The Black Pearl continued forward under an easy wind, the sea stretching wide and empty in every direction.
Jack leaned against a coil of rope, watching Gibbs with open curiosity. "So," he said lightly, "how does a fellow like you end up firing at a child on a burnt ship?"
Gibbs let out a short breath that might have been a laugh. "Backstory, is it?"
Jack nodded. "Seems fair."
Gibbs stared out at the water for a long moment before speaking. When he did, his voice came low and even, the way merchants spoke when counting losses.
"Until yesterday," he said, "I was a normal merchant."
Jack's eyes sharpened at that. "Merchant?"
"Aye," Gibbs said. "Logistics. Supplies. Food, tools, powder, timber. Boring things that keep ships moving and families functioning." He rubbed a hand over his beard. "I operated mostly around Sabaody Archipelago. Had contracts supplying Marine outposts. Paid well. Dangerous work, but predictable."
Jack tilted his head. Merchants interested him more than swordsmen ever had.
"Pirates didn't like that," Gibbs continued. "Didn't like seeing a man profit without flying a flag or firing a shot. And working for marines. One night, they came to my house instead of my ships."
His jaw tightened. The words slowed.
"They killed everyone," he said. "My Wife. Children. Parents. Left the place burning so there'd be no confusion."
Jack did not interrupt.
"I went to the Marines," Gibbs went on. "Filed reports. Gave names. Gave routes, descriptions, everything." His voice rose, anger bleeding through the calm. "They told me they'd handle it. Told me to be patient."
He laughed once, sharp and bitter. "Two weeks passed. No arrests. No ships seized. Nothing."
Jack shifted slightly but kept his mouth shut.
"And then," Gibbs said, "I found out those same pirates were suddenly working protection routes. Official ones. Armed merchants, they called them. Guess who took over my contracts?"
His hands clenched.
"The Marines I begged for help from were signing off on it," he said. "Watching men who murdered my family wear uniforms and haul cargo under their protection."
He drew a shaky breath.
"Later, I found out that the pirates had struck a deal with the marines. In exchange of the pirates turning legal- merchants, they paid the marines with their treasure."
"I snapped," Gibbs admitted. "Took two Marine officers' guns. Shot them before I even realized what I was doing." His eyes flicked to Jack. "Didn't feel heroic. Didn't feel right. Just felt… satisfied."
The sea rolled quietly beside them.
"I ran," Gibbs said. "Snuck onto the first pirate ship leaving port. Landed in Jaya. Spent my days drinking and my nights thinking about revenge. Marines. Pirates. Didn't care which first."
His voice wavered then, anger giving way to something rawer. "I needed power. Booze. Anything."
He swallowed. "Then I heard Blue Parrot Pirates bragging about their latest haul. Sounded big. So I joined."
Jack exhaled softly.
He stepped forward and placed a hand on Gibbs's shoulder. The gesture was simple, though it elicited a weak smile from Gibbs.
"Who were the pirates?" Jack asked.
Gibbs sniffed, wiping at his eyes with the back of his sleeve. "Doesn't matter now," he said. "They're not pirates anymore."
Jack raised an eyebrow.
"They're armed merchants," Gibbs repeated. "Official ones."
Jack smirked. "That's convenient."
Gibbs managed a small smile in return.
Jack looked out at the sea. "As pirates," he said, "it's our responsibility to loot merchants."
Gibbs let out a short laugh before it faded. "Their captain, Bluejack, is strong," he said. "And the Marines at Sabaody aren't exactly weak either. The Vice Admiral is also somewhat involved."
Jack turned back to him. "Then we'll grow stronger."
The words landed heavier than Gibbs expected.
He stared at Jack, unsure what to say. He wiped his eyes again and nodded slowly. "We'll grow stronger," he repeated, quieter this time. "For my family."
The question followed immediately after.
"How?"
Gibbs turned toward the helm, toward Jack.
Jack was already distracted.
A seagull swooped low over the deck, a rolled newspaper tucked under one wing. Jack dug into his pocket, produced a berry, and held it up. The bird landed neatly, accepted the payment, and dropped the paper into Jack's hands before taking off again.
Jack unrolled it.
His eyes scanned the front page, then stopped.
Gibbs watched his expression change.
Jack looked up. "Execution," he said.
Gibbs frowned and stepped closer. "Execution?"
"Pirate King," Jack replied, tapping the headline. "Gold Roger. In Loguetown. Four days."
Gibbs stared at the paper.
The name alone carried weight. Even merchants knew it. Even children knew it. The man who reached the end of the Grand Line. The man who owned the sea.
"They're killing him?," Gibbs said slowly.
Jack nodded. "Publicly."
Gibbs looked up. "Why are you smiling?"
Jack folded the paper under his arm. "Because the world is about to change."
He met Gibbs's gaze.
"We're heading to Loguetown."