While the Wicked Wench remained docked on the island, its crew continued to stay in the local hotel.
They used this time to strengthen their relationship with Issho, who had recently joined their ranks.
During their stay, Issho showed a great fondness for gambling, something that quickly became a familiar habit.
He would often spend evenings at the casino alongside Aramaki and Laffitte, where the three could be seen at the tables deep into the night.
However, Issho's infamous streak of bad luck seemed to spread to the others, as both Aramaki and Laffitte began losing more money than they had ever won.
"Ahhh, bad luck again! Maybe you're cursed, Issho," Aramaki complained while the three made their way back to their room, his voice carrying both frustration and disbelief.
Issho laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Hehehe, it's just bad luck. Nothing more."
Even as he said it, Issho couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. He knew well enough that his presence often brought misfortune.
Laffitte, on the other hand, simply smirked, his calm demeanor unshaken by the loss.
Money had little meaning to him; it was merely a tool, something that came and went as easily as air.
When they entered their room, they found Jack already there, sitting with a calm expression while drinking sakura tea.
He was watching a chaotic brawl happening on the other side of the room between B and Club.
"What's with them?" Aramaki asked as he approached Jack, who was still watching the fight with visible amusement. Issho and Laffitte followed closely behind, also turning their attention to the noisy commotion.
"B's been irritated all day. He kept losing in a game he and Club were playing," Jack explained, leaning slightly forward. "Then Club made fun of his rapping, saying it 'wasn't that great.' It wasn't even harsh trash talk, but somehow it made B furious. And now we have this."
Issho let out a quiet chuckle, finding the situation more amusing than concerning.
The evening passed with lighthearted tension, as Aramaki and Issho began betting on who would win the fight between Club and B, while Jack and Laffitte sat back and enjoyed watching the spectacle unfold.
The room filled with laughter and conversation as the crew relaxed after days of inactivity.
The following morning, Jack and his crew, including their newest member Issho, finally checked out of the hotel.
They had stayed for over a week, enjoying a brief period of calm that felt almost like a vacation.
"Everyone, you got your souvenirs? Anything left to buy?" Jack asked casually as they walked away from the hotel.
The group, each burdened with bags full of purchased goods, shook their heads.
Even Issho, carrying several small parcels and leaning slightly on his wooden cane, appeared content with his share of items.
The six of them moved through the streets toward the harbor where the Wicked Wench was docked, their laughter echoing lightly as they walked.
However, as they continued toward the port, the atmosphere began to change. The civilians nearby grew quiet, their gazes turning sharp and uneasy.
Jack could feel the weight of their stares, a tension forming in the air. Issho, through his Observation Haki, sensed the hostility hidden behind those eyes.
"Jack," Issho said in a low voice as he stepped closer to his captain.
"Yeah, I know," Jack replied quietly, his tone calm but firm. "Be ready."
His words, though spoken softly, carried clearly enough for the others to hear. The crew subtly shifted into formation, keeping their pace slow and deliberate as they prepared for whatever was coming.
Moments later, the enemy made their move. From every side of the street, figures in marine uniforms began to appear, blocking their path forward and cutting off their escape.
The number grew quickly until more than a hundred marines surrounded them.
Jack's eyes narrowed as he focused on the man leading the formation — a familiar face.
"Pirate scum," the marine officer spat, stepping forward without hesitation.
The moment his voice rang out, his arm transformed into molten magma that dripped and hissed against the ground. He attacked instantly, hurling a blazing strike toward Jack.
Jack recognized him immediately. It was Sakazuki — the man who would one day become Admiral Akainu. Judging by his appearance, however, this was still early in his career.
His uniform suggested a rank no higher than commodore, though his aura carried unmistakable power.
The Marine Headquarters must have sent him for experience, assuming Jack's crew would be an easy target.
Sakazuki's magma arm expanded, its heat distorting the air around it. "DAI FUNKA!" he roared, launching a massive fist of magma directly toward Jack.
The attack tore through the street, exploding in a wave of heat and debris.
Jack immediately drew his sword, his expression unchanging.
He coated the blade in Armament Haki, focusing it to a sharp edge before channeling the advanced form of that power.
When the magma fist reached him, Jack met it head-on. The collision erupted in a burst of fire and smoke, sending shockwaves through the street.
That single clash became the signal for battle. The surrounding marines charged, shouting as they fired rifles and drew blades.
At the same time, Jack's crew reacted with swift precision — Aramaki summoned thick vines that crushed the ground beneath the marines' feet, Issho lifted debris with his gravitational force, and Laffitte moved like a shadow among the chaos.
The fight quickly turned into an all-out war.
"Impact!" Jack shouted as he swung his blade again. The attack, infused with both Haki and his Devil Fruit's destructive potential, struck Sakazuki directly.
The force sent the young marine flying through the air like a rag doll. Jack followed immediately, leaping after his opponent before he could recover.
Sakazuki coughed up blood midair, his body scorched and battered.
Even in that moment, he realized how underestimated Jack truly was. The pirate captain's bounty didn't begin to reflect his actual strength.
But before Sakazuki could react further, a shadow covered his vision — Jack was descending above him, sword drawn far back, the blade glimmering with black Haki.
If that strike connected, Sakazuki knew it would be fatal. With sheer will, he forced his battered body to move. Summoning the last of his energy, he extended his arm, magma spiraling and shaping into a massive beast.
"INUGAMI GURAN!" Sakazuki roared as a magma hound burst forth, its mouth open wide in a burning snarl. The molten creature lunged upward toward Jack, aiming to clash with his descending strike.
"Cannon Impact!" Jack countered, swinging his blade downward.
A massive concussive shockwave exploded from the blade, colliding with the magma hound and obliterating it in an instant.
The wave continued downward, striking Sakazuki directly. The resulting blast tore through the battlefield, and when the smoke cleared, Sakazuki's body lay motionless on the shattered ground.
Jack landed beside him, his expression unreadable. Sakazuki was bleeding heavily and breathing weakly — alive, but barely.
Jack raised his sword to deliver the finishing blow, but at that moment, Issho and the rest of the crew arrived.
Their battles had already ended; the marines were defeated, many unconscious, others retreating in fear.
"Jack, he's beaten," Issho said quietly, his gaze fixed on the captain. Through his Observation Haki, he could sense the storm of anger still burning within Jack.
Jack stood still for a moment, then exhaled deeply. He sheathed his sword, suppressing the urge to strike again.
Turning away, he began walking toward the exit of the ravine. The rest of the crew followed without a word, their steps echoing softly over the broken ground.
They soon reached the port, boarded the Wicked Wench, and set sail from the island. Behind them, smoke rose from the wreckage and shattered streets.
Their departure left behind not only destruction but also a new reputation that would spread quickly across the seas.
Later, when reports reached Marine Headquarters, it was also discovered that the man who had informed the Marines of Jack's location — the casino operator who had once cheated Issho — was found dead.
His severed head was placed on his own hands, as if serving as a warning to anyone who thought of crossing the crew again.