One Piece: My Name is Jack, I'm Very Resistant to Beating

Holdem was keenly aware of his own limits. If nothing extraordinary happened, he figured being a mid-level officer in the Beasts Pirates was likely the ceiling for him.

Jack had once mentioned that any available Devil Fruit would be prioritized for him, but Holdem didn't hold his breath. Devil Fruits were extraordinarily rare anywhere in the world. Moreover, given his combat style—focused on physical and swordsmanship skills—the only type that would benefit him would be a Zoan-class Devil Fruit.

And as everyone knew, Kaido valued Zoan-class Fruits immensely. According to the rules of the Beasts Pirates, any Zoan Devil Fruits acquired would be handed over to Kaido for distribution.

Holdem didn't think his talents warranted wasting a powerful Zoan-class Devil Fruit.

As for other types, he wasn't optimistic either. Logia-class Fruits were out of the question, and Paramecia-class Fruits were unpredictable, with abilities that ranged from formidable to completely useless. Without access to Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, he couldn't risk accidentally eating a dud Fruit. That would just be tragic.

He still remembered Jack jokingly saying that if all else failed, they could get him the "Dung-Dung Fruit" so he could become a poop-themed superhero, calling it the "Golden Crap Avalanche." Holdem had no idea where the "golden" part came from, but he certainly knew what dung was.

After mulling it over for days, his injuries had healed. Holdem decided to volunteer to escort the first shipment of mined ores back to Wano. Jack didn't object—he was far too busy to care.

The mines were abuzz with activity. Under King's stern supervision, Jack and two others were personally mining ores to assess their quality and determine whether the site was worth establishing a weapon factory.

"Bang! Clang!"

"Bang! Clang!"

Jack, alongside the others, worked tirelessly, swinging pickaxes day and night. King stood nearby, clutching his sword scabbard, watching them intently. Officially, this was all part of their "training."

Anyone caught slacking off was immediately whacked by King without mercy. The other two miners were allowed breaks when they were gasping for air, but Jack wasn't so lucky. He was worked for three days and nights straight—without even being allowed bathroom breaks.

When Jack protested vehemently, King retorted with righteous indignation:

"Jack! Didn't Kaido once say that a man who can't even hold his bladder isn't a real man? And besides, you're different from them. You're stronger, so you should endure more!"

Endure more? My ass! Jack thought bitterly. I've used up all my Haki reserves, and you still want me to dig? No bonus, no performance incentives—not even a salary! You're exploiting me so much even a capitalist would cry!

Yet, faced with King's unwavering glare and sharp blade, Jack could only force a grin and continue his back-breaking labor. He had no choice—he wasn't strong enough to take on King yet. But one day… Jack vowed silently, I'll make sure to kick your ass into eight pieces!

Meanwhile, back in Wano, when Kaido heard that Holdem was returning with a shipment of ores, he and Queen personally went to the docks at Udon.

After Holdem reported in, Queen brought in specialists with equipment to assess the ore's quality. Not long after, Queen emerged with a grin.

"Kaido-sama, this batch is excellent! The purity rivals even Wano's own reserves!"

"Hmm? Is that so?" Kaido said, smiling as he glanced at Holdem. "You're Holdem, right? I remember your name from Jack's report. You've done well."

Then Kaido raised his voice, addressing everyone: "Jack gets a major credit for this! And the rest of you will be rewarded too!"

Kaido turned back to Holdem, his grin broadening. "As for you… you've earned some time off. Spend a few days at Onigashima's pleasure quarters. But don't forget to collect your reward first."

"Uh, Kaido-sama…" Holdem hesitated, scratching his head awkwardly. "I'm only fifteen, so I'd rather not go to the pleasure quarters. And I don't need gold or jewels either. Could I ask for something else instead?"

Kaido raised an eyebrow in surprise, giving Holdem a closer look. "Fifteen? You look older than Jack! Fine, if you don't want gold or women, what do you want? Booze? Weapons? Something else?"

Holdem looked Kaido square in the eye, his gaze resolute. "Kaido-sama, I want a man-made Devil Fruit."

Kaido's smile vanished. His expression turned serious as he stared Holdem down.

"Do you even know what you're asking for? Do you understand what that entails?"

"I do!" Holdem's legs were shaking, but his resolve didn't waver. "That's my only chance to grow stronger! With my talent, I'll never qualify for a natural Devil Fruit. And I'm not lucky enough to just stumble upon one on the open seas. A man-made Devil Fruit is my only path forward!"

Kaido studied Holdem's determined face for a long moment before clapping him on the shoulder.

"You've got guts, kid. If you don't die, I'll give you a spot as a Shinuchi someday."

Tears welled up in Holdem's eyes. "Thank you, Kaido-sama! I won't let you down!"

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+100 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg