One Piece: My Name is Jack, I'm Very Resistant to Beating

The dozen or so pirates who had died earlier ended up being surprisingly helpful to Jack.

Not only did they prove that Jack's words were not mere boasts, but their fates also ignited a fiery passion among the fishmen to join the Beasts Pirates.

"Hey, you with one leg! You're out! Don't bother joining!"

"And you—no arms at all? That's pushing it!"

"And you geezers over there! What are you, a hundred years old? We're a pirate crew, not a retirement home!"

After a long and chaotic recruitment process, with plenty of yelling and the assistance of Finder and Zeo, Jack finally got a solid count of the fishmen willing to join the crew.

Excluding the elderly, the sick, and the injured, he was stunned to find that over 2,000 fishmen had stepped forward. The ages of the recruits ranged from Jack's own age to just over thirty, all healthy and brimming with energy. Compared to the average fishman resident on Fish-Man Island, these recruits were noticeably stronger—a formidable group of warriors.

The Beasts Pirates had grown to a crew of roughly 10,000 members, and these fishmen alone made up nearly a quarter of that total. Even more impressive, their physical abilities far surpassed ordinary humans. And given that the origins of Fish-Man District lay in a former welfare center for orphans, these recruits had grown up in an environment of chaos and struggle.

Although Fisher Tiger had brought order to Fish-Man District years ago, these fishmen were still far more combative—and generally stronger—than the sheltered residents of Fish-Man Island.

Jack wasn't entirely aware of their backstories, but his Observation Haki confirmed that this group was no ordinary crowd. While none of them were at his level, they were more than qualified to serve as the backbone of the Beasts Pirates.

It was worth noting that even the lowest-ranking members of the crew had honed their skills through countless battles. Many had fought their way from the Four Seas into the New World, and others hailed from the New World's indigenous peoples, who were naturally more powerful than most humans.

With the addition of these fishmen, not only could the Beasts Pirates ease their current manpower shortage, but their overall strength and influence would surge significantly.

In this world, having fishmen—who could thrive in the ocean—meant certain doom for any ship that dared to oppose them. Even among New World pirates, not everyone was a powerhouse. Fishmen could blockade smaller nations' ports effortlessly.

Deploying squads of fishmen to key Beasts Pirates-controlled ports would significantly enhance early-warning systems and provide an edge in escaping or outmaneuvering strong enemies. Given time, many of these fishmen would undoubtedly rise to leadership positions. Jack was thrilled at the potential.

The only issue? The Mammoth could carry at most a thousand people. Jack couldn't just abandon his current mission to ferry them back to Onigashima.

Building new ships on Fish-Man Island wasn't an option, as it would take far too long.

Zeo, Jack's nephew, came up with a clever solution: some of the pirates Jack had killed earlier belonged to a smuggling ship that had snuck into the area. There were also a few human merchant ships docked nearby.

Jack was ecstatic upon hearing this and immediately sent out his men to locate the pirate ship. As for the merchant ships, he planned to "negotiate" for them. If the merchants weren't cooperative... well, pirates did what pirates had to do.

Jack didn't plan to stir up trouble while on Fish-Man Island. But once those merchants left its safety...

The merchant ships were docked near the Mammoth. By the time Jack and his group arrived, the merchants were busy loading cargo, casting nervous glances at the Mammoth. Clearly, they recognized Jack's infamous ship.

It made sense—merchants, constantly traveling between nations, paid close attention to powerful pirates. While they could afford to dismiss weaker crews, they were careful to avoid provoking the stronger ones.

In the New World, several merchant guilds operated under the Beasts Pirates' protection. These guilds paid hefty tributes each year and helped transport weapons and resources for Kaido. In return, the Beasts Pirates ensured their safety in the treacherous waters of the New World.

Even crews as strong as the Whitebeard Pirates generally avoided these merchants, as Kaido himself had once prioritized their protection. In his early days, Kaido would personally deal with any threats to the guilds.

There was even an infamous incident where a division of Whitebeard's fleet accidentally raided a Beasts Pirates-backed merchant ship. Kaido flew to Whitebeard's base and fought him for three days and three nights. The battle ended inconclusively, but Whitebeard eventually returned the stolen goods.

Jack wasn't sure which guild owned these merchant ships, but unless they were under Whitebeard's protection, they were out of luck today.

The merchant overseer, a man in a black suit and hat with a noble air, stood apart from the workers. Unlike the others, he didn't display any fear when looking at the Mammoth. Even as Jack's group approached, he remained calm, eventually striding forward to meet them.

"Well, well," Jack muttered, stroking his chin. "Could this guild really be under Whitebeard's protection?"

But he quickly shook off the thought, a grin spreading across his face. "Doesn't matter whose flag they fly! If they stand in my way, I'll fight them. These fishmen are worth it. Kaido-sama would agree."

With his mind made up, Jack stomped forward.

The overseer quickened his pace to meet him, his calm demeanor unwavering.

"I need two ships," Jack declared, glaring down at the man. "I'll pay for them. Don't make me ask twice."

The overseer, slightly winded from running, waved a hand frantically. "No—no need to buy them!"

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You refuse?" He turned to his men. "Forget it, boys. Take the ships!"

"No!" The overseer raised his voice, steadying himself. "No need to buy them! They're yours. Consider it a gift!"

Jack blinked in confusion.

The overseer stepped closer, motioning for Jack to lean down. When Jack complied, the man whispered, "We're with the Donquixote Family."

Ah. That explained it.

Jack straightened up, nodding slowly. "I see. The ships are mine, but I'll pay for them. Allies or not, business is business."

He smirked. "In fact, send some of your men to my ship—I've got some fine ivory to trade."

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+100 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg