When Laffitte came back from cleaning up the mess, Jack immediately informed him about the deal he had made with Clover and the plans that would follow.
Jack also made it clear that if Laffitte had any objections or problems with it, he was open to adjusting their plans accordingly.
However, Laffitte, who was always open-minded when it came to learning new things, showed no sign of resistance.
In fact, he was even enthusiastic about the idea of studying the Ancient Language, as it was a rare opportunity to expand his already growing knowledge.
"I'm a proud collector of knowledge, Captain. I won't ever refuse a chance to learn something new," Laffitte said with a grin. "I even asked Club earlier if he could teach me a few things, and he agreed, didn't you, Club?" Laffitte then looked at Club, who nodded in confirmation.
"Yeah, of course. It would be a waste if someone like you stayed on this island, surrounded by the greatest scholars in the world, without taking the chance to learn something useful," Club replied casually, his tone showing a bit of pride in his island's reputation.
Hearing that, B and Aramaki looked at each other, nodding as if they both understood that it would be foolish to waste the opportunity.
"I think I'll focus on learning more about different faunas," Aramaki then said. "There might be creatures or plants that I can summon or copy their traits for my elemental form. That could be useful in battle later on."
"I'll study how to become a greater rapper too," B added with a serious face, which made Laffitte glance at Jack, smiling faintly as if amused by the variety of goals among the crew.
"That leaves you, Captain," Laffitte then asked curiously. "What are you planning to study while we're here?"
"Maybe I'll study the language as well, and of course, train," Jack replied without hesitation.
Hearing that, the others were reminded that no matter how much knowledge they gained, they still needed to maintain their discipline and training. Jack's tone carried that silent reminder naturally.
The next day marked the official start of their year-long stay in Ohara. The four pirates, along with Club, began their daily routine early in the morning.
They started with physical training, beginning with warm-ups, followed by sparring sessions against Jack.
As usual, Jack fought all of them at once, using their combined attacks to sharpen his own control over both his body and emotions.
Since eating his Devil Fruit, Jack's anger was still present, but with time and constant meditation, it became more manageable.
After training, they would fish for their food instead of relying on the island's residents. Jack believed in self-sufficiency, so he made sure they earned every meal themselves.
In the afternoons, they each attended to their chosen studies — language, fauna, and music.
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The first week went by smoothly. There were no major problems in their studies, and everyone seemed motivated.
Aramaki learned about several species of plants and animals that were believed to be extinct, existing now only in the records preserved by Ohara's scholars.
Some of these were fascinating, even dangerous. One plant in particular released a fine dust that could knock someone unconscious with only a small amount of exposure.
Aramaki tested it, but it did not affect Jack — his body, strengthened by the Hercules Method, resisted the toxin completely.
However, the dust worked perfectly on others, confirming that it was indeed a potent discovery.
Jack and Laffitte, meanwhile, had been steadily improving in their study of the Ancient Language. Jack's learning speed was slightly faster, but only by a small margin, which surprised even Clover.
It was proof of Jack's natural intelligence and focus, but also a sign of Laffitte's sharpness — since he could almost keep up with Jack even though this kind of study was completely new to him.
The Hercules Method, which enhanced their mental endurance along with physical ability, helped both of them keep pace during long study hours.
B, on the other hand, found an unexpected connection between his studies and his passion. He began incorporating the new vocabulary he learned into his rap lyrics, adjusting rhythms and tones to match the ancient pronunciations.
Over time, his rapping became more fluid and expressive, which he proudly demonstrated to Aramaki whenever they took breaks. club also became closer to the four, especially Jack, who had started openly inviting him to join their crew after their stay in Ohara ended.
Of course, their life in Ohara wasn't just about studying. Every evening, they continued sparring under Jack's supervision.
He insisted that knowledge should be balanced with strength. During one of their first group spars, including Club, the young sniper voiced a concern.
"Isn't it a little unfair for Jack to fight against all of us at once?" Club asked honestly, unaware of what he was walking into. His question made B and Aramaki burst out laughing, while Jack and Laffitte just exchanged amused smiles.
"Oh, I can't wait to see your expression after our sparring ends," Aramaki said, shaking his head. The others nodded in agreement, already knowing what was about to happen.
After a few minutes, they began their sparring session. To make things fair, Jack forbade the use of Devil Fruits.
The rule was simple: only Haki and physical strength were allowed. This way, they could develop stronger Haki through real combat pressure.
At first, Club hung back, shooting from a distance whenever the others pressed Jack. But as the fight went on, he started to understand why they had laughed earlier.
Even with the four of them working together, they were still being completely outclassed. Jack moved through their attacks effortlessly, as if predicting every strike before it happened.
Aramaki tried to land a solid punch to Jack's torso, coordinating with Laffitte's quick knife strike and B's sudden rush.
Jack smoothly parried all three movements with a single swing of his sword. When Club fired a shot aimed at Jack's shoulder, Jack tilted his head slightly, letting the bullet pass by harmlessly.
He then used the momentum of his next swing to knock Laffitte off balance, forcing him backward, before countering Aramaki's attack with a clean kick to the face.
At the same time, he blocked B's follow-up strike with the sword in his other hand.
This exchange went on for over five hours. Even as they grew more exhausted, they refused to stop, pushing themselves against the unshakable wall that was Jack.
Eventually, Jack decided the spar had gone on long enough. He tightened his grip on his sword and prepared his final move.
"Battle Crusher," Jack said calmly, lifting his sword above his head before bringing it down with immense force.
The ground beneath them cracked and shattered, creating a deep rupture that sent the four of them tumbling down.
"Hahaha, still too weak," Jack said with his usual quip of the day. He made one after every victory, something that had become a tradition among them.
Normally, Aramaki and B would groan or complain at his teasing, but this time, they simply looked at Club and Laffitte, who were catching their breath inside the broken ground.
"Now you see why it's not a problem?" Aramaki said, smirking slightly.
"Yeah, I get it now," Club replied with a small laugh as the three climbed out of the cracked earth.
Jack had already sheathed his sword and was waiting for them, his expression calm but satisfied.