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"Did you hear? The Jack Pirates got their hands on the legendary Gold-Gold Fruit—the one that can turn anything it touches into gold! Damn, if I had that ability, I'd never worry about money again. Just turn rocks into gold whenever I'm broke!"
"I heard about that too! That old bastard Jack isn't even that strong, yet his luck is insane. A Devil Fruit that can freely turn other things into gold? He's struck it rich for real this time!"
"Haven't you heard? The Gold-Gold Fruit ended up with that powerless old man Jack. They're coming to Sabaody in the next couple of days. I'm seriously thinking about trying my luck—what if I can steal it?"
"If I got that fruit, who the hell would still be a pirate? Who needs One Piece? I'd just go home and live like a super-rich noble!"
...
For the past few days, Tesoro and Chenos had been constantly changing disguises, appearing as different people as they moved among the pirates.
They deliberately spread rumors, wildly exaggerating the abilities of the Gold-Gold Fruit while simultaneously downplaying the strength of the Jack Pirates.
The results were overwhelming.
Countless pirates across the Sabaody Archipelago were now obsessed with the Gold-Gold Fruit.
Even news about Fish-Man Fisher attacking the Holy Land Mary Geoise barely stirred interest anymore.
All discussions revolved around two things only—
The Jack Pirates.
The Gold-Gold Fruit.
Chenos and Tesoro even produced countless crude flyers depicting the Jack Pirates' ship, Jack himself, and his crew, spreading them everywhere among pirates.
In just a few days, the Jack Pirates had become the most talked-about crew in all of Sabaody.
After that, all that remained was to wait.
During this time, Chenos also quietly investigated pirates rumored to be strong on the islands. He even went to observe some of them in person.
The strongest he found had a bounty of 95 million Berries, a Zoan-type Ox-Ox Fruit user.
Still too weak.
Far too weak.
That discovery put Chenos at ease.
On Island 15 of the Sabaody Archipelago, a pirate ship bearing the emblem of a curved scimitar docked quietly.
Despite choosing a relatively hidden spot, the ship immediately attracted attention.
In the darkness, countless unseen eyes locked onto it.
Information was rapidly being relayed to various factions.
"The Jack Pirates have appeared!"
Yet the Jack Pirates themselves remained completely unaware.
A tall, powerfully built man with a thick white beard stepped off the ship. In one hand, he carried a treasure chest; in the other, a massive curved blade.
This was Captain Jack.
His gaze swept the surroundings—sharp, cautious, predatory.
But no matter how long he looked, he detected no one hiding nearby.
Soon, the rest of the crew gathered around him, and the group moved inland.
"Sabaody isn't a friendly place," Jack warned. "Stay sharp."
"I've already contacted the buyer. Once we deliver the fruit, we'll get one hundred million Berries."
"With that money, every one of us can go back home and live like rich men."
"Yes, Captain!" the crew responded.
Their faces were filled with excitement as they imagined their retirement.
But suddenly—
A group of pirates stepped out and blocked their path.
"You're the Jack Pirates, right?" one of them sneered.
"Hand over the Gold-Gold Fruit, and we'll spare your lives."
Jack frowned.
He didn't understand how the secret of the Gold-Gold Fruit had leaked—but they were already in Sabaody.
There was no way he was giving up their retirement fund.
"Don't dream," Jack growled.
With that, he charged forward, scimitar raised.
The clash was brief.
In moments, the ambushing pirates were cut down, their bodies shattered across the ground.
Jack looked down at the remains with contempt.
"Hah. So weak, yet you dared to rob others? Courting death."
What Jack didn't know was that—thanks to Chenos's rumors—the Jack Pirates had been painted as a crew of barely-walking old men.
That was why such weak pirates had dared to challenge them.
After clearing the roadblock, Jack's crew continued onward.
Unaware—
Their real nightmare had only just begun.
When they entered a dense forest thick with towering trees, Jack's expression suddenly hardened.
Years of experience screamed danger.
"Stop," he said coldly. "Be careful. I sense killing intent."
One crew member scanned the surroundings and laughed.
"Jack, you can't even see an enemy. And you're saying this forest has killing intent?"
Jack's voice remained grave.
"I'm not joking. Listen carefully."
"There isn't a single insect chirping. No birds. Nothing."
"That's wrong."
The crew immediately grew alert.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
A massive man stepped out from the shadows, holding two sharp daggers.
"Not bad," the man said. "You've sailed the seas for decades, after all. Even with how well we hid, you still noticed."
Jack's expression darkened.
"Mad Bull Beck… from the Mad Bull Pirates."
"I don't recall offending you. Can't you let us pass?"
This Mad Bull Beck was the very pirate Chenos had identified earlier—the one with the highest bounty on Sabaody.
While waiting for ship coating, Beck had learned about the Gold-Gold Fruit.
Even though he already had a Devil Fruit, one of his trusted subordinates could eat it.
If it really could turn stone into gold—
They'd be set for life.
"No," Beck said calmly. "Jack, hand over the Gold-Gold Fruit."
"I only want money. I don't want your life."
Jack's confusion deepened.
Why did everyone seem to know about the Devil Fruit?
"I'm sorry," Jack said, gripping his blade.
"That fruit is our retirement."
"If you want it—then we fight."
Jack charged forward—
Then abruptly stopped.
Because several more pirate crews had appeared ahead of them.
And they weren't nobodies.
Familiar flags. Recognizable faces.
Jack froze.
This was bad.
Very bad.
High above, in the sky—
A man dressed in a black suit sat casually atop a cloud, watching the chaos below.
The corner of his mouth curled upward.
"Fufufufufu… interesting."
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