Jack knew that what he was about to do would turn the entire world upside down but standing there looking at everything that had already changed since his first day in this world, he realized the plot had long since stopped following any path he recognized.
Luffy had already met his father early and spoken with him face to face, Sabo reunion had happened ahead of schedule, Haki abilities were developing faster than they should, Imu had already made a move and the list kept growing with every passing day.
He let out a quiet breath and made his peace with it.
'Go to heck with the plot. I am going to write my own story,' thought Jack.
A moment later he landed in front of his crew.
"Hey guys," said Jack with a smile.
"JACKKKKK!"
Luffy, Chopper, Bartolomeo and Usopp hit him all at once like a small avalanche, arms going everywhere as they tried to pull him into a hug simultaneously.
"Give me a moment to take a breath," Jack struggled, his voice muffled somewhere under Luffy arm.
"That's enough guys, let him breathe," said Nami, pulling Luffy back while giving the others a look that made them step away immediately.
"Thanks Nami," said Jack, straightening himself out.
"No problemo," replied Nami.
"Does Jack always come back looking that calm after doing something?" Vivi whispered to Robin beside her.
"Always," Robin answered with a small smile.
"It is honestly a little unsettling," added Nojiko quietly.
Jack looked around at everyone and got straight to the good news. "About Sabo, don't worry. In 3 to 24 hours we should have his location."
"Really?" said Ace and Luffy at exactly the same time, both of them straightening up with their eyes going wide.
"Yeah, I launched drones to find him and it should take somewhere between 3 to 24 hours," said Jack.
The breath that came out of the group after that was a relief, the kind that comes when people have been holding something without realizing it.
"Oh thank goodness," said Chopper, pressing both hooves against his face.
"I was trying not to think the worst," admitted Usopp, putting a hand over his chest.
"That is genuinely a relief," said Vivi softly, her shoulders dropping.
King Cobra who had been standing quietly to the side nodded his head slowly, he had known about Sabo but never had a chance to meet him before.
Bonney had her arms crossed but even she let out a short breath. "Took you long enough to say that, I was starting to get a bad feeling Aniki."
Zoro just grunted but said nothing, which from Zoro was basically the same as a heartfelt speech.
Sanji smiled looking at the group. "Good, now we can focus saving him."
"Thanks Jack," said several voices at once.
"No problem," said Jack. "But right now we have something important to deal with."
The mood shifted immediately, everyone straightened up.
"Luffy, you remember what I told you before, that we would get revenge on the World Government?" asked Jack.
The word revenge landed on the group like a stone dropping into still water. They had heard earlier that Jack had two things planned, the first being finding Sabo and the second being something about retaliation to the World Government, but hearing it said out loud like this made it suddenly very real.
Robin forehead had a faint trace of sweat on it. She had spent most of her life being hunted by the World Government and the idea of deliberately poking that particular monster made every instinct she had go quiet and alert.
"Are we actually going to war with them right now?" she asked carefully.
"I want to know the same thing," said Nami, her voice nervous.
"Going to war with the whole World Government," Usopp repeated slowly, his face going through several colours. "Just the sixteen of us, against the entire world government. Yeah... that's fine..... I'm completely fine."
"Seventeen of us," corrected Bartolomeo immediately, raising his hand. "I am absolutely here for this and don't forget about Ace."
"That does not make it better Bartolomeo," said Usopp.
"Hey I'm strong," Ace looked at Usopp.
Chopper grabbed Usopp arm with wide eyes. "Are we going to be okay?"
Robin snorted. "I've been wanted since I was a kid, honestly this is just everyday for me."
Vivi looked at her father and King Cobra met her eyes with a calm expression, though the concern behind it was visible to anyone paying attention.
"Whatever is being planned," said Cobra quietly, "Alabasta will not stand in your way."
Kuma said nothing and stood exactly where he always stood but something behind his eyes was different, something that had been waiting a very long time for exactly this kind of moment. Since Ginny was taken by the World Government he had carried that weight of revenge every single day and hearing that they were finally going to strike back, even in whatever form Jack had in mind, settled something deep in his chest. Knowing that Luffy, the warrior of liberation, was at the center of all this only made that feeling stronger.
Luffy broke the silence by clenching his fist. "Yes, are we gonna kick their butt now?"
Everyone was waiting for their answer, Dorry and Broggy looked eager to fight with them too.
"No Luffy," said Jack.
Everyone blinked, didn't expect Jack would denied it.
"...No?" repeated Luffy.
"Then what exactly are we doing?" asked Zoro, raising an eyebrow.
"I thought revenge meant fighting," said Sanji slowly.
"Haaa…" Jack exhaled. "Did I not tell you before? The thing the World Government fears most is not losing a fight. It is having their crimes put in front of the entire world where everyone can see them. Hitting them there will hurt them far more than kicking Shamrock across a room ever would."
Nami eyes moved as she processed that and it only took her a moment. "Do you mean you want to publish it? Like a newspaper?"
"Half correct," said Jack. He snapped his fingers.
The light around them changed. The surrounding area darkened and in the middle of it all the image of Monkey D Dragon appeared, built from light and shadow.
"With this," said Jack, "I am going to put their crimes in front of every person in this world."
Robin stared at the projection with an unreadable expression before speaking quietly. "You are going to use Dragon face to deliver the message."
"That is either the smartest thing I have ever heard," said Nami slowly, "or the most dangerous."
"Why not both," said Nojiko.
Vivi stared at the image with wide eyes. "If this reaches every island, every kingdom… the people will know everything the World Government has been hiding."
"That is exactly the point," said Jack.
Usopp raised a shaking hand. "Quick question, when the World Government finds out who did this, and they will find out, what exactly is stopping them from sending everything they have directly at us?"
"Nothing," said Jack simply.
Usopp sat down on the floor.
"Get up Usopp," said Nami.
"Give me a minute," said Usopp.
"You are funny Usopp, we are pirates and if we are aiming to become a crew of Pirate King. Sooner or later they will come to hunt us down," Jack just shaking his head.
.....
Strawhat Pirates Crew Updated
Luffy
Jack
Zoro
Nami
Usopp
Nojiko
Sanji
Bartolomeo
Kuma
Bonney
Vivi
Chopper
Robin
Dorry
Broggy
King Cobra (His side kick or his people will follow but they are not officially Luffy Pirates crew and won't get much dialogue.)
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