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Chapter 141: Jack is on the Ship, Kaido is on the Way
🕑 Added 2025-08-20 14:47:40 +0000 UTCChapter 141: Jack is on the Ship, Kaido is on the Way
The moon was bright, the night wind cool.
In the cabin of The Curtain Call, Shane carried Robin through the long corridor, gently nudging the door open with his arm and stepping into her room.
The person in his arms was lighter than he had expected.
The moonlight streamed through the porthole. Shane carefully placed Robin on the bed.
Robin unconsciously curled up, like a black cat that had finally found a safe corner. Her hair was scattered on the pillow, her breathing even and long.
The faint scent of alcohol, mixed with the unique, elegant fragrance of a mature woman, wafted into his nostrils. And the surprising elasticity he had felt when his arm had accidentally brushed against hers…
It was hard not to feel a flutter in his heart.
But his gaze remained clear. He covered her with a thin blanket and stood silently by the bed.
Looking at Robin, her face flushed and sound asleep, Shane sighed.
She had really had too much to drink.
To say something like "just a comrade?" in public.
He had been taken aback himself.
Perhaps… it was the meeting with Aokiji today that had finally dispelled the nightmares of her childhood, lifting the heaviest shackles from her heart, and allowing her to relax to the point of losing her composure.
"If I didn't have Observation Haki and know that you were really asleep," Shane said, crouching down and grinning with his arms crossed, "I would have thought you were testing me, Robin-san."
He couldn't stand many more tests.
One more time, and he really wouldn't be able to hold back.
After all, who didn't like a tall, dark-haired big sister?
But…
His relationship with Robin was nowhere near that point yet.
Robin was the last to join the crew. Compared to the others, she had spent the past month or so still in the process of gradually integrating into the group.
It wasn't until what had happened today that the last barrier between them had been broken.
Did Robin have feelings for him?
Perhaps a little.
But Shane knew that the dependence Robin had shown in the restaurant, after she had been drinking, was more a result of her craving for and addiction to a sense of security than any other feeling.
At a time like this, to take advantage of her while she was unconscious would be to tear apart the unconditional trust she had finally begun to build.
As for how their relationship would develop in the future…
…he would just let it take its natural course.
"Good night, Robin."
Shane stood up, gently closed the door, and his footsteps faded down the corridor.
…
Only after his figure had disappeared into the training room did three heads peek out from behind a corner, one above the other.
Black hair, orange hair, and blue hair.
"Wahahaha! What did I tell you?! My brother is always an upstanding gentleman! He's not that kind of person!"
"I don't know, I feel like he noticed we were following him. It's a shame. If we weren't here, do you think something would have happened?"
"No!"
"Huh?" Nami and Nojiko both looked up, stunned. "What do you mean, 'no'?"
"..." Someone's breath hitched. She had just realized that she had spoken her thoughts out loud.
"..."
The young swordswoman lowered her eyes, her expression impassive. "I mean, we shouldn't keep peeking. Let's all go back to bed. This is not good."
Huh?
Weren't you the one who was rushing us to get back from the restaurant?
Nami and Nojiko exchanged a look of suspicion.
Hiss, it feels like… there's more than one Robin on this ship?
......
In the blink of an eye, it was the next morning.
When Robin opened her eyes, the room was already filled with sunlight.
The hangover had left her with a dull, throbbing headache. She rubbed her temples, and the memories of last night came flooding back.
In the warm, orange light, she had tugged on Shane's sleeve.
"Ara, just a comrade?"
The moment those words popped into her head, her ears began to burn.
"What in the world did I do…"
She buried her face in the pillow, unable to bring herself to sit up for a long time.
It was… it was so rude.
Those words, those actions, the thought of them now was so embarrassing it was suffocating.
Wait, the captain didn't take it seriously, did he?
"..."
Robin took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
She slowly sat up and looked around the room—
On the nightstand was a glass of water and a hangover cure, probably left by Shane this morning when he saw she was still asleep.
Other than that, the room was completely normal. She looked down at herself, and it was the same.
It seemed nothing had happened.
Thank goodness…
…right?
She pursed her lips and went to wash up.
In the mirror, her complexion was mostly back to normal, with only a faint blush remaining on her ears.
Robin stared at her reflection for a moment, then she gently patted her cheeks and, after a few practice runs, she was finally able to put on her usual, composed smile.
…
Creak.
She opened the cabin door and stepped out onto the deck.
Her comrades were all there, most of them gathered around the long table under the parasol.
"Over here! Over here! Robin-san!"
Nami, with her sharp eyes, was the first to spot her. She grinned and held up a bamboo tube full of lots. "You're the last one! You haven't forgotten what we talked about yesterday, have you? Hurry up and draw a lot! It's time to decide who's taking the train and who's taking the ship!"
"Coming. Good morning, everyone," she said with a calm smile, but her eyes couldn't help but dart to Shane.
The young man had already finished his training and was now lounging on a wicker chair, sipping his coffee and enjoying the sun.
Hearing the commotion, he turned his head and asked casually, "You're awake? Did you take the medicine? Is your head still hurting?"
His tone was natural, as if nothing had happened.
"Mmm, much better," Robin said with a smile.
Now she was a hundred percent sure that nothing had happened last night.
She felt a slight sense of relief, but also a strange, small pang of disappointment.
Just then, Nami began to shake the bamboo tube with a loud clatter, instantly pulling Robin's thoughts back to the present.
"Here, everyone draw one."
Seven hands, and one large paw, all reached out and drew a lot.
"Meow!"
The little mochi-like creature also wanted to participate, but being just a small, round ball of fur without any hands, Nami just sneered and ignored it.
The results were in.
Shane, Smoker, Zeff, and Gin would take the train.
Robin, Kuina, Nami, and Nojiko would take the ship.
This was the arrangement for the journey to Pucci, the City of Spring. When they left Pucci for their next destination, Water 7, they would switch.
"..." Shane looked at the wooden lot in his hand, lost in thought.
"What's wrong, Big Bro?"
Nami came over and took a look. "What's wrong with taking the sea train first? I wish I could! Do you want to switch?"
"It's not about the lots," Shane said, frowning and thinking hard. "We're about to leave this island, and I feel like I've forgotten something…"
Huh, what was it?
Oh well, it probably wasn't important.
Just as everyone was preparing to set sail from the port and head for the station, a hurried shout came from the shore.
"Lord Shane! Lord Shane!"
Paiku rushed to the front of the ship, his face full of anxiety, his forehead still beaded with sweat.
"What is it?" Shane immediately went to meet him. "Didn't you all settle down on the island? Has something else happened?"
"A-Are you leaving?"
"Mmm," Shane nodded. "We've resupplied. It's time to head to the next island."
"Then… what about my son?"
Paiku looked around the deck, a little disappointed. "I don't see him. So… you didn't accept him?"
Of course.
Lord Shane's ship wasn't something just anyone could get on.
I was being too optimistic…
"Your son?" Shane asked, confused.
"It's Jack! You must know him, right?"
Paiku was also taken aback. He scratched his head. "He came to see you yesterday to apologize and also to ask to follow you from now on. Did you not see him?"
Who?
Jack?!
"..."
Shane slapped his forehead.
He finally remembered what he had forgotten.
…
Ten minutes later, in the city center garden.
Jack was back in his human form, squatting on a bench and warming his hands by a fire, but he was still shivering, frozen to the bone.
There were still icicles on his eyebrows and the tips of his hair, and his lips were purple. He had clearly been through a lot last night.
"Dad… I'm sorry. I-I think I messed up…" he said, his teeth chattering, his voice full of remorse.
"You didn't mess up, but you were close!"
Paiku stood on the chair and, on his tiptoes, rubbed his adopted son's arm with a hot towel, his heart aching. "Thank goodness I noticed you hadn't come back all night and thought something was wrong, and I found Lord Shane! If I had been a moment later, you would have really frozen to death, you idiot!"
"That was a Marine Admiral! You fool, you just charged right in! What did I tell you?! Don't be so reckless! If you had just explained your intentions to Lord Shane first, would any of this have happened?!"
Beside them, Shane and the others exchanged a look, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
On the way here, they had already gotten the whole story from Paiku.
This simple-hearted giant, after hearing that the man who had saved his father was someone he had once been enemies with, had been overcome with guilt and had set out to apologize.
And Paiku, thinking that his adopted son's abilities were being wasted as a dockworker, had encouraged him to go and offer his services to Lord Shane.
And the result…
The moment Jack had found Shane in the garden, he had seen Aokiji closing in on him. He had immediately flown into a rage and attacked without a second thought.
And Shane's crew, because of the Alabasta incident, had assumed he was an enemy and had ignored him.
And then, because of Robin's drunken state, they had all gone back to the ship early.
And so, through a series of coincidences, the unlucky guy had been frozen in the empty garden all night.
If not for his Fish-Man constitution and the durability of his Mammoth Fruit, he would have been a goner.
"Hehe, good thing I was here,"
Nami said proudly, snapping her fingers. A spark of fire shot from her fingertips, adding more fuel to the fire in front of Jack.
She had built the fire, and she had also used her Flame-Flame Fruit ability to quickly melt Aokiji's ice.
Otherwise, it would have been a real pain to deal with that massive block of ice.
"It's much warmer now…"
Jack looked up at the orange-haired girl. Though he was still shivering, he managed a grateful smile. "Th-Thank you, Boss Nami!"
His teeth were chattering, and his voice was broken. "If you hadn't saved me, I might have really frozen to death…"
In the endless cold, his consciousness had long since faded. He didn't know how long he had endured before he had slowly come to.
And the first ray of fire he had seen, the first smile, had come from the kind, warm human girl before him.
So, he was filled with a genuine gratitude for Nami. He struggled to stand up and bow, but his legs gave out, and he nearly fell to the ground.
Paiku quickly steadied him, shaking his head with a pained expression.
"Oh, don't be so formal!"
Nami waved her hand. "It was nothing. But remember, don't be so reckless next time! That was a Marine Admiral! Among all of us, only my brother can handle him! You, on the other hand, should just stay out of it."
She put on a mature act and was about to pat Jack's shoulder to comfort him, but she realized she couldn't reach and patted his knee instead.
But…
The wide grin on her face betrayed how proud she was. A few small flames even flickered at the ends of her hair.
—He called me 'Boss'!!!
"You're right,"
Jack said, nodding vigorously. "That guy is really strong. But if I ever see him attack Lord Shane again, I still won't let him get away with it!"
Nami: "?"
Wait, did he not hear a word I said?
Dammit.
It's not that she has a stereotype against big guys.
But…
It really does seem that the taller they are, the less bright they are.
"Ow, that hurts!"
Shane had just given Nami's ear a good tug.
"What was that for, Big Bro?!" Nami turned, aggrieved.
Even if you're my brother, you need a reason to bully me!
Nami was about to retaliate, but then she remembered her brother's true height and, with a sheepish smile, she shrank back.
Shane snorted. He had grown up with this girl. Did he really not know what she was thinking?
Jack, on the other hand, had no idea what was going through Nami's mind. He turned to Shane and, with a thud, he kneeled before him.
"I-I'm sorry!"
Jack stammered. "Lord Shane! I haven't even had a chance to thank you for saving my father, and I've already caused you more trouble! And back in Alabasta, I… I was with Hanafuda, and I attacked you all…"
"No one remembers that!" Nojiko said with a teasing smile. "Didn't you just sink to the bottom of the sea? We didn't even get a clear look at your face."
Jack's face flushed red.
That scene was truly embarrassing.
Thank goodness that even after eating a Devil Fruit, a Fish-Man could still breathe underwater. Otherwise, a corpse would have washed up in the City of Gourmets.
"An apology is not necessary,"
Shane said, shaking his head and helping Jack to his feet. "You were under Hanafuda's control back then. And besides, you didn't cause any real trouble."
He paused, looking the big guy up and down with interest. "But I did hear from your father that you want to follow me now?"
Huh?
Lord Shane is interested?
Paiku's spirits lifted, and he was about to give his adopted son a nudge.
But Jack had already looked up, his eyes shining, and he said excitedly, "Yes! Lord Shane! I-I'm strong! I can work! I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but if you tell me to go east, I'll never go west!"
"And I've got this!" he said, pounding his chest. "Hanafuda said I'm a very rare Ancient Zoan, with a lot of growth potential! I may not be able to beat that strong Marine Admiral, but other pirates, Marine Vice Admirals, I can definitely take them down!"
"What about Vice Admiral Garp?" Nami asked with a grin.
Garp?
Never heard of him, but he's just a Vice Admiral…
"No problem at all!" Jack said, puffing out his chest and answering with conviction. "A guy like that, I'll take on as many as they send!"
"Pfft!"
Nami and Nojiko couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.
"..." Shane was also speechless.
He looked at Jack, who was scratching his head in confusion, and stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Seeing that he was really considering it, Jack became a little anxious. And Paiku, beside him, subconsciously grabbed his adopted son's arm, his palms sweating.
…
He had to admit, Shane was tempted.
In the original timeline, six years from now, Jack was only in his twenties, and he was already one of the three All-Stars of the Beast Pirates.
As Hanafuda had said, this guy's growth potential was top-tier.
And more importantly, the 22-year-old Jack had not yet gone down the wrong path. He was straightforward and loyal, and because of Paiku, he was grateful to him.
If he were to join the crew, he would definitely be a trustworthy comrade.
The only downside…
…was that his style was a little… reckless.
"Big Bro, why don't we just take him in?"
Nojiko whispered beside him. "We could use a strong guy on the ship. It would be convenient for moving things and repairing the ship."
"Yeah, yeah!"
Nami quickly chimed in, looking at Shane with puppy-dog eyes. "This kid may be a little dumb, but he's a good person! He's very reliable!"
She called him "this kid," as if he were younger than her.
She didn't care. All Nami knew was that she had personally saved this big guy, and he had called her "Boss"!
Just hearing him say that had been a huge boost to her ego.
If she could get him on the ship, she would have a new, obedient underling, and her status on the crew would skyrocket.
And besides, Jack didn't have a bounty yet, so her own bounty wouldn't be the lowest anymore!
Shane looked at the others and, seeing no objections, he finally nodded.
"Alright," he said, extending a hand to Jack with a smile. "I'm sorry I forgot about you last night. Thank you for your help. From this day on, you are our comrade. Welcome to the Curtain Call Adventurers."
Jack was stunned for a moment, and then he was overcome with joy. He grabbed Shane's hand and shook it excitedly, nearly sending him flying. "Thank you, Lord Shane! I-I won't let you down!"
"Relax, don't be so excited,"
Shane said, using a little strength to steady himself. He noticed someone's expression and, after a moment's thought, he added, "And don't call me 'Lord.' 'Captain' or 'Boss' is fine."
The frown on Kuina's face instantly smoothed out.
"YES! BOSS SHANE!!!"
Jack shouted, his voice so loud it made everyone's ears ring.
"Go home, pack your things, have breakfast with your father, and say a proper goodbye,"
Shane said, patting his arm. "I'll give you an hour. Then, we'll be on our way."
"YES, BOSS SHANE!!!"
......
The Curtain Call finally sailed out of the port.
It cut through the waves, heading for the sea train station on the north side of the island.
Paiku stood on the docks, laughing and waving goodbye to Jack, watching the ship's shadow slowly disappear over the horizon.
His wish had finally been fulfilled. A wave of pride washed over him, even overshadowing his reluctance to see him go.
When he got back and saw the other slaves who had been freed with him, he would definitely have to show off.
They had all wanted to be handymen, and Lord Shane hadn't even looked at them. But his son was now an official crew member of The Curtain Call!
A man's ambition is in the four corners of the world. Since he was lucky enough to be with Lord Shane, the future Jack would surely become a great man by the time he returned home!
…
And at the same time, on the deck of The Curtain Call.
"While we're on our way to the sea train station, let's get you settled in. The men's and women's quarters are separate. There are ten rooms for each. The men's are on the right side, so don't get lost. Just follow me, rookie."
Smoker, a cigar between his teeth, was about to show Jack around when he suddenly heard a "thump" from behind.
"..."
Smoker turned and saw Jack, clutching his head. He frowned slightly. "So it is too high for you. Over eight meters… it seems you'll have to be careful and bend down whenever you're in the cabin from now on."
The main cabin door of The Curtain Call was a full five meters high, and the ceiling on the first floor was about six meters.
In most cases, this was more than enough, but this kid was an exception.
"YES! I'll be careful, Big Brother Smoker!" Jack said, standing at attention, his expression serious.
Not bad, this kid.
Smoker grinned.
"But it's not a good long-term solution. It's too restrictive."
He thought for a moment and then offered a suggestion. "Boss Shane is a world-class physical arts master. You should ask him for guidance. If you can learn Life Return soon, you'll be able to move around the cabin freely."
"Life Return? I understand, Senior Smoker! Thank you for the advice!"
"Mmm, that's for later. For now, just follow me."
As they walked down the corridor, Kuina, who was polishing her sword, came from the opposite direction. She glanced at Jack. "Hey, rookie. You've got a good ability. When you have time, come and spar with me."
Thick-skinned and tough, a good target to test the power of her swordsmanship.
"YES! VICE-CAPTAIN KUINA!" Jack said without hesitation, nodding eagerly.
"Mmm."
Kuina nodded in satisfaction, sheathed her sword, and strode away.
"Hey, Jack, you brat!"
Zeff's voice came from the kitchen. "After you've put your things away, remember to come and help me move the ingredients! There's too much, and it all needs to go in the storage room!"
"No problem! Just a moment, I'll be right there, Mr. Zeff!"
"Haha, you're a quick one! When you're done, I'll make you a special meal to reward you!"
"Really, Mr. Zeff?! I want a cheeseburger! And french fries! And grilled fish! And salted caramel cake! And…"
"That's enough! You've got some nerve, making so many requests, you brat!"
…
On the second-floor open-air dojo.
Shane held his cup and listened to the commotion from the cabin, a smile on his face as he sipped his coffee.
A brute has his advantages.
Both Smoker and Robin, the two latecomers, had taken a while to adjust after joining the crew. For the first few days, they had been a little stiff.
But Jack was completely different. The kid was so straightforward, with no ulterior motives, and he was warm and sincere with everyone.
At this rate, he would probably be the fastest to integrate into the group.
He put down his coffee cup and shook open the newspaper in front of him.
It was fresh off the press, just bought by Nami. Although she now claimed not to care about her bounty, she had already developed the habit of buying a newspaper the moment the News Coo appeared, and she couldn't break it.
This issue's front-page story was…
Shane's gaze fell on the paper, and he was stunned.
In bold, black letters, it read—
BREAKING! THE EMPEROR, KAIDO, HAS LEFT THE NEW WORLD ALONE AND HAS NOW APPEARED IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE GRAND LINE! HIS EXACT WHEREABOUTS ARE UNKNOWN!
