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[TIOP] Chapter : 6
🕑 Added 2025-02-02 20:50:19 +0000 UTC"Let me ask you something—who are you, and why the fuck would you punch someone you just met?" Ace asked, rubbing the spot where Jack's punch had landed.
On the other side, Jack, now sporting a swollen face resembling a pig’s head, mumbled something incoherent, “#*%￥#@…”
Yes, their "greeting" had escalated into a brief scuffle, and despite Jack landing the first blow, he had been thoroughly defeated. The price? A comically swollen face that spoke volumes about his loss.
“Well, well,” Ace said with a chuckle, waving off the tension. “I was just curious. I’ve never seen you before, so how do you know me? I spotted your boat and thought I’d swing by to say hello!” He smiled as if the earlier skirmish had never happened. Though Ace didn’t fully understand Jack’s motives, he sensed no malice in the attack. Had there been, Jack might have been lying lifeless on the deck instead of nursing his pride.
Still treating his bruised head with his inner-energy ability, Jack managed to respond, though somewhat garbled: “Old man Garp told me about you... and I’ve seen your photo before.”
This healing technique was something Jack had recently discovered. Drawing inspiration from martial arts shows, where internal energy was used to mend wounds, he had successfully developed his first unique ability—though it seemed his technique still needed refining.
"Grandpa?" Ace's expression shifted to one of unease, and he instinctively glanced around, as if expecting Garp to appear at any moment.
"That's right," Jack replied, feigning innocence with wide eyes. "One time, I got caught in a storm and was lucky enough to be rescued by old man Garp's warship. That’s how I found out about you!"
Of course, this was a complete fabrication. Jack had barely been at sea long enough to encounter a mild breeze, let alone a storm or Garp.
"He’s come to the East Blue again? Don’t tell me he’s here to catch me!" Ace muttered, a trace of panic flickering across his face. Without waiting for a response, he gave Jack a quick bow and turned to prepare his boat for departure. "I’ve got urgent business, so I’ll be heading off now!"
"Relax," Jack said with a shrug. "It’s been a while since that happened. The old man’s probably not in the East Blue anymore."
But Jack had no intention of letting Ace leave so easily. Their earlier fight had been an eye-opener. While Jack's speed and strength were on par with Ace’s, his lack of battle experience had been glaring. Ace could serve as the perfect sparring partner, and Jack wasn’t about to let such an opportunity slip away.
Ace paused, turning back to study Jack with a skeptical gaze, as if weighing the truth of his words.
"Here, eat something first!" Jack, now partially recovered, pulled some food from his inventory and handed it to Ace with a friendly smile.
"Ah, thanks for the meal!" Ace responded enthusiastically, bowing politely as soon as he saw the spread.
He didn’t question how Jack seemed to conjure food out of thin air, nor did he comment on Jack's surprisingly quick recovery.
As they ate, the two shared stories about their respective journeys.
"So that’s the deal," Ace said between bites of chicken leg. "No wonder your speed and strength are impressive, but your fighting style is so unrefined—it’s like you’re just flailing around randomly!"
Jack, eager to improve, sought Ace’s advice. Ace, in turn, didn’t hold back, offering insights and critiques. Sometimes their discussions even turned into impromptu sparring matches, with both pushing each other to their limits.
By using the lure of food as leverage, Jack managed to keep Ace around longer than anticipated. The duo eventually set off together toward the Grand Line, forming an unlikely partnership.
"Hey, hey~~ You’re not just keeping me around to spar so you can beat me and then bring me to my grandpa, are you?" Ace asked teasingly after one particularly grueling sparring session, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath.
After some time sparring and training, Jack had grown strong enough to hold his own against Ace. His use of internal energy often left Ace perplexed, giving him an unexpected edge in their matches.
Though Ace was intrigued by Jack’s unique abilities, no amount of explanation could help him grasp the concept of internal energy. He simply couldn’t sense it, let alone use it.
“Haha! You’re my ticket to joining the navy, so I’ve got to train like this,” Jack said, breathing heavily after their latest bout.
From being completely overpowered to standing on nearly equal footing, Jack’s rapid improvement was undeniable.
“What’s so great about being in the navy?” Ace asked, grinning. “Why not become a pirate with me? Pirates are the freest people on the sea! Besides, I still need a vice-captain for my ship. What do you say, Jack? Join me!”
For a moment, Jack was caught off guard. The idea of becoming a pirate hadn’t crossed his mind before. It didn’t seem like such a bad choice, though. Pirates had the freedom to roam the seas, and there was no rule against fighting other pirates or marines.
“I…” Jack hesitated, caught between the possibilities of freedom and strength.
Jack was about to reply when a system prompt suddenly echoed in his mind:
"Side Mission Triggered: Capture Ace and take him to Garp!
Rewards: 1,500 diamonds, 1,500 Exp 100,000 berries, and one Lucky spin."
As he read the mission details, Jack’s eyes sparkled with excitement. The reward of 1,500 diamonds, combined with the 400 he already had, would allow him almost two lucky spins. Including the extra spin from the mission reward, that made it three chances in total. Such an opportunity was too good to pass up!
“Did I even say anything? Can missions really trigger just from random thoughts?” Jack muttered to himself, both amused and exasperated.
“Alright, let’s do this!” Without hesitation, Jack's demeanor shifted. He surged forward, launching a sudden attack on Ace. The mission was now his top priority—finding Garp could come later.
“Seriously? Why does this keep happening?” Ace groaned, dodging Jack’s strike with a mixture of irritation and confusion.
After yet another intense sparring match that left both of them exhausted, they stumbled upon a small island. They took the chance to restock their supplies, replenishing food and water. However, when Jack returned after gathering some materials, he realized something alarming—Ace was gone.
Ace had quickly realized Jack's true intentions—to capture him and deliver him to Garp. Not wanting to take any chances, he made a swift and decisive escape. From their initial encounter, where he had the upper hand, to their recent battles that left them both injured, Ace knew the tides were shifting. The thought of being dragged before Garp, someone whose terrifying strength he had experienced firsthand, was enough to compel him to flee.
When Jack discovered Ace had slipped away, he could only sigh in resignation. The vastness of the sea made tracking anyone a nearly impossible task, so he decided to focus on what he could control.
After restocking his supplies and selling off the materials he had looted from captured pirates, Jack resumed his journey, this time with a clear goal in mind. He had recently learned to read nautical charts, and after purchasing a map of the East Blue, he set his course for Loguetown.
Loguetown, famously known as the "Town of Beginning and the End," held great significance. It was where the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, was both born and executed. Jack reasoned that as Roger's son, Ace would inevitably visit this iconic place, especially on his way to the Grand Line.
Initially, Jack had considered stopping by Cocoyasi Village to confront Arlong and liberate the oppressed villagers. However, the urgency of his mission to capture Ace forced him to set aside that plan for now. Missing Ace would mean forfeiting his mission rewards, so with determination, Jack charted his course directly to Loguetown.
As Jack continued his journey, his days were filled with routine tasks and occasional encounters with pirates foolish enough to challenge him. When not dispatching these "idiot" pirates, Jack would dive into the sea to catch fish—a skill he had picked up from Ace. The activity served multiple purposes: providing food, earning experience, and keeping his body in peak condition. However, after an incident where he chased a large fish too far and nearly lost his boat, Jack became much more cautious about pursuing prey in open waters.
Ace’s feedback about Jack’s combat abilities lingered in his mind. While his skills were balanced, he lacked a decisive, one-hit-kill technique. This shortcoming made it difficult to deliver a fatal blow against opponents with similar or even slightly inferior strength. Though Jack’s unique advantage was his internal energy, his lack of advanced techniques or secret manuals left him fumbling to refine it through trial and error.
As he was contemplating his progress, the system suddenly chimed in:
"Congratulations to the host for leveling up! You have gained 5 free attribute points and 1 skill point."
"Congratulations to the host for killing a pirate with a bounty of 3 million! You have earned 300 experience points and 300 diamonds."
Jack let out a relieved sigh. "Finally leveled up. It’s been a grind," he muttered, glancing at the lifeless body of the pirate captain he had just defeated.
He gave the body a casual kick, his expression a mix of surprise and amusement. "Three million for this guy? Really?" What caught Jack off guard even more was the diamond reward tied to the bounty. It was a pleasant surprise, one that made him reconsider the value of systematically hunting down high-bounty targets.
Just as Jack was plotting his next move, two trembling voices interrupted his thoughts.
"Sir, where should we go now?" The two pirates, whom he had deliberately spared, asked timidly. They had even been forced to row for Jack, as he'd confiscated the oars from their ship to hasten his journey.
"Straight to Lougetown," Jack declared, his tone brimming with determination. "I’ve decided—I’m going to become a pirate hunter!" His enthusiasm was evident as he envisioned his new path.
The two pirates exchanged nervous glances. Although they found Jack’s grand proclamation somewhat laughable, they dared not show their amusement. Instead, they nodded vigorously, showering him with empty flattery in the hopes he’d honor his promise to release them once they reached their destination.
“I’ve got 700 diamonds already, just 300 more to go. If I can find a small-time pirate with a bounty of 3 million, I’ll hit my target. But can I run into one before reaching Lougetown?” Jack muttered to himself, calculating his next move. By his estimation, heading to Lougetown was the best choice. As a hotspot for pirates preparing to enter the Grand Line, it offered ample opportunities to hunt down bounties while aligning with his broader goals.
As for when Smoker started his assignment in Loguetown, Jack couldn’t quite recall. His knowledge of One Piece was more casual than detailed—he had followed it simply because it was entertaining. The finer points of the timeline eluded him, or perhaps they were buried under hazy memories.
One thing he did remember clearly: Ace and Smoker never crossed paths in Lougetown. Their first meeting happened much later, in Alabasta, after Luffy had set out to sea. By then, Ace had already risen to the rank of second division commander under Whitebeard.
However, life had a way of throwing unexpected challenges. As Jack sailed towards Lougetown, his course was abruptly interrupted by the sight of a navy warship looming ahead. Its bow bore the unmistakable figure of a dog’s head clutching a bone in its mouth.
“Garp’s warship?” Jack exclaimed, his head beginning to ache. “This isn’t how things are supposed to go!”
