[Inosuke Hashibira] (Young)
[Condition met: Jumped from a 100-meter-high cliff. Ability: Body Control (Activated)!]
[Body Control: Allows the user to freely assume various postures, dislocate joints at will, and reposition internal organs within a certain range.]
Success!
A smile appeared on Jay's face.
To be honest, Jay only realized after the jump how much more difficult jumping from a hundred-meter-high cliff was compared to what he had imagined.
If it weren't for the past few months of intense training, and all the preparations he had made, attempting this recklessly would've definitely meant certain death.
Which also shows just how insane Kaido's suicide jump from Sky Island really was!
Compared to the real monsters of the sea, he was still far behind.
But this clear realization gave him even more motivation to grow stronger!
Otherwise, he wouldn't have risked his life to attempt such a stunt.
Once back on shore, the soaking wet Buck and the others looked at Jay with expressions of overwhelming excitement!
Their eyes were filled with admiration!
To put it crudely, it was freaking badass!
Jumping from a 100-meter cliff…
If you die, you're an idiot.
If you live, you're a legend.
That's the difference.
Does the reason for doing it even matter anymore?
"Make some space! The injured needs fresh air!"
"You're crazy! A lunatic! If you wanna die, don't drag me into it!"
The doctor immediately started cursing, though it wasn't clear who exactly he was mad at.
He knew this money wasn't gonna be easy.
Not that they gave him a chance to refuse.
Tough luck!
After finally finishing treating Jay's injuries, the doctor had vented most of his frustration.
Then a wave of fear hit him.
Did I... maybe speak a little too loudly just now?
Would these marine folks be angry...?
If I call for help now, is it already too late?
At this point, it wasn't even about whether he'd get paid, it was about whether he'd make it out alive.
After all, they were in a remote area. Perfect for, say… murder and a quiet burial.
Just then, Jay spoke:
"When we get back, none of you are allowed to tell anyone what happened today. If anyone asks about my injuries, you'll say I got them during the fight with the Iron Hammer Pirates."
"Understood?"
"Understood… but why?" Buck asked, confused. "If the others at base knew about what you pulled off today, they'd be totally convinced. They'd stop talking behind your back!"
Jay shot him a glance. "Do I look like someone who gives a damn about what those losers think?"
"Of course not…"
"Then do as I say."
"Yes, Big Bro Jay."
The reason Jay gave such specific instructions to Buck and the others was the same as before, he needed a relatively low-key period to grow stronger.
He could afford to pay for a victory against the Iron Hammer Pirates with serious injuries, no problem.
But if he was seen effortlessly defeating "Iron Hammer" Beck, wiping out the whole crew, and then still had energy to do a 100-meter cliff dive and survive...
Well, imagine what kind of message that would send to Lieutenant Colonel Hammond?
And it wasn't hard to guess that Hammond wasn't the kind of guy who tolerated talented subordinates. Not the type who'd be happy to see someone rising too fast under his nose.
Otherwise, the Marine's 88th branch wouldn't be in such a mess under his command.
No real talent could survive under that guy.
They'd either get worn down, corrupted, or just leave the Marine in disappointment.
"Crap! I'm dead! They're gonna silence me for sure!"
The doctor's hands trembled.
Then Jay glanced at him and said, "Give him the money. Send him home."
Home???
Thunk!
The doctor rolled his eyes and passed out cold.
Jay: "..."
What the hell's his problem?
Buck ventured, "Maybe he's never seen that much money before? Got too excited?"
"Get lost!"
"On it~"
When Jay and the others returned to the 88th base, a crowd immediately gathered to gawk.
Especially the other officers, when they saw Jay in such a wrecked state, being carried off the ship on a stretcher, the mockery and ridicule on their faces was barely concealed.
See?
That's what you get for acting tough without the strength to back it up!
Leading a team to capture pirates on your own?
What, did you think you were Hero Garp or something?
You're lucky you even made it back alive.
But just as the crowd was buzzing, Buck and the others brought out a severed head, and dozens of severed arms.
Thanks to careful preservation, even after several days, the head and arms had yet to rot.
"Is that… the head of 'Iron Hammer' Beck, with a 6 million bounty?!"
"What?! That's the captain of the Iron Hammer Pirates, 'Iron Hammer' Beck?!"
"No way! That guy's a 6 million bounty pirate! There's no way they could've taken him down!"
"Heh, it's not about whether they could beat him anymore, it looks like Jay and his team wiped out the entire Iron Hammer Pirate Crew!"
"Yeah, just look at those arms. All left arms. Some even have skull tattoos."
"You sure it's not fake?"
"Are you stupid or just pretending? There aren't even that many prisoners in the entire base jail. Where would they get fresh arms from?"
"Besides, with something this big, Lieutenant Colonel Hammond will definitely investigate and confirm the details. If they were lying, it'd fall apart instantly."
"Good point... Wait, damn! That means that bastard Jay just scored another big achievement?!"
"Watching that bastard succeed hurts more than death!"
"Why didn't he take me with him?!"
Once someone matched the severed head to the photo on the wanted poster, the crowd erupted into a flurry of gasps.
Then came a deafening uproar and heated debate.
No one had expected Jay's team to actually succeed, and now that they'd returned victorious, it was a massive slap in the face!
Now, looking at Jay's injuries, no one saw arrogance anymore, they saw proof of honor!
Even Lieutenant Colonel Hammond, who rushed over upon hearing the news, looked at Jay in shock.
And just as Jay had predicted, the "gruesome" nature of the victory didn't spark Hammond's suspicion.
On the contrary, the guy was thrilled!
Because Jay was his subordinate. If his subordinate achieved something, that credit partly belonged to him, if not mostly.
But that wasn't even the best part...
"Well done! I knew you could do it!"
"For Justice!"
Jay forced himself upright and gave a sharp salute.
Then Hammond cleared his throat and asked,
"So, how much loot did you seize this time?"