As Doflamingo glanced at Black Maria, whose towering height nearly matched Jack's, he finally understood who the clothes Jack had requested were meant for.
Turning his gaze toward the figure standing beside Jack, he locked eyes with Yamato. Realizing this was Kaido's daughter, Doflamingo also gained new insight into Jack's status within the Beasts Pirates.
To treat Kaido's daughter as a plaything… Such privilege…
Wait a second… This feels oddly familiar…
An oppressive aura compelled Doflamingo to lift his head. From the distance, a massive azure dragon spiraled through the skies, steadily closing in.
"Jack!"
The dragon shrank mid-air, and Kaido descended furiously, landing beside Jack, who was whispering something to Maria.
"What's up? Did you have too much to drink?"
"Jack, you idiot!" Kaido roared as he drew the kanabo, Hassaikai, from his belt and swung it at Jack. With a swift motion, Jack pushed Maria aside and caught the club with his hand. The sight left Doflamingo's eyes nearly popping out from beneath his signature sunglasses.
"You moron!" Kaido bellowed, raising the kanabo again. "I was planning to hold a grand welcoming ceremony for Fozu and Sasaki at the Fire Festival, and you ruined everything!"
"Fozu is in no condition to attend now! Why did you go so hard on him?"
"I went easy on him!"
"You bastard, still daring to talk back?!"
"Hey, old man! Stop it! You can't hit Jack!" Yamato intervened, stepping forward.
"Fine! Fine! My own daughter dares defy me! I'll deal with you both today!"
BAM! CLANG!
Doflamingo stood frozen, watching as the three clashed and brawled into the distance. His usually composed demeanor was thoroughly shaken.
"Ahaha, you'll get used to it," Maria said with a chuckle, noticing his stunned expression. "That's just how Kaido-sama, Jack, and Yamato interact."
She approached Doflamingo, her voice sweet but sly. "Donquixote family's head, Doflamingo, isn't it? Let's leave them be for now. Jack asked me to take good care of you. Please, follow me."
"Ah, well… Thanks," Doflamingo replied, striding after her with his usual arrogant swagger. However, he couldn't help glancing back toward the departing trio.
If his observation was correct, Kaido's daughter, Yamato, seemed to have feelings for Jack.
Jack… You sure live on the edge…
Doflamingo shook his head, a mixture of admiration and incredulity filling his thoughts.
Due to the upcoming Fire Festival, most of the Beasts Pirates had returned to Onigashima, flooding the island with people. Thankfully, Wano had developed numerous casinos and pleasure quarters over the past two years, and many pirates flocked there for entertainment.
As the Beasts Pirates' territory expanded, there were always nations attempting to resist, such as Ostek and Linsten. These kingdoms tore up their agreements with the Beasts Pirates in hopes of allying with the World Government.
Their fates, as expected, were grim. Royal overthrows were accompanied by the destruction of their nations, and the ultimate burden of suffering fell upon the lowest-tier citizens. Male captives were sent to factories or sold to other nations, while the fate of young, beautiful women needed no elaboration.
In the pirate world, mercy existed but was rare. The environment shaped a person's character.
If Jack had been raised among the Marines, he might have been outraged by such atrocities and sought to rescue the women. As things stood, Jack's "rescue" methods were… rather unconventional.
Among the captured women, those allowed entry into the courtesan quarters were truly exceptional. Kaido's personal secretarial group often trained these women themselves. They were the pinnacle of desirability among the Beasts Pirates—the ones men dreamed of "helping."
But entry into these quarters wasn't easy for ordinary pirates. The courtesan services were reserved for the cadre—only the elite within the crew. For lower-ranking captains, visiting even once was a rarity.
These women were famous for their beauty and skill, known throughout the Beasts Pirates. Their obedience and cooperation were unquestionable. Compared to merely surviving, a bit of physical hardship was nothing. For many, life here was even better than what they'd known before, with fine food, clothing, and entertainment—a dream-like existence in chaotic times. Some women, perhaps, even envied them.
Of course, there were always those who resisted to the end, women of unyielding spirit who suffered greatly before their departure. Kaido's secretaries, however, weren't ordinary women.
Fragile types wouldn't survive Kaido's wild nature.
Upon entering the courtesan quarters, Doflamingo's eyes brightened.
"Welcome!"
Two rows of women, clad in kimonos that revealed ample cleavage, bowed deeply in greeting.
Even with Doflamingo's discerning tastes, the appearance and figures of these women were undeniably enticing.
The further they walked, the dimmer the lighting became. The sound of elegant music drifted through the air. Glancing to the side, Doflamingo saw dozens of pirates lounging with their companions, sipping sake and enjoying the performance of a live band. For a moment, their refined demeanor nearly convinced him they were nobles at a grand concert—if not for their wandering hands.
Maria stopped at a door and opened it. Doflamingo quickly followed.
"Doflamingo, please make yourself at home," Maria said, gesturing toward the room. "Kaido-sama and the others should return in about four hours. These lovely ladies will escort you to the banquet when the time comes."
"Oh, I appreciate it," Doflamingo replied, his grin widening as he was surrounded by a group of beautiful women. Maria gave him a once-over, her lips curling into an amused smile, before quietly slipping away.
...
Meanwhile, Kaido, having chased Jack and Yamato a short distance, transformed into his dragon form and grabbed Jack, soaring toward Wano. Yamato, left behind, stomped her foot in frustration.
BOOM!
Jack's massive frame hit the ground, and for once, he stayed down. Satisfied, Kaido reverted to his human form, slightly winded.
"Jack, you brat. You've improved quite a bit!"
Like hell! If I didn't hold back to save your face, I wouldn't have gone down, Jack thought as he lay on the ground, catching his breath. Eventually, he staggered to his feet and addressed Kaido, who was gulping down sake to rehydrate.
"Kaido-sama, if you've got so much energy, go deal with that Joker guy. Didn't he just arrive? Teach him a lesson, not me. I've got work to do."
"Joker?" Kaido scoffed, hanging his sake gourd back on his belt. "He's too weak. He wouldn't last three hits with me."
"He's too focused on his Devil Fruit and neglects his physical training. That'll be his downfall someday."
Recalling Doflamingo's wiry frame, Jack nodded in agreement. His Devil Fruit mastery was absurdly powerful, but his build… Well, his arms weren't even as thick as Jack's fingers.
A twig of a man, through and through.
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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg