Ahead of the Mammoth, a merchant ship full of Fish-Men flew the flag of the Beasts Pirates.
While returning from Fish-Man Island, Jack had come across a small caravan escorting Fish-Men migrating to the New World. Seizing the opportunity, he decided to delay his journey for a few days to accompany them to their destination, ensuring their safe passage.
Their first stop was Ailen Island—a place where Fish-Men often got a glimpse of the surface world's culture and slavery before heading toward Onigashima. Occasionally, some Fish-Men even chose to settle down on Ailen Island.
While most pirates wouldn't dare attack a ship bearing the Beasts Pirates' flag, there was always the chance of running into someone foolish enough to try. Besides, Jack didn't mind the detour, especially with the ship teeming with stunning mermaids. He relished the opportunity to mingle with them.
A few Fish-Men leapt off the ship with practiced ease, flipping through the air before plunging into the sea. Their acrobatics, paired with flaunting their well-defined abs—whether six-pack, eight-pack, or a singular round "ab" like Finder's—earned them giggles and cheers from the mermaid women basking on the deck.
When Jack was hauled back on deck by Finder and the others, Rim and his crew were watching the merchant ship with open envy. The deck was brimming with mermaids in revealing outfits, sunbathing under the open sky, while others swam joyfully alongside the ship.
Every family among the Fish-Men passengers seemed to have at least one youthful, beautiful mermaid. Some families even had over ten. For most of these mermaids, it was their first time leaving Fish-Man Island and venturing into the vast sea.
Although nervous and apprehensive at first, they quickly grew accustomed to life aboard the ship. They especially adored the sunlight, spending hours basking on deck regardless of the heat. When the sun became too intense, they'd dive into the sea to cool off—only to emerge again for more.
Their enchanting figures captivated not only the Fish-Men but also the human pirates onboard, many of whom struggled to contain their excitement.
However, previous incidents had forced Jack to establish strict rules. Anyone who dared approach the "mermaid sunbathers" with ill intent quickly found themselves locked in the ship's infamous "bullpen"—a punishment area guarded by aggressive, hormone-fueled bulls.
This system had led to some... interesting hobbies among the human crew. The rough-and-tumble pirates took up activities like knitting and embroidery to distract themselves. Within their circle, the most admired figures were the hulking, muscle-bound Jack and the refined, princely-looking Rim.
Not that they dared to act on their admiration, but it was impossible to miss the hungry glances some directed at Rim.
As Jack watched the Fish-Men frolicking with the mermaids, his thoughts drifted.
He had sparred with Aladine a few times and concluded that Aladine was likely the strongest among this group of Fish-Men. Apart from himself, Jack believed that, besides Jinbe and the late Fisher Tiger, few Fish-Men rivaled Aladine's strength.
Aladine's abilities even surpassed the strength of the deceased Tobiroppo by a small margin. With more training, Jack thought, Aladine could reach even greater heights.
Moreover, Aladine was skilled in medicine—a talent that, while not on par with Master, the Purification Fruit user, still far exceeded the capabilities of the ship's current third-rate doctors. His commanding presence made him an excellent candidate to lead the Fish-Men on Onigashima.
While Finder was fiercely loyal and well-adjusted to life on the island, Aladine's moral compass leaned a little too straight for Onigashima's culture. Jack decided that Aladine would serve better as his ship's doctor. Such a promising recruit deserved personal guidance, after all.
As for the other Fish-Men, Jack planned to leave their training to King. They'd be distributed among the crew, filling gaps in the lower and mid-tier leadership ranks.
Among them, Willy, the first Fish-Man to pledge loyalty to the Beasts Pirates, stood out. With decent talent and a flexible mindset, he seemed a worthy investment.
Jack's musings were interrupted when the merchant ship ahead suddenly erupted in chaos. The captain was shouting warnings as ten ominous cannons aimed directly at the ship.
"Hmm? What's going on?" Jack asked.
"Jack-sama!" Rim called, tossing him a telescope. "Look at that flag. It belongs to one of Whitebeard's allied fleets!"
"Whitebeard's fleet?" Jack narrowed his eyes.
Rim continued, puzzled, "We've always kept to our own waters. Why would they be here? Are they… planning to attack us? Should we notify Kaido-sama? This is Whitebeard we're talking about!"
Lowering the telescope, Jack shot Rim a cold glance.
"Whitebeard?" he scoffed. "So what? I don't even have a beard yet."
"Bring the ship closer!" Jack commanded. "Let's see what they want."
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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg