Jack stood stoically, his expression as blank as a slate, watching Yamato and the siblings Ulti and Page One approach, Yamato hefting her massive kanabō. He turned and waved dismissively at one of the crew aboard the ship.
"Oi, you there! Didn't I tell you to bring Black Maria over? What's this about?"
A burly, good-natured pirate scratched his head awkwardly as he walked over to Jack.
"Uh… Jack-sama, my name isn't 'you there,' it's Rune—"
Smack!
A resounding slap landed on Rune's head. Cradling his face in mock misery, Rune wailed:
"Kaido-sama said he's got to teach a lesson to some guy named Doflamingo for acting out of line lately. He's already flown off from Onigashima! So, for now, Black Maria-sama's in charge of everything on the island and can't come over."
"Also, Kaido-sama left a message for you: he wants you to train Yamato-sama and these two brats properly while he's away. He said he'll check on their progress when he returns!"
Jack's roar of frustration echoed like a cannon blast.
"This isn't a daycare!! How many times do I have to babysit these brats?!"
Thwack!
"Who are you calling a brat, you oversized oaf?!"
Yamato's kanabō came crashing down onto Jack's head with no mercy. Jack wiped the blood off his forehead and charged at her with a snarl.
"You've been nothing but trouble since Udon! First, you nearly neutered me with that bite of yours, and don't even get me started on that time you and your old man ganged up on me! This time, I'm gonna beat some sense into you—until you remember what childhood discipline really feels like!"
As Jack and Yamato clashed furiously, Rune quickly made his escape, dragging an excited Ulti and a hesitant Page One along with him.
Yamato may have been well-trained under Kaido-sama, but she was still no match for Jack's brute strength. After only a dozen or so exchanges, Jack sent Yamato's kanabō flying with a heavy blow.
"White Serpent Charge!"
"Thunder Bagua!"
BOOM!
Jack's strike overpowered Yamato's attack, sending her weapon flying. Yamato stomped her foot in defiance.
"That wasn't Thunder Bagua, you liar!"
Grabbing Yamato by the scruff of her neck, Jack smirked and shook his head.
"Most of my moves are called Thunder Bagua. If I say it's Thunder Bagua, then it's Thunder Bagua!"
"Ow! Ow, ow, ow! Pe-chan! My legs have gone numb! Carry me!"
Watching Yamato's pitiful cries, Ulti flinched and immediately jumped onto Page One's back, wrapping her arms around his neck in panic.
"Pe-chan! Run faster!" she squealed, while Page One gasped for air, tongue lolling out in pain as he staggered away.
After giving Yamato a thorough beating, Jack slung her over his shoulder and picked up her kanabō. He frowned.
Something wasn't right.
Yamato's kanabō had always been close in size to his own tusks. She often complained about its size, saying it was unwieldy, but now it looked smaller—half the length and thickness it used to be. Though still oversized for her frame, it was noticeably more manageable now.
Jack stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Has Kaido-sama given up on Yamato ever growing taller? he wondered. It seemed Yamato had inherited her height from her mother, not her father.
But this raised another question.
How did Kaido-sama and Yamato's mother even manage to—?
Jack shook his head violently. Better not to think about that… Maybe I'll ask him sometime—if I'm feeling lucky enough to dodge a beating.
The forests of Wano were filled with ferocious beasts, many of them massive in size. Jack's crocodile mount was considered ordinary here, and even Holdem's ostrich steed wasn't unique in this ecosystem. Truly, Wano provided the perfect resources for the Beasts Pirates' mounts.
At the moment, Yamato's body—save for her head—was buried in the dirt, her expression twisted in frustration as she struggled uselessly to break free.
The Ulti siblings stood nearby, gripping their kanabō nervously as a pack of red-eyed wolves surrounded them. The wolves drooled hungrily, their saliva dripping onto the ground like a forewarning of death.
At the head wolf's signal, several of them lunged at the two children.
Watching from a safe distance, one of Jack's subordinates, Master, couldn't hide his concern.
"Jack-sama, isn't it a bit dangerous to bind Yamato-sama in chains made of such pure seastone and then leave her under the protection of Ulti and Page One? They're still just kids, after all."
"Dangerous? Kids?" Jack didn't take his eyes off the unfolding scene. Without looking at Master, he replied:
"If dinosaurs can't beat a bunch of wolves, then they don't deserve to live. At their age, I'd already lost count of how many men I'd killed."
Master sighed. "Not everyone is as monstrous as you, Jack-sama."
"Are you calling me a monster?" Jack's tone was almost offended.
"Pe-chan! It hurts!"
As the wolf pack grew more aggressive, Ulti could no longer hold her ground. One wolf sank its fangs into her arm, causing her to drop her kanabō.
"You filthy mutts!" Page One growled, his body beginning to change.
A massive, two-meter-long, spike-backed dinosaur burst onto the scene, scattering the wolves momentarily. Ulti finally remembered her own powers and quickly began her own transformation into a Pachycephalosaurus.
The wolves hesitated briefly at the sight of the two dinosaurs but ultimately charged again under their leader's command.
Jack chuckled, turning back to Master. "See? Nothing to worry about. Wolves can't beat dragons. When they're done, purify them to prevent rabies."
"Jack-sama… You might want to look again," Master said nervously. "It seems a big one's joined the fight."
Jack turned, his brow furrowing.
"What the—?!"
A towering, hulking wolf had entered the battlefield. Its razor-sharp teeth, massive limbs, and claws made it clear it was no ordinary predator. Even in their full beast forms, Page One and Ulti barely reached its neck, emphasizing its monstrous size.
As the wolves began closing in again, Jack let out a heavy sigh. His eyes glinted with power.
BOOM!
Jack unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, sending the wolves scattering in terror. Even the giant wolf hesitated before retreating cautiously.
Jack watched it go, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"That one's got some brains. Its size is perfect—bigger than my crocodile. It'd make a fine mount."
Before he could act, Yamato, still buried in the dirt, began yelling excitedly.
"Jack! Let me have that wolf! I want it as my mount! Hurry up and dig me out!"
Jack closed his eyes in frustration, exhaling deeply.
"Fine… Fine… Take it, brat. I'm just the glorified daycare manager, after all."
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+165 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg