Drought Jack(1/10)

Thank you so much to all, We've reached 14 members on my P@treon, and to celebrate, I'll be mass releasing 10 chapters! I hope you enjoy them!

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Hearing there was news about the Celestial Dragons, Sanders paused his work.

Licking his lips with a slightly cruel smile, he asked, "Where?"

Rayleigh chuckled.

"You're quite a bold fellow. No wonder no Celestial Dragons have come to the Sabaody Archipelago since you've been here. Looks like the World Government knows you'd actually kill them."

"They're not in Sabaody. Someone spotted a Celestial Dragon ship in the waters between Sabaody and Water 7."

"Looks like they're headed to Water 7."

"I see. Thank Shakky for me, and just put the cost on my tab," Sanders said with a smile.

"Are you about to set sail?" Rayleigh asked.

"Not heading for the New World first? Red-Haired Shanks has already become one of the Four Emperors."

Rayleigh informed him.

During Sanders' time in the Sabaody Archipelago, Red-Haired Shanks had officially become the fourth emperor of the seas, joining Whitebeard, Kaido, and Charlotte Linlin as the Four Emperors.

The three major powers of the seas—Warlords, Marines, and the Four Emperors—were gradually taking shape.

"No rush. I'm not particularly interested in titles like 'Emperor of the Sea,'" Sanders replied.

He wasn't even interested in becoming the Pirate King.

Rayleigh left, saying before he went that he might sell himself.

Sanders silently prayed for whoever ended up buying Rayleigh.

Quickly purchasing the rest of his supplies, Sanders hoisted sail and headed straight for Water 7.

The news of Sanders setting sail soon reached Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who breathed a sigh of relief.

But he also felt a sense of missed opportunity.

Magellan was gradually recovering from his injuries and was once again securely guarding Impel Down. Admiral Kizaru had returned to Marine Headquarters. Sengoku had been planning to capture Sanders, but now the man had sailed off.

...

Sanders navigated his ship across the sea.

During the day, he sailed manually. At night, he used the battery-powered system to keep the ship on course, not worrying too much about colliding with other vessels.

After two or three days of stopping and starting along the way, Sanders was still some distance from Water 7.

That day, while lounging on a deck chair, feeling the sea breeze, his Observation Haki sensed a large pirate ship approaching slowly.

Sanders set down his newspaper and stood at the stern.

A massive pirate ship came into view. Its sails bore a skull with two long tusks.

Sanders narrowed his eyes.

That emblem belonged to one of the Beasts Pirates' top officers, Drought Jack, one of the three calamities.

With this thought, a tall figure appeared at the bow of the pirate ship—a masked man with two long tusks.

"Finally caught up to you, Sanders," Jack's rough, menacing voice rang out.

"What do you want?" Sanders asked calmly from his position at the stern.

"Big Brother King sent me to recruit you," Jack shouted.

"Recruit me?" Sanders raised an eyebrow.

Was King serious? Sending Jack, a brute, to recruit him? Had the Beasts Pirates run out of people?

"If you join the Beasts Pirates, you'll be the fourth calamity," Jack added, clearly reluctant.

He wasn't pleased about the idea of someone younger than him being given such a high position.

All three of the calamities had followed Kaido for at least a decade. How could this former Marine defector be on the same level as them?

Originally, King hadn't intended to send Jack. He knew Jack's temperament well.

But Jack had volunteered, repeatedly assuring King that he wouldn't insult or attack Sanders before getting a refusal. Only then did King allow Jack to handle the task.

Sanders was a bit surprised to hear that Kaido was willing to make him a calamity.

In the Beasts Pirates, being a calamity was equivalent to being second only to Kaido.

It seemed Kaido really valued him.

Following the principle of not hitting someone with a friendly attitude, Sanders politely declined.

"I'm not interested. I have no plans to join anyone's pirate crew."

"So you're refusing?" Jack's tone shifted, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

He had fulfilled his promise to Big Brother King.

The man had refused.

Now, he could fight.

With this thought, Jack pulled out his massive scythe.

Today, he was going to see what made Sanders, with his higher bounty, so special.

Seeing Jack draw his weapon, Sanders knew things wouldn't end peacefully.

"I refuse," Sanders said again.

"Do you think the Beasts Pirates are something you can just refuse?" Jack roared. "Move the ship closer!"

Jack's fierce command rang out as he ordered his crew to approach Sanders' ship.

Sanders couldn't help but facepalm.

Of course—this was Jack, the so-called "Ship King."

Before Jack's ship could close the distance, Sanders flashed into the air, appearing above Jack's head.

"Can't you just sit tight without getting beaten up, Jack?"

Armament Haki covered Sanders' fist as he swung it down toward Jack's head.

"200 Million Volts: Thunder Fist!"

"Do you even know who I am? You dare to step foot on my ship?"

Jack roared back, his scythe wrapped in Armament Haki, as he swung it fiercely at Sanders' fist.

The clash of raw power and lightning instantly shattered Jack's scythe.

Sanders' thunder-infused fist smashed into Jack's face.

Boom!

Jack's mask shattered, revealing his sharp fangs and a stream of blood pouring from his face.

His eyes rolled back, leaving only the whites as he crashed heavily onto the deck.

Under the shocked gaze of the pirates aboard, Jack smashed through the deck, leaving a massive hole.

Water rushed into the ship's hold.

Meanwhile, Sanders had already returned to his own ship.

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T/N:

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