248 One Piece: My Name is Jack

"Madam Shyarly, nice to meet you! My name is Jack. Don't you think we make a great match?"

Jack couldn't help but flirt as he gazed at Madam Shyarly, who exuded an air of aloof charm, a cigarette resting between her lips.

Bang!

"Cut the crap, Jack!"

Yamato smacked Jack on the head with her kanabo, sending him crashing to the ground. Despite taking blows from countless powerful opponents without a scratch, a massive bump formed on his head.

Grabbing Jack by the ear, Yamato excitedly turned to Madam Shyarly.

"Hey! Why don't you tell his fortune too? See how many kids he'll have!"

"Uh... Alright..."

Madam Shyarly pulled out her crystal ball, closed her eyes, and performed a series of strange gestures before gazing into the sphere. Her face immediately turned pale.

"Uh...."

"Well? How many?" Yamato pressed eagerly.

After a moment of silence, Madam Shyarly hesitantly responded, "At least... a hundred."

"...?!?!"

"A hundred?! But didn't you predict I'd only have three kids?!"

"Are you sure you got this right? No way Maria could give birth to a hundred children!"

Once Madam Shyarly confirmed her prediction, Yamato dragged Jack's massive frame toward a secluded alley.

BANG! CLANG!

After thoroughly "disciplining" Jack, Yamato insisted on dragging him along to meet someone. When Jack stepped aboard Yamato's Second Doggo, he froze upon seeing his cheap nephew, Zeo, locked in a cell.

Zeo, upon seeing Jack, immediately broke down in tears. "Uncle! Save me! Uncle, save me! Please, help me..."

"Shut up!"

"What's going on here?"

"Uncle..."

"I wasn't asking you! Shut up!" Jack barked, pointing at his overly emotional nephew before turning to Yamato. "Why'd you capture him? What did he do to piss you off?"

"Oh? So he really is your nephew?" Yamato crossed her arms, fuming. "He and his crew stole the secret treasure of Ryugu Palace and were plotting to assassinate King Neptune!"

"And Princess Shirahoshi secretly told me that Queen Otohime was actually killed by that fish-man, Hody Jones!"

"I happened to be there, so of course, I stepped in!"

"Since when were you and Princess Shirahoshi so close?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You wouldn't understand a girl's friendships!"

Jack sighed. "Some things are best left alone. Zeo told me years ago that Hody Jones was the one who killed Queen Otohime."

"As for that Princess Shirahoshi... well, she's no ordinary mermaid. Whatever. If you two are so close, just keep that friendship going."

He turned back to his nephew. "You idiot nephew of mine..."

Jack unlocked the cell, looking down at Zeo, who was clinging to his leg, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Hody wants to kill King Neptune. Why didn't you notify me?"

"I was just about to! But then she caught me!" Zeo wailed. "If I hadn't told her I was your nephew, she would've smashed me to death with that club! My whole crew got wiped out! I nearly died too!"

"Oh? She's your aunt now."

"Auntie!" Zeo immediately switched gears, bowing his head in submission. "I pay my respects!"

"...Sigh."

Jack let out a long sigh before looking at Zeo's dramatic change in attitude.

"Fine. From now on, you'll be stationed here on Fish-Man Island as a squad captain."

"Since Neptune has already accepted the Beasts Pirates' protection, his rule won't mean much anymore."

"Your main duty will be to spread word of how the Beasts Pirates treat fish-men—compared to how the rest of the world does."

"Someone with more experience will come to assist you soon."

Between him and Finder, Aladine had a stronger reputation on Fish-Man Island. Jack placed him there as an overseer. Truth be told, Jack preferred Jinbe, but Jinbe had disappeared, and no one knew where he was.

When the group finally returned to Onigashima, another year had passed, and it was time for the Fire Festival once again.

Kaido was still deliberating over the ranks for Shiryu and the others. Aside from Shiryu, the difference in strength among the newcomers wasn't that significant.

Even the sickly-looking Doc Q had formidable combat skills. Van Augur, their sniper, was no slouch either—his sharpshooting skills had earned him the title of the Beasts Pirates' top marksman. As for Lafitte, the aristocratic gentleman, he was a Mythical Zoan user, having eaten the Angel Fruit.

The ones who had escaped from Impel Down were all renowned pirates, each stronger than Ulti and her brother.

Jack had brought back seven new recruits, all strong enough to be Tobiroppo.

Black Maria's connection with Jack was obvious. Ulti and her brother had grown up under his watch. Then there was Shiryu, who had the strength to be a All-Star.

Even Rim fought Shiryu to a standstill. His position needed careful consideration too.

Lately, Kaido had been losing sleep, sometimes waking up from his own laughter.

"Sigh... Having too much talent can be a headache..."

Just as the Fire Festival came to an end, Kaido was still undecided on how to arrange Shiryu and the others when another major event shook the world—forcing him to make a move.

"Akainu and Aokiji fought for ten days and nights... and Aokiji lost, quitting the Marines?"

"Sakazuki is the new Fleet Admiral?"

Jack, holding the newspaper, stared at Rim in confusion.

"You're telling me... Kuzan wants to join the Beasts Pirates?"

"And Kaido actually believed him?! He already flew to the Ailen Island?"

"Yes, Jack-sama." Rim sighed, seeing Jack's incredulous expression.

"Kuzan lost a leg in that battle, and his faith in the Marines was shaken."

"Coincidentally, King ran into him on an island while taking a break."

"So he extended an invitation..."

"And Kuzan accepted."

"Jack-sama, please don't look at me like I'm an idiot. I'm just as skeptical about Kuzan... But you know Kaido's personality..."

...

Year 1523 of the Sea Circle Calendar.

After losing to Sakazuki, Admiral Kuzan defected from the Marines and joined the Beasts Pirates.

Shortly after, the high-ranking officers of the Beasts Pirates underwent a major reshuffle.

Kuzan became the Beasts Pirates' fifth "Disaster," known as the "Ice Disaster."

Kaido abolished the Tobiroppo and replaced them with the Twelve Calamities, led by Shiryu and Rim.

The former Tobiroppo, alongside Blackbeard's former subordinates and Rim, made up the Twelve Calamities.

Lafitte, on the other hand, was appointed the new Chief Intelligence Officer.

With this restructuring, the Beasts Pirates expanded their influence, seizing numerous territories from the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates, cementing themselves as the biggest victors after the Paramount War.

The world began to whisper—after Roger, Kaido might be the next Pirate King.