Jack had been dispatched by Kaido with a specific mission: to collect the first batch of Artificial Devil Fruits. The trade was set to take place at Gran Tesoro, the world's largest entertainment city and the stronghold of the alliance between Gild Tesoro, Donquixote Doflamingo, and Mad Treasure.
Doflamingo had given these specially manufactured Devil Fruits a unique name: SMILE.
However, Jack's journey hit an unexpected snag.
Due to a prior incursion into Wano by Loli A, the Kozuki Clan had been forced to pay reparations to the Immortal Pirates. They were currently en route to the Arderay to deliver the compensation.
When Kozuki Oden announced that their ship carried cargo intended for Alucard, Jack hesitated. After weighing his options, he ultimately chose to back down and allowed Oden's group to pass.
Since Alucard and Kaido first crossed paths, they had clashed thousands of times. The gap between them had shifted from being evenly matched to Kaido being slightly inferior, then to Kaido being unable to hold his own, and finally to the current state of rapid defeat.
Witnessing the chasm between himself and Alucard widen, Kaido had spiraled into a cycle of suicidal madness and constant battle. The "SMILE" trade had become one of his primary means of attempting to surpass Alucard.
Having let Oden's group go, Jack's crew reached their breaking point. Low on supplies, they couldn't even dream of reaching Gran Tesoro; they wouldn't even survive leaving these waters.
Jack knew all too well how Kaido would punish him if this first fruit collection mission failed. Swallowing his pride, he ordered a retreat to the nearest island under the Beasts Pirates' control, an island governed by the Wind Calamity, Queen.
By the time they reached Queen's territory, the crew of the Mammoth had been without food or water for two days. They were so gaunt they looked like skin and bones.
Elburn, the star performer of the Sabre-Tooth, walked over with his men. Seeing the state of Sheepshead and the others, he laughed loudly. "Oi, oi, everyone from the Mammoth! Aren't you lot a bit too pathetic?"
"Hmph!"
Jack let out a cold snort, suppressing his internal rage. He spoke in a raspy voice, "Hurry up and prepare water and food. Also, I need to report something to Boss Kaido. Bring me a Den Den Mushi!"
Despite the mockery, Jack was still his nominal superior. Elburn laughed once more but stopped the banter, quickly ordering men to bring supplies and a transponder snail.
Minutes later, Jack was gorging himself on food while dialing Kaido's number. Wind Calamity Queen, having heard the news, strolled over rubbing his half-asleep eyes. He offered a blunt, biting remark: "My, wouldn't it have been better if you'd just died in that shipwreck?"
Jack couldn't be bothered to argue with Queen. The Den Den Mushi connected, and Kaido's voice boomed from the other end. "Yeah?"
"Boss, it's me."
Because he had been forced to back down, Jack's tone was unusually soft. He briefly recounted the shipwreck and their encounter with Oden's group.
Queen didn't mock Jack for letting Oden go; even he would have done the same, and likely with less hesitation.
After listening to Jack's report, Kaido fell silent for a few seconds before suddenly roaring, "WHAT?! Those bastards in Wano! They gave protection money to that bastard Alucard, but they didn't give any to me?!"
The Den Den Mushi, mimicking Kaido's face, huffed and puffed for several breaths. "Wind Calamity, you're there too, right?"
"Yes, Boss Kaido," Queen chimed in, stepping closer.
"Go to Wano immediately. Tell those bastards that whatever they gave to Alucard, they have to give me the same... no, I want double! Otherwise, I'll flatten Wano Country!"
Queen stood frozen for a moment before nodding. "Oh, understood."
"Hmph! Ungrateful bastards!"
It wasn't clear who Kaido was cursing with his final sentence before he slammed the Den Den Mushi down. Queen shook his head; he knew Kaido's old habit, his obsession with competing against Alucard, had flared up again.
However, he had heard Wano was a nation of powerful swordsmen. Making them submit wouldn't be easy. Furthermore, if it had already become Alucard's territory, Kaido's mission might be impossible to fulfill.
…
Although Oden had avoided a clash with Jack, he remained deeply uneasy. He knew exactly what kind of people the Beasts Pirates were.
During his days sailing with Roger, Kaido, then known as one of the Three Monsters, was a notorious madman. The man was unreasonable. If Jack reported the incident, there was no telling what chaos would ensue.
No, just to be safe, I must inform Nekomamushi, Inuarashi, and the others to prepare a way out.
With that thought, Oden called out to Raizo, who was perched on the ship's mast. "Raizo."
Raizo leaped down, kneeling on one-knee before Oden. "Your orders, Oden-sama?"
"I am writing a letter. I need you to deliver it to Zou. Do not return until I give the order," Oden instructed.
"Oden-sama, what is the meaning of this...?" Raizo lacked Oden's foresight and was confused by the command.
"Don't ask. Just go."
Raizo bowed his head. "Understood. Please rest easy."
A week later, the ship bearing the Yatagarasu crest of the Kozuki Family finally entered the waters of the Arderay. No sooner had they entered than they were intercepted by a unit of the Immortal Pirates led by Urdaha.
"A flag I don't recognize. Which pirate crew are you?" Urdaha stepped forward, arms crossed.
"Urdaha?" Oden immediately recognized Urdaha, a former main crew member of Shiki's Golden Lion Fleet. He gave a discreet signal to Kin'emon.
The two had planned ahead; if they encountered the wrong person, Kin'emon would act as the leader.
Kin'emon stepped forward and shouted, "We are of the Kozuki Clan of Wano! We have come to apologize for offending a member of the Immortal Pirates!"
On cue, a group of samurai in kimonos brought out two large chests. When opened, they were filled with neat stacks of berries.