One Piece: My Name is Jack, I'm Very Resistant to Beating

Sakory and Reef had no idea that, in Jack's eyes, they were already as good as dead.

Even if they had known, they likely wouldn't have cared.

In their minds, Jack's string of accomplishments was nothing more than Kaido's doing. They assumed Kaido had sent people to handle Jack's opponents while Jack took all the credit. The high bounty on Jack's head? Just an empty reputation that didn't reflect his true abilities.

To them, Jack's victories were a farce. They figured Kaido himself must've stepped in to secure those wins. After all, wasn't Kaido present in the Grand Line back then? It only made sense—Kaido must've valued Jack's potential and wanted to protect his investment, especially since Jack was part of the Fishman race.

Jack's strength, as exaggerated by the papers, was nothing but a joke to Sakory and Reef.

Currently, the two were hosting a private party in their lavish courtyard, surrounded by dozens of their closest subordinates. The duel scheduled for the afternoon? Not even a blip on their radar.

To be fair, the perks of being an officer in the Beasts Pirates were unmatched in the world of piracy.

Even years ago, when the crew had little more than scraps to their name and relied on pillaging to survive, the officers' benefits were already on par with Kaido's own. They ate the same food, drank the same booze.

Now that the Beasts Pirates were flush with resources, officers stationed both within Wano and those who roamed outside had their own grand estates on Onigashima.

The Tobiroppo's estates, in particular, were opulent—rivaling even Kaido's.

And yet, the All-Stars? They didn't enjoy the same luxuries.

King was often stationed in the mainland of Ailen Island, while Queen rarely left Udon. When they did return to Onigashima, they either bunked on Kaido's ship or shared quarters in his main estate.

As for Jack, after he kicked Jaki out, Yamato had given him Jaki's old quarters.

Why? Because the room was conveniently close to both Yamato's and Black Maria's chambers.

Sakory and Reef, having been among the first to join the Beasts Pirates, shared a close bond. They had made significant contributions over the years, even daring to challenge King and Queen in the past—though neither had stood a chance.

Still, King and Queen hadn't taken those fights seriously, sparing them humiliation. This left Sakory and Reef with the misplaced belief that their strength was only slightly below the All-Stars. Their inflated egos made them some of the most arrogant members of the Tobiroppo.

"Urp..." Sakory hiccupped, a mug of ale in hand.

"That brat—just another fish, isn't he?"

"Right?" Reef sneered. "And now he's supposed to be above us? An All-Star?"

"Hah! What a joke."

"And Kaido-sama... is he drunk out of his mind?!"

"The precious Devil Fruit we begged for—years!—and he lets two brats sneak off with it?"

"An insult to our intelligence!"

"Once we kill Jack today, that'll settle the score!"

"Exactly! The Beasts Pirates have grown so much. Adding a new All-Star is perfectly reasonable!"

"We'll both take the position, then!"

"To us!" They clinked their mugs and burst into drunken laughter.

Unnoticed by the pair, one of the pirates present exchanged a glance with his crewmates, then stumbled to his feet and shuffled outside, muttering about needing the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Jack tilted back a barrel of sake, drinking heavily as he sat aboard his ship. He turned to Holdem, who stood respectfully at his side.

"Holdem," Jack began, wiping his mouth. "Once we're back, you're staying in Kuri. After the Fire Festival, you'll help manage the region. Rim and Master are stretched thin."

Holdem nodded quickly. He was well aware of his limits. Even after eating a SMILE fruit, his strength barely measured up to the current Tobiroppo.

Jack wasn't blind to that either. The way the crew was expanding, weak links like Holdem would eventually be weeded out. Jack had no desire to see his loyal subordinate get himself killed challenging the Tobiroppo.

"Understood, Jack-sama," Holdem said, bowing.

Jack shifted his gaze to Finder, another loyal ally. "Finder, our people won't be gathering all in one place anytime soon. You'll stay aboard my ship as second mate. You'll also handle communication with all Fishman members of the crew. When we're docked, I want you on Onigashima, managing any issues our people face and keeping the surrounding waters secure."

Finder bowed deeply. After spending months on Ailen Island, he had seen firsthand how Jack delivered on his promises. Even when Finder recklessly challenged King, the All-Star had easily defeated him without killing him. It left Finder with a newfound respect for the crew's hierarchy.

"Of course, Jack-sama. I will do as you command."

However, a flicker of doubt crossed Finder's mind. The Tobiroppo were known as some of the strongest officers in the crew. Could Jack really defeat them?

"Jack-sama," Finder ventured hesitantly, "about the duel this afternoon... do you have confidence in victory?"

"Confidence?" Jack blinked, then let out a drunken laugh. "What kind of question is that? Confidence to spare their lives? That I don't have!"

He chugged another barrel of sake. "I'm drunk, Finder! Don't expect mercy!"

Reassured by Jack's nonchalant response, Finder picked up his own drink. "To your victory, Jack-sama!"

The dueling arena was newly constructed and could hold up to 20,000 spectators. By the time Jack arrived, the stands were already packed with pirates returning to Onigashima. The moment Jack stumbled in, the crowd erupted:

"Jack-sama! Jack! Drought Jack!"

Jack staggered onto the stage, clearly intoxicated. Reef was already waiting, his face flushed red with impatience.

"About time you showed up!" Reef barked angrily. "What's with the theatrics? Making us wait?"

The announcer on the high platform began shouting dramatically: "Now entering the arena, the infamous Drought Ja—"

BOOM!

Before the sentence was finished, Jack had transformed into his massive mammoth form. His sheer size silenced the entire arena.

"Urp..." Jack hiccupped, his trunk swaying slightly.

"You two. Together." His voice thundered. "I'm in a hurry."

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+165 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg