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

While Jack was lost in thought, Kaido raised his head and shouted toward the forest, "Hey! You three over there! What are you up to? Get out here, now!"

"Heh…"

"Kaido-sama…"

Rim stepped out hesitantly, letting out a dry chuckle before gesturing to the man beside her. "Kaido-sama, this is Master. He's a Paramecia-type Purification Fruit user."

"Oh? A Paramecia user? Purification Fruit?" Kaido gave Master a once-over, a faint sadness flickering in his eyes. "What a shame. It's useless now."

Then, turning sharply, Kaido barked, "Jack! What are you doing over there? Get out here already!"

Reluctantly, Jack emerged, only for the door of the house behind Kaido to creak open. Out stepped a woman of average looks but strong build, clearly older. She glanced at Jack and the others in surprise before speaking softly to Kaido.

"Kaido-sama, are you leaving today?"

"Yeah, it's time. Thanks for looking after them." Kaido rose and turned to the two kids nearby. "Ulti! Page One! You two are going back to Onigashima with Jack."

"Jack?"

The young girl, Ulti, skipped over to Jack and began circling him, scrutinizing him closely. Jack lowered his head and studied her in return. She had long, striped hair of vibrant blue and pink, her enormous pink eyes shining with mischief. A matching pink mask covered her face, amplifying her quirky, impish aura.

"Hey! Stupid Kaido! You want me to go with this ugly old man?" she blurted, pointing dramatically at Jack. "He's not some human trafficker or bloodthirsty psycho, is he?"

"Ugh…" Jack clutched his chest as if physically wounded. Ugly old man? Psycho? And calling Kaido stupid? She was just like Yamato. Maybe his suspicions were right after all.

"Sis! You can't say that!" A boy's panicked voice interrupted. "Apologize to Kaido-sama and… uh, this man immediately!"

Page One darted over, looking flustered, bowing repeatedly as he apologized. The boy wore a green-and-white horned cap that Jack recognized from Kaido's waist. Clearly, Kaido had given it to him. Unlike his sister's pink, round eyes, Page One's were sharp and strikingly similar to Jack's, with dark sclera. His mask was black and white, matching his more subdued, calm demeanor. Though shorter than his sister, he carried himself with an air of maturity far beyond his years.

"Little Pei! How dare you yell at me!" Ulti grabbed her brother by the collar, lifting him effortlessly. "Am I wrong? This guy looks like he's forty, not fourteen! He's just a wrinkled old man pretending to be young!"

"Ahhh! Sis, let go! Let go! I'm choking!" Page One flailed helplessly.

Jack watched the scene unfold, sighing. Despite their bickering, it was clear the siblings cared deeply for each other. When Ulti finally released her grip, Jack knelt to her eye level.

"Don't call me an old man. I'm fourteen, got it? And I'm not ugly, I'm mature. Understand, you little brat?"

Ulti and Page One exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter. Clutching her stomach, Ulti gasped, "Fourteen? Who are you kidding? You look older than Kaido-sama! Trying to pass off forty as fourteen—oh, you're killing me!"

"Sis! Don't be rude!" Page One scolded, though his voice held a note of embarrassment.

Jack's eyebrow twitched. This little pest is so punchable. She's cute, sure, but one hit and she'd cry for days.

"Jack! Come here!" Kaido's deep voice broke Jack's train of thought.

Grumbling, Jack approached Kaido. "You want me to take these two back to Onigashima? How am I supposed to explain this to Yamato? You know how she gets. Can't you deal with your own mess for once?"

Kaido's response was to grab his massive kanabo, causing Jack to yelp, "Hey, hey! Calm down! Put the club down!"

Kaido ignored him, his gaze shifting to the siblings playing nearby with Master. A rare softness entered his tone as he spoke.

"These kids… they're the children of an old friend. A pirate. He clashed with another crew recently. Though he killed their captain, he was gravely injured himself…" Kaido paused. "Before he died, he entrusted them to me."

Jack's eyes widened. "They're not… my in-laws?"

"What?" Kaido gave him a blank look.

"Nothing! Never mind." Jack quickly waved it off. At least he wouldn't need to explain that to Yamato. Still, Kaido's friend… why didn't he join the Beasts Pirates instead?

Kaido reached into his waist pouch and tossed a small treasure hoard at the woman who had emerged earlier.

"You took good care of them. Here's your payment."

The woman's eyes gleamed as she eagerly scooped up the jewels.

"Thank you, Kaido-sama! I'll be on my way!" Without so much as a goodbye to the siblings, she disappeared.

"Who was that?" Jack asked, confused.

"Their father's crew member," Kaido replied curtly.

"Just her? What happened to the rest?"

"Ha! Pirates are ruthless," Kaido said, slapping Jack's shoulder. "The survivors fought over the captain's position. She was the only one who fled with the kids. And that's only because their father asked her to."

Jack suppressed a grimace at the memory of her barrel-shaped physique. Kaido's friend sure wasn't picky.

Kaido's tone hardened. "Remember this, Jack: Pirates have no room for emotions. You still have much to learn."

Jack didn't argue, but as he glanced at the siblings playing, a thought lingered.

Kaido, if pirates truly have no emotions, why would you go out of your way to bring these kids here?

"Alright, Jack, take them back to Onigashima. I've got business to handle."

"Where are you going?" Jack asked.

"To deal with two pesky nations. Their options are submission or annihilation." Kaido transformed into his dragon form and soared into the sky.

Jack watched him disappear, muttering, "Wiping out nations? Now that's my kind of work. Why the rush?"

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+140 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg