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[TIOP] Chapter : 84
🕑 Added 2025-03-29 21:01:56 +0000 UTCThe next morning, just as Jack had nearly restored his internal energy and was contemplating the best time to head out and gather more diamonds, Lena arrived with exciting news.
"Sir, a group of pirates has been tied up and left in front of the naval branch at the Sabaody Archipelago. They claim to have been captured by the Heart Pirates. It seems that because you spared them at Sabaody, they followed your directives and defeated a group of pirates who were attacking civilians!" Lena reported as she entered the ward.
"Oh? Is that so? That's fantastic!" Jack's eyes lit up. It was as if someone had handed him a pillow just as he was feeling drowsy.
"But sir, are you sure you're well enough to go?" Lena asked, a bit puzzled.
Though Jack had always shown a particular enthusiasm for bounty targets, his eagerness today seemed unusual.
"I've been cooped up here for too long—my body’s practically rusting! I'll just be handling a few small-time pirates. Besides, you’ll be with me, won’t you? I’ll be fine." Jack reassured her with a grin.
With no choice but to comply, Lena helped Jack change into his uniform, and the two set off for Sabaody.
As soon as they arrived, a buzz of excitement rippled through the gathered marines.
"Look, it's Rear Admiral Jack!"
"Whoa! He's so young!"
"You don’t know? Rear Admiral Jack is the youngest prodigy in the navy! They say his strength rivals that of an admiral!"
"Seriously? That’s impossible! He’s that powerful at such a young age?"
Accompanied by Lena, Jack arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago, where a contingent of navy soldiers stood guard. These soldiers were not just ordinary personnel—they were the elite crew of the Pearl, Jack's direct subordinates.
As they moved through the archipelago, the murmurs of the residents reached their ears, each whisper filled with admiration and curiosity. Hearing their commander's name spoken with such respect only swelled the soldiers’ pride—after all, they served under Genius Jack.
A Commodore from the Sabaody naval branch stepped forward, saluting smartly before delivering his report.
"Rear Admiral Jack, these are the pirates captured by the Heart Pirates. They were caught in the act of attacking civilians and attempting to plunder treasures when the Heart Pirates intervened and subdued them."
Jack nodded thoughtfully. "At the time, Admiral Kizaru was engaged in battle with the former first mate of the Pirate King—Silvers Rayleigh. Meanwhile, the Straw Hat Pirates were making their escape. After I defeated both the Heart Pirates and the Kidd Pirates, I chose not to imprison them immediately but instead rushed to reinforce Admiral Kizaru. I hadn’t expected the Heart Pirates to adhere to the rules and actually deliver these criminals."
The commodore chuckled, his tone carrying a note of admiration. "Who in these seas doesn’t know Rear Admiral Jack’s rules by now? As long as a pirate isn’t an irredeemable menace, you offer them a chance—on the condition that they bring in the heads of those who prey on the innocent. Because of this, attacks on civilians have drastically decreased. Rear Admiral Jack, your strategy is truly a great service to justice!"
In truth, given his rank, the commodore had no real need to flatter Jack so excessively. Although he held a lower rank—a level beneath Jack, who was a commodore in the headquarters—his position in the Sabaody Archipelago carried significant weight. Situated near the Holy Land of Mariejoa and Marineford, his authority far surpassed that of commodores stationed in the Four Seas branches.
However, he had personally inspected the aftermath of Jack’s battle with Silvers Rayleigh and witnessed something astonishing—an entire section of Area 12 had vanished without a trace. While the destruction had been attributed to the battle’s aftermath, as the chief officer of the Sabaody Archipelago, he knew the truth: the devastation was the result of a single strike from the man standing before him, Rear Admiral Jack.
Jack, however, had little patience for empty praise. Waving a hand dismissively, he interrupted, “Enough with the pleasantries. Are there any bounties among these pirates?”
The commodore quickly straightened, nodding. “Yes, their captain, Executioner Robochi, carries a bounty of 72 million, while his deputy, Rogue Tusky, has a bounty of 38 million.”
A faint smile played on Jack’s lips. “Good. I’ll personally escort these two to the Impel Down. As for the rest, handle them according to their crimes. Anyone found guilty of murder—execute them. No leniency.”
The two pirates yielded a total of 4,900 diamonds—just enough for Jack to finally acquire the Sage Mode.
Once everything was settled, Jack personally escorted the two criminals back to headquarters, completed the necessary handover procedures, and, as expected, received his diamond reward.
Meanwhile, in the Fleet Admiral’s office, Sengoku scrutinized the report in front of him with mild skepticism. “So, you’re telling me that Jack went all the way to the Sabaody Archipelago just to bring back two pirates?”
The marine standing before him nodded. “Yes, sir. Rear Admiral Jack's movements were unimpeded, and everything unfolded exactly as reported. We kept him under surveillance the entire time.”
A chuckle came from the side. The Chief of Staff smiled knowingly. “Heh, Sengoku, this kid really understands how to ‘work efficiently.’ At first, we thought his habit of letting certain pirates go was meaningless. But now, the effects are starting to show. After this incident, we’ll likely see a significant decline in pirate attacks on civilians.”
Sengoku nodded thoughtfully. From their perspective, Jack’s actions appeared to be a carefully staged maneuver, reinforcing his ideals while subtly reshaping pirate behavior. They saw no reason to question his motives further.
What they didn’t realize, however, was that Jack’s so-called “grand gesture” had nothing to do with strategy or ideology. He had done all of this for one simple reason—diamonds. If he hadn’t needed just a few hundred more to purchase the Toad Sage Mode, he wouldn’t have even shown up in person. Under normal circumstances, he would have left the entire matter in Lena’s hands. But with the reward within reach, he couldn’t afford to miss the opportunity—hence, what seemed like a deliberate performance was, in reality, nothing more than a well-timed convenience.
Following this incident, pirate attacks on civilians significantly declined, both across the Four Seas and along the Grand Line. Those aware of the reason behind this shift expressed deep gratitude toward Jack. Even within the navy, many officers began to reevaluate their opinions of him, while a growing number of soldiers wholeheartedly aligned themselves with his ideals.
Upon returning to his villa, Jack wasted no time—he immediately accessed the system’s shop and purchased the long-coveted Sage Mode.
“You have spent 170,000 diamonds and obtained the Toad Sage Mode.”
The system’s announcement was music to his ears. Brimming with excitement, Jack opened his inventory, but instead of using the technique right away, he carefully examined its description.
Nothing changed from the previous description. He remained still, trying to sense natural energy; in a few seconds, he managed to perceive it and then started to absorb it. The feeling was incredible; he felt like he could take on Aokiji or Garp with this power.
He then started experimenting, trying to combine Observation Haki's sensing with sage mode sensing; after a few tries, he was able to do it. The effect was mind-boggling; he could now sense the whole Marineford. Previously it was only to the extent of 2.5 kilometers. But now, that threshold has been completely blasted open. Using Armament Haki and sage mode in conjunction was also not too difficult. With his body brimming with energy, he immediately wanted to spar with Garp to test his new limits.
