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[TIOP] Chapter : 15
🕑 Added 2025-02-02 21:00:55 +0000 UTCThe following day, Jack reported to Commodore Brannew. The moment he laid eyes on the green-haired officer, he froze for a moment—not out of intimidation, but because he recognized him.
Though Jack hadn’t known his name before, Brannew was a familiar face from the anime he had watched. This was the very officer who chaired the meeting to determine Luffy's first bounty. Among marine fans, Brannew had even earned the nickname "Meeting King" for being the Navy’s official secretary.
"Hello, Commodore. I’m Jack, the new recruit assigned under your command," Jack said, saluting and formally reporting in.
Brannew set down the document he had been reviewing and smiled. "I’ve heard of you—the recruit who graduated early. While I’m a bit surprised you were assigned to me, it’s not unusual. Every few years, a few exceptional individuals emerge in the Navy."
Jack listened to Brannew’s words, unsure how to respond.
"You’ll still need to participate in standard group training," Brannew continued, clearly familiar with Jack’s reputation. "I understand this type of training might not do much for someone at your level, so I’ll grant you some flexibility. During group training, you can decide how to train as long as you attend. It’s a necessary part of integrating into the Navy. Beyond that, your free time is yours to manage."
Brannew’s words were both clear and accommodating, setting expectations while giving Jack the freedom he needed.
"Understood, Commodore!" Jack nodded in acknowledgment, his tone respectful.
Though he hadn’t yet begun practicing intermediate-level exercises, Jack didn’t mind engaging in physical training for now.
Brannew regarded him with a hint of surprise. Based on what he had learned, Jack wasn’t particularly fond of group physical training. It was, after all, the primary reason he challenged the recruit instructors and earned an early graduation from the recruit camp.
"Additionally," Brannew continued, "I’ve heard about your application for a mission. I should clarify that the nature of my duties rarely requires me to go to sea. Most of my soldiers are assigned to intelligence-gathering and civilian investigative missions. That said, considering your unique situation, if you are reassigned to a mission, I’ll ensure it’s officially recorded as part of my unit’s operations."
He smiled, his tone carrying an air of goodwill. This gesture could be seen as Brannew’s way of rewarding Jack for showing respect and agreeing to join the training sessions without resistance.
"Thank you, Commodore," Jack replied, saluting in appreciation. He recognized this as a deliberate show of kindness and tactfully expressed his gratitude.
"Good. Head off to training, then. If anything urgent arises, I’ll come find you directly," Brannew said, dismissing him with a wave of his hand.
**Meanwhile, at the Missions office*
"Is this the pirate hunter Smoker mentioned? Hina doesn't like him very much!" A striking woman with long, light pink hair and purple-tinted sunglasses resting on her head held Jack's "mission" request. Her serious expression matched the sharp tone in her voice.
"Yes, Captain Hina!" The staff member responded with admiration, their eyes sparkling as they addressed the female captain.
"Even so, he shows great potential and possesses a heart of justice," interjected Captain Stalin as he entered the room. He nodded towards Captain Hina before adding, "I've experienced his strength firsthand."
"Is that so? Then Hina will need to reassess her opinion," the captain said thoughtfully, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Assign him to Hina's ship. Hina will be heading out to sea soon." She nodded at the staff member, her words carrying the weight of a firm decision.
The staff quickly complied, processing the paperwork to formalize the assignment. It wouldn’t be long before someone informed Jack about his placement and the time to prepare for boarding.
Meanwhile, Jack remained unaware of the new development. Deep in his training routine, he was focused entirely on his exercises, clad in weight-bearing equipment and pushing himself relentlessly.
"Is that guy really just a newly promoted soldier?" One of the nearby marines whispered in disbelief, his gaze fixed on Jack’s intense training session. His astonishment was mirrored by others who watched Jack in awe, marveling at his stamina and strength.
"Yes, I heard that because of his strength, he was granted permission to graduate early from the recruit camp!" one naval soldier whispered, his voice low as if worried Jack might overhear.
"No way! Why isn’t a monster like him in the elite training camp?" another soldier asked, his confusion evident.
"Seriously? Do you think just anyone can get in there?" a more informed soldier replied in a hushed, conspiratorial tone. "While Jack’s strength is impressive, it’s only compared to us. Besides, he’s older than we are."
As their murmured discussions continued, Jack remained entirely focused on his training. The noise around him didn’t matter. Being at navy headquarters had its perks—there was no shortage of quality training equipment. Thanks to his relentless effort, Jack's physical abilities were improving rapidly.
"Private Jack, your request to go on a sea mission has been approved. Please report to dock six at 8 a.m. in one week!" A signal officer approached him after the morning training, delivering the news.
"So soon!?" Jack muttered, momentarily surprised. While he didn’t yet know the details of the mission, the prospect of heading out to sea was exciting. After all, the Grand Line was teeming with pirates, many with bounties worth tens of millions. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for.
Jack threw himself into rigorous training with unmatched determination. He refused to risk encountering a bounty pirate at sea and being unable to capture them due to a lack of strength. His relentless efforts were so intense that they began to unsettle the marines training alongside him. Even his commanding officer, Captain Brannew, intervened multiple times, urging him to pace himself and prioritize rest.
A week later, Jack arrived at the port and boarded the warship. Upon spotting Captain Hina, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
"Captain Hina, Private Jack reporting as ordered!" Jack saluted sharply and announced.
Hina regarded him with curiosity. "Do you know Hina?" she asked, tilting her head.
"I heard Captain Smoker mention you," Jack replied smoothly. "He described a stylish and beautiful woman who smokes ladies’ cigarettes—it had to be you!" he added with a hint of amusement.
In truth, Smoker had never mentioned Hina at all. However, Hina’s reputation preceded her. Female officers like her were already famous, and fans of One Piece would recognize her instantly as the user of the "cage-cage Fruit."
After all, her Devil Fruit ability was formidable. Hina could summon iron-hard fences from her body to trap her enemies with ease, making her both a respected and feared figure in the navy.
"Hina doesn’t believe Smoker would talk about Hina with you!" She retorted, though her mood had visibly brightened despite her words.
As Jack boarded the ship and watched Hina retreat to her cabin, he couldn’t help but think to himself, 'So Smoker and Hina are still in touch, and he even mentioned me. It’s probably because he knows I was taken under Garp’s wing.'
Life at sea quickly turned monotonous. Since their initial meeting, Jack hadn’t spoken to Hina again. Instead, his days were filled with fulfilling his duties as a sailor, practicing chakra control while meditating, and challenging the naval officers onboard.
By the second day, Jack had already issued challenges to every naval officer aboard Hina's ship—excluding Hina herself. Although these challenges didn’t provide him with much experience, they still brought him some gains. Ordinary soldiers, however, were spared his attention, as they offered no benefit to him.
The officers, on the other hand, weren’t as fortunate. Only Hina’s adjutant required three days to "refresh" before providing any additional experience. The other non-commissioned officers, however, could be challenged again as early as the next day. This meant Jack eagerly challenged them repeatedly, ignoring their protests and defeats from the previous day.
By now, every officer on the ship had grown wary of Jack. The moment they saw him approach, they would hurriedly find reasons to escape or hide, desperate to avoid yet another round of sparring with him.
"Sir, is it really alright to let him continue like this?" Hina's adjutant asked, his face weary as he glanced at Jack lounging on the deck. Not a single sergeant was in sight, though the soldiers were clearly enjoying the spectacle.
"Hina doesn't feel this is the right time to step in. After all, he hasn't actually hurt anyone," Hina replied, taking a casual puff of her signature lady's cigarette. There was a hint of reluctance in her tone, as though she found the situation mildly amusing despite the adjutant's concern.
The adjutant sighed heavily, shaking his head in exasperation. Being Hina's second-in-command had its downsides—Jack only challenged him every other day out of respect. But even that reprieve felt futile.
"Hey, Boss Jack, are the sergeants hiding again today?" A sailor called out, grinning as he joined the growing group of onlookers.
Jack shrugged nonchalantly. "Honestly, I was just bored with all this sailing and wanted to pass the time. I didn’t think it’d cause such a stir with the sergeants. If someone could tell them, just let them know I won’t challenge them anymore. They can come out of hiding."
A sudden voice startled him. "You’re serious? You’re not going to challenge us anymore?"
Jack turned toward the source and found a sergeant emerging from a massive wooden barrel meant for storing water, his expression a mix of suspicion and relief.
Caught off guard, Jack chuckled. "Yeah, I’m serious. No more challenges. But I have to say, your hiding spot is impressive! I looked everywhere and couldn’t find you until now!"
The sergeant looked at him incredulously before glancing at Hina, as if to confirm whether Jack’s words could be trusted. Meanwhile, the other soldiers burst into laughter at the absurdity of the situation.
"That’s easy. How could I keep hiding if you found me? Just don’t challenge me again. Let’s call it even—I’ll treat you to a drink!" the sergeant said with a grin, throwing an arm around Jack’s shoulders.
"Alright, but you’re covering both the food and the wine, as promised," Jack replied with a helpless smile.
With that, Jack decided to call it quits on his daily challenges. There were only a handful of non-commissioned officers on the ship, and pestering them every day was starting to feel a bit awkward—even to him. Besides, the experience he gained from these matches had significantly dwindled, so giving up wasn’t much of a loss.
After nearly ten days at sea, the warship finally reached its destination. This time, their mission was clear: Hina had been tasked with taking down the notorious pirate "Lone Wolf" Jim, who carried a bounty of 55 million berries.
"The enemy is cunning," Hina began, addressing her crew after they docked in a secluded bay. "They massacred several villages in a small kingdom, avoiding direct confrontation with the kingdom’s army. Then, when the army left the capital, they launched a full-scale robbery, resulting in the tragic deaths of the entire royal family. Because of this atrocity, the headquarters has sent me to capture the Lone Wolf."
Her tone was sharp as she outlined the mission, leaving no doubt about the seriousness of their task.
"I’ve just received intel that the Lone Wolf is currently resting on the small island ahead. The plan is simple—sink their pirate ship first, then launch a ground assault to capture the Lone Wolf," Hina announced, pointing toward the island in the distance. Her tone was crisp, her command clear.
After issuing her orders, Hina pulled Jack aside for a private conversation.
"Jack, Hina knows you’re quite capable, but once the battle begins, Hina hopes you won’t act on impulse or stray from orders," she said, her voice firm yet tinged with concern.
Hina understood all too well that prodigies like Jack often had a habit of doing things their own way—Smoker was a prime example. Still, she didn’t want any rogue actions jeopardizing her mission, especially not under her command.
"Understood, Captain! But if possible, may I request to be the one to capture him? A criminal who massacres innocent civilians is unforgivable!" Jack replied, carefully donning an expression of righteous indignation—exactly what he knew she wanted to see.
