[TIOP] Chapter : 132

Jack raised an eyebrow. He knew exactly who Vegapunk was—the Vegapunk. The world’s most brilliant scientist, reputed to be 500 years ahead of his time, and currently working under the World Government. He also happened to be the brains behind the science division that Kizaru was protecting.

“Too bad? Why too bad? If someone like Vegapunk came here, cracking the mysteries of this place shouldn’t be a problem, right?” Jack asked, genuinely curious.

In fact, he’d already been considering making a formal request to have Vegapunk brought in. The potential for what could be learned here—especially for strengthening the Navy—was enormous.

But Kizaru just smiled faintly and said nothing.

Jack paused. Then, slowly, it dawned on him.

Vegapunk wasn’t so much a collaborator of the World Government as a prisoner of it. They weren’t “employing” him—they were keeping him under tight surveillance, coercing him into researching renewable energy. There was no way they would let him roam freely to a remote island like this.

“I see... In that case, our only option is to tighten security and guard this place ourselves,” Jack said at last, exhaling.

Kizaru gave him a long look, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He hadn’t said a word, yet Jack had pieced it together. While he couldn’t be sure what Jack knew exactly, something told him the young man had guessed Vegapunk’s situation more accurately than most.

After finishing their meal, the two sat down by the shore to rest. Jack turned to him.

“Borsalino, what’s your take on the training value of this place?”

“Exceptional,” Kizaru replied without hesitation.

And he wasn’t exaggerating. As an Admiral—one of the Navy’s highest combat forces—if even he found value here, it meant the effect on ordinary soldiers and officers would be tremendous.

“Exactly. That’s why we can’t let just anyone guard this island. I’m planning to recommend myself to Aokiji for this assignment. What do you think?” Jack said with a calm smile.

Kizaru didn’t respond right away. He simply smiled back, though his expression shifted slightly behind the usual carefree façade. He found the proposal strange.

Sure, this place was valuable, but Jack? An Admiral? Volunteering to stay in this remote, uninhabited corner of the world? From Kizaru’s point of view, it seemed like overkill.

After all, admirals were more than just powerful—they were the Navy’s top strategic assets, often wielding authority rivaling even the fleet admiral. Having one stationed here long-term seemed excessive.

“There’s no issue with Vice Admiral Fujitora and the G1 Division overseeing general patrols,” Jack added seriously. “But this cave... this island... they could become the key to cultivating the Navy’s next generation of elite officers.”

That last sentence lingered in the air, giving Kizaru pause. Perhaps Jack saw something in this place that others couldn’t yet grasp.

Kizaru gave Jack a long, incredulous look—as if he were staring at an absolute fool. Was this really the reason he wanted to stay on a remote island with no mountains, no name, and barely any life?

With a lazy yawn and a casual slap to his cheek to wake himself up, Kizaru muttered, “I don’t object... but I doubt Aokiji will sign off on it.”

“That’s why I need you to come with me,” Jack replied with a knowing smile. “Only the two of us have seen what’s inside that cave. If we frame this the right way, I believe Aokiji will listen.”

“So you want me to lie to the Fleet Admiral? That’s not very nice… The consequences could be terrifying, you know~” Kizaru drawled, his sleazy grin returning. The expression was so irritating that Jack had to restrain the urge to punch him.

Jack couldn’t help but notice how quickly Kizaru switched—calling Aokiji by name one moment and ‘Fleet Admiral’ the next. The man was nothing if not slippery.

“How about this?” Jack offered. “Bring your most trusted men here. I promise they’ll be treated with the same privileges as my own subordinates.”

“Trusted men? I don’t have any ‘trusted men’ to speak of. I’m an admiral. Everyone’s the same to me.” Kizaru replied with a sly squint.

“Yeah, right,” Jack grumbled internally. “Old bastard. Don’t try to tell me Sentomaru isn’t your protégé. You’d sooner die than admit it, you shameless fossil!”

Suppressing a sigh, Jack reached into his coat and, with visible reluctance, pulled out a sake bottle. Then, from another hidden pocket, he took out a tiny cup—so small it barely held a mouthful.

Kizaru raised an eyebrow as Jack pulled out the sake and cup like a magician. Still, he wasn’t too shocked. By now, it was no secret that Jack had a special ability that let him store items in a personal space.

“I snuck this sake out from home,” Jack said, pouring carefully. “The ingredients are so rare that this is the last bottle left. I gave a third to Sengoku and Garp. I’ve been rationing the rest for myself. There’s about half left. I’ll give you a third of that. Sound fair?”

What he didn’t say out loud was that this wasn’t just any sake—it was a rare item from his system that could enhance internal strength. The last time he drank with Garp, the old man had noticed it had a subtle effect on Haki. While the boost wasn’t dramatic, the idea of alcohol that strengthens you was unheard of.

Garp had sternly warned Jack to keep it secret. No one must know he could make something like this.

Kizaru watched the sake being poured with mild amusement. He had no idea what it was, but it smelled like regular alcohol. A single cup of sake? As if that was enough to bribe an admiral. Still, he appreciated Jack’s dramatic pain in parting with it.

With a smirk, he took the cup and said, “Pretty stingy, aren’t you? I doubt this is even enough to taste.” And with that, he downed it in one gulp.

“Not bad,” Kizaru commented, licking his lips. “Nice flavor... but not enough to lie to the Fleet Admiral over.”

Jack simply smiled, completely unfazed. “Give it a moment. Focus. Feel your own strength.”

The sake's effect was subtle—so subtle that if you didn’t know what to look for, you’d miss it entirely. The last time, even Garp had to drink quite a bit before he noticed. Only someone with deep control over their energy would sense how their Haki shifted.

And now, Jack waited patiently to see if Kizaru—one of the most powerful figures in the Navy—would feel it too.

Jack’s words left Kizaru momentarily stunned. Without hesitation, his body instinctively transformed into light particles—not out of fear of being poisoned, but as a precaution. With Jack, one could never be too careful.

“No reaction... not poisoned,” Kizaru muttered, carefully scanning the energy within his body.

“So? Feel anything? Has your Haki increased?” Jack asked with a confident smile.

He had no idea that Kizaru had just suspected him of trying to spike his drink and had used his Devil Fruit ability to safeguard himself.

Now that Jack mentioned it, Kizaru redirected his focus—not to his Devil Fruit powers, but to the flow of Haki within him. With his level of mastery, even the smallest shift was noticeable.

After a moment of silence, Kizaru looked up, eyes wide with surprise. “What... is this?”

He could feel it. The tiniest uptick in his Haki—barely perceptible, yet definitely there. And he had only taken a sip!

“So? Are you happy with my offer now?” Jack asked, still smiling.

Kizaru’s gaze grew warmer, his usual laziness giving way to genuine interest. This wasn’t just about alcohol anymore.

In their world, strength was everything. Not ideals. Not loyalty. Power was the one and only currency that mattered.

For someone at Kizaru’s level, where progress came in tiny, hard-earned increments, any method that could strengthen Haki—even slightly—was priceless. His Devil Fruit ability had long been mastered. Haki was his real bottleneck now.

“How much of that wine do you have left?” Kizaru asked, smiling like a man trying to act casual—and failing.