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[TIOP] Chapter : 17
🕑 Added 2025-02-02 21:03:22 +0000 UTCJack couldn't help but feel that Hina’s decisive response was exactly what one would expect from an exceptional naval commander. Upon discovering the pirates' plans, she immediately devised a strategy to counteract them.
"You all return the way we came and head straight back to the warship. I’ll head to the coastline and keep watch on the pirates. I’m taking the phone bug with me to ensure I can stay in direct contact with Captain Hina," Jack instructed his team firmly after ending the call.
The communication soldier hesitated for a moment, clearly conflicted. By regulation, the phone bug was supposed to remain with the communication officer. But given the current circumstances, it was obvious that him staying with Jack would only slow him down. Understanding the necessity of the situation, the soldier remained unsure yet silently agreed.
This team wasn’t typically equipped with communication personnel, which led Jack to suspect that Hina had assigned one specifically because of his ties to Vice Admiral Garp. She must have wanted to ensure he had the resources he needed.
Sensing the soldier’s unease, Jack placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and said, “Don’t worry about the rules. I’ll explain everything to Captain Hina later. If there’s any punishment, I’ll take full responsibility.”
The communication soldier scratched his head sheepishly and replied, “Thank you, Boss!” His voice carried both relief and gratitude as he watched Jack take charge of the situation.
After parting ways with his team, Jack pushed his speed to its limits. Although he hadn’t yet mastered Soru, the infusion of chakra made his movements incredibly swift.
In no time, he arrived near the coastline but chose to remain concealed rather than reveal his presence.
Meanwhile, Hina, having received Jack’s early warning, returned to the warship with her main forces. She maintained contact with the crew still aboard the ship, instructing them to stay vigilant against any surprise pirate attacks.
“Captain Hina, the pirates have reached their predetermined position. They appear to be scoping out the remaining crew on the warship,” Jack reported from his hidden vantage point, his sharp eyes fixed on the pirates’ movements.
“Well done. Keep monitoring them closely. If they show any signs of retreating, inform me immediately!” Hina responded. She sat calmly in the cabin, her gaze fixed on the tranquil sea outside, waiting for the pirates to make their move. She didn't want to let the pirates know that she was still on the warship.
Moments later, a sailor entered the cabin and saluted sharply. “Captain, the pirate ship has been spotted and is heading toward us!”
Hina's eyes narrowed. The trap was set, and the pirates were about to take the bait.
After a brief moment of thought, Hina gave her orders: “Weigh anchor and retreat slowly. Lure the pirates into pursuit!”
She knew that if the warship made no move, the pirates might grow suspicious. By appearing to flee, it would seem natural for the remaining crew to prioritize their safety and regroup with the others who had gone ashore.
As expected, the moment the pirates saw the warship attempting to escape, their ship surged forward, accelerating in pursuit of their prey.
“Perfect,” Hina said, a sly smile curling at the corner of her mouth. “Once they’re in range, open fire and close the distance to engage directly.”
“Yes, ma’am!” The crew snapped into action, quickly preparing for battle.
Meanwhile, Jack, still concealed along the coastline, observed the unfolding scene. As the pirate ship closed in on the warship, a thought struck him. His brow furrowed, and then his eyes widened in realization.
When the warship’s cannons roared to life, tearing into the pirate vessel, Jack slapped his forehead and shouted, “Damn it! My diamonds!”
If the pirate ship were sunk, the bounty could become meaningless to Jack. Though he had never tested it, the thought of losing a potential 5,500 diamonds was unbearable for someone as desperate for diamonds as he was. Gambling that amount just to test a theory felt far too extravagant.
As the battle unfolded, Jack noticed the pirate ship attempting to turn and flee under the relentless bombardment from the warship. He felt an overwhelming urge to rush over immediately, but the distance between the ships and the coastline posed a problem. By the time he swam over, it would be far too late to intervene.
“Damn it! Didn’t we agree that I’d handle the pirate leader? Where’s the trust between comrades?” Jack muttered angrily, pacing back and forth like a restless bird, all the while cursing Hina for her lack of camaraderie.
Suddenly, a deafening “Boom!” echoed across the waters. A cannon shot from the pursuing warship struck the pirate ship squarely. Though it didn’t sink immediately, the ship was crippled and could no longer escape.
“Forget it!” Jack groaned, spotting a small wooden boat nearby. Without a second thought, he grabbed it, rowing with all his might toward the pirate ship. He was determined to reach the ship before it sank, hoping to capture "Lone Wolf" Jim and claim the bounty for himself.
“Hey, look over there! Isn’t that Boss Jack? What on earth is he doing?” One of the navy crew exclaimed, spotting Jack paddling furiously toward the pirates in his tiny makeshift craft.
"Could it be…?" Hina muttered, glancing thoughtfully at Jack, who was rowing furiously in his small wooden boat. Exhaling a puff of smoke, a faint smile played at the corner of her lips.
"Boom!"
“Damn it, stop!” Jack shouted in frustration as another cannon blast from the warship struck the pirate ship. Pirates began leaping into the sea, desperately trying to escape the sinking vessel. Jack, visibly panicked, almost let loose a string of curses. No matter how hard he rowed, the wooden boat’s limited speed made it clear he might not reach the pirate ship in time to claim his reward.
"One more shot! Sink that hideous pirate ship," Hina ordered confidently from the deck. Her voice carried authority, matched by her satisfaction with the operation. "Everyone else, prepare to fish out the pirates who fall into the water. Don’t let a single one escape!"
This mission was shaping up to be a significant victory for the Navy, capturing the Wolf Pack Pirates with virtually no casualties. The flawless execution left Hina in high spirits. As for Jack, still paddling desperately toward the sinking ship, she had already put him out of her mind.
"Yes, ma’am!" The naval crew responded promptly, moving swiftly to carry out her commands.
By the time Jack reached the warship, the pirate ship had completely sunk, and the main leaders of the Wolf Pack Pirates had already been captured by the marines and brought aboard. While a few lesser pirates might have escaped by diving into the sea amidst the chaos, Hina didn’t seem overly concerned about them.
“Captain Hina, didn’t we agree that I would capture the pirate captain?” Jack asked, his expression dark as he climbed onto the deck.
“Are you questioning Hina?” Hina exhaled a puff of smoke and fixed Jack with a curious look, her tone carrying a faint challenge.
“I wouldn’t dare!” Jack replied, his eyes locking onto hers. Although his words expressed deference, his demeanor betrayed no hint of fear.
“Don’t worry,” Hina said, a knowing smirk forming as she tapped her cigarette. “Hina will make sure the report reflects the truth, and all the credit for this mission’s success will go to you. Plus, Hina did promise before, so the credit for capturing the pirate captain will also be yours.” She paused, clearly convinced that Jack’s anger stemmed from concern about losing recognition for his efforts.
“I’m not concerned about credit,” Jack said firmly, cutting through her assumptions. “Where is the pirate captain? Since he’s been captured, I want to challenge him. Is that acceptable?” He made his request cautiously but resolutely, his determination clear in his voice.
Hina studied Jack with a mix of doubt and curiosity. Could it be that his mad dash to the ship wasn’t about preserving his achievements but rather a result of his obsession with fighting? Reflecting on Jack’s frequent challenges to the officers onboard, Hina had initially assumed he was simply showing off in her presence. However, it now seemed far more likely that Jack was, in fact, just a battle-hungry maniac.
“Bring up Lone Wolf Jim!” Hina ordered after coming to her conclusion. She gave Jack a small nod, deciding to indulge his peculiar request and have Jim, the leader of the Wolf Pack Pirates, brought to the deck.
“Take your pick—whatever weapon you want. Don’t hold back!” Jack said provocatively as he personally removed Jim's handcuffs, his tone laced with challenge.
Jim, who had resigned himself to his likely execution, was startled by this sudden turn of events. Realizing he had been given an unexpected opportunity, a bloodthirsty grin spread across his face. He grabbed a sword from a nearby marine without hesitation and lunged straight at Jack.
In less than ten minutes, the fight was over. Jim lay unconscious on the deck, completely defeated. Meanwhile, Jack stood victorious, but his mood was anything but celebratory. Despite the effort, he hadn’t gained a single diamond from Jim's 55 million bounty, leaving him visibly frustrated and annoyed.
“Hmph! Pathetic! Is this the so-called strength of someone with a bounty of 55 million?” Jack scoffed, his disdain dripping from every word.
“It’s done,” Hina said, exhaling a puff of smoke as she gestured for the sailors to carry Jim away. “His bounty wasn’t a reflection of his strength but rather the malicious impact of his actions. Let’s return to the town and deal with the aftermath.” She glanced at the unconscious Jim before turning her attention back to the small, desolate island in the distance.
One of Hina’s adjutants stepped forward hesitantly and whispered, “Captain, we’ll need to report this incident to headquarters.”
Hina nodded slightly, her expression hardening. “We will, but first, let’s handle the bodies. We can’t just leave things in disarray.” Her voice was calm, yet the weight of what had transpired was evident.
As she spoke, Hina’s eyes flickered toward the uninhabited town on the island. The eerie stillness hung heavily in the air.
The adjutant sighed quietly, understanding the grim task ahead, and turned to make the necessary arrangements.
Jack, still standing nearby, looked utterly bewildered. He couldn’t grasp what Hina and her team were alluding to.
“Boss Jack,” a navy officer murmured, pulling Jack aside, his voice low and somber. “The Wolf Pack Pirates didn’t just attack the town—they massacred the villagers. They slaughtered everyone—elders, children, everyone. They even piled the bodies in the center of the town. It’s horrific.”
Jack’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, stunned by the officer’s words.
Although Jack had suspected this outcome earlier, he couldn’t be certain. After all, such an atrocity seemed illogical. Pirates typically gained nothing from massacring entire villages. Leaving villagers alive to work or pay tribute was the more practical route—just like the village where Jack had grown up. Under pirate rule, as long as you handed over your wealth, your life was spared.
“And the world government will undoubtedly cover this up,” the navy officer added grimly, his voice a hushed whisper. “If news of this gets out, the consequences would be disastrous. They’ll likely dispose of the bodies and erase any trace of this town.” His expression betrayed both horror and frustration, as though he was confronting this kind of reality for the first time.
Jack turned sharply, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Why?” he demanded, his voice laced with shock and anger.
Even though he’d seen similar themes unfold in anime, experiencing it firsthand left a bitter taste. Knowing the extent of the world government’s cold pragmatism was one thing; witnessing it was another. The idea of erasing innocent lives, denying them even the dignity of a proper burial, was unbearable.
“Because the world government thrives on stability,” Hina replied, stepping closer and exhaling a plume of smoke. “Because peace, even if built on lies, is their highest priority. And to maintain that illusion, they’ll do whatever is necessary.” She looked at Jack, her voice steady but tinged with an undercurrent of sadness. “If you think it’s wrong, then there’s only one solution: wipe out every last pirate. Only then will atrocities like this truly end.”
Jack clenched his teeth but chose not to argue. Deep down, he understood that while the pirates were the perpetrators, the World Government’s negligence and insistence on covering up the truth to preserve a facade of peace were equally infuriating.
However, confronting Hina about it now would be futile. Without another word, Jack turned on his heel and retreated to his cabin to rest.
“Jack!!” The navy officer who had been speaking with Jack earlier hesitated, as though he wanted to explain or defend Jack's reaction, but Hina silenced him with a wave of her hand.
“Let him be,” she said calmly, flicking the ashes from her cigarette. “Hina understands how he feels. In fact, Hina finds his reaction... refreshing.” There wasn’t a trace of disappointment in her tone—if anything, she seemed almost amused by Jack’s response.
