In the following weeks, the Wicked Wench continued its voyage across the vast and unpredictable seas of the West Blue.
The crew sailed from island to island, visiting ports both lively and quiet, encountering all sorts of people along the way.
Bounty hunters, rival pirates seeking fame, and ambitious wanderers looking to join their ranks constantly appeared before them.
However, most of those who approached either lacked the strength or carried motives that were far from pure, and whenever that was the case, Jack would simply turn them away.
Because of their growing reputation and the number of violent confrontations they had been involved in, the crew of the Wicked Wench could no longer avoid the eyes of the world.
Each passing week brought new headlines of their rampages, their battles, and the destruction they left behind.
Every island they set foot on seemed to either lose a notorious pirate group or gain a story about a tavern or dock that had mysteriously gone up in flames.
The result was inevitable — their bounties began to climb higher and higher.
Jack, their captain, saw his own bounty rise dramatically to 50,000,000 berries.
Right behind him was Aramaki, whose bounty reached 23,000,000 after the Marines confirmed his possession of a Logia-type Devil Fruit.
The other three members — B, Laffitte, and Club — also received bounty increases, though not as steep as Aramaki's.
Their abilities had yet to be widely recognized by the Marines, and although B was indeed a Devil Fruit user, he had managed to keep that detail hidden, at least for now.
The name "Wicked Wench" soon became well-known throughout the entire West Blue.
To the Marines, they were a growing threat that had to be stopped, and a Marine Captain was eventually assigned to lead the hunt for them.
Fortunately for that Captain, he had not yet crossed paths with Jack and his crew.
However, their growing fame wasn't all bad; some people began to see them in a different light.
Certain townsfolk, especially those who had been oppressed or harmed by other pirates, viewed them as a sort of chaotic savior — dangerous, but just enough to balance out the wickedness of others.
During one of their island stops, Jack and his crew stumbled upon a town that was being raided by a large group of pirates.
Mistaken for enemies, they were attacked upon arrival, but the outcome was swift and one-sided.
Within the hour, those pirates were defeated, their ships destroyed, and the island freed.
This event only added more confusion to their reputation — were they villains or heroes? Even Jack himself didn't care to answer.
A few days later, the Wicked Wench anchored at another island within the West Blue, as their food supply and general provisions were running low.
The port they arrived at was large and lively, with ships of all sizes docked side by side, their sails fluttering in the wind.
The atmosphere was busy but welcoming, and from the number of merchant stalls and noise echoing through the streets, it was clear that the island was home to a prosperous town.
"Hahahaha, I wonder what kind of fun we'll have here. I just hope no one bothers us again," Aramaki said with a relaxed grin, stretching his arms as he walked beside the others.
The crew nodded in agreement, each remembering the endless interruptions they had faced on past islands.
"Yeah, I think we deserve a bit of rest this time," Club said while cracking his neck.
A rifle was strapped securely to his back, and a flintlock pistol hung by his side. "Maybe there's a bathhouse somewhere here. I could use one after all that sailing."
Aramaki turned to Laffitte, who had been quietly scanning the buildings around them with his usual sharp eyes. "What about you? What are you planning to look for?"
"Hmm, I think I'd like to try some proper food," Laffitte replied. "Something made by real professionals, not just rations from the ship." His words made the others nod in full agreement.
Jack then spoke up, smiling as he looked around the street. "Yeah, some good food sounds nice, and maybe a gambling hall too. I'm feeling lucky today."
The five of them continued walking through the town until they noticed a large establishment standing out from the rest.
The structure was tall and elegant, with several ornate signs hanging outside, yet what caught their attention most wasn't the decoration but the architecture itself.
The design felt unfamiliar to most of them, but to Jack, it looked strangely similar to the buildings he had seen once in Wano.
He said nothing about it, though — he had no logical reason to know of such a place, not when they hadn't even reached the Grand Line yet.
When they entered through the sliding doors, a young woman wearing a white kimono greeted them with a polite bow.
Her calm posture and soft tone reminded Jack even more of Wano's customs which he saw in the anime.
"Welcome to the Shiratori Inn," she said warmly.
"Hello," Jack replied without hesitation. "What kind of services does your inn offer?"
The attendant smiled and began listing them in a practiced tone. "The Shiratori Inn provides several services — a natural hot spring, a gambling den, and a full dining area with traditional cuisine. We also sell various souvenirs and clothing, though most follow our local style."
Her explanation made Jack and his crew smile widely. It seemed as though the place had everything they could want.
"We'll take your largest available room," Jack said. "Also, we'd like to buy some new clothes. Here, this is for your service — if you're allowed to accept tips." He handed her a small wad of berry notes.
The woman blinked in surprise before bowing again, smiling sincerely. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate your generosity." She tucked the payment carefully into her kimono and gestured for another attendant to approach.
The second attendant, wearing a kimono of a darker color, was tasked with guiding them through the inn and showing them its different areas. Their first stop was the path to the bathhouse.
The walkway passed through a beautiful Zen garden, complete with a small wooden bridge over a koi pond, leading directly toward the steaming hot spring.
Next, they were taken to a large dining area that resembled a restaurant, though there were no chairs — only low tables and cushions where customers sat cross-legged on the floor.
The further they walked, the more the crew realized how massive the entire building was.
Eventually, after several minutes of walking through corridors, they reached the gambling den.
Inside, the mood changed entirely. The room was crowded and noisy, filled with gamblers shouting, coins clinking, and dice rolling.
The equipment didn't match the refined style of the rest of the inn — flashy slot machines stood beside old dice tables, making the place feel slightly out of balance.
As they walked around, Jack noticed one table that was strangely empty. Only two people were there — the operator and a blind gambler who was calmly shaking a pair of dice in his hand. The stack of money on the table was enormous.
Jack stopped nearby, curious. The blind gambler threw the dice, and they landed clearly showing an odd number.
However, before the man could claim his winnings, the operator quickly declared, "It's even, sir. You lose."
The operator began reaching for the money, but before he could take it, a soft chuckle came from Jack's direction. Both men turned toward the sound.
"What's so funny?" the blind gambler asked, his head turning accurately toward Jack despite his lack of sight.
Jack smiled faintly. "It seems this gambling room is a fraud," he said. "They won't pay you even when you win."