Chapter 2
Holding his growling stomach, Luffy clambered over the edge, standing on the wooden dock. Zoro and Jack followed after him, taking in the sight of an abandoned town.
"We almost capsized with so many people! I guess it's worth it if we can find something to eat…"
Jack sighed.
"You're hungry, captain—we get it already. Why don't you guys look around? I'll stay here and make sure nothing happens to the boat."
Zoro shrugged indifferently.
"Suit yourself."
Unlike him, Luffy's shoulders drooped, seeming a bit put out.
"You're not coming?"
Jack pointed a thumb over his shoulder. Behind him, a trio of beat-up pirates were trying their best not to get noticed.
"There are probably more of these guys around. Better safe than sorry."
"But-…"
"Forget about him, captain. This 'Buggy' guy probably has him shaking in his boots."
Luffy looked from Zoro to Jack.
"Really?"
"No. But if you guys are scared, I guess I could come along. Nothing to be ashamed of. I know you're rookie pirates-…"
"Let's go."
Ignoring Jack, Zoro threw his arm over Luffy's shoulder, dragging him in the town's direction.
Watching them leave, Jack had a smile on his face.
"Don't get tricked by that 'Buggy guy'. I'll probably take a nap, so if something happens, you're on your own."
Luffy laughed, casually waving over his shoulder. It wasn't long before they disappeared behind one of the houses, two solitary figures in the empty streets.
Jack turned to the three pirates, pointing at the short and fat one in turn.
"You two, get me something to eat. I'll keep your leader here, just to make sure you don't get any funny ideas."
"…"
Exchanging furtive glances, resolve slowly appeared in the three captives' eyes. Stepping forward, the leader looked arrogantly at Jack, his hand going to the cutlass at his waist.
"Kid… now that your friend and the famous pirate hunter, Roronoa Zoro are gone, do you think we'll let you order us around-…?"
Before he could finish, a fist appeared in front of his face, smashing into his already-crooked nose. The punch sent him flying, blood, snot and tears spraying into the air.
Walking casually toward the other pirates, frozen in fear, Jack wiped his knuckles on the fat one's shirt.
"Don't make me say it twice. Get going!"
White-faced, the two looked from him to their unconscious leader before suddenly bolting off, shouting over their shoulders.
"You b-better keep your promise!"
"If something happens to our boss, captain Buggy will definitely take revenge-…!"
Not paying any attention to their threat, Jack grabbed a rope from the boat, tying the comatose pirate to one of the piers.
When he was done, he clambered back on board, lying on the deck with his legs up. The tarp went over his head, helping to block out the sun.
He hoped this little episode wouldn't take too long.
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There were cannon-shots, explosions, people screaming and even what sounded like the roars of a wild animal. Jack slept through most of it, waking up when those scoundrels brought his food, then dozing off again.
When the sun had nearly set, he got up groggily, leaning against the mast. Searching around, he found the waterskin, taking a sip and rinsing his mouth.
"Hmm… they've been gone for what, four, five hours? It should be fine, right…?"
He was silent for a moment, a hint of a frown appearing between his eyebrows.
"…if they can't even deal with Buggy, then the story is about the get seriously messed up-…"
He was still mumbling to himself when something suddenly reached his ears—soles clattering against the cobblestone streets, and the sound of people breathing hard.
Unconsciously relaxing, Jack watched as Zoro and Luffy emerged from behind the houses, followed by a pretty red-haired girl. Each had their own baggage slung over their shoulders.
Spotting him from a distance, Luffy's eyes widened, waving energetically.
"Yo, Jack! We're back!"
Jack waited until they made it to the boat, rummaging in his pockets for a pipe and matches.
"I thought you guys were dead. I was just about to leave, but I decided to wait a little longer."
His gaze travelled to Zoro's waist. At some point, the swordsman had suffered a shallow wound, his waist-wrap turned into a makeshift bandage.
Jack shook his head, sighing.
"Didn't I tell you that Buggy guy had devil-fruit powers? In the future, you should pay more attention to what other people say."
Zoro raised his head, a vein pulsing near his temple. The look in his eyes was like someone who hadn't quite satiated their thirst for violence.
"You never said that!"
"In fact, I believe those were my exact words."
"Don't screw with me!"
"Are you calling me a liar?"
Before their argument could escalate, the girl interrupted, tugging on the corner of Luffy's shirt.
"Hey Luffy, who is this guy?"
"Oh Nami, he's a member of our crew."
Ignoring Zoro for the moment, Jack looked at her, his eyes sweeping from top to bottom. His gaze momentarily rested on her perky chest.
"People call me Handsome Jack, but feel free to call me by my first name: 'Handsome'."
Smirking, he pointed at her chest.
"That's some nice… treasure you got there. Seems like my pay's coming in sooner than expected."
Nami frowned, putting herself between him and the loot.
"Hey Luffy, what was this guy doing while you two where fighting for your lives? Don't tell me he was just sitting on his butt!"
Jack's hand went to his chest, his expression twisting in mock-anger.
"It was out of mercy that I didn't get involved. Someone like me laying hands on the Buggy Pirates—it would be no different from bullying! The upstanding reputation of 'Handsome Jack' would be ruined forever-…!"
"Let's get going, Captain. Before the townspeople take revenge for that geezer you knocked out."
Evidently not in the mood for nonsense, Zoro got in the boat before sitting down unceremoniously. He gestured toward Luffy.
Luffy's eyes widened.
"Oh yeah!"
He followed Zoro's example, though Jack didn't miss how he sneakily left his bag of treasure on the docks.
Nami growled.
"Don't avoid my question! And what happened to my boat anyway? It was right here when I left!"
Jack scratched his head thoughtfully.
"…oh, now that I think about it, there was another ship here. But those three guys from earlier said it was theirs. They took it and left."
Nami's eyes widened.
"No way! Why didn't you stop them? They're pirates!"
"So are we."
"And after I went through so much trouble to steal it-… Wait! Since you guys are responsible, let me have your boat!"
Jack was about to ask how exactly she came to that conclusion, but Luffy suddenly crossed his arms, speaking before he could.
"Didn't you say you were going to be our navigator?"
"…I said I would join you temporarily! But you didn't tell me there was someone else here!"
Jack raised his hands, wearing a confused look.
"Didn't you just meet these two a few hours ago? It's not like you know them either, right? Besides, if you want to get off this island, it doesn't seem like you have a choice."Nami gritted her teeth, staring him in the face. It didn't take a genius to figure out she wasn't exactly taken with Jack.
"Grr, fine! But you better not try anything funny!"
"Like what?"
"Anything. Just stay away from me. Don't even talk to me!"
Judging by their looks, Luffy and Zoro seemed to think her reaction was a bit exaggerated. They remained silent when Nami got on board, taking the spot furthest away from Jack.
Shrugging, the fellow in question untied the mooring rope, pushing against the jetty.
"Off we go…! Uh, by the way, did you guys remember to bring me something to eat?"
"…"
"…"
Jack sighed.
"It's a good thing I had those three goons fetch us some rations. I love treasure as much as the next guy, but it's useless if we die from hunger and thirst."
Luffy's expression was immediately delighted.
"I knew it was a good decision to make you the ship cook, Jack!"
"…he's not the cook, Captain."
"Oh yeah."
In the rear, Nami huffed, staring out over the open ocean.
"I don't know why you have such a useless person in your crew, Luffy. People like him only know how to act cocky-…"
"Young'uns! Young'uns!"
Before she could finish, an aged voice suddenly shouted from behind them. Turning their heads, they spotted an old grampa at the dock, huffing and wheezing with his hands on his knees.
Luffy, Zoro and Nami looked at him with surprise. They didn't say anything, waiting for him to speak.
Catching his breath, the old man raised his head stoically.
"…I was ready to die, filled with despair. For the town I built with my friends over the last forty years!"
He was quiet before his face cracked, tears starting to roll down his cheeks.
"Thank you for everything you did. We're all in your debt!"
Luffy grinned, lifting his hat and waving it above his head.
"Don't worry about it, old guy. Tell everyone to take it easy!"
"…"
In silence, their little ship sailed silently toward the horizon, the island growing smaller by the minute. Soon, the town's mayor was nothing but a black dot on the shore.
Not having been involved, Jack didn't have much to say. He simply sat there, casually stoking his chin. It was Nami how disturbed their tranquility, looking around wide-eyed like she'd just realized something.
"Wait! What happened to the rest of my treasure…?!"
Luffy raised his hand innocently.
"I left it behind, since they need the money to fix their town."
"No way! That's five-million Berries!"
"If you want it, we'll go back and get it."
"What? There's no way we can do that now-…!"
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During his pirate-hunting, Zoro had learned some basic navigation skills, but it hadn't been enough to keep them from drifting aimlessly. With Nami on board, even if reluctantly so, that was no longer the case. Charting course for the next island, they were making good time, their rations only half depleted.
During a lull in their journey, their sails empty for a lack of wind, Luffy turned his head toward Jack.
"By the way Jack, I want to find the one piece and become pirate king…!"
Jack nodded, his expression indifferent.
"Amazing."
"…and Zorro is aiming to be the strongest swordsman!"
"Incredible."
Resting his chin on his palm, Luffy looked at him with interest.
"Why did you become a pirate?"
Jack returned Luffy's stare before reclining his back against the mast, his hands behind his head.
"Honestly, I'm not inclined to that kind of ambition. I was happy to just go with the flow. But a few years ago, I realized it wouldn't work that way…"
Raising his hand to eye-level, he slowly made a fist.
"…I needed some kind of will. So I decided to become the world's strongest creature. Things went more smoothly after that."
Nami snorted, her attitude condescending.
"Seriously… 'pirate king', 'world's greatest swordsman' and 'strongest creature'. How old are you guys anyway?"
Zorro and Jack ignored the thinly veiled insult, but Luffy innocently pointed a finger at himself.
"I'm seventeen. What about you, Nami?"
"I don't believe you're only a year younger than me. And that was a rhetorical question!"
"What does 'rhetorical' mean?"
"Jeez, forget it…!"
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