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[TIOP] Chapter : 107
🕑 Added 2025-05-03 19:08:56 +0000 UTC"Is this the place?" Jack asked, narrowing his eyes as their ship finally anchored near the small island marked in the intelligence reports.
"Yes, sir. According to CP's latest info, this is the spot," Lena confirmed with a nod.
"Good. You stay on the ship and keep an eye on those pirates—we wouldn’t want them getting any ideas. I’ll handle this alone," Jack said with a casual smile.
On their way here, they’d encountered plenty of pirates. Jack had cut down most of them without mercy. Only those with bounties over 30 million were spared—locked up in the ship’s seastone cells, destined to refill the empty prisons of Impel Down.
"Sir, let me come with you," Lena insisted. "The cells are reinforced with seastone—they won’t be escaping anytime soon."
Jack shrugged. "Fine. Let’s go together."
The two disembarked and made their way from the port to the town nestled on the island.
"Where should we start? Maybe the bar?" Lena suggested. "It’s usually the best place to gather intel. If we’re looking for a blind man, he might be easier to find there."
Jack chuckled and pointed across the street. "No need. We’re going straight to the casino."
"The casino?" Lena blinked, puzzled. A blind man, in a casino? That didn’t add up. Still, she followed Jack without question.
Inside, the air was thick with smoke and tension. And there, at a crowded gambling table, Jack immediately spotted their target: a blind man with a calm smile, his cane resting by his side.
"Sir, look—" Lena began, noticing how the gamblers around him were clearly taking advantage of his blindness, cheating him right under his nose.
But before she could finish, Jack raised his hand, signaling her to stay quiet.
"I wonder... would you mind if I joined in?" Jack asked with an easy smile, pulling up a stool.
"Sure!" one voice replied.
"No way!" barked the others in unison.
"This table's full, pal. Try your luck elsewhere," one of the gamblers snapped, his tone sharp and defensive—almost desperate to avoid unwanted attention.
"Ah, my apologies," Issho—the blind man—said with a soft chuckle. "I can’t see, so I didn’t realize the table was full."
Lena’s jaw clenched. The more she watched, the angrier she got. These thugs were ganging up on a blind old man, and now they were trying to shut her and Jack out too. She could smell the foul play from a mile away.
What she didn’t realize was that these gamblers weren’t worried about cheating—they simply didn’t want to share their winnings. They assumed Jack had caught wind of an easy mark and wanted in on their scheme.
"Didn't I tell you? No room. Why are you still here?" The same gambler sneered, glaring at Jack and Lena.
That was the last straw for Lena. She slammed her hands on the table, eyes blazing. "You think you can bully this blind uncle and get away with it? Justice may be delayed, but it never fails to arrive!"
Issho paused, visibly surprised by her words. Then his lips curled into a warm smile. "Justice may be delayed, but never absent... What a fine thing to say, young lady."
Blushing a little, Lena straightened. "It’s something my parents used to tell me. And I believe it’s true!"
The gamblers scoffed. "So what, you came here to ruin our fun? Jealous we won’t let you get a piece of the action, huh?"
Lena glared. "That's not it at all!"
But Jack stepped in before tempers flared further. "Easy, Lena. No need to get worked up. This is a gambling house, after all—we play by the house rules here. And if Issho-san keeps coming back, even knowing what’s going on, I’d wager he’s more prepared than he lets on."
His words hung in the air, cool and confident, as he leaned back in his chair, watching everything unfold with sharp, knowing eyes.
"So, it seems the two of you came looking for me?" Issho asked with a calm smile.
"Jack, Rear Admiral of Navy Headquarters," Jack said, in introduction.
He was unaware that Sengoku had already recommended him for promotion to admiral—so he still considered himself a rear admiral.
"Ah, so you’re the famous Genius of the Navy," Issho replied, unshaken by the name. His voice remained even, almost amused. "May I ask what business you have with me?"
The other gamblers, however, weren’t so composed. The moment they realized they were facing a navy officer of such rank, panic set in. Though this was a gambling den, none of them had the nerve to stay now. In a flurry of footsteps and muttered curses, they scrambled to leave.
Jack got straight to the point. "I’d like you to join the navy. With pirates multiplying by the day, I have my own vision for justice—and I need strong allies like you to make it real."
Issho chuckled, tapping the dice on the table. "But you’ve scared off everyone before I could even finish my game. My bet’s still hanging in the air, you know."
Jack grinned and grabbed the dice. "Then let’s play. Simple rules—high roll wins, and the winner calls the shots. Deal?"
"Interesting." Issho’s smile widened. "I accept."
"In that case, Issho-san, why don’t you go first?" Jack offered the dice with a courteous nod.
"Gladly." Issho took them and gave them a practiced shake.
"Three, three, and five... That’s eleven points for Issho-san," Jack announced, eyeing the dice with a smile.
"Not bad at all," Issho said, clearly pleased with the roll.
"My turn," Jack said, scooping up the dice. This time, he refrained from using any of his abilities—just a casual shake and drop.
"Lena, would you do the honors? Call it out for Issho-san," Jack said, still smiling.
Lena stepped forward and lifted the cup. Her face tensed with unease. She hesitated, torn between duty and the outcome. But in the end, her sense of justice prevailed. Though she knew how important this man was to Jack’s mission—and even toyed with the idea of fudging the count—she couldn’t bring herself to lie. "Three, three, and four... Sir, that’s ten. Just a point shy of his."
Her voice was low as she added, "So... Issho-san wins."
Lowering her head, Lena couldn’t bring herself to meet Jack’s gaze. She feared he might think she’d sabotaged the result on purpose to block Issho’s recruitment.
But Jack only chuckled. "Looks like Lady Luck favors you today, Issho-san. A deal’s a deal—you win. So, is there anything you’d like from me?"
As he spoke, he reached out and lightly patted Lena’s head, his smile warm and reassuring.
Relief washed over her, and she beamed back at him. She knew then—Lord Jack wasn’t the kind to bend justice or cheat, not even against a blind man. The navy she believed in stood true.
Issho tilted his head, genuinely surprised. "Well, would you look at that? I actually won. That doesn’t happen often. But as for favors..." He gave a small laugh. "I don’t have anything to ask of you, Officer."
"Since Issho-san has no requests for me, I’ll take my leave," Jack said with a warm smile as he rose from his seat. "But my promise stands—should you ever call on me, I’ll be there to honor our wager."
Issho nodded thoughtfully. "I must say, I didn’t expect a navy man to be so true to his word. But tell me—how did you hear about me? I wouldn’t think a blind man like myself would fit in with the navy's ranks."
Jack’s smile widened. "I happened to hear someone mention you, and what struck me was how closely your ideals align with mine. But, truth be told, the navy today is weighed down by too many chains. I’m doing my best, but one man’s strength can only go so far. That’s why I’m gathering comrades who share my vision—to restore justice within the navy, together."
At this, Issho fell silent. Jack could sense the battle within him: tempted, yet uncertain.
"How about this?" Jack offered, leaning forward slightly. "Come with me to headquarters. See things for yourself first. Then decide if you want to walk this path with me."
Issho blinked in surprise, then chuckled softly. "Well, the truth is, I’ve been considering joining the navy. But I always feared they wouldn’t have a place for someone like me—a blind man."
Jack shook his head, his voice firm. "This isn’t a beauty contest. The navy needs people of conviction, not perfect eyesight. If your heart beats for justice, you belong with us."
He knew well that Issho would one day join through the World Military Draft and rise to the rank of admiral. This invitation was merely accelerating fate.
Not long after, Issho agreed. He followed Jack and Lena back to the Pearl, setting sail toward Navy Headquarters.
