Jack leaned slightly toward Gibbs, lowering his voice.
"Who's the new fellow with the hair that looks like it was struck by lightning?"
Gibbs squinted, then shook his head. "No idea. Never seen him before."
The tall man with long hair—Dragon—was staring at the newcomer with open surprise, something close to disbelief flickering across his usually controlled expression.
"…Vegapunk," Dragon said slowly.
The scientist beamed.
"Well now, if it isn't Dragon. I was wondering if I'd run into someone familiar today."
Jack blinked. "You two know each other."
Dragon exhaled." Yes."
He turned fully toward the man who looked like a walking idea explosion. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Vegapunk adjusted the strange goggles perched on his forehead, eyes bright with curiosity rather than fear. "Likewise. Though I suppose Ohara has a way of drawing in those who think too much."
Dragon studied him carefully. "The last time we met, you were still working with the Marines. Before MADS was dismantled. Before you made… your deal."
Vegapunk waved a hand dismissively. "Ah yes, yes. Ancient history. Circumstances change. Minds grow. Governments panic."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "I like him already."
Vegapunk turned his head sharply toward Jack, eyes lighting up. "Oh! A pirate captain. Fascinating. You smell like rum and bad decisions."
Jack tipped his hat. "That's how you know I'm legitimate."
Dragon frowned. "Vegapunk, what are you doing here? Surely the World Government will notice your absence. Vice Admiral Kizaru, at the very least."
Vegapunk chuckled, utterly unconcerned. "I've made preparations. They won't notice anything amiss for a while. And even if they do—Ohara was worth coming personally."
Dragon watched him closely, then finally nodded. "I can accept that."
Vegapunk's attention drifted—toward the lake, where Pintel and Ragetti were still hauling soaked books onto shore, and then to the little girl standing close to Jack.
His expression softened.
"You must be Nico Robin," Vegapunk said warmly.
Robin stiffened.
Vegapunk crouched slightly and produced a wrapped candy from one of his many pockets.
"For you."
Jack immediately stepped half a pace in front of her. "Absolutely not."
Vegapunk blinked. "Hm?"
Jack crossed his arms. "Rule of the ship. No candy from strangers. Especially eccentric old strangers who pop out of nowhere after genocides."
Vegapunk burst into laughter. "A prudent policy!"
He tucked the candy away. "I mean no harm. I admired the scholars of Ohara greatly. Their work… it was beautiful."
Robin peeked around Jack's coat, studying Vegapunk with cautious curiosity.
Vegapunk straightened and looked at the books being laid out on the shore. His breath caught.
"Those are…" He stepped closer, lifting one reverently. "Books from the Tree of Knowledge?"
Pintel nodded, wary. "From the lake."
Vegapunk's face lit up like a child discovering treasure. He flipped the book open, scanning lines at impossible speed, grin widening with every page.
"Incredible," he murmured. "Absolutely incredible."
Ragetti looked towards Jack. "Should we stop him?"
Jack shook his head. "Let him read."
Jack then turned back to Dragon. "You mentioned something earlier. Freedom fighters."
Dragon paused, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "Yes. We fight against oppressive regimes. Kings who exploit their people. Nobles who—"
Jack tilted his head. "How many kingdoms have you.... You know, liberated?"
Dragon hesitated. "…Three kingdoms."
Jack stared at him.
Then he sighed deeply. "That's… not many."
Dragon frowned slightly. "The fight for freedom is long. Careful. Strategic."
Jack stepped forward, rum bottle in hand, eyes bright, "No," he said. "You don't fight for freedom."
Dragon stiffened.
Jack continued, voice growing stronger, carrying across the ruins of Ohara.
"You fight to spread it."
The crew froze.
Robin looked up.
Even Vegapunk stopped reading.
Jack gestured broadly at the ruined island. "Freedom isn't a destination you reach by killing the right kings one by one. It's a fire. And fires don't ask permission for spread. It spreads regardless. You just have to light the spark."
Dragon's eyes narrowed.
Jack paced slowly, words flowing now, unrestrained.
"You light the spark somewhere small. A whisper. A rumor. An idea that refuses to die. You let people see that the world can be different. That the sky doesn't belong to nobles. That history doesn't belong to governments."
He pointed at the ruins. "They burned this island because knowledge scares them. Because ideas outlive armies."
Jack took a long drink, wiped his mouth, and continued unabated.
"You don't free people by marching in with flags and speeches. You free them by making the old world impossible to believe in anymore. By making oppression look small. Fragile. Laughable."
Dragon felt something stir in his chest—old anger, old hope.
"You spread the flame," Jack said, voice lower now, steadier. "And let the world catch fire on its own."
Silence followed.
The wind moved through broken stone.
Vegapunk stared at Jack with open delight.
"Oh, you are interesting."
Jack grinned.
Vegapunk closed the book carefully. "Anyway, I know some giants," he said casually. "They can help move these books. Preserve them. Somewhere safe. Far from the World Government."
Robin's eyes widened. "Really?"
Vegapunk smiled gently at her. "Knowledge like this deserves to survive."
He placed the book back with the others, then clapped Dragon lightly on the shoulder. "Think on what he said."
Dragon nodded slowly. "I will."
Vegapunk turned, already walking away. "Until next time, Captain Jack Sparrow."
Jack leaned and asked Gibbs, "I never told him my name did I?"
Gibbs said no.
Dragon lingered a moment longer. "Perhaps our paths will cross again," he said. "I will remember today."
And then he, too, vanished into the wind.
The island grew quiet again.
Gibbs finally spoke. "Did you mean all that?"
Jack squinted into the empty rum bottle. "There's no rum."
Robin giggled softly.
Pintel stared at Jack in awe. "Captain… that was incredible."
Ragetti nodded. "You sounded like someone who should be a politician, though I don't know who that is."
Jack puffed up slightly, basking. "I know."
He didn't mention that most of it had been rambling nonsense strung together by instinct and alcohol.
It felt satisfying to see their faces and hear the reactions afterward.