One Piece: My Name is Jack, I'm Very Resistant to Beating

"Huff…"

"Cough, cough, cough…"

"Huff…"

"Cough, cough, cough…"

Jack turned his head away, eyeing Rim, who was puffing on a hookah pipe. Silently, he edged a few steps away.

This guy… still smoking, even now? The pipe looked ornate, but Jack's expression turned complicated as he watched Rim.

You're coughing like you're hacking up a lung, and you're still at it? Are you not afraid of dying?

Rim, however, seemed utterly absorbed in the soothing burn of tobacco in his lungs, oblivious to Jack's judgmental gaze. Jack sighed and said, half-exasperated:

"Rim… listen…"

"With your lungs already this bad, why are you giving them a spa treatment? They can't handle it!"

"I know your condition's hard to treat, but don't just give up like this!"

"You never know, maybe we'll come across some miraculous Paramecia fruit that can heal you!"

"Oh, and the woman we're looking for—maybe she can help cure you!"

Rim waved a hand dismissively, coughing out a fresh plume of smoke from his mouth and nose. Jack quickly stepped forward, patting him on the back.

"Cough, cough… Stop it… cut it out!"

"I'm not going to die from the coughing, but you're going to kill me with your pounding!"

Jack withdrew his hand, glaring at Rim before noticing Holdem, who had just arrived with a horrified look on his face.

Jack snapped. "Can you not mix things up? I'm not interested in whatever nonsense you're implying!"

"Doesn't matter…" Rim muttered hoarsely.

"It doesn't matter to you, but it matters a lot to me!"

"I meant my illness doesn't matter…" Rim sighed, tucking the hookah pipe into his cloak with a melancholic gaze. "Queen-sama already told me—I've only got a few years left. Smoking or not, it doesn't make a difference."

He looked at Jack, his voice laced with determination.

"As long as I can personally avenge myself, I'll die with no regrets."

Jack opened his mouth, intending to comfort him, but Rim's eyes suddenly sharpened.

"Who's there? Come out!"

"Hurry up! If you don't, we'll—"

Bang!

Jack didn't wait for Rim to finish his threat. He leaped forward, smashing the wall with his massive fanged weapon. His gaze shifted toward the alley nearby.

Down the long alley, several carriages surrounded by dozens of armed guards came into view. The guards looked shaken, staring at Jack and the crumbled wall.

"Nobles, huh?" Jack muttered, spotting the noble crest on one of the carriages—a soaring eagle with wings spread wide, depicted so vividly it seemed ready to take flight.

Unlike pirate flags, noble crests were vibrant and often featured animals, plants, or, occasionally, weapons as symbols of their houses.

"Caw, caw…"

The ostrich-chicken hybrid, curious as ever, followed Holdem over. Its sharp beak still had traces of fresh blood, and when it opened its mouth to reveal sharp teeth, the guards collectively took a step back.

Despite their fear, the guards exchanged glances and took a few cautious steps forward, positioning themselves in front of the carriages.

"Rim! Rim-sama, is that you? It's me, Hedarn!"

A man with a thin mustache burst out of one of the carriages, rushing toward them with an elated expression.

"Huh? Cough, cough…"

Rim squinted at Hedarn, then seemed to remember something. He pointed at the man and rasped,

"Cough, cough… It's him… He's… cough… in charge…"

"Allow me to introduce myself!" Hedarn cut in, seeing Rim struggle for breath. "I'm the financial minister of the Wetna Kingdom! I handle our dealings with the Beasts Pirates!"

"What?!" Jack roared, grabbing Hedarn by the collar and lifting him off the ground. "So it's you! Where's the money? You think you can cheat us?"

Hedarn flailed desperately. "It's not my fault! I prepared the gold, but the king confiscated it all!"

"What?!"

"And now, they're accusing me of treason! They've seized my estate, and I'm being hunted by the royal army!" Hedarn wailed. "I swear, I'm innocent!"

Rim lightly touched Jack's arm, signaling him to let go. Jack glanced at him.

"Cough, cough… I get it, I get it!" Jack growled, dropping Hedarn onto the ground. "You're saying this guy's on our side, and I should let him go, right?"

"Cough…"

Jack sighed, stepping back as Rim mounted the ostrich-chicken, giving it a firm slap. The creature trotted off, taking the incessant coughing with it. Finally, Jack could think clearly again.

Turning to Hedarn, he asked in a low voice, "So, do you know anything about the woman who can cure diseases?"

"Of course!" Hedarn's face darkened with anger. "That damned woman is the reason I'm in this mess!"

"What do you mean?"

"She's ..... Greedy and… lecherous!"

"She… she's into me!"

Jack stared at the frail, balding man in disbelief.

What kind of woman would be that desperate? Even a balding old man like this isn't off-limits?!

"… daughter!"

Jack blinked.

Oh, you're one of those people who take forever to finish a sentence. Wait, his daughter? That's a twist I like!

Oblivious to Jack's internal monologue, Hedarn continued ranting, his voice rising with indignation.

"She's built a palace with the support of three kingdoms! Over the past year, the most beautiful girls from these kingdoms have been sent to her palace—even our princess wasn't spared!"

"Sigh…"

Hedarn's shoulders sagged. "She even wanted my daughter! I sent her off, but the king still seized my fortune and branded me a traitor!"

"Now, thanks to my loyal men, I escaped. But you must help me, my lords!" Hedarn clung to Jack's leg, sobbing.

Jack, meanwhile, had a single thought swirling in his head:

If I can woo this woman… does that mean I'll get all her wives too?!

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