repay that support—not to a central authority, but to those who directly helped them."

He paused, then added, "And the World Government would also act as a check against tyranny. If a king turns cruel or foolish, they'd have the authority to depose him—and appoint a wiser ruler from among the nation's own leaders."

Issho crossed his arms, his face serious. "But how can you ensure the World Government stays fair? Deposing kings is no small power. I doubt any nation would willingly join an organization that could remove their ruler."

"That's where the navy comes in," Jack answered smoothly. "The World Government would only recommend action. But it would be the navy's job to investigate and confirm any claims before they're enforced. Only once the navy verifies the truth would action be taken—and it would be the navy, not the government, that carries it out."

Issho's eyes narrowed. "And what's to stop the navy and the government from colluding, like they do now?"

Jack's gaze turned sharp. "That's the heart of my proposal—true separation of military and politics. The World Government handles politics. The navy handles military. They balance and restrain each other. And above both, the member nations would serve as the supreme authority, monitoring both sides. They'd be the ultimate watchdogs, ensuring neither side overreaches."

A small smile tugged at Issho's lips. For the first time, real interest gleamed in his eyes.

As they traveled, Jack gradually shared the insights and experiences from his previous life, subtly but steadily persuading Issho. By the time they reached Navy Headquarters, Issho had already become a loyal supporter. Jack's vision, bold and progressive, was simply too compelling to ignore.

Had Issho not been a man who put the welfare of ordinary people above all else, he might never have resonated with Jack's ideals. This was exactly why Jack's philosophy found little traction among the navy's middle and upper ranks. Those officers, accustomed to privilege and superiority, simply couldn't fathom his call for "equality for all."

It was only the rank-and-file sailors—the men who lived among the common people and understood their struggles—who could truly grasp Jack's dream.

Of course, veterans like Sengoku and Garp understood Jack perfectly. But they also knew better than anyone the formidable resistance he would face. In their eyes, Jack's ambitions were noble but doomed to fail.

"So, aside from a few loyal followers, we have no real power base in the navy?" Issho asked, already seeing himself as part of Jack's cause.

"That's about right," Jack admitted with a shrug. "Some of the lower-ranked officers sympathize with me. But they see this dream as too far-fetched, too impossible. To them, it's more practical to go out and catch a few more pirates."

"And how many loyal supporters do we have?" Issho asked with a small smile. As a man of the people, he instinctively aligned with Jack's cause.

"We've trained a group of civilians—people who lost their homes and families to war—on an isolated island. Right now, there are about five thousand of them," Lena answered briskly.

"Five thousand?" Jack's eyes widened in surprise. "That many?"

Lena sighed. "There are far too many people in this world who've been displaced by war."

Jack chuckled. "Didn't we just trick the Celestial Dragons out of some supplies? Could we take in even more people with that?"

Lena shook her head firmly. "We could… but I advise against it."

"Why?" Jack and Issho asked in unison.

"Because we're already stretched thin," Lena said, lips pressed together. "Right now, these people survive thanks to your support and what little they can grow themselves. But they're not self-sufficient yet. Their food, clothes—everything—comes from the bounties you collect. They cherish their new lives and endure hardship, but I was hoping we could use these latest supplies to improve their conditions, even if just a little."

Jack sighed, guilt flickering in his eyes. "That's on me. I didn't think it through. You should've told me sooner."

"They begged me not to," Lena said with a soft smile. "They're grateful for everything you've given them. I've already bought seeds and tools, and now everyone is growing their own crops. They won't starve."

Jack nodded, feeling reassured. He trusted Lena with these matters more than anyone.

"No wonder your strength hasn't improved lately," Jack teased, smiling. "You've been bogged down with these burdens. Looks like I need to find someone else to help with the logistics!"

"I can handle it," Lena said stubbornly, shaking her head.

"Actually," Jack mused, a thought flashing in his mind, "what about that group we captured?"

"Which group?" Lena asked, puzzled.

"The CP9 agents who lost to Luffy at Enies Lobby. Weren't they exiled after that disaster?"

"You mean Kalifa and the others?" Lena asked cautiously.

"Exactly. Aside from that Jabra, the rest aren't half-bad," Jack grinned.

Lena sighed. "I had to lock Jabra up—he tried to escape. Kumadori and Fukurou couldn't fit in with the islanders, so I put them with Jabra. As for Kalifa, Kaku, and Blueno, they're living peacefully on the island."

She glanced at Jack, half-expecting him to be angry at her decision.

But Jack just chuckled. "Let those three troublemakers go. No point wasting food keeping them locked up. But Kalifa—she was once Iceburg's secretary, right? She should be good at managing affairs. And as a former CP9 agent, she can handle herself if trouble comes."

Lena blinked in surprise, then nodded reluctantly.

"Dummy," Jack said fondly, ruffling her hair. "Your strength is your greatest asset. As the person I trust the most, you'll have even more important roles in the future."

"It seems we've solved one problem, then!" Issho laughed. "So why don't we recruit even more people?"

Jack shook his head. "Because what we're building needs people who truly believe in our vision of justice. If they join us for other reasons—power, revenge, money—they'll become a threat from within. We can't afford that."

Issho paused, thinking it over. He nodded slowly, understanding. It was just like the revolutionary army: only the like-minded could stand together in such a cause.

But as that thought crossed his mind, Issho's gaze sharpened. He looked at Jack, realization dawning.

Come to think of it, Jack's model was strikingly similar to the Revolutionary Army's. The key difference? The Revolutionary Army sought change through violent overthrow—while Jack aimed to transform the system from within.

"What's wrong?" Jack asked, noticing the curious look. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

Issho's lips curled into a smile. "Just thinking about the Revolutionary Army, that's all…"

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