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[TIOP] Chapter : 52
🕑 Added 2025-02-28 18:39:41 +0000 UTC"This matter is of utmost importance—so much so that it could shape the future of the Fishmen race. That’s why I can only discuss it with you, Your Majesty," Jack said calmly. "Of course, if you're concerned about my intentions, Jinbei can stay. With him here, he can stop me if I attempt anything untoward."
"You dare speak so boldly! Are you afraid to let others hear your words? What if you're plotting harm against His Majesty?" The ministers objected one after another. However, Jack ignored them, his gaze fixed solely on King Neptune.
Neptune exchanged a glance with Jinbei, preparing to respond, when a voice suddenly came from behind Jack.
"I believe we are qualified to stay."
Turning around, Jack found himself facing the three princes of Ryugu Kingdom.
"The eldest prince, Fukaboshi, may remain," Jack decided after a moment of thought. "As for the second and third princes, I leave it to Your Majesty’s discretion whether they should be informed afterward. However, I believe the fewer people who know about this, the safer it will be."
In his memory, while the three princes were not particularly skilled in combat, they were all honorable individuals.
"Very well," Neptune agreed with a nod. "Aside from Fukaboshi and Jinbei, everyone else, leave the room."
Once the others had departed, Jack finally spoke.
"Your Majesty Neptune, let me ask you this—have the fishmen ever considered ascending to the surface and living freely?"
Jack’s words caused Neptune and the others to widen their eyes in shock. Though the fishmen thrived underwater, many among them still longed for a life beneath the sun—a dream for which Neptune’s own queen had made the ultimate sacrifice.
"Jack-san! Do you realize what you're suggesting?" Jinbei interjected, his voice laced with disbelief.
Jack merely smiled and said, "Alright, if you’re not ready to answer, that’s fine. Let’s get to the real reason I’m here. First, allow me to properly introduce myself."
"My name is Jack, Commodore of the Navy Headquarters," Jack said with a calm smile. "My sensei is none other than Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp—the Hero of the Navy."
Neptune and Jinbei exchanged glances, unsure of Jack’s intent. Was he simply flaunting his background? That didn’t seem like his style. Meanwhile, Prince Fukaboshi frowned, visibly unimpressed. He had little patience for humans who boasted of their status.
"But as I mentioned earlier, Jinbei, I am also Ace’s sworn brother. That wasn’t a lie. We shared the cup of sake as a symbol of our brotherhood," Jack continued, unfazed by their reactions. "And Ace’s younger brother, Luffy—you’ve heard of him as well. But do you understand the connection between them?"
Neptune and Jinbei remained silent, sensing Jack had more to reveal.
"Luffy's full name is Monkey D. Luffy. Ace’s full name is Portgas D. Ace," Jack said, then turned to Jinbei. "Do you see the pattern now?"
"D?" Both Jinbei and Neptune exclaimed in unison.
Fukaboshi, however, looked at them in confusion, unfamiliar with the significance of the name.
"That’s right," Jack confirmed. "They all bear the name of the ‘D’ clan. Luffy’s grandfather—my mentor—is part of that legacy. And Ace… his surname follows his mother's because his father’s name was one the world was never meant to hear." His voice dropped to a solemn tone, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
"Ace’s brother is actually Vice Admiral Garp’s grandson?" Jinbei asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Hey~~ Weren’t we talking about Ace? Why are you suddenly more concerned about Luffy?" Jack sighed, exasperated.
"My apologies, please continue," Jinbei said, scratching his head awkwardly. "But if Ace is Luffy’s brother, doesn’t that mean he’s also Vice Admiral Garp’s grandson?"
Jack shook his head. "No, Ace was entrusted to Garp by his father when he was just a child. Of course, emotionally speaking, my sensei has always treated him like a grandson. When he was young, Ace formed a brotherhood pact with Luffy and another boy named Sabo."
"Then who is Ace’s father?" Neptune asked, immediately latching onto the most crucial detail.
Jack shot him an approving glance. Finally, someone who knows how to steer a conversation! Unlike that blue, chubby Jinbei—he couldn’t even play the role of a proper supporting character!
"Gol D. Roger," Jack stated plainly.
Neptune and the prince froze, their eyes widening, mouths slightly agape as they stared at Jack in shock.
"Jack-san, you must be mistaken…" Jinbei stammered, struggling to process the revelation.
Jack exhaled deeply. "Now do you understand the gravity of the situation?"
"Gravity? What gravity?" Jinbei shrugged. "Sure, this is surprising, but as long as no one knows, it shouldn’t be a big deal. Besides, Ace is on Whitebeard’s ship now—who would dare threaten him?"
"You idiot!" Jack snapped. "Do all fishmen fail to think things through before speaking?" But realizing his outburst, he quickly took a breath, turned to Neptune, and gave a respectful bow. "Apologies, Your Majesty. I let my frustration get the better of me—I meant no offense."
"Then tell me, just how serious is this situation?" Prince Fukaboshi asked, his gaze fixed on Jack.
Though he was slightly displeased by Jack’s earlier remark, he still couldn’t grasp why the matter was as dire as Jack claimed. Ace’s identity was indeed extraordinary, but how did it connect to Fishman Island?
"Do you know of Blackbeard?" Jack sighed, shifting the conversation.
Jinbei’s brows furrowed in surprise. This was the second time Jack had mentioned that name in such a short span.
"I warned Ace before—Teach is no ordinary man. You know Red-Haired Shanks, don’t you? I believe he understands exactly why I fear Teach so much," Jack said. "Now, with Crocodile having lost his position as a Warlord of the Sea, there’s an empty seat among the Seven Warlords. The World Government recently summoned the remaining warlords to discuss the matter, and Teach sent his subordinate to express his desire for that vacant spot."
"So what?" Jinbei scoffed. "Ace himself once refused the title of Warlord!"
Jack shook his head. "Do you think the government would simply hand over a warlord position just because Blackbeard asked for it? Of course not. To secure that title, he has to offer something valuable in return—or prove his strength in an undeniable way. Do you understand where I’m going with this?"
Neptune and Fukaboshi exchanged uncertain glances, still struggling to grasp the full implications.
Jinbei, however, fell into deep thought. He was beginning to see the dangerous path Jack was outlining.
"You mean Teach is targeting Ace? But he shouldn't even be aware of Ace's true identity!" Jinbei asked, puzzled.
Jack nodded. "You're right—Teach doesn’t know Ace’s real lineage. But that doesn’t stop him from making his move. Ace is the captain of Whitebeard’s Second Division, a position of immense value. For the government or the navy, capturing him would be a prize too great to ignore. If Blackbeard offers Ace in exchange for the title of Warlord, do you really think the government would refuse?"
Jinbei opened his mouth to argue but found himself at a loss for words.
"Ace wouldn’t be captured that easily, would he?" Neptune, finally piecing things together, got straight to the heart of the matter.
Jinbei also began to grasp Jack’s point. "I acknowledge that Teach is strong, but capturing Ace? That seems impossible."
"Have you heard of the Dark-Dark Fruit? That’s the Devil Fruit Teach stole, and it grants him terrifying abilities. More importantly, do you truly understand Teach’s strength? He’s not just some ordinary pirate—he’s a man who managed to wound Red-Haired Shanks. Do you think someone like that is just an average opponent?" Jack said, shaking his head.
Neptune and the others exchanged uncertain glances, their expressions showing traces of concern.
"Even if what you say is true, and Ace is in danger, what does this have to do with Fishman Island?" Fukaboshi frowned. "Whitebeard and Ace have always had good relations with us, but I fail to see how this situation is so severe that it could lead to the destruction of our island."
Jack glanced at Jinbei, chuckled, and said, "It’s quite simple—let’s consider a scenario. Suppose Teach captures Ace and hands him over to the navy. The government would undoubtedly use this opportunity to publicly execute him, making an example of him to strike fear into all pirates. Now, Jinbei, can you guess what happens next?"
Jinbei’s expression darkened. "If that happens, we’ll be in serious trouble. Pops would never stand for it. A war between the navy and the Whitebeard Pirates would be inevitable."
"Exactly," Jack said, nodding. "The navy wouldn’t just act on impulse. They would prepare in secret, ensuring that once they announce Ace’s capture, everything is already in place. This wouldn’t just be about luring Whitebeard into battle—it would be a carefully orchestrated plan to crush the Whitebeard Pirates and use the conflict as a stepping stone to push further into the New World. And tell me, do you really think Fishman Island, which relies on Whitebeard’s protection, would remain untouched in the chaos?"
Neptune turned to Jinbei, his expression thoughtful. While he found Jack’s words somewhat exaggerated, he still wanted to hear Jinbei’s opinion. However, seeing the troubled look on Jinbei’s face, Neptune asked, "Jinbei, do you really think things will unfold this way?"
Jinbei let out a deep sigh. "If Ace is truly captured, then Dad will never sit idly by. But… facing a navy that has meticulously prepared for war would put the Whitebeard Pirates at a serious disadvantage. Not to mention…" He hesitated.
Jack picked up where Jinbei left off. "Not to mention that Whitebeard is old. While he remains a terrifying force, he’s no longer the invincible legend he once was, isn’t that right?"
Jinbei’s face darkened. He wanted to deny it, but he couldn’t—Jack was telling the truth.
A heavy silence settled over the room. After a while, Jack broke it. "And I have a strong feeling that Whitebeard already knows Ace’s true identity."
"Huh?" Jinbei and the others turned to Jack in surprise.
"Never mind, that’s not the main issue right now," Jack continued. "The priority is finding Ace before he faces Blackbeard. Ideally, we’d convince him to abandon this pursuit. If that’s not possible, then at the very least, we need a fighter of Jinbei’s caliber to be there as backup. After all, my position within the navy limits how much I can directly intervene. That, Your Majesty, is why I came to Fishman Island." His voice was steady, carrying the weight of both urgency and sincerity.
"No matter how this situation unfolds, even though your intention wasn’t to aid Fish-Man Island directly, we will not forget this favor," Neptune said with a solemn nod.
"I also want to express my gratitude, Jack-san." Jinbei added. "If you ever need my assistance in the future, don’t hesitate to ask. As for Ace, I’ll dispatch people to gather information, and once I have any leads, I’ll personally go to him."
Jack nodded. "If you hear anything about Ace, please inform me. There are things I need to discuss with him. Also, it’s crucial to keep his lineage a secret. The fewer people who know, the lower the risk."
Neptune nodded in agreement. "Understood. Is there anything else you need?"
"Yes. I came here with two objectives. The first is to find out Whitebeard’s current location. Regardless of how things develop, I need to personally inform him of this situation. The second matter… I can only discuss with you privately, Your Majesty," Jack said.
Jinbei hesitated for a moment before revealing Whitebeard’s coordinates. Despite Jack being Garp’s disciple, Jinbei didn’t believe he could pose any threat to Whitebeard. With that settled, he exchanged glances with Prince Fukaboshi, then stood up and left, signaling their growing trust in Jack.
Half a day later, Jack emerged from the Ryuugu Palace, visibly energized. Without delay, he returned to the Pearl and, using the coordinates provided by Jinbei, set sail toward the waters where Whitebeard was last seen.
After Jack departed, Neptune turned to Jinbei and asked, "Jinbei, what do you think of that young man?"
Jinbei pondered for a moment before replying, "He’s quite an intriguing individual. His vision is exceptionally far-sighted, and I suspect his strength is formidable as well. Why do you ask, Your Majesty?"
Neptune gazed out at the distant sea and said softly, "He spoke to me about his ideals... and the future of Fish-Man Island."
Jinbei raised an eyebrow in surprise. "His ideals?" He hadn’t expected Jack to discuss such matters with the king.
Neptune nodded. "Yes. A grand, beautiful dream—so ambitious and distant that I doubt he will ever achieve it."
Jinbei remained silent. He wanted to ask for more details but hesitated, sensing it wasn’t the right time.
"Let’s give it a chance," Neptune continued with a small smile, as if reassuring himself. "Even if he fails, our people have nothing to lose."
"Your Majesty... do you truly believe he can succeed?" Jinbei asked cautiously.
"I do," Neptune replied with certainty. "His dream is so vast, so extraordinary, that no one in this world has ever dared to envision it in such a way."
Jinbei's curiosity deepened, but he knew Neptune wouldn’t reveal more just yet. If he intended to, he would have already done so.
