Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The Underworld. Hell. The road to the afterlife.

Buluko opened his eyes, dazed. There was no light—only an endless expanse of gray. His head felt dizzy and light, an unsettling discomfort settling over him.

Why is it so dark? Did I forget to turn on the lights? Where are the neon signs of the city? Or did the power go out?

He prayed there wasn’t a blackout. After years of wandering, the only company he had in his rented apartment was a delicate tank of goldfish. If the power failed, stopping the water flow and oxygen supply, some of them would surely die overnight. Those fragile creatures were his only comfort in loneliness. He had fed them himself, grain by grain.

Buluko blinked, then shook his head. A strange stillness surrounded him. And then, it hit him—he couldn’t feel his hands or feet.

Silence loomed over him, an eerie quiet that sent chills down his soul. A pale bone-littered road stretched into the distance, leading toward a murky yellow river. The dim, endless abyss made his very spirit tremble.

Where am I?

A wave of confusion struck him. Is this a dream?

Am I dead? Is this... the road to Hell?

Then, without warning, a flood of memories surged into his mind, fusing forcefully with his soul.

Brook. He was Brook now.

Brook, the musician of the Rumbar Pirates—a crew that had sailed from the West Blue into the Grand Line. A man with a bounty of 33 million berries. Once the captain of the guard in the Kingdom of Dumoria.

In the year 1470 of the Sea Circle Calendar, the Rumbar Pirates parted ways with Laboon, the island whale, at Twin Cape. Soon after, their captain, Yorki, fell ill with a deadly plague and left the crew. Brook took over as acting captain, but months later, they were ambushed in the Florian Triangle by enemies wielding poison gas. The entire crew was wiped out.

Buluko’s soul trembled. I actually got isekai’d into One Piece? And I’m Brook? The pervy skeleton who loves panties?!

This was ridiculous! If he had to be reincarnated into an undead, couldn’t he at least be someone cool, like the Overlord Ainz Ooal Gown? Even Zhang Chulan from The Outcast would’ve been better! But no—fate had stuck him in Brook’s bony body instead!

In his past life, Buluko had been a lonely video editor. He specialized in dark, underground topics—black market kidnappings, crime injustice, human trafficking in Southeast Asia, fraud rings in Myanmar... It had left him jaded, angry at reality, and even more distant from women. But what man didn’t dream of wealth and companionship?

As Brook’s memories settled in, Buluko grasped his situation. He had just died and entered the Underworld. Yet, thanks to the power of the Yomi Yomi no Mi (Revive-Revive Fruit), his soul had retained its consciousness. Instead of being erased or dragged into Hell, Brook’s original soul had been swallowed up by his own. He was a cuckoo taking over another’s nest—completely fused with Brook.

In the original story, Brook’s soul had wandered the Underworld for years before he found a way back. By the time he returned, his body had already decayed into bones. But Buluko knew better. Corpses didn’t become skeletons in a single year—under dry conditions, that could take up to a decade.

Given that Brook had wandered the Florian's Triangle for over 30 years before meeting Gecko Moria, Buluko speculated that Brook’s soul had been lost in the Underworld for at least ten years before returning to his body. The energy of the afterlife had preserved him.

Now that he had fused with Brook’s soul, he had one goal—escape the Underworld before time ran out. If he didn’t make it back fast enough, his body would rot, and he’d be stuck as either a zombie or a skeleton forever.

Summoning all his will, Buluko flailed his soul-body, stirring up the Meikai no Ki (Netherworld Energy) and Yomi no Rei (Underworld Ghost Aura) around him. These eerie forces began merging into his soul. The Yomi Yomi no Mi protected him from their corrosive pull and allowed him to absorb them instead.

All around, countless wandering souls were being erased one by one, their consciousness fading as they drifted toward Hell’s depths. The sight sent shivers through Buluko’s spirit.

Desperately, he propelled himself forward, tailing like a tadpole toward the entrance of the Underworld. The Revive-Revive Fruit aided his escape, but it was an agonizingly slow process. It took hours just to move a short distance.

Luckily, since he had two souls merged into one, his spiritual energy wasn’t depleting too quickly.

Brook’s original abilities let him release chilling Hyouketsu Rei (Frozen Ghost Energy) to freeze enemies. Buluko seized this knowledge, greedily absorbing the Yomi no Rei around him. The more he strengthened his soul, the more powerful he’d be when he returned to his body.

And he needed to be stronger.

As he absorbed more of the Underworld’s energy, he finally spotted the exit—the portal back to the living world! But then, something stirred in the depths of Hell. A great terror was awakening, and the pull toward the abyss intensified. It felt as if some eldritch horror wanted to drag him into eternal damnation.

Panicked, Buluko stopped absorbing energy. He forced his way toward the exit with everything he had.

Without the Revive-Revive Fruit’s power, no soul could resist being erased or pulled into Hell. He had no intention of finding out what lay in its depths.

As his spirit lightened, he finally broke free from the Underworld!

There was no lost time. No confusion. No wandering in the Florian's Triangle fog. And the Rumbar Pirates’ ship was still there.

Ecstatic, Buluko shot toward the vessel, searching for Brook’s body. It had only been one day—his body was still intact!

Without hesitation, he dove back into his corpse. The Hyouketsu Rei surged into his blood, turning it a dark blue as it began to flow once more. The poison spots faded from his skin. A chilling aura spread across the ship.

“AAAAAHHHH!!!”

With a sharp gasp, Buluko—no, Brook—had returned!

Frost spread across the deck as Brook exhaled, white mist forming in the air. He cracked his stiff joints, feeling like an undead king. The chilling aura of the Meikai no Ki still clung to his body, but by concentrating, he managed to restore some warmth to his flesh.

And then...

The first thing Buluko did was unzip his pants.

To his immense relief, his “little ancestor” was still there and functioning.

For the first time in this cold, dead world, he felt alive.

But as he looked around, the sight of his fallen comrades sent a deep sadness through him. The deck was littered with corpses. Even as a modern man, the scene was gut-wrenching.

Swallowing his sorrow, he stood tall.

“My brothers of the sea... you were all Brook’s nakama in life. Rest peacefully in the arms of the ocean. I swear—I will avenge you!”

With that vow, Brook carried each body to the cabin, giving them their final resting place.

Buluko stood in silence before the cabin, bowing his head in a solemn salute. This was his final farewell to the fallen Rumbar Pirates, paying respect on Brook’s behalf.

He scavenged the remaining supplies—what little food and fresh water were left—as well as any valuables and treasures. Most importantly, he took his cane sword. While it didn’t match his personal taste, after absorbing Brook’s memories, it became his strongest weapon for now.

Testing the blade, he performed a few swift thrusts before stabbing the railing. A chilling frost spread from the point of impact. The rapier’s design favored piercing, but Buluko preferred a weapon suited for slashing. He made a mental note to replace it when the opportunity arose.

Continuing to experiment, he practiced the sword techniques ingrained in Brook’s mind, ensuring he could execute them flawlessly in battle. It was surreal—he had gone from an ordinary world to this high-level world of martial prowess and Devil Fruit abilities. The sword energy and eerie ghostly aura he now wielded were so fascinating that he couldn’t stop practicing until exhaustion set in.

Once he had fully reacquainted himself with Brook’s techniques, he began merging them with the spectral energy of the underworld. He launched various attacks, testing his endurance and attempting to gauge whether he had inherited Brook’s immortality.

To confirm, he sliced his own arm. The wound was instantly enveloped in ghostly energy, restoring itself moments later. The effect was astonishing—but it drained a considerable amount of energy, leaving him fatigued. To recover, he had to replenish his physical strength.

“This is eerily similar to Marco’s Phoenix Flames,” he muttered, marveling at the ability. “This might just be my greatest lifeline.”

The real question was whether he could survive decapitation like Brook. He considered testing it but quickly shook off the thought. That was a gamble he wasn’t willing to take.

Alone on the vast pirate ship of the Rumbar Pirates, Buluko knew he couldn’t operate such a massive vessel by himself. He had no choice but to lower a lifeboat—a standard landing craft—into the water.

Without hesitation, he set sail. Unlike Brook in the original timeline, who had remained in the Florian's Triangle out of grief and attachment to his fallen crew, Buluko had no such ties. From this moment on, the world would know only Brook. Buluko would remain buried deep within his heart.

---

Brook examined the log pose on his wrist and rowed in the direction it pointed. A thorough search of the ship had yielded no eternal pose, proof of how unprepared the Rumbar Pirates had been. It was no surprise they hadn’t made it to the New World.

This was an ordinary log pose, featuring a single pointer that locked onto the next island after recording its magnetic field. By contrast, log poses in the New World had three needles, each pointing to different islands. The one that remained the most stable indicated the safest route, while the others fluctuated wildly based on the magnetic chaos of the New World.

Though Brook didn’t require food to survive, without sustenance, he could only remain in standby mode—barely able to move, let alone grow stronger. High-quality food was essential for training and improving his skills. This explained why Brook had stagnated for over thirty years in the Florian's Triangle.

By his calculations, the current year was 1470 of the Sea Circle Calendar. This meant Charlotte Linlin—later known as Big Mom—was just a sixteen-year-old girl, wandering the New World alongside the chef Streusen in search of the mysterious Sister Carmel.

As a child, Linlin had destroyed the Giant’s Village, earning an initial bounty of 50 million berries. In just a few years, that had skyrocketed to 500 million. By now, she was a major force in the New World.

Gol D. Roger was only twenty-five—an unknown adventurer obsessed with historical Poneglyphs and exploring various Grand Line routes. Edward Newgate, the future Whitebeard, was just twenty-two and still part of an unnamed pirate crew. It was uncertain if he had acquired the Tremor-Tremor Fruit yet.

The infamous pirate Rocks was recruiting crew members, expanding his influence, and battling rival pirate factions, marking the beginning of his reign. Supernovas such as Golden Lion Shiki, Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, Captain John, and Bondrewald had begun their conquests. Some would later fall under Rocks’ command.

---

Brook rowed cautiously, scanning the waters for threats. The Florian's Triangle was infamous, but its marine ecosystem was relatively barren due to the absence of sunlight and algae, disrupting the food chain.

Moreover, Brook’s spectral aura rendered him nearly undetectable to sea creatures, further ensuring his safety.

“How long will this take?” Brook muttered, exasperated. He had been rowing for an entire day and night, yet he had yet to see sunlight. This endless darkness was maddening.

While he was used to solitude, he had always relied on his computer, phone, and the internet for entertainment in his past life. Now, the only thing keeping him occupied was training and imagining new combat techniques.

Eventually, the thick fog began to dissipate, and the sky brightened. His heart pounded with excitement as he rowed faster, eager to break free from the Florian's Triangle.

Emerging from the mist, he was greeted by the vast, open sea and the warmth of sunlight. His hands trembled slightly from exhilaration, but that thrill soon faded into the monotony of rowing.

The sea remained unchanged. He had simply moved from a foggy expanse to a sunlit one—nothing more. And so, he rowed onward.

---

A sudden splash echoed in the distance. Brook tensed, gripping his cane sword as he watched a Sea King leap out of the water in pursuit of prey. His muscles coiled, ready to strike, but the creature disappeared beneath the waves.

After a long pause, with no further movement, he resumed rowing, following the log pose with haste to escape the area.

Hours later, smoke billowed on the horizon, accompanied by the thunderous roar of cannon fire. Civilization—at last.

Though it was clearly a battle, Brook didn’t hesitate. Whether it was a clash between the Navy and pirates or a dispute between rival pirate crews, he needed to investigate.

As he approached, two ships came into view—one flying a black pirate flag adorned with a skull and crossbones, the other bearing the insignia of a merchant vessel.

Chapter Text

"Disco, you dared to attack me! Tomorrow, I'll expose you and have the Pirate Hunters and the Navy hunt you down!!"

Moore Thomas, a Zoan-type Seagull Model user, is the president of the World Economic News, one of the three major news agencies in the world. Currently stationed in the Sabaody Archipelago, he keeps a large number of seagulls in captivity as news birds.

"Moore Thomas, your recent news has been stepping out of line. I was ordered to deal with you. Consider your newspaper under new management."

Disco laughed. His true identity was the captain of a slave ship secretly working under the Celestial Dragons, as well as the leader of a pirate crew. The World Peace Dove News Agency, now controlled by the World Government, had been struggling against the World Economic News Agency, which had taken a large share of the market.

The World Peace Dove News Agency, led by White Peizhen, a Zoan-type White Pigeon Model user, raises a large number of white pigeons as news birds. It specializes in glorifying the rule of the Celestial Dragons, the prestige of the Navy, and the achievements of the allied nations. It is an official propaganda tool.

In contrast, Moore Thomas' World Economic News Agency covers both the light and dark sides of the world. With creative screenwriters, planners, and diverse content, it has gained a broader audience and higher sales. However, it lacks a powerful backer and remains relatively weak in influence.

Another major player in the industry is the World Dark News, a publication established by the New World overlords and the underground network. Its current president, the pirate merchant Kandor, possesses the Zoan-type Vulture Model. His vulture news birds dominate the New World, frequently supplying information to pirates and unaffiliated nations. However, due to its biased reporting and poor management, its sales remain mediocre.

Among them, the World Economic News Agency is the most balanced, catering to a wide range of readers. Pirates learn about the Navy’s movements, the Navy keeps track of pirates, and civilians stay updated on both.

Moore Thomas never expected that during his trip to retrieve his wife and one-year-old son, he would be ambushed at sea by Disco upon leaving Sabaody Archipelago.

"World Government, Disco, you’re ruthless! If I escape, I swear you’ll regret it!"

Moore Thomas cursed, deeply regretting that he hadn’t brought his entire security team with him this time.

"Be good, don't cry, Morgans. Watch Daddy chase the bad guys away!"

His wife desperately tried to calm their crying son. Transformed into his hybrid seagull form, Moore Thomas looked at his son with worry.

Brook, who had just leapt onto the ship, froze upon hearing the name.

Morgans—the future "Big News" Morgans, president of the World Economic News Agency, and one of the six underground emperors of the underworld.

"Who the hell are you?"

Both sides turned toward the unexpected intruder. Was he a pirate hunter?

"Brook? Weren’t you killed in the Florian Triangle?!"

Moore Thomas was shocked. Rumors had spread that the Poison Smoke Pirates had wiped out the Rumbar Pirates, leaving him saddened. As a fan of Brook’s "Bink’s Sake," he had admired how the Rumbar Pirates spread music across the seas, earning a reputation as true adventurers.

Although Brook's appearance had changed, Moore Thomas recognized him instantly. Gone was the black top hat—his afro was now loosely tied, his blazer unbuttoned, revealing his chest. His pale skin exuded an eerie chill, making him appear untouchable.

"You know me?"

Brook was taken aback. He didn’t expect anyone to recognize a small-time pirate like him so quickly.

In truth, Brook was a celebrity among pirates—even the legendary Red Count, Bartholomew Redfield, was a fan of his music.

"Soul King Brook, bounty: 33 million Berries. Acting captain of the Rumbar Pirates."

Disco sneered, unimpressed. To him, a pirate with a mere 30-million bounty wasn’t worth fearing. He had captured too many pirates to be fazed by anyone under 100 million.

"Mr. Brook, please help us! If you can drive away these pirates, I, Moore Thomas, will reward you handsomely!"

Knowing the Rumbar Pirates were true adventurers, Moore Thomas didn’t hesitate to seek Brook’s help.

"Brook, I suggest you stay out of this, or I’ll send you to the afterlife to reunite with your crew."

Disco eyed Brook coldly. He assumed the rumors were true—that Brook was the sole survivor of his crew—but he didn’t know how.

"Well, I was looking for a chance to test my new abilities anyway."

Brook exhaled, releasing a faint white mist. He had unknowingly entered his new state—UnderworldGhost Aura. To his surprise, he could sense the life energy of those around him, almost like heat vision.

He observed the fluctuating energy on both sides of the battle. His own dark blue aura, infused with Yellow Spring Ghost Energy, was vastly different from theirs. Looking at Disco’s large, fiery orange aura and then at his own, he realized something: the gap between their power levels was enormous.

Could he end this fight in one move?

After absorbing dark energy and ghost energy from the underworld, had he become an overwhelming force like Ainz Ooal Gown?

Suppressing his excitement, Brook prepared to use these enemies to verify his theory.

"Underworld Ghost Slash!"

Brook swiftly drew his cane sword and lunged at Disco, a trail of ice forming beneath his feet.

"Shave!"

To Brook’s surprise, Disco knew Rokushiki. He barely dodged, leaving a massive ice crater in the cabin behind him, white mist rising from the impact.

"Amazing! Mr. Brook is so strong!"

Moore Thomas, flapping his wings in midair, was stunned. As a news agency president with limited combat skills, he struggled to protect his family and had suffered repeated injuries from Disco’s sneak attacks.

"What the hell is going on?! Brook shouldn’t be this strong—his bounty is only 33 million! Impossible!"

Disco was in disbelief. If he hadn’t dodged just now, Brook’s sword would have pierced his heart.

"Life is part of the cycle. Yours ends here."

"Underworld Ghost Aura: Desolation Slash!"

Brook exhaled a breath of chilling mist, his dark blue eyes glowing with death’s embrace. He sprinted forward and vanished.

"Damn it! I refuse to believe you’re this powerful!"

"Tekkai!"

Disco’s blood pumped rapidly, his skin turning red as it hardened like iron. He braced himself for impact, ready to withstand Brook’s strike.

All eyes were on the fight. A tense silence filled the air.

"How could he fall here?!"

The shimmering red glow faded from his skin, revealing a massive wound across his upper body. Blood spurted out in torrents as he staggered backward, his breath slipping away. Moments later, his body crashed to the ground, lifeless.

Thomas' wife immediately covered Morgan’s eyes, shielding him from the gruesome sight.

The remaining crew members of the Disco Pirates, terrified, turned and bolted for their ship, desperate to flee.

Moore Thomas wouldn’t let them off so easily. Seizing the moment, he rallied his few remaining guards and launched a pursuit, cutting down the retreating pirates in a fit of righteous fury.

Brook, still adjusting to the reality of killing, forced himself to harden his resolve. His cold, blue eyes gleamed with determination as he leapt onto the fleeing pirate ship.

With his sword in hand, he moved swiftly and efficiently, cutting down each slave-hunting pirate with a single strike. In his past life, he had seen too many horrors—child trafficking, kidnapping, pyramid schemes, fraud rings in northern Myanmar. He despised those who preyed on the weak more than anything, even more than killers themselves.

---

"Mr. Brook, thank you for saving my family! I don’t even know how to repay you!"

Moore Thomas, now back in his human form, was dressed in a refined suit, his manners polished and sincere. The gratitude he felt toward his savior was deep, and as a long-time fan of Brook, his admiration only grew stronger.

"Please, take me to the nearest island," Brook said, his voice calm and composed.

Now that he was alone, he needed to find new crew members and a new ship before he could continue his journey. With a bounty of 33 million Berries hanging over his head, the idea of retiring wasn’t an option.

"Mr. Brook... If I may ask, is it true that the Rumbar Pirates..."

"Yes. They’re all dead."

"I... I’m sorry, Mr. Brook. I didn’t mean to—"

"It’s fine. I’ve come to terms with it. But I will avenge them."

Moore Thomas observed Brook’s pale, cold expression. The lively musician of legend was gone, replaced by a man who had become an avenger. It pained him to think that Brook’s dreams of spreading music and joy might have died along with his crew.

"Mr. Brook, we’re heading to the Sabaody Archipelago. After this incident, I suspect the World Government will see the World Economic News Agency as a thorn in their side. I plan to relocate my company. If you don’t mind, I’d like you to travel with us to Sabaody."

"Sure. That works for me."

Brook figured it wouldn’t hurt to have connections with someone as influential as Moore Thomas.

"By the way, there's a group of slaves on Disco’s ship. Lord Brook, would you like to take a look? You might find potential crew members among them."

Brook raised an eyebrow at the suggestion. He didn’t have high hopes, but he wasn’t against the idea either. If he was going to get revenge on the Poison Smoke Pirates, he needed a crew.

"Alright. Let’s take a look."

---

Brook and his companions stepped into the ship’s dimly lit cabin. The air was thick with filth and the stench of neglect. Dozens of captives—men, women, young, and old—sat huddled inside iron cages, their bodies covered in whip marks. Fear lingered in their eyes, dull and hopeless.

Moore Thomas stepped forward and addressed them. "The Disco Pirates are dead! You are free now! If any of you have special abilities, you may have the chance to join Brook-sama’s crew."

At first, silence.

Then, after a long pause, a frail young man, around seventeen or eighteen, hesitantly raised his hand. His voice was shaky. "I... I’m a monster. I can turn into a giant snail."

Brook’s eyes narrowed slightly. "A Zoan-type Snail Fruit user?"

Intrigued, he stepped forward and sliced through the shackles binding the young man’s hands and feet.

"Alright, show me your transformation."

The boy nodded nervously and took a deep breath. His body began to shift, and within moments, he had transformed into a massive snail nearly 1.5 meters tall.

"I ate the fruit a year ago," the boy explained, his voice thick with emotion. "But the villagers called me a monster. They chased me out. My parents helped me escape in a small boat... but I’ve been homeless ever since."

Tears welled in his long, sad eyes.

"I... I can talk to little snails. Like the one that captured the pirate leader. Does that count as a special ability? Lord Brook, will you take me in?"

Brook’s mind raced. "Talking to little snails? Wait... You mean Den Den Mushi?"

His expression shifted.

Could it be? This wasn’t just a Snail Fruit—it had to be the Den Den Mushi Fruit!

A rare find. A true treasure.

Brook smirked. "Alright, you’re in. What’s your name?"

"Thank you, Captain Brook! My name is Antonio, and I can cook!"

Had Antonio still been in his human form, he probably would have been jumping for joy.

"Change back," Brook instructed. "From now on, you stay by my side."

Moore Thomas smiled at the scene. "Congratulations, Lord Brook. You’ve taken your first step toward rebuilding your crew."

Brook gave a curt nod, but deep down, he felt a flicker of excitement. He had his first crew member.

The rest of the slaves were just ordinary people, so Brook set them free. Some stayed behind to help clean the ship, while Moore Thomas recruited a dozen to assist in sailing his own vessel—his guards had suffered heavy casualties in the battle.

With the Disco Pirates wiped out, Brook claimed their ship and looted everything onboard. Among the spoils, he found four or five Den Den Mushi and handed them to Antonio.

"Try using these. See if your ability works on them."

Antonio nodded eagerly and placed his hands on the little snails. Moments later, his eyes widened in amazement.

"Captain Brook! They’re responding! They say I feel familiar... comfortable... like family! They’re willing to communicate with me using radio waves!"

Brook chuckled. "Hah! Looks like we hit the jackpot. You just became our communication specialist. You’ll be chatting with these little guys from now on."

"Yes, Captain!"

With that settled, Antonio’s stomach rumbled loudly. Brook's did the same.

"Eat first. We can talk later," Brook said, grabbing a plate.

Both of them tore into the food, their hunger finally sated after what felt like an eternity.

---

Once their meal was finished, Brook boarded Moore Thomas’ Seagull newspaper ship. It had been patched up and was ready to set sail.

"Mr. Brook, we’re heading for Sabaody Archipelago."

Brook simply nodded.

Moore Thomas let out a breath of relief. Having someone like Brook on board made him feel a little safer. But he knew time was running out. He needed to relocate the World Economic News Agency before the World Government made their move.

Sabaody was dangerous—especially with the Celestial Dragons lurking about.

But that was a problem for another day.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Want more chapters? Check my Discord for extra content! https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9 (There, you’ll find all my updates!)

Chapter Text

Brook looked at the Moore Thomas family. At this point, the World Economic News Agency was just beginning to rise. It had yet to become the powerhouse that would dominate the Great Pirate Era—one of the six underground emperors.

"Mr. Thomas, I feel a strong connection to Morgans. I’d like to adopt him as my godson. Would that be alright? Of course, this will remain between us and won’t be made public."

Brook stepped forward and gently teased Morgans, who was cradled in Monis' arms. Monis, the wife of Moore Thomas, was a virtuous woman with a keen sense of judgment.

"Mr. Brook, it would be an honor for Morgans. You are our family’s savior. From now on, we are family."

Moore Thomas was delighted to establish such a close relationship with his idol.

"Moore, call Brook 'Brother.' 'Mr. Brook' is too formal."

Monis, seeing the opportunity, believed that a powerful figure like Brook could guide Morgans. With the World Economic News Agency under suppression from the World Government and facing serious threats, it was wise to prepare an alternative path.

"Yes, yes! Brother Brook, from now on, you’ll be Morgans' godfather, and we’ll be sworn brothers!"

Moore Thomas rubbed his hands excitedly, clearly pleased with this arrangement.

"I understand your current predicament. I’ll develop my power as soon as possible, seize Sky Island, and make it a safe haven for you!"

Brook made this promise to Moore Thomas, but deep down, he also intended to bring the growing World Economic News Agency under his wing.

"Sky Island? Brother Brook, that’s just a legend. Don’t believe those rumors—it’s a place that could easily get you killed!"

In this era, even Moore Thomas, as the head of the news agency, had never received any concrete reports about Sky Island, so he remained skeptical.

"Leave it to me. When you return to the Sabaody Archipelago, be extra cautious and lay low for a while."

Brook held Morgans for a moment, playing with him briefly before ending the conversation.

"I assume there are permanent Log Poses for sale at the Sabaody Archipelago?"

Brook needed to expand his power quickly. Landing on islands one by one along a set route would be a waste of time.

"Brother Brook, leave it to me. I still have my connections. Just tell me which island’s permanent Log Pose you need, and I’ll get it for you!"

Moore Thomas patted his chest confidently. Brook also proposed purchasing a batch of Den Den Mushi, which Moore Thomas agreed to handle.

With that settled, the two ships set sail for the Sabaody Archipelago. Brook’s captured pirate ship had already discarded its pirate flag, now flying the seagull emblem of the World Economic News Agency.

Brook had successfully completed his first day of recruiting, securing an ally and taking his first major step forward.

···

"Brother Brook, we’ve arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago."

Stepping out of the captain’s quarters, Brook took in the sight of a massive red tree looming ahead.

The Yarukiman Mangrove—the largest mangrove forest in the world. Its roots, always exposed above the water, had collected soil over time, forming the Sabaody Archipelago.

The defining feature of this island chain was the natural resin secreted by the mangroves during respiration. These resins expanded into bubbles due to the air and floated into the sky. They were also an essential material for coating ships to cross Fishman Island.

However, these bubbles only remained stable within the climate of the Yarukiman Mangrove. Once they drifted beyond Sabaody’s climate range, they would pop due to atmospheric changes.

"Incredible!"

This was Brook’s first time seeing the island, and he was utterly awestruck.

"There are 79 numbered islands here, each controlled by different forces. Our news agency headquarters is on the tourist street of Tree Island No. 49."

Moore Thomas explained as their ship docked at the port of Tree Island No. 50, entrusting it to a shipping company for safekeeping.

As for the kidnapped civilians, Moore Thomas arranged for guards to escort them to the naval base on Island No. 60, where they would be set free.

Sabaody’s divisions were well-defined:

Islands 1–29: The lawless zone, including human trafficking shops and illegal auctions.

Islands 30–39: The amusement zone, home to the famous Bubble Park.

Islands 40–49: The tourism district, full of specialty shops.

Islands 50–59: The shipbuilding area, housing coating experts.

Islands 60–69: The naval base and government facilities.

Islands 70–79: The hotel district.

Brook, Moore Thomas, Antonio, and the remaining guards made their way to the World Economic News Agency headquarters. There, the Thomas family felt safer, as the sheer number of guards discouraged any direct government interference.

Brook was also captivated by the island—bubble cars, bubble Ferris wheels, houses built atop floating bubbles. The entire culture revolved around this unique phenomenon!

He exchanged the treasure looted from the Disco Pirates for tens of millions of Berries, then decided to explore with Antonio.

His appearance had changed drastically. His once dark skin had turned pale, his signature top hat was gone, and his afro had been tied back. His hairstyle now resembled a toned-down version of the swordsman Yasuo. With these changes, no one would recognize him.

Antonio and Brook stopped by a nearby clothing store, changing into crisp white shirts, black coats, slim-cut pants, and combat boots. The transformation left them looking sharp and unrecognizable.

"Thank you, Captain!"

Antonio beamed, feeling more at home than he ever had with his real family.

"Use your ability. Listen for areas where Den Den Mushi activity is highest."

Den Den Mushi, as strategic communication tools, were mostly sold on the black market. Official stores, run by the World Government for the navy and registered merchants, were constantly patrolled, making them inaccessible to pirates.

"Understood, Captain!"

Moore Thomas had offered to buy a few for Brook through legal channels, but Brook wanted more—both legally and through the underground market.

"Captain, I hear a lot of snails chatting! I’ll lead the way!"

Antonio, now dressed sharply, was eager to prove his usefulness. He excitedly guided Brook through the winding streets, eventually leading them into the lawless zone.

Being the gateway to the New World, Sabaody teemed with pirates, merchants, bounty hunters, and even human traffickers. Buying and selling humans, rare species, mermaids, and Fishmen was an open secret here.

This island was corrupt to its core, and the Celestial Dragons frequently visited to select slaves, making the underground trade flourish.

"Captain, I found it!"

Antonio’s excited shout drew unwanted attention. He quickly shrank behind Brook as menacing eyes turned toward them.

Brook’s cold, dark blue gaze swept across the crowd, and the temperature seemed to drop several degrees. The onlookers, feeling an eerie chill, immediately turned away, minding their own business.

Antonio followed Brook into what seemed like an ordinary store, but under Brook's life detection, he sensed multiple life fluctuations inside, and security was tight.

"Captain Brook, the people here seem really fierce!" Antonio whispered, clearly on edge.

"This is a lawless area. You'll find all kinds of people here—pirates, human traffickers, pirate hunters. Stay behind me and be careful." Brook warned, worried that this rookie might get kidnapped and sold again.

"What does this guest need?" The old man at the counter asked. On the surface, it looked like a simple shop selling cigarettes and alcohol, but the real business lay within—selling Den Den Mushi.

"I also want to sell a large number of Den Den Mushi to a rebellious warlord." Brook casually picked up a bottle of wine, which quickly froze in his grasp, letting the old man know he wasn't someone to be messed with.

Realizing that Brook was a Devil Fruit user, the old man promptly led him to the back for the transaction.

"Dear guest, which Den Den Mushi would you like?" A beautiful saleswoman replaced the old man, taking over as Brook’s receptionist. She smiled warmly, exuding professionalism.

Brook glanced at the various Den Den Mushi on display, each differing in size and color. He wasn’t sure which one to pick.

"Sir, this is a Communication Den Den Mushi. As long as you know the serial number, you can call it. It allows for island-to-island communication and costs 100,000 berries each. This is a Fixed-number Den Den Mushi, which only pairs with another of its kind. Its advantage is a significantly stronger signal—you can talk across vast distances, from the Four Seas to the Grand Line and even the New World. These cost 500,000 berries per pair.

We also have radio telephone bugs, surveillance telephone bugs, camera telephone bugs, and fax telephone bugs. The cheapest option is the Children’s Telephone Bug, which has a weak signal and only works for intra-island communication. These go for 10,000 berries each."

The saleswoman, noticing Brook's confusion, kindly broke everything down for him, detailing each Den Den Mushi’s functions.

As expected, the Demon Slayer Order's golden and silver Den Den Mushi, the intelligence-exclusive black wiretapping Den Den Mushi, and the white anti-wiretapping Den Den Mushi were not available. Similarly, the massive Public Den Den Mushi, Image Den Den Mushi, and self-propelled video transmission Den Den Mushi were absent from this store.

Brook counted the money in his box—over 20 million berries. It was enough for a major purchase.

"I’ll take twenty Communication Den Den Mushi, twenty Children’s Den Den Mushi, ten pairs of Fixed-number Den Den Mushi, and five of each of the others."

"Understood, sir! We’ll have them ready immediately." The saleswoman's eyes lit up with excitement. This was a massive transaction worth tens of millions—her commission would be substantial.

Other pirates in the store had already begun eyeing Brook, but he remained unfazed. None of their life signatures posed a threat to him.

Soon, the staff packed everything into a large, transparent box made of an unknown material, with plenty of ventilation holes. Each layer held twenty Den Den Mushi, nearly filling up all five layers. Some of the Den Den Mushi were even munching on leaves.

Brook covered the box with a cloth and made his way back to the news agency. As he stepped out, he quickly noticed multiple figures tailing him and Antonio.

"Captain, there are a lot of people following us. I can also hear a bunch of little snails communicating with each other from a distance," Antonio muttered, scanning his surroundings.

"You can actually hear that? Are you a Den Den Mushi yourself? Listen carefully—see if you hear the words ‘Poison Smoke Pirates.’"

Antonio’s Den Den Mushi Devil Fruit seemed to grant him the abilities of various Den Den Mushi, but not enhanced physical abilities. However, Brook suspected that this fruit might be as powerful as a Mythical Zoan-type.

"Got it, Captain Brook. I just intercepted a conversation from an intelligence group. Poison Smoke Pirates, Tree No. 21, some bar."

Antonio was thrilled to have completed his task. Brook, on the other hand, smirked.

"Only a few trees away? The heavens must be on my side. Good thing I haven’t left for the New World yet, or tracking them down would be a real pain."

With that, Brook led Antonio straight to Tree No. 21, intent on exacting revenge for his fallen crewmates.

---

The Poison Smoke Pirates, led by Toxic Cannon Sarin, had a bounty of 56 million berries. He was a devious man, armed with an arsenal of poison-based weapons. His tactics revolved around sneak attacks and gas-based weaponry, making him infamous for his underhanded ways.

"Hahaha! Captain Sarin, wiping out the Rumbar Pirates must've been satisfying! Those music-playing fools had no business being pirates!" One of his lackeys laughed, stroking his captain's ego.

In a dimly lit bar, some pirates who actually liked Brook’s music began humming Bink’s Sake. Their faces darkened at the insult, fists clenching in anger. But before they could act, their companions held them back.

"You're right! Pirates should be fighting for glory in the New World, not wasting time singing! I'll send them all to hell where they can sing their hearts out! Hahaha!" Sarin downed another drink, his arrogance filling the room. Several nearby pirates glared at him, clearly displeased.

"Tch, he's just some low-life who relies on poison gas and sneak attacks. His bounty is way too high." A short-haired woman exhaled a puff of smoke, watching the scene with disdain. She was a well-known intelligence broker in the Sabaody Archipelago, specializing in gathering and selling information. Occasionally, she even raided pirate vaults.

"Who said that?!" Sarin, already drunk, slammed his hand on the table and pulled out a massive poison gas launcher. The sight of it sent small-time pirates scrambling in fear.

Several notorious pirates, each with bounties exceeding 50 million berries, stared him down. This was an outlaw’s haven, but it wasn’t a place to start an all-out war. The bar was meant for relaxation, not destruction.

"Tch, it was heard." The short-haired woman vanished into the crowd, leaving Sarin fuming but helpless. The other pirates' cold stares forced him to back down, so he gritted his teeth and continued drinking, muttering curses under his breath.

But just as he downed another glass of liquor, a thin, figure carrying a massive box appeared in the doorway.

Brook’s gaze locked onto Sarin, sending a chill down his spine. The sudden tension in the bar was palpable.

Sarin’s already burning anger flared up again.

"What the hell are you looking at, you bastard?! Do you have a death wish?!" Sarin stood on the table, hoisting his poison gas cannon, aiming it directly at the intruder—only to realize that this figure seemed eerily familiar...

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Chapter Text

Poison Smoke Pirates, you can't escape today, Poison Cannon Sarin."

The temperature in the bar plummeted. Frost crept across the floor, starting from Brook and spreading outward like a silent predator.

"Brook? From the Rumbar Pirates? Hahaha! How the hell are you the only one left? You pathetic leftover bastard—go to hell!"

Poison Cannon Sarin laughed wildly and yanked the trigger, launching a poison gas bomb.

"Underworld Ghost Energy - Snow Blowing Slash."

Silence fell over the bar. Sarin’s cannon and body split clean in half. No blood spilled—his entire form had turned into an ice sculpture, frozen by the eerie ghostly chill of the Underworld.

At the entrance of the bar, a large, cloth-covered box rested on the ground. Next to it stood a scrawny teenager, gazing in awe at the man who had appeared behind the frozen corpse.

“Pah.”

A wine glass slipped from someone’s fingers and shattered on the floor. The chilling air sent shivers down the spines of the pirate captains present, men whose bounties exceeded 50 million berries. They broke into cold sweats.

Before anyone could react, a blade flashed through the dim light. Flesh split, and in the next heartbeat, every crew member of the Poison Smoke Pirates collapsed, their faces twisted in terror, their deaths instant.

Brook sheathed his sword and turned toward the gathered pirates. "Whoever takes Sarin’s head to the Navy branch for the bounty—I only want half."

He strolled back to the bar's entrance, picked up the box, and sat at the nearest table with Antonio. Pouring a drink, he muttered, "Rumbar Pirates, I’ve avenged you. Rest in peace."

The bar erupted in hushed murmurs. No one dared move Sarin’s body.

"That's what you said!"

Amid the tense silence, a short-haired girl with a cigarette in her mouth sauntered forward, grabbed the frozen Sarin, and bolted out the door.

The pub was in an uproar. Just like that? That easy?

Some pirates slapped their thighs and pulled at their hair, cursing themselves for missing an easy 28 million berries.

As time passed, whispers spread—many believed the girl had run off with the money. They were ready to mock Brook for his gullibility.

Then, the bar doors swung open with a loud kick. The short-haired woman strolled in, exhaling a puff of smoke. She tossed a fat stack of berries onto the counter.

"I've got money today. No need to give me change."

She placed a cash box in front of Brook. "Here, 28 million. I’ve already taken the other half. If you regret it now, tough luck."

Brook waved her off. "No regrets."

He threw two stacks of berries at the bar owner. "For corpse disposal. Handle it yourself."

Brook tossed the cash box to Antonio and left the bar, heading straight for the news agency.

"Interesting," the short-haired woman mused, watching Brook’s retreating figure. "A music adventurer? Too bad his whole crew was wiped out."

"Did you see the kid with him? Is Brook forming a new crew?"

"Brook, Avenger Brook with a 33 million berry bounty, just killed Poison Cannon Sarin—worth 56 million—in a single move. His bounty’s gonna skyrocket!"

"He’s gotten way stronger. I wanna join his crew!"

Excited chatter filled the bar. Some pirates seriously considered joining Brook’s new crew.

"Hey, where’d that short-haired girl go? I was about to rob her! Damn it!"

"Anyone know who she is?"

"That’s Shakky, an intelligence collector from Sabaody Archipelago. If you wanna be a pirate, act like one!"

"The hell did you say? Boys, get him!"

Chaos erupted once more as the short-haired woman slipped unnoticed into the alley behind the bar.

---

World Economic News Agency Headquarters

"Brook, here’s the eternal pose for the islands you need. We’re still searching for the rest. These Den Den Mushi are also from me."

Moore Thomas, the agency’s leader, set a pile of supplies in front of Brook.

Brook nodded. "I just claimed a bounty over 20 million berries. Use it to support the agency. Gotta keep talent from slipping away."

Moore Thomas hesitated. "Brook, no need. I’ve got enough. I’m planning to move the news agency to a remote island in the New World."

His expression darkened. "We can’t fight the World Peace Dove News Agency under the World Government. Moving is our only choice."

The World Government’s grip on the New World was weak. Moore Thomas believed they could survive there.

Brook leaned forward. "If you trust me, move to Gaya Island. Above it is Sky Island. Control Sky Island, and the Celestial Dragons won’t be able to touch you."

Moore Thomas furrowed his brows. "Brook, do you really believe in Sky Island?"

As a rational man, he struggled to believe in myths. There was no concrete proof of Sky Island’s existence.

Brook’s eyes gleamed. "I swear on my life—Sky Island exists. And so does Shandora, the Golden City. That land is mine to claim!"

Moore Thomas clenched his fists, staring into Brook’s unwavering gaze. Finally, he exhaled. "I believe you, Brook."

He made up his mind. They wouldn’t move to the New World. First, they would settle on Gaya Island. With his personal guard, they could survive there.

---

Sabaody Archipelago

"Shakky, I heard you made over 20 million berries. How about sharing some?"

A middle-aged man in gold-framed glasses grinned stiffly at the short-haired woman before him.

Shakky, puffing on her cigarette, sneered. "You want intel? Pay up. Otherwise, get lost. I made that money with my own skills. Why the hell should I give you a cut?"

The man’s smile faltered, and Shakky exhaled another cloud of smoke, eyes gleaming with sharp amusement.

In the Sabaody Archipelago, within the lawless zone, down a secluded alleyway...

"Shakky, I know you're alone, with no ties to hold you back. You can do whatever you want—but that also means you're isolated and defenseless! Get her!"

The middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses didn't even glance at Shakky before turning around and walking away. Suddenly, dozens of burly men emerged, surrounding her.

"Over the years, I’d wager you've stashed away at least 500 million berries, haven't you, Shakky?"

When he heard that she had made tens of millions again today, he couldn't resist making a move. She was just a small-time intelligence hunter, but tonight, he intended to take her down.

"What a hypocritical bastard!"

Rip-Off Lime Powder!

Shakky struck the massive bamboo pole beside her, releasing a cloud of fine white powder into the air. The moment the dust touched their eyes, the thugs cried out in agony. Quicklime reacts with moisture, and their tear-filled eyes burned severely—some might even go blind.

Without hesitation, Shakky lifted the sewer cover and dropped down, vanishing into the labyrinthine tunnels below.

"That damn woman! Is she dead? If she’s still alive, chase her down! I’ll kill her tonight!"

The middle-aged man in the gold-rimmed glasses used his swift footwork to leap into the sewer. Gazing at the three branching paths ahead, he spotted footprints and pursued them. However, after some distance, the trail abruptly ended.

"Damn it! I was tricked!"

Realizing too late, he clenched his fists. Shakky had created the illusion of footprints in advance and slipped away in another direction. With no choice but to return empty-handed, he cursed under his breath.

Now that she was aware of the danger, Shakky had probably escaped far away. There was no chance she’d contact him again or sell him intel. His opportunity to rob her had vanished.

"These bastards... Not a single one of them is worth trusting. Good thing I had a trick up my sleeve, or I’d have suffered tonight."

Emerging from the sewer, Shakky scanned the familiar cityscape. It was time to move to another island.

"Wait... I just thought of someone!"

Her mind drifted to the cold man who had taken out Poison Cannon Sarin in a single strike. According to previous intel, Brook was supposed to be a passionate musician—so how had he become such a ruthless, unyielding force? The destruction of his crew must have changed him completely.

Rumors swirled that he was looking to assemble a new crew and set sail again. This was her chance to join.

No more hesitation.

Shakky gathered her belongings, hid her savings, and set off to find Brook.

---

World Economy News Agency Headquarters

Brook was deep in training, attempting to separate his soul from his body—to achieve an out-of-body experience. In this spectral state, he could pass through solid objects like walls and gather intelligence unnoticed.

He had escaped from the Underworld once before in spirit form, re-entering his body. Now, he aimed to refine the technique, willing his soul to emerge once again.

After relentless practice, a pale, translucent figure resembling Brook surfaced, though only his upper body was free—his lower soul remained tethered to his lower frame. The spirit Brook hovered across the room, but the tail of his soul refused to sever its link to his body.

Drifting toward the window, Brook prepared to exit when he locked eyes with a short-haired woman wielding a knife. With a swift motion, she pried the window open.

They stared at each other in silence.

"Aaaahhh! A ghost!"

Shakky’s piercing scream shattered the quiet, startling Brook’s spirit so much that he instinctively recoiled back into his body. His hollow blue eyes snapped open just as Shakky lost her balance and fell.

The commotion drew the agency’s guards, who quickly surrounded her. Moore Thomas burst out in his pajamas, while Antonio groggily took in the scene.

"Wait a minute... Isn't this the woman who helped the Captain collect his bounty earlier today?" Antonio mumbled in confusion.

"Brook, are you alright?" Moore Thomas asked out of habit, though he highly doubted the woman could have harmed him.

Brook leaped from the window, landing effortlessly in front of Shakky.

"What are you doing here?"

"A-Are you human or ghost?!" Shakky stammered, still shaken by what she had just witnessed.

"Devil Fruit ability. You understand?" Brook replied coolly. "Now state your business. Otherwise, you’ll be handed over to the Marines."

"No, no! My name’s Shakky! I made more than twenty million berries off you today, remember? But now I’m being hunted! I want to join you!"

She spoke quickly, afraid that any hesitation would result in her capture.

"Shakky, huh? Alright, from this moment on, you’re my second crew member."

Brook’s chilling blue gaze fixed on her, seeing a glimmer of the cunning and sharp-witted woman he had encountered earlier that day. He hoped she would grow into the formidable pirate Garp had once described.

"Wait, just like that? You're not messing with me?!"

"I said it, Shakky—you’re my second crew member."

Finally processing what had just happened, she stood up, dusting off her clothes. "Got it, Captain Brook! You better protect me!"

"What skills do you have?"

"I specialize in intelligence gathering, navigation, and I’m a damn good cook!"

"Then you’ll be our navigator, with a secondary role as an intelligence officer. Antonio is already skilled in intelligence, so you’ll work with him."

Brook dismissed Moore Thomas and the guards, ordering them back to bed. He led Shakky and Antonio inside to assess their abilities.

"A Den Den Mushi Devil Fruit user? That’s an insanely good ability for an intelligence officer!"

"Yeah, I can communicate with the snails directly and even eavesdrop on their conversations, hehe~"

Antonio grinned sheepishly, knowing how sneaky that sounded.

Brook had acquired several varieties of Den Den Mushi, and Antonio had learned how to utilize them. He could mimic the Broadcasting Den Den Mushi’s loudspeaker function, take photographs like a Camera Den Den Mushi, and even print out transmissions like a Fax Den Den Mushi. He was continuously developing his abilities, gradually mastering all known functions of Den Den Mushi.

"That’s insane... I want a Den Den Mushi Devil Fruit too!"

Shakky’s eyes gleamed with greed, unnerving Antonio enough to make him shuffle closer to Brook.

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Chapter Text

The next morning.

Sabaody Archipelago, World Economic News Agency headquarters.

After breakfast, the group gathered in Brook's room. The floor was littered with various kinds of Den Den Mushi. Antonio diligently fed them leaves and vegetables, treating the little snails with care and chatting with them like old friends.

The microphones and buttons on Den Den Mushi were artificial additions. Even if these parts got damaged, the snails wouldn’t feel pain. By attaching specific components, they could be modified to perform different functions—like faxing, or with the right speaker, becoming a radio telephone. The world truly was full of wonders.

"Antonio, ask the Den Den Mushi if they can acquire multiple functions at the same time, like combining video, fax, and projection features."

As someone from a modern world, Brook suddenly missed smartphones. He wondered if these high-tech creatures could be adapted for instant text and image communication alongside voice calls.

"Captain, the little snails say they only know the functions they’ve had since birth and will follow whatever modifications their owners make."

"Antonio, can you try training these young Den Den Mushi to develop multiple functions at once?"

"Captain, Den Den Mushi are naturally lazy. They only want to learn one frequency at a time. Adding more functions would be exhausting for them. Eating leaves doesn’t provide enough energy, so they need frequent rest."

So that’s how it was. Normally, outside of brief phone conversations, Den Den Mushi either ate or slept. If they were used for instant messaging, they’d have to stay awake constantly and would likely wear themselves out. Even the Image Den Den Mushi at Impel Down worked in shifts to monitor prisoners. Pushing them too hard could be fatal.

"Tell these young Den Den Mushi that, in addition to their basic communication function, they should also learn imaging and faxing. They can eat whatever they want. Maybe try using your Devil Fruit ability to help them?"

Although the idea seemed far-fetched, Brook wanted to give it a shot. However, low-energy food like leaves wouldn’t sustain the Den Den Mushi for long. Otherwise, they’d spend two hours eating just to manage five minutes of talking. He needed to find them a high-energy food source.

"Understood, Captain! I’ll do my best!"

With his Den Den Mushi-related Devil Fruit, Antonio deepened his bond with the snails, communicating with them as if they were lifelong friends.

Meanwhile, Brook asked Shakky about any recent black market news on Adam Wood. He wanted to stock up on materials to build a ship and hoped to find underground technicians capable of modifying Den Den Mushi. Leaving Antonio at the news agency, Brook and Shakky headed to Sabaody’s Grove 1-29, where pirates bound for the New World were trading exotic goods.

"Rare animals from Beast Island! Come take a look!"

"Striped creatures from Long Chain Island—don’t miss out!"

"A rare potion from the Drum Kingdom—only 500,000 berries!"

"Mechanical dogs from the Future Kingdom of Baldimore! These bad boys can take down pirates with 5-million-berry bounties! Yours for just 10 million berries!"

"Scraps of Treasure Tree Adam from the Rocks Pirates’ old ship! A rare collectible!"

A shipwright from the Champagne Shipyard was shouting about his wares—stolen goods from his own workplace, most likely.

Curious, Brook took a look. The Treasure Tree Adam was the strongest wood in the One Piece world—exceptionally tough and ideal for shipbuilding. But these scraps were just that—small, battered pieces. However, the leaves still attached to some pieces caught Brook’s eye.

"You call these scraps worth selling? Ugh, might as well use them for handicrafts. How much?"

Brook feigned disgust, but his sharp gaze remained locked on the still-vibrant Adam leaves. Could the Den Den Mushi eat them? If so, they might be a potent energy source.

"Ah, my dear customer, you have a sharp eye! Turn these into crafts, attach the name of Captain Rocks, and boom—instant collector’s items! Only one million berries, and they’re yours!"

The old shipwright immediately hyped up his goods and jacked up the price.

"Go to hell! I know you—you’re the old crook from Labrador Shipyard in Sabaody! Did you steal this?"

As a seasoned information broker, Shakky instantly saw through his act.

"Damn brat! If you’re not buying, quit running your mouth! Get lost!"

His face darkened as he tried to shoo them away.

"100,000 berries. Take it or leave it."

Brook’s cold blue eyes locked onto him. The air around them seemed to drop several degrees, making the old man shiver.

"Y-You’re the Vengeful Brook? The last survivor of the Rumbar Pirates? The guy who wiped out the Smoky Pirates in a single strike? Your bounty just jumped to 80 million berries!"

The old man pulled out that morning’s newspaper, featuring the latest bounty update:

Vengeful Brook, former acting captain of the Rumbar Pirates, previously known as 'Song Brook.' Eliminated the 56-million-berry pirate 'Poison Cannon' Sarin in one blow. New bounty: 80 million berries.

"M-Master Brook! These scraps are worthless! Just take them! But can you sign this bounty poster for me?"

The old shipwright’s eyes gleamed. Brook was a rising star among pirates—his autograph could fetch a fortune.

"I won’t rob you. Here’s 100,000 berries. Do you have any more Adam Wood scraps? Even just the leaves?"

After signing, Brook still tossed him the cash and packed up all the wood scraps and leaves.

"No more scraps. These leaves are from the last Adam branches I had. That’s it."

Brook asked the old man to keep an eye out for more Adam Wood in the future and left him a Den Den Mushi number.

"Captain Brook, what do you need this stuff for?" Shakky asked, puzzled.

"I want to see if Den Den Mushi can eat these leaves. Might as well give it a shot."

Brook and Shakky continued scouring the underground market for a scientist capable of modifying Den Den Mushi but found no luck. Eventually, Shakky reminded him that there might already be someone like that at the news agency.

Brook facepalmed. Hadn’t he just run around the whole black market only to end up right back where he started? Wasn’t this like searching for treasure while holding it in your hands the whole time?

Without wasting another second, Brook rushed back to the World Economic News Agency and sought out Moore to borrow an expert. Sure enough, the agency had a veteran technician who could install buttons, microphones, speakers, external fax machines, and even printers onto Den Den Mushi…

"Mr. Brook, you want to install a small screen for a Den Den Mushi? Like the kind that connects to a video Den Den Mushi?"

A senior technical expert from the World Economic News Agency looked at Brook questioningly. Among the Image Den Den Mushi, the ones responsible for monitoring and observation were relatively small, but those used for projection grew much larger to store enough energy for continued projection.

Just like during the war at Marineford—the ones filming on the battlefield were relatively small, while the ones broadcasting live at the Sabaody Archipelago were massive. The same principle applied to Impel Down. The Den Den Mushi used for monitoring prisoners were small and easy to hide, while the ones in the surveillance room broadcasting live were significantly larger.

"Yes, can you do it?" Brook asked.

"It can be installed, but this small Den Den Mushi won’t be able to keep the screen on for long. It’ll get exhausted quickly and go into hibernation."

The senior expert pointed out the flaws. In fact, the method of using large-scale video Den Den Mushi for remote video communication already existed, but it had distance limitations. It wasn’t as efficient as using standard communication Den Den Mushi. Besides, Den Den Mushi were naturally weak, lazy, and unskilled. Each one retained only a single radio frequency and a single ability.

Young Den Den Mushi could only communicate within the same island. As humans trained them, some were specialized in taking pictures but lost the ability to communicate. Others retained communication but couldn’t project images. Those meant for photography had external printers to print images. Each Den Den Mushi had a designated function—no multitasking.

In short, these little creatures were simple and couldn’t handle too many features.

In the end, the technical expert customized a small screen for several dozen young Den Den Mushi, attaching it to their shells with a wire, similar to a telephone receiver.

Brook felt like he was looking at an early-generation touchscreen phone, wired to the Den Den Mushi and hanging from its shell.

A young Den Den Mushi equipped with the device lit up its screen for a few dozen seconds before it dimmed.

Another young Den Den Mushi communicated with Antonio, transmitting radio waves to project the portrait it saw onto the small screen. It worked—but soon ran out of energy and went into hibernation.

The battery life was disappointing.

For a while, Antonio trained these young Den Den Mushi in different skills, while Brook searched for various rare leaves to feed them—including leaves from the Yarukiman Mangrove, the Sun Tree Eve, and the Treasure Tree Adam.

Eventually, they discovered the Yarukiman Mangrove leaves worked well as daily food, allowing the screen to stay lit for 30 minutes. Feeding them Sun Tree Eve leaves extended it to an hour, while Treasure Tree Adam leaves stretched it to two hours.

Finally, the young Den Den Mushi were trained into a new type called "Cell Den Den Mushi," named by Brook himself. To conserve energy, it abandoned video communication but retained text-based messaging and mimicry functions.

---

Brook, Antonio, and Shakky each picked up their Cell Den Den Mushi screens and scribbled on them.

Their handwriting appeared on the respective screens.

[No. 2: Captain Brook, can you see what I wrote?] [No. 1: I see.] [No. 3: Amazing!]

Brook felt satisfied. Though it was a simple chat group, it reminded him of his past life.

"Captain, I want to change the number to my name."

Only Antonio could communicate with the Den Den Mushi and rename them.

"Captain, this function doesn’t seem all that useful! We can just talk on the ship, and for anything else, a regular Den Den Mushi works fine. Reading and writing texts is too much hassle."

Shakky found the device rather unnecessary.

Brook considered it and realized she had a point. Without a large user base, this wasn’t as practical as traditional Den Den Mushi.

Besides, feeding them rare leaves would make them difficult to maintain, and ordinary people couldn’t even afford regular Den Den Mushi. The world still relied on News Coo for most of its information.

Brook had no choice but to set the idea aside for now.

But perhaps he could create a guild? A sort of organization? Distribute these Cell Den Den Mushi to promising pirate captains and form a communication network!

Domination, swordsmanship, island intel, treasure maps… this had potential!

Yet, he wasn’t strong enough or famous enough to attract anyone. And even if he did, how could he guarantee they wouldn’t just turn on each other?

He decided—if he ever handed these out, it would only be to those he personally approved. And the chat group would remain anonymous until they had all grown stronger!

With careful planning, Brook saw this as a possibility. Unlike his past life, where he had foreknowledge of events, he was now decades ahead of the main story. He needed to secure his own information network. Controlling the intelligence sector of the World Economic News Agency might be his best bet.

---

Before he knew it, the next day arrived.

"Captain Brook! The first supernova of the year has arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago! It’s the captain of the Flying Pirates—Golden Lion Shiki! His bounty is 440 million berries! His ship can fly! The bounty poster states that he possesses the Float-Float Fruit, allowing him to make anything float!"

Early in the morning, Shakky came running with the latest intel.

"Golden Lion Shiki, huh? That name sounds familiar. I wonder how strong he is right now."

The Float-Float Fruit was a terrifying ability—it allowed for both offense and retreat. On top of that, Shiki was a dual-sword swordsman. No wonder the Marines gave him such a high bounty.

"Captain, do you want to check out the lawless zone and see this big shot in action?"

As an intelligence hunter, Shakky was eager to take a peek. But now that she was part of Brook’s crew, she decided to check with him first.

"Alright, just don’t cause any trouble."

Brook followed Shakky, curious to see the rising legend of the young Golden Lion Shiki.

---

At a bar in the lawless district of Sabaody.

A towering man with long golden hair, a cigar between his lips, and two swords at his waist raised a glass of liquor, brimming with confidence.

"If I didn’t want to see the legendary Fish-Man Island, I would’ve flown straight from the Red Line to the New World. Why waste time coating my ship?!"

"Captain Shiki, you’re the fastest supernova to reach Sabaody this year! You’re the strongest!"

One of Shiki’s subordinates praised him relentlessly, hyping up his captain.

"My ship can fly! Who the hell could be faster than me?! Hahaha!"

Golden Lion Shiki laughed triumphantly. He was only in his twenties, yet his bounty had already reached 440 million berries, making him the most dangerous supernova of the year!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

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Chapter Text

"Charlotte Linlin from the New World is only 16 years old this year, but her bounty has already reached 580 million Berries!"

A voice suddenly cut through the lively atmosphere, immediately pouring cold water on Golden Lion Shiki's enthusiasm.

"Who said that? Which bastard is talking nonsense?! Come out now!"

The crew members of the Flying Pirates looked around viciously, trying to find the source of the voice.

"Forget it. I'm about to enter the New World, and I want to see for myself how strong this Charlotte Linlin really is! Humph~"

Golden Lion Shiki frowned slightly, scanning the crowd before taking a deep puff of his cigar, his expression calm but full of intrigue.

"Captain Golden Lion, are you still recruiting crew members? I want to join you!"

A wandering pirate suddenly spoke up, eager to join the rising supernova pirate crew. Flying under the banner of the Golden Lion meant experiencing true freedom—soaring through the skies and doing whatever they pleased.

"Yes! I'll take them all. I'm going to form a fleet of flying pirates and dominate the world! Hahaha!"

At that moment, Golden Lion Shiki's wild, lion-like hair flowed in all directions, exuding the inviolable majesty of a true king. His aura roared with the ambition and courage of a predator ready to swallow the world whole.

To the Flying Pirates, the Golden Lion was noble, glorious, and brilliant—just like the color gold.

The entire tavern erupted in cheers. Countless pirates pledged their allegiance to the Flying Pirates, while a few crews with bounties of tens of millions chose to leave, unwilling to align themselves with the mighty force taking shape.

"Captain Shiki, don't you love dancing and singing? Avenger Brook is currently on Sabaody Island. His Rumba Pirates have been wiped out, and he's all alone now. It's a perfect opportunity to recruit him!"

"Yeah! He also took down the Poison Smoke Pirates in one move. His bounty has already reached 80 million Berries—he's got real strength."

Several new recruits eagerly suggested potential members, trying to prove their worth to the crew.

"Are you talking about that ' Avenger Brook' who sings 'Bink's Sake'?"

Golden Lion Shiki's eyes lit up. Despite his terrible dancing skills, he loved music and celebrations. And as captain, no one dared question his moves.

"That's right, Captain! Having a musician onboard will make our parties even better! Plus, the guy's got talent!"

A member of the Flying Pirates pushed the idea further. Among the crew, only Shiki had a bounty surpassing 100 million Berries, while the rest hovered around 70 to 80 million. If Brook joined, he'd likely become one of the top three members instantly.

"Alright, if we run into Brook before the ship gets coated, we'll recruit him!"

Currently, Shiki was the only true supernova in the Sabaody Archipelago. The next highest bounty among the other pirates was only around 80 to 90 million Berries, making Brook one of the stronger ones present.

"Captain Shiki, looks like you're in luck! I just saw Brook outside!"

A pirate rushed into the bar, excitedly reporting the sighting to Shiki.

"Hahaha! The heavens favor me today! Now, where's my musician?"

Golden Lion Shiki strode out confidently, his twin swords swaying at his sides. In this era, powerful captains often personally extended invitations to those they deemed worthy—just like how Red-Haired Shanks once recruited Yasopp.

Brook had originally taken Shakky to see the Golden Lion, but before they even reached their destination, Shiki had already stormed out, his eyes shining with excitement as he looked at his future musician.

"Brook! I heard you're quite talented. Wanna be the musician on my ship?"

Golden Lion Shiki's wild mane flowed in the wind as he extended the offer, his enthusiasm catching Brook off guard. The musician had only come to observe the legendary pirate, but now he was personally invited?

"Captain Shiki, I’m sorry, but I’m not planning to enter the New World just yet,"

Brook responded calmly, his expression unchanged despite the pressure.

"Brook, are you scared? After losing the Rumba Pirates, have you lost the courage to keep going?"

A battle captain next to Golden Lion Shiki smirked, his tone carrying a hint of provocation.

He was Bloody Fist Scaredo, the intelligence officer and second-in-command of the Flying Pirates. With a bounty of 92 million Berries, he was just shy of being another supernova himself.

"Brook, with me as your captain, you’ll never be defeated again. Join my crew!"

Golden Lion Shiki studied Brook carefully, trying to gauge whether this guy had truly lost his fighting spirit. Yet, he still extended the invitation once more.

"Have you awakened Conqueror’s Haki? Do you know Armament Haki?"

Brook ignored Scaredo’s taunt and instead threw the question directly at Shiki.

"Haki? I think I’ve heard a little about it."

Golden Lion Shiki frowned, clearly unfamiliar with the concept.

Brook was stunned. A supernova with a 444 million Berries bounty had only heard of Haki? That likely meant he hadn’t even learned it yet.

It was a testament to the World Government’s tight control over information. Outside of noble families and major forces, very few in the Four Seas or even the Grand Line knew about Haki. Most pirates who gained Devil Fruit abilities set sail without ever learning about it. Only in the New World—through battles and sheer survival—did they finally discover it.

"Armament Haki is the standard for the strong in the New World. It allows you to directly attack Logia-type Devil Fruit users and defend against many Paramecia-type abilities. There’s also Observation Haki, which lets you predict enemy movements,"

Brook explained briefly.

In truth, Armament Haki could counter many Devil Fruit abilities, but only if the user’s Haki was stronger than the opponent’s Devil Fruit mastery. If not, a well-developed fruit power could still overpower weak Haki users. The balance between Haki and Devil Fruits was a constant clash—whoever had the stronger force would dominate.

"Are you saying that without Haki, I can't be strong in the New World?"

Golden Lion Shiki took a deep puff of his cigar, flicking the ash off his fingers with a smirk. He had absolute confidence in his Floating-Floating Fruit and swordsmanship.

"That’s the reality. That’s why I won’t be heading to the New World just yet,"

Brook stated honestly.

"Even if Haki is important, how can you grow stronger without real battles? What’s the point of staying in the Grand Line? Come with us, Brook! In the New World, we’ll find ways to train in Haki—then we’ll all have it! Hahaha!"

Golden Lion Shiki laughed wildly, once again extending the invitation to Brook, a seasoned veteran with valuable experience.

Outside a bar in the lawless zone of the Sabaody Archipelago, the Golden Lion Shiki stood with an air of dominance, extending an invitation to Brook. He wanted to recruit this seasoned combat musician into his crew.

"Shiki, the rising overlord of the New World... The Rocks Pirates will be the absolute and only rulers of the pirate era to come. You may find yourself suffering under his hands—you might even be defeated, overpowered, or worse... forced to submit to Rocks."

Brook eyed the young Golden Lion, hoping to provoke him while throwing shade at Rocks, making it less likely for Shiki to join the Rocks Pirates so easily in the future.

"What?! Surrender? Me?! I am Shiki, the Golden Lion!" Shiki roared, clearly furious at Brook's words.

"Brook, it’s fine if you don’t want to join us, but how dare you look down on our captain like that?! Today, I’ll make you pay for your words!" The battle captain, Bloody Fist Scaredo, attacked without hesitation. The brass knuckles on his fists gleamed with a cold metallic shine as he swung them with full force, sending powerful shockwaves through the air.

'Bloody Fist - Tiger Knuckles!'

"I’m just giving you a friendly warning." Brook calmly raised his cane sword, blocking Scaredo’s powerful punch effortlessly.

"What the hell?! Captain Scaredo’s full-force punch... blocked with one hand?!" The surrounding pirates were in disbelief. After all, Scaredo’s fists had earned their name by breaking the bones of both pirates and Marines alike.

"I don’t believe it! A guy with a lower bounty than me can’t just stop my attacks like that!"

'Bloody Fist - Iron Elbow!' 'Bloody Fist - Steel Knee!'

Scaredo launched a flurry of attacks, but Brook countered them all. Each strike he blocked left traces of eerie white frost spreading across Scaredo’s fists and legs. His movements grew sluggish as the ghostly energy seeped into his body.

"That’s enough, Scaredo! You’re no match for him!" Shiki barked, stopping his battle captain before he could make a bigger fool of himself. He turned to Brook, his expression shifting to one of intrigue.

"Brook, you’re strong. If the Rumbar Pirates hadn’t been wiped out, you could’ve been one of this year’s Supernovas. Since you’re not interested in heading to the New World yet, I won’t force you... but let’s have a proper fight!"

Shiki grinned. As the strongest Supernova this year, he wasn’t about to let an opportunity like this slip by. He needed to showcase his strength in front of his new recruits.

"I can’t beat you yet," Brook admitted, fully aware of Shiki’s terrifying reputation. He had held back against Scaredo only because Shiki was nearby.

"Don’t worry, I won’t go all out. If you change your mind, my ship is always open to a musician swordsman like you!"

The two agreed to fight on the shores of the lawless zone. Shakky and a group of pirates followed, eager to witness the clash.

---

Standing on the beach, Shiki observed Brook, who was fully on guard. Amused, the younger Shiki actually felt like giving the older Brook a few pointers.

"Hahaha! This is gonna be fun!" Shiki cackled, drawing two swords. Brook was startled to see him wielding the legendary blades Kogarashi and Oto so soon.

"Captain Shiki, please guide me!"

Brook vanished in an instant, leaving behind a frozen trail. His cane sword was already unsheathed, thrusting fiercely at the point where Shiki’s two blades met.

"Damn, that’s fast! Even I almost lost track of him!" A bead of sweat rolled down Shiki’s forehead. The cocky grin vanished as he clenched his cigar between his teeth, getting serious.

'Lion Peach Slash!'

Shiki swung his swords, unleashing dozens—no, hundreds—of golden sword waves that cut off all of Brook’s escape routes.

'Underworld Phantom Energy - Weapon Shatter!'

Brook shattered the incoming sword waves and lunged forward, aiming for Shiki’s wrist to disarm him.

'Lion’s Severance!'

A massive sword strike erupted from Shiki’s blades, sending Brook flying.

"I’m not just a swordsman! Let me show you my true strength!" Shiki smirked, cigarette still dangling from his lips.

'Lion’s Dominion - Imperial Sandstorm!'

Using his Float-Float Fruit ability, Shiki controlled the sand around the shore, shaping it into a towering lion over ten meters tall. The massive sand beast lunged at Brook with terrifying force.

'Underworld Phantom Energy - Aurora Burst!'

A flash of cold light streaked through the air, and Brook reappeared behind the giant sand lion. The beast split clean in half before collapsing into a pile of frozen sand.

"Hahaha! Not bad! Let’s see how you handle a few more!"

Shiki laughed maniacally as four more sand lions materialized and charged at Brook from all directions.

Brook weaved between the attacks, narrowly avoiding the ferocious jaws of the sand beasts. Shiki watched with a pleased grin.

'Underworld Phantom Energy - Blade of the Departed!'

Brook sheathed his cane sword and assumed a drawing stance. The instant he stepped forward, the beach beneath him cratered from the force. With a single sword flash, all four sand lions were sliced apart and frozen solid by the ghostly cold energy.

A loud boom echoed as the shattered sand lions collapsed, raising a cloud of fine dust that obscured everyone’s vision.

"Brook, you’re pretty damn good!" Shiki admitted, surprised. He realized that Brook’s ghostly energy had somehow interfered with his Float Fruit abilities.

Brook, however, was gasping for breath. That last move had drained him completely.

"I can’t fight anymore, Shiki..."

"Huh?! Already?! I was just getting warmed up!" Shiki was about to charge forward when he noticed Brook’s exhausted state. Reluctantly, he sheathed Oto and Kogarashi.

"Sorry to disappoint you, Supernova Leader."

"Hahaha! Supernova Leader, huh? I like that! Of course, I’m the strongest pirate of this generation! How could a small fry like you ever hope to match me?" Shiki laughed arrogantly. He had only fought Brook to test him, never taking him too seriously.

Brook wiped the sweat from his forehead and smirked. "Since you’ve been kind enough to go easy on me, I’ve decided to offer you something in return."

Shiki raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What is it? A treasure map?"

Brook simply smiled as he stood before the Golden Lion.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Want more chapters? Check my Discord for extra content! https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9 (There, you’ll find all my updates!)

Chapter Text

"A unique Den Den Mushi left behind by a mysterious organization, with many unidentified strong men inside, all trying to uncover the secrets of this world?" Brook said slyly to the young Golden Lion, Shiki.

"I got this from a ghost ship in the Florian's Triangle. This kind of Den Den Mushi is rare, and it only eats specific leaves. The strong men inside remain anonymous, so there's no way to know each other's identities."

"Something like that exists? But if they're strong, why hide so much?" Shiki asked, skeptical. He felt like Brook might be messing with him.

"See for yourself."

Brook handed a Den Den Mushi to Shiki. Fortunately, he had already erased the test messages beforehand. Brook had also used multiple Den Den Mushi to role-play on it, leaving Shakky and Antonio so stunned they didn't dare say a word.

Shiki, full of curiosity, examined the Den Den Mushi in his hands. It was indeed a species he had never seen before.

"Looks like this Den Den Mushi can only communicate through text, not voice calls," Brook explained. While most Den Den Mushi could be used for voice communication, this one only allowed new members to chat through text.

Picking up the Den Den Mushi’s screen, Shiki read through the chat messages:

[No. 5: That old bastard Im is trying to uncover my real identity again today.]

[No. 49: Hey, what is this?]

[No. 33: A new guy? And Im doesn’t even know about him? That guy is the king of the Celestial Dragons, a terrifying figure even the Five Elders bow to!]

[No. 9: Im is the ruler of the world and has been alive for 800 years. If he targets someone, even a pirate overlord is doomed! But with his power, he barely considers us worth noticing.]

[No. 49: What? There’s someone like that in the world? Living for 800 years?]

[No. 35: Who are you, No. 49? Are you famous in the seas?]

[No. 8: No. 49, don’t reveal your identity. A while ago, No. 44 bragged about being a pirate with a 1.5 billion berry bounty ten years ago, but now he’s mysteriously disappeared. Think carefully about your strength—there are terrifying people hiding in this world, all trying to escape Im’s pursuit!]

...

Shiki’s eyes widened in shock. A pirate with a bounty of 1.5 billion just vanished like that?

Still in his twenties, Shiki wanted to keep scrolling and check the chat history, but the Den Den Mushi suddenly shut off.

"What happened?" Shiki asked Brook, frustrated.

"This type of Den Den Mushi consumes a lot of energy. It can only stay active for half an hour a day unless you feed it leaves from the Treasure Tree Adam or the Sun Tree Eve. Right now, I’ve only been feeding it Yarukiman Mangrove leaves."

"So, do you want it? I only have two left."

"Brook, do you think this is real? It sounds unbelievable," Shiki said, finally calming down after the initial shock.

"Whether it’s real or not, as long as we don’t reveal our identities, there’s no danger," Brook reassured him, knowing that this might be too much for Shiki to digest all at once.

"That’s true. I can use it to gather information too."

Shiki immediately took the Den Den Mushi, carefully inspecting the little creature that had now gone into hibernation. He was already planning to search for Yarukiman Mangrove and Sun Tree Eve leaves.

"Brook, you still have one, right? What’s your number?" Shiki asked curiously. He assumed Brook must know the number assigned to his own Den Den Mushi and wanted to find out.

"I’m No. 18."

In front of Shiki, Brook pulled out his Den Den Mushi and started typing, demonstrating how it worked.

[No. 18: Do you think this year’s supernova, Golden Lion Shiki, has the potential to become a top powerhouse?]

After Brook sent the message, the chat went silent. Since there was no one active at the moment, all the members were probably using alternate accounts.

This only made Shiki more curious. Though he was arrogant, he still wanted to know what these anonymous strong men thought of him.

"Brook, I’m going to find the leaves this Den Den Mushi eats right now. That’s it for today’s sparring. Thanks for the Den Den Mushi. I hope you’ll really join my crew in the future."

Without wasting time, Shiki gathered his men and set out to search for the leaves of the Yarukiman Mangrove and the Sun Tree Eve.

...

"Captain Brook, did you really fool Golden Lion Shiki?" Shakky asked in disbelief. Just moments ago, she had watched Brook acting out an entire conversation with himself and thought he was just amusing himself.

"Do you think Im is fake?" Brook replied, expressionless, glancing at Shakky’s sarcastic smile.

"So it’s real? Someone’s actually lived for 800 years?" Shakky's eyes widened. Seeing Brook give a slight nod, she gasped, unable to believe it.

"Come on, let’s go back. You got your wish of seeing Shiki, the leader of the supernovas, today."

Brook took the lead, walking ahead, while Shakky quickly followed.

On the way back, Brook was already thinking about how to warn those at risk of exposing their identities. He had prepared to distribute these Den Den Mushi through Moore Thomas’s seagull news network while delivering newspapers.

But everything had to be done step by step. For now, the most important thing was becoming stronger.

Upon returning to the World Economic News Agency headquarters, Brook found Antonio still communicating through the Den Den Mushi, strengthening relationships with the other users.

"Antonio, record Golden Lion Shiki as No. 36. Leave the first 20 numbers empty. I only have No. 18, and I can change my prefix at any time. Try not to discuss this too much in the future."

Brook instructed his crew members, who knew the secret.

"Got it, Captain. I’ll handle it. You should feed it better food in the future!" Antonio responded, immediately passing Brook’s instructions to Den Den Mushi No. 18, ensuring everything was in order.

Brook then sought out Moore Thomas, asking for help locating certain pirate crews to see if seagulls delivering newspapers could also deliver the Den Den Mushi to them.

Moore Thomas readily agreed. Now that he was aligned with Brook’s camp, he would naturally do his best to assist him.

Looking at the familiar names on his list, Brook smirked. Perhaps some of these people would become allies.

Meanwhile, the Marines had already captured battle footage of the supernova Golden Lion Shiki and Brook’s fight, as well as images of Brook defeating the Bloody Fist Scaredo…

The next day, at the Sabaody Archipelago, the headquarters of the World Economic News Agency.

"Captain Brook, your bounty has been updated. Since you defeated Bloody Fist Scaredo without even fighting yesterday and went head-to-head with Supernova Golden Lion, your bounty is now 120 million berries. That also makes you the supernova with the lowest bounty."

Shakky said excitedly, clearly proud of her captain’s abilities.

"Looks like it's time to set sail and find some crew members!"

Brook decided that he was strong enough to return to the sea, and Moore Thomas had already sent people to Gaya Island to establish a base, preparing for the future relocation of the news agency’s headquarters.

Most of this year’s supernovas were still on the Grand Line, so he had to form his own crew as soon as possible.

That morning, after talking with Moore Thomas, they started gathering supplies and loading them onto the pirate ship docked at Tree No. 50. They brought the Eternal Pose and Den Den Mushi on board, and under the watchful eyes of Moore’s family, the three-man pirate crew set sail once more.

"Captain, is our first stop the fallen shipbuilding capital?"

As the navigator, Shakky was a little confused. After all, the strongest shipbuilders were now in the Sabaody Archipelago. The shipbuilding industry in Water Seven had declined over the years due to the tsunamis caused by the sea god, Akula Lagna.

It was only thanks to the sea train built by the fishman Tom that Water Seven regained its prosperity and restored its reputation as the shipbuilding capital.

"Yeah, they still have the most advanced shipbuilding technology."

Brook knew that the ancient weapon Pluton’s blueprints were in Water Seven. Tom should be in his thirties now, older than Roger. He wondered if Roger had already arrived in Water Seven to build the Oro Jackson.

Since Antonio was weak, Brook was responsible for setting sail and steering the ship, while Shakky handled weather observations on the Grand Line.

...

Meanwhile, Golden Lion Shiki had also gathered a large number of Yarukiman Mangrove leaves aboard his ship, but he failed to find any leaves from the Sun Tree Eve or Treasure Tree Adam—Brook had already taken them all.

After resting for a day, Golden Lion’s Den Den Mushi No. 36 finally recovered, allowing Shiki to remove its small screen and check the latest messages.

He wanted to see what these so-called powerhouses thought and needed to keep track of the discussions happening in the underground network.

[No. 18: Do you think this year's supernova, Golden Lion Shiki, has the potential to become a top powerhouse?]

[No. 15: A newcomer is a newcomer. No matter how strong, they’re still just a rookie. A little weakling who can’t even use Haki.]

[No. 9: The New World’s weather is even worse, and his Float-Float Fruit is dangerous in those conditions. If he enters the New World blindly, he might meet a disastrous end!]

[No. 6: The rising star of this era is Rocks D. Xebec. With his terrifying mastery of all three types of Haki, his monstrous Devil Fruit, and his overwhelming ambition, I predict most of the supernovas will join him—Golden Lion included!]

"What?! Me? Join someone else?! No way in hell! So what if it’s all three types of Haki? I’ll master them soon enough!"

[No. 44: Finally caught one! You criminals dare to investigate historical texts… One day, I’ll take you all down. I am an admiral of the Navy Headquarters. I—]

[No. 2: Den Den Mushi No. 44 has been terminated. Do not reveal your identity or threaten others. Otherwise, the Den Den Mushi in your hand will die, and you will lose access to the strongest circle.]

[No. 9: No. 2, you sound powerful. Are you some old relic that’s been alive for over a hundred years?]

[No. 2: A hundred years? I’m a rare species. I’ve lived for 256 years.]

...

Shiki widened his eyes in shock. "Whoa!" He stared at the now-dark Den Den Mushi, feeling slightly dazed. But recalling the comments about him, his determination burned even brighter.

"I refuse to believe it! I’ll become stronger—strong enough to match those guys! I’ll master all three types of Haki!"

After the Flying Pirates' ship was coated, Shiki set sail for Fishman Island, heading for the New World to challenge powerful opponents and learn how to wield all three types of Haki.

...

"Captain Brook, looks like we got blown off course by the storm."

Shakky said, a little embarrassed. However, Brook was also partly responsible—there weren’t enough people on board, and they hadn’t lowered the sails in time, which caused the navigation issues.

"No worries, we’ll adjust our course. Let’s dock at that island up ahead and take a break first."

Spotting an island nearby, Brook figured they might as well take a look.

"Understood, Captain."

Under their control, the pirate ship quickly entered the island’s port. It was a remote island, yet surprisingly populated.

Since Brook hadn’t officially formed a new pirate crew or raised his Jolly Roger, the islanders simply watched them with caution instead of driving them away.

As a skilled intelligence officer, Shakky appeared harmless and quickly gathered information about the island. There wasn’t much of note—except for some strange occurrences lately.

With a few berries to loosen tongues, Brook and his companions soon found themselves at the village center, where they shopped, ate, and observed the local customs.

"Grandma, I heard there have been some strange incidents on this island lately. Can you tell me about them?"

Shakky, with her short black hair and friendly tone, looked trustworthy and easy to talk to.

"You outsiders should leave while you can! There’s a monster that steals people’s memories. Many on this island have forgotten their friends—even their own children! It’s as if their memories were completely erased!"

The old woman gestured frantically, causing Antonio to instinctively hide behind Brook.

"A monster that eats memories?"

Brook recalled hearing about such a creature before. Who would’ve thought it had already appeared at this point in time? His curiosity piqued, he decided to stay on the island for a day to investigate.

Nearby, a small pond connected directly to the sea. Lurking beneath the water was a pink seahorse. Some time ago, it had looked up and caught sight of a migrating group of thousand-year-old dragons.

The sight sparked a dream within the creature—it wanted to become a flying thousand-year-old dragon itself. Using its abilities, it began devouring the memories of the islanders, slowly growing stronger.

One day, it planned to consume the memories of everyone on the island to evolve into a flying thousand-year-old dragon and soar freely in the skies.

As night fell and the humans slept, the creature leaped out of the pond, struggling as it flopped toward the village. As a sea creature, moving on land was difficult, but its hunger for memories drove it forward…

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Want more chapters? Check my Discord for extra content!

https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9

(There, you’ll find all my updates!)

Chapter Text

The Memory Seahorse leaped toward the village with great effort, its tiny tail already a bit worn out from the journey.

"When my ability gets stronger, I'll just control someone to carry me every day. I don't wanna jump anymore..." The Memory Seahorse wanted to cry but had no tears. It was still too young, still devouring memories to grow, and couldn't yet control a human.

Finally reaching the village, most people were already asleep, making it easier to feast on their memories. The Memory Seahorse crept up to a house, silently absorbing the memories of the sleeping humans through the window. Glowing strands of memory floated into its mouth.

"Tastes pretty good... but these human memories are so dull. Still not as delicious as I imagined. Guess I’ll just eat my fill and grow slowly. No idea when I’ll finally devour enough memories to become a flying Thousand-Year Dragon."

Brook had already activated Life Detection, waiting for the monster to appear. After patrolling the village, he finally spotted a sneaky pink Memory Seahorse, smaller than he had expected.

"Tasty?" Brook asked softly, watching the tiny seahorse focused on eating.

The Memory Seahorse nodded seriously but immediately froze when it turned around and saw a towering human over two meters tall. The dark blue eyes, filled with an eerie chill, terrified the little creature. Panicked, it scrambled and rolled away toward its nest.

But its movement was too slow to escape. Brook casually walked over, scooped up the Memory Seahorse, and studied it with curiosity.

"Didn’t expect you to be this young. You haven’t even grown up yet, have you? You understand me, right? Stick with me from now on. I’ll take you to places where you can eat stronger, more flavorful memories."

Brook stared at the pink seahorse with its unique abilities, already thinking of how useful it could be in the future.

Feeling the eerie chill from Brook’s hand, the Memory Seahorse quickly nodded. If it didn’t agree, would this terrifying human just crush it on the spot? I’m just a baby! I’ve only swallowed memories for less than a month!

Brook, satisfied with its attitude, placed the Memory Seahorse on his shoulder. It instinctively coiled its tail around his clothes to secure itself, ensuring it wouldn’t fall.

"The memories of these villagers are too ordinary for you to grow strong. I’ll take you out to sea, where you can feast on pirate memories instead."

Hearing that, the Memory Seahorse nodded frantically. It felt like it had just struck gold!

When Shakky saw Captain Brook return with a pink seahorse, her curiosity was piqued.

"That’s the monster that eats memories?"

"It’s our new crewmate now." Brook introduced the seahorse, ensuring everyone understood its abilities. "Memory Seahorse, you must never attack your companions!"

"This is incredible. I never imagined such a creature existed," Antonio exclaimed in awe.

"You're one to talk," Shakky scoffed. "A Devil Fruit user who can communicate with Den Den Mushi? That’s just as strange."

"Shakky, what kind of Devil Fruit do you want in the future?" Brook asked, knowing that with his knowledge of the future, he could seize Devil Fruits before their destined users did. If he played his cards right, he’d soon hold real power.

"I want a fruit that lets me move fast, so I can protect myself!" Shakky didn’t even hesitate, answering in less than a second.

"Got it. If I ever find the Thunder Fruit, I’ll give it to you. It’s a top-tier Logia with insane speed and devastating power!"

Brook was already planning a trip to Skypiea, wondering if the Thunder Fruit had already respawned on Birka.

"Captain, you’re joking, right? That’s a Logia! Even if you were willing, there’s no way we’d find it! You’re just talking big."

Despite her doubts, Shakky was touched by Brook’s sentiment.

"Alright, let’s get some rest. We set sail at dawn!"

---

The next morning, after a good rest, Brook and his crew set off early. The pirate ship left the port, marking the Memory Seahorse’s first real adventure at sea.

"Shakky, Antonio, you both need to train your combat skills. You can’t be weak."

Shakky, already a skilled intelligence hunter, had a solid foundation and the potential to become strong. With her current abilities, she could handle a Marine Major with ease. Antonio, however, was a different story—he was weak. Why did the Den Den Mushi Fruit boost his communication skills instead of his physical abilities?

"I get it, Captain! I won’t drag you down!" Antonio declared. Almost being sold into slavery had shown him the harsh reality of this world—without strength, he was just prey.

"Captain, I’ve set our course for Water 7. Just follow the Log Pose straight ahead," Shakky confirmed confidently, glancing at the permanent compass on her wrist.

The weather was perfect—clear skies, fresh sea air. The ship sailed smoothly as Brook focused on further developing his Underworld Fruit abilities, while Shakky and Antonio trained their bodies.

The pink Memory Seahorse stared eagerly at the sea, hoping to spot pirates soon. After all, Captain Brook had promised that killing pirates would bring plenty of delicious memories!

---

"Hahaha! Captain, those old shipbuilders never expected us to return and rob them after setting sail with our new ship!"

A pirate officer laughed heartily, clearly pleased with their haul from raiding the shipyard that had built their vessel.

"The Navy calls us the worst pirates now."

Smoke Otomi, captain of the Smoke Pirates, was a Devil Fruit user who wielded the Smoke Fruit. He could generate thick clouds of smoke capable of rendering people unconscious, making him a despicable and deadly opponent. His bounty? 150 million berries. A true Supernova of this era.

"Those damn shipwrights... I paid them, and they still took my money. If I didn’t rob them, how could I call myself the most wicked pirate? Hahaha!"

"Captain! There's a ship up ahead! No pirate flag!" The lookout, peering through a spyglass, reported loudly.

"Some no-name pirate crew? They don’t seem to have many people. Maybe they’re just stragglers. Perfect. Let’s rob them!"

A pirate, no matter how small, was still prey. Smoke Otomi wasted no time in issuing his orders.

Meanwhile, Brook and his crew spotted the approaching vessel.

"Captain Brook, this is bad! That’s Smoke Otomi! He’s got a bounty of 150 million berries! Can we really take him? If not, we should escape!" Shakky warned, recognizing the infamous pirate.

She understood all too well how ruthless the Smoke Pirates were. Few ever survived an encounter with them. That Smoke Fruit ability was nasty.

Brook remained unfazed. "It’s fine. I’m not afraid of poison or smoke."

His resurrected body was immune to most toxins and airborne threats. The only things that could truly harm him were highly corrosive poisons.

With a confident smirk, he prepared for battle.

The two pirate ships sailed toward each other, quickly closing the distance.

“You’re not running away? Are you planning to join me instead? Hahaha~” Miyan Otomi laughed arrogantly. Though his crew had a notorious reputation, they were still a powerful pirate group, and it wasn’t impossible for like-minded pirates to seek an alliance.

“You two stay put! No need to jump in!” Brook ordered Shakky and Antonio as the two ships nearly connected. Without hesitation, he leaped onto the Smoke Pirates’ vessel alone.

“How dare you come aboard on your own? You really don’t know the difference between life and death!” Miyan Otomi’s crew was already preparing to attack, but they were caught off guard when Brook jumped straight onto their deck. Judging by his drawn sword, surrender was the last thing on his mind.

“Captain Otomi, that’s the Avenger Brook! His bounty’s up to 120 million berries now!” one of the crew members, who made a habit of keeping track of bounties, immediately recognized him.

“So, you’re a pirate too, Brook? We don’t interfere with each other, so why come after us?” Miyan Otomi asked cautiously. He was already exhaling a faint, almost invisible smoke, releasing his signature stun gas.

“For training and robbery!” Brook declared coldly, his sword already drawn. The temperature around him plummeted as his breath turned into a frosty white mist. White frost spread beneath his feet as he entered his Underworld Ghost state.

“Hmph, pretty damn confident, huh? You should be getting drowsy about now. The moment you stepped onto this ship, my smoke started working on you, hahaha~” Otomi sneered, confident that Brook would pass out any second now.

Underworld Ghost Energy: Frozen Road!

Brook stabbed his sword into the deck, spreading a thick layer of ice across it. The chilling ghost energy seeped into the ship, freezing the crew’s feet in place. Otomi’s eyes widened in fear as he leaped back onto the railing.

Underworld Ghost Energy: Golden City Quick Draw!

Brook moved like a reaper, a flash of steel slicing through the frozen pirates. Their bodies stiffened, and one by one, they collapsed onto the icy deck, their wounds freezing over as they slipped into suspended animation.

“Impossible… How the hell are you this strong?!” Otomi stammered in terror. His entire crew had been wiped out in seconds! Was Brook a Logia Ice Fruit user? And why wasn’t the gas working on him?!

“Captain Brook is awesome!!” Shakky and Antonio cheered from their ship. The so-called Supernova pirate crew didn’t stand a chance. Meanwhile, Memory Seahorse drooled over the feast of delicious memories laid before him.

“Quit running and fight, Mr. Supernova!”

Underworld Ghost Energy: Snow Blowing Slash!

Brook charged at Otomi, but the pirate dodged nimbly, slipping through his attacks over and over. It was clear—Otomi had no real combat ability beyond his Devil Fruit and evasive skills.

“Brook! I surrender! Let me go, and I swear I’ll never mess with you again!” Otomi pleaded, realizing that his stun gas had no effect. If this continued, Brook would eventually kill him.

“Piracy isn’t a damn game, and I don’t like you,” Brook said flatly. He had no intention of sparing a scumbag who slaughtered innocent people without hesitation.

“Don’t push me!!”

Desperate, Otomi gathered all his remaining strength and blew a dense cloud of smoke toward Shakky. At the same time, he leaped toward Brook’s ship, trying to take a hostage.

Underworld Ghost Energy: Desolate Slash!

A thin whisper of Brook’s voice carried through the air. A flash of steel, a splash of blood, and Otomi fell back onto the deck, clutching his wound in horror before passing out.

“Oh hell yeah! Captain Brook took down a 150-million berry pirate!” Shakky cheered, running over to tie up the unconscious Otomi. As the smoke on the ship cleared, she and Antonio raided their loot, finding no less than 500 million berries in treasure. Jackpot.

Meanwhile, Memory Seahorse hopped onto Otomi’s unconscious body, eagerly feasting on his memories.

As the icy road faded and the ice holding the frozen crew melted, Brook grabbed one of the remaining pirate grunts and forced him to spill everything.

“You actually robbed a shipyard? Do you guys have no morals whatsoever? That’s the place that builds your damn ships!”

Shakky frowned in disgust. Even among pirates, shipwrights were respected. In a world ruled by the sea, shipbuilders were invaluable, even to those who plundered and raided for a living.

Memory Seahorse didn’t stop there, devouring the memories of the remaining crew members as well.

“Hey, Memory Seahorse, that’s enough. We still need these idiots to steer the ship,” Brook warned. Reluctantly, the creature stopped feasting, leaving the pirates in a dazed, half-empty state, unsure how much of their past had been wiped away.

Under Brook’s command, the surviving pirates had no choice but to obey orders. Like rookies fresh out of training, they raised the sails, rowed, and set course for Water 7.

“Memory Seahorse, digest those memories fast. If you puke them back up, that’ll be a mess,” Brook muttered, watching the creature burp nonstop. It had definitely overindulged this time.

---

Water 7 - Jerry Shipbuilding Company

The shipyard was in total disarray, and the shipwrights looked completely demoralized. The place had been wrecked by the Supernova pirates. Worst of all, their own ships had been used against them—something they could never forgive the Smoke Pirates for.

“Master Jerry! Please let me go after those bastards and sink their damn ship!”

Tom, the foreman of Jerry Shipyard, fumed with rage as he pleaded with his injured master. As a fishman, he was naturally strong—despite being a bit chubby, he could lift entire ships with one hand. If not for Otomi’s stun smoke knocking him out earlier, he would’ve torn that pirate apart.

“Tom, a ship should be judged by its craftsmanship, not the bastard who owns it,” Jerry replied, his body wrapped in bandages, blood still seeping through. “Besides, the shipyard needs you now more than ever. You can’t leave.”

Right now, Water 7 was dealing with more than just pirate attacks. Every year, the city faced a massive tsunami caused by the Aqua Laguna. The residents had no choice but to flee to higher ground to avoid the deadly waves. But each year, the sea level rose even higher.

At the same time, the shipbuilding industry in Water 7 was a cutthroat business. With limited trade in the Grand Line and little communication between islands, competition between the seven major shipyards had turned into all-out war. They fought fiercely to snatch customers—even accepting jobs from pirates.

“Master Jerry, I swear… One day, I’ll bring all the shipyards together and save Water 7!”

The burly fishman clenched his fists, tears brimming in his eyes.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Want more chapters? Check my Discord for extra content! https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9 (There, you’ll find all my updates!)

Chapter Text

“Oh no! The Smoke Pirates are back again!”

A boatman came running back in panic, shouting at the top of his lungs.

“What?! That bastard dares to come back?”

Tom the Fishman’s face twisted with rage. He grabbed a massive shipbuilding hammer and stormed out.

“Tom! Don’t be reckless! Watch out for the smoke!” Jerry shouted with all his might, coughing up blood in the process. The boatmen nearby looked on in concern.

“Captain Brook, this isn’t good. These shipwrights think we’re the Smoke Pirates!”

Shakky narrowed her eyes at the furious boatmen, their bloodshot eyes filled with hatred as if they were ready to tear them apart. Something was seriously wrong here.

“Otomi, you bastard! I’m gonna kill you!!”

Tom charged ahead, swinging his massive hammer and smashing the brand-new pirate ship belonging to the Smoke Pirates.

Clang!

A sharp sword aura slashed through the air, cutting into Tom’s path just in time to stop him. His eyes locked onto a strange man standing on the pirate ship.

“Bring Otomi out now! I’ll kill him myself!”

Tom was seething with fury. He was strong—far too strong to fear a scumbag like Otomi.

“I’ve already defeated Miyan Otomi. He’s my prisoner now. If you want his life, you can buy it for his bounty—150 million berries.”

Brook stood tall, his sword still radiating an icy aura.

“The heavens have eyes! That heartless bastard Otomi set sail and got his ass handed to him immediately. Serves him right! Hahaha!”

The shipwright foremen erupted into a mix of laughter and tears. The whole shipyard cheered, but the celebration was bittersweet—Jerry’s shipyard was in ruins, and rebuilding it would take a fortune.

“You really took down Miyan Otomi? That’s perfect! Hand him over—I’ll kill him myself and avenge my master!”

Tom, lost in his thirst for vengeance, completely ignored the part about the bounty. He figured he’d kill Otomi first, then cash in on the reward himself. What kind of idiot would demand payment upfront? This strange swordsman must be dumb as hell to make such a demand.

Shakky pinched the bridge of her nose. How is Captain Brook not realizing what’s happening here?

“This ship is mine now. Don’t even think about destroying it!”

Brook’s voice turned sharp as he saw the boatmen lifting their hammers, ready to smash the newly built ship. He instantly swung his sword, cutting them off before they could take action.

“Everyone, stop!”

Tom’s deep voice rang out.

“No matter what kind of ship you build, there’s no such thing as good or evil in a ship itself. No matter whose hands it ends up in, even if it destroys the world, the one who built it must take responsibility. We shipwrights cannot deny or blame our own creations. A man must face the ship he builds!”

His words stunned not only Brook and his crew but also the boatmen behind him.

Wasn’t Tom the one who charged in first, ready to smash the ship to pieces?

Now he was acting all noble and righteous—was he calling them clowns for being angry?

Just then, the factory’s injured old director, Jerry, limped forward with the help of his workers. His weary eyes shifted between the new ship that had just wrecked his yard and the defeated Smoke Pirates lying at Brook’s feet.

“Thank you, hero, for taking revenge on our behalf. We’re grateful beyond words. Could you let us deal with Miyan Otomi ourselves? And... could you return the stolen property?”

Old Jerry cut straight to the chase.

Shakky frowned. This old man is trying to take all of Brook’s spoils of war! Sure, they needed money to rebuild, but this was pushing it.

“Old man, you’re asking for too much. Even pirates don’t pull stunts like this. Miyan Otomi as a bounty of 150 million berries. Why should I hand him over for free? Not to mention, I worked my ass off to take him down. Everything he has is mine now.”

Brook’s voice carried a sharp edge.

“Of course, if you agree to one condition, I’ll consider your request.”

Jerry’s face tensed. His old body, already weak from his injuries, grew even more anxious. What’s this man’s condition? Could he be after the blueprints? Did he figure it out?

“What’s your condition?”

Brook smiled.

“If possible, I want this fishman, Tom, to be my shipwright. In exchange, I’ll hand over Miyan Otomi and all the treasure he stole.”

“Impossible! Tom is the backbone of Jerry’s Shipyard! He’s our protector! We can’t let him leave and become a pirate!”

Jerry objected fiercely. Tom was his most skilled apprentice, and he was already prepared to pass down the Pluton blueprints to him. He needed a successor.

“You want to build something that’ll save Water 7, right? Maybe I can help you with that.”

Brook’s words immediately caught Tom’s attention.

Save Water 7?

He had spent years trying to find a way to revive the city’s economy and bring stability to the shipbuilding industry.

“Tom, you can’t leave! We need you here!”

Jerry’s desperation showed.

Brook smirked.

“How about this—let Tom be my shipwright for two years. I’ll share my knowledge with him, and in return, you’ll get Otomi bounty, plus a few hundred million berries. That should be more than enough to rebuild.”

Everyone’s eyes lit up.

With this deal, Tom could chase his dream, Jerry’s shipyard would get the money it needed, and everyone would keep their jobs.

Jerry hesitated. He figured he could hold out for two more years, long enough to pass on the blueprints to Tom. But with the Water 7 shipyards constantly at war with each other, letting Tom leave would be a huge risk.

Meanwhile, Tom was shocked. Brook was offering him nearly 200 million berries per year—an insane sum. And if he could find a way to save Water 7 in just two years, it’d be worth it.

After much debate, Jerry finally gave in, pressured by both the shipwrights and Tom himself.

Miyan Otomi, his memories wiped clean by a Memory Seahorse, was handed over to the shipwrights like a mindless idiot. Old Jerry and Tom personally beat him to a pulp before cashing in his bounty at the Navy branch to fund their shipyard’s reconstruction.

Brook transferred all his loot onto his new ship and left his old one at the shipyard for refurbishment and sale.

Since Jerry still worried about protection, Brook left behind all the surviving Smoke Pirates. Their memories had been scrambled, making them clueless rookies. Now, under Jerry’s watch, they’d be trained as proper shipwrights.

Later, in Jerry’s office, the old man was still trying to squeeze a few extra berries out of Brook.

“Why are these pirates acting so stupid? Like total beginners.”

Jerry frowned in confusion.

Brook shrugged.

“How should I know? Maybe I beat them so hard they forgot their own mothers. Or maybe... they were just too scared of me.”

With that, Brook unleashed a wave of eerie Underworld energy. The dark, ghostly aura filled the room, sending shivers down Jerry’s spine.

“Y-Yeah… that’s possible. Maybe they were just scared out of their minds.”

Jerry quickly abandoned the idea of squeezing more money out of Brook.

Since Brook's shipyard needed to be rebuilt, he and his crew had to stay in Water 7 for a few days, waiting for the powerful fish-man Tom to construct the new shipyard.

Brook had been carefully watching Old Jerry, trying to figure out where he hid the Pluto blueprints, but the old man didn’t slip up once.

Antonio, meanwhile, managed to snag a few more Den Den Mushi from Miyan Otomi ship, adding them to his growing network of snail friends. Shakky often snuck out to gather intel around Water 7.

After several days of hard work by the craftsmen of Jerry’s Shipyard and the crew of the Smoke Pirates, the shipyard's framework was finally rebuilt. Professional shipwrights truly worked fast.

That night, after a long day, the exhausted shipwrights returned to their rooms to rest. The shipyard was set to reopen the next day, and Tom planned to set sail for a while.

Old Jerry was just about to fall asleep in his bedroom when a ghostly figure—so blurry that its shape was barely discernible—appeared on his bed, looming over him.

"Jerry, I took the Pluto blueprints. Don't worry~"

The eerie, ethereal voice sent chills down Old Jerry’s spine. He jolted awake, breaking into a cold sweat. As he opened his eyes, the ghost was right in his face, its deathly breath washing over him.

Panic took over. He shut his eyes and swung his arms wildly, crashing into the bedframe. Pain shot through his body as he opened his eyes again, scanning his surroundings frantically.

"A ghost? A Devil Fruit user? No—wait! The Pluto blueprints!"

Thinking the ghost had stolen them, Old Jerry scrambled to his feet, threw on his clothes, and sprinted out of his room. Despite the late hour, he rushed straight to the shipyard’s waste storage area.

After ensuring no one was around, he activated a hidden switch, opening the entrance to a secret chamber. Inside, he approached a sturdy safe, unlocked it, and pulled out a stack of aged blueprints. The name "Pluto" was written on them—these were the blueprints of the legendary ancient weapon, Pluto, the god of the underworld.

"Thank god, they’re still here..." Old Jerry sighed in relief, stroking the documents. But his expression suddenly twisted.

He had fallen into a trap!

Before he could react, a sharp pain struck the back of his neck. He collapsed instantly. Behind him, Brook emerged from the shadows.

"So this is where you hid them... I had my ghost scout every inch of your room but found nothing. You really made me work for it."

Brook snatched up the Pluto blueprints. Now, all that was left was covering his tracks. He placed a note next to Old Jerry.

"Justice Walking in the Dark – CP5"

"Memory Seahorse, take a little bit of his memory from tonight. Be careful not to take too much."

The small pink Memory Seahorse reluctantly absorbed a fraction of Old Jerry’s memory. Afterward, Brook carried the unconscious man back to his bedroom, making it seem like he had simply slept through the night.

"Anyway, we’re leaving tomorrow. I wonder how long it’ll take him to realize he should check the secret chamber."

---

The Next Morning

Old Jerry woke up feeling sore all over. His body ached as if he had spent the night wrestling sea kings. Black bruises marked his arms. Strange... he didn't remember bumping into anything yesterday. His neck throbbed in pain.

"Did I sleep wrong or something?" he muttered.

After breakfast, the shipwrights gathered to send off Tom, while Brook prepared for the next step in their journey.

Standing on the deck of his new ship, he raised a flag and made an official declaration.

"Today, in Water 7, the Hell Pirates are born! Our new ship will be called the Underworld!"

With the help of the shipwrights, the new pirate flag was quickly painted. It was simple—just a skull, two crossed bones, and the word "Hell." The ship’s hull bore the name "Underworld."

"Tom! You better come back!" Old Jerry yelled, worried that his talented apprentice would be stolen away by Brook.

"Master Jerry, I promise! I’ll find a way to save Water 7 and return!"

Tom had officially joined the Hell Pirates, signing on for 300 million berries and one Miyan Otomi. A hefty price—but that money had been looted from the Smoke Pirates, so Brook wasn’t too concerned.

Before leaving, Old Jerry took the remaining members of the Smoke Pirates into custody. Any crew member with a bounty was handed over to the authorities for reward money—even those worth only a few million berries weren’t spared.

With Jerry’s Shipyard now significantly weakened, the old man shrugged. "Worst case, we take on fewer contracts or hire stronger foremen at a high price."

(TL: I will change Demon Ghost pirate to Hell Pirates for the rest of the story.)

---

Setting Sail

The Hell Pirates were now official.

Captain: Brook

Navigator: Shakky

Intelligence Officer: Antonio

Shipwright: Tom

Pet: Memory Seahorse

Their adventure had truly begun.

"Captain Brook, where are we headed next?" Shakky asked.

Most pirate crews were making their way toward Sabaody Archipelago, but Brook’s crew was heading backward, recruiting members along the way.

"Aska Island. We’ve got a permanent pointer leading there."

Brook had long felt that his current cane sword wasn’t good enough. The legendary cursed sword he sought was said to be on that island.

"I got it," Shakky nodded, immediately coordinating with Tom. The fish-man had taken over as helmsman and was proving to be highly skilled.

As they sailed, Tom turned to Brook, his tone serious.

"Captain, how do we stop the internal conflicts in Water 7?"

Brook leaned back and grinned. "If you want peace, you gotta bring in money. Connect Water 7 to other rich islands, boost the shipbuilding industry, and make sure all the major shipyards get a cut. That way, no one’s fighting over scraps."

"I get the idea, but opening direct trade routes between Water 7 and other islands is nearly impossible. And uniting the seven shipyards? That’s even harder."

"If you can invent floating tracks—rails that won’t be destroyed by the Aqua Laguna—you could build a Sea Train to link the islands. That would save Water 7." Brook smirked. "I’ve seen the future with my own eyes."

Tom’s eyes widened. "A Sea Train... But is there really a material that can withstand the sea?"

"I swear on my name, it exists."

Tom clenched his fists. "Alright! I’ll find that material, build the Sea Train, and bring Water 7 back to its prime!"

Fired up, the fish-man was fully committed to the mission.

With their course set, the Hell Pirates sailed straight toward Aska Island, where Brook would seek out the legendary cursed sword.

Meanwhile, Moore of the World Economic News had finally tracked down several pirate crews. He sent out Den Den Mushi using his Seagull News Birds, hoping the pirates would understand how to use and care for them—otherwise, Brook’s efforts would go to waste.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Want more chapters? Check my Discord for extra content! https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9 (There, you’ll find all my updates!)

Chapter Text

At this time, deep beneath the sea at a depth of ten thousand meters, Fish-Man Island stood as a legendary haven.

The Flying Pirates had finally managed to land on Fish-Man Island after a terrifying ordeal. They had barely escaped annihilation at the hands of a massive Sea King. If it weren’t for Shiki the Golden Lion unconsciously awakening his Conqueror’s Haki in a moment of despair—shocking the Sea King into submission—their entire crew would have been devoured.

"Sure enough, mastering Haki is the key to becoming a true powerhouse in this world," Shiki muttered, still catching his breath.

“That was way too close. So this is the power of Conqueror’s Haki—the ability to impose one’s will upon all things. Hahaha! I truly have the qualifications of a king!"

Shiki the Golden Lion laughed wildly, thrilled by his own awakening. He grabbed his newly acquired Den Den Mushi and typed out a message.

[No. 36: I awakened my Conqueror’s Haki today! From now on, I stand among the world's strongest!!]

Feeling even more accomplished, Shiki stashed the Den Den Mushi away and strode toward the heart of Fish-Man Island, eager to explore the legendary undersea kingdom.

---

Grand Line – Aboard the Oro Jackson

"Hahaha! Rayleigh, look! The News Coo actually sent me a gift! And it’s addressed to Gol D. Roger! Even the Marines write my name as Gold Roger on my wanted poster. I wonder who actually used my real name?"

Roger’s excitement was through the roof as he eagerly unwrapped the mysterious package, his curiosity piqued.

"Roger, be careful!" Rayleigh warned, watching his reckless captain handle the package with barely a hint of caution. "It could be a trap set by the Marines."

"Relax! I can hear something alive inside. It’s definitely not dangerous," Roger reassured him.

At 25 years old, Roger had been sailing the Grand Line for several years, gradually honing a unique ability with his Observation Haki—a rare trait that allowed him to hear voices beyond the range of normal perception. This ability also gave him a sense of good and evil, helping him determine the nature of what he encountered.

Carefully, Roger lifted the box's lid, revealing a sleeping Den Den Mushi, a handful of leaves, and a small instruction manual.

Rayleigh picked up the manual and began reading aloud:

**[This Den Den Mushi is gifted to those strong individuals who are beloved by the tides of fate. Users must not reveal their true identities or provoke others. If these rules are broken, the Den Den Mushi will lose its function permanently. Communication should remain peaceful, focusing on the exchange of knowledge and the discovery of the world’s secrets.

The screen allows for text-based communication. Scroll up to view message history.

Note: The Den Den Mushi’s screen time depends on the quality of the leaves it consumes. High-energy leaves, such as those from the Yarukiman Mangrove, Sunlight Tree Eve, or Treasure Tree Adam, will allow for longer usage. Find them on your own.]**

"A Dong Den Mushi, huh? Let's see how this thing works."

Roger eagerly turned on the small screen connected to the Den Den Mushi, his excitement growing as he spotted the most recent message.

[No. 36: I awakened my Conqueror’s Haki today! From now on, I stand among the world's strongest!!]

Roger scrolled up, his expression quickly turning serious.

Im has lived for 800 years? Even the Marine Admirals appeared in these logs? Three types of Haki? Rocks… the overlord of the New World? Supernova Golden Lion?!

Jabba, who had been observing from the side, furrowed his brows. "Captain, look at No. 18's message. They’re asking about Golden Lion… You think it could be him?"

Rayleigh also had a contemplative look. "Roger, we’re about to enter the New World, right? What exactly is this ‘three-types of Haki’ thing? Your ability to sense the future—is that also a type of Haki?"

"Hahaha! Since this is supposed to be a peaceful exchange, let's just ask!"

Roger, now fully intrigued, grabbed the Den Den Mushi and carefully typed a message, making sure his handwriting was neat enough not to embarrass himself.

[No. 55: Can anyone explain what the three types of Haki are?]

"Hahaha! Let’s see if any strong folks are lurking in here!" Roger laughed, his excitement growing.

At that moment, Brook, who had just finished training and was taking a break, noticed the message. His eyes lit up with excitement—so the one asking was none other than Roger, the son of this era!

Brook immediately responded.

**[No. 5: Another rookie? Alright, listen up. The three types of Haki are:

1. Observation Haki: This allows you to sense the presence, strength, and emotions of others. If trained to a high level, it can even let you predict an opponent’s next move before they make it.

2. Armament Haki: This lets you create an invisible armor around yourself for both defense and offense. It can be used to counteract Devil Fruit abilities, even allowing you to land hits on Logia-type users.

3. Conqueror’s Haki: This is a rare ability that only one in a million possesses. It allows you to assert your willpower over others, knocking out the weak or even disrupting the minds of the strong.

Most people can learn the first two with training, but Conqueror’s Haki? You either have it, or you don’t. And once you reach the limit of your training, the only way to advance is through real battle.

Oh, and by the way—each Haki has advanced techniques, but those are far beyond what rookies like you can handle.]**

Rayleigh’s eyes gleamed as he quickly took the Den Den Mushi from Roger and typed:

[No. 55: Is there a way to train these abilities?]

On Fish-Man Island, Shiki stared at the screen, feeling like he was on the verge of unlocking a great power.

But Brook's response was brutal.

[No. 5: You want it for free? Fat chance!!]

Both Shiki and Roger’s crews felt their hearts drop.

Then—black screen.

Golden Lion panicked and immediately fed his Den Den Mushi some leaves. Meanwhile, Roger’s crew scrambled to check the instruction manual, fearing that the device had died. Relief came when they found out it had simply run out of energy and needed to rest.

Luckily, the gift box contained some leaves to recharge it. But from now on, they would need to find high-energy leaves on their own.

---

New World

Charlotte Linlin, now a towering 16-year-old, had begun to shed the excess weight of her childhood, growing into a terrifyingly powerful figure. When she saw the gift box from the News Coo, she was thrilled. But the man beside her, Streusen, wasn’t as pleased.

Linlin’s eyes sparkled as she read the words on the package:

"To Linlin, a gift from Mother Carmel."

She ripped open the box, revealing a Den Den Mushi, communicator, leaves, and an instruction manual. Unlike Roger’s, this one had been written in Carmel’s tone.

"It’s a gift from Mama! She’s still watching over me!" Linlin cooed, gently stroking the Den Den Mushi as if it were family.

"Lingling! This is a trick! Destroy it now!"

Streusen lunged at the Den Den Mushi with his sword—

"HOW DARE YOU?!"

Linlin's eyes flared red as she unleashed a devastating shockwave, sending Streusen flying.

"NO ONE TOUCHES A GIFT FROM MAMA!!!"

The sheer force of her outburst cracked the ground beneath her feet…

Fortunately, the Den Den Mushi was protected by the power of Charlotte Linlin's Soul-Soul Fruit; otherwise, it would have been blown to pieces on the spot.

Ignoring the damaged baguette, she read the instructions written by Sister Carmel again, though she didn’t recognize the handwriting.

"Is this a Den Den Mushi? Sister Carmel is inside too? Don’t reveal my identity easily? Are we playing hide-and-seek or guessing riddles? Sounds fun!"

Charlotte Linlin picked up the Den Den Mushi’s small screen, carefully looking at the information, though she wasn’t really interested in reading it.

Suddenly, another private message popped up.

[Carmel: Linlin, how have you been lately? Take good care of yourself!]

The towering Charlotte Linlin split off a bit of her soul and turned a pen into a Homie, letting it write on the screen as she wished.

[No. 43: Sister, are you okay? Where are you now? I miss you so much!]

[Carmel: I’m on an isolated island, at the newly rebuilt Sheep’s House. There’s no need to come see me for now—the ocean currents here only cycle once every ten years. Promise me you’ll take care of yourself before I come back.]

[No. 43: Sister, you're still as kind as ever! I’ll wait for you and your friends!]

[Carmel: Don't let anyone harm the Den Den Mushi. If anyone even dares suggest it, they must never come near it again. Otherwise, we won’t be able to talk for another ten years!]

[No. 43: Sister, I’ll protect this Den Den Mushi! No one will harm it! You have to talk to me every day from now on—I’ll miss you!]

[Carmel: I need to take care of the others now. You take care too.]

[No. 43: Okay, Sister! Go ahead!]

As the Den Den Mushi screen darkened, the first thing Charlotte Linlin thought of was to find leaves from the legendary Treasure Tree Adam to feed this delicate Den Den Mushi.

Just then, Streusen finally came running back, blood still dripping from the corner of his mouth. When he saw Linlin, he smiled and asked kindly if she had finished talking with Carmel. But inside, he was furious. His tool—his key to ruling the seas—was about to be stolen from him.

"Hmph!" Charlotte Linlin shot Streusen a glare, unwilling to be friendly to someone who dared to harm her precious Den Den Mushi.

"Linlin, it’s my fault. I was just worried you might be deceived. Let’s go find Sister Carmel together," Streusen said, forcing a smile.

I have to expose this fraud, he thought bitterly.

"No need. I’ll discuss it with the nun. Right now, go find Treasure Tree Adam!"

"Linlin, are you planning to use Treasure Tree Adam to build a ship? Are you finally giving up on finding the nun? Are you really going to become a pirate?"

Streusen’s eyes gleamed with excitement. He was tired of wandering around searching for people. Linlin was strong—she should be out there conquering territory, becoming a ruler!

"I said I want to find Treasure Tree Adam!!"

Charlotte Linlin’s gaze made Streusen swallow hard. Without hesitation, he started leading the way to gather information.

Meanwhile, Brook had just finished his own one-on-one chat with Charlotte Linlin. It was exhausting—having to pretend to be someone else the entire time.

---

On this day, something strange happened aboard the Lion-Man Pirates’ ship. A News Coo had actually delivered a package specifically for Edward Newgate, drawing suspicious stares from the captain and the other officers.

Could it be a trap from the World Government?

Annoyed by their reactions, Newgate angrily opened the box in front of everyone.

"Edward Newgate, from the family of the Sphinx."

The 22-year-old Newgate looked at those words with a complicated expression. Suddenly, he didn’t want anyone else to see what was inside.

Clenching his teeth, he opened the box fully and found a Den Den Mushi, some leaves, and an instruction manual.

Everyone eyed it suspiciously—was this some kind of spy’s Den Den Mushi?

After Newgate swore several times that he had no ties to the World Government, the crew finally dropped their suspicions and focused on reading the instructions.

"A strong man favored by fate? Don’t reveal your identity?"

The manual also explained how to use the Den Den Mushi and how to take care of it.

Picking up the small screen, Newgate browsed through past messages, reading shocking information he decided to keep to himself.

But the biggest mystery still haunted him—who were his family in the Sphinx? Did he have relatives back home?

"Captain, Newgate is getting stronger and stronger. Even you can’t do anything to him! Now a News Coo is delivering gifts to him for no reason. We have to be careful!"

One of the officers whispered to Captain Lion-Man Ryan, his eyes filled with resentment and jealousy.

Newgate had gotten his hands on a Devil Fruit a few weeks ago. Initially, everyone had mocked it, saying it only made his fists vibrate weakly. But now? He could easily shatter massive rocks. His strength was already close to Lion-Man Ryan’s, who wielded the Lion-Lion Fruit.

Ryan also looked at his longtime crewmate with mixed feelings. Newgate was fearless in battle, but he didn’t care about treasure—something that made him seem like a weirdo among pirates. What kind of pirate didn’t love treasure?

The problem was, if a crew member’s strength surpassed the captain’s, the entire crew’s power dynamic changed. Even if Newgate had no intention of betrayal, Ryan had to be cautious.

You never know. It’s better to be prepared than caught off guard.

"Newgate, have you ever thought about going off on your own?" Ryan asked, watching Newgate closely.

If Newgate really wanted to strike out on his own, Ryan would rather help him leave than risk a coup later. That was the brutal reality of the New World—either step down or be taken down.

"Captain, what are you implying? Are you questioning my loyalty?"

Newgate’s expression darkened. He had always fought at the frontlines, taking the most risks, never asking for more than his fair share of the loot. And now, just because of a single Den Den Mushi, he was being tested like this?

To be honest, he was still too naive. The Den Den Mushi was just an excuse—his rapidly growing strength was the real reason Ryan was wary.

"Of course not! I just thought you might want to chase your own dream! Haha~" Ryan forced out a laugh.

Newgate sighed, walking off to a quiet corner. His Den Den Mushi was still lit up, but he hesitated. He didn’t know who the "family of the Sphinx" were. He couldn’t reveal his identity either.

Finally, he decided to send a message.

[No. 50: Hello everyone, is it strange for a pirate not to care about treasure?]
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Chapter Text

[No. 36: Isn’t this nonsense? Otherwise, why go to sea? You need money to have subordinates!]
[No. 54: Haha, I don’t care about treasure. I just love freedom and adventure!]
[No. 43: I prefer sweets—especially caramel puffs!]
[No. 18: Don’t expose your hobbies so casually. It makes it easier for others to guess your identity, and you might get disqualified by No. 1!]
[No. 50: Understood.]

Edward Newgate put down his Den Den Mushi, feeling bored. This thing didn’t seem very useful to him. Suddenly, the screen switched to a private chat.

[No. 2: You’re Newgate, right? Have you obtained the Tremor-Tremor Fruit yet?]
[No. 50: How do you know who I am?]

Newgate immediately tensed up. Wasn’t revealing identities forbidden here? How did No. 2 know his? Could he be the one who sent the Den Den Mushi via Newsbird? Was he a fellow Sphinx native?

[No. 2: I’m a fortune teller—I can predict certain things. I’m also one of the founders of this place. Now tell me, after eating the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, has your strength skyrocketed? Is your captain afraid of your power now?]
[No. 50: If you can predict things, why ask me?]

Brook smirked as he read Newgate’s response. That was as good as confirmation.

[No. 2: You don’t belong in that crew. Do you really want to know where your true family-like companions are?]
[No. 50: You’re saying I’ll leave the Lion Pirates? I doubt it. I’ve already spoken with the captain.]

Newgate had been with the Lion Pirates ever since he set sail from Sphinx, and over time, he’d grown attached to them. Sure, their personalities weren’t exactly his style, but he still saw them as comrades.

[No. 2: Not every captain can tolerate a subordinate far stronger than himself. Think about it. If you have any doubts, come find me.]

Brook didn’t want to push too hard and risk annoying Newgate, so he left it at that.

Newgate stared at the screen, deep in thought. Would he really find a crew that felt like family in the future? He glanced toward the captain’s quarters, where Ryan was sitting. Was Ryan truly afraid of his strength?

Brook finally put down the Den Den Mushi and exhaled. That conversation had been mentally exhausting. Now, all he could do was let the idea simmer in Newgate’s mind.

But more than anything, strength was what mattered. Brook focused on developing his Underworld energy and refining his mastery over Hades energy.

His undead energy, used for sensing life forces, was akin to Observation Haki. The ghost energy of the Underworld resembled Armament Haki—it could even harm souls. And Hades energy? It worked like Conqueror’s Haki, instilling fear in the living and dead alike.

(TL: Undead Energy = Observation Haki
Ghost Energy = Armament Haki
Hades Energy = Conqueror’s Haki)

So, the aura of the dead, the underworld’s ghost aura, and Hades energy aligned with the three types of Haki. This undead body might not generate Haki, but as long as it had the same effect, who cared?

“Captain, based on the current ocean currents and monsoon winds, our trip to Aska Island might take longer than expected. Why don’t we stop at some islands along the way to restock supplies?”

Shakky studied the nautical chart provided by Moore Thomas, the president of the news agency. There were several islands they could stop at.

“You handle it,” Brook replied.

He wasn’t an expert in navigation—so long as they reached Aska Island, he didn’t care. The Seven Star Sword (Shichiseiken) should still be sealed in the sacrificial temple there.

“Understood, Captain!”

Shakky immediately started planning their stops, focusing on islands where they could gather supplies and, hopefully, recruit new crew members.

Sailing was monotonous. Days passed with nothing but the endless sea in sight, which could be mind-numbing. Fortunately, Brook had his crew to keep things lively.

“Antonio, make me a cup of lemon tea.”

Antonio, who doubled as the ship’s cook, took his chores seriously. Since he wasn’t a fighter, he wanted to be useful in other ways.

“I’ll take a milk tea,” Shakky chimed in.

“I’ll have a rum,” Tom, the Fish-Man shipwright, added.

Tom loved listening to Brook’s grand ambitions and believed in them wholeheartedly.

“Captain, the next island is Gunner Island,” Shakky announced. “Snipers and gunners from the Grand Line and even the New World gather there for duels to prove who’s the best marksman. They fight for the title of ‘World’s Greatest Gunner.’”

(TL: Gunner Island isn’t part of the original One Piece world. This is an addition by the author to expand the story’s world-building)

Her eyes gleamed. Maybe Brook could recruit a sniper here—it was all part of her plan.

“Now that’s something I have to see,” Brook said, intrigued. A sniper would be a great addition to their crew.

Gunner Island was bustling. Merchant ships and pirate vessels alike filled the harbor, maintaining an uneasy peace. Merchants hired bodyguards, pirates sought new recruits, and snipers competed for glory. Some pirate crews even brought their own marksmen to challenge the island’s top snipers and build their reputations.

In the world of pirates, everyone pursued a title—the world’s greatest swordsman, chef, musician... and, of course, gunner.

As the ship docked, shipyard workers immediately swarmed, offering services like repairs and ship storage.

Gunner Island was overseen by the Sniper Guild, led by a retired top marksman. His presence ensured order—no one dared to act recklessly. After all, this was still the Grand Line. Few pirates here could overpower the Sniper Guild’s leader, and anyone that strong was already in the New World battling the strongest.

After securing their ship with an official shipyard, Tom opted to stay aboard to guard the Ship. Brook had no choice but to bring his memory seahorse along as he, Shakky, and Antonio stepped onto Gunner Island to experience its unique culture firsthand.

Everywhere they looked, people carried firearms—flintlocks, revolvers, long-barreled sniper rifles. This place had perfected gun culture.

“There’s a sniper duel happening! Let’s check it out!”

“It’s Hiruba, the one the Sniper Guild president himself called the world’s best shooter!”

“The challenger is Peter, a sniper from the Supernova Roger Pirates! He’s supposedly part of some royal sniper squad!”

Brook’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Roger’s crew. He had definitely heard that name before. Without hesitation, he followed the crowd toward the duel…

---

Is this really the Roger Pirates? The future Pirate King’s crew? Are we actually going to meet one of the most legendary figures in the One Piece world—Gol D. Roger himself?

Shakky and Antonio immediately followed their captain, eager to witness the action. This could very well be a duel between the world's top marksmen in the making. Their anticipation was through the roof.

“Haha~, Peterm, are you scared? Even though he’s younger than us, he’s an exceptional sniper. Even the president of the Sniper Guild said he could become the world’s greatest sharpshooter one day.”

A deep, magnetic voice rang in Brook’s ears. A young pirate, dressed in a red captain’s coat and wearing a straw hat, was teasing his crewmate.

Strong. The sheer presence of this man—the powerful life force radiating from him—was overwhelming. His aura was even more intense than that of the Golden Lion, Shiki.

“Hmm?”

Roger suddenly turned his head, as if sensing someone watching him. His gaze landed on Brook. There was something off about his presence. His aura didn’t feel like that of a normal living being.

Brook met Roger’s eyes. What incredible Observation Haki… Has he already awakened the advanced form that allows him to hear everything?

But then again, it made sense. As a child of destiny, Monkey D. Luffy had set sail at 17, taken down two Warlords of the Sea within a year, crossed the Grand Line, reached Sabaody Archipelago, and at just 19, became one of the Five Emperors. He had challenged Big Mom’s territory, invaded Kaido’s stronghold in Wano, and was well on his way to defeating the Beast Emperor.

Gol D. Roger was another child of destiny. At 25, he was still wandering the Grand Line—far behind Luffy’s pace. Awakening the ability to hear the voice of all things was at least a consolation prize.

Not to mention, Whitebeard and Big Mom had been in their thirties when they sailed with the Rocks Pirates. When the Rocks Pirates fell, Kaido was only 21. Compared to King Luffy, how could they measure up?

“The new supernova, the vengeful Brook, bounty of 160 million berries—the musician you admire, the ‘Soul Singer’ Brook!”

Silvers Rayleigh spoke up, recognizing Brook immediately. He knew Roger’s careless nature and how bad he was at remembering faces.

Brook was slightly surprised. The Navy sure moves fast. His bounty had been updated quickly after he defeated Miyan Otomi, whose bounty had been 150 million. Since he had been stuck in the Underworld for some time, he hadn’t had the chance to check the latest papers.

“Ah~, so this is the same Brook who sang ‘Binks’ Sake’?! That’s so cool! I wanna meet him!”

Roger’s crew was all about parties—of course, they knew that song.

“Not yet,” Rayleigh warned, stopping Roger from rushing over. “I heard the Rumbar Pirates were wiped out. He’s not the same Brook anymore.”

Roger hesitated. His sniper was still locked in battle. If he made the wrong move, his crewmate could die.

“Alright, we’ll visit him after Peter wins the duel.”

Roger grinned carelessly. He didn’t sense any hostility from Brook, so there was nothing to worry about.

“And where does this confidence come from?” Rayleigh sighed. “That kid’s been called the future world’s greatest marksman.”

“I already heard it.” Roger smirked. “The little genius’s heart is drowning in arrogance. He’s gonna lose. But if he stays determined, he might truly become the world’s greatest sharpshooter one day.”

Even Roger had to admit that Hiruba’s talent was insane. But in the end, he valued his crewmates more.

Brook watched as Roger and Rayleigh talked, then turned his attention to the two duelists. Both were standing fifty meters apart, staring each other down. This was an unregulated gunfight—both pistols and sniper rifles were fair game.

Each had a sniper rifle slung over their back, a revolver at their hip, and a flintlock pistol strapped to their waist. The air was tense. Sweat dripped from their foreheads as they waited for the other to make a move.

Hiruba, young and hot-blooded, couldn’t hold back any longer. He was the first to strike. He drew his revolver and fired three shots—aiming for Peter’s forehead, heart, and neck.

But shooting required momentary stillness. That brief hesitation was all Peter needed. The instant Hiruba’s eyes shifted, Peter already knew where the bullets were headed. He immediately dropped down, pulled out his sniper rifle, and fired—his bullet striking Hiruba’s shoulder.

This was the difference between raw talent and real battle experience. Hiruba was a prodigy—he could shoot down a seagull from a thousand meters away, hit a fly’s wing from hundreds of meters. But he had never fought in a life-or-death duel.

That was his weakness.

Peter, on the other hand, had been a pirate for years. His instincts and experience carried him through. Even then, he was covered in sweat. If I miscalculated just now, I’d be dead.

Hiruba clutched his bleeding shoulder, his face pale. I lost. The pain of failure was worse than his wound.

“That’s it? You call yourself the future world’s best sniper? Pathetic. You couldn’t even beat a no-name sniper from a rookie pirate crew.”

“I bet 100,000 berries on that bastard! What a waste!”

“Peter's bounty is only 60 million berries! Hiruba, you’re trash! You don’t deserve to be called Gunner Island’s genius!”

The crowd tossed aside their betting slips, spat on the ground, and walked away, cursing.

The humiliation, the scorn—it was unbearable. Hiruba staggered, barely holding onto his gun, then shoved his way through the crowd and ran.

Brook turned back to Roger, who was laughing and celebrating with Peter and the others. No need to bother them now. He could check on Hiruba later.

Seeing this, Brook followed the defeated sniper. Shakky and Antonio, intrigued, went after their captain.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

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Chapter Text

Hiruba stumbled back to his home base in a daze. The place was fully equipped, clearly not just an ordinary house.

This was the home of his adoptive father, Hiruba Bonaparte, a legendary sniper from Gunners' Island. He had once challenged the former world's No. 1 marksman and lost. A middle-aged man without a wife or children, he had adopted Hiruba, an orphan with extraordinary talent.

(TL: Hiruba’s surname and name are the same.)

Hiruba's eyesight and perception were exceptional, allowing him to hit targets with pinpoint accuracy from long distances even at a young age. He had competed in numerous shooting tournaments, racking up victories and honors, which only fueled his arrogance.

Bonaparte had warned him to stay grounded, to not be blinded by fame. But while Hiruba nodded in agreement, he dismissed the advice in his heart. His father eventually forbade him from participating in competitions, instead forcing him to focus on mastering firearms and hunting wild game.

But when Bonaparte passed away last year, Hiruba immediately went back to competing, winning every tournament he entered. People began calling him the future world’s best shooter, and his confidence soared to new heights.

Yet today, in his first real life-or-death duel, he lost—beaten by an unknown pirate sniper. Years of pride, shattered in an instant.

"I'm sorry, Father... I was wrong. I don’t deserve this title at all!"

Tears streamed down Hiruba’s face as he recalled Bonaparte’s words: How can a sniper who has never faced real battle claim to be the world’s best? Those tournaments exist only to fuel gambling and draw merchants and pirates with money to burn.

"Roger Pirates... it’s all your fault! You ruined everything for me!!"

Hiruba’s mind twisted with resentment. He convinced himself that it was Peter who had taken everything from him.

"If you lost something, then take it back. What’s the point of crying about it?"

A voice interrupted his thoughts.

Hiruba turned sharply and saw a man watching him with amusement.

"Who the hell are you?!" Hiruba snapped, clutching his wounded shoulder, still unbandaged.

"The name’s Brook, and I’m a pirate," the man replied casually. "You want to surpass Peter, right? Your talent is obviously better than his, yet you lost. You need experience. Come with me—I’ll take you to see the true powerhouses of the world."

Then, Brook’s presence shifted. The air around him grew cold, a dark energy swirling as he entered his Underworld ghost state. Frost formed at his feet, and a chilling aura of death filled the room. Hiruba felt as if he had stepped into hell itself.

"You... You’re a pirate too? Then how the hell are you stronger than Roger’s crew? Can you even beat them?" Hiruba gritted his teeth, still stuck on his loss to Peterm.

"Peter is nothing but a stepping stone for you," Brook scoffed. "Stop fixating on him. Open your eyes! Go to the New World and see what real strength looks like!"

His voice boomed, startling Shakky and Antonio, who had been watching from the doorway. Hiruba, however, fell silent.

"If this is all the ambition you have, then forget it. You’re not fit to board my ship. Just stay here and bark like a coward."

Hiruba’s face turned pale. He had already lost a dangerous amount of blood, and now the weight of Brook’s words crushed him. His vision blurred, and with a heavy thud, he collapsed.

Brook, Shakky, and Antonio exchanged looks.

"Shit," Shakky muttered. "That was a bit much, huh?"

Without hesitation, she and Antonio rushed over to bandage Hiruba’s wound.

Brook, feeling awkward, glanced around the room. The place was filled with gun equipment, blueprints for firearm modifications, and stacks of custom-made gun parts.

After some time, Shakky finished treating Hiruba and gave him a blood-replenishing potion. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open.

"You guys patched me up?"

"No, dumbass, you bandaged yourself while unconscious," Shakky said dryly, rolling her eyes.

Hiruba fell silent again, unsure how to respond. The room was filled with an awkward quiet.

"Well?" Brook finally spoke. "Are you coming with us or what? You can’t become the world’s best shooter by hiding on this island."

"I can’t even beat a sniper from a pirate crew. How the hell am I supposed to be the best in the world?" Hiruba mumbled, his self-confidence shattered.

"Just because you lost today doesn’t mean you’ll lose forever," Brook said, grabbing him by the collar. "People grow. Now tell me—what the hell is your resolve?!"

A long silence followed.

Then, Hiruba clenched his fists.

"I understand now... Captain Brook, take me with you. I want to see the true powerhouses of the world! I will become the world’s best shooter!!!"

Tears welled in his eyes as he thought of the ridicule from the islanders and the pirates who had looked down on him after his loss. He gritted his teeth. One day, they’ll regret doubting me.

"Welcome aboard, future world’s best shooter, Hiruba Hiruba," Brook said with a faint smile.

Bruno stepped forward, lifting Hiruba to his feet and dusting off his clothes.

"Shakky, Antonio, help pack up all his gear. We’ve got plenty of space on the ship," Brook instructed.

"Hey, not so fast, Captain! My wound still hurts!" Hiruba protested.

"You just tell us what to pack. We’ll handle the rest," Brook replied. "I’ll carry it all myself if I have to."

And just like that, Brook started hauling large crates of gun parts back to the ship, one after another. Along the way, islanders and pirates stared and whispered among themselves.

Hiruba, still bandaged, felt a pang of embarrassment. But Brook didn’t even glance at them.

"The strong don’t give a damn about the opinions of the weak," he muttered.

Hiruba’s eyes widened. That’s right... Why the hell should I care what these nobodies think?

By the time they reached the ship, Tom, the fishman shipwright, was already waiting on the deck. He grinned.

"Damn, Captain! You actually brought back a sniper?" Tom chuckled.

Brook smirked. "Meet Hiruba Hiruba, our future world’s best shooter. And Tom, our future world’s best shipwright."

---

Hearing Brook’s serious introduction, sniper Hiruba and fish-man Tom were stunned.

“Captain Brook, how can I be the world’s number one shipwright? Stop joking around!”

Tom quickly waved his hands with a modest and honest smile.

“Believe me, Tom! You’ll definitely become the world’s greatest shipwright in the future!”

Brook laughed, thinking about the blueprints of Pluton. If there hadn’t been an ancient text expert to decipher them, he might have already started studying Pluton himself. Even so, the design alone would be a massive benefit to Tom, the master shipwright.

In the future, even Franky studied the Pluton blueprints, though he burned them before Nico Robin could read or translate them. And yet, he still built the Thousand Sunny, a ship with outstanding performance and powerful capabilities.

This proved that even if they couldn’t understand ancient characters, master shipwrights could still gain inspiration and guidance from Pluton’s design.

“Haha! Captain, we have so many so-called ‘world’s greatest’ people on our ship. How am I supposed to fit in?”

Shakky chuckled, watching Brook talk people up so casually. She lit a cigarette with a graceful motion, blowing out a perfect smoke ring.

“Antonio is the world’s number one intelligence expert. And you, Shakky, will definitely be the world’s number one blackmail queen, haha!”

Brook grinned, making Shakky narrow her eyes in annoyance. Meanwhile, the others laughed, the idea of becoming the best at something settling in their minds.

---

“Oi! Senior Brook! Wanna have a party?”

A loud, carefree voice rang out—Gol D. Roger.

Hiruba’s face immediately darkened. After all, he had just lost a marksman’s duel against Peter, and now they were supposed to party with the same crew?

“Hiruba, calm down. One loss doesn’t mean anything. The Roger Pirates are strong rivals, which means there’ll be plenty of chances to fight them again. Just win next time.”

Brook noticed his new crewmate’s reaction and knew he had to reassure him.

Roger had already jumped onto Brook’s ship, the Eternal Voyager, inviting them to a party. Spotting Hiruba, Roger realized that Brook had already recruited him. For a moment, Roger looked a little awkward.

“Hiruba, face failure head-on and challenge yourself again. Without setbacks, how can you become the best?”

Brook encouraged him, knowing that his sniper needed to break free from the frustration weighing on him.

“Captain Brook, I get it now! Don’t worry about me. I swear, I’ll defeat Peter fair and square! And I’ll surpass even stronger people in the future!”

The 18-year-old sniper finally let go of his anger and self-doubt, his eyes now burning with determination.

“Hahaha! That’s the spirit! Now that you’ve got a real fighter’s heart, how about joining our crew?”

Roger grinned, making such an outrageous offer right in front of Brook. If it were any other pirate crew, they would’ve already started brawling. But since Brook knew Roger’s personality, he wasn’t offended—though Hiruba let out an annoyed snort, rolling his eyes at the Pirate King.

“Haha! Come on, let’s party! I know Senior Brook is an incredible musician. Will you play something for us?”

Roger’s excitement didn’t waver in the slightest.

Brook paused for a moment. Come to think of it, since arriving in this era, he hadn’t played music or sung a single song. But those skills were ingrained in his very soul.

At Roger’s invitation, Brook and his crew boarded Roger’s ship. It was a simple vessel, not even as good as the Eternal Voyager. It’d be a long time before Roger’s crew could upgrade their ship at Water 7.

As for the Oro Jackson, the legendary ship that would one day be built using Adam wood—that was still years away from completion.

“So, you’re taking the elite route too, Brook? Guess great minds think alike! You’re a real hero, haha!”

Roger laughed heartily.

“Oh? So you’re calling yourself a hero now too?”

Rayleigh smirked, his sharp words making Jabba and Tom burst into laughter.

“Well, actually, Roger’s not entirely wrong,” Brook said thoughtfully. “He’s the chosen one of this era. In the future, he’s going to shape history.”

The ship suddenly fell silent.

“Senior… you serious?”

Roger, for once, seemed to be taking things seriously. He had been joking just a moment ago, but was Brook actually speaking the truth?

“Yeah, I’m not kidding. I’ve seen the future. Roger, you’ve awakened the ability to hear the voices of all things, right? That’s a rare form of Observation Haki—only one or two people per generation ever develop it. It’s a power that marks the chosen ones of an era, and it’s tied to the Will of D. Do you understand?”

Brook’s words left Roger stunned.

“How do you know about that? Not even my wanted poster has the ‘D’ in my name. How do you know?”

“The inheritors of D shape the course of history. Your ability proves that this era has chosen you, Roger. You’re destined for greatness.”

“Hah! So what kind of big shot am I supposed to be in the future?”

Brook smiled at Roger’s crewmates—Rayleigh, Jabba, Spencer, Petermarl, Pancuro, Blumarin, Nozton—all powerful figures with immense potential.

“The greatest.”

“The greatest?” Roger raised an eyebrow. “Mind explaining that?”

“You’ll have to figure that out for yourself. It’s your path to walk.”

Brook grinned, then changed the subject. “By the way, I hear none of you have eaten Devil Fruits? Got any in stock? I’ll buy ‘em.”

The crew seemed to relax at the sudden topic shift. But Rayleigh gave Brook a sharp look—his tone sounded a bit like a Den Den Mushi’s voice transmission. Could it be that Brook also had a Den Den Mushi?

“We don’t have any,” Roger grumbled. “And for some reason, we can’t seem to find any Devil Fruits. It’s like they’re avoiding us. That’s why we’re so damn broke.”

“Tch. Oh well.”

Roger suddenly brightened. “Alright, enough talk! Play us a song, Senior Brook! Let’s hear some real music!”

Brook sighed, but with a smile, he took out his violin. His fingers remembered the feeling, and the moment he played the first note, it was like muscle memory taking over.

A familiar tune filled the air.

♪ Bring Binks’ sake and sail the seas
With the waves rolling high, ride the tides free
Beyond the ocean, the sun dips low
Seabirds dance as the warm winds blow
Farewell, dear town, we’ll meet again
Sing a song as we sail ahead
Golden waves turn to foamy spray
We set sail for the ocean’s edge... ♪

Brook led the song, and soon, both pirate crews sang along. Even nearby merchant and pirate ships joined the chorus. Binks’ Sake was a song beloved across the Grand Line and beyond.

The night ended in a grand feast—drinking, eating, and singing.

Brook and his crew eventually returned to the Voyager, ready to set sail again at dawn.

“I never expected Captain Brook to sing like that. I thought the old Brook was long gone…”

Shakky sighed.

When she first met Brook, he had been cold, ruthless—like a demon born from the depths of hell.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Want more chapters? Check my Discord for extra content!

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Chapter Text

The port of Gunner’s Island.

In the early morning, the sea was shrouded in mist. The morning sun rose from the horizon, and the salty sea breeze carried a slight fishy scent, refreshing those who breathed it in. Seagulls cawed enthusiastically as a new day arrived.

Brook woke up early for once, a rare occurrence for him. Instead of eating dry bread like the rest of his crew, he cooked himself a pot of meat porridge.

"Roger, wake up! Brook and his crew have already set sail!"

Rayleigh's voice roared through the ship. Roger groggily sat up, rubbing his eyes as he watched the Voyager fade into the distance. A glint of certainty flashed in his eyes.

“First, huh? I wonder what kind of ‘first’ he’s after… Haha~” Roger chuckled softly, his thoughts drifting toward the ancient texts that had captivated him. Would they lead him to the ultimate truth?

(TL: :●)

---

“Captain Brook, why are we in such a hurry? Don’t you know girls need their beauty sleep?”

Shakky pouted, crossing her arms as she glared at Brook, who stood at the bow of the ship with an intense look on his face.

"Time's running out. Too many uncertainties lie ahead—we can’t afford to waste any more time," Brook said firmly.

He had to reach the New World within a year. Charlotte Linlin had given birth to her first child just a month after turning eighteen, which meant she had been pregnant with Perospero before that. A monster with the potential to become a future Yonko... If there was a chance, it would be better to recruit her while she was still young and naive. Now that they had a Den Den Mushi, it was the perfect time to pull her in.

Kaido, on the other hand, was only seven or eight years old now, still somewhere in the Vodka Kingdom. No one knew if he had joined the army yet, but Brook was aware of what would come. By ten, Kaido would become the strongest soldier in Vodka’s military. At thirteen, he would be sold to the Marines by his king. By fifteen, he would escape to Beehive Island and be recruited into the Rocks Pirates by Whitebeard.

If possible, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to intercept Kaido, the powerful survivor of the Oni Clan.

---

Seeing the seriousness in Brook’s eyes, Shakky nodded, quickly adjusting their course. She decided to prioritize their captain’s goal and abandon any unnecessary stops. Their destination was clear: the legendary Asuka Island.

With the addition of their sniper, Hiruba, they had one more set of hands to help with the sails. That meant Brook no longer had to handle everything alone.

After more than a week at sea, the Hell Pirates finally arrived at Asuka Island. It was a small but bustling island, home to thriving trade and even a Marine branch. That only proved the island’s importance.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, Brook and his crew decided against docking at the official port. Instead, they landed at a secluded part of the island.

Asuka Island had a legend passed down for generations.

Long ago, the islanders feared the appearance of the Red Full Moon. To quell their panic, the gods gifted the island’s king a Sacred Shield and the Seven-Star Sword. However, it was said that when the Seven-Star Sword and the Red Full Moon appeared together, darkness would once again cover the world.

Brook and his crew had obtained this information—along with a rough map—from Moore Thomas of the News Agency. Thanks to his intel, they saved a great deal of time.

"Captain Brook, according to the intel, the ancient ruins are hidden within the primitive tribes on the outer islands. With this map, we should be able to find them!"

Shakky traced her finger over the map, quickly marking out the approximate location. Her background in intelligence work was paying off.

"Get the Seven-Star Sword before alerting the Marines," Brook ordered.

The sword was most likely sealed in an altar, guarded by the tribe’s priestesses and warriors.

Shakky led the way through the forest, following the path drawn on the map. Eventually, they arrived at a primitive village. The villagers’ attire was ancient, untouched by the modernization of Asuka’s main town.

As Brook’s group approached, several muscular, dark-skinned men at the village entrance stepped forward, gripping long spears.

"Who are you?! What business do you have here?!" one of the guards demanded.

Hiruba didn’t even bother drawing his gun. These men were barely stronger than low-ranked Marines. They weren’t a threat.

“We’ve come to pay our respects at the altar. Would it be possible to guide us there?” Shakky asked smoothly.

"You’re just like the others trying to steal the Demon Sword! Leave at once, or we’ll alert the Marines!" the guard captain snapped.

Shakky sighed. "Looks like we’ll have to speed things up, Captain Brook."

She casually stepped back, making it clear she wasn’t planning on getting involved. This was Brook’s problem to handle.

---

Underworld Ghost Aura: Ice Road!

Before the guards could react, Brook vanished. In the next instant, he was behind them. A thin layer of frost spread across their legs, creeping up to their knees and waists, freezing them in place. Their mouths opened in silent shock, unable to move.

"Let’s go~," Brook said, his voice lighthearted despite the eerie scene.

Shakky smirked and stuck out her tongue at the frozen guards before following Brook. Hiruba trailed behind them.

Meanwhile, their shipwright, Tom the Fishman, and Antonio had gone to the bustling market in Asulka’s town. Their goal was to find rare materials—things like floating wood, ship parts, and maybe even a few Den Den Mushi.

Tom was a powerhouse, strong enough to lift an entire boat with one hand. With him around, Antonio would be safe.

---

The altar was located at the peak of the tallest mountain in the village. It was visible even from below, so finding it wasn’t difficult.

Along the way, many villagers spotted them, whispering among themselves. The guards hadn’t returned—something wasn’t right.

"Where are you going?! Leave immediately, or I’ll call the Marine branch!"

A young shrine maiden, dressed in elaborate ceremonial robes, stood in their path with her arms spread wide. Her voice trembled slightly, but she held her ground.

“What a cute shrine maiden,” Shakky teased. “Captain Brook, looks like this one’s yours.”

She lit a cigarette, clearly uninterested in wasting time.

Brook didn’t even glance at the girl. "Keep moving."

As he passed her, his chilling aura brushed against her skin. The cold was unnatural—otherworldly. The girl’s face turned pale, her body stiffening in terror.

"Elaine! What’s wrong?!"

A middle-aged woman rushed over, seeing the shrine maiden standing frozen in fear.

"T-The navy! Call the navy! That man… that man is a devil!" Elaine screamed.

Her terrified cries sent a ripple of panic through the village.

People scrambled—some ran to alert the Marines, while others grabbed whatever weapons they could find: hoes, pitchforks, hatchets.

With anger and fear burning in their eyes, the villagers charged toward the mountain altar, determined to stop the intruders…

---

Brook and the others finally reached the altar at the mountain's peak and stepped inside the ancient stone structure. A massive stone box rested on a stone pedestal, seamlessly fitted with no visible cracks.

Brook gathered his strength and pushed against the stone box, but it refused to budge. A bit embarrassed, he cleared his throat while Shakky and Hiruba pretended not to notice his failure.

With a sharp snort, Brook unsheathed his cane sword and unleashed a powerful slash of sword energy. The energy struck the stone lid, cutting through it before being consumed by an unknown force. From the newly formed crack, an eerie green light seeped out.

The moment the green light appeared, the seal on the stone box seemed to shatter. The once-solid stone began to fade into a dull gray. Without hesitation, Brook kicked the lid away, revealing the object inside.

A slender, ominous-looking green sword lay before them. The blade was engraved with intricate green patterns, and seven distinct light spots shimmered along its length—resembling the Big Dipper. Unlike the single-edged katanas common in this world, this was a Chinese-style double-edged sword, which suited Brook’s personal aesthetic perfectly.

As soon as the strange green light from the blade spread, it carried a mysterious allure. Shakky and Hiruba, as if entranced, unknowingly began walking toward the Seven Star Sword.

"Hmph!"

Brook let out a cold snort, releasing his ghostly energy from the Underworld. The chilling aura snapped Shakky and Shiruba back to their senses.

"Captain Brook, this really is a cursed sword… It actually tried to control me!" Shakky said, her face pale with fear. Hiruba’s expression was even worse—he was a sniper, someone trained to have sharp focus, yet even he had been momentarily deceived by the sword’s influence.

Brook, unbothered, reached out toward the sword. He was curious if a crused blade like this could have any effect on someone who had already returned from the dead.

"Don't touch it! The Seven Star Sword will bring disaster!"

Elena screamed in horror, as though she had seen a vision of the world being engulfed in darkness.

But Brook ignored her warning and grabbed the hilt of the Seven Star Sword. Instantly, a sinister green aura surged up his arm, attempting to invade his body.

"This is bad! Darkness is about to spread!"

Elena hastily pulled out three gemstones and chanted an ancient incantation. The gems emitted a soft white glow, releasing purifying energy toward Brook.

However, the sinister aura from the sword had already merged with Brook’s Underworld ghostly energy. Finding no blood within his body to corrupt, the demonic energy was instead absorbed and assimilated. The eerie green Seven Star cursed aura fused with Brook’s pale Underworld energy, transforming into a dark blue, ghostly demonic energy—Underworld Seven Star Ghost Energy.

The sword, which had a faint consciousness of its own, trembled. Faced with Brook’s overwhelming presence, it yielded to the man who had walked out of the depths of hell!

Brook casually swung the sword, unleashing a massive arc of dark blue sword energy. The slash instantly cleaved the stone pedestal and stone box in half with terrifying force.

"Yohoho~ This is quite the blade. Shakky, you can have this cane sword."

Brook tossed his old weapon to Shakky and carefully examined the Seven Star Sword. He hadn’t expected things to go this smoothly. This sword seemed as if it had been made just for him. Its cursed aura, born from blood and death, had been completely consumed by his own spectral energy.

Even the sword’s newly developing consciousness had been overwhelmed by his presence, surrendering out of sheer terror.

"You… You weren’t controlled by the Seven Star Sword?! Does this mean our tribe’s thousand-year-old curse has finally come to an end?"

Elena gasped in shock, barely able to believe what had just happened. For generations, their people had lived in isolation to guard against the sword’s power, leaving their village poor and outdated.

Brook simply nodded. "Yeah, the Seven Star Sword is under my control now. You don’t need to worry about it anymore."

He was already thinking about what kind of material would suit the sword’s scabbard.

Just then, a loud voice rang out.

"Elena, don’t be afraid! I’m here!!"

A young Marine officer, wearing a lieutenant commander’s cloak, rushed up the mountain, followed by a group of Marines.

"Sado, it’s over! We don’t need to guard this place anymore!"

Elena excitedly informed Lieutenant Commander Sado. The two had always been close, and she wanted to share the good news.

However, Sado’s eyes were locked on the Seven Star Sword in Brook’s hands. That was the legendary cursed sword of Asuka Island—an artifact of immense power. His so-called pursuit of justice had always been a front. His true goal was this sword!

He had tried sneaking into the altar before but had failed to even open the stone box. Elena had once told him that the sword’s seal would only break when the red moon descended.

So how had this pirate claimed it?

"I am Lieutenant Commander Sado of the Navy! You, a pirate, have stolen the sacred sword of this island! In the name of justice, I’m placing you under arrest!"

Without waiting for a response, Sado drew his standard Marine saber and charged at Brook.

"Sado! What are you doing?! Why are you attacking him?!" Elena shouted in panic.

"Elena, they’re pirates! As a Marine, it’s my duty to capture them!"

Brook wasn’t sure if this guy actually cared about justice or if he was just after the sword, but either way, a Marine was trying to take him down. With a single swing of the Seven Star Sword, Brook sent Sado flying dozens of meters, making him cough up blood.

"What terrifying power! Is this the strength of the Seven Star Sword?!"

Even after being gravely injured, Sado’s eyes remained glued to the sword. He was convinced that Brook’s power came from the blade, fueling his greed.

"Lieutenant Commander Sado! This pirate is Brook, the Supernova—he has a 160 million berry bounty! Run!"

A Marine intelligence officer’s warning sent a chill down Sado’s spine. A pirate worth over 100 million berries had appeared on this tiny island?!

"You… You’re a pirate?!"

Elena stumbled back in horror, finally realizing who Brook was.

Brook didn’t bother finishing off Sado. Instead, he appeared in front of Elena in an instant.

"These three gemstones are interesting. I’ll take them as my reward for solving your Seven Star Sword problem."

Before Elena could react, Brook snatched the three gems and casually walked away.

Hiruba followed, his sniper rifle slung across his back and a revolver resting on his hip. Meanwhile, Shakky, still marveling at Brook’s former cane sword, skillfully twirled it a few times in her hands. She could still feel the lingering chill on the blade, sending a shiver down her spine. Without wasting another moment, she hurried after her captain.

Lieutenant Commander Sado, watching Brook walk away with the Seven Star Sword, clenched his fists in frustration. That sword should have been his!

Overwhelmed with resentment, his vision blurred, and fresh blood spilled from his lips before he collapsed.

The panicked Marines scrambled to carry their unconscious commander back to the Marine base, rushing to report the shocking incident to Marine Headquarters.

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Chapter Text

On the Way Down the Mountain

"Captain Brook, you were so damn cool just now! You took down that trash lieutenant colonel in one move. If it were me, I don’t know if I could beat that guy," Shakky said, still fiddling with the cane sword Brook had given her. She kept drawing and sheathing it, mimicking Brook’s sword-drawing stance, clearly having a blast.

"You gotta train hard too. Don’t slack off and let Antonio surpass you," Brook said casually. He didn’t feel any particular pride in defeating a mere lieutenant colonel.

"Hell no! No way I’m letting Antonio surpass me! My physical skills aren’t bad, you know? I can hold my own even in the Sabaody Archipelago!" Shakky boasted confidently.

Her natural talent far outmatched Antonio’s, and she had an uncanny ability to pick up speed-based combat techniques quickly.

"Let’s head to Asuka Island’s main town and find Tom and Antonio. See what they’ve dug up," Brook said.

Using Shakky’s rough map as a guide, they successfully made their way from the primitive tribe’s territory to the bustling town.

Tom had scoured almost the entire area but still couldn’t find what he was looking for, leaving him visibly disappointed.

Just then, a small pirate ship sailed brazenly into the island’s port, completely disregarding the local laws. The sight alone was enough to send the townsfolk into hiding, and some had already rushed off to alert the local Marine branch.

"Redfield! Please, let us go! I swear I’ll never try to use you again!" a pirate captain pleaded desperately.

He never expected that the seemingly ordinary recruit he’d picked up was actually this strong.

"Wait here. I’m going to see if the legendary cursed sword really exists," Patrick Redfield said coldly, looking at the crew with clear disdain.

He had set out to sea in search of someone.

Drawn by a blueprint Brook had once drawn, he had admired Brook from afar and saw him as his idol. But after setting sail, he had unknowingly joined a pirate crew that had seemed welcoming at first. Every battle, he had been sent to the front lines, growing stronger with each fight.

However, once he reached the Grand Line, he awakened an ability that let him see into other people’s minds—and with that, he discovered the ugly truth.

Time and time again, he saw the captain’s twisted thoughts. Redfield was nothing more than a disposable pawn, a weapon to be thrown at enemies because he had outgrown the captain in strength. The bastard even plotted to get rid of him.

When the captain finally ordered him to attack a stronger enemy crew, Redfield slaughtered the opposing pirates, beat his own captain to a pulp, and seized control of the ship.

But his heart grew heavy when he later heard the news that Brook’s Rumbar Pirates had been wiped out.

Not long after, he began seeing reports of Brook—defying the Grand Line’s currents, building a new crew.

Redfield couldn’t wait to follow him.

Passing by an island, he heard rumors about the legendary Seven Star Sword. Seizing the opportunity, he took his pirate crew hostage and set sail for Asuka Island, determined to obtain a weapon that could make him even stronger.

If he was going to follow Senior Brook, he refused to be a liability.

Brook’s new crew would never suffer the same fate as the Rumbar Pirates.

"All of you, get off the ship! Don’t even think about waiting for me to leave before sailing off! That’s my call to make!" Redfield barked, his voice laced with amusement.

He could see right through them—every single thought and plan they had. He enjoyed this power of control, but at the same time, it disgusted him. The filth of humanity was unbearable.

One by one, he forced the pirates onto the island, leaving only one behind to guard the ship. Whether they liked it or not, they were coming with him to search for the legendary sword.

---

With the help of a Den Den Mushi, Brook quickly reunited with Tom and Antonio.

"Captain Brook! Did you find that cursed sword you were after?" Antonio asked eagerly.

"I got it. What about you guys? Any luck?" Brook replied as he reached for the massive sword on his back. "I also need to get a proper scabbard for this thing."

He unsheathed the Seven Star Sword, letting Tom and Antonio take a good look at the legendary blade.

"It’s definitely got some bad vibes… yeah, this thing’s cursed alright," Tom muttered, running his fingers along the hilt. "If you trust me, Captain, I’ll head back to the ship and make you a scabbard myself."

The Fish-Man was itching to get to work. As the shipwright and helmsman of the Voyager, he hadn’t had many chances to tinker with anything since their new ship was still in pristine condition.

"Sounds good. Appreciate it, Tom," Brook said, not particularly concerned. As long as the sword could be used, he was satisfied.

"Captain! Let’s throw a feast to celebrate your new sword!" Shakky chimed in excitedly.

She was already looking forward to trying the island’s specialty dishes.

With Brook’s approval, the group marched toward the main street.

But something was off.

People hurried through the streets, avoiding eye contact, their faces pale with fear. It was clear that someone dangerous was nearby.

And soon enough, they spotted him.

An elegant man walked down the road, herding a group of pirates like livestock. He seized people at random, demanding information about the legendary sword.

Then, suddenly, his eyes locked onto Brook’s group.

Redfield’s pupils dilated.

His entire face lit up with pure joy.

He had actually run into Senior Brook like this?!

"Senior Brook! I’m Patrick Redfield! I went to sea because of the dream you spoke of! Please let me join your crew!"

The pirates he had been pushing around? Forgotten.

The sword he had been chasing? Irrelevant.

All he cared about was boarding Brook’s ship.

Brook was stunned.

Red Count… Patrick Redfield?!

A man who would one day become a major force… and he came looking for Brook?

For a moment, Brook could hardly believe it.

"I think I remember you. We talked once when we stopped for supplies, didn’t we?" Brook said, keeping his tone cool despite the excitement bubbling inside him.

"Yes, Captain Brook! You really do remember me!" Redfield’s eyes shone with admiration. "Please! Let me join you!"

Brook glanced at his crew.

[Captain Brook’s showing off again, haha! Looks like we just got another strong crewmate!]

[Damn, the Captain’s got mad charisma! This guy came to him voluntarily?]

[Brook’s fanbase is global, huh? Guess I’m lucky I got on this ship too.]

[Alright, Captain, let’s form a full crew and go take on the New World! The Roger Pirates ain’t got nothing on us!]

Redfield could hear all of their thoughts.

But for some reason…

He couldn’t hear Brook’s.

Brook’s mind was completely closed off to him.

"Alright," Brook finally said, extending his hand. "From now on, you’re one of us."

Redfield felt a surge of pure joy as he clasped Brook’s cold hand.

"Thank you, Captain Brook!"

For the first time in a long time, he had something real to believe in.

---

The pirates slipped away immediately while Redfield and Brook were talking, too distracted to pay attention.

"Redfield, your crew seems to have run off," Brook pointed out.

"It's alright, Captain Brook. I captured those pirates and sent them to find you. Now that I've joined the captain's crew, those small fries are useless to me," Redfield explained. In truth, his Observation Haki had already detected their intention to escape, but he figured it wasn't worth the effort to stop them when he could spend the time chatting with Captain Brook.

"It just so happens that we're about to have a big feast to celebrate Captain Brook's acquisition of the Cursed Sword!"

Shakky was equally pleased to have a new member aboard. With every addition, the Hell Pirates were growing stronger.

"I never expected this legendary Cursed Sword to be tamed by Captain Brook. He truly lives up to his name," Redfield praised before suddenly sensing something else with his Observation Haki. His gaze fell on the cane sword in Shakky's hand—Brook’s old weapon. His eyes lit up with a mix of admiration and desire, like a fan hoping to get their idol’s personal keepsake.

"Shakky, can you give me Captain Brook's cane sword? I'm also a swordsman, but I don't have a weapon right now. I came to Asuka Island looking for the Cursed Sword... I just didn't expect—"

Redfield's gaze remained fixed on the weapon, his eyes practically sparkling.

"How do you know my name is Shakky? And why do you call this the captain’s cane sword?"

Shakky’s expression turned wary. As an intelligence expert, she was extremely sensitive to information.

"Shakky, please don’t misunderstand! Actually, I... I..."

Redfield hesitated, suddenly afraid to tell the truth. What if his crewmates saw him as a monster?

"Redfield, you've awakened a special kind of Observation Haki, haven't you? Promise me that from now on, you won’t pry into your crew's minds. Understood?"

Brook wasn’t just concerned about his own secrets—he didn’t want his crew feeling uneasy around their new companion. But judging from Redfield's expression, he didn't seem to be aware of Brook’s inner world. If he had been, the shock alone might have made him explode.

"So Captain Brook knows about this ability? Great! I swear, I'll never read my crewmates' minds again!"

Redfield hurriedly reassured them, eager to gain their trust.

"You mean... you can read our thoughts?"

Shakky instinctively took a few steps back, eyeing Redfield with disbelief. He lowered his head in silent agreement.

The crew exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions a mix of curiosity and wariness.

"Observation Haki is an ability that anyone can awaken. It allows you to detect enemies and predict their movements. If you train it to the highest level, you can even see a few seconds into the future.

Redfield's ability is a rare form of Observation Haki that lets him hear people's thoughts. There are also other variations, like one that allows you to sense emotions. The rarest and most powerful form is the one that lets you hear everything—like the voice of all things," Brook explained, hoping to ease the tension.

"Wait... does that mean I can awaken my Observation Haki too, Captain Brook?"

Shakky’s eyes lit up with excitement, clearly intrigued by the idea.

"You can, but it takes training. Before we enter the New World, I want everyone to awaken at least one form of Haki. Otherwise, it’ll be too dangerous."

Brook emphasized the brutal reality of the New World—where nearly every pirate with a name to themselves had mastered at least two types of Haki.

---

Inside a Restaurant

"To Captain Brook's new sword and to our newest crew member, Redfield—cheers!"

As the expert at livening the mood, Shakky was full of energy, her cheerful personality making her even more endearing.

"The Hell Pirates are getting stronger! Cheers!"

Antonio raised his glass excitedly, his face flushed with enthusiasm.

Brook, Tom, Hiruba, and the newest addition, Redfield, all lifted their drinks to celebrate.

But just as they were drinking, a few diners suddenly got up and slipped out of the restaurant. Redfield noticed and was about to stop them, but Brook raised a hand.

"Captain, it looks like they went to call the Navy. We might be surrounded soon," Redfield warned.

"What’s there to be afraid of? The captain’s strong as hell!"

Shakky wasn’t worried in the slightest. She already knew that the strongest officer on this island was only a lieutenant colonel. Brook would have no problem dealing with a rear admiral, let alone a weaker officer.

"By the way, Redfield, what's your bounty?"

"My bounty is already 50 million berries!"

Redfield declared proudly. He had only been on the Grand Line for a short time and had already reached this amount. By the time he arrived at Sabaody, it would likely double, putting him on par with the supernovas.

"That’s incredible! We don’t even have bounties yet! Maybe we should fight the Navy so we can get one!"

Shakky grinned, her suggestion making the sniper Hiruba’s eyes gleam with excitement. Antonio, on the other hand, didn't seem too interested—he was more focused on logistics than fame.

However, Fishman Tom remained silent. His dream was to return to Water 7 and help rebuild the island’s shipbuilding glory. If he got a bounty, would he still be able to go back?

"Don’t worry, Tom. You won’t have to fight, and you won’t get a bounty," Brook reassured him.

"Captain Brook, thank you... but if push comes to shove, I’ll still help!"

Tom smiled gratefully, his loyalty shining through.

Sure enough, while they were feasting, the Navy had already received the report and contacted a major general from a nearby fortress for backup. A pirate with a bounty over 100 million was too much for this small branch to handle alone.

But despite their expectations, no Navy arrived by the time they finished eating. Shakky was a little disappointed—she had been ready to make a name for herself.

The Hell Pirates returned to the Voyager and prepared to set sail once again.

"What a big, brand-new pirate ship!"

Redfield’s excitement was obvious as he boarded the vessel. He was even happier now that Shakky had really given him Brook’s cane sword.

According to her, she preferred hand-to-hand combat over swordplay, so she had no use for it.

But just as Fishman Tom steered the Vogyager off the secluded beach, three Navy warships appeared in the distance, blocking their path. Their cannons were already aimed directly at them.

"Hell Pirates! Avenger Brook!"

A voice boomed through a loudspeaker.

"You are surrounded! Surrender immediately, or we’ll open fire!"

Major General Temple stood at the front of the warship, flanked by Lieutenant Colonel Sadu, the branch commander of Askah Island.

Brook and his crew stood firm, facing the Navy blockade head-on.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

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Chapter Text

The reason why the Navy is the true ruler of the seas is because of its advanced warships and overwhelming firepower, allowing them to crush most small- and medium-sized pirate crews without even engaging in direct combat.

Ordinary pirate ships usually have less than ten cannons, while Navy warships have over ten or twenty cannons just on their sides, providing complete firepower suppression.

Because of this, pirate crews without top-tier fighters can only flee at the sight of the Navy. Even those with strong members often avoid fighting them directly, fearing their ships will be destroyed. After all, a pirate crew usually has only one ship, while the Navy has an endless fleet. Once a pirate ship is damaged, it becomes an easy target for the Navy’s branch bases and fortress defenses scattered across the Grand Line.

"What do we do? Captain Brook, this is a bit too much, don’t you think?"

Shakky looked ahead at the three warships, each carrying no fewer than fifty Marines, totaling more than two hundred in all.

"Redfield, how’s your swordsmanship? Have you reached the level of a swordsmaster? Can you release sword energy yet?"

Brook wasn’t sure how strong Redfield was at this point, but given that he was considered a genius on the same level as Roger, Whitebeard, and Golden Lion, he shouldn’t be too weak at this stage.

"Don't worry, Captain. I won't let a single cannonball touch our ship!"

Redfield declared confidently, drawing the cane sword he had just obtained. The blade shimmered coldly, a testament to its sharpness after being nurtured by Brook’s Underworld ghost energy.

"The ship’s in your hands!"

Brook pulled out the Seven-Star Sword strapped to his back and dashed forward.

"Hmph, pirates will always be pirates. They don’t know their place! Fire at will!!!"

Just as Rear Admiral Temple finished shouting, he felt a sudden sense of danger and instinctively tilted his head. A split second later, a Marine behind him was shot.

"There’s a sniper! Stay sharp!"

Rear Admiral Temple spotted the smoke trailing from Hiruba’s sniper rifle, and gunfire kept ringing out. With each shot, a Marine fell, as if the Grim Reaper himself were harvesting their souls.

The three warships opened fire, their cannons roaring as a dense barrage of shells rained down toward the Voyager.

Underworld: Seven-Star Cursed Slash!

A massive, eerie blue sword wave erupted from Brook’s Seven-Star Sword, instantly shattering the incoming cannonballs. Brook was already sprinting at high speed across the sea, leaving behind a trail of splashing water.

A flower ice path formed in his wake—the water disturbed by his movement froze under the influence of his ghost energy, creating a stunningly beautiful trail of ice across the sea.

"Not good! Brook isn’t just a Devil Fruit user—he’s also a high-level swordsman!!"

Rear Admiral Temple was stunned. The fact that Brook could destroy so many cannonballs with a single swing and even run on the sea meant he was far beyond ordinary. Temple immediately drew his sword and slashed at Brook, who had just leaped toward him.

Clang!

Their swords clashed, sparks flying in all directions.

"You don’t even know Armament Haki? How the hell did you make it to rear admiral???"

Brook was surprised to find that Temple didn’t know how to use Haki. He had planned to defeat him and let Redfield read his memory to learn the method of Armament Haki training.

In reality, it was common for older, less talented officers to be stationed in the first half of the Grand Line. Those with real potential had long since mastered Haki and been deployed to the New World to suppress the most dangerous pirates.

Rear Admiral Temple was one of those officers who had failed to awaken Haki. Over the years, he had earned enough merit to be promoted, but he was ultimately stationed at a Grand Line fortress rather than being sent to the New World.

In contrast, many young, talented Marine officers had already awakened their Haki, making their way to the New World for rapid promotions. Some, like Zephyr, had even become admirals by the age of 38.

Temple, now in his forties, still hadn't managed to awaken Haki—a clear sign that he had reached his limit. However, his swordsmanship and physical skills were still enough to handle most new pirates returning from the Grand Line.

"Hmph! I don’t need Haki to deal with pirates like you!"

"Really? Then say goodbye to your sword!"

Brook exerted force, shattering Temple’s sword with the Seven-Star Sword, forcing him to retreat. Temple quickly discarded the broken hilt, snatched a Marine’s standard longsword, and unleashed a powerful sword slash at Brook.

"Die, pirate!"

Navy Six Styles: Shave!

After releasing his sword slash, Temple instantly disappeared from sight. As Brook deflected the attack, Temple suddenly reappeared right in front of him, bringing his sword down with a fierce strike!

"I didn’t expect you to know the Navy Six Styles. How many techniques have you mastered?"

Brook blocked the strike, his excitement growing. If this guy knew the Six Styles, then Shakky’s training method was right in front of him!

"Hmph! I may have failed to awaken Haki, but my mastery of the Six Styles isn’t bad!"

Navy Six Styles: Tempest Kick!

Temple swung his leg with great force, sending out a green slicing wave as sharp as a blade straight toward Brook.

"Got anything else? Can you use Moonwalk?"

Brook shattered the slashing wave with his Seven-Star Sword and asked excitedly.

"What’s with the questions? Trying to steal the Six Styles? Not happening!"

Navy Six Styles: Moonwalk!

Temple leaped into the air, continuously kicking to release a series of slicing waves. The powerful attacks tore through the warship’s deck, leaving deep gashes across its surface.

"Haha, not bad! Just these three moves are enough!"

Underworld Ghost Energy: Seven Stars Snow Slash!

Brook’s Seven-Star Sword shifted from a dark blue glow to a pale white radiance. Moving even faster than Temple’s Shave, Brook appeared right in front of him in an instant and swung his blade downward.

Navy Six Styles: Paper Art!

Temple’s body became as light as paper, barely dodging Brook’s assassination attempt. However, the chilling ghost energy still managed to graze him, sending shivers down his spine.

Navy Six Styles: Iron Body!

A sharp slicing sound echoed as Temple was struck across the chest, but no blood spilled out—his wound had been frozen solid by Brook’s ghostly energy.

"Rear Admiral!"

Lieutenant Colonel Sadu and several Marine officers rushed forward, standing in front of Temple with their swords drawn, veins bulging from their tightened grips.

If even their strongest man couldn’t defeat Brook, then they were in serious danger.

"Not bad! You actually used all five techniques, so you must know Finger Pistol too! Looks like you have a good talent for physical techniques, even if you haven’t mastered them fully!"

Temple’s expression darkened. He was indeed talented, but his lungs and kidneys had been permanently damaged by a pirate years ago, preventing him from undergoing high-intensity training. This was why he had failed to awaken Haki.

"As expected of a pirate who survived the Sabaody Archipelago—you’re strong. I underestimated you, but you won’t be escaping today. Stronger officers are already on their way. My job is just to hold you here!"

Rear Admiral Temple steadied himself, stepping forward once more with unwavering determination in his eyes…

---

Rear Admiral Temple's words made Brook frown. Was an even stronger officer coming as backup? Could it be a Vice Admiral?

"Thanks for the heads-up. That just made my decision easier—I’ll end this right now!"

Brook's words stunned Rear Admiral Temple, and the officers behind him looked at him in disbelief. Wasn’t Temple trying to intimidate the pirate into surrendering? Why did it feel like Brook had something even more terrifying up his sleeve?

At that moment, every Marine tensed up, their hands instinctively gripping their weapons as they stared at Brook with vigilance.

"Hades Will: Death Gaze!"

Brook raised the Seven-Star Sword high in his right hand, and a chilling aura of death surged from his body. The Marines' eyes widened in shock as an overwhelming sense of doom engulfed them. Cold sweat dripped down their foreheads, their bodies trembled uncontrollably, and their knees buckled beneath them. It was as if death itself had come to claim them.

One by one, they collapsed powerlessly to the deck.

"What the hell is this power? It's freezing cold, yet it makes you feel like you're staring death in the face… This isn't Conqueror’s Haki!" Rear Admiral Temple gasped, his face pale with shock.

He had felt the overwhelming presence of Conqueror’s Haki before, but this was something entirely different—it wasn’t just pressure; it was fear itself.

With a large portion of the Marines falling unconscious, the shelling from the three warships came to an abrupt halt. Redfield let out a sigh of relief, finally getting a moment to breathe. Hiruba, their sniper, was nearly out of bullets.

Meanwhile, the fish-man Tom used a massive wooden plank as a makeshift shield to block a good number of the remaining shells. Antonio, still inside the ship’s cabin, looked on with worry. Shakky, using sheer physical strength, kicked away the stray shells that slipped past their defenses.

Seeing Rear Admiral Temple and several officers still standing on the warship, Redfield and Shakky leapt onto the deck, following the icy path Brook had left behind.

"Captain, we can finally go all out!" Shakky grinned, setting her sights on Lieutenant Colonel Sadu from Asuka Island. He seemed weaker than the others—perfect for her.

Redfield unsheathed his cane sword and lunged at a Marine Captain. His swordsmanship focused on sheer speed and lethal precision, forcing his opponent to frantically dodge. A few nearby Lieutenant Colonels rushed in to help, but they were still disoriented from Brook’s deathly aura, their reactions sluggish.

"I can read your minds, you know. You’re all scared shitless of Captain Brook!" Redfield smirked as he plunged his cane sword into a Lieutenant Colonel’s abdomen, sending him flying with a powerful kick. The remaining officers, already struggling, were now completely overwhelmed.

No one noticed the Memory Seahorse as it hopped onto the warship, greedily absorbing the memories of the Marines who had fallen unconscious.

Suddenly, a strong-willed Marine woke up and spotted the creature, raising his weapon to strike.

Bang!

A single gunshot echoed across the deck. Hiruba, still positioned on the Voyager, had been keeping an eye on the situation and swiftly took down the Marine before he could harm the Memory Seahorse.

The creature shuddered, realizing the danger, but its hunger for memories was too strong to resist. It cautiously continued feeding, but now, it remained on high alert.

"Oooh-wha~!"

Rear Admiral Temple coughed up blood as Brook’s sword slashed him across the chest. The force of the blow sent him crashing to the ground, his breathing ragged and weak.

"Redfield, wrap this up. There's a chance an even stronger Marine is on their way!" Brook didn’t hesitate, delivering a final strike that completely incapacitated Temple, leaving him sprawled on the deck.

As Brook spoke, Redfield’s movements became even faster. His sword danced like a blur, slicing through the defenses of the Marine Captain. In one swift motion, he delivered a fatal strike, cutting him down.

Shakky wasn’t far behind—she had Lieutenant Colonel Sadu on the ground, his face battered and bruised.

"Redfield, check this Rear Admiral’s memories. See if you can find any training methods for Marine Six Powers or Haki."

Even though Temple himself hadn’t awakened Haki, that didn’t mean Marine Headquarters hadn’t provided him with the training. It was possible he had the knowledge but simply failed to awaken it.

"Understood, Captain Brook!"

Redfield placed his hand on the unconscious Rear Admiral’s head. Temple’s wide eyes twitched slightly as Redfield’s unique Observation Haki activated, delving into the depths of his mind in search of the knowledge they sought.

The Memory Seahorse saw that the battle was over, and the memories of these high-ranking officers were obviously more enticing. Without hesitation, it quickly dove into the sea and climbed back onto the pirate ship. It nimbly leaped onto the unconscious navy captain and lieutenant colonel, greedily devouring their memories. With each bite, its body swelled and grew, satisfaction evident in its movements.

"Captain Brook, I found it! The Navy’s Six Styles, their swordsmanship techniques, and even methods for awakening Haki—everything you asked for!"

Redfield's excitement was palpable as he proudly took credit for his discovery. He was just as thrilled to have gained access to stronger training methods.

"Very good! Get back to the ship and write everything down. We need to retreat—there could be a stronger vice admiral heading this way!"

Brook was pleased with their haul. Even though his Undead Body prevented him from cultivating Haki, his crew could still benefit from it. Besides, he could at least train in some of the Navy’s Six Styles.

"Got it!"

Shakky wasted no time and quickly searched the warship’s office and warehouse for anything useful. The Memory Seahorse drooled at the sight of Rear Admiral Temple but hesitated when it saw Brook and Redfield leaving. Unable to resist its hunger, it darted forward and feasted on the officer’s memories.

Meanwhile, Hiruba, Tom, and the others pulled their ship closer to help load up the navy’s supplies and treasures. The Memory Seahorse, now bloated and satisfied, let out a loud burp before finally returning to the Voyager.

If it had the strength, it would’ve devoured every sailor on board, but it was simply too full. Still, the greedy creature wished it could somehow bottle up the memories for a later meal. Unfortunately, Brook had no intention of taking prisoners, forcing the Memory Seahorse to abandon its wishful thinking.

Suddenly, Antonio, who was moving supplies, noticed a ringing Den Den Mushi on the navy battleship. His sharp eyes quickly locked onto its location.

"Captain Brook, there’s a call coming in. Looks like it’s from the navy!"

Brook took the Den Den Mushi from Antonio, hesitated for a moment, then answered.

"Hey! Temple, what the hell took you so long to pick up? Have you handled the pirates yet, or do you still need me to back you up? I swear, I’m in a hurry to take my damn vacation and see my son!"

A gruff, impatient voice barked from the other end.

Brook’s eyes narrowed. This guy was definitely no ordinary marine.

"No need for backup. We’ll be leaving soon," Brook replied coldly.

The voice on the other end went silent for a moment. Then, the tone shifted—no longer irritated and impatient, but heavy with concern and restrained fury.

"Who the hell are you? What did you do to Temple?"

Brook smirked. "Relax. The rear admiral isn’t dead yet."

"You better make damn sure of that," the voice growled. "Because if anything happens to Temple, I—Monkey D. Garp, Rear Admiral of the Navy Headquarters—will hunt you down to the ends of the earth!"

Brook’s expression changed slightly. Iron Fist Garp.

So it was him.

Garp was already 26 years old by now, and judging by Temple’s respectful tone, he had clearly earned his reputation within the navy. On top of that, Garp had mentioned taking a vacation to visit his son—Monkey D. Dragon. That meant Dragon was about three years old and likely living in Foosha Village in the East Blue.

Brook let out a low chuckle. "So, General Garp… the infamous Hero of the Navy. I’ve always been interested in the ‘D’ clan. Consider this a favor—I’ll let this rear admiral live and even leave these three warships intact. But in return, I expect your navy to stop chasing us across the Grand Line."

There was a brief pause. Then, Garp snorted. "The navy hunting down pirates is only natural, and I don’t control orders from headquarters. The best I can offer you is this—I won’t personally chase you down!"

Brook fell silent, considering the offer.

Garp, on the other hand, was frowning on the other end of the call. He knew his answer might piss off this pirate. If the guy got mad and decided to wipe out Temple and the rest of the marines in retaliation, he’d regret it. But at the same time, he couldn’t outright refuse an offer from a dangerous pirate.

Tension filled the air as both sides waited for the other’s response.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

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Chapter Text

After a brief pause, the Den Den Mushi finally responded, as Rear Admiral Garp anxiously waited.

"Alright, Monkey D. Garp, remember your promise!"

Brook didn’t have high expectations, but he agreed nonetheless. He hadn’t expected Garp to make such a decision—he just hoped this mad dog wouldn’t come chasing after him.

Without waiting to hear Garp’s response, Brook cut the call and immediately ordered his crew to evacuate. They left behind three naval warships and the injured marines.

Not long after, Garp’s fleet arrived at the waters of Asuka Island and found Rear Admiral Temple and his men. After rescuing them, they quickly realized something was wrong—Temple and his officers had no memory of what happened.

The confusion deepened when the lower-ranked marines woke up and confirmed that they had been attacked by Brook’s Hell Pirates.

"So… it was Brook," Garp muttered. "They actually have a crew member who can erase memories? A Memory Devil Fruit?"

With no other choice, Garp personally took the amnesiac naval officers back to Marineford. The final result? Their memories seemed permanently lost, forcing them to relearn everything from scratch.

This pissed Garp off.

"That bastard Brook! He said they’d be fine, and now they’ve lost their memories?! He actually lied to me!"

Meanwhile, the Navy Headquarters pieced together information about the Hell Pirates from the remaining marines who hadn’t lost their memories. Along with the investigation on Asuka Island, they managed to reconstruct the crew’s personnel structure and update their bounties.

---

Setting Sail Once Again

The Voyager continued sailing toward the next island.

"Captain Brook, our next target is Drum Island," Shakky said. "It’s a world-renowned medical powerhouse. We’re bound to find a strong ship doctor there!"

She carefully pulled out a Log Pose pointing to the Drum Kingdom, one of the World Government’s allied nations.

Brook nodded. "Yeah… I heard there’s a powerful female doctor in her eighties living on Drum Island."

He was, of course, referring to Dr. Kureha. She should be around 89 years old now. He wondered if she’d ever considered going to sea.

At the same time, Brook thought of Crocus—another legendary doctor.

While stationed at Twin Cape, Crocus would often visit Drum Island to purchase medical books and teach himself advanced medicine. He had a natural talent for it, which was why Gol D. Roger later invited him aboard to treat his terminal illness, extending Roger’s life by three years.

The Rumbar Pirates had met Crocus before and even entrusted Laboon to his care.

"If I can’t find a doctor on Drum Island, I’ll go find Crocus… and bring Laboon with me," Brook mused.

Laboon had great potential, being part of the island whale species, which were comparable in size to actual islands. Now that Brook had grown stronger, he believed he could protect Laboon properly.

"Captain, we are NOT looking for an 80-year-old doctor!" Shakky groaned. "This is a pirate adventure, not some retirement cruise!"

Brook simply chuckled. "Dr. Kureha has mastered the secret of longevity. Even if she lives to be 150 years old, she’ll still be full of energy. Don’t underestimate her."

After all, at 139 years old, she was still throwing scalpels at Luffy’s crew like they were darts.

More importantly, she had been the only doctor on Drum Island who could move freely under Wapol’s tyranny. Her strength was nothing to scoff at—she was likely stronger than Luffy’s entire crew back then.

"As the saying goes, people become more dangerous as they get older," Brook added.

Even in her younger years, Kureha had a keen sense of Observation Haki—always appearing at the scene whenever the reckless Dr. Hiriluk messed up his treatments.

And then there was the Will of D. Kureha knew something about it, proving she wasn’t just some ordinary old lady.

"No matter how impressive she is, she’s still an old woman! Captain, please don’t recruit her, or she’ll raise our average age!" Shakky protested.

Brook laughed. "You act like I can just snap my fingers and make her join us. Besides, forcing her would be suicidal—she’d probably poison us before we even realized it!"

"Captain Brook! There's a huge waterfall cloud ahead!"

At the helm, the fish-man Tom shouted excitedly. Everyone turned to see a massive cloud formation stretching over ten kilometers long—a waterfall seemingly connecting the sky and the sea.

It was an incredible sight, reminding them of how unpredictable the Grand Line could be.

"Captain, should we check it out?" Tom asked eagerly.

Brook hesitated. As a Devil Fruit user, he wasn’t thrilled about exploring unknown waters.

"I wanna see it too!" Redfield grinned. "A place full of unknowns—isn’t that the best kind of adventure?"

Shakky and Hiruba were also intrigued. Seeing how excited everyone was, Brook sighed and relented.

"Alright, alright, let’s go take a look."

"Woohoo~! Adventure time!"

Redfield had become much more cheerful after stopping the use of his special Observation Haki on his crewmates. It was true—seeing things too clearly often brought pain, but allowing some mystery made life more enjoyable.

The Memory Seahorse had grown significantly after consuming so many memories. It could no longer sit on Brook’s shoulder comfortably.

More surprisingly, after devouring Rear Admiral Temple’s memories, it had actually learned some Navy Six Styles techniques!

Now, the little creature could perform:

Rankyaku (Storm Leg)

Shigan (Finger Gun)

Geppo (Moonwalk)—though only for a short time

Shakky and the others watched in envy as the little seahorse hopped around like a miniature marine.

Meanwhile, the crew began their own training using the Navy Six Styles manual and Haki awakening techniques copied by Redfield.

Tom had an extremely strong physique and was already showing signs of awakening Armament Haki.

Redfield’s Observation Haki was developing rapidly, and his swordsmanship was growing even stronger.

Sniper Hiruba focused on Observation Haki and worked on mastering Shave and Moonwalk for better mobility.

Antonio, as expected, wasn’t much of a fighter. His priority was learning survival techniques like Shave and Moonwalk—no need to dream about Haki.

Shakky wanted to learn everything and wasted no time throwing herself into training.

The crew had grown stronger once again, and their next big adventure was just beginning.

---

With the Voyager at the helm, Tom steering, and Redfield and Hiruba raising the sails, they sailed into the waterfall cloud. Shakky stood in the observation room, closely watching the situation inside the thick white mist.

Brook stood at the bow, ready for battle. As they entered the dense cloud, visibility was nearly nonexistent. They had no idea what lay ahead and could only push forward blindly.

Everyone felt a mix of nerves and excitement. Was this what true adventure felt like? Setting aside life and death, embracing the thrill of the unknown.

After stumbling through the blinding mist for five or six minutes, sunlight finally pierced through. A breathtaking emerald-green island appeared before them.

"An island hidden inside a waterfall cloud? Incredible. I wonder if anyone lives here?" Shakky's curiosity burned, eager to unravel the mysteries of this place. The rest of the crew was just as eager.

Brook suddenly recalled a movie—could this be the island of rare beasts, guarded by the legendary Kirin Lion?

"I think I remember something about this island. It’s home to rare creatures, and its ruler is the Kirin Lion. Be careful, everyone. I don’t know how powerful it is!"

Brook’s eyes gleamed with interest. The Kirin Lion was a majestic creature. If they could tame it, wouldn’t it make the perfect mount?

"Kirin Lion? A mythical beast?" Shakky's excitement grew. "That must mean it’s extremely rare! Captain Brook, should we check it out?"

Meanwhile, the Memory Seahorse flicked its tail, deep in thought. Beast King? If I eat its memory, could I evolve? Maybe even grow wings and become a Thousand-Year Dragon?

"Hmph, I’d like to see how strong this Kirin Lion really is, if it’s enough for Captain Brook to give a warning!" Redfield smirked, confident in his strength. He had no interest in fearing a so-called "Beast King" and was eager to test himself.

Since there were no humans on the island, there was also no port. The Voyager could only drop anchor in shallow waters, lowering the landing boat. Even Tom joined them—there was no need for him to stay behind.

"Finally, we’re on land. What a beautiful, untouched island!"

The scenery was stunning. The vegetation was lush, the forest thick, yet the grass was oddly neat—almost as if someone had been trimming it.

As Brook and his crew stepped onto shore, strange animals emerged from the forest to watch them. Long-haired hippos, wild boars with twisted horns, and green giraffes stared at them curiously.

Brook frowned. These so-called "rare beasts" were... not exactly majestic. More like weird crossbreeds.

A trumpet-nosed wild boar suddenly charged forward, letting out a loud, echoing howl. It left behind a trail of thick smoke as it ran, like a war horn signaling the island’s inhabitants of an intruder.

"Captain Brook, these so-called ‘rare beasts’ are ugly and weak," Redfield scoffed, clearly disappointed. This wasn’t the battle he had been looking forward to.

Before Brook could respond, a massive cloud of dust rose in the distance. A thundering stampede approached, and in moments, countless rare beasts had gathered, surrounding the shore.

Just as the crew was taking in the sight, a magnificent golden lion soared into the sky. It had coral-like golden horns, resembling a regal crown.

This was the Beast King of O-Kan Island —the Kirin Lion!

The Kirin Lion let out a deafening roar, its powerful soundwaves stirring up fierce winds. It was a show of dominance, a warning to the intruders.

Redfield’s eyes gleamed with excitement. He was itching to fight the Kirin Lion, to see if this so-called Beast King was truly worthy of its title.

"What are you humans doing here!?"

A sudden voice rang out, surprising Brook and his crew. Was it the Kirin Lion speaking?

From behind the Beast King, a massive green parrot—over a meter tall—flew into view. It was the one that had spoken.

"Whoa, a talking parrot? That’s a rare find, Captain Brook!"

Shakky’s eyes lit up. She had never seen a bird that could speak human language before. She had to get this one on board.

Sensing her intent, the parrot quickly ducked behind the Kirin Lion. But bolstered by the lion’s presence, it flew out again, regaining its confidence.

"Humans, state your purpose, or our king will drive you out!"

As the parrot spoke, the Kirin Lion’s golden horns gleamed. A blazing light shot from its forehead, slamming into the ground in front of Brook, leaving behind a deep crater.

"A decent display of power," Redfield noted, drawing his cane sword, preparing to strike. He had no intention of backing down.

"Not bad," Brook muttered, eyes twinkling with admiration. He called out, "Lion Beast King! Why don’t you come with us and explore the world? You too, talking parrot!"

The parrot scoffed. "Human, address our king properly! He is His Majesty, the Kirin Lion! And I am Wuzhu, the elder of this island. Remember our names!"

The Kirin Lion rumbled something unintelligible, and Wuzhu quickly translated. "Our king says he will never leave this place. He will protect this land until his final breath!"

Brook sighed, visibly disappointed. Such a magnificent creature—what a shame.

"Captain Brook, you really want this beast?" Redfield asked. His tone darkened. "If you do, I’ll help you catch it."

Seeing his captain turned down, Redfield grew irritated. Without hesitation, he bypassed Brook and lunged forward. His cane sword gleamed as he struck, aiming directly at the Kirin Lion.

He closed the distance swiftly, ready to engage in close combat.

Brook hesitated. A part of him wanted to stop Redfield. Perhaps it was the lingering sense of morality from his past life, making him hold onto a sense of kindness.

But he wasn’t like Redfield—a true pirate who took what he wanted without hesitation. Even Shakky and Hiruba were already preparing to act.

Pirates take what they want, don’t they?

The thought burned in Brook’s mind. He had set out to sea as a pirate, but was he really acting like one? He was hesitating, thinking like a hero. That wasn’t who he was anymore.

A man who wasn’t ruthless wouldn’t survive in this world.

Brook clenched his fist, discarding any hesitation.

If he wanted the Kirin Lion, he’d take it.

If it refused to join them, then he’d let the Memory Seahorse devour its memories and train it himself.

Greed flickered in his eyes.

A true pirate placed profit above all else.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

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Chapter Text

Redfield used Moonwalk to propel himself toward the Kirin Lion, thrusting his sword forward, but the beast swiftly deflected it with its razor-sharp claws.

"Humans, you truly are invaders! We will drive you out of O-Kan Island!"

The parrot screeched. Lacking real combat strength, it immediately retreated to the safety of the rare beasts and issued an attack command. In an instant, countless rare beasts charged toward Brook and the crew.

"Captain Brook! There are too many of them! Hurry up and use your ability to scare the Marines away!!"

Even the usually fearless Shakky looked uneasy as thousands of rare beasts stormed their way.

Brook wasted no time. He stepped forward, raising his aura, and unleashed a chilling surge of energy—an overwhelming wave of underworld power burst from his body.

Hades Will: Death’s Gaze

The dark energy swept over the battlefield like a deathly storm. The rare beasts froze in place, their bodies stiffening as if confronted by their natural predator. Many collapsed mid-charge, tumbling across the ground in a heap. Some were so terrified that they lost control of their bowels, adding to the chaotic mess.

The stampede came to an abrupt halt. Those in the rear trampled over the fallen, and the battlefield spiraled into disarray. The commanding parrot, Wuzhu, lost all control.

With the Kirin Lion locked in battle against Redfield, it had no way to rally the frightened creatures. The more timid species had already bolted, fleeing in sheer panic.

"Captain Brook, that was badass! Holding the line all on your own, like a one-man army! Damn, that was insane!"

Even Shakky and the others were in awe. The Kirin Lion and Redfield, still locked in combat, couldn’t help but feel the effects of Brook’s eerie death aura. Seeing his fellow beasts scatter, the Kirin Lion let out a deafening roar, desperate to restore their morale.

But it was too late. The damage had been done. The rare beasts weren’t coming back. Seizing the moment, Redfield intensified his assault, determined to bring down the Kirin Lion King.

Shakky led Fishman Tom into the fray, charging at the remaining rare beasts, while Hiruba perched from a distance, picking off the stronger ones with his sniper rifle.

Watching Brook’s dominance, Antonio felt a surge of admiration. He clenched his fists. He couldn’t just remain the crew’s logistics guy, running away when things got serious. He needed to get stronger.

Meanwhile, Brook kept his eyes locked on the Kirin Lion and Redfield’s battle. The Kirin Lion had an aerial advantage, soaring effortlessly. Once its golden horns turned red, its strength multiplied several times over. With a single swipe, it could carve out a crater over ten meters wide and two meters deep. Its power was undeniable.

As the lion’s horns glowed red again, its claws radiated intense heat. Each slash sent out three scorching wind blades, forcing Redfield to dodge repeatedly.

The Kirin Lion King roared, unleashing a shockwave that rippled through the battlefield. The physical force of the sound waves caused Antonio to wince and cover his ears.

In Brook’s eyes, the beast seemed to grow even larger. What was once a three-to-four-meter-tall lion had now swelled to over ten meters. Its true power had been unleashed.

The massive creature soared through the air, its claws slicing furiously, launching wave after wave of burning wind blades toward Redfield and Brook.

Brook drew the Seven-Star Sword. With a single swing, a curse energy slash erupted, slicing through the incoming wind blades with ease. The Kirin Lion roared in frustration, then lunged at Redfield.

But Redfield was too fast. In an instant, he vanished from sight, leaving the lion to slam into the ground, creating a deep crater. Dirt and debris exploded into the air.

Had that hit landed, even Brook might’ve been flattened. But Redfield was no ordinary pirate—his natural talent and battle instincts had earned him a place among the world’s most feared figures. He exploited his speed, darting around the battlefield, carving wound after wound into the Kirin Lion’s massive body.

The lion was growing frantic. Its movements became more aggressive, its attacks more reckless. The presence of Brook, another powerful fighter, only added to its frustration.

Meanwhile, Shakky and Tom had taken down several of the other rare beast elders. Unlike the Beast King, which had inherited its powerful horns and served as the island’s guardian, the rest of the rare beasts were weak. Having abandoned carnivorous diets for a peaceful vegetarian lifestyle, they had lost their fighting instincts. They were nothing more than docile, plant-eating creatures.

The talking parrot Wuzhu flailed as it was struck in the wing by Hiruba’s sniper round. It spiraled to the ground, where Shakky caught it. She frowned.

“How the hell did a parrot learn to speak on an island with no humans?”

Under her fierce glare, the injured Wuzhu finally confessed. Long ago, humans had lived here in harmony with the rare beasts. Before leaving, they had left behind books, which the parrot tribe, gifted in mimicry, had learned from and passed down over generations.

Meanwhile, the Kirin Lion King was still going berserk, forcing Redfield to retreat momentarily.

Brook took his chance. With ruthless precision, he slashed the lion’s abdomen, leaving a deep, gaping wound.

The strange energy of the Seven-Star Sword seeped into the Kirin Lion King’s body, mixing with the chilling underworld aura. Its limbs stiffened, its movements slowed.

Redfield sighed. He could feel his captain’s power widening the gap between them. “Guess I still have a long way to go…” he muttered. He resolved to push himself harder. If he wanted to stand alongside Brook, he needed to grow stronger.

"Don’t hurt our king!!"

Despite its wounds, Wuzhu broke free from Shakky’s grasp and threw itself in front of the Kirin Lion King, shielding it from further attacks.

The Kirin Lion King’s enormous body began to shrink, returning to its original size of two or three meters. Its breath was weak. Dozens of wounds covered its body, with Brook’s sword strike to the abdomen being the worst.

Brook stepped forward, admiring the majestic creature. “You’ve got guts. What do you say? Want to sail the seas with us?”

The only response he got was a hostile growl.

"Captain, it doesn’t look like it’s gonna surrender easily. Should we rough it up a little more?" Redfield cracked his knuckles, itching for another round. The weakened lion wouldn’t stand a chance.

"Please, let our king go! He’s the only one protecting this island!" Wuzhu pleaded, still bleeding from its wounded wing.

Brook scoffed. "A beast as rare and powerful as this, forced to live off plants? That’s not how nature works. The world is about survival of the fittest. These rare beasts have grown soft, losing their instincts. Without the Kirin Lion King keeping them in check, they’ll be forced to fight for dominance. A new Beast King will rise."

His reasoning was completely self-serving, but it didn’t matter. He had already set his sights on the Kirin Lion, and one way or another, he was going to tame it—no matter who stood in his way!

---

Seeing that the Kirin Lion still had no intention of yielding, Redfield stepped forward again, swiftly defeating it.

"Look at these precious animals you protected. They all ran away, not a single one came back to protect you—except for this parrot! What do you think? Come out to sea with me and experience the wonders of the world!"

Despite being seriously injured, the Kirin Lion turned its head away, ignoring Brook.

"There's nothing else I can do, Redfield. I’ll have to start over! Memory Seahorse, devour its memories for me!"

Wuzhu, standing by, tried to stop him but was knocked unconscious by Brook.

"Memory Seahorse, take the parrot's memories too, but make sure it keeps its ability to speak. It'll be our ship's translator and lookout from now on."

The Memory Seahorse eagerly absorbed their memories, savoring the feast. Following Brook’s instructions, it erased their memories of the later parts of their lives.

"Captain Brook, are you sure about this?"

Tom, the fish-man, seemed reluctant. Their kind detested oppression and deception.

"We didn't take their lives. From now on, they'll be our reliable crewmates!"

The Memory Seahorse finished its task and let out a burp, while Shakky and Antonio immediately tended to the Kirin Lion and the parrot’s wounds, stopping the bleeding and wrapping them in bandages.

"Don’t worry, Tom. The waterfall clouds here will continue to protect this island. I’m sure a new Beast King will be born soon!"

Tom might not have known, but the title of Beast King on O-Kan Island was inherited through the Beast Horns. Though Redfield didn’t particularly like Brook’s method of recruiting crewmates, he understood the reasoning behind it.

Brook, having once experienced the destruction of his pirate crew, was desperate to find strong allies. Redfield knew that if he wanted to help Brook achieve his dreams, he had to grow stronger as well—to make his own dream a reality.

They moved the Kirin Lion and the parrot onto the ship and set sail. The rare animals, seeing their king taken away, cried out in sorrow, no longer running like they had before.

After returning to the Voyager and taking a short rest, Brook used the Waterfall Cloud and continued toward Drum Island.

Half a day later, the Kirin Lion and the parrot woke up, looking around in confusion. Redfield and Brook immediately began training them.

With its erased memories, the Kirin Lion was now just a powerful lion beast before the fusion of the Beast Horns, and the parrot was like a newly-learned talker.

Under Brook’s relentless brainwashing, they were finally convinced that the captain had saved them, and they accepted their new roles as crew members.

The Kirin Lion became Brook’s mount, training its abilities daily with the parrot acting as its translator. Over time, even Tom and Redfield accepted these two once-wild, now-clueless creatures.

···

"Captain Brook, I see a snowy island ahead!"

The lookout, Parrot Assistant, swooped down from the mast to report. Shakky, the navigator, quickly checked the nautical chart and the Eternal Pose—it was indeed Drum Island.

Tom, the fish-man helmsman, adjusted the course slightly. Redfield, having just finished sparring with Brook, helped turn the sails.

Inside the cabin, sniper Hiruba was busy modifying his bullets, while intelligence officer Antonio listened in on intercepted transmissions via Den Den Mushi.

Soon, they spotted three towering, snow-covered mountains shaped like drums. Drum Island was well-known in the Grand Line—an infamous winter island and a major medical hub.

"By the way, does everyone have warm clothes?"

Having been resurrected, Brook constantly emanated an eerie, underworld chill, making him immune to the cold.

Shakky immediately went to change into a stylish winter outfit. Hiruba and Antonio also layered up, while Tom, being a sturdy fish-man, dismissed the need for extra clothing.

Redfield noticed Brook didn’t put on any winter gear, so he refused to wear any himself. This was part of his training!

Brook sighed at the stubbornness but ultimately let it slide. He wasn’t immune because of training—just a side effect of his existence. He told Antonio to keep a spare coat ready just in case.

Since Drum Island was under the jurisdiction of the World Government, the Voyager couldn’t dock at any official ports. Otherwise, they’d be immediately targeted.

Pirates had to operate like this—unless they were in pirate-friendly territories, they had to find a secluded spot to land. It was an unspoken rule that protected their ships.

Brook’s main reason for coming to Drum Island wasn’t just to recruit a skilled doctor—he also wanted a medical evaluation to see if he had any chance of fathering children.

If it turned out to be impossible, he’d give up the idea entirely and focus on becoming the strongest, living forever!

Brook sat atop the Kirin Lion, while Shakky shamelessly jumped on as well, making herself comfortable.

Drum Island’s current king was likely Wapol’s grandfather. His policies were excellent, attracting medical talents from all over. With constant advancements in medicine and treatment, his reign had earned a stellar reputation.

Rumor had it that the doctors here could even reattach severed heads—proof of their advanced medical expertise. Some even spoke of cutting-edge, borderline supernatural treatments.

"Alright, everyone—split up and find what you need!"

The Hell Pirates entered the town, each member given a few million berries to use freely.

Antonio, having no particular goal, chose to follow Brook, while Shakky, driven by her information-gathering instincts, went off to collect intel.

Tom sought out floating materials for ship repairs, Hiruba went in search of special medicines for his bullets, and Redfield wandered off, hoping to find a worthy opponent for a one-on-one fight.

The Memory Seahorse and Parrot Assistant perched atop the Kirin Lion. Seeing Antonio’s disappointment at having no role, they invited him to ride along. His presence, combined with the majestic lion, quickly drew the attention of onlookers.

The Kirin Lion was a sight to behold—golden horns, noble wings—making wealthy merchants and nobles drool with envy and greed.

If any Celestial Dragons were here, they’d have tried to seize it immediately. Such a magnificent beast was a mount worthy of the so-called gods.

Brook approached a passerby and asked about Dr. Kureha’s whereabouts. The man flinched, visibly shaken by Brook’s presence.

"Are you looking for that old witch? She’s got a strange personality and charges ridiculous fees. I’d advise against it—there are plenty of other top-class doctors here!"

Brook’s face darkened. His cold aura alone made the man panic. Quickly pointing in the direction of Kureha’s location, the man ran off without another word.

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Chapter Text

Now that we’re on Drum Island, how could we not visit Dr. Kureha, the hidden boss?

On the way, Antonio kept asking for directions until they finally arrived at a castle clinic perched on the snowy peak of Magnetic Drum. Though the name wasn’t exactly inviting—it was called the Witch Clinic—the real shocker was the price list posted outside.

A common cold treatment cost at least 100,000 berries, and more serious illnesses? You’d be bled dry before you got cured. Still, the legend was that this place could treat any disease.

Brook walked right in. There weren’t any patients around, just a tall, thin, white-haired old woman drinking alone. It felt just like Shakky’s Rip-Off Bar—closed for three years but making enough in one night to survive another three.

Dr. Kureha, clearly tipsy, frowned as she looked at Brook. Something about him threw her off. No heartbeat, no body heat—he was unlike any living person she’d ever seen.

"Dr. Kureha, they say you can cure anything."

Brook smiled as he took a seat across from her. Antonio, meanwhile, hesitated before nervously finding a spot to sit. Memory Seahorse and the Parrot Assistant perched on the back of the Kirin Lion.

"What exactly do you want me to cure?"

Dr. Kureha, already on alert from Brook’s eerie, cold aura, studied him with a serious expression.

"I want to know… can I still have children?"

Brook spoke in a calm tone, as if the question had nothing to do with him—like he didn’t care at all.

"What’s the issue? Kidney failure? Infertility? Or did someone cripple you?"

Dr. Kureha’s blunt response made Brook freeze. This old witch had no filter. She was fearless, talking like this to just anyone.

"Neither. I ate the Revive-Revive Fruit. I actually died once—my soul escaped from the Underworld, and my body ended up like this."

Brook didn’t hide anything. It wasn’t exactly a state secret.

"A Devil Fruit like that exists? That’s pretty damn amazing!"

Dr. Kureha marveled at its power, then handed Brook an empty tube.

"What’s this?"

Brook looked at the tube, confused. It wasn’t medicine or alcohol, and it was completely empty. Did she want to draw blood for a test?

"Didn’t you want to check if you can still have kids? Go take this to the bathroom and get me a sample. Or is your little ancestor out of commission?"

Dr. Kureha got straight to the point. She needed to check the root of the problem—literally.

Antonio immediately turned away, pretending he didn’t exist, though the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth showed he was barely holding back laughter. Brook, on the other hand, looked humiliated.

"Nonsense! My pillar of jade that holds up the sky, my golden cudgel that bends to my will, my iron spear of unbreakable will—they’re all famous for their strength! You might have to wait a few hours for this. Antonio, go get something to eat and come back later!"

Brook quickly sent Antonio away to spare him from feeling inferior in the presence of his captain’s ‘greatness.’

"A few hours? I’ll give you ten minutes at most. I’m trying to clock out early."

Dr. Kureha’s words made Antonio rush out, barely suppressing his laughter. Brook’s face darkened as he shot a glare at the devilish old woman.

In the end, with a gloomy expression, he trudged toward the bathroom.

"Cheer up! You won’t get good results if you’re in a bad mood. But hey, maybe it’s pointless anyway—you are a dead man!"

Shrimp and pig heart! That’s what this was!

Brook stormed into the bathroom, full of despair. He tried recalling his vast collection of 150 terabytes of ‘study material,’ missing those wonderful teachers who had guided him in his youth. Slowly, he got into the right mindset.

He moved his left hand… then his right… slow and steady, like a train entering a tunnel, like a rocket launching into space. Finally, on time, he emerged with the sample and handed it to Dr. Kureha.

To numb himself, Brook grabbed a bottle from Dr. Kureha’s shelf and started drinking. Maybe if he got drunk, he could forget all this embarrassment.

"That’s my private stash. 200,000 berries per bottle. Thanks for your patronage!"

Dr. Kureha smirked as she took the sample into her lab for analysis.

Brook downed bottle after bottle, only to realize something horrifying—he couldn’t get drunk. The alcohol was completely absorbed and neutralized by his Underworld energy. It turned out that, on top of being immune to all poisons, he had also lost the ability to get intoxicated.

If he couldn’t enjoy wine or women, then what was the point of this immortal body?!

Brook wanted to scream at the sky. Immortality might come with all sorts of perks, but he didn’t care about those. He only wanted one thing!

A single cold tear slid down his face, making Wuzhu, Memory Seahorse, and Kirin Lion exchange puzzled glances. Did their captain just… pee himself?

Fine. Even if he had no biological children, he could always go the route of King Wen and adopt dozens—no, hundreds—of children to carry on his legacy. After all, what was the point of living for so long if he had no one to rely on?

—

Meanwhile, inside the lab…

Dr. Kureha peered through the microscope, analyzing Brook’s ‘sample.’

The good news? The little tadpoles were still swimming.

The bad news? The moment the temperature rose, they lost all activity. But in freezing conditions, they became dangerously powerful, capable of freezing other cells. This basically made them lethal.

Without extreme cold, they couldn’t survive. But under those conditions, no egg cell could withstand them either. It was a biological deadlock.

Dr. Kureha tested multiple types of cells, but nothing could endure the freezing temperature required for Brook’s ‘tadpoles’ to stay active.

With no other options, she recorded her findings and walked out to deliver the bad news.

—

Brook had just finished his meal when Antonio returned, bringing food for him and the pets.

"Can’t handle the low temperatures? So it’s basically impossible for me to have children?"

Brook had braced himself for bad news, but hearing it out loud still hit him hard. Was he really going to be left with no descendants? What was the point of this iron rod, then?!

"And don’t go around harming women. Your essence is so cold it could seriously hurt someone."

Dr. Kureha’s words were another stab to the gut. Was he about to be stripped of even the right to be a man?!

"Am I gonna be a eunuch for the rest of my life?"

Brook’s voice trembled. This was a disgrace to all men!

"You could still do it, but every time you do, your partner might die. Unless, of course, she’s strong enough to handle it."

Brook latched onto that glimmer of hope.

"So… as long as my woman is strong enough, I can still enjoy my manhood and have children?"

"In theory, yes. But where are you going to find a woman strong enough to survive that? The New World is full of powerful men, but women on that level are nearly nonexistent."

"Then I just need to find someone strong enough! That’s all!"

Brook clenched his fists, determined. If such a monstrous woman existed, he’d find her—no matter what.

Dr. Kureha just shook her head.

"You’d be better off giving up now."

---

Dr. Kureha’s words rekindled Brook’s hope. A strong woman with a monster-like physique and the strength to rival a vice admiral or even an admiral.

Wasn’t this basically forcing Brook to go after Charlotte Linlin? She had a monstrous physique, ridiculous fertility, and, to be fair, she was still quite the beauty when she was young!

Or maybe Vice Admiral Tsuru? She was also a beauty in her youth, and her strength was once comparable to an admiral’s, though she had weakened with age.

Then again, there was Pure Gold, which could keep someone young forever, essentially making them immortal. If he thought about it that way, maybe his future sex life still had some hope.

There were also legends about a race of Ice Witches, women who remained frozen in time and never aged until death. He wondered if they could withstand the freezing temperatures of his own Underworld powers.

"I understand. Thanks for the diagnosis, Dr. Kureha!"

At least there was still hope. With his spirits lifted, Brook returned to his usual cold demeanor, his face grim as ever.

"Five million berries!"

"The hell?! Why don’t you just rob me?!"

"Huh?"

Dr. Kureha suddenly pulled out a scalpel and pointed it at Brook’s most precious part, moving so fast he barely reacted in time.

A bead of cold sweat ran down his forehead. Damn, this old lady’s strength was no joke.

"How about you become the doctor on my ship, Dr. Kureha?"

Brook swallowed nervously but still extended the invitation, despite the intimidating aura she gave off.

"Hah! Your little pirate crew couldn't afford a doctor like me. Do you have any idea how much my medical instruments, rare herbs, and research materials cost? You expect me to leave behind decades of accumulated resources for a bunch of pirates?"

She snorted, gripping her scalpels in both hands, looking like she was about to cut him up. Antonio, standing beside Brook, was so terrified he immediately pulled out stacks of berries and handed them over, not daring to argue.

Dr. Kureha was right. She had spent fifty or sixty years in this place to reach her current level. Why would she abandon her precious research for a pirate crew?

Her castle clinic alone was worth at least three billion berries, maybe even five. She’d have to be insane to throw that away just to sail the seas with a bunch of outlaws.

Brook and his three animal companions were promptly thrown out. Finding a ship doctor would have to be reconsidered, and they needed to pick up the pace before entering the New World.

His first choice? Charlotte Linlin. Better move fast before someone else got there first. Tsuru should still be a rear admiral, right? She was part of the same elite Navy batch as Sengoku and Garp.

Doctors held incredibly high status in this world. Some even got featured in newspapers, becoming famous worldwide—like Dr. Hogback, the genius surgeon that Chopper admired.

However, the doctors in this medical powerhouse had no fondness for pirates. They pursued medicine to advance their skills, not to patch up criminals. Many pirate ship doctors were self-taught, or they had tragic pasts that forced them to sea.

Otherwise, why would any doctor give up a stable life, treating patients and conducting research, just to join a pirate crew? Being a pirate meant constantly running from the Navy, spending months at sea, and only treating the same few crewmates. That wasn’t how medical skills were sharpened.

Medicine needed a constant stream of new cases, detailed observations, and practice. A doctor stationed at a medical sanctuary would see all sorts of patients daily, gaining far more experience than someone stuck on a ship.

Brook had even hinted at his pirate identity to a few skilled doctors, but they all kicked him out immediately. It became painfully clear—finding a doctor in this place was a lost cause.

Who in their right mind would abandon a well-paid, respected position to live a fugitive life at sea? Not every doctor had a tragic backstory of revenge or exile.

And even if they did find someone, trust was another issue. A doctor’s role couldn’t be forced—if they got sick, their life would be in that doctor’s hands. Also, medical skills weren’t something that could be absorbed like a Devil Fruit ability. A doctor without knowledge was useless.

With no other options, Brook sighed and signaled Antonio to call their ship via Den Den Mushi.

"No way, Captain Brook, you’re leaving already? You barely spent a day on land! Even a workhorse wouldn’t be pushed this hard!"

Shakky groaned in protest. After sailing for days, they had finally reached a town, but now they had to leave before they could even enjoy themselves.

Brook didn’t respond. It wasn’t like he wanted to rush off, but he had no choice—recruiting crew members before entering the New World was a priority.

Hiruba returned just then, holding the latest newspapers and bounty posters, handing them over to Brook.

Brook, Captain of the Hell Pirates – Bounty: 200 million berries.
Patrick Redfield, Fighter of the Hell Pirates – Bounty: 80 million berries.
Hiruba, Sniper of the Hell Pirates – Bounty: 20 million berries.
Shakky, Navigator of the Hell Pirates – Bounty: 15 million berries.

Antonio and the Fishman Tom still had no bounty, likely because they hadn’t directly attacked the Navy. Shakky had taken down a Marine lieutenant colonel, while Hiruba had sniped a Navy colonel.

Redfield had even held off a colonel and several lieutenant colonels, yet his bounty was still under 100 million. Meanwhile, X Drake, a former rear admiral who defected, had a bounty exceeding 200 million. Commodore Gasparde, another Marine defector, had 95 million.

From the looks of it, a bounty above 100 million meant roughly rear admiral-level strength. Between 100 and 400 million likely signified a powerful Marine branch rear admiral or an elite headquarters rear admiral.

A bounty over 500 million indicated vice admiral-level strength. Once someone hit one billion, they were at the level of a near-admiral. Admirals and Emperors, on the other hand, didn’t have massive power gaps—each of them excelled in different fields. Some had unparalleled attack power, others were endurance monsters, but all of them had abilities that made them nearly impossible to deal with.

"Wow~, I got a bounty! I am a talented woman, after all! But 15 million? That’s too low. Next time, I’ll take down a colonel myself!"

Shakky grinned, running her fingers over her bounty poster. She was more interested in her bounty than the information she was supposed to collect.

In reality, she had spent most of her time tasting the island’s special food and shopping for rare clothes, completely forgetting to gather intel.

Antonio, meanwhile, glanced enviously at his crewmates with bounties. He hadn’t even fought in a battle yet.

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Chapter Text

There didn’t seem to be any pirates staying in this medical powerhouse, so Redfield couldn't find anyone strong enough to compete with. After all, this was a well-known member of the World Government and one of the fifty nations that could participate in the Reverie.

Medical knowledge was the main focus here, and fighting wasn’t exactly welcome. However, the fish-man shipwright Tom discovered several new alloys and even electromagnetic suspension materials on the island’s advanced medical equipment.

This discovery convinced him that rare metals capable of floating on the sea’s surface must exist in the world. One day, he would build a sea train connecting the islands and revitalize the economy of Water 7.

Brook had Shakky and Antonio buy medical books and common medicines for sea voyages, gathering all the useful knowledge available on Drum Island. These things would be essential, even if Brook himself never got sick.

At Shakky’s repeated request, Brook and his crew decided to stay on Drum Island for the night, enjoying the island’s unique night views and bustling night market.

---

The Next Morning

Brook and his companions crawled out of their warm beds, set sail aboard the Voyager, and left the frigid winter island behind, heading for Twin Capes—the starting point of the Grand Line.

"I wonder how Laboon is doing now… Would it be right or wrong to take him with me?"

But leaving Laboon at Twin Capes, watching him slam his head into the Red Line over and over… that would be too cruel. It would be better to take him along, to adventure together, through life and death. If something happened in the future—even if Laboon didn’t survive the journey—at least he’d live a life without regrets.

A companion’s choice should be respected. Forcing Laboon to stay would be selfish. Even if the journey was dangerous, it was better to face it together than to spend a lifetime regretting.

If Crocus hadn’t been around to help treat Laboon, he probably would’ve died crashing into the Red Line anyway. So why not take him along?

---

Near Twin Capes

Drum Island wasn’t too far from Twin Capes. With a Log Pose, the journey only took a day or two. This was also part of why Crocus was such a skilled doctor—besides guarding the lighthouse, he frequently traveled to Drum Island to buy medical books and learn advanced techniques. If not for this, how could an ordinary lighthouse keeper develop such incredible medical skills?

"Captain Brook, we failed to recruit a ship doctor this time. Are you sure this Crocus guy will actually leave with us?"

Shakky was a bit skeptical. She had come all the way from Sabaody Archipelago—the final stop before the New World—back to Twin Capes, the entrance to the Grand Line. That kind of journey was unheard of!

Brook wasn’t sure either, but one thing was certain—Laboon would be coming with him. That was their promise.

"If we can't recruit him, then we leave as soon as possible and prepare to enter the New World!"

Brook’s determination lit a fire under his crew. Redfield and the others were itching for action.

Time at sea always felt long, but Redfield often sparred with Brook, helping him develop his Revive-Revive Fruit’s abilities even further. Meanwhile, Redfield’s own strength was inching closer to Brook’s—proof of his natural talent for battle.

Even Shakky showed exceptional skill in learning Shave, one of the Six Powers of the Marines, as if she was born for speed-based techniques.

---

Return to Twin Capes

As they approached, the sight of the two towering lighthouses brought back a wave of nostalgia for Brook and Redfield. These were the first structures they had seen after surviving Reverse Mountain and entering the Grand Line—an unforgettable moment.

For Shakky and the others, who had grown up further along the Grand Line, the sight didn’t carry the same weight.

At Twin Capes, Crocus was sitting by the lighthouse, reading a newspaper. He was used to watching pirate ships come rushing down from Reverse Mountain, but it was rare to see a ship sailing back from the GrandLine’s depths.

A pirate crew returning this way usually meant one of two things—they were either legendary figures aiming to sail the world… or they were beaten down and fleeing to the Four Seas like whipped dogs.

"That Ship looks familiar," Crocus muttered, squinting at the approaching ship.

Then it hit him—this was Brook’s Hell Pirates!

Brook’s bounty had been renewed after his revenge in Sabaody, and Crocus had heard about the Rumbar Pirates’ fate. If Brook had remained trapped in the Florian's Triangle, or if the Posion Smoke Pirates had been wiped out quickly in Sabaody or the New World, the Rumbar Pirates would’ve been forgotten, just another nameless crew lost to history.

"Laaaboooon!! Brook is back!" Crocus called out excitedly.

A massive black figure burst from the water. Over ten meters long, Laboon had grown tremendously since Brook had last seen him. Separated from his pod as a calf, Laboon had followed the Rumbar Pirates all the way from the West Blue, enchanted by their music.

Captain Yorki had entrusted Laboon to Crocus, promising to return after circumnavigating the world. But Yorki had fallen ill and left the crew early—likely dead—and the Rumbar Pirates had perished in the Florian's Triangle.

"Woooo!!"

Laboon let out a deep, echoing cry and swam full speed toward the Voyager, sending massive waves crashing around him.

"Captain Brook! A sea monster is charging at us at high speed!"

Shakky shouted, raising a telescope. Hiruba immediately set up his sniper rifle, aiming at the rapidly approaching shadow, while Redfield rested a hand on his cane-sword’s hilt.

"Calm down, everyone! Hiruba, put down the gun! He’s my crewmate—our future companion—the island whale, Laboon!"

Brook quickly stopped his crew before anyone made a mistake. Seeing Laboon’s raw power, he realized something—Laboon would make an incredible sea beast to tow the ship.

The speed of his growth was beyond anything Brook had imagined. In just half a year, he had grown this much… truly a testament to the massive potential of the island whale species.

Standing at the bow, Brook locked eyes with Laboon, wondering if the whale would still recognize him. After all, he had changed a lot since they last met.

But bonds between crewmates never fade.

Laboon stared at Brook for a few seconds, then let out an excited, melodic cry. He leaped from the sea, splashing water everywhere in sheer joy.

"Laboon! It’s been a long time! Let’s head to the Twin Capes first. From now on, you’ll adventure with us!!"

Brook called out to him. Laboon, intelligent as ever, understood immediately. He leaped from the water, his massive form casting a shadow over the ship, and let out another cheerful bellow.

If there was a rope on the Voyager, Laboon would have already started pulling the ship forward.

---

As the Voyager entered the port of Twin Capes, Crocus felt a wave of excitement. The crew of the Rumbar Pirates had been close friends, and he had always enjoyed the lively atmosphere on their ship.

If he hadn’t been the lighthouse keeper at Twin Capes, he might have joined the Rumbar Pirates and sailed the world with them. But if he had been aboard back then, would Captain Yuki’s illness have been cured? Could the Rumbar Pirates have survived the attack with poison weapons?

Or perhaps, he would have perished alongside them. If that had happened, would Roger have survived? Would the Great Pirate Era have ever begun?

“Brook, I didn’t expect to see you again!”

Crocus rushed forward and wrapped Brook in a bear hug, his eyes welling with tears. Captain Yuki and the others were gone. Only Brook remained.

When Crocus learned that the Rumbar Pirates had been wiped out by a poison attack, he had thrown himself into medical research, regretting that he hadn’t been able to help them.

“Crocus, I survived and was resurrected thanks to my Devil Fruit! Thank you for taking care of Laboon. He’s the last remaining member of the Rumbar Pirates now.”

Brook sighed. Though it hadn’t been his body that experienced those events, his soul carried those memories deeply.

“Did you come back just for Laboon?”

Crocus watched Brook and his new crew. There had to be something driving them back here, and it could only be Laboon.

“Yes,” Brook said, his voice solemn. “Dying once made me realize something—if we fail to circle the Grand Line, we will have broken our promise to Laboon. Rather than leaving him waiting here, I’d rather take him on this adventure, no matter how dangerous it gets. Besides, I have confidence in my strength now.”

Brook paused before continuing. Another important reason he had returned to Twin Capes was to bring Crocus aboard.

“Is that so…?”

Crocus sighed at how much Brook had changed. But he couldn’t deny it—he had grown deeply attached to Laboon over the past six months.

“Crocus, I want to invite you to be the ship’s doctor for our crew. I don’t want to experience another tragedy like what happened to the Rumbar Pirates. Please!”

Brook stretched out his hand, his expression sincere and determined.

Rather than searching the vast sea for future talents with uncertain growth, why not recruit those he already knew would become legends? This was his only advantage—the knowledge of what was to come. The butterfly effects it would cause? That wasn’t Brook’s concern. The world wouldn’t stop spinning for one man. He had to prioritize his own future.

“…This…”

Crocus hesitated. Guarding the lighthouse at Twin Capes was an important responsibility. It was a guiding light for many merchant ships and fishermen—it couldn’t simply be abandoned.

“Go if you want, Crocus. I’ll watch over the lighthouse. Young people should go out and see the world.”

A middle-aged man with graying temples stepped forward. He was strong and sturdy, a man who had clearly lived through many hardships.

“Uncle Lighthouse? What are you doing here?”

Crocus turned in surprise at the familiar voice and respectfully greeted him.

“Ever since your parents died in a shipwreck during a stormy night, you’ve dedicated yourself to maintaining these lighthouses, believing their poor condition was to blame. I’ve watched you study medicine for years, always reading newspapers, eager to learn about the world beyond these shores. I know that deep down, you’ve always wanted to set sail.”

Uncle Lighthouse chuckled, his voice warm.

“I’m getting old, Crocus. Fishing every day has become exhausting. Since I’ve spent so many years buying medical books for you with my fishing money, I might as well take over lighthouse duty for a while! Hahaha!”

His laughter was hearty, but Crocus’s eyes burned with emotion. Since his parents had passed, it was his uncle who had taken care of him, who had funded his studies, who had always supported him.

Crocus had also learned harpoon techniques from his uncle—a former sea beast hunter known across the nearby islands. With those skills, he was far stronger than rookie pirates who had just entered the Grand Line. He wasn’t quite at the level of a Supernova, but he was more than capable of taking on pirates with bounties in the 30 to 40 million berries range.

Twin Capes had never been overrun by pirates. His parents had been strong, and now, Crocus had grown to match his uncle’s abilities. Even pirates worth 20 to 30 million berries wouldn’t find him an easy target.

“Uncle Lighthouse…”

Crocus’s hesitation faded. He had made his decision.

“After all these years of studying medicine, it’s time to go out and put my skills to the test. Let’s see if my harpoon skills can make a name for themselves on the sea!”

Uncle Lighthouse clapped Crocus on the shoulder. The 21-year-old doctor looked at his uncle’s calloused hands and nodded.

“Uncle, take it easy at Twin Capes. Let me make our family name famous. I’ll prove that my harpoon techniques can rival the best, and I’ll show the world that my medical skills are just as good as the doctors on Drum Island!”

Brook grinned. “So, that’s a yes?”

Crocus inhaled deeply before turning back toward Brook and his crew.

“Captain Brook, I accept. I will be the doctor of the Hell Pirates. Take me with you—I want to see this incredible world! Let’s make our name known across the seas!”

Brook’s grin widened. “Welcome aboard, Crocus! I promise—we’ll make the world shake at the name Hell Pirates!”

Behind them, Redfield and the others clenched their fists in excitement. Let’s make our name known across the world! Let’s shake the seas!

That night, they celebrated on the shore with a bonfire party. Laboon and the other island whales joined in, making it a night to remember.

The Next Day

After arranging everything at Twin Capes, Crocus packed his medical books onto the Voyager with the help of Brook and the crew. He left a collection of commonly used medical books for his uncle, who chuckled about maybe teaching himself a thing or two about medicine.

The Voyager was equipped with a massive towing rope, allowing Laboon to pull the ship and give it a speed boost when needed.

As the ship sailed away, Crocus and his uncle exchanged one final wave.

Uncle Lighthouse sighed in relief, settling into a reclining chair with a newspaper in one hand and a cold drink in the other.

“After working so hard for so many years… it’s finally time to relax.”

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Chapter Text

Aboard the Voyager.

Captain Brook, fighter Redfield, sniper Hiruba, navigator Shakky, shipwright Tom, intelligence agent Antonio, pet Memory Seahorse and parrot assistant, mount Kirin Lion, and the ship-pulling whale, Laboon.

Everyone gathered together, celebrating their upcoming voyage. From now on, they were partners in life and death.

"Captain Brook, are we really heading to the New World this time? Almost all of this year's Supernovas have already reached the Sabaody Archipelago, and monsters like Golden Lion have already entered the New World to make their mark," Shakky said eagerly. She couldn't wait to witness the terrifying legends of the most dangerous sea!

"Without strength, entering the New World is pointless. That's why everyone needs to train in Haki and the Six Powers. Our next stop is Jaya Island—the location of the legendary Golden City.

Moore has already moved the headquarters of the World Economic News Agency there. This time, we're going to claim Sky Island for ourselves and establish a base."

"Captain, does Sky Island really exist? Are you sure you haven’t been tricked?" Hiruba asked skeptically. He had heard plenty of tales about Rolando the Liar.

"The other half of Jaya Island—the Golden City of Shandora—does exist. Three to four hundred years ago, it was blasted into the sky by a massive Knock Up Stream. And yes, there's a lot of gold up there," Brook stated firmly, his serious expression proving he wasn’t joking.

"Then we're gonna be filthy rich, right? The Golden City—doesn’t that mean we’ve found the biggest treasure in history?!" Shakky practically sparkled, already imagining herself draped in gold and becoming the richest person alive.

"Oh, we’ll definitely be rich. But more than that, I want to bring the World Economic News Agency under my influence and move it to Sky Island. There might even be advanced technology up there—maybe even ways to build ships that can fly.

And then there’s the Devil Fruit. I wonder if the Rumble-Rumble Fruit is still on Birka," Brook mused. If it wasn’t, maybe he could replicate its power using Wind Cannons and Lightning Blasters for short-term flight.

It was also about time for Tom to get his hands on the blueprints for the ancient weapon, Pluton. Brook was curious—could Tom reverse-engineer an offensive system like the Wind Cannon from them?

"Captain, what Devil Fruit do you want that badly? The Rumble-Rumble Fruit you mentioned earlier?" Shakky asked curiously.

"Yeah. It’s the most powerful Logia-type fruit—the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Its lightning abilities can even make certain ships fly. If we do find it, who do you think should eat it?"

The group fell silent. This was a legendary Devil Fruit—who wouldn’t want it?

Fishman Tom and Crocus immediately shook their heads. They had no interest in being cursed by the sea. Hiruba, as a sniper, would only consider a fruit that enhanced his precision and range.

Redfield, despite his monstrous strength, had never considered eating a Devil Fruit before. He didn’t want the weakness to seawater. But hearing Brook talk about the Rumble-Rumble Fruit... he was tempted.

Shakky, on the other hand, was absolutely thrilled by the idea. She definitely wanted it.

"Haha, don’t stress over it yet. We don’t even know if we’ll find it. Besides, there’ll be flying Zoan-type Mythical Beast fruits in the future—there will always be opportunities!"

That thought filled everyone with excitement. Redfield silently cursed himself for hesitating. He didn’t need a Devil Fruit—he’d reach the top of the world with his own power!

"You're right, Captain," Shakky said. Then, after a moment of thought, she asked, "But even if the Golden City is up there... how are we supposed to get to Sky Island?"

Brook suddenly frowned. She had a point. He had been too caught up in the excitement—how were they actually going to fly up there? Were they really going to risk riding the Knock Up Stream like Roger and Luffy?

Did they have the same insane luck those guys did? If something went wrong, they could end up shipwrecked—or worse, dead.

"This is a serious issue. The Knock Up Stream is way too dangerous, and we don’t have Golden Lion Shiki’s Float-Float Fruit to help us," Brook admitted. He sighed, realizing how tricky this situation had become.

Maybe Moore seagulls could fly that high?

In Brook’s past life, he had seen that only one bird on Earth could reach altitudes of 11,000 meters—the bar-headed goose. It had a special kind of hemoglobin that allowed it to use limited oxygen efficiently.

Did the people of Sky Island have something similar? If not, how did they survive at 10,000 meters? Or was Sky Island self-sustaining in oxygen?

There were a few other birds that could reach around 7,000 meters, such as the whooper swan, alpine vulture, and bearded vulture. The White Sea, which surrounded Sky Island, was at an altitude of 7,000 meters, while the White-White Sea was at 10,000 meters.

Oxygen was a huge factor limiting flight height. Even if a bird could technically fly up there, it might die from oxygen deprivation. But... if he solved the oxygen issue, could seagulls reach the White Sea?

Could they be equipped with oxygen masks?

The World Economic News Agency’s seagulls were ridiculously strong fliers. They delivered newspapers all over the world—if anyone could reach Sky Island, it was them.

With that in mind, Brook quickly called Moore, who was already on Jaya Island. He needed to know the maximum flying height and carrying capacity of the News Coo birds.

Then, he had Moore start preparing oxygen tanks and other equipment. Oxygen did exist in this world—Jaya Island’s salvage teams used it, and even Whitebeard had an oxygen tank for his illness.

If they could get the seagulls to carry supplies to Sky Island, they might just have a way up there.

—

On Jaya Island, Moore and the World Economic News Agency had moved their headquarters under the protection of their own bodyguards. They were avoiding the oppression of the World Peace Dove News Agency, a rival backed by the World Government.

Without the constant harassment of bounty hunters at Sabaody, the pirate town on Jaya was much safer. Weaker pirates had taken over, and honestly, they weren’t much of a threat.

Brook’s message arrived.

"Equip seagulls with oxygen devices?"

Moore was confused but didn’t ask questions. Brook had already tied his family’s fate to his own, and the secret breeding method for his News Coo birds made him a target for many enemies.

According to his calculations, it was about time to have his top bird, Morgans., eat a Zoan-type Bird-Bird Fruit. If they nurtured it from a young age, it could become the new king of the News Coo.

Meanwhile, the Voyager was already following the log pose straight to Jaya Island, pushing full speed ahead.

Their journey to Sky Island had officially begun.

---

Under the protection of his own guards, Moore Thomas waited at the port of Jaya Island for Brook’s arrival. Now the captain of the Hell Pirates with a bounty of 200 million berries, Brook was far stronger than when he had first set sail from the Sabaody Archipelago.

Seeing the Voyager approaching, its sails bearing the flag of the Hell Pirates, Moore Thomas clenched his fists. If the legendary Sky Island truly existed and the World Economic News Agency could be moved there, they’d no longer have to fear the World Government’s persecution.

"Brook!!!"

Moore Thomas transformed into his half-beast form, taking to the air as he waved excitedly.

"Moore, everything going smoothly?"

Brook rode his Kirin Lion ahead of the ship, landing at the port to meet the future news tycoon.

"Aside from some staff leaving and a slight drop in newspaper production, our papers are still in high demand!"

Moore Thomas spoke with excitement. As a rising independent news outlet, he took great pride in being able to rival—and even slightly overshadow—the government-controlled newspapers.

"Did you get the oxygen masks and tanks I asked for?"

"Yeah, I ordered them from other islands. They’ll be here in a few days."

"Good. Now let’s bring Jaya Island under the rule of the Hell Pirates!"

"That’s what I was thinking too!"

Moore Thomas was eager to follow Brook’s every move. Even if Sky Island didn’t exist, making Jaya their base would still be a win.

The Eternal Voyager docked, and the crew set foot on Jaya Island. This pirate town had long been under the rule of various pirate crews, its lawless nature attracting outlaws from all over.

For some reason, the Navy had never bothered to wipe out the pirates here. Perhaps it was because the lines between pirates and civilians had blurred. The locals lived like pirates, yet they had no bounties and often helped real pirates escape. Over time, the Navy stopped caring, and Jaya remained a thriving pirate hub for resupply and revelry.

"Redfield, take the island. Plant our flag. It’s ours now."

The strongest pirate on Jaya likely had a bounty of only 50 to 60 million berries. Redfield, a beast of a warrior, would crush these small fries with ease.

"Got it."

Redfield grabbed his cane sword and headed straight for Mock Town.

Shakky and Hiruba, two bounty hunters eager to raise their own prices, followed him, looking forward to the fight.

Moore Thomas stayed behind to oversee the ship’s safety while Tom, Crocus, and Antonio accompanied Brook to the World Economic News Agency headquarters.

In the distance, a massive breeding facility echoed with the chirping of tens of thousands of seagulls. It was clear why Moore Thomas had earned the nickname “Seagull King.”

Fully transformed into his beast form, Moore let out a commanding cry. The seagulls instantly fell silent, turning to face their king.

"Let’s send some seagulls up with sample oxygen masks and see how they do. Get one for my Kirin Lion too."

Following Moore’s orders, several seagulls removed the newspaper pouches around their necks, replacing them with small oxygen tanks. A transparent mask covered their beaks, attached to the tanks.

Once the birds got used to their new gear, Moore and the Kirin Lion also donned oxygen masks. Then, with Brook riding atop the Kirin Lion and Moore in tow, they ascended into the sky.

The higher they climbed, the colder it got, and the air thinned rapidly. While most birds could endure the cold, they couldn’t handle the lack of oxygen—except for a select few species.

At around 7,000 meters, they broke through a layer of thick, white sea clouds. Brook immediately noticed that the oxygen levels here were higher than expected. Though still lower than at sea level, they were more than sufficient for survival.

Even stranger, the temperature was rising. It had returned to normal, then surpassed it, becoming even hotter than Blue Sea.

The Sky Island natives, the Shandians, rarely wore clothing. Their dark, tanned skin and primitive attire hinted at the island’s sweltering climate. It seemed the White Sea and Sky Island naturally generated heat and oxygen.

As they ascended further, they encountered a denser layer of clouds—sea clouds. Brook and Moore began feeling weak. Sensing the danger, Brook quickly pulled Moore onto the Kirin Lion’s back.

These sea clouds contained keratin-like particles called "pyrobroin," ejected into the sky by volcanic eruptions. When mixed with water vapor, they condensed into clouds of varying densities, forming both sea clouds and island clouds.

Sea clouds, like the waters of Blue Sea, rendered Devil Fruit users powerless. This was why many pirates with abilities couldn’t reach Sky Island—falling into the sea clouds could be fatal. However, these clouds also had strong buoyancy, allowing ships to sail across them.

Island clouds, on the other hand, were soft, elastic formations floating above the sea clouds. They served as Sky Island’s land, where the angelic winged residents lived.

When Jaya was propelled into the sky centuries ago, the Sky People, who had never seen soil before, viewed it as a priceless treasure. Their war with the Shandians over the land of Shandora raged for 400 years.

Having confirmed that seagulls with oxygen masks could reach the White Sea, Brook, feeling fatigued, commanded the Kirin Lion to descend. Moore also signaled the seagulls to return to the ground.

···

"Brook, Sky Island might really exist!!"

Back on solid ground, Moore Thomas was nearly jumping with excitement. From beneath the White Sea, they had glimpsed air fish and sky beasts—creatures native to Sky Island’s ecosystem.

"Now you need to pick your most trusted employees to work on Sky Island. We can breed seagull news birds there too."

Brook planned to have Redfield use his advanced Observation Haki to screen Moore’s employees, ensuring no World Government spies infiltrated their operations.

"I understand. If we set up there, the World Economic News Agency will explode in popularity! We’ll crush the World Peace Dove News Agency in sales!"

Moore Thomas was ambitious. Having been hunted by the World Government, he wanted nothing more than to dethrone their official news agency. Though outright surpassing them was impossible—since their sales came from government-affiliated nations—he could still carve out a massive independent market.

Meanwhile, in the heart of Mock Town, Redfield faced off against Jaya’s unruly pirates. Armed with blades and arrogance, they prepared to fight, but Redfield’s overwhelming power crushed their resistance. The strongest pirate in town, unwilling to surrender, was swiftly cut down. The others lost their will to fight instantly, and passing pirate crews decided to steer clear of the newly claimed territory.

With no choice, the local pirate gangs submitted to the Hell Pirates’ rule. Fortunately, Brook and his crew weren’t interested in extorting them with heavy protection fees. The bar and restaurant owners sighed in relief.

Some of the local pirate gangs even joined the Hell Pirates’ ranks as lower-tier enforcers, helping to maintain order in Mock Town.

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Chapter Text

In the center of Mock Town on Jaya Island—

"Except for the pirate crews that have already set sail, the rest are just local thugs from Mock Town. They’ve never even been out to sea. They just run taverns and restaurants, and when weak pirate groups show up, they rob and kill them!"

Redfield reported to Brook, clearly having already scanned them all with his advanced Observation Haki.

"By the way, can you check if there are any World Government spies among Moore Thomas' news agency employees?"

Brook asked Redfield to investigate once more, while he himself turned his attention to the local crime bosses in Mock Town.

"From this moment on, this island is under the control of the Hell Pirates. I don’t care how you run your businesses, but if I find out that any of you are providing information or services to the Navy or World Government, you’ll be frozen solid!"

Brook swung his sword, releasing a surge of ghostly ice energy. A pirate who had been looking at him with disdain was instantly turned into an ice statue. Without hesitation, Brook stepped forward and shattered him into countless shards.

The sight made the remaining pirates shudder in fear. They now understood—Brook wasn’t playing games.

"Starting today, you will keep records of every suspicious person who sets foot on this island, especially those looking for information. If you find any spies or undercover Marines, you report them immediately. If anything happens under your watch, you’re as good as dead."

Brook's cold warning sent a shiver through the gathered pirates. By now, Moore Thomas' news agency had already been operational on the island for a couple of weeks. There was no doubt that word had spread.

"Captain Brook, this is our home. We won’t let the Navy destroy it! We’ll keep watch!"

A few pirate bosses quickly swore loyalty. After all, Brook was a big-name pirate with a bounty of 200 million berries.

"That news agency will be relocating soon. From now on, it doesn’t exist. No one talks about it. Understand?"

"What news agency?"

A tavern owner immediately caught on and turned to the other pirates. "We’ve never had a news agency here, right?"

His quick thinking earned a round of nods from the others, and Brook couldn’t help but smirk. This guy was sharp.

"Good. From now on, you’re in charge of gathering intel and managing these people."

"Thank you for your trust, Captain Brook! I won’t let you down!"

The tavern owner—Will—was overjoyed. He’d secured a management role just by saying the right thing at the right time.

Brook then designated a nearby forest on the outskirts of Mock Town as the new base for the Hell Pirates, as well as a supply hub for the World Economic News Agency’s operations in the sky.

After Redfield completed his scans, he successfully identified a mole within the news agency. The revelation was a tough pill to swallow for Moore Thomas. The man had been a trusted employee for over three years—how could he be a spy?

No amount of pleading or emotional appeals could save him. In the end, Moore Thomas personally carried out the execution.

---

With the customized oxygen masks and tanks delivered to Jaya Island, Brook decided after some discussion that the first step was to send the Voyager up to the White Sea. Their mission was clear: explore, occupy, and establish a stronghold on Sky Island.

Brook and Crocus also gave Laboon strict instructions to stay near Jaya and not wander too far. The young island whale needed time to grow.

"Brook, everyone in Mock Town is going to see us fly up. Even if we reach Sky Island, it won’t take long for word to spread."

"Doesn’t matter. Once we’re up there, we set up defenses and shoot down any intruders."

Crossing the White Sea wasn’t easy—not even for Zoan-type Devil Fruit users—unless someone had an ability like Golden Lion. If the World Government started outfitting birds with oxygen masks like they had, then controlling Sky Island first would give them the aerial advantage.

Brook had already thought of a solution—just kill any birds ferrying enemies up.

With their plan in place, it was time to act.

---

On the big day, the Hell Pirates ordered all businesses in Mock Town to close and for no one to leave their homes. Some people were confused by the sudden command, but Brook’s reputation left no room for argument.

The Voyager was stripped of unnecessary weight to travel light. Tens of thousands of strong seagulls took flight, lifting the massive ship. Even the Kirin Lion and Parrot Assistant lent their strength.

Once they passed the frigid, low-oxygen layer between five and seven kilometers, the air and temperature returned to normal upon reaching the White Sea at 7,000 meters.

As the seagulls broke through the thick cloud layers, they were immediately attacked by sky fish. Brook, being a Devil Fruit user, was powerless when submerged in the sea clouds, but Redfield stepped in, easily fending off the sky beasts.

When the Voyager finally reached the White Sea, the ship’s buoyancy kicked in, allowing it to float naturally. The seagulls no longer needed to pull—it could now freely sail across the White Sea.

Brook, regaining his strength, immediately reported their success to Moore Thomas through Den Den Mushi. One by one, the seagulls descended back to Jaya Island.

As the Voyager moved forward, they spotted a structure made entirely of white clouds, with people stationed on it.

"Oh wow! Blue Sea people actually made it up here! I always thought that was just a legend!"

A middle-aged man with the signature wings of the Sky People held up a video dial, snapping images of Brook and his crew.

"No one's come from Blue Sea in who knows how long. I signed up to be stationed here just so I could slack off!"

The Sky Islander muttered to himself, earning a few curious glances from Brook and the others.

"Welcome, visitors from Blue Sea! Are you here for sightseeing? Each person only needs 100 million Extol, which is about 10,000 berries in Blue Sea, to take the Shrimp Express straight to Angel Island!"

The winged man flipped through a booklet, comparing prices.

"Yeah, we’re here for some sightseeing."

Seeing that Eneru wasn’t in charge and the prices weren’t outrageous, Shakky casually handed over 100,000 berries. She didn’t even ask for change—the extra was a tip.

"Well then, have a great trip!"

The Sky Islander put away his booklet and video dial before blowing a whistle. Moments later, a massive red shrimp surfaced, gripping the Voyager and propelling it along the sea clouds. In no time, the ship was hurled onto the deeper White Sea.

As Brook and his crew took in their surroundings, they spotted buildings and lush greenery.

"This is Angel Island… and that over there is the Island of Gods—‘Apayado,’" Brook murmured. "That island is the missing piece of Jaya that got blasted into the sky centuries ago."

"Captain… is that really the legendary Golden City of Shandora?"

Shakky stared at the distant ruins, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Yeah. That island was torn from Jaya by the Knock-Up Stream. The neighboring white island is where the Sky People originally lived—Angel Island, made of island clouds."

Brook took a deep breath, his grip tightening on his sword. Their journey had only just begun.

---

More than three hundred years ago, part of Jaya Island, including the city of Shandora, was launched into the White Sea by a massive knock-up stream, landing next to Angel Island, home of the Sky People.

The Sky People, who had never seen soil or lush greenery, were instantly captivated by the floating island. They waged war against the indigenous Shandians and emerged victorious. They renamed the land “Upper Yard”, declaring it the Island of God, and merged it with Angel Island to form a new kingdom—the Kingdom of Skypiea. The Shandians were driven into exile, forced to live in the outskirts of the island.

Over time, these exiles became the Shandian warriors of today. Determined to reclaim their homeland and ring the Golden Bell once more to fulfill their ancestors' promise to Noland, they waged a relentless war against the Sky People for over three hundred years.

But despite their resilience, their numbers dwindled over time. Reduced to guerrilla tactics, they harassed the Sky People and eventually learned to use Dials as weapons. The conflict remained at a standstill, but the Shandians’ smaller population made it impossible for them to fully reclaim their land.

Then came Enel. His arrival tipped the scales even further, reducing the Shandians’ numbers yet again. Their once-determined warriors were now fighting just to survive.

---

"The Dial technology on this Sky Island is incredibly advanced, so be careful!"

Brook briefed his crew on the various Dials and their unique properties.

"Isn't that basically like Devil Fruit abilities?" Shakky raised an eyebrow as she listened to Brook list off Impact Dials, Repel Dials, Flame Dials, Water Dials, Axe Dials, and more. She was already scheming ways to use them in battle.

Sniper Hiruba was particularly interested in the Flash Dial—its blinding effect, combined with his sniping skills, sounded like a deadly combo.

Antonio, being the weakest on the crew, immediately eyed the Water Dial for countering Devil Fruit users and the Flame Dial for launching fire attacks. "Wouldn’t that make me stronger?" he muttered.

Tom, the shipwright, was more interested in potential new materials. "I wonder if there’s a floating material strong enough to improve the Sea Train…" He rubbed his hands eagerly, excited to explore.

The ship doctor was already thinking of ways to use Breath Dials—maybe even to store anesthetic gases or toxins.

Redfield, however, remained unimpressed. He wasn’t interested in tools—only raw power.

"The Sky People and Shandians don’t care about gold, so we can take as much as we want!"

"Seriously? Captain Brook, what the hell are we waiting for?! Let’s take over this island and grab the gold!!" Shakky was already charging ahead, her eyes gleaming with greed.

"I'm planning to make Skypiea our main base. This time, we're not just passing through—we're taking the whole damn island!" Brook declared.

"YES, CAPTAIN!"

Even Tom was fired up. A few days ago, Brook had given him some ancient blueprints—ones even he couldn’t fully decipher. But what he could understand had already blown his mind. His fingers twitched at the thought of adding new features to the Voyager.

---

As the Voyager approached Angel Island, they spotted the Sky People—humanoids with feathery ornaments on their backs and hair styled into tentacle-like shapes.

The Beret Corps, the local enforcers, rushed over upon spotting the strange ship docking at their shore. Their mission was simple—monitor the Blue Sea People and prevent them from causing trouble.

Meanwhile, deep within Upper Yard, inside the Palace of the Island of God, a man clad in armor sat upon a golden throne. He was the current "God" of Skypiea—Gan Fallmo. Beside him stood his 12-year-old son, Gan Fall, the next in line for the title.

"Fall, why hasn’t your Mantra awakened yet? Are you slacking?!"

Mantra—the ability to sense and predict enemy attacks—was a skill that every god of Skypiea was expected to master. Every generation of rulers had wielded this power, keeping the Shandians in check and ensuring Skypiea's dominance. But Gan Fall lacked talent. He had a kind heart but nowhere near the strength needed to protect their people.

A weak god would doom Skypiea. If the Shandians ever regained power, the results would be disastrous.

"Father, why can’t we just live in peace with the Shandians? Why must we keep fighting?"

Gan Fallmo fell silent. Should he tell his son the truth? That their ancestors stole this land? That Upper Yard originally belonged to the Shandians, and they were the invaders?

"You only need to know this—power is what protects our people. If you grow strong enough, maybe you’ll be able to convince the Shandians to lay down their hatred and coexist."

He sighed, patting his son’s head. He, too, wanted to end this centuries-old war. But every generation, a new Shandian warrior would rise—one strong enough to challenge even a god.

If the Shandians had more numbers, the Sky People wouldn't have been able to suppress them for this long.

"I understand. I will train hard, become the strongest, and bring true peace to Skypiea!" Gan Fall clenched his fists with renewed determination.

---

Meanwhile, the Voyager had docked at Angel Island. As Brook and his crew stepped ashore, their overwhelming presence made the Beret Corps visibly tense. Some even instinctively backed away in fear.

"Take us to your god," Brook demanded. His voice sent shivers down the spines of the Sky People.

The locals panicked.

"They’re not tourists—they’re invaders! Alert the god immediately!" The Beret Corps scrambled to sound the alarm.

Brook smirked. He knew how this would play out. He planned to defeat their god outright and make him submit. In the original timeline, Gan Fall had surrendered to Enel to ensure his people's survival.

Brook would force him to do the same.

Back at Upper Yard, Gan Fallmo had already received the emergency report. Without hesitation, he grabbed his Flame Dial Rifle and rushed toward Angel Island.

"Captain Brook, let me handle this so-called 'god'!"

Redfield stepped forward, eager for battle. He had been training his Haki, and his combat power had skyrocketed. He wanted to test his new strength.

Brook shook his head. "No. This needs to be overwhelming. We need to show them that they stand no chance against us. Only then will they submit willingly."

His Underworld Aura flared up, chilling the air around him.

This was going to be a one-sided slaughter.

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Chapter Text

A huge, strange bird soared from the distance, carrying a thin yet imposing knight in silver armor. Though his frame looked frail, his aura was anything but weak.

"Blue Sea dwellers! Are you pirates? How dare you invade the Kingdom of God?! I advise you to leave immediately, or else my Divine Army will surround and crush you!"

Gan Fallmo shouted a warning from the sky, gripping his Flame Shell Burning Spear as it began to glow red-hot.

"Let's fight first, and then you’ll figure out your next move!"

Brook grinned at the so-called god of the island. A chilling aura seeped from his body, growing darker and heavier by the second.

Underworld Aura: Death’s Chill

A wave of deathly energy spread across the entire Sky Island. Though the island knew no winter, a deep, bone-piercing cold settled into the air. Every soul felt an oppressive, suffocating weight bearing down on them. Those with weaker bodies collapsed in fear, unconscious before they even realized what was happening.

Even Gan Fallmo’s giant bird, paralyzed with terror, forgot to flap its wings, sending both mount and rider plummeting from the sky.

"W-what is this?!"

Gan Fallmo's eyes widened in horror. His Mantra—his ability to sense people’s presences—was completely useless against the man before him. It was as if Brook’s very existence defied life itself.

As Brook took slow steps forward, Gan Fallmo gritted his teeth and forced his fear down, thrusting his Flame Shell Burning Spear straight at him.

Underworld Ghost Energy: Weapon Breaker

In an instant, the flaming spear shattered into pieces. Gan Fallmo froze, unable to process what had just happened. He hadn't even seen Brook move. His Mantra still couldn't pick up on him.

What kind of demon is this man?!

"Captain Brook, this so-called god is nothing but a fraud. He doesn’t deserve the title at all," Redfield scoffed, looking at Gan Fallmo with disdain. Such weaklings weren’t even worth his time.

"God or not, I don’t care. I’ll make this simple for you," Brook said, his dead, blue eyes locking onto Gan Fall. "Submit to our rule. We’re not here to slaughter—we just want to develop this place. Surrender, and you’ll remain in charge as an administrator. You can even keep your people safe from the Shandia tribe."

Brook’s gaze was like death itself, and Gan Fallmo knew that refusal wasn’t an option.

"You bastards, get out of here now!"

A young boy suddenly charged in, wielding a long-handled lance with no hesitation.

"Fall—no! Don’t come here!"

Before Gan Fallmo could react, the boy’s weapon was cut into five or six pieces in the blink of an eye. All that remained in his hands was a broken shaft.

Brook swung his Seven-Star Sword, unleashing a freezing gust of cold air. Gan Fall's legs were instantly encased in ice, locking him in place.

"Fall!"

The old man’s eyes were filled with panic as Brook stepped forward. He placed his icy fingers over the young boy’s mouth, and within moments, the boy’s lips were frozen shut.

"Children should know when to stay quiet," Brook said coldly.

"No—Fall! Don’t kill him! I’ll surrender! I’ll abdicate! Just don’t hurt him!"

Tears welled in Gan Fallmo’s eyes as he pleaded. The Beret Guards around him clenched their fists, feeling utterly humiliated. Their once-mighty god was now groveling before these outsiders.

Brook didn’t respond. Instead, he raised his Seven-Star Sword and slashed the air. A massive arc of sword energy erupted from the sword, carving a thousand-meter-long scar into Lovely Street. The sheer power left the onlooking angels and Beret Guards frozen in shock.

"Be obedient, or I’ll carve up this whole damn place," Brook warned, nodding in satisfaction at their silence.

Under Gan Fallmo’s reluctant guidance, Brook and his crew entered the grand palace of Upper Yard, the so-called Island of God. The palace was magnificent, lined with golden pillars that gleamed under the sunlight.

Shakky, unable to resist, ran her hands along the gold structures in admiration. "Damn, this is all solid gold!"

Brook sat at the head of the main hall while Gan Fallmo and his priests stood below, awaiting their fate. They all knew resisting was futile. Even Brook’s subordinates were terrifyingly strong.

"We won’t be randomly killing anyone," Brook said casually. "Just continue living your lives as usual. In a day or two, some more Blue Sea dwellers will arrive. Your job is to help them settle here."

He then turned to Redfield.

"Take one of these priests with you and go subdue the Shandia tribe."

Gan Fallmo hesitated but ultimately nodded, arranging for four priests to accompany Redfield. Hiruba, intrigued by the tribe, decided to tag along.

"As for the rest of you," Brook gestured toward the golden pillars, "get to work collecting all this gold."

Gan Fallmo obeyed, ordering his troops to begin gathering the treasure. Shakky and Antonio oversaw the operation, with Brook assigning the Kirin Lion to accompany them for protection.

"Now, I need some intel," Brook continued. "There’s a small island to the south—Birka. Find a way to get there."

Brook was still after the Thunder Fruit. It hadn't surfaced in the seas for years, meaning it had already been reincarnated somewhere. Given that Enel would eventually find it and destroy Birka before becoming the new god of Sky Island, Brook suspected that the fruit had already reappeared there.

"I understand, Lord Brook!" Gan Fallmo quickly sent his priests to investigate Birka.

"One more thing—do you have any flying ships here? Any blueprints or ancient relics related to them?"

Gan Fallmo shook his head. "None that I know of. Upper Yard only surfaced about 300 years ago, and there’s no history of shipbuilding here. Angel Island doesn’t have anything like that either. If you’re looking for transportation, the Wavers are your best bet."

Brook frowned, realizing his mistake. Upper Yard was originally part of Jaya Island. There was no way they’d have advanced ship technology here.

That meant Enel had brought the Ark Maxim’s blueprints and construction knowledge from Birka.

So Birka wasn’t just an ordinary island—it likely held not only the Thunder Fruit but also the technology to build an airship. It even had unique Dial Shells like Thunder Shells and Slash Shells, which weren’t commonly found near Angel Island.

"Never mind. That’s none of your concern. Just focus on keeping the Kingdom of God running smoothly. Oh, and bring me a full set of Dial Shells for research."

Gan Fallmo ordered his men to gather all types of Dials. Crocus and Fishman Tom eagerly examined them, fascinated by their unique properties.

Meanwhile, Brook scaled the enormous beanstalk that led to the ruins of Shandora, where he found the massive Golden Bell Tower.

If someone with the Gold-Gold Fruit came here now, they’d be ecstatic.

Brook traced his fingers over the ancient inscriptions but couldn’t read them. Still, he knew their meaning—a prophecy about Poseidon, the Sea God, appearing on Fishman Island.

But why was this knowledge recorded on Jaya Island hundreds of years ago?

Could it be that Jaya was once a powerful nation 800 years ago? That would explain why Shandora was built with gold and remained untouched by plunder.

It wasn’t until it was blasted into the sky 300 years ago that it became a forgotten legend.

Brook’s gaze lingered on the bell.

"Interesting…"

---

Brook was unable to move the massive golden bell tower, so he had to return to the Golden Palace of Upper Yard.

"Captain Brook, these island clouds are really light, buoyant, and tough. Wouldn't they be the perfect material for sea trains?"

Fishman Tom was ecstatic, as if he had discovered the ideal material for shipbuilding.

"Don't get too excited just yet. These island clouds might not work in the Blue Sea. You can run some tests and see for yourself."

"That so? If they can't survive down there, then they're useless."

Brook's words threw a bucket of cold water on Tom’s enthusiasm, but he still planned to experiment.

Brook only knew that iron clouds, ball clouds, and swamp clouds produced by Dial Shells couldn't exist in the Blue Sea, but he wasn't sure about naturally formed island clouds.

Here, island clouds could also be processed into refined clouds, which were used for furniture, construction, and even canal-building. Maybe they could survive in the Blue Sea, but only Tom’s experiments would prove it.

"Captain, if we install these Jet Dials on our ship, we’d be able to sail through the Calm Belt without a problem!"

Tom was fascinated by the air-based technology of Sky Island.

"Yeah, I’m thinking we should completely upgrade the Voyager while we’re here, or maybe even build a whole new battleship."

If Birkans really did leave behind the design for Ark Maxim, Brook would definitely have Tom merge those plans with the ancient blueprints of Pluton to create something entirely new.

Crocus was already moving large amounts of Dials back to the Voyager, recognizing their immense potential.

Meanwhile, divine warriors carried bags of gold back to the palace. They didn’t understand why these foreigners had taken their god hostage and were now stealing these useless yellow stones. Gold couldn’t grow plants or feed people—so what was the point?

"Captain Brook, look at this huge golden pillar! It’s massive!!!"

Shakky and Antonio were beyond excited. Before them stood a golden pillar larger than a house, weighing at least dozens of tons—maybe even hundreds. They had no idea how much it was worth, but they knew one thing for sure.

They were rich. Filthy rich.

They could live in luxury for the rest of their lives and still have enough berries left over to pass down for generations.

"Yeah, yeah. I’ll slice it up later with my sword. Oh, and there’s a giant snake with a belly full of gold. Go find it."

Brook was unfazed, despite Shakky and Antonio’s excitement. In his eyes, wealth was just an external thing. Strength was what really mattered in this world.

"Captain, come on! That golden pillar is our golden ticket! We’ll never have to worry about money again!"

Shakky was irritated by Brook’s indifferent attitude. She had risked her life just to bring him this news, and he was brushing it off.

"If you don’t have the strength to keep it, then someone else will take it from you. Wouldn’t that be worse? It’s better not to get attached to it."

Brook’s words poured cold water on Shakky’s excitement. Frustrated, she stomped her foot, rolled her eyes, and ran off to find the golden-stuffed snake he mentioned.

Moments later, Redfield entered with several captured priests and a few dark-skinned Shandians in tow.

"Captain Brook, I caught the strongest warrior and chief of the Shandians."

Behind him, the priests looked at Redfield in awe. His body had been tough enough to withstand volleys of arrows, and his agility surpassed even Enel’s Mantra. To them, this man was stronger than any god they had ever known.

Brook glanced at the two Shandians covered in sword wounds. If he hadn’t specifically ordered Redfield not to kill them, they’d be dead already.

"Surrender. From now on, the Shandians and Skypieans will live together in peace. If you refuse, I’ll see you as a threat and wipe you out completely."

Brook’s words made the Shandians’ pupils shrink.

"The Golden Bell… Let us ring it just once, to fulfill our ancestors’ promise. Then we will surrender."

For centuries, the Skypieans had been unaware of the Golden Bell’s significance, believing the Shandians were simply fighting to reclaim land. Meanwhile, the Shandians believed the Skypieans had stolen the Golden Bell along with their homeland. This misunderstanding had fueled their endless war.

"Good. From now on, you are all under my command."

Brook turned to Gan Fallmo and made a decision.

"The whole ‘God’ and ‘Kingdom of God’ thing is too pretentious. From now on, this place will be called the Kingdom of the Sky, and I will be its King. And we’re renaming Upper Yard back to the Golden City of Shandora."

Gan Fallmo and the Skypieans had no choice but to silently accept.

"Gan Fallmo, you will serve as Minister of Civil Affairs, responsible for managing all internal matters of the Sky Kingdom. Shandia Chief Wyper, you’ll be the Minister of Military Affairs, responsible for defense and forming a patrol force."

Both men lowered their heads and accepted the orders, exchanging uncertain glances. Could their people truly coexist after hundreds of years of bloodshed?

Brook then led the main members of both tribes, as well as his crew, to the enormous Golden Bell in Shandora.

As the bell rang, its deep chimes echoed through the skies, cleansing their spirits. Hatred that had lasted for centuries seemed to wash away in an instant. The two tribes looked at each other and, for the first time, saw something other than an enemy.

Brook ordered his warriors to gather all the gold in Shandora, while he, Fishman Tom, and Redfield worked together to restore the massive bell tower. The structure was straightened, and a new Golden Palace was built atop it—Brook’s new royal residence.

The massive golden pillar? Brook and Redfield used it for sword practice, slicing it into manageable pieces before moving them to Shandora.

Meanwhile, Gan Fallmo searched for information on Birka, and Shakky went off to hunt the Sky Lord, the great snake. Brook, on the other hand, was already preparing to bring Moore Thomas news organization to Sky Island.

Transported by giant express shrimp, seagull news birds were relocated to the Sky Kingdom. Soon, the entire headquarters of the World Economic News Agency was moved and placed on Shandora Island.

Moore’s family and employees arrived next, though they initially struggled with the lack of oxygen in the high-altitude environment. However, their discomfort quickly turned into astonishment when they saw the Golden Palace.

Shandora, the legendary golden city in the sky, now served as Brook’s royal palace.

Below it, the newly renamed Golden Welcoming Hall became the entrance to the kingdom.

For the workers of the news agency, this was paradise. A place where they could do their jobs while surrounded by wealth beyond imagination.

And in the forests below, seagulls nested peacefully, ready to spread the news of this new sky kingdom to the world.

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Chapter Text

Moore Thomas looked at the now-stable World Economic News Agency and felt an overwhelming sense of security. He never expected that Brook not only took over Sky Island but somehow became its ruler! It was like having the ultimate backing, and with all the gold here, funding would never be an issue again. He had to make sure Morgans met his adoptive father!

Previously, due to pressure from the World Government, the World Economic News Agency had been forced to relocate and had gone weeks without publishing newspapers. The World Peace Dove News Agency assumed they had shut down, and most people thought this new, innovative paper was done for.

Since they still had a base on Jaya Island, the World Economic News Agency began gathering news again through special correspondents stationed across the world. They reorganized, edited, and started publishing papers once more. This time, the seagulls delivering the news were equipped with small oxygen tanks and tubes, allowing them to fly up and down from Sky Island multiple times, refilling their oxygen as needed.

---

World Peace Dove News

"How the hell did this happen?! Moore Thomas vanished for more than half a month, and now he's back selling newspapers?! Have you found out where they moved to?!" President White Peizhen slammed his fist on the desk, glaring at the agent in front of him.

"According to reports, they first moved to Jaya Island in the Grand Line, but then relocated again. Since then, there's been no trace of them!"

Agents were dispatched to investigate Jaya Island, confirming that the World Economic News Agency had indeed been there before moving again. However, they couldn't determine their new location.

"Could they have returned to the Four Seas?"

White Peizhen had considered copying Moore Thomas’ newspaper model, but as an organization under the World Government, they couldn’t report on pirates’ adventures, navy scandals, or noble corruption. Their role was to glorify the World Government, highlight the navy’s justice, slander pirates, and exaggerate their terror.

For now, all he could do was order his agents to continue searching for the World Economic News Agency and shut them down once more.

---

Sky Kingdom's Growth

With Brook’s massive financial backing, Moore Thomas used his past connections to hire elite reporters, sending them across the Four Seas, the Grand Line, and even the New World to gather intel. This allowed the news agency to quickly rise again, dominate the market, and take control of public opinion.

Meanwhile, the Hell Pirates underwent specialized training, upgrading their equipment with Sky Shells to enhance their strength. Even the news agency's reporters were armed with Image Shells, turning them into state-of-the-art recording devices alongside Camera Den Den Mushi.

Fishman Tom, Hiruba, and Crocus worked on secondary inventions, modifying Sky Shells into new weapons:

Flash Shell Guns

Paralysis Shells

Storm Water Shells

Brook and Redfield engaged in high-intensity training battles, both relying on their lightning-fast swordsmanship. Their relentless duels rapidly sharpened their skills.

"Lord Brook! We've located Birka Island! Our Wind Shell Ship can reach it!"

Gan Fomo rushed over to report. The Waver had been modified into a small sailboat with additional Wind Shells and Jet Shells, significantly boosting its speed.

"Good! Let's head out!" Brook wasted no time, eager to uncover Birka’s secrets.

Their ship, the Voyager, had been outfitted with numerous Sky Shells by Fishman Tom, increasing both its speed and firepower. It could now fly short distances using hundreds of Wind Shells and was armed with a variety of weapons, including:

Fire Shells

Water Shells

Light Shells (for illumination)

Even with guidance from Angel navigators, it still took several days for the Voyager to reach the mysterious Birka Island.

---

Arrival at Birka Island

Upon arrival, Brook and his crew immediately noticed the differences between Birka Island and Angel Island. The people here had unique hairstyles and clothing, unlike the uniform appearance of Angel Island’s residents.

According to their guide, the island had a population of around 10,000, and its highest leader was known as "God." The guards here wielded powerful Thunder Shells and Slash Shells, significantly stronger than the Repel Shells used on Angel Island.

As Brook and his crew landed, Birka Island’s guards swiftly emerged, brandishing their Thunder Shells and Slash Shells. It was clear Brook and his crew were outsiders—none of them had the wing ornaments native to Sky Island’s people.

A towering man, with two magatama drums on his waist and shell-covered arms, stepped forward. His eyes narrowed at the strangers.

"Who are you, and why have you come to our island? If you’re here to buy Thunder Shells or Slash Shells, turn back! We barely have enough for ourselves!"

This was Peng, the so-called "God" of Birka Island. His tone was filled with suspicion. In the past, Angel Island dwellers had attempted to buy Sky Shells from them, which they had fiercely rejected.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, streaks of lightning flashing across the sky. Brook smirked, intrigued.

"My lord is the King of the Sky Kingdom! We have come to ask you to join us!"

The Angel guide stepped forward, speaking with admiration. He respected Brook and his crew for swiftly ending the centuries-long war between the Sky Island Angels and the Shandia Tribe.

"I don’t care who your Sky Kingdom is! Birka Island will always serve the Thunder God!"

Peng rejected them outright, slamming one of his magatama drums against his waist, sending sparks of electricity surging through his body. His eyes were filled with defiance.

Brook let out a chuckle.

"Captain Brook, let me handle this!"

Redfield stepped forward, his cane sword gleaming under the light. He carried himself with an air of elegance, yet his gaze was filled with arrogance. He had little interest in the crew and often ignored them, a habit that frustrated Shakky, who frequently complained about his aloofness.

"You wanna fight us? We don’t fear you! Guards, surround them!"

As the strongest Sky Island in the region, Birka Island was known as the Island of the Thunder God. Frequent lightning storms and the legendary Thunder Berries made it a formidable land. Their warriors were trained in Slash Berries, boosting their already deadly attack power.

Had they not adhered to their ancestral teachings, staying isolated on the Thunder God's Island, they could have expanded their influence long ago.

"Thunder God Taiko—Thunder Python!"

Peng clapped his magatama drums, releasing a massive electric current the size of his thigh, which shot toward Redfield like a coiling serpent.

The other guards raised their Thunder Berries and Slash Berries, unleashing bolts of lightning and slashes of energy over a meter wide at Brook’s crew!

"Shit—get moving!" Shakky shouted as she and the others dodged the attacks.

Hiruba leapt into a tree, steadied his sniper rifle, and fired three precise shots—taking down three guards instantly.

Meanwhile, Crocus tossed a special shell into the fray, releasing a cloud of white smoke.

The guards inhaled the faintly sweet fragrance—and suddenly felt their bodies grow weak.

---

Redfield dodged Peng’s Thunder Python with lightning-fast reflexes, closing the distance between them before slashing with his sword.

Peng reacted quickly, raising his arm and releasing a massive slash of sword energy, forcing Redfield back. Without hesitation, he struck both drums on his shoulders.

"Thunder God Drum: Twin Dragon Wrath!"

From each drum, a thick bolt of lightning shot out, twisting together like twin thunder dragons as they struck Redfield head-on!

Armament Haki: Hardening.

Redfield raised his cane sword to block, his wrists turning jet black as he barely managed to cover his arms with Haki. However, his mastery wasn’t perfect—the hardening wavered as if it could dissipate at any moment.

"How?! How could anyone survive the wrath of the Thunder God? Impossible!"

"Thunder God Drum: Divine Punishment!"

Peng slammed his drums at an insane speed, sweat rolling down his forehead. The drums crackled with a blinding glow before releasing a massive lightning pillar, thick as a warship mast, straight at Redfield!

"Wind, fire, water, and thunder... I cut through them all! Sword of Thunder Severance!"

Redfield surged forward, his blade slicing through the massive lightning pillar like it was nothing. In a blink, he appeared behind Peng.

The defeated man looked down in disbelief—across his chest, a thin red line appeared before blood sprayed out. With that, he collapsed to the ground.

---

Meanwhile, Fishman Tom ripped a tree from the ground and swung it like a club, sending guards flying in every direction. Shakky and Antonio made quick work of the remaining enemies, while Crocus left many dazed and disoriented.

At the same time, the Kirin Lion charged through the battlefield, trampling enemies and picking up Slash Shells and Thunder Shells before tossing them into the air. Its body was covered in burn marks and gashes, but it showed no sign of pain—its defense was impressive, making ordinary slashes and lightning attacks useless.

The Memory Seahorse feasted happily on the chaos, while the Parrot Assistant simply hovered in the air, observing the battle. Brook, on the other hand, stood idly, watching his crew perform.

"This is how a captain should be—let the crew do the work," he mused. "But if I were weak, I’d never be able to control them."

Shakky wasted no time stripping Peng of his spoils—she took the two Thunder God Drums from his body and the massive Slash Shells strapped to his arms. Twice the size of normal ones, they were true top-grade treasures.

Satisfied with their haul, the crew rounded up a local from Birka Island and forced them to lead the way to the sacred Thunder God Altar.

Of course, they didn’t need directions—the loud crashes of thunder made it obvious. Under the threat of Brook’s crew, they soon arrived at the foot of Birka’s highest mountain.

Dark clouds permanently blanketed the peak, and lightning constantly struck its summit. At the very top stood a grand altar, crackling with electricity. Without hesitation, Brook led the way up.

As they climbed, the people of Birka Island cautiously emerged from their homes. Seeing their fallen "god" being dragged away, they rushed to retrieve his injured body for treatment.

---

At the summit, the crew stood before a massive, ancient altar. At each of its four corners stood tall metal lightning rods—an eerie fusion of ancient craftsmanship and advanced technology.

Brook’s eyes locked onto something in the center of the altar—a Devil Fruit.

Covered in elegant lightning-like patterns, it pulsed with power. His silent heart trembled with excitement.

He rushed forward and picked it up, admiration shining in his eyes. If he hadn’t already eaten the Revive-Revive Fruit, he would’ve devoured this one without hesitation.

The strongest Logia—Thunder Fruit. Supreme speed and power in one.

"Damn, I want to eat this so bad!"

Nearby, Fishman Tom examined the murals on the altar walls. His eyes widened as he recognized the depictions—Moon People? The Endless Earth? The Blue Sea? Sky Islands? The murals told a complex tale.

Their guide hesitated before explaining the legend:

"A long time ago, people from the moon—known as the Endless Earth—came here in search of energy. Their homeland was dying, its energy reserves nearly exhausted. When they arrived, they found Birka Island, a land constantly struck by lightning. They built machines here to harvest electricity, returning periodically to collect it."

"But then... something happened on the moon. A massive catastrophe. All contact was lost, and the Moon People never returned. Over time, the islanders began to worship this place as a sacred land of miracles."

"One day, during a festival, a golden fruit with lightning patterns appeared among the offerings. They believed it was a divine blessing. From then on, they worshipped it as the sacred Thunder Fruit, which miraculously never rotted."

---

Fishman Tom’s voice suddenly rang out in excitement.

"Captain Brook! There are spaceship blueprints here!!"

The crew turned as Tom pulled a stack of ancient documents from a high-tech-looking drawer. His hands trembled as he flipped through them.

"These are the ships the Moon People used to travel between the sky and the moon! They run entirely on electricity!"

Brook’s eyes sparkled.

"Hell yeah! We’re building a spaceship before heading to the New World!"

The crew cheered at the idea.

"Gold is the best conductor, right? Let’s build a golden spaceship, hahaha!"

"Captain, we’ll be the most luxurious pirate crew in history!"

"That’s not all," another crew member added. "There’s a massive energy storage device beneath the altar. If we install it in our ship, it’ll be even stronger!"

Brook grinned.

"This island belongs to Sky Kingdom now!"

Excited, he turned back to the fruit in his hand.

Now came the real question—who would eat the Thunder Fruit?

His eyes landed on Redfield and Shakky.

Redfield was naturally gifted, with Observation Haki that perfectly complemented the Thunder Fruit. Meanwhile, Shakky’s eyes burned with desire—but she would respect the captain’s decision. If she had to wait for a Mythical Zoan later, she would.

Redfield noticed her expression but remained silent. If Brook had specifically called on him, it meant he was the captain’s choice.

While he had always thought Devil Fruits had a fatal weakness—taking away the ability to swim—this fruit was different. With its power, he could move at lightning speed, making the ocean’s danger irrelevant.

He took a deep breath and dropped to one knee.

"Captain Brook, you are the only man I will ever follow."

With determination, Redfield took the Thunder Fruit and sank his teeth into it.

The moment he swallowed, lightning cracked across the sky. Thunder boomed as Redfield grimaced at the disgusting taste, forcing himself to eat every last bite.

Power surged through his veins. Electricity danced at his fingertips.

He had become lightning itself.

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Chapter Text

Shakky looked at Redfield, who was covered in lightning, with envy. She wanted a Devil Fruit that was just as badass and powerful!

"Captain Brook, I don't care! My Devil Fruit in the future has to be both stylish and strong!"

She clung to Brook’s arm, acting spoiled—completely different from her usual self.

"Alright, alright! How about the Mythical Zoan—Vampire Form? It lets you fly and grants immortality. The Mythical Zoan—Nine-Tailed Fox Form allows transformation into anyone. The Mythical Zoan—Phoenix Form gives you the Immortal Blue Flames, making you practically invincible.

Or maybe the Logia Snow-Snow Fruit? And for someone as obsessed with money as you, there’s the Paramecia Gold-Gold Fruit, which lets you turn anything into gold!"

As Brook described these Devil Fruits, Shakky practically drooled. She wanted all of them! It was too damn hard to choose. Even Hiruba, Crocus, and Fishman Tom were caught up in the excitement, fantasizing about these Devil Fruits.

"Captain, do these Devil Fruits really exist?"

Shakky’s eyes sparkled with gold as she looked at Brook expectantly.

"Yeah, they exist. But who knows where they’re waiting for us to find them!"

Brook's words were like the whisper of a devil, sinking deep into Shakky’s heart. Her eyes were full of dreams.

"Then, Captain Brook, do you know where to find them?"

Her voice trembled slightly, as if she was bracing herself for disappointment.

"They might appear in the next 20 or 30 years. I have no idea where exactly, but..."

"But what?! Spit it out, you bastard captain! You can’t just leave me hanging!"

Shakky was already losing hope. Twenty or thirty years? No way in hell was she waiting that long!

"I do know that the Mythical Zoan—Vampire Form is somewhere in a place called Shuigu Town. The rest? No clue."

Brook recalled the Vampire Fruit’s existence because Robin once translated some ancient texts. It had been enshrined and hidden away in the Sleeping Ancient Town for centuries.

"That's amazing! Flying and immortality? Captain Brook, you HAVE to take me there! No excuses! I swear I’ll cry in front of you if you don’t!"

Shakky was already treating the Vampire Fruit as if it was hers.

"I'll definitely help you find it, don’t worry—the immortal vampire queen! Yohohoho~"

Brook patted her head, teasing her.

Building the Ship

Afterward, Brook and his crew cracked open the altar, discovering the replicated circuits and lightning storage devices inside. They were stunned.

"There’s only one Thunder Memory, so we can only build one ship," Fishman Tom said, disappointed. "I wonder if we can replicate this technology. Has the world below finally caught up with the moon’s technology?"

"For now, let’s focus on finishing our new ship as fast as possible. We’re mobilizing everything!"

"Understood, Captain Brook!"

Everyone got to work immediately. Redfield took charge of conquering Birka Island, while Brook and Shakky dismantled the massive lightning storage container and transported it back to Shandora.

Hiruba, the ship’s gunner, worked closely with Fishman Tom on redesigning the new ship. Since they might have little giants joining them in the future, Brook ordered a much bigger design.

They didn’t hesitate to use every last Thunder Dial and Jet Dial from both Birka Island and Angel Island. With Brook’s full backing, Fishman Tom poured his heart into the project, determined to make the golden spaceship even more powerful.

Hiruba also went crazy over Pluto’s blueprints, modifying guns and cannons like he had discovered a new world.

While Hiruba and Tom locked themselves in the design room, refusing to let anyone interrupt, Brook and Redfield personally carried the massive lightning storage device onto the Voyager. Redfield’s immense strength made the job easy.

Meanwhile, Peng, the defeated warrior saved by the islanders, had no choice but to surrender. Brook ordered Gan Fallmo to appoint a new priest to stabilize the situation and crush any lingering rebellion.

All the Thunder Berries and Slash Berries on Birka Island were confiscated, converted into equipment for the Sky Kingdom’s Divine Army. Birka Island itself was designated as the primary manufacturing base for offensive Dial weapons.

Only once Birka Island’s people fully pledged loyalty to the Sky Kingdom and joined its governance would they receive the same rights and benefits as Angel Island.

When Brook and the others returned to Shandora, he mobilized every last resource of the Sky Kingdom to construct the new ship. Even the Voyager was scrapped, its parts repurposed for the new design.

Brook spent time helping Redfield refine his control over the Thunder Fruit and brainstormed with Fishman Tom and Hiruba about integrating an electromagnetic cannon.

Could the new ship be equipped with an electromagnetic turret?

Hiruba and Tom also simplified Pluto’s primary cannon, making it incredibly powerful. If they could find even rarer and stronger metals in the future, they could upgrade the cannon even further.

The golden pillar they acquired was finally put to use—every conductive component was replaced with gold to maximize the ship’s flight time.

A massive number of Wind Beads from the Sky Kingdom were requisitioned for the ship. The angels grumbled, but they had no choice but to wait for the next batch of Wind Beads to mature.

Even Morgan's and Moore Thomas often came over to watch the Fishman engineers work. The sheer amount of gold being used was insane!

Brook himself helped with the construction, along with a massive crew of priests and divine soldiers, allowing the enormous golden spaceship to come together at an incredible pace.

Meanwhile, Redfield’s strength kept increasing at an alarming rate. At this point, even Brook couldn’t keep up with his speed. Their power gap had nearly vanished.

Since Brook had no soul-based attacks, he likely wouldn’t be able to defeat Redfield now that he had mastered the Thunder Fruit.

Once the ship’s main body was complete, Redfield, unable to sit still, volunteered to conquer the remaining Sky Islands near the Sky Kingdom.

Brook agreed and ordered Gan Fallmo to assign priests and divine warriors to support him.

During his campaign, Redfield came across a floating sky island—Visalia, the Weather Science Island. It had drifted into the White Sea by accident, as it was usually carried by ocean currents.

The scientists aboard had no idea the power balance of the Sky Islands had shifted so drastically. A new kingdom had risen. And worse—they had just run into the worst possible opponent: Redfield.

Wind currents? Meaningless against him.
Storms and thunder? Useless—he controlled lightning itself.

Before they could react, the researchers were captured.

Since Visalia lacked any power of its own, its direction and speed were entirely dependent on the wind. Redfield had to get creative.

He mobilized an army of Waver riders and Jet Beads to tow the floating island, even calling in the Express Shrimp and Super Express Shrimp to drag Visalia back to Shandora!

----

Brook didn’t expect that after Redfield had been away for a while, not only had he conquered several remote islands, but he’d also taken down a group of weather scientists!

It was perfect timing—they could help improve the floating capacity of the new ship, and Shakky could learn their skills, mastering climate control and weather manipulation.

But these old weathermen were tough—polite words didn’t work on them, but they wouldn’t back down from a fight either. They nearly went to war with Brook and his crew before finally settling on negotiations.

They demanded to be released once they’d helped, while Brook wanted them to fly the Sky Nation’s flag and become a subsidiary force under its protection. He promised not to interfere in their affairs while offering resources and cooperation in return.

Under Redfield’s piercing gaze, the old men had no choice but to agree, though they secretly swore they wouldn’t return to Sky Nation for decades once they got away!

But when Brook asked if they knew how to make Vivre Cards, the old men tried to play dumb, whistling like they had no clue. In the end, under Brook’s mix of threats and bribery, they caved and handed over the technique. At that point, there was no escaping anymore!

While Fishman Tom focused on building the new ship and Redfield searched for more sky islands, Brook received a Den Den Mushi call that made him anxious.

Disguised as Mother Carmel, Brook continued manipulating Charlotte Linlin. According to their conversation, Streusen had been pushing Linlin to achieve her dream of a utopia where all races coexisted—starting with her having children from different races.

Even worse, Streusen had suggested that he should be the first to father her child, taking the so-called "hardest step" and deceiving Linlin, who was still naive despite her overwhelming power.

After witnessing Linlin’s terrifying actions at the Sheep’s House when she was six, Streusen had recognized her monstrous potential and joined forces with her to create a pirate crew.

Now, at 40 years old, Streusen saw Linlin growing taller and more mature. Even he couldn’t resist the thought—he had raised her from six to sixteen, and now someone wanted to take her away? Unacceptable. With Linlin’s near-invincible Iron Balloon physique, her children would undoubtedly be powerful!

If that was the case, he had to be the first to claim her and ensure her strongest offspring belonged to him.

Rushing back to his quarters, Brook grabbed his Den Den Mushi, still posing as Mother Carmel, and set Charlotte Linlin straight.

[Carmel: Linlin, you will NOT have a child with a weakling like Streusen!]

[No. 43 (Linlin): But Sister, why? Streusen and I have been together for ten years. It’s time to take the difficult first step!]

[Carmel: Linlin, Streusen is short, not of a special race, and too weak! The child you have with him won’t be strong. I also forbid you from having children before you turn eighteen! Do you hear me?!]

[No. 43: Sister, don’t be mad! I won’t eat Streusen anymore. After I turn eighteen, I’ll find a strong race to have children with!]

Brook saw that Charlotte Linlin was still obsessed with creating a family of multiracial children.

[Carmel: Instead of wasting time finding partners of different races, why not marry a strong man and adopt outstanding children from each race?]

[No. 43: But Sister, I want them to be connected by blood so they’ll get along as a real family!]

[Carmel: Linlin, your family is already here. He’s also a relative of the Sheep’s House, the last surviving member of the Underworld Ghost Clan, and a man who came back from hell itself. You should join his great family. That would ease my heart.]

[No. 43: Sister, what’s wrong with you? Do you not want me anymore? No! I’ll definitely listen to you!]

[Carmel: Linlin, I’m 90 years old. I don’t have many years left. My final wish is for you to join the Hell Pirates, protect the last of the Underworld Ghost Clan, and support each other with Brook. Help me fulfill this dream.]

Suppressing his own disgust, Brook tricked the ignorant Linlin once again.

[No. 43: Sister, I will definitely fulfill your dream! I’ll go find the Hell Pirates right away, join them, and build a new family!]

[Carmel: Linlin, you’re such a good child. And one last thing—don’t listen to any nonsense from Streusen!]

[No. 43: Sister, I understand!]

Knowing he might be exposed in the future, Brook immediately removed Charlotte Linlin from the chat group. The chat had become a liability—full of nonsense, wasting time, and letting people mess around too much. Brook even considered shutting it down entirely.

But before that, he had one more target: Edward Newgate, a man longing for family.

Over in the Lion Pirates, Newgate was struggling. His strength had far surpassed Captain Lyon’s, and the captain—as well as another high-ranking officer—were always wary of him.

Some of his crewmates even encouraged him to take out Lyon and claim the captain’s position. To them, only the strongest deserved to lead.

Newgate was exhausted from dealing with these so-called "comrades" who no longer felt like family. Fortunately, there was always someone in the Den Den Mushi chat to talk to.

[No. 2: So? Have you decided to leave the Lion Pirates and join your destined crew? A massive golden spaceship is ready to pick you up!]

[No. 50 (Newgate): A golden spaceship? You’re joking, right? I’ve heard of a flying pirate crew called the Golden Lion—don’t tell me it’s them?!]

[No. 2: Not quite. Wanna know now?]

[No. 50: Yeah, tell me. I can’t stay here any longer.]

[No. 2: The Hell Pirates. Head for the Grand Line—you’ll find them.]

[No. 50: I think I’ve seen their bounty posters…]

Newgate rummaged through his stash and found a bounty for Brook—200 million berries. A former musician of the Rumbar Pirates.

This crew’s atmosphere felt like something he could belong to. Was Brook still just a musician chasing his dream?

[No. 2: Your new home is waiting. I’m removing you from the chat group now.]

[No. 50: Damn… Guess I won’t get to chat with No. 36 and No. 55 anymore.]

[No. 2: I hope you find your family, and that family finds you.]

Brook grinned. Another big fish reeled in. It seemed staying low-key while building up power was the best move for now.

Later, Edward Newgate actually bid farewell to Captain Lyon. Surprisingly, Lyon didn’t hold him back—instead, he even gifted Newgate some treasure as travel expenses.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 49: The Rage of Streusen

When Charlotte Linlin mentioned returning to the Grand Line to find the Hell Pirates, Streusen was furious. He immediately suspected that the person behind this Den Den Mushi call was from that damned pirate crew!

Wasting no time, he gathered information about the Hell Pirates. Captain Brook’s bounty was only 200 million berries—how could that compare to Charlotte Linlin’s 550 million?! They actually had the nerve to invite Linlin to join their crew? They should be grateful if she didn’t destroy them!

"I saw it with my own eyes—Linlin’s hunger fit broke out, and she devoured Sister Carmel and those orphans. How the hell could Carmel still be alive?"

"Linlin, this Brook must be an imposter pretending to be Sister Carmel! Don’t be fooled! You’re much stronger than him now—you don’t need to join them!"

Streusen was determined to expose Brook’s deception. If this guy dared to show his true colors, Streusen would personally cut him down!

"What?! You dare say that MAMA is fake?!"

Charlotte Linlin’s bloodshot eyes burned with rage as she grabbed Streusen by the collar. She wouldn’t allow anyone to speak ill of Mama Carmel ! She had sworn to fulfill Mama's dream—to join the Hell Pirates, build a true family, and create a world where all races could live in harmony!

"Linlin, Sister Carmel is dead! I saw it with my own eyes! This person must be a fraud!"

Streusen desperately tried to reason with her, hoping to dissuade her from going to the Grand Line. But he still couldn’t bring himself to tell her the truth—that she was the one who had eaten Carmel.

"Damn you!! You dare curse Mama to death?! UNFORGIVABLE!!!"

Charlotte Linlin let out an ear-piercing shriek, her voice rippling through the air like a tidal wave. The sheer force of it shook the ground beneath them. She squeezed Streusen so tightly that his vision blurred, his eyes bulging as blood trickled from his nose and mouth.

"Lin... Lin... I... Sister Carmel... I can help you find them~"

Feeling his bones about to shatter, Streusen had no choice but to play along, forcing out the words between gasps.

"Don’t ever talk badly about Mama again—or next time, I’ll really kill you! Now, make me something to eat and find me a route to the Grand Line!"

Finally, Charlotte Linlin calmed down, releasing Streusen. After all, he was her personal chef and navigator.

"Cough... cough..." Streusen wheezed, barely able to stand. "Alright, alright, I won’t say anything else. I’ll make you something delicious right away!"

Forcing a smile, he turned toward the kitchen. But inside, he was boiling with rage.

Damn this ungrateful brat! I’ve spent ten years taking care of her, and now she nearly kills me for a con artist? He wiped the blood from his face, his expression dark.

Brook… you bastard… I’ll make you pay for this tenfold! And Linlin—you’ll never escape my grasp. You’re nothing but a man-eating monster!

Streusen stormed into the kitchen and chopped down a tree. Using his Cook-Cook Fruit powers, he transformed the wood into slices of meat, making it look colorful and appetizing.

But before he could serve it—

"Streusen! Didn’t I tell you not to feed me anything made from a Devil Fruit? It has no taste at all! Where’s the treasure we stole? Let’s go have a real feast!"

Charlotte Linlin scowled at the food in disgust. She wanted real, high-quality delicacies—not some Devil Fruit illusion!

"Linlin, we already spent all the treasure from our last raid. You ate it all! If we don’t go out to sea and plunder again, we’ll be completely broke!"

Streusen sighed, frustrated by her insatiable appetite. At first, he had used their stolen treasures to pay for her meals, but later, he’d simply had her destroy the restaurants after she ate. Wherever they landed, chaos and destruction followed—that’s why her bounty had skyrocketed so quickly.

Of course, Streusen wasn’t foolish. While he let her believe they were always out of money, he secretly hoarded vast amounts of treasure for himself. Every time Linlin demanded to see their loot, he’d show her only a small portion, making her believe it was all gone. That way, she’d always agree to raid again.

"Really? Why do I go through our loot so fast? Didn’t I smash up a tavern last time?"

Charlotte Linlin frowned, counting on her fingers. She was a powerhouse, but when it came to anything outside of food and Mama Carmel, she was still just a clueless girl.

"That’s right, Linlin! And don’t forget—the fancy new clothes and hat you wanted cost a fortune! Not to mention the rare cake you ate last time—it was ridiculously expensive!"

Streusen continued his deception with ease. He had been doing this for years. Just thinking about the mountains of treasure in his hidden stash made him giddy.

I raised Charlotte Linlin all these years for this exact reason—to use her strength to amass wealth! And now, that damned Brook wants to take her away? Over my dead body!

"Alright then! Let’s set sail and plunder some more! I need to prepare a gift for Brook!"

Charlotte Linlin grinned, clearly pleased with her own thoughtfulness. Without hesitation, she grabbed Streusen and dragged him onto a stolen pirate ship, setting sail for the nearest island.

Streusen face darkened. She was already thinking about Brook?

"Brook… I’ll kill you!!!" Streusen clenched his fists, his teeth grinding in rage.

---

Meanwhile, on a nearby island, Edward Newgate stood at the port, watching as the Lion Pirates’ ship vanished into the horizon. Captain Ryan had left him there after accepting some berries and treasure from him.

As he stood there, Newgate couldn’t help but feel a mix of disappointment and excitement. He had left his old crew behind—now he had a chance to carve his own path. Was this what it meant to be part of a true pirate family?

The tall man adjusted the black cloth tied around his blond hair. He wore a simple, open-chested vest, black trousers secured by a gray belt, and carried a small bag over his shoulder as he walked into town.

As a pirate, he rarely spent time on land. Most of his life had been spent sailing, raiding, and indulging in food, drink, and revelry. But now, he had a different goal.

He wandered through the town, inquiring about any passenger ships heading toward the Grand Line. If he could hitch a ride with a merchant vessel, he could finally return to his homeland in the New World.

Come to think of it, he had never been to the Grand Line before—let alone the legendary Fish-Man Island, ten thousand meters below the sea!

I hope that golden spaceship mentioned is real. If it is, the future will be incredible.

---

With the full cooperation of the Sky Kingdom staff, the golden spaceship was constructed at an astonishing speed. Once the lightning storage container from Birka Island was installed, a deep mechanical roar echoed through the air.

The spaceship was powered by nearly a thousand wind shells on both sides, while Redfield charged hundreds of lightning shells connected to the storage containers. This was nearly the entire stockpile of air shells from Sky Kingdom.

As Fishman Tom pressed the takeoff button, the massive propeller wings spun rapidly, and the golden spaceship lifted off before the eyes of everyone present.

Brook was beyond excited—he could barely believe that such advanced technology in this world could actually make a warship of this size fly!

"Captain Brook! With the lightning storage container and the power of 120 thunder shells, even without Redfield’s recharge, the ship can stay airborne for half a month!"

This came at a great cost, though. If they had the Moon People’s technology, the spaceship could likely stay in the air for even longer. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be worth it for them to come down from the moon to Sky Island just to gather enough electricity for a few weeks of flight!

The golden spaceship shone brilliantly, illuminated by Sky Island’s light shells at nearly every corner. Kitchen appliances were powered by heat shells and fire shells, while the bathing facilities were equipped with water shells.

Brook looked at the sound shells, noticing that every crew member wanted to record the songs they played so they could listen to them in their rooms. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry—he had almost forgotten that he used to be a famous musician in his past life.

"Maybe I should go back to my old gig," Brook mused. "Or maybe I can 'borrow' some famous tunes from Earth… something emotional, powerful, and unforgettable."

Meanwhile, Shakky had been learning a great deal about sailing through the Grand Line and New World from the old meteorologists of Visalia. She even mastered techniques like using Wind Knots.

These veteran weathermen were furious when they realized Shakky had loaded several weather ships onto the golden spaceship. These ships were crucial to Visalia, serving as their primary means of transportation, allowing them to descend to the Blue Sea for supply runs and intelligence gathering.

Each weather ship was equipped with technology capable of generating natural weather phenomena—strong winds, heavy rain, thunderstorms—making them valuable both for travel and as defensive weapons.

The main cannon of the golden spaceship was designed by Sniper Hiruba and Fishman Tom, incorporating design concepts from the ancient weapon, Pluto.

Unlike Golden Lion’s flying fleet, which relied solely on wind, the Eternal Voyager had both a lightning propulsion system and a wind shell propulsion system. However, in extreme weather, it would still have to descend to sea level and sail traditionally.

Golden Lion’s Float-Float Fruit only allowed his pirate fleet to hover in the air; it still needed wind to move forward, and the oars on his ships weren’t very effective. This meant his biggest weakness while flying was dealing with stormy weather!

Of course, a grand banquet was held to celebrate the completion of the new ship, but it still needed a name. Since the Voyager had been dismantled for parts, the crew agreed that the name didn’t quite suit the new golden spaceship’s grandeur.

Besides, it was rare for new ships to inherit the names of old ones—just like how the Straw Hat Pirates went from the Going Merry to the Thousand Sunny.

Brook finally decided to name it Erebus. Wherever Erebus sailed, their enemies would tremble in fear!

"In the future, Erebus will be more famous than Uranus, Pluto, and Poseidon combined!" Brook declared.

"Congratulations on the completion of the golden spaceship, Erebus! Long live!"

"I don’t know what the name means, but hey, if the captain says so, what can we do?"

Shakky, however, looked disappointed. She had wanted to name it Golden Rose, but the crew had outright rejected it. She was still a bit salty about it.

---

Preparations for the New World

During the banquet, Brook gave orders to Civil Minister Gan Fallmo and Military Minister Wyper to protect Golden City. He also instructed Moore Thomas not to bring new employees directly to Sky Island.

Every recruit had to go through strict screening, and they would have to wait for the Hell Pirates to return. Only after Redfield personally vetted them would they be allowed to officially join the World Economic News Agency of Sky Kingdom. Otherwise, they would have to remain at the branch on Jaya Island.

Brook also spent some time with Morgans, who was now about one or two years old. The little one seemed to adore him, and Brook enjoyed playing with him—until Morgans suddenly tried to feed him a Devil Fruit!

It was no wonder that in the future, Morgans would prefer his beast form so much—he was already starting to develop some animalistic traits from his Albatross Zoan Fruit. The kid hadn’t even learned how to fly yet!

Brook also made a quick visit to Visalia to "acquire" a weather ship and left it in Moore Thomas’s care, instructing him to use it for resupplying Sky Island from Jaya Island.

Since most of the Sky Shells had been taken by Brook’s crew, production would be a challenge for the next year. However, Sky Island still had an abundance of gold, so they could simply buy the resources they needed from Jaya Island.

Time passed quickly, and the Hell Pirates were finally ready to venture into the New World, where they would meet the powerful pirates of the future.

With Moore Thomas running the World Economic News Agency, they had access to top-tier intelligence. Every up-and-coming pirate worth mentioning was now under their watch.

Brook personally planned to recruit some of these rising stars—especially the monster rookies, like Kaido.

"I'm so damn excited! The golden spaceship is the pirate ship of my dreams!" Shakky cheered, standing at the helm. She shoved aside Tom, eager to be the first one to pilot the Erebus.

"Hell Pirates, set sail!!"

Shakky shouted as Fishman Tom sighed, shaking his head helplessly before pressing the launch switch. Redfield, standing nearby, sent a powerful lightning bolt into the storage unit, recharging the ship.

The countless wind shells on both sides of the ship activated, pushing Erebus skyward. The massive propeller wings spun furiously, propelling the ship forward.

With Visalia’s weather equipment on board, Shakky could now monitor the Grand Line’s severe weather conditions in real time.

"Captain Brook, are we heading to the Sabaody Archipelago to reach Fishman Island? I thought we’d be heading straight for the Red Line!"

Shakky grinned. She had spent over a decade in Sabaody, and the thought of returning to her hometown—this time aboard a golden spaceship—filled her with pride.

"It feels good to return home in style," she muttered.

"Captain, aren’t you worried that other pirates might try to steal the golden spaceship?" Antonio, their intelligence officer, asked anxiously.

Brook smirked. "Anyone dumb enough to mess with the Hell Pirates will be reduced to ashes!"

Electricity crackled around Redfield’s fingertips as he smirked. The flashing sparks and sizzling arcs were enough to put Antonio’s worries to rest.

With Brook’s strength, Redfield’s abilities, and Hirubas's sniping skills, Erebus was in good hands.

Antonio clenched his fists with determination. The future was wide open, and he would make sure his Den Den Mushi brothers gathered every last piece of intelligence about the islands ahead!

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Chapter Text

On the golden spaceship, Erebus.

During the long and uneventful voyage, Brook played the violin. He wasn’t doing it for fun—Shakky and the others had practically forced him to play music, recording every piece on a Sound Dial. Not just the violin, either; they had him record piano and guitar versions as well.

In his past life, Brook had been a video editor, so he still retained memories of a lot of background music. Combined with his own musical talent, he managed to replicate these pieces with about 70% accuracy!

From the grand and legendary God of Gamblers’ Entrance Song to the epic Seven Swords Battle Theme, his playlist included stunning soundtracks like Starsky, Victory, The Masses, Eldorado, Immortal, Gotime, Breath and Life, Last Reunion, and Conquer Heaven. These were the kinds of tracks he used often in his previous work, and now, he even taught Shakky how to harmonize, letting everyone choose their own theme music.

Even the aloof Redfield couldn’t resist. He wanted something cool and dramatic to match his elegance. Conquer Heaven—just from the name, he knew it was perfect.

Brook spent days playing music, and while he was satisfied with his talent, a sense of frustration started to creep in. This world was ruled by strength. What was he doing wasting time with music?

He immediately grabbed Redfield for a sparring match and was promptly zapped by lightning, waking him up in more ways than one.

“Shakky, stop making me play music! My goal is to be the strongest, not a damn musician!!!” Brook snapped, blaming her for constantly nagging him to perform.

“Haha~, don’t you think Captain Brook seems more alive this way? Usually, he looks like a walking corpse with that blank, cold face!”

Shakky’s words earned laughter from the entire crew—including Redfield.

“…Anyway, I’m done with this music nonsense!” Brook huffed.

“Captain, have you ever noticed how your music is… unique? It seems to soothe the soul, excite it, even shake it,” Redfield said, his Observation Haki allowing him to sense the deeper effect of Brook’s music.

“You’re saying my music affects the soul?” Brook raised an eyebrow. If that was true, then maybe he could develop it into Soul Music—something like Underworld Lament, Six-Fingered Demon Strings, Sorrow and Euphoria, or Nine Netherworld Requiem…

“Yes. When you played Ambush from All Sides, even I felt my heartbeat race. My soul tensed up, almost like it restricted my movements. For a moment, I couldn’t even control my hands,” Redfield admitted.

Brook’s eyes gleamed. “Really? If that’s the case, I need to experiment. Redfield, you’re going to be my test subject from now on!”

“…Excuse me?” Redfield’s expression turned grim. “You’re using me as an experiment? That soul-wrenching sensation is not pleasant!”

Brook ignored his complaints. He grabbed his custom-made guitar and started jamming like a rock legend. Waves of music blasted in all directions.

At that moment, Brook fully embraced the state of Underworld Release. He played with wild, unrestrained energy, grinning as he looked at Shakky and the others. They all seemed… smaller, somehow.

“CAPTAIN BROOK, YOUR SOUL IS LEAVING YOUR BODY AGAIN!!!”

Shakky paled as she recalled the first time she was scared senseless by Brook’s ghostly form.

The rest of the crew watched in shock as Brook’s soul ascended seven or eight meters into the air. He floated above them, strumming a spectral guitar, while his real body continued playing on the deck.

The force of his music hit the crew hard. Antonio staggered, the parrot assistant and Memory Seahorse rolled their eyes and collapsed, and—

“STOP! STOP! CAPTAIN BROOK, I’M DIZZY! I CAN’T STAND IT!!!”

Shakky suddenly felt weightless, like she was floating. Wait… was that her body on the ground?!

Am I dead? she panicked.

Before she could process it, dizziness overtook her, and everything went black.

Brook’s hands froze on his guitar. Oh, shit. He definitely overdid it. Several crewmates were down. He quickly cut off the music, and his soul snapped back into his body.

“Redfield… I swear, I was just testing it! I didn’t think it’d be this strong!” Brook laughed awkwardly.

Redfield, the only one still standing, glared at him. Meanwhile, Fishman Tom and Crocus were sitting on the deck, holding their heads as if trying to recover from the out-of-body experience.

Sniper Hiruba was gasping for breath, sweating bullets. “What… the hell… did I just experience? I thought I died for a second…”

Shakky and Antonio were completely knocked out, their faces frozen in shock. Even the Kirin Lion lay on the ground, tongue hanging out, refusing to move.

“Ugh, Captain Brook… that was awful. It felt like my soul was getting pulled!” Redfield groaned, still nauseous. The sensation had been eerily similar to seasickness.

Brook rubbed his chin. “So the Soul Music I create with my Devil Fruit really is that powerful…”

With the right development, he could enhance his Hades Energy: Death’s Gaze—making it just as dangerous as mid-level Haki techniques.

“Captain, I feel like this move of yours could completely catch enemies off guard. You can control their souls!”

Redfield recognized the terrifying potential. Brook’s music-based soul attacks would be lethal against fighters who relied on physical strength. Maybe only those with advanced Haki could resist.

But now? Redfield wanted nothing to do with Brook’s “experiments” anymore. No way in hell was he signing up for another round of soul torture.

----

Seeing the state of the crew, Brook wondered—if his soul music could cause harm, could it also heal? He had to try. Picking up his violin, he played a requiem, followed by a soft lullaby, hoping to restore his crew’s spirits.

It worked. Redfield immediately felt much better, while Fishman Tom and Kurokas managed to stand.

Shakky and Antonio, who had been stunned stiff, finally started moving again. Their faces softened as the music washed over them, and soon, they drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Parrot Assistant and Memory Seahorse rolled their eyes before closing them again, snoring as if nothing had happened.

“Haha~ These were just minor miscalculations! I’m sure everyone will forgive me!”

Brook laughed as he met the crew’s resentful stares, choosing to ignore them. Instead, his mind was already racing with ideas on how to further develop his soul music. This ability had incredible potential—he just needed to unlock it.

Almost an hour later, Shakky and Antonio woke up. The first thing they did after sitting up was frantically pat their bodies, still shaken from what they had just experienced.

“CAPTAIN BROOK!!! I thought you killed me! I even saw my own dead body!”

Shakky screamed, rushing over and kicking Brook a few times to vent her frustration. The memory of watching her own body collapse had been terrifying—like she had truly died once before. Now, she cherished her life even more!

“Don’t worry, I just gave you an out-of-body experience.”

Brook genuinely hadn’t expected his music to have that kind of effect. If he had known, he wouldn’t have tested it on his own crew. All he could do now was try to comfort Shakky.

“‘Out-of-body experience’ my ass! You had no clue what would happen! What if I had actually died from a soul attack? Do you know how much I’m worth? A beautiful woman with a bright future—gone just like that?!”

Shakky snapped, glaring at Brook like he was the biggest scam artist in the world.

“Alright, alright! I’ll make it up to you guys—I’ll cook for everyone right now!”

Brook quickly apologized and headed to the kitchen. As captain, he rarely cooked, but when he did, his meals were second to none.

Normally, Antonio handled the cooking, but even he had to admit—Brook’s culinary skills were on another level.

“That’s more like it! But don’t use us as guinea pigs for your weird experiments again, you bastard captain!”

Under Shakky’s sharp glare, Brook sighed and trudged toward the kitchen, looking defeated.

“Haha~ Only Shakky would dare to chew out Captain Brook like that.”

Tom, the shipwright and Fishman, chuckled. The more time he spent on this crew, the more he wanted to stay. Brook might seem cold on the surface, but he was actually a kind and caring captain.

Not to mention, the golden spaceship Erebus was his proudest creation. He didn’t want to leave it behind—but at the same time, the people of Water 7 were waiting for him. He had to return and help rebuild the city’s economy.

“That’s true. Only Shakky and Laboon can bring out Captain Brook’s more human side.”

Crocus sighed. Because Erebus was now complete, Brook hadn’t been able to bring young Laboon along. Instead, he had arranged for him to live near Jaya Island.

To keep in touch, Brook had built a private port for Laboon in a secluded corner of Jaya and installed a Den Den Mushi projection system, which was managed by Moore Thomas. This way, Brook and Laboon could communicate almost every day.

Brook’s plan was simple—once he found a stable foothold in the New World, Laboon would have grown strong enough to join him. With his massive size, Laboon could help him search for the legendary Lantern Fish in the deep waters of the New World.

---

“Come on, come on! You’re all probably sick of eating grilled meat every day. Time to try some real food from my homeland!”

Brook brought out a massive plate of Dongpo pork, Mapo tofu, and sweet-and-sour ribs. The mouthwatering aroma instantly caught everyone’s attention.

“Captain Brook! I swear, I really only know how to make barbecue. Please, teach me how to cook like this!”

Antonio devoured his food while pleading for cooking lessons. As the ship’s backup chef, it was humiliating that his captain’s food was leagues above his own.

“Don’t worry. I’ll find a real chef in the future, so you won’t have to cook for me anymore. But if I ever feel like cooking, you’re welcome to learn from me.”

Brook only cooked on rare occasions. Most of his time was spent training—honing his Devil Fruit powers and swordsmanship to strengthen himself.

---

As the golden spaceship Erebus continued its voyage, the crew finally spotted the towering Yarukiman Mangroves. The Sabaody Archipelago was just ahead!

“Redfield, get ready to make a statement! Any pirate who lays eyes on our golden spaceship—send them straight to hell!”

Brook stood at the bow, grinning with excitement. His 200-million-berry bounty didn’t reflect his true strength.

This time, he planned to stir up trouble at the headquarters of the World Peace Dove News Agency—Moore Thomas’s arch-enemy. It was the perfect way to strike back for the World Economic News Agency and get his bounty raised at the same time.

After all, a pirate’s bounty was often the best way to measure their reputation. Right now, Charlotte Linlin’s bounty far exceeded Brook’s, which meant he wouldn’t be able to keep her in check for long.

He needed to boost both his strength and his bounty—fast.

His Revive-Revive Fruit had the potential to counter Big Mom’s Soul-Soul Fruit. And his soul music… it might even have the power to wipe out her Homies entirely!

“I got it, Captain Brook. My 80-million-berry bounty isn’t cutting it either. Let’s raise some hell today!”

Right now, Brook and Redfield’s combat abilities were at the level of a Marine Headquarters rear admiral and a branch vice admiral. Could they stand up to elite Marine officers like Garp?

Redfield, Garp, and Roger were all prodigies. Even at a young age, their strength far surpassed the previous generation. But compared to some of the rising stars of today, they weren’t necessarily overpowered.

Take Luffy, for example. At just 19 years old, he was already a Yonko-level powerhouse. Zoro, Law, and Kidd—all in their early twenties—had reached the level of vice admirals, strong enough to challenge admiral candidates.

Law and Kidd had even awakened their Devil Fruits, managing to take down Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors.

When you compared that to Roger, who was still wandering the Grand Line at 25, or Garp, who was just a major general at 26… it was clear that this generation was the strongest in history.

And today, Brook and Redfield were about to prove that they belonged among them.

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Chapter Text

Today, the winds over the Sabaody Archipelago were howling.

In the lawless zones of Tree Islands No. 1 through 29, illicit trades flourished. Slave markets and human auctions were bustling, drawing a steady flow of customers.

Slave owners, wealthy merchants, and nobles—escorted by their personal guards—strolled through the shops, seeking fresh "merchandise."

A young nobleman, surrounded by a group of affluent associates, entered a slave shop and retrieved a price list.

Humans: 500,000 berries.
Dwarves: 700,000 berries.
Longarm Tribe, Longleg Tribe, Snakenecks—each priced at 700,000 berries.

"Wow~, these slaves are dirt cheap! Fishmen go for only 1 million berries, giants for 50 million, and women for 10 million! I’m gonna make a killing selling them!"

The young nobleman, making his first major slave purchase, had brought a staggering 1 billion berries. To him, money was trivial.

"Lord Nass, mermaids are truly rare finds. Got any today? A mermaid only costs 70 million berries, while mermen are as cheap as regular fishmen—1 million berries each. And after a mermaid turns 30 and gains legs, their price drops to just 10 million! The experience is unforgettable!"

A nearby merchant flattered Viscount Nass, his tone filled with greed.

"Yeah, yeah, and don’t forget pirates with Devil Fruit abilities, exotic creatures, and other rare species up for auction," another wealthy businessman added eagerly.

Viscount Nass's father was an earl of the powerful Valoran Kingdom, holding vast influence and unimaginable wealth. Rumor had it even their king danced to his tune.

"A mermaid with legs?" Viscount Nass licked his lips. Though young, he had indulged in the pleasures of wealth and power long before his 14th birthday.

"Yes, but they’re tough to catch. You know how it is—mermaids live 10,000 meters below at Fishman Island. The slave hunters suffer heavy casualties, sometimes getting wiped out completely!"

The businessman chuckled, knowing these hunters were even more reckless than pirates—men who valued money over their own lives.

"Alright, if there’s none available now, I’ll just stay in Sabaody for a month until they catch one," Nass decided with a perverse grin.

---

Aboard the Golden Ship—Erebus

"Sabaody Archipelago! I’m back, baby!!!"

Shakky shouted in excitement, eager for everyone to witness her grand return.

"Captain Brook, the World Peace Dove News Agency’s headquarters is on Tree Island No. 48, near the Marine base. If attacked, the Marines might arrive within half an hour," Antonio reported, notebook in hand. Under Shakky’s training, his intelligence-gathering skills had grown tremendously.

"If this year's supernova rookies hadn’t already entered the New World, I’d love to take out a few," Redfield muttered, arms crossed, scanning the island below.

Brook found it strange that, in Luffy’s era, all 11 supernovas coincidentally arrived at Sabaody at the same time. Yet in this age, no such miracle happened—everyone arrived, coated their ships, and set off at their own pace.

"Tom, once we land, get the Erebus coated immediately. Round up as many coaters as possible and make it quick. After we seize the Peace Dove’s HQ, we’re heading straight for Fishman Island!" Brook ordered.

While he wanted to cross the Red Line and enter the New World, he couldn’t ignore the red Poneglyph at Fishman Island. He had to make a copy—or better yet, take it.

"Understood, Captain. I can handle the coating myself. Most Fishmen learn the skill," Tom assured.

Fishman Island had its own coating factories. After all, every pirate ship, merchant fleet, and bounty hunter passing through needed their vessels coated for the New World.

With the plan set, Antonio and Crocus stayed aboard with Tom. They weren’t frontline fighters and didn’t want to be liabilities.

But they weren’t to be underestimated. Crocus wasn’t someone small-time pirates with 30 or 40 million bounties could handle. Tom, with his Fishman strength and Armament Haki, was a beast against first-half Grand Line pirates.

---

Tree Island No. 50—Shipyards & Coating Factories

As always, shipbuilders and coaters were hard at work.

Suddenly, a vast shadow loomed overhead, making people glance skyward.

"A flying pirate ship?! Have the Flying Pirates returned?!"

"Wait—what’s that golden reflection? Some new material?"

"Holy crap, it’s solid gold!!!"

As the Erebus descended, thrilling music blared from dozens of sound shells, amplified by Den Den Mushi speakers.

Brook shot Shakky an exasperated look. She had forced Antonio to arrange this flashy spectacle, and even Redfield—usually silent—allowed it, clearly entertained.

‘Damn kids… don’t they know how to be subtle? If only they were as mature and reserved as me,’ Brook thought smugly, despite standing at the bow in sunglasses, looking cool as hell.

Shakky, who wanted to show off, found herself unable to push past the captain, who claimed he wanted to keep a low profile.

Annoyed, she watched as Redfield and Hiruba, the two silent warriors, silently retrieved sunglasses from the cabin and flanked Brook, weapons in hand.

Furious at losing her moment, Shakky paced the deck. Tom, piloting the Erebus, couldn’t help but chuckle at her frustration.

Finally, unable to take it, Shakky leaped onto the back of her Kirin Lion , soaring into the air to ensure all eyes were on her.

The beast’s golden mane and gleaming horns caught the sunlight, stealing the show.

Brook cursed under his breath. Damn it, I should’ve thought of that!

"The Hell Pirates! Not the Flying Pirates! And that ship—it’s solid gold! These guys are filthy rich!"

"Damn, I wanna join them!!!"

----

The other pirates stared enviously at the golden spaceship as it landed, their eyes filled with shock and greed. Some were itching to snatch it away on the spot!

But how could pirates with bounties under 100 million berries dare to attack Brook, a pirate with a 200 million bounty? Unless they all charged at once, overwhelmed the Hell Pirates, and took advantage of the chaos, it would be nothing but suicide.

"I hear your greed!"

With Redfield’s unique Observation Haki and his ability to spread electromagnetic waves, he instantly detected the malicious intentions of some pirates.

"Targeted Sanctions!"

Redfield drew his cane sword and pointed it toward the sky. Bolts of lightning shot out in jagged arcs, striking the pirates who still had greedy expressions. In an instant, they collapsed to the ground, smoking and twitching!

"Ssss~"

Everyone present—shipwrights, coating craftsmen, and other pirates—gasped in shock. Since when did the Hell Pirates have such a terrifying powerhouse? That power... it had to be the legendary strongest Logia Devil Fruit—the Thunder Fruit!

"Hahaha~! I’m back!!!"

Shakky stood atop the Kirin Lion, shouting proudly, looking like a pirate who had just struck it rich. The news that the Hell Pirates had landed on Sabaody Archipelago in a golden spaceship spread across the island in an instant.

Several intelligence hunters, who had taken over Shakky’s old intelligence market, looked at her in shock. They never expected that after leaving Sabaody, she would be doing this well!

Their eyes were filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment. They desperately wanted to follow her onto that golden spaceship—just imagining the luxury of living on such a magnificent ship every day made their hearts ache with desire.

---

The Erebus landed at the coating factory. Redfield’s lightning attack had successfully intimidated countless pirates and greedy opportunists!

Fisher Tom immediately started discussing business with the coating craftsmen. Meanwhile, a crowd gathered from all over to gawk at the golden spaceship. Some reporters even started taking pictures.

However, the lingering threat of Redfield’s thunder and the intimidating presence of the Kirin Lion kept them from getting too close. The beast let out a deep, rumbling growl, sending the onlookers scurrying back several meters.

Suddenly, a reporter with a cocky expression suppressed his fear and, despite the Hell Pirates’ overwhelming presence, bravely stepped forward. His target? The strongest-looking man—Redfield.

But before he could ask anything, Redfield shot him a cold glance. The reporter instantly panicked and stumbled backward.

Not me, not me! The captain is right there!

He quickly remembered that the captain of the Hell Pirates was Brook. Without wasting time, he rushed over to Brook—only to be met with an eerie, intense stare.

Was... was Brook staring at his press badge?

"Captain Brook! May I ask how you came into possession of this magnificent golden spaceship?" The reporter’s voice was full of excitement. "And would you be willing to present it as a gift to the noble Celestial Dragons?"

"If you agree, I’m sure the Navy would revoke your bounty! You could even join the World Government! If you have the technology to build golden spaceships, they might recruit you into an important position!"

The reporter, from the World Government-affiliated Peace Dove News Agency, grew more enthusiastic as he spoke, as if he had already convinced Brook to surrender.

He could already see it—if he could present the golden spaceship to the Celestial Dragons, the World Government would reward him handsomely. He might even become the CEO of a news agency, marry a wealthy beauty, and reach the pinnacle of success!

He waited eagerly for Brook’s answer, oblivious to the fact that he was speaking to a pirate.

Not far away, Redfield’s lips twitched at the ridiculous suggestion.

"You’re with the Peace Dove News Agency, aren’t you?"

Brook’s expression turned ice-cold as he casually placed a hand on the reporter’s shoulder, a seemingly friendly gesture.

"Yes, I am! The Peace Dove News Agency is under the World Government!" The reporter puffed out his chest proudly. "Our president, White Peizhen, is a close friend of a Navy Admiral! If you’re willing to present the golden spaceship to the Celestial Dragons, we can help arrange the meeting!"

Brook let out a chilling laugh.

"That’s funny," he said. "Because I am on my way to the Peace Dove News Agency headquarters. But since I already have directions, I don’t need you tagging along."

Before the reporter could react, a burst of freezing energy erupted from Brook’s palm. In an instant, he was completely encased in ice, his face frozen in mid-sentence.

"You expect me, a pirate, to gift my golden spaceship to those pig-headed Celestial Dragons?" Brook scoffed, brushing ice shards off his coat. "How the hell did you even get a job as a reporter?"

The crowd—both pirates and civilians—watched in horror before scrambling away in panic. Another lunatic! This was worse than Redfield’s earlier lightning strike.

Killing a pirate? That was normal—nobody cared. But a reporter affiliated with the World Government? That was dangerous. He had connections, powerful backers.

Brook didn’t give a damn.

"Alright, since we’re already here, let’s take this opportunity to destroy the Peace Dove News Agency’s headquarters," he said casually. "Tom, the Erebus is in your hands. Get the coating done as soon as possible."

With that, Brook led Redfield and the others toward Tree Island No. 48. The distance wasn’t far—only two tree islands away. That’s why the Erebus had landed on Tree Island No. 50.

The Navy branch and various World Government departments were located on Tree Islands 60–69, separated from them by a shipyard and coating factory. There were about ten tree islands between them, meaning it would take some time to reach.

"Captain Brook, you were so cool just now!" Shakky grinned as she led the way at high speed. She knew Sabaody Archipelago like the back of her hand. Seeing Brook’s frozen execution of the reporter only made her more eager to obtain a Devil Fruit power herself.

The Sabaody Archipelago was structured in a strange way. The lawless zone was right in the center, while the human auction houses (Tree Islands 0–9) were located dangerously close to the government and Navy branch territories.

Tree Islands 20–79 formed a ring around Tree Islands 1–19. The chaotic region was right in the middle, while the outer islands had ports connecting them to the sea.

Tree Island No. 48, where the Peace Dove News Agency was headquartered, was in a bustling tourist and specialty goods district. Occasionally, the Navy patrolled the area, but not frequently enough to deter criminals.

"Has there been any solid intel on their president, White Peizhen?" Brook asked as they moved. "He’s not secretly some big shot, is he?"

Shakky shook her head. "Not much is known about his strength. Some say he’s the user of the White Dove Zoan Fruit. He’s rumored to have Haki, but no detailed records of his fights exist."

Brook frowned. "That’s the worst-case scenario. I don’t fear a strong enemy—I fear an unknown one."

The only confirmed intel on White Peizhen was that he had a Zoan-type Devil Fruit and possessed at least two forms of Haki. Anything beyond that was a mystery.

Brook sighed. Well, guess I’ll just have to find out the hard way.

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Chapter Text

At the World Peace Dove News Agency headquarters, a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair sat in a luxurious leather chair, puffing on a cigar as he reviewed the latest intel.

“A golden spaceship? A pirate ship that descended from the sky? What kind of Devil Fruit ability is this?” he muttered, tapping the ash off his cigar. “That Sky Pirate, Golden Lion—he’s been making quite a name for himself in the New World lately.”

His sharp gaze shifted to another report. Brook, captain of the Hell Pirates, formerly the musician of the Rumbar Pirates—a crew that had been wiped out years ago.

"Thomas Moore… That guy stayed at my headquarters for a while, and now he’s missing. And now this Brook shows up?” White Peizhen narrowed his eyes. His gut told him these two things were connected.

“If I tip off the Marines about Brook’s whereabouts, they’ll take care of him. And if I get my hands on that golden spaceship… I can offer it to the World Government or even the Celestial Dragons. That’d be a damn good deal.”

Without hesitation, White Peizhen reached for his Den Den Mushi and called the local Marine branch. He demanded immediate action—Brook was to be captured at all costs.

Just then, a panicked reporter burst into his office.

“President! Bad news! Special reporter Kuriya was killed by Captain Brook of the Hell Pirates! And now several pirates are charging straight at us!”

White Peizhen frowned but remained calm, taking another slow puff of his cigar.

“No need to panic,” he said coldly. “I’ve already informed Vice Admiral Dorodo of the Marine branch. Order full lockdown—no one gets in or out.”

Brook wasn’t here just because of Kuriya’s questioning. No—he was here for Thomas Moore.

But once Vice Admiral Dorodo arrived, Brook wouldn’t be leaving this island alive.

---

Sabaody Archipelago - Near the News Agency Headquarters

At a nearby hideout, Shakky set down her Den Den Mushi after receiving intel.

"Captain Brook, Antonio just called in. White Peizhen tipped off the Marines—Vice Admiral Dorodo is on his way to arrest us.”

Brook chuckled, adjusting his top hat.

"Expected as much. The Sabaody Archipelago is too valuable for the World Government to leave unguarded. The Celestial Dragons treat this place like a damn playground, so there’s always at least one Vice Admiral stationed here."

He glanced at his crew.

“We move fast. Take down White Peizhen before the Marines show up.”

---

World Peace Dove News Agency Headquarters

By the time Brook and his crew arrived, the news agency’s headquarters had already been locked down. The main entrance was sealed, and only a handful of armed guards and elite correspondents remained inside.

From a vantage point, Hiruba had already set up his sniper rifle.

“Captain, let me go first.”

Without waiting for approval, Redfield dashed toward the gate. His cane sword crackled with electricity, and in a flash, he sliced through the metal doors.

The guards inside immediately opened fire.

Gunfire erupted, but Redfield’s body blurred with lightning—bullets phased through him, leaving only faint sparks. His wounds regenerated instantly.

“Oh no! He’s a Logia-type!” a guard screamed in terror.

Seeing Redfield carve through his men like paper, White Peizhen turned and bolted. He wasn’t about to stick around and wait for the Marines—his life was more valuable than some damn newspaper company.

Meanwhile, outside, a massive white dove took off from the building’s rooftop, trying to flee.

Before it could escape, a bolt of lightning struck it mid-air, sending it crashing down in flames.

---

In the distance, a figure dashed through the sky, using Geppo (Moonwalk) to bridge the gap between rooftops.

“Vice Admiral Dorodo! Save me!” White Peizhen screamed for help, sprinting toward the Marine officer.

Dorodo landed in front of him, crossing his Haki-infused arms just in time to block Redfield’s thunderous strike.

“Sneaky bastards…” Dorodo growled. His blackened fists smoked from the impact. “A Logia user, huh? And not just any—you got your hands on the Thunder-Thunder Fruit!”

Dorodo’s gaze darkened.

“That’s a top-tier Devil Fruit… And it’s wasted on a damn pirate.”

Redfield smirked. “Oh? Jealous, Vice Admiral? You want it for yourself?”

Dorodo cracked his knuckles. “Doesn’t matter. If we kill you, that fruit will respawn somewhere in the world. And next time, a Marine will find it.”

His fists surged with Armament Haki as he lunged at Redfield.

Redfield transformed into pure lightning, vanishing and reappearing behind him in an instant.

A lightning-coated sword clashed against Dorodo’s hardened fists, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. Sparks danced between them, the sheer force of their clash scorching the ground beneath them.

---

When Vice Admiral Dorodo saw the young Redfield, he hadn't expected him to be so powerful. Fortunately, he hadn't entered the New World yet. Otherwise, another terrifying pirate would have been born. It should still be possible to wipe them out here!

White Peizhen, seeing the two locked in a fierce battle, immediately transformed into a white dove and soared into the sky once more. As the president of the Peace Dove News Agency, he'd spent over a decade living in luxury—he had no intention of getting dragged into a life-or-death fight!

Bang!

A gunshot echoed. White Peizhen, who had just taken flight, let out a piercing scream and crashed back to the ground. Clutching his shoulder—now in the form of a wounded wing—he howled in pain.

"AHH!! Who did that?!"

He screamed in terror, his fingers pressing against the gaping bullet wound. Blood gushed out, and he could even see the ground through the hole.

A sniper?! His mind raced in panic. What kind of gun was that?! Even though he hadn’t activated his Armament Haki while flying, the natural defense of a Zoan-type Devil Fruit shouldn’t be something an ordinary bullet could pierce!

"It looks like you’re not getting away!"

At that moment, Brook approached White Peizhen, drawing his Seven Star Sword. A chilling, eerie aura spread through the air.

"Don't kill me!!" White Peizhen screamed, eyes filled with terror as he stared at the ghostly blade. "It was the World Government that ordered Moore Thomas to be eliminated! It had nothing to do with me! I'm just a puppet!"

The sword in Brook's hand radiated a cold, sinister aura, sending shivers down White Peizhen's spine.

"Ohhh? You actually figured out the connection between me and Moore Thomas? Well, that just means I can’t let you live!"

Brook chuckled darkly. He wasn’t sure if the World Government knew, but this bastard sure did.

"Vice Admiral Dorodo! Save me!"

Feeling Brook's killing intent, White Peizhen desperately called out for help. At the same time, he activated all of his Armament Haki, hardening his body to block the incoming Seven Star Sword strike!

Brook smirked and glanced at Vice Admiral Dorodo. Despite his injuries, the Vice Admiral was strong—he had even resisted some of Redfield’s lightning attacks.

Dorodo lived up to his rank. He blasted Redfield back and used Shave (Soru) to instantly appear in front of White Peizhen, raising his Haki-coated arms to block Brook’s eerie blade.

But—

"ARGH!"

A painful scream tore through the battlefield.

Although Dorodo managed to stop Brook’s Seven Star Sword, he couldn’t block the second strike—Soul Slash.

"You think you’re fast with your Shave, huh?" Brook grinned, his pale face twisted in amusement. "Too bad for you—I had this Soul Slashing Sword prepared just for you!"

With his speed, Brook could have easily killed White Peizhen instantly. He only let Dorodo rush in because he wanted to test this soul-based attack.

Did this guy really think he was some slow-ass old man like Borsalino, taking forever to charge up a move while doing jack shit?

Before unleashing his attack, Brook had been gathering power for several seconds. The dark energy-infused soul slash directly tore at Dorodo’s soul, causing excruciating pain that would severely weaken his combat ability!

"Damn pirate!!"

Now, Dorodo was seeing double. He had always hated Devil Fruit users—their strange abilities could catch even the strongest warriors off guard.

"Despicable? It’s called strategy," Brook sneered. "And you were the one who rushed in and took my attack head-on."

The Soul Slash had its flaws—it required charging, had a limited range, and wasn’t particularly fast. But once it landed, the damage to the soul was devastating.

Since Brook’s soul energy couldn’t leave his body for too long, the sword energy from the Seven Star Sword wasn’t a typical flying slash—it had to be delivered at close range.

Dorodo felt terrible. His combat power had plummeted, but his "justice" would not allow him to fall so easily. Gritting his teeth, he ignored the pain and lashed out with two Tempest Kicks (Rankyaku), sending razor-sharp air blades toward Brook!

But Brook was already prepared. With a swift swing of his Seven Star Sword, he shattered the incoming attacks.

At the same time, Redfield appeared beside Brook, electricity crackling around him. He glared at his captain, clearly annoyed that he had stolen his fight.

Seeing the two pirates standing side by side, Dorodo knew he was at a severe disadvantage.

"Pirates! What’s your reason for attacking the Peace Dove News Agency?"

White Peizhen, still bleeding out, felt a deep sense of despair. This was clearly a revenge job. Had Moore Thomas really hired Brook for payback?!

"Brook, how much is Moore Thomas paying you?!" White Peizhen gasped. "Our Peace Dove News Agency will pay you double! No—ten times! No, TWENTY TIMES! I’ll buy Moore Thomas’ life!"

His thoughts were a mess due to blood loss and panic. He completely forgot that Brook owned a golden spaceship—did this guy look like he needed berries?

At that moment, Shakky rushed over, holding a Den Den Mushi, her expression grave.

"Captain Brook! Bad news! Antonio just called—Celestial Dragons have landed at the government base on Tree Island No. 69! Looks like they’re after our golden spaceship!"

Hearing this, Dorodo took advantage of their distraction. He forced himself to use Life Return (Seimei Kikan)—a technique he had never fully mastered—to try and recover from his soul injury.

Perhaps it was the threat of death, but this time, the technique actually worked—though he couldn’t fully heal, it significantly reduced his pain.

Taking action immediately, Dorodo didn’t try to counterattack. Instead, he grabbed White Peizhen and hurled him toward Brook and Redfield!

Then—he used Shave (Soru) and fled at top speed.

The move was so smooth and shameless that both pirates were stunned.

"...This guy calls himself a ‘righteous’ Marine?" Brook muttered.

Kicking aside White Peizhen, who was screaming in despair, Brook slashed with his Seven Star Sword, unleashing a hundred-meter-long energy slash at the fleeing Dorodo!

At the same time, Redfield fired off a massive lightning column.

Dorodo used every ounce of his Haki to block the attacks, coughing up a mouthful of blood before using the impact to escape even further.

Redfield wanted to chase him down, but Brook stopped him.

"No point. He’s probably gonna link up with the main Marine force by now."

"Let’s get back and protect Erebus. If the Celestial Dragons showed up, Tom and the others might not be able to hold them off!"

Carrying White Peizhen, Brook rushed back. Shakky and Xiluba followed.

Redfield, still annoyed, glared in the direction Dorodo had escaped, then fired off a massive lightning blast, annihilating the Peace Dove News Agency headquarters.

Then—he turned into lightning and vanished.

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Chapter Text

Reporters and editors near the Peace Dove News Agency headquarters stumbled out of nearby buildings, trembling, but they still didn’t forget to snap a final shot of the ruined agency.

“The Vice Admiral has been defeated, and the president has been captured… What the hell do we do now?”

A rookie journalist looked lost. The Peace Dove News Agency was a government-backed job, something stable, yet now it was gone in an instant. He had even paid a hefty sum in bribes just to get hired!

“Everyone, calm down and stay strong! The World Government will definitely rebuild the agency. We’re still part of the Peace Dove News Agency!”

A middle-aged man, who looked like the vice president, stepped up immediately, trying to reassure the employees. Now that the president was gone, he was the highest-ranking person left.

“Vice President, we need to contact Marine Headquarters immediately! Vice Admiral Dorodo isn’t strong enough to deal with this alone—we have to rescue President White Peizhen!”

A young reporter spoke up with urgency. The vice president shot him a cold glance. Why would I want to rescue that old man? This is my chance to take over!

“Good, good, young man! Such loyalty is admirable! Since you’re so concerned about the president, I’m ordering you to confirm his status immediately. If needed, you must show the courage to act and rescue him!”

The vice president put on a heartfelt expression and patted the young reporter on the shoulder.

The reporter’s face turned pale as he realized what was happening. The other staff members exchanged glances. As journalists, they weren’t fighters, but they weren’t stupid either—they saw right through the vice president’s plan.

“Sir, this mission is far too dangerous for a junior reporter!”

Some veteran journalists, who still had some integrity, spoke up in defense of their colleague.

“What’s this? You cowards don’t have the guts to fight for the president? Fine, then—you’re coming along too!”

The vice president sneered and sent the outspoken journalist along with the first reporter.

“Tch, how can a power-hungry bastard like you run the Peace Dove News Agency properly?”

One of the more experienced journalists scoffed.

“Listen up, everyone! The World Economic News Agency is currently hiring a ton of special correspondents. The pay is half of what we get here, but the job is more flexible, and we can travel all over the world. I’m applying—who’s coming with me?”

The moment he finished speaking, a bunch of young reporters immediately responded, eager for a change. Some reckless paparazzi, always chasing the next big scoop, followed him.

Meanwhile, the more cautious employees decided to stay put, trusting that the World Government would eventually rebuild the agency. After all, working at Peace Dove was a safer gig—they just published official reports from the Marines and government without ever needing to step into danger.

On the other hand, journalists working under Moore at the World Economic News Agency had to hunt for stories, even tailing notorious pirates!

But for some thrill-seekers, the riskier, the better. They loved the rush of danger, the adventure of uncovering secrets, and the thrill of traveling on the government’s dime.

The vice president watched the defectors leave with a dark expression. After a brief moment of thought, he quickly sent a report to the World Government and Marine Headquarters.

As for Vice Admiral Dorodo, he had already regrouped with his men and immediately requested reinforcements. He didn’t need the news agency to tell him that.

Seeing their commander wounded shocked the marines under his command. With his mastery of Armament Haki, Observation Haki, and the Rokushiki combat style, Dorodo had been practically unbeatable in the first half of the Grand Line for years.

His iron grip on the Sabaody Archipelago had pleased even the Celestial Dragons—he was not only strong but obedient.

---

Meanwhile, White Peizhen dangled weakly in Brook’s grip, his face pale from blood loss. His shoulder wound still bled, and he looked like he was on the verge of death.

“Captain Brook, I’ll give you all my money—just let me go!”

White Peizhen desperately wanted to treat his injury. He had no idea why Brook hadn’t killed him yet but had instead taken him captive.

“You think I need your money? By the way, you’re the one controlling those White Dove News Birds, aren’t you?”

Brook recalled that Moore, who ate the Seagull-Seagull Fruit, could control large flocks of Seagull News Birds. If that was the case, then it was likely White Peizhen, with his White Dove Fruit, controlled the White Dove News Birds.

“You… You want to destroy the Peace Dove News Agency?”

White Peizhen finally realized Brook’s goal.

“Who else but you controls these birds?”

Brook didn’t know whether the White Dove News Birds would continue working for the World Government if White Peizhen died. Rather than taking chances, he figured it was best to force him to disband them himself.

“Hah! You underestimate the World Government! Even if the White Dove News Birds disappear, they’ll just replace them with Goose News Birds or Swan News Birds! The government’s news agency will never fall!”

White Peizhen wasn’t bluffing. His control over the White Dove News Birds was the only reason he had held his position as president for so long.

“So you’re saying you’re the only one who can control them? Well, that just means there’s no reason to keep you alive.”

If the Peace Dove News Agency stopped publishing news, even temporarily, then Moore’ Seagull News Birds would quickly dominate the information market across the Four Seas and the Grand Line.

By the time the World Government managed to roll out Goose News Birds or Swan News Birds, it would already be too late. The World Economic News Agency would have crushed the competition.

Brook wanted to help Moore establish the World Economic News Agency as the ultimate news empire. The only remaining rival, the Dark News Syndicate in the New World, would be taken down eventually.

“Captain Brook, please don’t kill me! I swear, I’ll cut ties with the World Government! I’ll give you all my money! I’ll even join you!”

White Peizhen pleaded frantically, tears and snot running down his face.

“Captain, he’s lying. He’s just waiting for a chance to escape and send the Marines after us.”

A streak of lightning crackled, and Redfield materialized, staring at the groveling news president with cold eyes.

“No! I swear I won’t! I really won’t! Don’t kill me!!”

White Peizhen wailed in terror as he saw Brook’s deadly Seven-Star Sword gleam in the light. He was so scared that he lost control of his bladder.

“What a disgrace to the White Dove Fruit.”

With a look of disgust, Brook slashed White Peizhen in half, letting his corpse drop onto the street before continuing toward Tree Island No. 50.

White Peizhen’s lifeless body lay there, his eyes still bulging in shock.

How… How could I, the president of a World Government-backed news agency… die at the hands of pirates…?

Darkness swallowed his consciousness.

----

Viscount Nass, who was in the lawless zone, also caught wind of the golden spaceship. After auctioning off several slaves, he hurried to the coating factory to check it out.

"If I can just buy this golden spaceship with berries, it'll make my trips to the Sabaody Archipelago for slave auctions much easier."

"Lord Nass, please reconsider! I heard the ship belongs to a supernova pirate with a 200-million-berry bounty. Our guards wouldn’t stand a chance against them!"

A wealthy merchant from the Kingdom of Valoran tried to dissuade the impulsive Viscount. Businessmen like them had no reason to get tangled up with lawless pirates—it wasn’t worth risking their lives over.

"My father is the Iron Shield Earl of the Valoran Kingdom, commanding an army of 100,000. Who would dare attack me? I'm just going to see if I can buy the ship!"

Ignoring the warnings, Viscount Nass rushed off with his dozen or so guards. The other wealthy merchants had no choice but to follow, bringing their own guards along.

---

At the exclusive docking area of the World Government in Sabaody Archipelago, an enormous luxury ship sailed into the designated port. This was the landing spot for the Celestial Dragons when they visited for entertainment.

The ship's bow featured a massive golden lion head wearing a crown, and the sails bore the World Government's cross insignia. Its extravagance rivaled that of the golden spaceship—it was nothing short of magnificent.

"Oi! Where's that flying golden spaceship? Bring it to me NOW!"

A young Celestial Dragon stepped off the ship, wearing a round glass helmet, slicked-back hair, and sunglasses. Two CP agents in black suits and shades followed closely behind.

Saint Rothschild held two chains, each attached to a kneeling giant slave. He jumped onto one of them and ordered them to move toward Tree Island No. 50.

World Government officials scrambled to clear the way and ensure his safety. They had heard that Vice Admiral Dorodo had already set out to deal with the golden spaceship's captain.

After all, the source of this intel was White Peizhen, the president of the news organization. No one had expected that both Dorodo and Peizhen would be defeated so quickly—battles between supernovas and high-ranking Marines usually lasted a while.

Led by World Government personnel, Saint Rothschild and his entourage soon arrived at the coating factory on Tree Island No. 50. There, they saw the nearly finished golden spaceship.

"Heh… not bad. Almost as good as my Victory Lion. Alright, I've decided—this ship is mine now!"

Saint Rothschild smirked, clearly pleased with what he saw. He turned to his CP agents.

"Throw out the trash pirates on board and bring my new ship to me!"

The two CP agents exchanged glances, then obeyed. Using Moonwalk, they leaped onto the golden spaceship.

---

Fishman Tom and the ship’s doctor, Crocus, had both spotted the arrival of the so-called "nobles of the world." Tom, in particular, harbored deep hatred for the Celestial Dragons.

His people had suffered under their rule, enslaved and treated as mere property. But he also feared them—the World Government's power was absolute, and defying them meant death.

"The noble Celestial Dragon has decided to take this ship. Leave now, or be executed without mercy!"

Hearing the CP agent’s words, Fishman Tom's rage erupted. This ship wasn't just Captain Brook's—it was his masterpiece, his hard work. There was no way in hell he was giving it up to these bastards!

"Over my dead body, you World Government lapdogs!"

Tom grabbed his massive hammer and charged. Crocus, standing beside him, raised his modified harpoon. The weapon was fitted with various impact shells—Thunder Shells, Fire Shells, Water Shells, and Slash Shells.

"Hunting Harpoon—Thunder Fork!"

Crocus hadn’t awakened Haki yet, so he relied on his air shells to boost his attacks. His harpoon crackled with electricity as he lunged at the CP agent, forcing the man to dodge.

But the agent, trained in the Six Powers, quickly analyzed Crocus’ movement patterns. Using Shave, he closed the gap in an instant and drove a Finger Pistol into Crocus’ waist.

"Hunting Harpoon—Slashing Fork!"

Crocus countered with a long-range slash, but the CP agent responded with a Tempest Kick, sending an air blade crashing into the attack. Explosions echoed across the ship.

Meanwhile, Fishman Tom wielded his hammer with ease, despite its immense weight. His Armament Haki-enhanced blows could flatten buildings, but the CP agent’s agility made landing a hit near impossible.

Tom’s frustration boiled over as he chased the agent around, roaring furiously. The CP agent, in turn, grimaced—his Finger Pistols couldn’t pierce Tom’s Haki-hardened skin.

Realizing the difficulty of taking Tom head-on, the agent made a tactical decision. He regrouped with his partner and focused on taking down Crocus first, planning to deal with the stronger opponent later.

"You ain't runnin' from me, rat!"

Tom tried to intervene, but Crocus had a plan of his own. Using his medical expertise, he tossed a few canisters onto the deck. Thick smoke erupted from them.

"Damn it! It's anesthetic gas!"

One of the CP agents inhaled by accident and immediately felt dizzy. He quickly warned his partner, holding his breath and leaping out of the smoke cloud.

"Hunting Harpoon—Flame Fork!"

Crocus sprinkled a powder onto his bleeding wound, then activated a Fire Shell in his harpoon. A jet of flames burst toward the unsteady CP agent.

The agent bit his tongue, using the pain to stay conscious, and used Moonwalk to escape the fire just in time.

"Worthless trash! Get back in there and finish the job!!"

Saint Rothschild, furious at his agents’ failure, stormed over and kicked one of them several times. The dazed CP agent flinched but didn’t resist—he only gritted his teeth and forced himself to keep going.

As the battle continued, World Government guards and Saint Rothschild's own men pushed back the crowd, clearing out any onlookers. The coating factory workers, under orders, boarded the golden spaceship and joined the fight against the pirates.

If Saint Rothschild hadn’t ordered them not to damage the golden ship, his men would’ve already rained gunfire down on Tom and Crocus.

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Chapter Text

Antonio hid in the cabin, his anxiety overwhelming him to the point of tears. He hated himself for being so weak. Desperately, he kept talking to Shakky through the Den Den Mushi, shouting for the captain to return as soon as possible.

Antonio’s distressed cries echoed through the Den Den Mushi, making Brook’s already cold expression turn even more frigid.

"Captain Brook, I'm heading back first!"

Redfield’s face was filled with fury. Antonio was his crewmate—there was no way he would let some outsider bully him. And on top of that, an enemy had invaded their golden spaceship. Without hesitation, he transformed into a flash of lightning and shot back.

"Shakky, Shiruba, hurry up! I'm going ahead!"

Brook also vanished in a blur, leaving behind only a wave of cold air and faint ice shards drifting to the ground.

"Shiruba, pick up the pace!"

Shakky pushed herself, managing to use Shave to accelerate. Meanwhile, Shiruba’s modified wind-jet boots allowed him to soar forward at high speed.

"Oi, Shiruba! Since when did you have those flying wind-jet boots?! Why the hell didn’t you make me a pair?!"

Shakky barely caught a glimpse of the long-barreled sniper rifle on hiruba’s back before he vanished ahead. Frustrated, she swore she’d make him pay for it later.

"Watch this—Wind Knot!"

She pulled out a special tool from Weatheria and untied the wind knot, unleashing a powerful gust that propelled her forward rapidly.

---

Meanwhile, the guards outside were trying to break into the cabin, aiming to take control of the golden spaceship. However, their efforts were blocked by the Fishman shipwright, Tom. One by one, they hooked their grappling devices onto him, trying to use their sheer numbers to restrain him.

"Ahh, dammit! I should’ve just blown you bastards to hell the moment I saw you!"

Tom regretted not firing the ship’s cannons as soon as these guys boarded.

"Haha! That’s it—capture them! I want these two pirates as my slaves!"

Saint Rothschild grinned with excitement, commanding his men to seize Tom and Crocus. Once he claimed this golden spaceship, he’d have his prize.

"Tch, guess Captain Brook was right… Even as a doctor, you’ve gotta be prepared for poisonous scum like these!"

Weibei—Toxic Smoke!

Crocus didn't just release anesthetic gas this time—he unleashed a deadly toxin. His duty was to protect the ship and his crew, even if it meant violating a doctor’s principles.

The guards who inhaled the toxic smoke dropped instantly, their faces turning purple, their mouths foaming. The CP agents hesitated, fear creeping in as they backed away.

"Damn it! We can't even handle two of them?! Once the rest of their crew returns, we’ll be in deep shit—and even His Highness Rothschild could be in danger!"

CP agent Siyahai shouted in frustration to his partner, Fuboller. They had also learned that the captain of this golden spaceship was Brook, a pirate with a bounty of 200 million berries.

Rumors said Brook had caused trouble at the Dove of Peace News Agency over a rude journalist, and even Vice Admiral Dorodo had tried to stop him. If he made it back here, things would spiral out of control.

"If things get worse, abandon the mission! Protect His Highness Rothschild at all costs!"

Seeing how troublesome these pirates were, the two CP agents were already dreading their captain’s reaction.

Just as they were scrambling for a solution, a sudden explosion of lightning and thunder shook the sky. A massive web of electricity crackled downward, engulfing the guards.

Siyahai and Fuboller’s eyes widened in terror. "W-what the hell?! A Logia user?!"

Their intelligence must’ve been garbage—why hadn’t anyone warned them about such a powerful pirate being onboard?!

The World Government’s guards on the golden spaceship were all fried to a crisp by the lightning. Seeing the storm, both Crocus and Tom instantly knew—Redfield was back!

"Hahaha! Incredible! This pirate is so strong—he took out all those men in seconds! I want him as my slave!"

Saint Rothschild, oblivious to the sheer danger before him, laughed excitedly. He envisioned himself winning against the other Celestial Dragons in their slave tournaments with such a prize.

"Your Highness, we need to retreat! This is dangerous—these pirates are completely lawless!"

Siyahai and Fuboller, drenched in sweat, knelt before Rothschild, desperately urging him to leave.

But Redfield, still crackling with electricity, had heard Rothschild's words. His glare locked onto the hooded Celestial Dragon, his anger boiling over.

Lightning arced violently around his body. The CP agents swallowed hard. It was one thing for them to die—but if a Celestial Dragon was killed, the consequences would be catastrophic.

"A Celestial Dragon… and you dare say you want to make me a slave?"

Redfield’s voice dripped with fury.

Before becoming a pirate, he had once been a noble—a lord of land. His father had named him with great aspirations, hoping he would one day inherit the vast red lands of their family. That legacy had earned him the title of Red Earl.

But he preferred Lonely Red.

Why? Because the Redfield family—his family—had been wiped out by the Celestial Dragons.

The reason? The World Nobles decided that no one but them was worthy of owning land on the Red Line.

That childish, arrogant decree had condemned his entire bloodline to death.

Redfield loathed the World Government. He despised the Celestial Dragons.

The sky trembled with his wrath, thunder roaring as he considered his next move. He knew the consequences—killing a Celestial Dragon would bring hell down on them. The Hell Pirates would become the World Government’s number one target.

If it were just him, he wouldn’t have hesitated. He would’ve avenged his family and spit in the face of the World Government at every turn.

But now… he had Brook. He had a crew. He had people he actually cared about.

He couldn't just throw that away.

His rage crackled in the air, but his attack never came.

"What's stopping you, Redfield?!"

A voice suddenly rang out from behind him.

Brook had arrived.

He stood in the path of the CP agents, cutting off Rothschild’s escape route.

"You are a man with the qualities of a king! If you wanna cut him down, then do it!"

Brook’s presence loomed larger than life. His soul expanded outward, towering at seven or eight meters tall. The Underworld Soul manifested once more.

Like a god of death, he gazed down at the trembling Celestial Dragon.

----

Brook had been to Redfield's hometown and knew about his noble status. As for the tragic events that followed, Brook had learned bits and pieces after Redfield joined the crew. However, out of respect, no one usually brought up those painful memories.

But now, standing face to face with the so-called rulers of the world—the Celestial Dragons, Redfield's sworn enemies—there was no avoiding the confrontation any longer.

Had Redfield still been sailing alone, he would have undoubtedly been consumed by rage, unleashing his fury on this Celestial Dragon without hesitation. After all, he was a man who had awakened Conqueror’s Haki, a pirate who defied the World Government at every turn, standing on equal footing with legends like Whitebeard and Golden Lion.

At his peak, Redfield had forced the World Government to dispatch Fleet Admiral Kong himself to subdue him. Even then, Redfield singlehandedly defeated Kong, only to be overwhelmed by exhaustion, allowing Garp to capture him and throw him into Impel Down’s deepest level—Eternal Hell.

—

“Hahahaha! The spirit of a king? Thanks, Captain Brook. If I ever become a king, I swear I’ll help you become a god and drag these arrogant bastards off their pedestal!”

Tears welled up in Redfield’s eyes as he spoke. It had been a long time since he felt true camaraderie, and now, his captain—the man he chose to follow—stood with him, ready to take on the wrath of the World Government.

The ever-proud Redfield, who had always walked his own path, was now crying openly. But those tears carried the weight of years of rage and injustice. His emotions erupted, twisting the skies into a chaotic storm, thunder and lightning crashing around them.

Siyahai and Fuboller, the Celestial Dragon's guards, stood in front of Saint Rothschild, their faces frozen in horror. As for the so-called noble himself, he collapsed to the ground, his pristine robes stained with piss as terror consumed him.

Golden lightning crackled around Redfield, infused with streaks of black and red—evidence of his Conqueror’s Haki awakening. His body trembled with overwhelming fury, his bloodshot eyes locked onto his prey.

“I WILL AVENGE THE REDFIELD FAMILY TODAY! EVEN IF YOU CALL YOURSELVES GODS, I’LL SEND YOU TO HELL!!”

With a deafening roar, a massive thunderbolt split the sky, striking down with godlike fury. The Celestial Dragon and his guards were obliterated in an instant, leaving behind nothing but a smoldering crater.

Brook, witnessing the execution of one of the highest-ranking nobles in the world, felt a thrill of excitement. At the same time, he could sense the weight of Redfield’s Haki pressing down on him. His own spirit surged in response, his Hades aura expanding to fifteen meters, radiating a chilling, deathly presence.

Those unfortunate enough to be nearby—the pirates, civilians, and even marine forces—were overwhelmed by the combined force of Redfield’s Conqueror’s Haki and Brook’s death aura. One by one, they collapsed, their eyes rolling back as unconscious bodies hit the ground.

“Captain Brook, is this… Conqueror’s Haki?”

Redfield, now standing over the remnants of his enemies, felt invincible. Even Brook’s massive Underworld Soul form failed to intimidate him.

“Congratulations, Redfield. From now on, you too are a king in your own right.”

Brook, despite his excitement, retracted his Underworld presence. He had worried that Redfield might lose his edge after joining the Hell Pirates, but now, the legendary Red Earl had ascended to new heights.

The appearance of the Celestial Dragons—Redfield’s mortal enemies—had provided the perfect catalyst for his awakening. And even if killing one meant making enemies of the entire World Government, Brook had no regrets. The benefits of Redfield’s Conqueror’s Haki awakening were well worth it.

“This is just a display of power. Captain, in my heart, you’re the true king. I swear to follow you and tear those hypocritical Celestial Dragons from their thrones!”

Redfield looked at Brook with a gaze filled with gratitude. To him, Brook was his only true leader—not those self-proclaimed gods.

“Hohoho~! Killing a Celestial Dragon might just be the start!”

Brook chuckled, his excitement mirroring Redfield’s. His Hades aura was no less terrifying than Conqueror’s Haki, after all.

“But we need to move now. The Navy will send an admiral soon!”

Brook and Redfield quickly disposed of the remaining bodies, helping the fishman shipwright, Tom, finish coating the ship. As they prepared to leave, Shakky and Xiluba rushed over.

The scene before them was pure chaos—dozens of unconscious bodies littered the ground, the guards of the World Government slaughtered, and in the center, a smoldering crater where something—no, someone—had once stood.

“Captain Brook, amazing! Did you scare the Celestial Dragons away?”

Shakky asked, her tone casual, unable to fathom the idea that someone might have actually killed one. After all, for hundreds of years, no one dared to touch the Celestial Dragons.

“Get on the damn ship! We’re running! An admiral is coming!”

Brook barked, raising the sails. Shakky and Hiruba didn't need to be told twice—they scrambled aboard, their instincts screaming at them to flee.

Tom, who had just finished the final touches on the coating, looked shaken. The massive fishman, usually calm and composed, was now trembling like a cornered animal. His expression was one of pure disbelief.

What had he just witnessed?

Captain Brook had allowed Redfield to kill a Celestial Dragon—erasing him completely!

Even Crocus remained silent, his usual laid-back demeanor nowhere to be found. Shakky, ever the clever one, swallowed hard as her mind pieced together the situation.

“Captain… you didn’t actually kill a Celestial Dragon, did you?”

Even as she spoke the words, she already knew the answer. And yet, she couldn’t believe it.

“Yeah. So we need to get the hell out of here.”

Brook rolled his eyes, pulling up the anchor. The ship set sail at full speed, and the two newcomers, still in shock, hurried to secure the rigging. They had to escape, or they’d all be dead men soon.

—

Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Dorodo, still injured from an earlier encounter, arrived at the scene with a large marine force.

What he found nearly made his soul leave his body. The bodies of fallen guards. A destroyed battlefield. And most importantly, Saint Rothschild—gone.

In the distance, he spotted a ship sailing away from the harbor—Brook’s Erebus.

“BROOK! WHERE HAVE YOU HIDDEN HIS HIGHNESS, THE CELESTIAL DRAGON?! RETURN HIM NOW!”

Dorodo’s face was pale. This wasn’t just a disaster—it was an unprecedented catastrophe. If a Celestial Dragon was truly dead, the consequences would be beyond imagination.

For years, he had played the obedient lapdog to these nobles, climbing the ranks solely because of his willingness to serve them. But now? If he failed to retrieve Saint Rothschild, he wouldn’t just lose his position—he might lose his life.

On the other side of the harbor, a group of wealthy merchants led by Viscount Nass arrived, their expressions filled with confusion and fear. They had heard the Vice Admiral screaming about a missing Celestial Dragon.

Did that mean… someone had actually kidnapped one?

For hundreds of years, the Celestial Dragons had ruled untouchable, their status as gods enforced by the iron grip of the World Government.

And yet today, someone had defied that order.

No—worse than that.

Someone had erased a god from existence.

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(TL: Undead Energy = Observation Haki
Ghost Energy = Armament Haki
Hades Energy = Conqueror’s Haki

I don't know if I'll stay consistent with this since it's a bit confusing sometimes, but I'll try my best to give you all a readable fanfic.

For those who don't know why Brook can't master Haki, it's because he's like an undead — but not a complete one. For me, undead beings don't naturally possess spiritual energy, which is the core source needed to wield Haki. Spiritual energy is a vital force that individuals harness to awaken Observation, Armament, and even Conqueror's Haki. Without spiritual energy, it's almost impossible to master Haki. This is only my opinion idk if the author write the Reason cuz if he had i already forgot which chapter heheheeh.)

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Chapter Text

Viscount Nass stared at the golden-coated ship as it sailed away from the port. The sails were furled, and only a small black pirate flag fluttered on the mast. It was the Hell Pirates.

“No!! Brook, you can’t leave! Return Saint Rothschild to me, now!!”

Vice Admiral Dorodo felt a chill run down his spine as he watched the golden ship dive beneath the sea. His naval career was as good as over.

The reinforcements from Navy Headquarters hadn’t even arrived yet, and a Celestial Dragon had already been kidnapped. How the hell was he supposed to explain this to the World Government? He thought about the despicable nature of the Celestial Dragons—their cruelty, their arrogance.

A desperate idea formed in his mind. If he stayed in the Navy, he’d be blamed. The World Government and the Celestial Dragons would demand his head. He had dedicated himself to serving the so-called "gods" of the world, but that loyalty wouldn’t save him now. He was never popular at Navy Headquarters anyway.

In the distance, pirates and civilians who had been knocked out by the earlier battle were finally regaining consciousness. The moment they took in the destruction, chaos erupted. Screams of terror filled the air as people scrambled to flee the island.

“Ahhh! The Celestial Dragon is dead! Run! The Admirals are coming!”

A pirate bolted toward his ship, desperate to escape Sabaody before a storm of retribution crashed down on them.

“The Celestial Dragon is really dead! Everyone, get out of here before it’s too late!!”

Shipwrights, coating specialists, and merchants alike rushed back to their homes, gathering whatever they could before abandoning Sabaody for safer islands.

“What?! His Highness, the Celestial Dragon, is dead?”

Vice Admiral Dorodo grabbed a terrified coating worker who had been trying to escape. His hands trembled as he demanded answers, his face twisted with disbelief.

From afar, Viscount Nass also caught wind of the shocking news. This wasn’t just a kidnapping—someone had actually killed a Celestial Dragon.

"Ahh! Please don’t kill me!" The coater frantically struggled in Dorodo’s grip. "His Highness disappeared into that giant crater! He was vaporized by that massive lightning pillar!"

Dorodo’s hands went slack, and the coater wasted no time scrambling away.

Viscount Nass took a step back, his breath shallow. His father had warned him about the sheer horror that would follow if a Celestial Dragon was harmed.

Now one was dead.

This wasn’t just some big event—this was history. This was the kind of thing that happened once in centuries. And he had actually witnessed it.

Terror seized him, and without hesitation, he turned and fled.

“Lord Nass, let’s get out of here!” Several wealthy merchants tried to urge him to leave, but he was already running at full speed, desperate to return to the Kingdom of Valoran.

Even though Valoran was currently at war with the Vodka Kingdom, anywhere was safer than Sabaody right now.

He still couldn’t believe it. A Celestial Dragon… killed by a pirate? That was rarer than a Devil Fruit falling from the sky!

The other merchants didn’t need any more convincing. They, too, bolted, rushing toward their ships to escape the inevitable wrath of the World Government.

Vice Admiral Dorodo stood frozen, his mind racing. If there was any hope of salvaging his career before, it was gone now. There was no escaping the punishment that was coming.

He reached for his Den Den Mushi with shaking hands, dialing a secure line.

“Pack your things,” he whispered to his wife and family. “Get on a ship. Now.”

Then, he turned to his remaining marines. With a grim expression, he slowly removed his Navy cloak of justice and let it fall to the ground.

“Listen up.” His voice was hoarse, but firm. “The Celestial Dragons won’t stop at the ones responsible—they’ll punish everyone involved. They’ll make us scapegoats.”

Silence. The marines around him were pale with fear.

“I’m done with the Navy. I’m defecting. I’ll become a pirate and enter the New World.”

Gasps rippled through the group.

“If any of you want to come with me, take off your uniforms. If not, get the hell out of here. Run away, or go back to the nearest Marine Branch and beg Headquarters for mercy.”

Dorodo wasn’t entirely heartless. He knew some of these men had joined the Navy for the right reasons, and he wouldn’t force them down the same path as him.

Some of the marines, seeing no other way out, ripped off their uniforms and started coating their warships. They would leave Sabaody behind and follow Dorodo into the New World.

Others wanted nothing to do with piracy but still feared the Celestial Dragons’ wrath. They quit the Navy then and there, discarding their uniforms before fleeing back to their hometowns.

The last group—the most disciplined officers—refused to abandon the World Government. They believed Headquarters would only punish the ones directly responsible. Instead of running, they returned to the Marine Branch to await further orders.

As news of the Celestial Dragon’s death spread across Sabaody, panic consumed the island. Even criminals from the lawless areas put their operations on hold and temporarily fled.

Shops closed. Hotels shut down. Restaurants and bars were abandoned.

The only business still running? Ship-coating. Everyone wanted out.

---

Navy Headquarters – Marineford

When the transmission reached the upper ranks, chaos erupted at Navy Headquarters.

“WHAT?!”

Navy Marshal Kukulkan’s roar shook the walls.

“Saint Rothschild of the Celestial Dragons is dead?! And White Peizhen, the president of the Dove of Peace News Agency, is dead as well?!”

The signal officer swallowed hard. “Y-yes, Marshal! And… Vice Admiral Dorodo has defected. He feared the Celestial Dragons’ punishment and took his men into the New World as pirates.”

Kukulkan’s face twisted in rage. His talon-like fingers gripped the edge of his desk so tightly that it cracked.

“That bastard…” His feathers bristled as his vertical pupils turned ice-cold. “Issue a wanted order. I want him brought back immediately.”

The entire room was tense. A Celestial Dragon had been killed. This was a nightmare.

Chief of Staff Weimark stepped forward, his expression grim. “Marshal, with White Peizhen dead, the White Dove News Birds will start losing control. We need to act fast—either train new News Birds or locate the reborn White Dove Devil Fruit.”

Kukulkan exhaled sharply, barely containing his fury. “Find every single member of the Hell Pirates. I want every scrap of information on them.” His eyes burned with cold determination. “For hundreds of years, no Celestial Dragon has ever been killed by a pirate. This cannot go unanswered.”

He picked up a secure line and connected directly to the Holy Land of Mariejois.

Within minutes, word of Saint Rothschild’s death reached his family.

Their response was swift and brutal.

The Rothschild lineage was one of the most powerful among the Celestial Dragons. The moment they heard what had happened, they erupted with fury.

They didn’t just want the Hell Pirates executed.

They wanted them alive.

Captured. Tortured. For years.

They wanted vengeance.

And the Navy had no choice but to deliver it.

---

The Navy Headquarters soon received orders from the World Government. The Celestial Dragons, outraged beyond measure, demanded that every single member of the Hell Pirates be captured alive as soon as possible.

Not only that, but the Celestial Dragons themselves issued bounties in the underground world and the Pirate Hunter Guild, offering astronomical rewards.

"The dignity of the Celestial Dragons is absolute! Anyone who defies it will die!"

After thoroughly investigating the crew members of the Hell Pirates, the Navy quickly released updated bounty posters. And thanks to the massive sum poured in by the Celestial Dragons, those bounties had been heavily inflated!

---

Deep beneath the ocean, the Erebus, a golden-coated ship, drifted along the deep-sea currents toward Fishman Island.

At that moment, Brook and Redfield felt a little guilty toward Fishman Tom.

"Tom, I might've dragged you into this mess," Brook said, his tone heavy. "From now on, you’ll probably be carrying a bounty just like us."

Brook knew that Tom's dream of returning to Water 7, reviving the shipbuilding industry, and completing the Sea Train would be much harder now.

Tom, however, didn’t seem the least bit troubled. "Captain Brook, I was prepared for this. I’m happy to be on this adventure with you all," he said with a big grin. "Besides, I’ve found what I was looking for—the pyrobroin particles from Sky Island. They can be suspended in water and serve as a foundation for the Sea Train tracks."

Brook’s eyes widened. "Seriously?!"

Tom nodded. "In the time I spent up there, I experimented with different materials, combining pyrobroin with metals. The result? A new alloy with both the strength of steel and the buoyancy of island clouds."

With this, he had discovered a way to build tracks on the sea. Even if he couldn’t return to Water 7 to complete the project himself, he had already laid the groundwork for his dream.

Brook broke into a wide smile. "That means, Tom… you’ll always be one of us!"

Excitement filled the air. Tom wasn’t just a master shipwright—he could very well be the one to recreate Pluton, the legendary ancient weapon!

“I’m happy to be part of the crew too!” Tom declared, his heart swelling with warmth.

"Then it's official!" Brook announced. "To celebrate Tom joining the Hell Pirates, I’m cooking today!"

"Welcome, Brother Tom!"

"Long live Captain Brook!"

With laughter and cheers, the crew pushed aside the weight of their battle against the Celestial Dragons and embraced their future with determination.

Meanwhile, Redfield clenched his fists, his eyes burning with conviction. No one had blamed him for what happened—he was still their comrade.

I swear on my life—I’ll get stronger. I won’t let anyone else fall into danger again!

---

At the same time, aboard another coated ship deep in the ocean, the atmosphere was far more somber.

Vice Admiral Dorodo and his men—once proud Marines—were now labeled as outlaws. The shift from Marines to pirates was a tough pill to swallow.

But rather than stopping at Fishman Island, Dorodo made a decision.

"We’ll skip Fishman Island and head straight into the New World through the underwater passage of the Red Line," he said firmly.

He had no interest in fighting the Hell Pirates right now.

And so, on that day, the Dorodo Pirates were born.

"We’re done following those corrupt rules," Dorodo declared. "From now on, we’ll rob pirates and survive on their resources. But we’ll never harm civilians, and we’ll never kill the innocent."

His men looked at each other before nodding in agreement.

"Captain Dorodo, even as pirates… we should still uphold justice!"

Dorodo’s lips curled into a smirk. "Well said. The only reason I didn’t fight to the death back there is because the Celestial Dragons don’t care about justice. They would’ve slaughtered us no matter what."

Fire returned to the hearts of his crew.

"Then let’s keep our strength and carry on justice our own way!"

Their battle cries echoed through the ship, their spirits burning with new purpose as they set sail for the New World.

---

Fishman Island

For years, Fishman Island had suffered under the cruelty of human traffickers and slavers. Both fishmen and merfolk had become wary of outsiders.

Without a true powerhouse to protect them, the island had long been a target for oppression.

Inside Ryugu Castle, a soldier from the royal guard rushed in.

"Your Majesty! Another pirate crew is requesting entry!"

King Mars, the ruler of Fishman Island and its strongest guardian, sat upon his throne, gripping his trident. His powerful affinity with water made him a master of Fish-man jujutsu, and he could even communicate with sea creatures.

"Hmph," he scoffed. "They’re actually requesting permission? Pirates usually just barge in."

By his side, a young, orange-haired fishman grabbed his own trident. His eyes burned with excitement.

"Father, let me come with you!" Prince Neptune said eagerly. "I’ve mastered my Fish-man jujutsu—I want to fight too!"

Mars eyed his son before letting out a chuckle. "You’re still young. Real combat is nothing like your training drills."

"But Father, everyone calls me The Great Knight of the Sea now! That proves my strength!"

Mars shook his head, amused by his son’s arrogance. Fine. It’s time for you to see what real battle looks like.

---

Back aboard the Erebus, Fishman Tom wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Captain Brook, please wait patiently," he said. "I believe the soldiers of Fishman Island will grant us passage soon."

He had specifically requested that the Hell Pirates not force their way in.

Redfield, however, wasn’t the patient type. If it weren’t for Tom’s plea, he would have already stormed in. After all, he was the man who had dared to strike down a Celestial Dragon.

Just then, a massive whale approached their ship, carrying two enormous figures—one of whom Brook and the others instantly recognized.

Fishman Tom stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

Brook and Redfield exchanged glances but remained silent. This was Tom’s moment.

Would Fishman Island welcome them as friends… or as enemies?

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Chapter Text

When King Mars and Prince Neptune saw the familiar merman Tom, they hurried over to chat with him, eager to learn about the current situation in the ocean.

Fishman Tom was widely regarded as one of the most successful fishmen on Fishman Island. He was also a famous shipwright in Water 7, and his reputation had spread across Fishman Street. Many fishmen—and even mermaids—dreamed of traveling to Water 7 to work under Tom, hoping to live under the sun and experience life on the sea.

The future Granny Kokoro was still a beautiful mermaid at this time. She had chosen to live with Fishman Tom and would eventually become the stationmaster of the Sea Train.

Even the mermaid royal family sometimes wished to live freely on the sea like Tom, earning respect from humans through the power of shipbuilding.

"Tom, aren’t you supposed to be in Water 7? Don’t tell me you’ve turned into a pirate too?"

King Mars found it hard to believe. Tom was one of the rare fishmen who had made a name for himself in the human world. He was a role model to many, proving that fishmen could thrive without resorting to piracy. So why was he now standing among those who had abandoned their homeland in search of the sun, willing to become pawns of a pirate crew?

"Your Majesty, I am indeed a pirate now, but I have no regrets. I believe my captain will soon help the fishmen find a new path forward!"

Tom spoke with a hint of embarrassment but remained firm in his belief. Then, lowering his voice, he whispered:

"Our captain and combatants are the ones who dared to kill a Celestial Dragon. I think we should let them in quickly. They won’t be staying long—we’re heading for the New World soon!"

The moment King Mars heard those words, he staggered backward, nearly falling off his whale mount. Even Redfield, who had been watching from a distance, smirked in amusement.

Without hesitation, King Mars ordered his soldiers to welcome the Hell Pirates into Fishman Island. He also arranged for the coating craftsmen to reapply the ship’s protective bubble so they could leave as soon as they had their fill of fun.

Prince Neptune, still eager to fight, was abruptly slapped aside by King Mars’ massive tail. There was no point in provoking such dangerous individuals—anyone who dared to kill a Celestial Dragon was an enemy no one could afford to cross.

"The Mermaid King, we’d like to visit the Sea Forest and read the Poneglyphs. Is that alright?"

Brook jumped off the Erebus, his Seven-Star Sword in hand. His only interest was the Poneglyph—he had no need for anything else at the moment.

"My powerful captain, are you a historian? Can you read the ancient language?"

Over the centuries, the mermaid royal family had lost the true meaning behind the two ancient stone inscriptions. There was little point in taking Brook and his crew there if they couldn’t even decipher the texts.

The Poneglyphs were made of an incredibly durable material, nearly indestructible and extremely heavy. Moving them was a difficult task.

"I can’t read them—I just want to make copies and study them later!"

Brook replied casually. He considered bringing the inscriptions back to Skypiea for safekeeping, but for now, they were too bulky to carry around. The added weight would slow down the Golden Ship.

"No problem. I’ll send someone to escort you there immediately!"

King Mars had no desire to remain in the company of such dangerous individuals. Without delay, he and Neptune retreated to Ryugu Castle, distancing themselves from the Hell Pirates to avoid any potential consequences from the Celestial Dragons.

Though he secretly admired those brave enough to challenge the Celestial Dragons, the reality was that the world was still under their rule—defiance was simply not an option.

"Captain Brook, what do you even want with all that history? You said yourself you can’t read it!"

Shakky asked curiously. In this era, there was no talk of the One Piece treasure or the legend of Laugh Tale. Being a pirate was all about plundering and fighting for dominance in the New World.

"This could involve some shocking secrets about the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. I’m not entirely sure, but I want to gather as much information as I can!"

Brook answered nonchalantly. However, Redfield’s expression changed upon hearing those words. Anything that posed a threat to the Celestial Dragons and the World Government was worth investigating. If there was even the slightest chance of bringing those tyrants down, he would take it.

From that moment on, uncovering the secrets of the Poneglyphs became one of Redfield’s primary goals. In fact, he seemed more invested in it than Brook himself.

Guided by the Sea King’s soldiers, they traveled through Fishman Street and entered the Sea Forest. There, beneath the glowing corals and swaying seaweed, stood two massive stones—Poneglyphs—covered in ancient script. Moss had grown over the areas closest to the seabed.

"What the hell is this thing made of?"

Brook ran his fingers over the Red Poneglyph. It didn’t seem to be seastone, since he didn’t feel any weakness from touching it.

In the original story, Robin had interacted with many Poneglyphs—both red and ordinary—without showing any signs of exhaustion, further proving that the material wasn’t seastone.

The Poneglyphs were said to be indestructible. While seastone was renowned for its hardness, it could still be broken and reshaped if refined properly. But this material? No one had ever managed to scratch it.

With the help of Antonio and Shakky, Brook quickly copied the inscriptions.

"The Kozuki Clan really wasted this material. They polished it into a perfect square, yet they only engraved text on one side—and in such huge letters! How much information can they possibly fit like that?"

Brook grumbled as he examined the script. How much history could really be recorded in just a few hundred words? There was so much wasted space!

"Captain Brook, since these Poneglyphs contain secrets about the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, why don’t we take them with us?"

Redfield traced his fingers along the carvings, his mind racing with possibilities. These stones could be the key to bringing down the Celestial Dragons.

"They’re too damn big and heavy. I’ll take them back to Skypiea when we return. I’m not hauling these things around while heading to the New World!"

Brook sighed, watching Redfield closely. The man looked completely enthralled—had he just awakened a new obsession with ancient history? Maybe someday, he’d even want to visit O’Hara to study old texts.

"It’s a deal then, Captain. Next time we come back, you’re taking them!"

Redfield was satisfied with Brook’s response. He then turned to the soldiers guarding the Sea Forest.

"Listen up! Tell your king to protect this place properly. Build a damn shelter if you have to—no one should come near these stones! If anything happens to them, I’ll be back, and trust me, you don’t want that."

Lightning crackled in the sky as Redfield spoke, his aura sending chills down the spines of the guards. They frantically nodded, vowing to follow his command.

Meanwhile, Fishman Tom and his crew returned to their homes in Fishman Street, where they reunited with friends and family. They were treated to a feast—though the mermaids refrained from eating fish and meat, preferring shellfish instead.

According to the mermaid Camie, the oysters from the Mermaid District were far tastier than those from Fishman Street.

Unlike mermaids, the mermen couldn’t communicate with sea creatures, which meant they had no issue eating fish and sea beasts. To them, Fishman Street was a wild and unforgiving place—a world apart from the peaceful mermaid communities.

---

If Ryugu Castle is the crown jewel of Fishman Island—built from massive coral reefs, shells, and other exotic materials—then Fishman Street is its complete opposite. A place of poverty, hunger, and desperation, it’s where wandering orphans and outcast fishmen struggle to survive. Darkness and resentment are the only constants here.

"Haha! Tom, look who finally decided to become a pirate!"

A fishman thug sneered as he spotted Tom returning. "Didn't you say you'd earn the respect of humans through your own skills? And now what? You turned into a pirate, hated by everyone, and a lapdog for human pirates!"

"Hey! I won’t let you talk about Senior Tom like that, you bastard!"

A young red fishman, no older than seven or eight, stepped up and scolded the gang. He was small but stronger than these street thugs.

"Fisher Tiger, you damn orphan, this ain't your business! Get lost!"

The fishman thug wasn't afraid this time. He had seven or eight brothers backing him up, unlike their last fight when Fisher Tiger beat him black and blue.

Brook perked up when he heard the name. Fisher Tiger? The legendary fishman who scaled the Red Line with his bare hands and freed countless slaves?

Even at eight years old, Fisher Tiger was already over two meters tall, almost reaching Brook’s height of 2.7 meters. He had the build of a warrior, another natural-born fishman powerhouse.

"You’re looking for a beating!"

Hearing them call him an orphan, Fisher Tiger clenched his fists, his eyes burning with fury. Here on Fishman Street, words meant nothing—fights settled everything.

Fishman Karate: 300-Watt Straight Fist!

He charged forward, slamming a powerful punch into the thug’s chest, sending him crashing to the ground.

"What the hell are you guys waiting for? Get him!"

The thug groaned, clutching his chest. He hadn't expected Fisher Tiger to throw hands so fast. Realizing he was in trouble, he shouted for his gang to jump in.

"Enough! This is a waste of time!"

Before the thugs could move, Tom stepped in, grabbing one of them with one hand and tossing him aside like trash.

"You're all still so damn useless—bullying your own kind instead of doing something with your lives. Why don’t you go out to sea and make something of yourselves?" Tom scolded.

Despite Fishman Island’s population of four to five million, barely any fishmen had the courage to leave. Other than a handful of pirates, most fishmen never dared to venture into the outside world.

It wasn't entirely their fault. With slave traders swarming the seas, a single fishman was worth millions of berries on the market.

Brook had noticed something odd about fishmen: they were born with ten times the physical strength of humans, yet most of them never seemed to grow stronger. It was as if fate had set a limit on their potential.

Humans, on the other hand, started weaker but had no ceiling. Through training, they could surpass even the strongest fishmen, becoming the true rulers of the sea. Maybe it was because of their overwhelming numbers, or perhaps it was the influence of their civilization.

Still, among millions of fishmen, only a rare few ever became true powerhouses. Instead of fighting back, most lived in fear, hiding away on Fishman Island.

A Dangerous Secret

With Tom’s overwhelming strength, the street thugs scattered, and Fishman Street returned to its usual uneasy peace. Tom led Brook and the others back to his home, where his brother, Den, came out to greet them.

Den was an oriental wolf-fishman, wearing a dark hat, thick-framed glasses, and earrings. He had wild hair, a pointed face, and a slightly hooked nose. Like Tom, he was a skilled shipwright, but he also spent much of his time researching the Sea Forest.

He found it funny how humans judged family ties by appearance. Among fishmen and merfolk, ancestry played a bigger role. Even though he and Tom looked completely different—one a fishman, the other a merman—they were still biological brothers.

"Brother Tom… are you really becoming a pirate?" Den asked hesitantly. His brother had never shown interest in piracy before. He had always wanted to prove that fishmen could earn respect through their skills.

"Den, listen to me. Don’t go out to sea anymore. I’ll be wanted by the Navy soon… and not just any bounty. It’s an order from the Celestial Dragons."

Den expression darkened. "Brother… what happened? Did you attack a Celestial Dragon?"

Tom hesitated, then nodded.

"A Celestial Dragon is dead. The news should spread soon. You need to be careful and look after yourself."

Den's eyes widened in shock. "You… you killed a Celestial Dragon?!"

His voice rose in disbelief, drawing attention. A red fishman standing nearby overheard and froze, his mind struggling to process the revelation.

"Keep your damn voice down, idiot!"

Tom smacked Den on the head. Den yelped in pain, rubbing his head frantically, much to Shakky’s amusement.

Den swallowed hard, but after a moment, his fear turned to admiration. "Brother… I won’t lie, the Celestial Dragons scare the hell out of me, but… to Fishman Island, you’re a hero."

His words struck a chord.

"Uncle Tom, did you really kill one of those bastards?"

Fisher Tiger burst in, his fists clenched. He had grown up hearing horror stories about the Celestial Dragons and their countless fishman slaves. His hatred for them ran deep.

"Tiger, go back and train in Fishman Karate. This isn’t something you should be getting involved in," Tom said firmly.

Whenever he returned to Fishman Island, Tom always made time to teach the orphaned kids on Fishman Street. Out of all of them, Fisher Tiger was his most promising student.

"Uncle Tom, take me with you! I want to join your crew! I’m not weak anymore—I’m stronger than any adult fishman!"

Fisher Tiger flexed his muscles. He had already started venturing beyond Fishman Island, hunting sea beasts to train himself and stay well-fed.

Tom looked at him, impressed by his determination. If he hadn’t been so passionate about shipbuilding, he might have considered taking Tiger as an apprentice.

But Fisher Tiger had his own dream—to become strong, explore the world, and carve out his own destiny.

Brook watched the young fishman closely. Even as a child, Fisher Tiger had already established himself as the dominant force on Fishman Street. His talent was undeniable.

And one day, that talent would change the world.

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Chapter Text

Fisher Tiger pleaded with Tom relentlessly but soon realized that the real authority here wasn’t Tom—it was his captain.

"Hey, human captain, I like your guts for attacking the Celestial Dragons. I want to join your crew!"

Fisher Tiger spoke rudely to Brook. He explained that he was just an orphan who grew up in Fishman Street, practically a gangster, and didn’t know much about respect. His adventures at sea exposed him to the suffering of enslaved fishmen and the cruelty of nobles. He was even captured and enslaved for three years, which ultimately shaped him into the heroic leader he would become—one who cherished life.

"Hey, Captain Brook, this fishman is pretty cool too!"

Shakky stood up, cracking her knuckles. She didn’t think Captain Brook or Redfield needed to bother with a guy like this. She was more than enough to handle him.

"Captain Brook, please don’t be mad. Tiger grew up in the Fishman Street Orphanage—he doesn’t know any better. I’ll teach him some manners right now!"

Tom smacked Fisher Tiger on the head. This guy might’ve been tough in Fishman Street, but against pirates of Brook and Redfield’s caliber, he was nothing.

"Hurry up and apologize to the captain!"

Tom grabbed Tiger’s ear, dragged him over to Brook, and forced him to bow his head. Tiger clenched his jaw, his red skin darkening with frustration. He was pissed. If it weren’t for Uncle Tom, he’d show these humans the strength that was ten times greater than theirs.

"It’s fine, Tom. Let him be. Young men should be fearless! But if you’re too reckless… bad things happen."

Brook rested his hand on Tiger’s shoulder, and a chilling energy spread through his body, making him freeze in place.

"Shakky, let’s see how your training’s been going. Don’t tell me you can’t handle a fishman kid?"

Brook was curious about Fisher Tiger’s current strength. Was he at the level of a Marine lieutenant yet? With Shakky’s abilities, she could handle a Marine major or a lieutenant colonel without breaking a sweat. She even had wind-jet shoes from Hiruba, making her movements even faster.

"Hey! Are you looking down on me? You’re seriously sending this little girl to fight me?! At least send someone strong!"

Fisher Tiger frowned. He looked at Shakky and saw what appeared to be an underage girl—shorter than him, barely 1.7 or 1.8 meters tall, and skinny. There was no way she could take him on!

"You looking down on me, you overgrown shrimp?"

Soru!

Shakky tossed away her cigarette and vanished from sight. In a blink, she reappeared in front of Tiger.

Bang!

A powerful smack landed on Tiger’s head, making his eyes bulge. He crouched down, holding his head, rubbing his scalp frantically to ease the sharp pain. His eyes watered involuntarily.

Fisher Tiger groaned. Why the hell did these people love smacking heads? This was an insult to warriors!

"Hey, is this big, scary fishman crying? Why are your tears falling?"

Shakky smirked. She had just watched Tom smack Tiger and Den earlier—it looked satisfying. Now it was her turn.

"You caught me off guard!"

Fisher Tiger stood up, immediately wiping his tears. Clenching his fists, he charged at Shakky with Fishman Karate.

"Fishman Karate: 500-Watt Punch!"

Tiger’s bulging right arm tensed as he swung his massive fist toward Shakky’s head, putting everything he had into it.

"Your strength isn’t bad, but you’re way too slow! And you’ve left yourself wide open!"

Shakky tilted her head, easily dodging his punch. Seeing his exposed chest and stomach, she quickly raised her right foot, activated her Wind-Boost Shoes, and sent the over-two-meter-tall fishman flying dozens of meters away with a single kick.

"Ooof!"

Tom winced and covered his face. He already knew what was coming. Tiger’s combat experience was still too weak. His Fishman Karate training wasn’t complete—he could only bully weak fishmen in the slums.

Nearby, the Merman, Den, stared in shock. This tiny human girl had just completely overwhelmed Tiger, the so-called "king" of Fishman Street.

"H-How is this possible?! How can a human be this strong?!"

Fisher Tiger groaned as he clutched his stomach, staggering back. He couldn’t believe it. This skinny human girl was stronger than him, a fishman?

"You still wanna fight?"

Shakky smirked. She was loving these Wind-Boost Shoes that Hiruba made. They not only gave her short bursts of flight but also increased her speed and attack power. They were damn useful.

Antonio, the ship’s intelligence agent, watched in envy before turning his hopeful gaze toward Hiruba, the ship’s sniper and resident craftsman.

Hiruba sighed. "Fine, fine. I’ll make another pair."

Antonio grinned, and even the usually serious ship doctor, Crocus, chimed in without turning his head.

"Hey~, Hiruba, make me a pair too."

"Tsk. Alright, alright," Hiruba muttered, deciding he’d just make a pair for everyone so they wouldn’t keep pestering him.

Back on the battlefield, Fisher Tiger was still fuming. He refused to believe this outcome. No matter the pain, he was determined to prove his strength!

"Take this! My most powerful Fishman Karate: 1,000-Watt Punch!!!"

Tiger roared as he rushed toward Shakky again. He was like a stubborn calf that refused to fear the tiger. No way he’d lose to a human girl!

"You’ve got strength, but like I said before… too slow!"

Shakky, who specialized in speed, loved fighting guys like this—big and dumb. She didn’t even need to use Soru or her Wind-Boost Shoes. Ducking low, she dodged Tiger’s punch with ease.

"Alright, you overgrown shrimp, ready for liftoff?"

Shakky grinned as she loosened a few nodes on her Wind Knot, releasing a powerful hurricane that sent Fisher Tiger flying over a hundred meters away. He tumbled dozens of times, crashing into the ground, battered and bruised.

"Alright, alright! I surrender on behalf of Tiger! Please stop bullying the poor guy!"

Tom couldn’t bear to watch anymore. This was just torture at this point. Tiger simply wasn’t on the same level as Shakky.

---

Shakky had her fun and, of course, wasn’t going to keep teasing the young and energetic red Fish-Man. She looked at Brook with a grin, waiting for the captain’s praise.

"You’ve mastered these combat tools well! So as a 'reward,' I’ll double your taijutsu training!"

Brook had noticed that Shakky was becoming overly reliant on gadgets like her Jet Boots and Wind Knot, seemingly getting addicted to them. So, he figured the best way to fix that was through some intense physical training.

"Captain Brook, how could you do this?! Instead of rewarding me, you’re punishing me!!!"

Shakky, now burdened with "Double Happiness" training, looked at Brook in disbelief. If they didn’t see eye to eye, she was ready to use her Wind Knot on the captain.

But before she could act, Redfield smirked and let out a few crackling sparks of electricity, silently reminding her to think twice. Shakky, now fuming, pouted and stomped her feet in frustration.

These damn men are bullying a weak, innocent, and pitiful little girl like me! If I could beat them, I’d make them see how strong I am!!

Just then, Tom returned, carrying a battered and bruised Fisher Tiger. Their ship’s doctor, Crocus, stepped up to handle the injuries like a pro. And, of course, he didn’t forget to draw a large tube of blood from Tiger.

Merman Den, standing nearby, twitched at the sight, feeling a chill run down her spine.

"Oh, you know, I’m a doctor. I can’t help but take a sample when I get the chance. It’s normal! Helps me study better treatment methods later," Crocus said with a serious smile.

"Study your sister! Who the hell uses a needle that thick for a blood test?! It’s the size of an arm!"

Merman Den screamed internally. He wasn’t a doctor, sure, but he knew enough to tell this was not normal.

"Ohh, I see. I trust your professionalism, Doctor. Tiger, thanks for your help!"

Even though Merman Den was smiling, he was already making a mental note to stay far away from these crazy pirates. He wasn’t about to throw himself into danger just to protect a fellow Fish-Man. Tiger’s blood is his problem, not mine!

"If you trust me, Brother Den, how about we take a little sample from you too? No worries, Tom and I go way back. His brothers are my brothers. I promise to help you find any hidden health risks and ensure you’re in perfect condition!"

Crocus’ “friendly” smile sent shivers down Merman Den’s spine.

"Haha~ no need! I’m perfectly healthy! Oh! I almost forgot—I was cooking! I’ll go get the food ready!"

And with that, Merman Den bolted, putting as much distance between himself and the ship’s doctor as possible.

Brook chuckled, watching Crocus with amusement. "Since when did you become so sinister, Crocus?"

"Captain, would you like a blood test too? I’d love to study your cold blood!" Crocus grinned, holding up a syringe as thick as his arm.

Brook immediately changed the subject.

"This Fish-Man’s injuries aren’t too serious, right?"

Stepping forward to inspect Tiger’s wounds, Brook made sure to avoid Crocus’ burning gaze.

"This guy is tough. He’ll be back to full strength in a day or two, no problem!"

Crocus adjusted his glasses, displaying his medical expertise. Though, if he wasn’t holding that monstrous syringe, Brook and the others might have actually believed him.

Fisher Tiger, now fully conscious, glanced nervously at his own blood sample. But more than that, he wanted to join this pirate crew. If even a human girl could beat him, then the other members must be monsters.

"Uncle Tom, Human Captain, please let me join your crew! I don’t care if I have to start as a trainee cleaner!!"

Fisher Tiger immediately sat up, bowed deeply, and pleaded to become part of the Hell Pirates.

"The captain’s name is Brook, not ‘human captain,’ you dumbass!"

Shakky, still sulking, was the first to speak up, defending her captain’s dignity.

"Captain Brook, I don’t think Tiger is ready to go out to sea. He’s too weak—he couldn’t even beat Shakky," Tom objected, shooting a glare at Tiger.

Tiger, however, looked back defiantly, unwilling to accept that judgment.

"Oi! What the hell do you mean, ‘couldn’t even beat Shakky’?! Am I the weakest floor tile on this ship?!"

Shakky fumed at Tom’s words. There’s still Hiruba… okay, maybe I can’t beat him. And there’s Crocus… yeah, probably not him either. Oh, and there’s Antonio, Parrot Assistant, and Memory Seahorse—okay, those guys are weaker than me!

"Uh… sorry, little sister Shakky, I wasn’t trying to single you out. I’m just saying Tiger’s strength is kinda… trash," Tom muttered, rubbing his temples. Shakky always managed to find the strangest ways to argue, even when it wasn’t necessary. Maybe that’s how she entertained herself.

"Captain Brook, please let me join! My arm strength is many times stronger than other Fish-Men. One day, I might even be able to climb the Red Line! I’ll definitely become a powerful fighter in the future!"

Fisher Tiger was full of confidence. The only reason he lost to Shakky was that he lacked proper guidance! If he joined this crew, his strength would skyrocket!

Brook studied the future Fish-Man hero carefully. He never cared about “changing history” or any of that nonsense. He’d already altered the fates of Emperors, so why would he worry about a single Fish-Man hero?

Instead, he focused on Tiger’s potential and battle role in the crew.

At his peak, Fisher Tiger had used his monstrous arm strength to scale the Red Line, break into Mariejois, and free the slaves, founding the Sun Pirates.

His highest bounty had been 230 million berries, but he eventually met his end on Foolshout Island, where he was ambushed and fatally wounded by Rear Admiral Strawberry.

Despite being rescued by Jinbe and the others, he refused a human blood transfusion, choosing to die rather than "submit" to humans. Thus, at age 48, the legend of Fisher Tiger came to an end.

His strength was likely on par with an elite Marine Rear Admiral, but his legacy as the first to challenge the World Government made him larger than life.

Most people assumed Fisher Tiger was an unstoppable beast, but Brook understood the real story.

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Chapter Text

But in Brook's eyes, maybe the future Shakky and the world's top sharpshooter Shiruba are better than Fisher Tiger.

If Fisher Tiger were truly as strong as an admiral, then Fish-Man Island wouldn’t have to fear any pirates at all—he alone could protect it. The Marine Headquarters, having received intel in advance, wouldn’t have sent just Rear Admiral Strawberry to ambush Tiger. After all, Tiger was a man who directly provoked the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, making him a priority target for their relentless hunt.

The fact that they only sent Rear Admiral Strawberry proves one thing—the Marines underestimated Tiger’s strength. In their eyes, Fish-Men had never been a serious threat!

If Tiger had received proper training from Brook as a child, maybe his strength could have reached Jinbe’s level—the level of a Shichibukai, which equated to an elite Vice Admiral in the Marines.

Fisher Tiger grew up on Fish-Man Street without a proper teacher. When he became an adult, he ventured out to sea, which later made him a strong advocate for martial arts education in Fish-Man Street.

Jinbe also came from Fish-Man Street. Under Tiger’s leadership, he trained in Fish-Man Karate, Fish-Man Jujutsu, and even learned Armament Haki from a young age.

This made Jinbe the strongest Fish-Man after Tiger and the second captain of the Sun Pirates. However, after the safety of Fish-Man Island was threatened, Jinbe accepted the World Government’s offer to become a Shichibukai.

---

Tiger’s Ambition

"It's not impossible for you to become our apprentice crew member, but what can you do now?"

Antonio, who usually handled the ship’s cleaning, had a huge workload on such a large warship. While the crew helped out, having an apprentice with potential take on odd jobs wasn’t a bad idea.

If he proved himself in the future, he could become a fighter.

"Captain Brook! I grew up on Fish-Man Street. I can endure anything! Cleaning, lifting cargo, fighting, carrying the wounded—you name it!"

Fisher Tiger responded excitedly, stealing a glance at Tom. He had thought that Uncle Tom would have a say in this, but the final decision lay with Brook!

Seeing this, Tom sighed. Since he couldn’t change the outcome, he stopped interfering and let Tiger and the captain decide his fate.

"Alright then! From now on, Antonio’s chores are your responsibility. But if I catch you slacking, I’ll send you back to Fish-Man Island!"

Brook didn’t dwell on whether anyone would storm Mary Geoise in the future or what would happen to the Pirate Empress someday. Now that he was in the One Piece world, things were changing.

His priority was building his own crew. Maybe he could rewrite the future. Who could say for sure?

"Yes, Captain Brook!!"

Fisher Tiger nodded furiously, his excitement barely contained.

---

"Haha~ If I wasn’t so interested in studying the secrets of the Sea Forest, I’d want to go on an adventure with my brother too!"

A merman named Den pulled a cart full of sea beast meat and dishes, clearly envious of Tiger, who had just been accepted into the crew.

"It’s better if you stay put. The sea is too dangerous right now!"

Tom, a merman and legendary shipwright, immediately shot down his brother’s reckless idea. Den had a future as a researcher—he couldn’t be allowed to become a pirate!

"Got it, big bro. Just tell me about your adventures in the future! I’ll help you turn them into amazing stories!"

Den, despite his curiosity, had a gentle personality and wasn’t suited for the pirate life.

"Hey, take this—it’s the Hell Pirates’ exclusive Den Den Mushi. Take good care of it, and you can stay in touch with Brother Tom!"

Antonio handed Den a special Den Den Mushi. Unlike regular ones, this one had been carefully trained and enhanced. Brook had tested it personally and approved of its performance.

"Thank you! Brother Tom, don’t forget to call me often!"

Dan carefully stored the Den Den Mushi while listening to Antonio’s instructions on how to care for it.

---

Fish-Man Island’s Strange Cuisine

For the first time, Brook and his crew tried the unique marine cuisine of Fish-Man Island. Some of the deep-sea fish dishes were things they had never seen before.

For example:

The Elephant Fish, which had a trunk and tusks.

The Katydid Fish, which looked like a stick insect, but with tiny legs or flippers (or maybe something else entirely).

"There are really all kinds of strange creatures in this world..."

Even Brook was surprised by how bizarre some of the dishes looked.

That night, the Hell Pirates stayed in Fish-Man Street, resting before setting off to visit:

Dragon Palace City

Mermaid Bay

Gylon Square

Fish-Folly Villa

After all, how could they come to Fish-Man Island and not see the mermaids? They even planned to take photos using a Camera-Phone Mushi and Image Shells!

---

The next day, the crew headed toward the upper district of Fish-Man Island.

Unlike the gloomy and run-down Fish-Man Street, this area was well-lit and vibrant, filled with bright, luxurious buildings. Everything exuded a sense of nobility and romance.

"There’s a hierarchy everywhere," Brook muttered. "Even in Fish-Man Island, where the World Government oppresses them, there are still huge differences in living conditions..."

The One Piece world was still ruled by monarchies and slavery. Nobles and royals thrived, while common folk—without the power to change the system—remained enslaved and controlled.

Because the Hell Pirates had killed a Celestial Dragon, King Mars of Ryugu Palace refused to meet them. Instead, he shut the palace doors, declining any visitors.

With no other choice, they abandoned their plans to visit Ryugu Palace and instead spent the day drinking coffee and admiring the mermaids at Mermaid Café.

Even the aloof Redfield—who usually acted indifferent—secretly stole glances at the mermaids, hiding his face behind his coffee cup so no one would notice.

When Shakky started taking photos with the mermaids, Brook didn’t hesitate to join in. Seeing this, Redfield and Hiruba hesitated at first, but in the end, Brook’s teasing got to them. They gave up their pride, joined the fun, and took plenty of group photos together.!

That morning, news doves flew across the Four Seas and the Grand Line, delivering the latest newspapers and bounties from Marine Headquarters.

Even in the New World, the papers arrived.

In Skypiea, Moore Thomas received the latest bounty poster.

The moment he saw it, his heart nearly exploded.

"WHAT!? Brook killed a Celestial Dragon!? AND he took down White Peizhen from the World Peace Dove News Agency?!"

He had never expected Brook to be this powerful!

----

Moore Thomas swallowed hard. The first thing that came to his mind was how to clear Brook’s name and frame him as a hero who stood against the Celestial Dragons. He couldn’t let the World Government control the narrative and discredit Brook!

Without hesitation, Moore grabbed his pen and started writing an article about Brook. He compiled all the information—whether true or exaggerated—emphasizing Brook’s defiance against the Celestial Dragons and painting him as a liberator of slaves.

They worked overtime, printing and distributing the World Economic News earlier than ever before—at the crack of dawn—beating the World Peace Dove News Agency to the punch. The goal was to leave a strong first impression on the public.

After receiving the bounty orders from Marine Headquarters, they reprinted Brook and his crew’s new bounties, sending them out via backup News Coo.

Moore Thomas slumped into his leather office chair, gripping Brook’s latest bounty poster. He had done everything he could. Now, it was in fate’s hands.

Worldwide Reactions

All across the world, people stared at the front page of the World Economic News, their eyes widening in disbelief.

"They may be pirates, but they are also heroes! The Hell Pirates dared to defy the tyranny of the Celestial Dragons and fired the first shot to liberate the slaves!"

Moore Thomas carefully avoided mentioning the full truth and instead painted Brook as a righteous outlaw fighting for the oppressed.

Many readers were unsure of the full details, but when the World Peace Dove News Agency released its own paper alongside the Marine-issued bounty posters, the world collectively gasped.

"For the crime of openly executing a Celestial Dragon, the Hell Pirates are to be arrested and severely punished!"

A pirate crew actually killed a Celestial Dragon? Was the world going insane?

Had the Hell Pirates slain a Celestial Dragon to free the slaves? Was this an outright declaration of war against the World Government?

And if that wasn’t shocking enough, their bounties had skyrocketed.

Brook, Captain of the Hell Pirates – 600,000,000 Berries
Devil Fruit ability: Unknown

Patrick Redfield, "Thunder Count" – 550,000,000 Berries
Suspected user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit (Goro Goro no Mi)

Tom, the Giant Fishman, Shipwright – 100,000,000 Berries

Crocus, "Poison Doctor," Ship’s Doctor – 80,000,000 Berries

Hiruba, "Supersonic Sniper," Sniper – 70,000,000 Berries

Shakky, Navigator – 50,000,000 Berries

Kirin Lion, Mount – 1,000,000 Berries

Antonio, the errand boy, as well as the parrot assistant and the memory seahorse, were ignored by the Marines and weren’t given bounties.

Redfield personally killed the Celestial Dragon, causing his bounty to soar from 80 million to 550 million. Marine Intelligence also seemed to have uncovered details about his family, leading to the spike in his notoriety.

Brook’s bounty increased alongside Redfield’s—after all, if a captain could keep a monster like Redfield in check, he had to be worth even more.

Tom and Crocus had both demonstrated their strength in combat against the Celestial Dragons’ CP agents.

The massive sniper wound left on White Peizhen allowed the Marines to estimate Hiruba’s abilities.

Previously, Shakky had defeated a Marine Lieutenant Colonel at Asuka Island. Now, the Marines assumed she had grown even stronger.

At the insistence of the Celestial Dragons, every bounty was significantly increased.

---

New World – Hachinosu, Pirate Island

“It looks like we’ve got some new big shots,” Rocks D. Xebec muttered, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

As one of the top overlords of the New World, Rocks had powerful officers under his command—Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, and, most recently, Captain John, who had been “persuaded” to join after losing a battle.

Now, Rocks had his sights set on Shiki, the Golden Lion. If he could recruit the man and his Float-Float Fruit (Fuwa Fuwa no Mi), it would accelerate the Rocks Pirates’ domination over the New World.

Rocks was dead set on ending the three-way stalemate that currently ruled the seas. But first, he had to subdue the arrogant young supernovas rising through the ranks—Byrnndi World, the so-called World Destroyer, was already making waves.

Then there were the Unan Pirates, the Evil Monk Pirates, the Karns Pirates, and the King Pirates, all vying for power.

Rocks relished the thought of crushing them all. If they refused to join him, they’d be wiped from existence.

As for the Roger Pirates? Rocks didn’t even consider them worth his attention—at least, not yet.

But these Hell Pirates...

They killed a Celestial Dragon before he could.

Rocks' hatred for the World Government and Celestial Dragons burned deep. After all, his family name, “D.,” had made him a target of the government since birth. He swore he’d slaughter a Celestial Dragon with his own hands one day.

“Captain Rocks, the Hell Pirates will soon be hunted by the full force of the World Government. Perhaps we can offer them an alliance?” Wang Zhi suggested, his face unreadable as he idly stroked the long nail on his pinky finger.

Rocks let out a deep, bellowing laugh. “One thing at a time! Where’s that damn Golden Lion hiding?”

“No leads so far,” Wang Zhi admitted.

“Find him! That little cat’s good at running, but he won’t escape forever!”

Rocks cackled, remembering how Shiki had barely managed to escape their last encounter. Even if Shiki had awakened his Conqueror’s Haki, Rocks was confident he’d crush him eventually.

---

On a bustling trade island near the Red Line, a towering blond man with a black bandana read the latest newspaper.

"Resisting the Celestial Dragons and liberating slaves... a bounty of 600 million, huh?"

Edward Newgate smirked in amusement. This "new captain" intrigued him.

Unfortunately, his Den Den Mushi was out of commission, meaning he couldn't contact anyone. It left him feeling restless.

But thanks to some "help" from his second-in-command, he finally got Brook’s Den Den Mushi number.

Even so, he hesitated to call.

Not yet.

He’d wait until they met in person. That would be the best way to get to know this new captain.

By now, the Hell Pirates should have entered the New World.

The only question was...

Which island would fate bring them to first?

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Chapter Text

On another island, Charlotte Linlin and Streusen also saw the news about Brook and his bounty.

“Linlin, this Brook is too dangerous! He actually dared to kill a Celestial Dragon! We must not join them—otherwise, we’ll be hunted down by the World Government!”

Streusen was panicking. The Hell Pirates now had two major pirates with bounties exceeding 500 million berries, and they had directly angered the Celestial Dragons. This was far beyond what Streusen had planned. He originally intended to use Linlin to eliminate Brook, but now things were looking grim!

Charlotte Linlin carefully examined Brook’s latest bounty poster. Was this the man of the rare race that Mama Carmel had wanted her to protect?

Lately, Mama Carmel had contacted her less frequently, telling her to keep an eye on Brook. After all, the old nun was already 90 years old and would soon die of old age.

"Don't say that, Streusen. Aren't we pirates already being hunted by the Navy? If we join Brook and the others, we can grow stronger together and fight back against the Navy!"

Charlotte Linlin was already imagining a powerful family—one where all races could coexist equally in their own country.

"Hurry up and set sail! I want to meet Brook as soon as he enters the New World!"

Linlin was excited. She had spent years wandering around with Streusen, but despite his objections, she had failed to recruit any real companions. As someone who desperately craved companionship, she was tired of this lonely life.

“I understand, Linlin…”

Streusen clenched his fists, his mind clouded with doubt and frustration. He had originally planned to lead Linlin into betraying and killing Brook, but now? It was better to stay as far away as possible from this dangerous man.

With that thought, he quietly adjusted the ship’s course, steering them away from their original destination. He was counting on the fact that Linlin, despite her strength, had no real navigation skills.

Meanwhile, Charlotte Linlin remained blissfully unaware, lost in her own fantasies of meeting Brook.

---

On Fish-Man Island

Shakky, who was never short on money, had already bought a ton of Fish-Man Island specialties—whether it was food or clothing—then dumped it all onto Fisher Tiger.

Tiger wanted to say something, but seeing the amount of money she spent in just half a day, he swallowed his words. Were all pirates this rich?!

Shakky casually tossed Tiger 100,000 berries as a “delivery fee,” making the poor orphan from Fish-Man Street ecstatic. He could finally buy the leather jacket and pants he had always wanted, along with the mermaid-made desserts he had been craving. The moment he tasted them, he swore it was the sweetest, most delicious food he had ever eaten!

Seeing Tiger nearly tear up in joy, Tom couldn’t take it anymore and handed him another 100,000 berries. “Go eat your fill, kid.”

Redfield, on the other hand, had picked up two crates of exclusive Fish-Man Island wine, made from the finest mermaid-selected grapes. Even someone as cool and aristocratic as him couldn’t resist. He definitely wasn’t tempted by the "Mermaid Girl" branding—he just appreciated fine wine that complemented his noble image!

Hiruba grabbed some bubble corals, which could create medium-sized bubble membranes, useful as emergency lifeboats at sea.

Crocus, the ship’s doctor, went all out, buying venom from various poisonous Fish-Men—including blue-ringed octopus Fish-Men, stingray Fish-Men, and lionfish Fish-Men—each priced at hundreds or thousands of berries.

Even more Fish-Men and mermaids came forward, eager to sell their venom for some extra cash. Crocus, who had money to spare, happily bought everything, his shelves quickly filling up with colorful toxins.

Antonio, wary of the doctor’s growing poison collection, subtly moved away. The sight of so many vials gave him a bad feeling.

Speaking of Antonio, now that he had some money, he couldn’t resist buying more Den Den Mushi. His collection was already in the hundreds, but he still enjoyed adding more. If the Hell Pirates weren’t so rich, no other crew could afford this kind of luxury. His room was starting to resemble a full-blown surveillance center.

Brook, seeing Antonio’s obsession, jokingly named his room “Prism Gate” and gave the leader of his eavesdropping Den Den Mushi an appropriate name—Snowden Den Den Mushi.

With Parrot's ability to communicate with animals, he had now become Antonio’s assistant, specifically helping to feed and manage the Den Den Mushi.

Watching the crew burn through money like water, Brook sighed, then strolled into the famous clothing store in Yufuli Villa. He ended up buying dozens of extravagant outfits, spending just under 100 million berries.

While he was at it, he also picked up over a dozen precious and beautifully crafted musical instruments, again keeping his spending under 100 million berries. Truly, there weren’t many men as frugal as him.

---

On the Golden Ship, Erebus

When they finally regrouped, everyone returned with arms full of purchases, looking satisfied. But when they saw the huge pile of goods loaded onto the Kirin lion behind Captain Brook, they suddenly felt poor in comparison.

Strongly condemning their captain’s extravagant spending, they rushed forward, trying to claim whatever they could use.

Amid the laughter and playful scolding, Fish-Man Tom finished checking the coating on their ship. Everything was in order.

With that, they set sail. The Erebus descended into the deep sea, passing through Fish-Man Island and beginning its ascent toward the New World.

Watching from the island, King Mars and Prince Neptune finally breathed a sigh of relief. These lawless pirates had left without causing trouble.

Not only that, but they had actually boosted the economy of Fish-Man Island, spending no less than 1 billion berries during their short stay.

“They’re truly rich pirates… sailing a golden ship…”

---

Arriving in the New World

As they emerged from the deep sea, passing through the massive Red Line gap, the ascent was much faster than the descent.

“Captain Brook… did you see that?”

Redfield’s voice carried a rare hint of shock as he gazed at the enormous gap. He could see what looked like massive claw marks. Even with his strong will and Haki, the sight sent chills down his spine.

“There are so many secrets in this world, aren't there? Just waiting for us to uncover them… Hohoho~”

Brook chuckled, but in truth, he felt the same unease.

Who wouldn’t be afraid of such a colossal creature? One claw strike could wipe out an entire pirate fleet!

Was this massive gap in the Red Line naturally formed and then expanded by a gigantic Sea King? Or… had a Sea King crashed through it in a single blow?

Brook didn’t want to think about it. He was just a weak, helpless, and pitiful living dead—he definitely did not want to meet such a creature.

As they finally surfaced and saw the light of the sea, Brook felt like he had been reborn.

The deep sea was too damn oppressive!

The New World… here we come!

Brook smirked.

Two promising new crew members… are you ready to board our golden ship?

----

The golden ship Erebus burst out of the deep sea, breaking through the surface. The protective coating shattered instantly, vanishing without a trace.

"Ah! So this is the New World? Is the air here filled with freedom and excitement?"

Shakky took in the sight with satisfaction. The New World, a paradise for pirates, was where the Navy's grip was at its weakest. Without constant naval pursuit, it was a land of opportunity—so long as you had the strength to survive the brutal weather and the endless bloodshed between pirates.

Still, freedom here was only relative. Everything depended on strength.

Without hesitation, Shakky pulled out the climate detector she had acquired from the Wetheria, eager to test its accuracy in the unpredictable seas of the New World.

As soon as the device activated, the detection rod—marked with wind and ice patterns—began spinning wildly. Shakky's face tensed. Was this the kind of weather they’d have to face right out the gate?

"Hold off on taking off!" she commanded, stopping Fishman Tom and Redfield before they could activate the launch device. "There's a storm coming—along with massive hail! If we launch now, we'll be flying straight into death! Turn the ship north and activate the wind shells at the rear!"

Tom, ever the skilled shipwright, immediately yanked the rudder hard to the side, activating the wind jets for a quick escape. Meanwhile, Brook and Redfield braced themselves, keeping a sharp eye on the sky for any sudden changes.

Sniper Hiruba adjusted the shoulder-mounted cannon he had specially modified, preparing for the possibility of legendary hailstones—ones rumored to be the size of houses.

Meanwhile, ship doctor Crocus and intelligence officer Antonio wasted no time retreating to the cabin.

"We’re non-combatants," Crocus muttered. "The job of keeping the ship in one piece is the captain's problem."

Antonio nodded in agreement, vanishing inside.

Standing on deck, Fisher Tiger watched the skies with excitement. It was his first real voyage across the sea, and he had never witnessed the infamous storms of the New World firsthand. To him, hail and storms sounded thrilling—nothing to be afraid of!

That was until he saw it.

From the east, massive hailstones, as large as entire houses, rained down from the sky, smashing into the sea with the force of bombs. The impact sent waves towering dozens of meters into the air.

Tiger clenched his fist. Could I break one of those with my strongest thousand-watt punch?

The answer? It’d be tough.

Thankfully, Erebus had already sped ahead, escaping the densest part of the storm. The scattered hail that did come their way was swiftly handled—Brook and Redfield slicing them apart with precise sword strikes.

Hiruba’s shoulder cannon proved just as effective, blasting apart the falling ice into harmless shards before they could reach the ship.

Once they finally escaped the hailstorm, the weather changed again—this time to an unbearable, blistering heat. The deep blue sky was completely cloudless, and the sun burned down relentlessly.

Brook immediately fled to the cabin to avoid roasting under the sun.

For Tiger, however, this was a moment of triumph. The sun. He had dreamt of basking under its warmth ever since he was a child. This was the first time in his life he could truly stand in the sunlight.

The excitement didn’t last.

Within minutes, his already reddish skin turned even redder, and a burning sensation spread across his body. He was sunburnt.

Everyone watched in silence.

"...Damn," Tiger muttered, rubbing his arm.

Without a word, Tom walked over, dragged him back into the cabin, and tossed him a small bottle of sunscreen.

"Next time, use this," Tom said flatly.

Some lessons had to be learned the hard way.

Finally, Erebus entered calmer waters. The crew settled into their usual routines—training, studying, or just handling ship duties.

---

While scanning the skies, Shakky spotted a news bird circling above. Recognizing it as one of her trained seagull messengers, she waved it down.

With a generous hand, she pulled out several 10,000-berry bills and bought every single newspaper the bird carried.

Even though the bird belonged to her, paying was necessary—without proper transactions, the messenger wouldn’t be able to report back. As a small extra, Shakky offered the bird a piece of fruit.

The bird, ever professional, refused.

With a sharp squawk, it took the money and immediately flew off.

"Let me be the first to refuse suspicious food," it seemed to say.

Shakky flipped open the papers.

And then—

“AHHHH!”

Her sudden outburst caught everyone’s attention.

"Captain Brook!!! A new bounty list is out!!"

The crew instantly crowded around.

Shakky skimmed through the wanted posters, stopping at her own bounty—50 million berries.

She smiled smugly. "Not bad! At least the Navy caught my best angle."

Her expression soured immediately as she read her nickname.

"Little Girl Who Extorts Money."

Her hands trembled. "Does the Navy seriously not have anyone with a talent for naming?"

Hell Beauty.
Black-Haired Witch.
Demon Mistress.

Any of those would’ve been fine! But this?!

Brook flipped through the bounty pages as well, raising an eyebrow at the latest news article.

"Huh... So I freed the slaves, did I?" he mused. "News to me."

"Captain, you’re up to 600 million berries!" Tiger shouted, stunned by the sheer number of zeroes. "And Brother Redfield has 550 million! That’s insane!"

Tom whistled, carefully tucking away his own wanted poster. "I got 100 million berries. Guess that makes me a Supernova, huh?"

He had already decided—his bounty poster was going on his bedroom wall.

Meanwhile, Antonio rummaged through the stack of papers, his expression growing darker by the second.

"Where’s mine?" he muttered. He flipped through every page. "Where the hell is my bounty?!"

Even the Kirin Lion had a bounty of 1 million berries!

But Antonio?

Not. A. Single. Berry.

His eye twitched. "I was Captain Brook’s first crewmember… So why don’t I even have a bounty of 100 berries?!"

Brook patted him on the shoulder. "Be grateful. You're our secret weapon. If you don’t have a bounty, the World Government won’t be hunting you down. That’s a good thing."

Tiger nodded. "Yeah, Brother Antonio, I don’t have a bounty either! We’ll be famous one day!"

It was slightly odd that the massive, muscular Tiger was calling the skinny Antonio "big brother," but nobody questioned it.

Antonio sighed dramatically, turning away. "Fine. I accept my fate."

He trudged toward the cabin, hands behind his back, looking every bit like a man who had lost all hope.

Then, suddenly—

"Captain Brook!!"

Antonio sprinted back onto the deck, looking completely different from a moment ago.

"It's bad! According to the feedback from Den Den Mushi No. 43, the signal is getting farther and farther away from us!"

Brook’s expression darkened.

"Streusen " he muttered.

The bastard must have changed course, taking Charlotte Linlin in another direction.

"Like hell I’m letting my golden goose escape."

Brook cracked his knuckles, determination burning in his eyes.

"We wake her up. Immediately."

---

Meanwhile, Edward Newgate sat on a nearby island, waiting.

He had no intention of reaching out to Brook.

Instead, he would wait for the Hell Pirates to come to him.

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Chapter Text

Brook followed Antonio back to his Prism Gate Den Den Mushi room. He had previously instructed Shakky and Antonio not to tell anyone else about the Den Den Mushi chat group.

The new crew members had no idea it even existed, which made him wonder if Redfield had peeked into Antonio and the others’ thoughts. But in the end, it didn’t really matter.

Even Shakky wasn’t aware of Brook’s private conversations with Charlotte Linlin and Edward Newgate, and Antonio wasn’t the type to pry into the captain’s affairs.

However, it was time to cut off Charlotte Linlin and Edward Newgate’s Den Den Mushi connections. The special screen-linked Den Den Mushi had an active detachment function—once activated, it would disconnect the screen and return the Den Den Mushi to its original state.

By tomorrow morning, Edward Newgate would wake up to find his Den Den Mushi screen broken and its connection severed.

Every lie needed another lie to cover it up. Brook had already foreseen this day coming, and though it made him feel a little helpless, they were all white lies—ones that wouldn’t cause real harm.

Since fate had given Brook the chance to travel through time and witness these people’s futures, wasn’t this an encounter arranged by the heavens? Well, at least, that’s how Brook convinced himself.

---

Brook picked up his personal Den Den Mushi, preparing to tell Charlotte Linlin that Streusen as leading her away.

[Carmel: Linlin, did you find Brook?]

At this moment, Charlotte Linlin was still excited about their speeding pirate ship, believing she was finally closing in on the Hell Pirates. When she heard her Den Den Mushi buzz with a message, she immediately picked it up.

[No. 43: Sister! This is great! You finally contacted me again! We’re on our way to find Brook!]

[Carmel: Linlin, are you sure you’re heading in the right direction? Did Streusel lie to you? Go ask him. If he looks guilty, stop at the next island and wait for Brook to find you.]

[No. 43: Sister, Streusel Would never lie to me! He’s always been the one to take me out to sea!]

[Carmel: Linlin, do you not trust me? I—]

Before she could finish typing, Charlotte Linlin’s Den Den Mushi suddenly started emitting a puff of white smoke. The cable connecting the screen to the Den Den Mushi snapped.

The Den Den Mushi weakly retreated into its shell, acting as if it had completely broken down. It didn’t respond, no matter how much she tried to fix it.

Panic surged through Charlotte Linlin as she desperately attempted to reconnect the screen, but it was no use.

Streusen, seeing this, couldn’t help but smirk. But before he could enjoy his moment of satisfaction, Charlotte Linlin caught sight of his grin, and her fury erupted.

“You! Did you do something to my Den Den Mushi?!”

Seeing Linlin’s rage-filled expression, Streusen immediately wiped the smirk off his face and waved his hands frantically.

“I swear, I didn’t do anything! Linlin, I had nothing to do with it!”

Streusen kept shaking his head, but deep inside, he was pleased. The Den Den Mushi was broken—Brook could no longer deceive Linlin.

As long as he kept her away from the Hell Pirates, he would always have control over her. That damn Brook had ruined his and Linlin’s "firstborn" plan.

“Why were you laughing?!” Charlotte Linlin’s eyes burned with anger. “I can’t contact Mama Carmel anymore! Also… where the hell is our ship heading right now?!”

Streusen froze. He had to think fast.

“I… I…”

He stammered, struggling to come up with an excuse that would make Linlin ignore both issues.

“You are lying to me! Turn the ship around—go back to the last island immediately!!”

Charlotte Linlin had already made up her mind. She believed what Mama Carmel had said—Streusen had led her in the wrong direction. And now, he was the reason her Den Den Mushi was broken!

“Linlin, how do you even know—”

Streusen's mind reeled. Since when did Linlin care about directions? How could she even tell?

It had to be Brook again. That bastard—did he figure out his scheme? Or did he already suspect it?

Brook, meanwhile, had just learned that Antonio had developed a tracking function for Den Den Mushi. The discovery blew his mind.

What if we sent Antonio’s modified Den Den Mushi for free through Seagull News Bird? Brook thought. Distribute them to famous pirate crews, even Marine Admirals and Vice Admirals… Then, we’d know their exact locations at all times.

The idea of global surveillance sent a chill down his spine.

It also made Brook realize just how invaluable Antonio was.

---

Back on the ship, Charlotte Linlin’s fury reached its peak.

“It was YOU!!!”

She grabbed Streusen by the collar, lifting his short, frail body with ease.

He was the one who had tried to keep her away from the Hell Pirates. He was the one who had broken her Den Den Mushi, severing her connection with Mama Carmel!

“Linlin, I’m telling you! That Carmel nun is a fraud! Just trust me for once!”

Streusen was frustrated. Linlin was being manipulated by Brook, and now she had turned against the very man who had raised her for ten years.

“How dare you slander Mama Carmel?! Tell me right now—is our ship headed in the wrong direction?!”

Charlotte Linlin’s grip tightened as her fury intensified.

“Linlin, I was only trying to take you away from that liar, Brook! He’s pretending to be Sister Carmel, and he’s got the World Nobles after him! If we join him, we’re doomed!”

Streusen desperation seeped into his voice.

“Brook doesn’t even know us! How could he possibly know about Mama Carmel?!”

The Sheep House, Sister Carmelite’s past—barely anyone knew those details. So how could Brook, who had never even met them, possibly know?

Charlotte Linlin refused to believe another word from Streusen’s mouth.

Even if she had to go alone, she would fulfill Mother Carmel’s wishes and join Brook’s Hell Pirates!

Streusen gritted his teeth.

He wanted to shout the truth. He wanted to tell her: You were the one who ate Sister Carmel and the others! That’s how you got the Soul-Soul Fruit!

But he couldn’t.

If he revealed the truth, there would be no turning back. Linlin would never trust him again—she might even kill him in a blind rage.

He had seen firsthand the horror of her hunger-driven rampages.

So instead, Streusen swallowed his pride and conceded.

“Linlin, I was wrong… I was lying… I won’t stop you anymore. I’ll take you there right away… I’ll join the Hell Pirates with you!”

His words were bitter, but if that was the only way to survive, he had no other choice.

----

Looking at Charlotte Linlin's furious and distrustful eyes, Streusen was completely convinced—this Brook guy was a master at playing with people’s minds.

Even though they were so far apart, Linlin was completely thrown off by just a small Den Den Mushi!

Maybe joining the Hell Pirates wouldn’t be such a bad choice after all. Aside from their goal of eliminating the Celestial Dragons, their strength aligned with his expectations.

But... would Brook be like him and target Linlin’s monstrous Iron Balloon physique to produce offspring?

If so, then conflict between him and Brook was inevitable. All he could do now was hope Brook was only drawn to Linlin's combat ability and nothing else.

Or maybe, Linlin’s dream of uniting all races could give him an opportunity—perhaps he could get involved with Linlin, have a child of his own, and scrap the whole "firstborn" plan. But that all depended on Brook’s stance.

If Brook had his eyes on Linlin and intended to make her his concubine, then Streusen would have to come up with another plan—continue to provoke her and look for an opening.

Maybe... he could secretly tell Brook that Linlin was a cannibal. Brook would definitely despise her for that, and then, she might just fall right into his hands!

---

“I’ll trust you one last time. If you slander Mother Carmel again, I’ll kill you! Now, get back to the ship!”

Charlotte Linlin threw Streusen aside, her scarlet eyes gradually returning to normal. In the end, she couldn't completely ignore the ten years they had spent together and chose to let him go once again.

Carefully, she picked up the broken Den Den Mushi, wondering if it could still be repaired. Losing contact with Mother Carmel left her feeling unsettled. She could only stare at the nun's photograph in silence.

Streusen got up from the ground, immediately adjusted the sails of their small boat, turned around, and headed back toward the island near the entrance to the New World!

---

On a commercial island in the Kingdom of Magara, not far from Dressrosa, another country near the New World’s entrance, two infamous brothers—the Vank Brothers, who had eaten the Jacket-Jacket Fruit—were known to be lurking.

That morning, Edward Newgate woke up from a drunken stupor in a tavern and noticed something off—his Den Den Mushi’s screen had fallen off. Alarmed, he immediately searched for a Den Den Mushi repair shop nearby.

However, the local merchants had never seen such a small projection Den Den Mushi before. Ordinary ones couldn’t maintain a continuous screen display; only large Projection Den Den Mushi had that capability.

With no other choice, Newgate had to accept the reality—his Den Den Mushi had reverted to a regular communication device. At least it was still functional, but he could no longer read the mysterious messages in the secret chat group.

Turns out, there were still many unknown secrets in the world. If he wanted to uncover them, he needed to become stronger.

Recently, a new member in the group had awakened Conqueror’s Haki, an ability that only true kings possessed. Having traveled with the Lion Pirates for years, he had long heard of this incredible power.

Would he have the chance to awaken it himself?

Captain Ryan only had a basic understanding of Armament Haki and had never taught him. He wondered—did Captain Brook possess this legendary power?

---

Aboard the Golden Ship, Erebus

The Erebus, now soaring through the sky, was heading straight for the Kingdom of Magara—closer than Charlotte Linlin’s location.

The crew members were busy training. Redfield had taken it upon himself to teach Fisher Tiger some basic Haki techniques.

Even though Brook hadn’t waited for Newgate to reach out, that didn’t mean he couldn’t take the initiative. A captain should always be proactive!

“Bururu~”

Edward Newgate, still pondering where the Hell Pirates would make landfall, suddenly heard the Den Den Mushi ring.

Only high-level figures had this number… Could it be No. 2? Or was it Brook?

If No. 2 had been able to give him Brook’s number, then it made sense that Brook could get his number as well.

Newgate hesitated for only a second before picking up.

“Moshi moshi, who is this?”

No matter who it was, Newgate knew he had to be respectful—everyone in that group was stronger than him. He had always been a mere enforcer in the Lion Pirates, and his bounty wasn’t particularly high.

It wasn’t until he ate the Tremor-Tremor Fruit that his combat power skyrocketed, surpassing Captain Ryan. But since he hadn’t fought anyone recently, his bounty hadn’t been updated.

“Yohohoho~ Is this Newgate? I’m Brook, captain of the Hell Pirates!”

For the first time, Brook heard Whitebeard’s young voice—deep and rough, yet filled with potential.

“Captain Brook! Yes, this is me!”

Though still a bit unfamiliar, Newgate addressed his future captain with a hint of excitement.

“Yohohoho~ No need to be so tense, Newgate! Just call me Brother Brook from now on. Our ship is heading for the Kingdom of Magara. Can you wait for us there?”

Through Antonio’s wiretaps and the World Economy News Agency’s intelligence network, Brook had already pinpointed Newgate’s approximate location.

As long as the seagull news birds could reach an area, Moore’ intelligence network could be expanded there.

“That’s perfect, Brother Brook! I’m already on an island in the Kingdom of Magara!”

Newgate was shocked by the sheer coincidence. Was this fate? A sign from the heavens?

“Understood! Our ship will arrive from the sky and land near the port to pick you up!”

Brook was also feeling excited—Edward Newgate was about to become one of his crew!

“I’ll be waiting for you at the port!”

Newgate clenched his fists in anticipation. Was it really a golden ship? The Hell Pirates seemed loaded!

Maybe... just maybe, he could send some gold back home to Sphinx Island. Newgate had always been poor, sending most of his pirate earnings back home to improve his birthplace.

After ending the call, Newgate immediately rushed to the nearest tavern by the port, eager to witness Brook’s arrival.

Meanwhile, aboard the Erebus, Brook ordered the ship to speed up—he couldn’t wait to meet Edward Newgate, the future Emperor of the Seas.

The rest of the crew knew that a powerful new member was about to join. Word had spread—this little giant had immense strength and untapped potential.

Redfield smirked, eager for a fight.

A newcomer personally recruited by Captain Brook?

He had to be a beast in combat.

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Chapter Text

Antonio was very thoughtful and had already prepared a large room for the new little giant members. These spacious quarters were part of the original design of the Erebus.

Brook had considered the size of certain individuals, like Charlotte Linlin, who stood at 8.8 meters tall, and Edward Newgate, who was 6.6 meters tall.

The Erebus had three decks in total. One side featured a massive two-story room, while the other contained standard two-story cabins. The lowest level was used for storage.

On the main deck, there were two additional floors that housed a lounge, a combat office, a training area, and even a battle room.

Not to mention, the ship’s shipwright, Tom, was around three to four meters tall and quite bulky, so the entrances of the Erebus were built larger than usual. Right now, there weren’t many crew members aboard, so everyone had their own room—including the trainee, Fisher Tiger!

“Captain Brook, are the new members combatants too? And when are you going to find a chef? You barely cook, and that doesn’t fit the image of our golden ship at all! How can such a luxurious pirate crew not have a top-tier chef?”

Shakky’s complaints once again struck Antonio right in the heart. She had just found a new member and was already using Brook’s lack of cooking to criticize him.

“Didn’t you say you could cook when you first came aboard? But I’ve barely seen you step into the kitchen,” Brook shot back without hesitation.

“Captain, I’m really busy! I have to monitor the weather changes every day—it's exhausting!”

If she hadn’t been leisurely licking an ice cream at that very moment, they might have actually believed her.

“A skilled chef will be joining soon, but I have no idea what’s on his mind.”

Streusen was a decent cook, but his motives were far from pure. Brook, however, already had a plan to deal with him—while also ensuring he never revealed Charlotte Linlin’s dark past involving Sister Carmel.

Did they really think Brook’s memory was just for show? He planned to erase more than ten years of Streusen memories, permanently burying the secret of the Sheep's House.

Of course, this had to be done carefully. Brook couldn't let Streusen escape, and he needed the right opportunity to isolate him, bring Redfield along, and modify his memories.

Streusen had once been both a chef and a pirate, but his career had been destroyed by another powerful crew. He eventually drifted to the Sheep's House, where he witnessed young Charlotte Linlin’s horrifying actions.

That’s why he decided to take Linlin with him and set sail again, aiming to build a powerful force.

Even if Streusen realized he had lost part of his memory, what could he do? His fate was now tied to the Hell Pirates.

And given Charlotte Linlin’s current attitude toward him, she certainly wouldn’t help him recover those lost memories. His only choice was to settle as an ordinary crew member.

---

At a harbor bar, the towering figure of Edward Newgate sat drinking. Unlike most pirates, he had little interest in women or power. He only looted treasure to send it back to his hometown.

“Hey, big guy, are you a pirate? You’re really out here in the middle of the assassin territory of the Magara Kingdom?”

The island was crawling with bounty hunters and assassin organizations that specialized in taking down New World pirates for bounties. Since pirates in this region tended to be stronger, their bounties were also higher.

The New World wasn’t just a pirate’s paradise—it was a hunting ground for bounty hunters, assassins, and underground organizations. Here, the line between hunter and prey could flip in an instant.

“Edward Newgate, former combatant of the Lion Pirates. A bounty of only 90 million berries? How the hell did you even survive out here? That’s not even enough to cover my monthly expenses!”

A killer held up Newgate’s wanted poster. The bounty for their captain, Ryan, was listed at 170 million berries, a number typical for a rising supernova entering the New World.

Clearly, there was a massive gap between the local pirate crews in this sea. Among the more dominant groups was the Ice Demon Pirates, one of the three overlords of the New World.

The frozen region they ruled was home to a rare tribe of Ice Giants, warriors hardened by the extreme cold. Even the legendary giant Oars, who lived over 450 years ago, had met his end there—frozen solid. He had likely suffered injuries from a battle before succumbing to the cold.

In later years, the massive twin giants, Lock and Scourge, who briefly appeared in Punk Hazard, would emerge from this very land. These Ice Giants towered over their Elbaf counterparts, standing more than 40 meters tall.

Unlike them, the Rocks Pirates were a rising force that had stormed into the New World from the four seas, fighting countless battles to establish their dominance.

However, the two other ruling pirate crews had deep roots in the New World. Even Rocks couldn’t take them down outright, which was why he aggressively expanded his own fleet.

---

“Yeah, I’m Edward Newgate. But I left the Lion Pirates. What, are you planning to kill me for the bounty?”

Newgate took a big swig of sake, then turned to the assassins surrounding him with a smile. His massive fist pulsed with a bright white glow.

“Oh, so you’ve eaten a Devil Fruit? No wonder you quit the Lion Pirates. Are you starting your own crew? Too bad—you won’t get the chance today!”

A pirate with a bounty under 100 million berries, even with a Devil Fruit, wouldn’t stand a chance against their elite assassin squad.

During their prime, their organization had taken down pirates with bounties exceeding 200 million. Taking out Ryan, the Lion Pirates’ captain, wouldn’t even be a challenge.

“Today, I’m just waiting for my new captain. Don’t make me angry,” Newgate warned, gripping his sake bottle tightly.

Seeing the number of enemies surrounding him, he was itching to test his strength. Ever since he obtained the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, he felt an overwhelming compatibility with it. Simple. Raw. Destructive.

“Oh? You’re already looking for a new crew? Then come on!”

The assassins’ gunmen and snipers opened fire, while their elite blade-wielders drew poisoned daggers, waiting for the gunfire to end before rushing in for the kill.

Newgate’s fist gleamed with a white glow as he swung forward. The air cracked—an immense shockwave erupted, smashing aside the incoming bullets and sending a devastating force toward the assassins.

The gunmen coughed up blood as they were hurled backward, while the dagger-wielding killers barely dodged the sheer force of the quake.

“What the hell is this power?! That shockwave alone wiped out our gunmen in an instant!”

Just one attack had obliterated an entire squad.

---------------------

The Dagger Killers scattered in all directions, forming a tight encirclement around Newgate like a massive net.

Seeing their Musketeer allies injured and their guns broken, they had already suffered heavy losses. Their only way to recover was to capture Newgate and claim the bounty.

“Attack together!!”

Poisoned daggers in hand, the assassins lunged at Newgate from every direction, counting on their numbers to overwhelm him. They had used this tactic countless times—pirates always thought they were invincible, ignoring minor wounds. But once the poison kicked in, they’d start crying about dirty tricks.

But so what?

As assassins, they relied on poisoned blades and ambushes to survive against brutal pirates. Pirates pillaged towns, slaughtered civilians, and showed no mercy. Killers, on the other hand, valued profit above all, using any means necessary—poison, sneak attacks, deception. Who was worse? Wasn’t it just two sides of the same coin?

Newgate spotted the assassins closing in, their blades glowing with eerie green venom. He knew these guys weren’t to be underestimated. Facing a full surround, he decided to break through in one direction.

With a powerful step forward, he threw a punch that sent a shockwave blasting ahead. The assassin in his path flinched in terror and instinctively backed off, unwilling to take the hit head-on.

“Don’t back down! Hold the line!”

The assassin captain shouted, furious at his subordinate’s hesitation. If they let Newgate break free, all their losses would be for nothing.

The assassin, trembling, had no choice but to rush forward. Gritting his teeth, he stabbed at Newgate’s tremor-wrapped fist.

The moment the poisoned blade made contact, an overpowering vibration surged through it. In an instant, the dagger shattered, and the assassin’s entire arm exploded into a mist of blood.

“AAAAHHHH!!!”

Clutching the remains of his shoulder, the assassin screamed in agony as he was sent flying. The sheer terror on his face struck fear into the other killers.

“Damn it!!”

The assassin captain cursed. They had completely underestimated this white-haired giant. He was fighting like a pirate with a bounty of 200 million berries, yet his current bounty was only 90 million. Something wasn’t right!

Newgate burst out of the tavern, standing tall in front of a building, relieved to have an open escape route. He glanced at the assassins still chasing him. His fists glowed white as he grinned.

“Gurararara! Come on, then! Let’s have some real fun!”

Despite the overwhelming odds, he showed no fear.

The assassin captain led a dozen more killers after him, but seeing that Newgate wasn’t running anymore, he hesitated.

“Call the boss. Now.”

If they didn’t get backup, they were done for.

“Yes, Captain!”

One of the killers quickly pulled out a Den Den Mushi and dialed. Moments later, their leader answered.

“You useless idiots. Hold him there—I’m on my way.”

Hearing their boss’s response, the assassins breathed a sigh of relief. Their leader was a notorious pirate who had personally taken down a 210-million-berry target.

“More assassins coming?”

Newgate wasn’t the type to wait around. He charged straight at them. His sheer size, monstrous strength, and Tremor-Tremor Fruit left the assassins in a panic.

“You damn rats! If you’re too scared to fight, I’m leaving!”

Newgate laughed as he saw them retreating faster than mice.

“You’re not going anywhere! You’ve injured too many of our men! Just wait—our boss is gonna kill you!”

The assassin captain wasn’t dumb enough to engage directly. Instead, they surrounded Newgate, trying to slow him down.

Newgate accelerated, punching an assassin who failed to dodge, further breaking their formation.

“Hmph! Let’s see if your boss is really that tough!”

He had fought slavers, pirates, and criminals since childhood. He had never once backed down.

“Fine! If you’ve got the guts, stay put! Our leader will deal with you soon!”

As soon as the captain finished speaking, a shadow leaped over from a nearby building.

BOOM!

The figure landed, cracking the ground beneath him and raising a cloud of dust.

“You’re the one who injured my men?”

As the dust settled, a rugged man with short, thick black hair emerged. A scar ran from his forehead down across his eye and cheek, giving him a menacing look.

Far from looking like an assassin, he had the brutal presence of a pirate.

“You attacked me first. Cut the crap—let’s fight!”

Newgate wasn’t interested in excuses. He charged forward, fists raised.

“I saw a pirate as arrogant as you once before… and he’s already dead.”

The leader of the Dagger Killers, Poison Blade Cavendish, unsheathed a poisoned dagger, its design completely at odds with his brutal, warrior-like physique.

Despite his rugged looks, Cavendish was a devious, treacherous bastard. He never forgot a grudge and never fought fair.

“Boss, watch out! He’s got a Devil Fruit ability—it’s ridiculously powerful!”

The assassin captain called out, warning his boss.

Cavendish smirked.

His dagger and arms instantly turned black with Armament Haki. As a man who had survived in the New World, he had long since mastered the basics.

He stabbed forward, his hardened, poison-laced blade aiming for Newgate’s tremor-coated fist.

A powerful shockwave exploded outward.

“What?! I can’t pierce through?!”

Cavendish’s blade barely made contact before a mysterious force repelled it. His hand trembled—he nearly lost his grip on the dagger.

“DIE!!”

Newgate’s massive left fist swung toward Cavendish. But Cavendish reacted fast, flipping backward and landing at a distance.

“Not bad. That’s one hell of a Devil Fruit power you’ve got there. But I won’t fight you head-on.”

Cavendish smirked.

He exchanged glances with the assassin captain.

Clearly, he had no intention of a fair fight. They were going to use their numbers to wear Newgate down, then finish him with a fatal strike.

Just then, near the port, the onlookers started shouting in excitement.

“Look! There’s a ship in the sky!!”

“No way! Is it the Flying Pirates?!”

Even Newgate and Cavendish turned their gazes upward.

Above them, a massive airborne ship loomed in the sky.

Chapter Text

As the ship drew closer, people finally got a clear view of its appearance—and the pirate flag flying proudly atop it.

"Oh my god! Look at that massive golden bow! And all those glittering golden decorations—are they really made of gold?!"

"It's a real golden ship!!!"

"That’s the Hell Pirates! The ones who killed the Celestial Dragons! Rumor has it their pirate ship is the legendary Golden ship!"

Both pirates and citizens of the New World gazed at the magnificent vessel with greed and awe.

At that moment, Cavendish took advantage of Newgate’s distraction and lunged forward to attack. Seeing their leader move, the assassin captain quickly reacted, coordinating an assault from the opposite side.

The other assassins followed suit, raising their poison-coated daggers as they charged in!

Newgate, momentarily captivated by the golden ship, snapped back to attention. With a single mighty swing of his fist, imbued with the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, he shattered the attackers into oblivion.

The sheer force of his attack caused nearby bars and buildings to collapse. The assassins, who had rushed in with confidence, were sent flying back even faster, crashing into the ruins like broken dolls. Many of them hit the ground limply, their bodies wrecked beyond recognition.

But Cavendish, enduring the shockwave, found an opening in Newgate’s stance and lunged in for a fatal strike to his waist!

Newgate hadn’t expected him to withstand the Tremor-Tremor attack. Quickly, he gathered his power once again, preparing to smash Cavendish before the poisoned dagger could reach him.

Yet, the assassin was faster. Even if it meant taking a hit, he was determined to land a poisonous wound. His entire body was coated in Armament Haki for defense.

Just as Newgate was about to be cut, a streak of lightning and a sharp wave of blue sword energy shot out from the golden ship!

The high-speed attack pierced straight through Cavendish!

Even with his Armament Haki, he couldn’t defend against the overwhelming force. His Haki was simply too weak to withstand the sheer power of the strike.

"Who—who is it?!"

Cavendish clutched his chest, blood spurting from his mouth. A look of terror flashed across his face as he instinctively staggered back.

"Gurarara~ Looks like my captain is here!"

Newgate chuckled, his voice filled with amusement. He hadn’t expected his new captain to save him so quickly. Although he was confident in his own resilience against poison, it was clear his captain and crew weren’t willing to take any risks!

"So you’ve already sworn loyalty to someone else? That fast?!"

Cavendish’s expression twisted as he heard his subordinates screaming for help. He had learned about Newgate’s situation earlier but never expected him to join those pirates—the infamous Hell Pirates, who had even dared to kill Celestial Dragons!

As the enormous golden ship descended, countless wind shells blasted bursts of air toward the ground, cushioning the impact. The sheer force of the wind sent debris flying, raising thick clouds of dust.

Many pirates were forced to shield their eyes. Even Newgate squinted slightly as he stood firm like an iron tower.

Then, a loud, exhilarating tune erupted from the ship's speakers.

The energetic "Casino Entrance" theme blasted across the battlefield.

Newgate’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected such a flashy entrance. But… he had to admit, it was exciting. He was already looking forward to meeting these pirates.

"Pshhhhhh—"

As the smoke and dust settled, the figures of the Hell Pirates finally emerged. Their cloaks fluttered in the wind, their presence radiating dominance.

"Newgate! You alright? Hope you don’t mind us interrupting your little game!"

Brook’s voice rang out confidently, as if the earlier battle had been nothing more than a warm-up.

"Gurarara~ Captain Brook, I should be thanking you! If not for your help, I might’ve ended up with another scar on my waist!"

Newgate grinned. His future captain had quite the presence. But, more than that, he had to admit—the music from their ship just now was pretty damn thrilling. Maybe he’d give it a try someday.

"Let my crewmates handle the cleanup."

As Brook spoke, Redfield transformed into a bolt of lightning, instantly appearing before Cavendish, cutting off his escape.

"30 Million Volts: Grand Discharge!"

Redfield stretched out his hands as if to embrace the assassin. A surge of electricity burst forth, completely enveloping Cavendish. His body convulsed violently, smoke rising from his scorched flesh before his eyes rolled back and he collapsed.

The last surviving assassins attempted to flee, but they too were swiftly eliminated by Redfield’s lightning and Hiruba’s precise sniper shots.

In mere seconds, the once-feared Dagger killers Assassin Organization was utterly annihilated.

Would the other assassin squads dare to come and avenge their fallen leader?

---

"Whoa, you’re huge! Looks like you’ll be the tallest crewmember on our ship from now on!"

Shakky excitedly ran up, circling Newgate as she sized him up. This towering six-meter giant would be her companion from now on.

"This scheming woman here is Shakky, our navigator. She’s got a sharp tongue, so don’t take her words too seriously," Brook introduced casually.

"Oi, Captain Brook! I am the most important navigator on this ship! What do you mean, ‘don’t take me seriously’?! If you keep talking like that, I’ll drop all of you off at Shemale Island!"

Shakky fumed, crossing her arms. She had barely said anything, yet Brook was already throwing her under the bus in front of the new guy! Unbelievable!

"Gurarara~ I’ve memorized all your bounties—Captain Brook, combatant Redfield, shipwright Tom, doctor Crocus, sniper Hiruba, navigator Shakky, and our mount, Kirin Lion..."

Newgate listed off the names like they were already his crewmates, showing that he had done his homework.

"Oi! You forgot about me! I’m Antonio, the ship’s agent and the very first member of Captain Brook’s crew!"

Antonio raised his hand, his tone filled with mild frustration.

"And me! I’m Fisher Tiger, an apprentice from Fishman Island! I’m strong too!"

At that moment, a small seahorse hopped onto Tiger’s shoulder, chattering away.

"He says his name is Memory Seahorse, and he’s actually the third member of the crew! He’s not a pet, so you better call him ‘senior’! Also, my name’s Parrot Assistant, and I can talk too! Oh, and Kirin Lion says hello!"

"Hahaha~! I didn’t expect to gain so many companions! This is great! I love big crews!"

Newgate laughed heartily. He could already tell—this captain, this crew… they were something special.

As Redfield returned with the unconscious Cavendish, his eyes locked with Newgate’s.

At that moment, sparks flew between the two warriors—

A battle between titans was inevitable!

----

Brook noticed the spark between Redfield and Newgate—or perhaps it was just the natural attraction between strong warriors.

“Haha~, from now on, Newgate will also be one of our fighters. His position will be the same as Redfield’s. You two will be the strongest Hell Warriors of the Hell Pirates in the future!”

Brook walked up to the two men, trying to lift their hands in a celebratory gesture. However, standing at just 2.7 meters tall, he could only reach Newgate’s hand.

“Let’s spar when we get the chance.”

Redfield was eager to test himself against Newgate. Captain Brook had said that Newgate's potential and his Devil Fruit ability were both top-tier—so much so that in the near future, Redfield himself might not be able to beat him. This only fueled his fighting spirit further. He wanted to prove to Brook that he would be the strongest combatant in the Hell Pirates!

“Gurarara~, no problem!”

Newgate could feel the fighting spirit in Redfield's gaze. He could also sense the pressure coming from him. He realized that at this moment, he was not Redfield’s match!

“Newgate, you haven’t awakened Haki yet, have you?” Brook suddenly asked. “From now on, let Redfield train you to awaken your Armament and Observation Haki. And as for Conqueror’s Haki... I’ll find an opportunity to help you awaken it in the future.”

Brook's confident words left Newgate momentarily stunned.

“Wait… what? Captain Brook, you mean to tell me that I… I also have the potential for Conqueror’s Haki? That legendary power that only one in a million can awaken?!”

Newgate was visibly excited. He had seen the overwhelming presence of those who possessed Conqueror’s Haki from afar before, and he had always envied it. However, back then, Captain Ryan had immediately fled the scene in fear whenever he sensed that kind of power.

“Yes, I’m sure of it,” Brook affirmed. “And Redfield has already awakened all three types of Haki. You can’t afford to fall behind. You two will be the War Gods of the Hell Pirates in the future!”

Newgate clenched his fists. A War God? One day, he would truly reach that level!

But before he could dwell on it any further…

“Captain Brook! What about me?!”

A loud voice suddenly interrupted the moment.

It was Shakky. She immediately raised her hand, frantically trying to get Brook’s attention. “When I was at Sabaody, I stood out in the crowd, right? You must have noticed my hidden talent for Conqueror’s Haki! I mean, a woman as dazzling as me must have it, right? Right?!”

Brook tilted his head slightly. “…Didn’t you approach us on your own and ask to join? Also, weren’t you so scared of me at first that you fell from the second floor to the first?”

At this moment, Antonio muttered weakly, “That’s right…”

His words were immediately followed by laughter from the crew—even Redfield, who was usually so reserved, chuckled.

Shakky, red-faced with embarrassment, lunged at Antonio, grabbing his head and furiously shaking it. “If you don’t say anything, no one will think you’re mute!!!”

Antonio quickly fled behind Brook for protection.

Meanwhile, Shakky turned back to Brook with wide, expectant eyes. “Come on, Captain! Tell me the truth~”

Brook sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe… just maybe. You’ll have to train more, observe the strong, broaden your horizons, and develop a fearless heart.”

Shakky pouted. “Train? Why would I need to train? I’m already fearless! If I wasn’t, why haven’t I awakened Conqueror’s Haki yet?”

Brook smirked. “You say you’re fearless? Alright, then—if a Celestial Dragon were standing in front of you right now, would you kill him immediately?”

Shakky froze. Her confidence wavered for a split second.

Brook chuckled. “See? That’s the difference.”

Shakky gulped. She had been utterly terrified when she first heard that Redfield had killed a Celestial Dragon. Even just hearing the name of the World Nobles was enough to make her wary.

“…Wait a minute.” Suddenly, her eyes lit up. “Are you saying that if I kill a Celestial Dragon, I might awaken Conqueror’s Haki?!”

Brook blinked. “…No, that’s not how it works.”

But Shakky was already deep in thought. "Hmm... I mean, we've already offended the World Government, right? What difference does one more dead Celestial Dragon make?”

Brook sighed. "Listen carefully—killing a Celestial Dragon doesn’t guarantee you’ll awaken Conqueror’s Haki. But those who have awakened it will definitely have the courage to kill one. If, one day, you truly stop fearing them and act without hesitation, then maybe you really will awaken it.”

The crew fell silent, pondering Brook’s words.

Among them, an eight-year-old Fisher Tiger was especially affected. As a Fishman, he had always feared and hated the Celestial Dragons, but he had never dared to truly challenge them.

However, in that moment, his mindset shifted.

He suddenly felt a burning determination rising in his heart.

I can’t fear them.

I have to be strong enough to face them.

I want to become a War God, just like them…!

The conviction in Fisher Tiger’s eyes was so strong that even the crew could sense his aura changing.

Brook immediately noticed the spark within him. This kid… something just awakened in him.

Shakky, still lost in thought, suddenly turned to the rest of the crew. "Wait… does this mean that if we all kill Celestial Dragons, we might all awaken Conqueror’s Haki?”

Brook’s eye twitched.

This entire crew had just latched onto the idea that "killing Celestial Dragons = possible Haki awakening."

Brook rubbed his temples, shaking his head vigorously. No, no, no! My crew can't possibly be this ridiculous!

But as he glanced around… he realized that nearly everyone was looking at him with serious expressions.

They were actually considering it.

Even Antonio was mumbling, “…50% chance, huh? Those odds aren’t that bad.”

Brook felt a headache coming on. “This crew… they’re not normal…”

For a moment, a crazy thought crossed his mind.

Should I just go all out and form an alliance with the Rocks Pirates to raid the Valley of the Gods?

Wouldn’t that be the ultimate dungeon raid?

A full-scale Celestial Dragon extermination event?!

Brook shook his head violently. No, absolutely not.

But deep down…

He couldn't help but wonder.

Would that really be so impossible?

---

[End of Chapter]

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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Chapter Text

Ignoring Shakky's wild imagination, Brook turned his attention to the seriously injured Cavendish. Neither his character nor his strength made much of an impression.

"Newgate, how do you want to handle this guy?"

Brook gave the decision to Newgate. The Whitebeard of the future was known for his unmatched sense of honor and loyalty. He wondered if, even now, Newgate had the decisiveness to eliminate threats when necessary.

"Let him go," Newgate said. "Captain Brook, from what I know, this assassin group only targets pirates, not civilians. In their own way, they're protecting this country."

Newgate understood the dangers of a kingdom like Magara, located in the New World yet unable to join the World Government. The local assassins were one of the few lines of defense against invading pirates.

His own homeland, Sphinx Island, was too poor to afford the Heavenly Tribute and couldn't join the World Government. As a result, it became a lawless land, plagued by pirates and human traffickers. Without an armed force to protect it, the island was left in ruin.

In contrast, Magara had managed to maintain some semblance of peace, and its bounty hunters and assassins played a crucial role in that.

"Newgate, you really don't act like a pirate," Brook mused. "If you were the protector of a kingdom, the people would probably worship you."

Newgate chuckled. "Gurarara~ A pirate is just a title. What I really want is stability and peace."

Brook nodded. "Then work hard. If you have a good heart, protect more people. If you have a pirate's mind, conquer more territory and rule it yourself."

"Understood, Captain Brook!"

Newgate's eyes burned with determination. He had to awaken his Haki, grow stronger, and protect those who couldn't protect themselves.

"In that case, let's go! Time to pick up our next crew member!"

Brook’s command was met with enthusiasm, and the crew began heading back to the golden battleship, preparing to set sail for their next target—Charlotte Linlin!

"Captain Brook, are we seriously not going to resupply first?"

Shakky rolled her eyes. What kind of pirate crew lands on an inhabited island without stocking up on fresh food and water? They never knew when they'd reach the next island.

"Fine, fine. One hour! Everyone, restock our supplies!"

Brook knew that with heavy eaters like Newgate and Charlotte Linlin, the ship’s food storage had to be overflowing at all times. If only they had a crew member with a spatial-type Devil Fruit—something like the Castle-Castle Fruit, Pocket-Pocket Fruit, Mirror-Mirror Fruit, or Book-Book Fruit. Any ability that let them store vast amounts of supplies would be a game-changer.

---

A violent storm raged across the waters near Aprunan Island. Several pirate ships, bearing dark, ominous flags, were in hot pursuit of the golden, lion-headed vessels of the Flying Pirates.

"DAMN IT!"

Shiki the Golden Lion cursed as his ships struggled against the fierce winds. Normally, his fleet could fly above the ocean using his Float-Float Fruit ability, but the storm’s chaotic winds had forced them to sail on the sea instead. Now, the worst possible scenario had come to pass—the Rocks Pirates were right on their tail.

"Rocks, you bastard! I just arrived in the New World, and you already want to recruit me?" Shiki growled. "I’m an awakened Conqueror’s Haki user—why the hell would I bow down to you?! But... tch, I can’t beat you yet, so running is my only option."

The Rocks Pirates were one of the three ruling forces of the New World. They were hunting him down, and thanks to this damn weather, escape was getting harder by the second.

Was this it? Would he really end up joining Rocks, just like those damn guys in the chat group predicted?

---

Aboard the imposing flagship of the Rocks Pirates, Xebec’s, Rocks D. Xebec laughed wildly. He was determined to tame this unruly "golden kitten" today.

"Buckin, your navigation skills are getting sharper," Rocks praised the young blonde woman standing beside him. "Thanks to you, we predicted this storm perfectly. Now Shiki has nowhere to run."

The woman, a short, smug navigator, flipped her hair back.

"Haha~ Captain Rocks, this is just basic work for a navigator," she said modestly, though her proud smirk betrayed her words.

This woman was Miss Buckingham Stussy, later known as Miss Buckin—a cunning pirate who would one day claim to be Whitebeard’s lover and the mother of Edward Weevil. Even in later years, her navigation skills allowed her to travel the Grand Line and New World with ease, eliminating Whitebeard’s former allies.

"Hahaha! When I break that lion's will and force him onto my crew, I’ll give you first pick of the spoils," Rocks said with a grin.

Buckin's eyes gleamed with greed. She had an insatiable love for treasure, and it was one of the reasons she had become a pirate in the first place.

"Much appreciated, Captain!" she said, already imagining the riches she'd claim.

---

Aboard the Golden Lion's Ship

"Captain, you need to go on alone! If you don’t, none of us are getting out of this alive!"

Shiki’s combat officer, Bloody Fist Scaredo, shouted desperately. His heart was filled with despair. Compared to the Rocks Pirates, the current Flying Pirates were as weak as newborns.

Even Shiki himself couldn't withstand three moves from Rocks. In their last battle, the Flying Pirates’ massive fleet had been obliterated in an instant. Those who weren’t killed had likely already switched sides and joined the Rocks Pirates.

If it weren’t for Shiki’s Float-Float Fruit, which allowed his ship to flee at high speed, the entire crew would’ve been wiped out.

"Scaredo..." Shiki clenched his teeth. "I won’t let you all die here!"

He couldn't help but regret his arrogance. When his fleet had first encountered Rocks, he had just awakened his Conqueror’s Haki and was eager to prove himself.

Some idiots in the chat group had predicted that he’d end up joining Rocks, and he had been determined to prove them wrong. So, instead of escaping, he had faced the Rocks Pirates head-on—a colossal mistake.

He had completely underestimated them.

Just two of Rocks’ officers had annihilated his fleet with devastating sword slashes and axe swings.

Now, as his ship rocked violently in the storm, Shiki clenched his fists. Was there still a way out? Or was his fate already sealed?

----

Rocks' overwhelming presence crushed Golden Lion Shiki’s will, completely suppressing his Conqueror’s Haki. Even his Float-Float Fruit ability, which could manipulate seawater, was rendered useless under Rocks' Dark Sky.

Realizing the massive difference in strength, Shiki immediately took action. Controlling his pirate ship, he soared into the sky to escape. But this move only made Rocks more interested in him—after all, a man with the power of the Float-Float Fruit was a rare and valuable asset!

Onboard, Bloody Fist Scaredo looked at his captain with a heavy heart. He knew Shiki was just putting up a front. Given the brutal weather and their overwhelming disadvantage, there were only two possible outcomes—their crew would either surrender or be wiped out, becoming yet another casualty in the ruthless New World.

"Captain Shiki, you're a free lion. You shouldn't be dragged down by weaklings like us," Scaredo said solemnly. "Find stronger crewmates in the future and keep sailing freely across this sea!"

Scaredo understood well that in the New World, numbers meant nothing. True power came from having a small, elite crew. These large fleets—made up of random pirates picked up along the way—were useless in a real fight. They could only bully weaker pirate crews, but against true monsters, they were nothing but cannon fodder.

"No, Captain! Please don’t abandon us!" a lower-ranking crew member shouted in panic. "Let’s just join the Rocks Pirates! With your power, you could become one of Rocks’ strongest officers!"

Shiki’s heart clenched as he looked at his crew. He had recruited so many, yet the only ones worth anything were a rare few like Scaredo. The rest were weaklings, opportunists with no loyalty. He suddenly thought of Brook. Brook’s bounty had already surpassed his own, and despite having a much smaller crew, they were undoubtedly stronger and more loyal.

Brook must have had absolute trust in his crewmates. Meanwhile, Shiki looked at his own men—cowards, traitors, and dead weight. At this moment, he envied Brook more than ever.

"Captain, let’s surrender!" More voices joined in, pleading desperately. They didn’t want to die. Joining the Rocks Pirates wasn’t just a way to survive—it was an opportunity to rise in status. With the backing of a New World overlord, they could finally throw their weight around.

Scaredo’s blood boiled with rage. "Have you all forgotten that the Rocks Pirates destroyed our fleet?! How many of our brothers died by their hands? And now, instead of seeking revenge, you’re begging to surrender?"

He didn’t even like most of the grand fleet’s members, but they had fought and died as Flying Pirates. That alone deserved respect.

"Piracy is a gamble. Life or death is up to fate!" another crew member countered. "But right now, we have a way to survive!"

Shiki remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking. "Scaredo… lower the Flying Pirates’ flag and raise the white flag." His voice was devoid of emotion.

"Captain… have you really decided to join the Rocks Pirates?" one of the junior officers asked carefully, choosing his words wisely. Instead of saying "surrender," he said "join" to give Shiki a way to save face.

As the storm raged on, Scaredo held the lowered pirate flag in his trembling hands, his eyes red with emotion. Whether it was rain or tears rolling down his face, even he wasn’t sure.

Shiki took the flag from Scaredo’s hands and walked into the cabin with him. Meanwhile, on the approaching ship, Rocks and his officers watched closely as the Flying Pirates hoisted the white flag.

"Captain Rocks, looks like Shiki’s finally given in!" Miss Buckin grinned triumphantly. "All it took was a single weather forecast to corner him into surrender!"

But Rocks’ expression was unreadable. Something about this felt… off.

Shiki was a Conqueror’s Haki user—he shouldn't be surrendering this easily. A man chosen by fate, someone with the will of a king, wouldn’t give in without a fight. Could it be that he had already lost his will to resist? No… that didn’t seem right.

"Speed up! Get closer!" Rocks commanded. He needed to see this for himself.

As the Rocks Pirates closed in, something unexpected happened. A section of the Flying Pirates’ ship suddenly broke open, revealing a small, four-seater escape boat—already stocked with fresh water and supplies.

"Captain… is this really okay? Are we really just going to abandon them?" Scaredo asked in disbelief.

"I will never surrender," Shiki growled, his golden mane drenched from the rain. "As for those who wanted me to… I don’t care what happens to them!"

With his Float-Float Fruit, controlling the tiny escape boat was effortless. Unlike his massive pirate ship, this craft was nimble and easy to maneuver. He had brought Scaredo along not just because of his loyalty, but also because he wasn’t a Devil Fruit user—meaning he could save Shiki if they ended up in the water.

Silently, the small escape boat lifted off, floating away from the Flying Pirates’ ship. As soon as they were over the water, the two men began rowing with all their strength, vanishing into the stormy night.

Meanwhile, the remaining crew members on the deck waited nervously for the Rocks Pirates to arrive. They had already switched sides in their minds. From this moment forward, they were no longer the Flying Pirates—they were Rocks’ crew now.

But then, a sharp voice cut through the storm.

"Wait… Captain Shiki is gone!"

A crew member had wandered to the other side of the ship, only to see a small boat already hundreds of meters away. His eyes widened in horror as he realized the truth.

Shiki had abandoned them.

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Chapter Text

Golden Lion Shiki and Scaredo rowed desperately through the storm. One wrong move, and the massive waves could swallow them whole.

“Hurry up! Keep rowing! Once we get past the worst of the storm, I can fly us out of here!” Shiki urged.

Even with the Float-Float Fruit, the storm’s chaotic winds made it too dangerous to use his powers. He had no choice but to escape the old-fashioned way.

Meanwhile, the remaining crew members on the Flying Pirates’ ship were losing their minds.

“Captain Shiki actually ran away?! That damn so-called Notorious Rookie! That ‘fearsome Conqueror’s Haki user’! What a joke! That cowardly, irresponsible Golden Lion actually abandoned us like this!”

(Note: I just remember that the supernova term at that time did not exist)

Shiki seemed to hear their furious shouting through the howling wind. He snorted in disdain. “Hmph! You lot? My crewmates? Don’t make me laugh! I told you to lower my flag and retreat strategically! You weaklings were never worthy of being my crew in the first place!”

He knew he had lost face today. But sooner or later, he would gather a stronger crew—true elites—and take back the honor he had lost from Rocks!

Rocks Arrives

Onboard the ship, Rocks and his top officers watched the commotion unfolding on the Flying Pirates’ ship. Something was off.

“An internal conflict?” Silver Axe mused.

Rocks narrowed his eyes. The white flag had been raised, but… was it possible that Golden Lion Shiki had abandoned his crew and fled?

If that were true, then these spineless grunts were useless to the Rocks Pirates. Rocks had no interest in them—he only wanted Shiki’s Float-Float Fruit.

Unfortunately, the Flying Pirates’ ship blocked Rocks’ view, preventing him from spotting the small boat Shiki was using to escape. If he had seen it, he would have pursued immediately.

But fate was on Shiki’s side.

Desperate to survive, the Flying Pirates eagerly approached the Hachinosu, hoping to surrender. This delay bought Shiki even more time.

(Note: ‘Hachinosu’ name of their ship just like the Hachinosu Island)

As soon as the two ships were close, Rocks, Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, and the other officers jumped onto the deck.

“Where’s the Golden Lion?!” Rocks grabbed a small officer by the collar and roared, his monstrous aura causing the pirate to nearly pass out from sheer terror.

“C-Captain Shiki and Officer Scaredo already escaped! Captain Rocks, please spare us! We’re willing to join the Rocks Pirates! Please, take us in!”

One pirate dropped to his knees, pleading for his life. The others quickly followed, bowing their heads and begging Rocks to accept them.

“Hahaha~! As expected, that bastard Shiki finally ran off!” Rocks laughed loudly, clearly amused.

Instead of being angry, he actually seemed to admire Shiki’s defiance.

“A man with Conqueror’s Haki won’t surrender so easily,” Rocks mused. “His fleet was destroyed in our first encounter, and now he’s even abandoned his ship and crew. The next time we meet, it’ll be his turn to kneel before me.”

“Captain Rocks, what should we do with these rats?” Wang Zhi asked, his sword gleaming menacingly in the stormy light. With a single order, he would cut them all down.

“Hahaha! Since they surrendered, we’ll take them back to Hachinosu,” Rocks decided. “They can work as laborers. Let’s make our base look a little better. And when we capture Shiki, we’ll make sure he sees the crew he abandoned!”

Rocks glanced in the direction Shiki had escaped, a smirk playing on his lips.

He had missed the perfect chance to capture the Golden Lion. Next time, it would be even harder. But Rocks had absolute confidence in himself. He knew fate was on his side.

He was a member of the D. clan—destined to shake this era!

All the great pirates would either kneel before him or become stepping stones on his path to becoming king!

---

A New Beginning for the Flying Pirates

Shiki and Scaredo finally broke free from the storm’s grasp. The moment they were in calmer skies, Shiki activated his Float-Float Fruit, lifting their small boat into the air and soaring away at high speed.

“Captain Shiki, where are we heading now? Should we start recruiting new crewmates?” Scaredo asked, relieved they had escaped Rocks’ clutches.

But there was also a lingering sadness in his voice. The mighty Flying Pirates were reduced to just two men. They had lost their ship, their crew… everything.

“That’s right! But this time, we’ll gather only the strongest elite fighters!” Shiki declared.

At this stage, without a solid territory, having a massive fleet was nothing but a liability. It made them an easy target for New World overlords. The risk wasn’t worth the reward.

Instead, Shiki would rely on his Float-Float Fruit to form an elite crew. Once they were strong enough, they would claim territory—then, and only then, would they expand into a proper fleet.

Suddenly, a thought crossed Shiki’s mind.

The Den Den Mushi chat group had been quiet lately. He hadn’t contacted Brook in a while. And now, Brook was doing better than him.

That pissed him off.

At one point, Shiki had even considered recruiting Brook. The guy was sharp—too sharp. He had even predicted Shiki’s defeat today.

“Damn it… I need to find someone smart. Someone who can see the big picture. And more importantly, a talented navigator,” Shiki muttered.

If he had a proper navigator, he wouldn’t have blundered into a storm and gotten chased down by Rocks like some fool.

For now, they needed to lay low and avoid detection. But in the New World, hiding was easier said than done.

Anyone willing to pay the right price could buy location intel from the World Dark News. Their president, Kandor, was a master of the underground information trade. If you had the money, he’d even send out buzzard news birds to spy on your target.

If you pissed off a major power, you couldn’t stay in one place for too long. And if you noticed news birds circling a little too often, or intelligence brokers lurking around? That meant trouble was coming.

---

Meanwhile, Aboard the Erebus

On the golden ship Erebus, the crew celebrated Newgate’s arrival. Brook, in a rare moment, personally cooked a meal, and Antonio eagerly seized the opportunity to learn from him.

“Gurara~! This is my first time on a flying pirate ship!” Newgate laughed heartily, standing at the ship’s edge, looking down at the scattered islands and the endless deep blue sea.

“Brother Newgate, you’ll get used to it! I was just as shocked when I first boarded,” Fisher Tiger chuckled as he scrubbed the deck—a daily task for a cadet.

“Newgate,” Redfield called out, swirling a glass of red wine in his hand. “According to Captain Brook’s plan, I’ll help you awaken your Armament and Observation Haki as quickly as possible. With your physique, you’ve already met the physical requirements. All you need is the right training, and I believe you’ll awaken soon.”

This particular wine was a rare specialty brewed for the mermaids of Fish-Man Island. Even Brook was reluctant to part with it—Redfield only took it out when he wanted to show off.

“Thank you. I’ll do my best to become a fighter who can protect everyone,” Newgate said with determination.

If he could awaken Haki, his strength would skyrocket. With his monstrous physical power, he could even stand alongside Brook and Redfield as an equal.

Meanwhile, Fish-Man Tom had begun preliminary designs for the Sea Train. Brook had also tasked him with researching an Island Cloud Train for Sky Island—something that had never been attempted before.

The ship’s doctor, Crocus, was experimenting with the deadly poisons collected from Fish-Man Island, while sniper Hiruba had already developed highly toxic bullets.

Brook smirked. These two were more than qualified to be the Sixth.

Even Shakky had started serious training, declaring that she was preparing to awaken her Conqueror’s Haki.

Brook didn’t have the heart to discourage her.

---

Marine Headquarters, Marineford

"The latest intelligence confirms that after passing Fish-Man Island, the Hell Pirates have been spotted near the Magara Kingdom in the New World. They’ve also recruited a new crew member—Edward Newgate, a formidable pirate!"

Chief of Staff Weimark delivered his report, his expression tense. The Hell Pirates had been a thorn in the side of the Marines, and the Celestial Dragons were growing impatient with their lack of progress.

"It’s said that Newgate was abandoned by the captain of the Lion Pirates, Ryan, because his strength far exceeded that of the Lion Pirates' captain!"

Weimark rubbed his temples. The Hell Pirates' ability to fly made them incredibly difficult to track, and the Navy’s control over the New World had always been weaker than desired.

"Due to the Celestial Dragons’ demands, we have dispatched Admiral Coss Davo to the New World," Weimark continued. "Meanwhile, Admiral Sora will soon begin purging the Sabaody Archipelago, leaving only Admiral Hoss stationed here at Marineford."

Fleet Admiral Kukulkan had personally given the order. Admiral Coss Davo, a Mythical Zoan user, possessed the ability to fly, making him one of the few capable of countering the Hell Pirates’ aerial mobility.

---

Holy Land, Mary Geoise

"This latest batch of CP0 recruits is promising. Ever since Mother Carmel mysteriously disappeared and Charlotte Linlin—‘Iron Balloon’—escaped, we haven't found such high-quality candidates."

A CP0 agent wearing a white mask and suit examined the files in his hands.

"Mother Carmel death has already been confirmed," another agent, dressed in black and wearing sunglasses, stated coldly. "Her Devil Fruit ability has manifested in Charlotte Linlin."

The first CP0 agent nodded, then flipped to another file. A photograph of a blonde-haired girl caught his attention.

"This girl's race is quite rare… They say her appearance never changes after she reaches adulthood. The Celestial Dragons are particularly fond of such slaves. Why are they sending her into CP0 instead of keeping her for themselves?"

"Her combat ability is exceptional," the black-suited agent replied. "His Majesty, a Celestial Dragon, personally selected her to infiltrate the Hell Pirates."

Brook had a tendency to recruit strong and talented individuals, so the Holy Rothschild Family saw this as the perfect opportunity. Their goal? Plant a spy in Brook’s crew, gain intelligence, and dismantle the Hell Pirates from within.

"She won’t stand a chance against Brook or Redfield," the CP0 agent scoffed. "Even if she’s stronger than most in her age group and proficient in Rokushiki, she lacks the raw power to fight them."

"A spy doesn't need to win fights," the black-suited agent countered. "She only needs to gather information. That alone is enough."

The CP0 agent sighed, shaking his head. "A waste… With her looks and skills, she would’ve been perfect for the underground intelligence network."

Shifting gears, he pulled up another file.

"The World Pirates have been growing bolder lately. That fool Brynndi World even calls himself the 'World Destroyer.' He’s just another overhyped rookie. Their crew is still recruiting, correct?"

The black-suited agent nodded.

"Good. Send a couple of our agents to infiltrate his crew," the CP0 agent ordered.

Recently, a Celestial Dragon prince had expressed an interest in Brynndi World's Devil Fruit. The agents knew that, should the prince ever demand the fruit, they would need to capture Brynndi World immediately.

"One more thing," the black-suited agent added. "Gol D. Roger. Although we erased the ‘D’ from his wanted poster, he’s still searching for Poneglyphs. We must monitor him closely."

"The Five Elders have issued two absolute orders:

1. Find the Nika Fruit.

2. Ensure no one learns the truth of the Poneglyphs."

"Understood!"

"Lastly, the Rocks Pirates are growing too quickly. Rocks D. Xebec is a D. He must be contained."

"Understood! We’ll deploy CP agents to join various pirate crews and infiltrate his ranks."

---

Grand Line – Pruett Island

"Roger, we need to enter the New World already. The Grand Line is swarming with Marine fortresses!"

The Roger Pirates had just survived another Naval pursuit, this time led by a Vice Admiral. Every few days, they found themselves fighting or running from the Marine fortresses.

Even Rayleigh and Gaban were beginning to feel worn down.

"Yeah, this isn’t sustainable. Let’s head to Sabaody Archipelago and coat the ship for the New World," Roger agreed.

Rayleigh frowned. "That won’t work. Because of Brook killing a Celestial Dragon, an Admiral is currently purging Sabaody! We can’t go there now!"

Roger sighed but then grinned. "Brook really doesn’t care about rules, huh? Killing a Celestial Dragon… that’s a crime worse than my Poneglyph research!"

Rayleigh smirked but remained thoughtful. He had long suspected that Brook had connections to the World Economic News Agency. From the Den Den Mushi messages Roger received to how the newspapers spun Brook’s actions, the connection was undeniable.

Even Moore’s News Seagulls seemed to favor Brook, subtly whitewashing his reputation.

"Senior Brook is insane!" Roger laughed. "He’ll pick a fight with the entire World Government if it means protecting his crew!"

"Less talking, more running!" Rayleigh suddenly shouted.

"That damn Vice Admiral Mad Dog is chasing us again!"

A Marine dog-head battleship appeared on the horizon, relentlessly pursuing them.

"This guy’s stronger than you, Roger," Rayleigh grumbled.

Roger just laughed, gripping his sword.

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Chapter Text

Later, Rayleigh asked in the group again about training in Observation Haki, offering a Devil Fruit as a reward.

To his surprise, that senior actually provided the method, making Rayleigh overjoyed. He couldn’t understand why that person trusted him so much—wasn’t he afraid Rayleigh wouldn’t fulfill his promise?

Of course, Brook believed in Roger and Rayleigh, two people with the potential for Conqueror’s Haki. Besides, the Roger Pirates hardly ever ate Devil Fruits!

Brook had the method to awaken both Armament and Observation Haki right at his fingertips, so he figured he might as well trade it in advance. In doing so, he could earn the Roger Pirates' respect and secure a Devil Fruit as a reward.

With this knowledge, the Roger Pirates’ strength grew rapidly, allowing them to escape Vice admiral "Mad Dog" multiple times. That Vice Admiral Armament Haki was absurdly strong, and his mastery of Navy combat techniques—like the Six Powers—was formidable!

And now, it seemed the mad dog had become obsessed with chasing them down, sticking to Roger's crew like glue, which was starting to seriously annoy Roger and Rayleigh.

---

Aboard the Golden Ship, Erebus

After a grand banquet to celebrate his joining, Newgate quickly became part of the Hell Pirates. The crew here didn’t care about wealth—they focused entirely on strengthening themselves.

But every time Newgate saw the golden decorations covering the ship’s walls, he almost couldn't help himself from prying some off and sending them back home.

"Newgate, you can’t keep supporting your hometown like this forever," Brook said, noticing his new crewmate’s dilemma. "As the saying goes, it's better to teach a man to fish than to just give him a fish. Let’s plant our flag on Sphinx Island and teach them martial arts and Haki so they can grow stronger on their own.

"Otherwise, if you keep carrying them by yourself, they’ll only grow weaker and weaker."

Brook had seen it firsthand—Whitebeard might have been one of the strongest in the world, but his logistical and strategic management was a mess.

Even Kaido had military factories and scientific research units. Even Big Mom invested in scientists like Caesar. But the Whitebeard Pirates? They just drank and fought all day without even a proper base!

"I get it, Captain Brook!"

Newgate had never really thought about how to strengthen his home. He’d only ever wanted to protect it himself, keeping the islanders safe and at peace.

As an orphan who set out to sea at a young age, he had never been educated in things like sustainable development or how to make his people truly strong.

Now, with Brook’s advice, he finally began to consider it.

"Come on, let’s train!"

Brook had just discovered a new ability—one that had always existed within him but had now fully awakened.

"I heard that a lot of the captain’s abilities target the soul directly. They're impossible to guard against. Looks like I’ll get to see it firsthand!"

Newgate activated his Tremor-Tremor Fruit, his hands glowing with white energy, and faced Brook with battle-ready excitement.

"Yohoho! Calm down, this move isn’t all that powerful yet. It shouldn’t be able to hurt you!"

Brook spoke casually as the rest of the crew gathered around. They still vividly remembered when his soul-music technique knocked several of them unconscious—what would he come up with this time?

"The Grim Reaper rises! The gates of the Underworld open! The path to Hell is revealed!"

As Brook’s voice rang out, a massive, spectral Grim Reaper materialized behind him, looming over everyone. Suddenly, its torso split open, revealing a dark green portal.

Beyond it, a long, eerie road stretched into the void—the legendary path to the Underworld.

"This is horrifying! Captain Brook, did you just open the gates of hell?!"

Shakky took an unconscious step back, letting Redfield stand in front of her. She eyed Brook warily, her voice loud with shock.

"Haha, maybe!" Brook laughed. "Come forth, my ghost army!"

The crew watched in suspense… only for a handful of green spirits to float out.

"...That's not exactly an army, Captain."

Then, suddenly—

"Wait a minute!" Shakky pointed at one of the ghosts. "That looks like White Peizhen, the president of the Peace Dove News Agency!"

"What?! That’s the trafficker who kidnapped me!"

Antonio also pointed, recognizing one of the spirits as the infamous slave ship captain, Disco.

"And that one—he’s Poison Smoke Sarin! The guy who got killed at that bar in Sabaody!"

One by one, they identified spirits from Brook’s past encounters.

"Captain Brook… does this mean all the enemies you’ve killed are still lingering as spirits?"

A chill ran down Shakky’s spine as she half-hid behind Redfield, peeking out at the ghosts with wide eyes.

"It seems that only those with strong wills appear clearly," Brook muttered. He could see fainter, blurrier ghosts in the background—likely just nameless minions he had defeated.

"Does this mean Captain Brook can actually command ghosts to fight? Does that mean… ghosts are real???"

Shakky felt her entire worldview shattering. If ghosts truly existed, then what about all those horror stories? Were there invisible spirits lurking in the toilet? Under the bed? Inside the closets?!

Her own thoughts terrified her. Why don’t any of the other women sleep in my room?

"Nope! Not happening! I’m sleeping with Memory Seahorse tonight!"

Meanwhile, Newgate watched the eerie scene and muttered, "Gurarara … If you become Captain Brook’s enemy, you won’t even get the chance to be reincarnated."

He clenched his fists. Could his Tremor-Tremor Fruit even affect these things? If physical attacks were useless, how could he fight them?

"Alright, let's see what these ghosts can really do!"

Brook commanded the green-eyed, expressionless ghosts to rush toward Newgate.

Newgate, fully alert, swung a massive fist at the first ghost—only for it to pass right through.

There was no impact. No resistance. The ghost simply slipped through him like mist and continued forward.

No pain. No sensation.

Instead…

"Wait a second," Newgate muttered. "Why do I feel cold?"

At first, it seemed like nothing was happening. But then, as the ghosts continued their attacks, he started to feel sluggish.

His blood ran cold. His limbs felt heavier. His reactions dulled.

"Uh, Captain Brook… maybe this is just a psychological attack?"

Shakky offered, trying to ease the awkward silence.

"No! They’re actually draining my blood and energy!"

Newgate quickly retreated, rubbing his arms. The longer he stayed near those spirits, the more drained he felt.

This wasn’t just an illusion.

It was real.

Brook's ghosts could weaken and sap the life force from anyone they touched.

A terrifying ability.

And it was only the beginning.

----

Seeing Newgate’s reaction, Shakky wisely shut her mouth, not wanting to be dragged into another one of the captain’s experiments!

"Captain Brook, I feel like they’re constantly draining my energy and blood!"

Although the effect wasn’t strong at first, Newgate could feel his body gradually growing uncomfortable. His physical fitness was incredibly powerful, his blood full of vitality, and his stamina nearly endless—yet even he was feeling the toll.

"Is that so? Then it’s not useless after all! Either these ghosts are too weak... or Newgate is just too damn strong!"

Brook turned his gaze toward the rookies on the ship. If weak ghosts weren’t effective on monsters like Newgate, maybe they would be on someone else...

“The weather’s changing! I have to check it out!” Shakky made up an excuse and ran off, clutching her memory seahorse for comfort.

“Captain Brook, the new recruit’s Den Den Mushi is ringing. I’ll go check it!”

Antonio, remembering his horrifying experience with soul music last time, quickly came up with his own excuse and bolted.

“Ahem, Hiruba, didn’t you say you needed a new batch of poisonous bullets?”

The ship’s doctor, Crocus, turned and walked straight to the lab, dragging the sniper Hiruba with him for good measure.

"Yeah, yeah! Brother Crocus, you’re the best!"

“Don’t look at me, Captain. I’m steering the ship!”

The fish-man Tom flatly refused Brook’s gaze. He wasn’t about to be used as a test subject!

"Tch, you cowards. Fine! I’ll pick the most qualified candidate… Tiger! I believe in your abilities. Let’s see your progress today!"

Brook grinned as he set his sights on Tiger, the inexperienced trainee crew member.

"No problem, Captain! I’m strong! These little ghosts can’t do anything to me!"

Tiger puffed up his chest with pride. Getting acknowledged by Captain Brook? That was a huge deal! He’d definitely become a top-tier fighter like big bro Redfield in the future—and surpass Uncle Tom, too!

"That’s the spirit! You need that fearless attitude. I believe you’ll become an official crew member in no time!"

Brook nodded in approval before commanding the ghosts to charge. Meanwhile, the crew members who had just run off suddenly reappeared, eager to watch the show.

“Haha! Bring it on, you little ghosts! I’ll awaken Conqueror’s Haki one day—no way am I scared of some ghosts!”

Tiger threw a punch, using Fish-Man Karate—but just like with Newgate, it was useless. The ghosts phased right through him and began attacking his body. Tom shook his head, while the others started betting on how long Tiger would last.

"This is nothing! Brother Newgate, you were making a big deal out of—"

Before Tiger could finish, he shuddered. The cold was getting worse. His lips turned blue, his fingers numbed, and his limbs stiffened. The ghosts clung to him relentlessly, sapping his strength. He tried to shake them off but failed.

"Captain Brook—stop! Stop, stop, stop! I-I can’t take it anymore!"

Tiger shivered uncontrollably, his face pale. He staggered toward Brook, his legs wobbling.

"Crocus, check him!"

Brook was pleased. So the ghosts’ death energy drained vitality, making the target weaker over time. If he strengthened them and increased their numbers, he could weaken entire armies before a battle even began!

"It’s nothing serious. He’s just exhausted—like he just recovered from a serious illness. A few days of rest will fix him."

Crocus examined Tiger and confirmed that, while he looked like a worn-out rag, he’d be fine.

"Captain Brook… g-gimme a Song of Conquering Heaven… I’m too weak to stand…"

Tiger hung his head in defeat. If he had known this would happen, he wouldn’t have talked so big earlier! Now he looked like a fool!

"Perfect! I was hoping to hear Captain Brook’s soul music again!"

Newgate grinned, and Brook—who had been planning to let Tiger suffer a little longer—sighed and pulled out his violin. As he played, a powerful, uplifting tune filled the air, rejuvenating the crew.

"I’m not afraid of ghosts anymore! I can totally sleep alone tonight! No ghosts under the bed, none in the closet—right?!"

Shakky muttered to herself, hyping herself up and completely forgetting that she still had Yin Ghost for company.

"This music makes me wanna go find someone to fight!"

Newgate cracked his knuckles, grinning with excitement. He never thought music could have this kind of effect!

---

Time passed in training and battles, and the golden ship continued flying toward Charlotte Linlin’s territory.

Meanwhile, Admiral Coss Davo had entered the New World via the official route through the Red Line. His first stop: the classified scientific research island, Punk Hazard, where he resupplied and received new mission orders, along with a stockpile of rare materials.

The island was packed with scientists, each conducting their own bizarre experiments. Being in the New World made it easier to obtain rare test subjects—both creatures and humans.

"These World Government projects are ridiculous! They’re asking for the impossible!"

A young scientist groaned as he reviewed the new research topics:

Methods to cross the Calm Belt

Devil Fruit extraction and replication

Artificial lifeforms and enhanced soldiers

Even legendary materials like Pure Gold were on the list

Every scientist had to pick a project to work on.

"I specialize in guns, cannons, and explosives! Why aren’t there any weapons projects this year?"

"I worked on robots back home. Do those count as artificial soldiers?"

"My focus is organ transplants across different species!"

"What about you, man? What’s your specialty?"

"I’m amazing at… being experimented on!"

A bald researcher in a white coat grinned proudly. Not only was he a weapons inventor, but his freakish vitality and insane creativity made him a prime subject for experiments. His latest invention, [Troublesome Wind: Three Thousand Lives of You], had already gained recognition from his peers, inspiring several new research ideas.

Admiral Coss Davo had no patience for these lunatic scientists. He left the island with his troops, pushing deeper into the New World in pursuit of the Hell Pirates.

Since the World Government’s intelligence network struggled in the New World, even the Navy Headquarters had resorted to forming secret partnerships with underground information brokers.

Nowadays, much of the Navy’s intel came directly from the dark underworld, with only a fraction of reports coming from CP agents.

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Chapter Text

Broccoli Island was only two days away from the island where the Sheep House was located. This was the second time Streusen and Charlotte Linlin had landed here.

In the future, the island where the Sheep House stood would be transformed by Charlotte Linlin into Cake Island, the heart of Totland.

After Luffy defeated Doflamingo, the loss of underground weapon supplies led to a rebellion that overthrew the government on Broccoli Island. Desperate, the king spent a fortune hiring Germa 66 mercenaries, who crushed the rebellion in just four hours. Even after that, the kingdom remained wealthy and resourceful.

---

“Linlin, I heard Brook’s ship is a golden flying ship! That has to be incredible!”

Ever since Streusen adjusted his plans, he had been collecting detailed information on the Hell Pirates. Their strength was impressive, but what truly caught his eye was the golden ship. If Brook wasn’t planning to steal Linlin away from him, then that ship would be the perfect treasure!

“A flying ship? Hah! My Zeus can fly too!”

Charlotte Linlin grinned, patting the fluffy Thundercloud Homie Zeus. However, as a Homie made from her own soul, Zeus was completely loyal to Linlin. Even Streusen wasn’t allowed to ride it—if he tried, the white clouds would turn into dark storm clouds, crackling with lightning!

“The key thing isn’t flying—it’s gold. Do you know how filthy rich someone has to be to build a flying ship entirely out of gold?”

Streusen licked his lips. After ten years of looting, he and Linlin had accumulated mountains of gold and silver, but they’d never been wasteful enough to build a whole ship out of gold. That was far too extravagant. If they weren’t strong enough to protect it, they’d be torn apart by every pirate in the New World!

“Hahaha! Then I won’t have to worry about money for desserts anymore!”

Charlotte Linlin’s eyes gleamed. It was no secret that money never lasted long in her hands—she spent it as fast as she stole it.

Hearing this, Streusen heart clenched, but he forced a smile.

“Exactly! From now on, you can just ask Brook for money!”

This is perfect. Once Linlin starts relying on Brook for money, she’ll naturally stick to his side. But if I secretly tell Brook about that... incident—the one where Linlin ate... people—he’ll definitely see her as a monster.

After witnessing her true nature, he might even kick us off his ship!

And even if he doesn’t throw her out, Brook will at least start to distrust her. Nobody wants a crew member who eats humans and loses control when she’s hungry! That alone should be enough to put distance between them!

“Alright, I get it! But I’ll still steal things for Brook every now and then as a thank-you!”

Charlotte Linlin laughed. She had no idea what kind of plan Streusen was cooking up in his head.

---

Landing on Broccoli Island

Back on the island, the first priority was feeding Linlin.

Although Streusen Cook-Cook Fruit could create food, Linlin didn’t enjoy eating things made from Devil Fruit powers. She only ate them when there was no other choice. Normally, she preferred real food—though most of the time, she didn't pay for it.

Sometimes they paid for meals, but more often, they robbed the restaurant outright. Anyone who tried to resist was crippled or worse.

This was how Streusen molded Linlin into a ruthless pirate, shaping her into the terrifying Big Mom of the future.

“Look, Streusen! There’s a little giant over there, and he’s taller than me!”

Linlin pointed excitedly at a scar-covered giant carrying a massive sword. The man stood about 12 meters tall, towering over most humans, and his presence alone made it clear he was dangerous.

“It’s her! That damn woman who wrecked my restaurant!”

A restaurant owner clenched his fists in rage. When he shouted, more people turned to glare at Charlotte Linlin and Streusen—including the giant swordsman himself.

---

This was Giant Slayer "Gigant", a notorious bounty hunter in the New World.

He had taken down over a hundred pirates, including notorious rookie and big-name captains with bounties exceeding 300 million!

“Master Gigant, that’s her! Kill her!!”

The restaurant owners shouted desperately. They weren’t the only ones after revenge—several other bounty hunters began surrounding Linlin and Streusen as well.

CLANG!

Gigant rested his sword on his shoulder, eyes cold as he studied Linlin.

“You… are Charlotte Linlin? The one who destroyed a warrior village in Elbaf ten years ago?”

His voice carried the weight of history. Linlin had killed one of Elbaf’s greatest heroes, Jorul, when she lost control of herself.

And now, standing before her was a man with giant blood—a man who despised her for it.

Linlin, however, lit up with excitement.

She loved being around people her size or bigger—that’s why she would later fund Caesar’s gigantification experiments and try so hard to befriend giants.

But before Linlin could respond—

BOOM!

Gigant charged, swinging his massive sword with a force that shattered the ground beneath him!

“DAMN IT—”

Streusen ran for his life without hesitation. This kind of fight was for Linlin—not him!

---

Charlotte Linlin vs. Giant Slayer Gigant

BAM!!

The giant blade came crashing down—only to stop against Linlin’s raised arm.

She didn’t even use Haki—just her raw steel-balloon physique to block the attack!

“I didn’t mean to kill Grandpa Jorul!”

Her expression shifted. Her eyes reddened as painful memories surfaced.

Sensing his master’s emotions, Prometheus blazed furiously, unleashing a wave of flames toward Gigant.

At the same time, Zeus darkened and let out a barrage of lightning, striking down nearby bounty hunters in a storm of thunder!

From a safe distance, Streusen grinned cruelly.

These fools have no idea what they’re up against.

Against an enraged Linlin, they were nothing more than insects waiting to be crushed.

---

CRACK!!

Gigant was sent flying by Linlin’s monstrous strength!

He coughed, quickly reinforcing his body with Armament Haki to withstand Prometheus’ flames.

“How the hell is a runt-sized giant stronger than me!?”

His voice was filled with disbelief.

Strength was the greatest pride of the giant race—yet he was overpowered by someone shorter than him!

Linlin stared at him, hurt and confused.

“I just want to be friends with the giants… So why do you all hate me so much?”

Her voice was filled with genuine pain.

She couldn’t understand why every giant she met wanted to fight her.

But for Gigant, the answer was simple:

She was a monster.

----

The Giant Slayer, Gigant, became furious when he saw Charlotte Linlin still acting pitiful. With her monstrous strength and Devil Fruit abilities, why was she pretending to be weak?

"You will always be the enemy of the giants! It was you who killed Elder Jorul! The giants will never forgive you!"

Giant Sword swung his massive iron blade again and again, unleashing a relentless barrage of attacks. His terrifying power and remarkable speed were what made him a renowned bounty hunter in the New World.

However, being a half-giant born outside of Elbaf, he never learned the giants' legendary techniques—Elbaf Spear and Hakoku Sovereignty.

Despite that, he had risen to fame purely through his natural giant strength and relentless training, capturing over a hundred high-bounty pirates in the New World. The criminals he hunted weren’t weaklings worth just a few million or tens of millions of berries—they were major threats. If it weren’t for the enormous food costs of being a half-giant, he could have saved billions in bounty money by now.

Among all half-giants, he was one of the most hardworking and wealthiest.

"No!! I want to create a country where all races can live together in peace! How could there be no giants in my dream?!"

Hearing how much the giants despised her, Charlotte Linlin's anger erupted. Her eyes turned blood-red, and her aura grew even more violent.

The sun Homie, Prometheus, had already reduced the weaker bounty hunters to ashes or sent them running for their lives. The thundercloud Zeus unleashed a barrage of lightning at Gigant, forcing him to keep dodging.

Linlin, enraged, decided she wouldn't let this little giant slander her any longer.

He's not even a real giant! What right does he have to speak for them?!

With a roar, she swung her massive iron fists, clashing against the Giant Slayer’s blade. Each impact sent shockwaves through the air, producing loud metallic clangs and even sparks!

Streusen watched from the sidelines, his expression amused and cruel. He casually caught a flying piece of rubble, then used his Cook-Cook Fruit ability to transform it into a handful of cherries, munching on them as he enjoyed the spectacle.

Then, with a resounding CRACK!, Charlotte Linlin shattered Gigant's massive iron blade with her bare hands.

Realizing he was completely outmatched, Gigant's immediately turned to retreat.

But Charlotte Linlin wasn’t about to let him go. Zeus and Prometheus intensified their attacks, striking him from three directions at once. Thunder and flames rained down upon him, leaving him no room to escape!

As the battle raged on, it spread through the streets of Broccoli Island. Everywhere Linlin passed, buildings collapsed in her wake, engulfed in fire and lightning.

Was this bounty hunter here to catch a pirate, or did he just lead one into their city to destroy it?!

Business owners and civilians wailed in despair. Their properties—years of hard work—had been obliterated. Some had no idea how they’d explain this disaster to the real bosses of the island—the underground forces backing them.

Streusen trailed behind Linlin as she pursued Gigant, witnessing the chaos firsthand. The battle had started on East Street and raged all the way through West Street, leaving the island in flames.

Never anger Charlotte Linlin.

Watching her devastation unfold, Streusen felt a cold sweat on his back. He recalled the few times she had given him that murderous look—it was like walking on the edge of death itself!

---

At the Coast of Broccoli Island

Desperate, Gigant dove into the sea in a last-ditch attempt to escape.

Zeus rumbled furiously, still electrocuting the water, while Charlotte Linlin prepared to mount the thundercloud and chase him across the sea.

"Linlin! Stop chasing him! Have you forgotten why we're here?! We need to find Brook!" Streusen shouted, rushing to stop her.

If she charged off into the sea alone, she might get lost and never return. More importantly, Streusen was beginning to feel uneasy. Linlin’s power had grown beyond control—if the giants really did send an army after her, wouldn’t he get caught in the crossfire?!

Linlin might survive such an attack, but he sure as hell wouldn’t! He wasn’t a fighter—his talents lay elsewhere.

Hearing Streusen words, Linlin’s red, frenzied eyes gradually returned to normal. Prometheus shrank down into a cute little sun, resembling a yellow cake, while Zeus reverted to a harmless-looking white cloud.

“Streusen he said the giants would never forgive me. What should I do?! I really, really want to be friends with them!” Linlin asked, her voice laced with sadness.

"Don't worry! You still have me—and soon, you’ll have Brook too!" Streusen reassured her.

That was another reason why he wanted to join a strong pirate crew. If the giants really did send warriors after Linlin, he needed a way to survive.

From the distant sea, plumes of thick black smoke rose from Broccoli Island, signaling to nearby ships that chaos had erupted.

The weaker pirate crews, seeing the destruction, immediately turned their ships around. No one wanted to get caught in a fight between a rampaging pirate and a bounty hunter—especially not when that pirate was Charlotte Linlin.

---

Above the Skies, Aboard the Golden flying ship "Erebus"

"Captain Brook! The Den Den Mushi signal is getting closer! That smoking island up ahead—looks like that’s where our new crewmate is!" Antonio reported.

The Den Den Mushi they had been using to track Linlin had grown increasingly stable, making their communication more reliable than ever. Seeing this, Brook was preparing to distribute the rest of the Den Den Mushi to the crew.

But there was one problem: How could he plant the Den Den Mushi on pirate and navy ships "naturally"?

Sending them out via Seagull Newsbirds was one option, but if the recipients killed the Den Den Mushi on sight, it would be a massive waste of resources.

Antonio had spent a lot of time breeding these Den Den Mushi—it would be a shame if they were destroyed before serving their purpose. But at the same time, simply hoarding them forever wasn’t an option either.

Brook pondered for a moment.

Perhaps… Moore Thomas could arrange a promotional newspaper campaign?

A lottery-style giveaway could be the perfect method.

Newspapers would come with random numbered tickets, and anyone—pirates, marines, revolutionaries—could cut out and keep their numbers.

The winning numbers would be published in the next issue, and lucky winners could redeem their prizes from the Seagull Newsbirds when purchasing their next paper.

On the third day, the winners would receive their own Den Den Mushi, delivered discreetly.

Brook grinned.

It was a brilliant plan. Even though it had a few risks, the success rate would be high. Plus, it might even increase newspaper sales, further expanding the influence of the Economic News Agency!

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Chapter Text

Under Brook’s instructions, Moore Thomas arranged for seagulls to deliver newspapers to specific pirate crews and navy officers, ensuring that the lottery numbers for the contest were predetermined.

This way, they could choose the "winners" and openly send out the spy Den Den Mushi without arousing suspicion. Even if these snails didn’t end up in the hands of high-ranking individuals, their location and any overheard information could still be tracked.

With this, there would be no need for the seagulls to monitor locations directly, making it much harder for targets to detect the surveillance.

Brook immediately tasked Moore Thomas with investigating senior navy figures—admirals, vice admirals, and high-ranking officers—focusing on those who frequently set sail. These officers would be the priority "winners."

As for the pirate crews, any bounty over 500 million berries—unless they were specifically marked as exceptions by Brook—would also be eligible "winners."

With this system in place, the Hell Pirates would never have to worry about sneak attacks from major figures. Instead, they could turn the tables, strike first, and dictate the battlefield.

Brook wrote down his plan, and Moore Thomas fine-tuned the details. Their ultimate goal? To spread the spy Den Den Mushi far and wide.

Moore Thomas also prepared a special batch of trained seagulls that would “pick up” packages from the Erebus. From here, the spy Den Den Mushi would be discreetly delivered to the world!

The World Economic News Agency found the idea innovative—it was sure to boost newspaper sales and public interest. Since Brook was providing the prizes, they wasted no time perfecting the rules and launching the campaign.

---

Broccoli Island

"Streusen, let’s go. This island is in ruins—not exactly the best place to meet Brook for the first time!"

Charlotte Linlin surveyed the burning wreckage, completely unfazed that she was the one who caused the destruction.

"I understand, Linlin!" Streusen sighed, pursing his lips. The entire city was a smoldering disaster. There was no chance to collect any treasure, and flames consumed the streets.

The two boarded their pirate ship and set sail, leaving the residents of Broccoli Island terrified and broken.

This time, the devastation was even worse than before. Some shopkeepers regretted ever tipping off those incompetent bounty hunters. Meanwhile, the lucky ones on the northwest market street breathed a sigh of relief—their district was untouched.

Since the nation controlling this island was not a World Government affiliate, they couldn’t even request naval intervention. They had no choice but to suffer at the hands of powerful pirates.

In the New World, countries had three choices:

1. Seek protection from an influential pirate crew.

2. Rely on a powerful national army.

3. Hire mercenaries, bounty hunters, or assassin organizations to maintain some level of order.

Even when factoring in the rebuilding costs after pirate attacks, it was still cheaper than paying the Heavenly Tribute to the World Government.

Some World Government-aligned nations, like those controlled by Kaido, had to wage wars every year just to loot enough Heavenly Tribute to remain compliant. Even the victorious nations struggled under the burden.

One kingdom was so desperate to keep its seat at the World Summit that it considered selling Kaido himself to the navy! That alone showed how outrageous the World Government’s financial demands were.

---

"Captain Brook, the new members are heading westward! Their ship isn’t moving too fast—we can catch up in under an hour!"

Antonio, monitoring the Den Den Mushi tracker, relayed the latest update.

"Good. Full speed ahead!"

Brook ordered Redfield to increase the ship’s lightning speed, while Fishman Tom strengthened the wind propulsion. Meanwhile, Brook and Memory Seahorse strategized on how to subdue Streusen as quickly as possible while guiding Charlotte Lingling onto the right path.

Brook also asked ship doctor Crocus for two Smoke-Shells, handing one to Memory Seahorse and keeping the other for himself.

The goal? Take down Streusen instantly—without triggering a fight.

Linlin didn’t know many of Streusen secrets, nor did Brook’s own crew, so oncevStreusen was dealt with, he’d simply be treated as a new recruit.

The Erebus picked up speed, quickly closing the distance.

---

Encounter on the Seas

Streusen sharp eyes caught sight of the golden flying ship approaching from the sky. His greedy instincts kicked in immediately.

Such a luxurious ship... If only I could control it!

"Linlin! That golden ship... That must be Brooke’s crew!" Streusen tried to mask his excitement as he spoke.

Charlotte Lingling leaped onto Thundercloud Zeus, ready to fly up.

However, before Brook could reach them, he took the initiative—soaring ahead on his Kirin Lion. Memory Seahorse followed closely behind, playing the role of an innocent pet as it slowly inched closer to Streusen.

Brook landed gracefully on the pirate ship, facing the towering Charlotte Linlin and the much shorter Streusen.

"You must be Linlin, right? Sister Carmel told me all about you~!"

Brook’s words immediately grabbed Charlotte Linlin’s ’s attention. Memory Seahorse pretended to look around curiously, all the while getting closer to Streusen.

"You’re Brook? Mother Carmel used to tell me stories about you!" Linlin ’s excitement grew, but her eyes soon shifted to the pink seahorse.

"Is this seahorse some kind of rare species?"

Linlin had a habit of collecting unique creatures. In the future, she’d even use the Book-Book Fruit to create a zoo-library of exotic animals.

Brook chuckled, waving a hand dismissively.

"Oh, nothing special—just an ordinary seahorse! Don’t worry about him."

Streusen, however, remained on high alert. He knew Carmel’s secrets better than anyone. How much did Brook really know?

"Linlin, let’s head to the golden ship! I can’t wait to join this big family!"

Charlotte Linlin beamed, already hopping onto Zeus.

"No problem, let’s go!"

Brook strummed his guitar, his melody laced with hidden power. Streusen mind briefly fogged over.

Before he could react, Memory Seahorse casually sprayed him with a Smoke-Shell—and that was the last thing Streusen remembered before collapsing into unconsciousness.

Damn it... I let my guard down?

As darkness consumed him, his final thought was: Linlin will definitely save me...

The Memory Seahorse coiled its tail around Streusen, dragging him against the wall and beginning its memory feast. Over time, it had grown over a meter long, and now, it wrapped itself around the 1.4-meter-tall Streusen, making it look like they were cuddling like best friends.

Meanwhile, Charlotte Linlin finally noticed something was off.

"Hey, why is your pet seahorse so interested in Streusen?"

Brook, still riding his Kirin Lion, smoothly deflected her curiosity.

"Oh, nothing to worry about! The Seahorse loves making new friends— I’m sure they’ll get along great!"

Charlotte Linlin laughed heartily, easily convinced.

"That’s great! I think we can all be good friends!"

And with that, she soared onto the Erebus, completely unaware of what was happening behind her.

----

The golden flying ship swiftly moved above the pirate ship. Brook, riding on the Kirin Lion, guided Charlotte Linlin, who was flying atop Thundercloud Zeus, onto the Erebus.

The moment Charlotte Linlin stepped onto the ship, her eyes lit up upon seeing Edward Newgate, another giant-sized individual. She was immediately delighted—finally, someone of a similar size!

"I hope he’s not one of those weaklings whose back breaks from a hug or whose bones shatter from a handshake!"

“Wow~! She's even a little taller than Newgate!!”

Shakky looked up at the towering giant girl, who wore a cowboy hat, a pink-spotted shirt, and slim jeans. Her proportions were striking—even more balanced than Shakky’s own.

“Hello, everyone! I'm Charlotte Linlin! My dream is to make lots of friends and build a country where all races can live in peace!”

Excitedly, Charlotte Linlin leaped from Zeus onto the Erebus, eagerly introducing herself to each new companion.

"Linlin is really strong, so be careful when shaking hands. You might want to use Armament Haki... or just nod instead."

Brook mainly said this to warn Antonio, the weakest among them, so he wouldn’t end up getting crushed by one of Linlin’s handshakes.

However, his words only piqued the curiosity of Tiger. As a Fish-Man, his grip strength was more than ten times that of a human—there was no way just shaking hands could hurt him!

As if to prove it, Charlotte Linlin extended her hand toward Newgate first.

Naturally, Newgate didn’t believe Brook’s warning. After all, he was famous for his own monstrous strength—a man who could stop a ship with one hand!

As he clasped Linlin’s hand, he immediately felt the incredible power behind her grip. She was no ordinary brute—her strength rivaled his own!

Linlin’s eyes sparkled with joy as she held Newgate’s hand tightly. From now on, they were family.

A massive shockwave erupted from their handshake. To anyone unaware, it would seem like a battle had broken out!

The sheer force of their grip sent a strong gust through the ship. Redfield’s noble coat flared in the wind, and his face showed subtle surprise.

"Another incredibly strong member has joined us... How long can I hold onto my title as the strongest Crew?"

He had already witnessed Newgate’s monstrous talent and Tremor-Tremor Fruit abilities and knew it was only a matter of time before the young Whitebeard reached his level.

Meanwhile, Shakky and the others were utterly stunned.

"What the hell?!"

The shockwave from a mere handshake was equal to the full-power kicks of some of the crew!

Tiger, who had initially planned to test Linlin’s grip strength, quietly swallowed his pride and hid his hands behind his back.

"Yeah… maybe just eye contact and a verbal greeting is enough for meeting new crewmates…"

"Linlin, be careful when shaking hands from now on. Just say hello instead!"

Brook reminded her before things got out of hand. If she had shaken hands with someone like Antonio or Shakky, their hands would have been crushed for sure.

"Oh~! Sorry, sorry! I forgot! Are you okay?"

Linlin quickly turned to Newgate, genuinely worried. She knew her strength often caused accidents—ever since she was five, she had knocked out giant bears and actual giants without meaning to.

"I'm fine," Newgate chuckled. "But you're really strong. You should be careful with your grip, especially with the weaker crewmates."

Linlin nodded seriously. "I understand!"

---

"Don't hold back—use your full strength! Show me how strong you really are!"

At that moment, Redfield stepped forward, intrigued.

Linlin tilted her head. “But… you’re so small. I don’t want to hurt you by accident.”

She turned to Brook, seeking advice.

"It's fine. Redfield is incredibly strong. You might not even be able to defeat him yet."

Brook wasn’t sure if Linlin had awakened all three types of Haki. She had no formal training—her strength was entirely natural, combined with the Soul-Soul Fruit, which made her dominate the New World.

“Really? Is Mr. Redfield that strong?”

Linlin had always thought pirates were weak. She never met a real challenger because Streusen purposely avoided powerful territories, steering her only toward small, weak islands.

"Let’s see then!"

Redfield extended his hand, and Linlin clasped it firmly.

The moment they shook hands, Redfield realized something terrifying—her skin was as hard as steel, tougher than even his Armament Haki!

"What kind of monster did the captain recruit?!"

As Redfield increased his Haki and strength, Linlin responded in kind, tightening her grip.

He focused his full strength, but Linlin refused to be outdone—her natural instincts kicked in. Unknowingly, she was on the verge of awakening her Conqueror’s Haki!

Suddenly, crimson lightning crackled from Redfield’s body, a sign of his advanced Conqueror’s Haki!

Zeus, the Thundercloud, started drooling. Seeing the lightning, he immediately floated closer, trying to absorb it like a hungry child.

“Master, I want to eat it!” Zeus whined.

That instantly snapped the crew out of their trance.

A talking cloud?!

“Enough!” Brook cut in before things escalated. He didn’t want their newest members clashing so soon.

---

The crew took turns introducing themselves to Linlin. Most of them avoided handshakes—except for Tom, the Fish-Man, who was confident in his strength.

The others? They opted to hold just one of Linlin’s fingers instead.

"Linlin, is this your pet?"

Shakky curiously pinched Zeus, who had returned to his normal fluffy form.

"Zeus is my combat partner! He can unleash thunder, and Prometheus can spit out fire! Aren’t they awesome?"

Linlin proudly summoned Prometheus, the living sun Homie, showing it off. She had learned this "technique" from Sister Carmel—or so she believed.

“That’s so cool! I want that too!”

Shakky’s eyes sparkled with envy. Brook had already explained Linlin’s Soul-Soul Fruit to the crew, and many of them were intrigued.

"Sure! What do you want to bring to life?"

Linlin could create basic Homies easily, but for intelligent ones, she needed a stronger soul and a lifespan sacrifice.

“Make my Jet Shoes into Homies! That way, I won’t have to control them manually. I want them to fly on their own!”

Shakky pointed at her Air Jet Shoes, which she controlled using toe switches to adjust speed and direction. It was a hassle—her feet often got sore.

“Alright! Leave it to me!”

Linlin grinned, already thinking about the best soul personality for the flying boots.

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Chapter Text

Under the curious gazes of the crew, Charlotte Linlin emitted some golden orbs of light from her palms, infusing them into the air-jet shoes.

Suddenly, the pair of wind-jet shoes sprouted eyes, ears, a mouth, and a nose. They became anthropomorphic, cheering excitedly as they floated and zipped through the air in sync.

"I order you to follow Shakky from now on!"

Linlin chanted a soul-binding spell, making the wind-jet shoes recognize Shakky as their master, obeying her commands. However, as the user of the Soul-Soul Fruit, Linlin still held the highest authority over them, while Shakky was granted secondary control.

The shoes flew to Shakky’s feet, inviting her to put them on. The moment she did, they carried her into the air effortlessly, adjusting altitude, speed, and direction based on her commands.

Antonio, Hiruba, and Crocus' eyes gleamed with interest. It seemed this new crewmate had more to offer than just raw strength. If she could bring objects to life, then their equipment could become far more useful!

Have you ever seen a scallop that can automatically release poison or spray seawater?
Have you ever seen a sniper rifle that can reload and fire on its own?

The possibilities were endless!

Antonio immediately led Linlin to his workshop, enviously eyeing Shakky’s enchanted footwear. Seeing his excitement, Linlin happily infused Antonio’s wind-jet shoes with a soul as well.

Linlin also took a liking to the massive, pink-themed room Antonio had prepared for her, while Hiruba and Crocus were already brainstorming ways to convince her to upgrade their gear.

---

"Oh, I almost forgot! Captain Brook, hurry up and bring Streusen and the Memory Seahorse aboard! We can’t leave them behind!"

Feeling completely welcomed by her new crew, Linlin had almost overlooked her old companion.

"Alright, let's go help Linlin move her stuff!"

Even though Brook knew there was nothing valuable on her ship, he still rallied the crew, encouraging everyone to participate so Linlin could integrate into the group more quickly.

"Everyone’s so nice! I love you all so much!"

Linlin was deeply moved. She hadn't felt this genuinely happy among friends in years.

The golden ship landed beside her old pirate ship, resting on the waves. Linlin excitedly leaped back onto her own ship.

To her surprise, Streusen was lying on a recliner, seemingly asleep, while the Memory Seahorse continued to prance around idly, hiccupping every now and then.

"Streusen, how can you be napping on such an important day?!"

Linlin grabbed Streusen and shook him back and forth vigorously.

Shakky and Antonio broke out in cold sweats. Was she trying to kill him?!

Jolted awake by the forceful shaking, Streusen groggily opened his eyes. He saw a massive female giant towering over him, and his expression immediately twisted in fear.

When?! How did I get captured?!

He distinctly remembered escaping when their pirate crew was defeated. He had run as fast as he could, certain that he had evaded his pursuers. So how did I end up in the hands of these pirates?!

Pain surged through his body as he fully regained consciousness, terror gripping him.

"I surrender! I surrender! Please don’t kill me!"

Still groggy and disoriented, Streusen started flailing in panic.

"What’s wrong with you? Streusen, why would I kill you?"

Linlin was confused by his reaction, but realizing she might have been too rough, she carefully placed him back on the deck.

"Please, spare me! I’ll do anything! I’m a great chef! I can cook, I swear!"

Streusen dropped to his knees, still pleading. His mind was a mess, but at least these people didn’t seem to be the pirates who had originally attacked him.

"Streusen, are you an idiot? It’s me! Linlin!"

Linlin frowned, frustrated with his bizarre behavior. He had been resisting her decision to join Brook all this time, and now he was acting like a frightened rabbit.

The other crew members, who knew about the Memory Seahorse, exchanged knowing looks.

Was this Captain Brook’s doing?

"Linlin, does your friend not want to join the Hell Pirates?"

Brook asked in a ‘concerned’ voice, eyeing the confused and frightened Streusen.

"Uh..."

Linlin hesitated. She didn’t actually know what Streusen wanted. He had always been against her joining Brook’s crew, but now…

"My lord, please! I’m willing to join! Really, I swear!"

Streusen quickly changed his tune after glancing at the intimidating pirates surrounding him. That golden ship alone was enough to convince him—joining such a powerful crew was his best shot at survival.

"Streusen, what are you talking about? We were already planning to join Brook!"

Linlin picked him up again, this time holding him at eye level as she spoke seriously.

"Yes! Yes! I understand now! Of course, we’re joining! That’s exactly what I meant!"

Streusen immediately went along with her words. If he had any doubts before, they were gone now—resisting was not an option.

"That’s great! You finally came around! But from now on, no badmouthing Brook!"

Linlin’s words made Streusen shudder. Badmouth Brook?

When did I do that?!

But he wisely chose to nod along, not questioning it further.

The Hell Pirates' crew discreetly glanced at Brook and the Memory Seahorse once more.

So, this was Captain Brook’s response to badmouthing him? Did he erase Streusen’s memories?

Is Captain Brook really that petty?

Maybe we should be more careful about what we say from now on…

Some of them made a mental note to compliment the captain more often. Yes, praising the captain sounded like a very safe idea!

"Everyone, don’t overthink it," Brook said smoothly. "Streusen is our crewmate now. The past is in the past. Just make sure you don’t get any weird ideas about Linlin in the future!"

Brook’s words made Shakky and the others immediately realize what had happened. Streusen must have had inappropriate thoughts about Linlin, so Brook had the Memory Seahorse erase those memories!

Tiger and Newgate, who had joined the crew later, were still clueless about the Memory Seahorse’s ability. They exchanged confused glances, unable to follow what was going on.

Meanwhile, Streusen let out a silent sigh of relief. At least I managed to save my life… But what did he mean?

Me? Having feelings for that terrifying female giant? Impossible!

I’m barely 1.4 meters tall! How could I be interested in an 8-meter-tall monster with enough strength to nearly kill me?!

But he wisely kept his mouth shut.

"I’ll be a dedicated chef from now on! I’ll make delicious food for everyone!"

Streusen immediately declared, trying to prove his value. He had survived… and now, he just needed to stay useful!

----

After moving Charlotte Linlin's belongings onto the Erebus, Streusen followed as well, stepping onto the luxurious golden spaceship.

What kind of pirate crew had he just joined?

Was he dreaming? Streusen pinched his face. Not long ago, the small pirate crew he belonged to had been wiped out. He had barely managed to escape, but now, in the blink of an eye, he had somehow joined this terrifying and extravagant pirate group.

Was this a stroke of luck? And even someone like him, who had just boarded, actually had a private room? Was he a pirate or a tourist?

Back in his old crew, several pirates were crammed into a single, filthy room, sometimes going months without a bath. But here? This was pure luxury—gold decorations, a spacious cabin, and even a golden vase.

"This kind of pirate crew… I never imagined I'd be part of something like this."

Streusen carefully picked up the golden vase, hugging it tightly. Just to be sure, he bit down on it—solid gold. It was real!

"Let's have a party! A feast!"

At Brook’s excited call, Streusen immediately rushed out of his room. As a chef, how could he not contribute to the banquet?

Stepping onto the deck, he was stunned by what he saw—Brook and Antonio had already prepared dishes he had never even seen before. The aromas alone stirred his passion as a chef.

"Today, the Hell Pirates welcome two new crew members! Our core team is nearly complete. From now on, we'll embark on grand adventures, growing stronger until we fear no enemy!"

Brook raised his glass, his eyes filled with excitement. He had successfully recruited three future Four Emperors-level pirates onto his ship. With a lineup like this, he had to push himself to become even stronger—to at least match them, if not surpass them!

"The Hell Pirates are the strongest!!!"

Shakky took the lead, raising her glass with enthusiasm, and the rest of the crew followed.

"Now that we're celebrating, let's take this opportunity to properly introduce ourselves and get to know each other better. We'll all work together to achieve our dreams!"

"Yeah!!!"

The crew erupted with cheers.

The Crew Introduces Themselves

"I'm first!" Shakky grinned. "I'm Shakky, the navigator of the Hell Pirates! My dream? If I'm bragging, I’d say it's to become the world's greatest navigator. But honestly, I just want to find the Devil Fruit the captain mentioned and become a warrior who won’t hold anyone back!"

"I'm Fisher Tiger! Right now, I'm just a trainee crew member, but my dream is to defeat the Celestial Dragons, awaken my Conqueror's Haki, and become an unstoppable warrior—a hero among heroes!"

Nobody scoffed at Tiger’s bold declaration. Even if the odds were slim, at least he had the courage to say it.

Streusen, however, was already breaking into a cold sweat. Did he just say he wanted to defeat the Celestial Dragons?!

"I'm Hiruba, the ship's sniper! My dream is to become the best marksman in the world! Whether it’s a rifle or a pistol, I want to master them all!"

Hiruba’s obsession with firearms was evident—he loved his guns more than anything else.

"Hahaha! I'm Tom, shipwright and helmsman! My dream is to build a sea train for Water 7 and bring prosperity to the islands!"

Tom, a Fish-Man, might not be able to construct Water 7’s infrastructure himself, but he had already drawn up plans. He was determined to make it happen.

"Crocus, ship doctor. My dream? To be able to cure any disease!"

Crocus had set sail not only for adventure but also to study medicine worldwide, improving his skills.

"I'm Antonio, the Hell Pirates' intelligence officer! My dream is to uncover the secrets of all our enemies and help the captain rise to the top!"

Although Antonio was the weakest on board, he never let anyone forget that he was Brook’s first crew member. He wanted respect!

"Gurarara~! I'm Edward Newgate, combatant. My dream is to build a family—a real family!"

Newgate took a swig of sake, smiling. Recently, Brook had been mentoring him in Haki and other combat techniques, which had left him deeply moved.

"I'm Streusen. From now on, I'll be your chef. Please take care of me!"

Having just joined, Streusen was still a little reserved, unsure of his place among these terrifying pirates.

"I'm Charlotte Linlin, and I'll be a combatant from now on! I want to eat lots and lots of desserts and create a country where all races can live in peace!"

Linlin stuffed a cake into her mouth, grinning happily. She could finally enjoy proper banquets with friends again.

"Patrick Redfield, combatant. My goal? To kill the Celestial Dragons and overthrow the World Government."

Redfield's words made Streusen's legs tremble. Another one?!

He had lost some of his memories, so he wasn’t aware that Redfield had already slaughtered a Celestial Dragon. But just hearing that there were two people on this ship who openly declared war on the World Government made him want to jump overboard.

What kind of pirate crew is this?! A gang of lunatics?!

"Hahaha! That’s all great! We’ll help each other fulfill our dreams!" Brook raised his glass, fired up. His ideal crew had taken shape. After a period of training, they might even be ready to contend for dominance in the New World!

Would the Rocks Pirates still manage to become the undisputed overlords of the seas in this era?

With the Hell Pirates rising, Roger's crew had started training their Haki earlier than expected, preparing to enter the New World. The Flying Pirates had not been absorbed into the Rocks Pirates.

Newgate, Linlin, and other terrifying figures had not joined Rocks this time around. Could Rocks still unify the New World?

"The Hell Pirates will become the strongest crew! Let’s go for it!!!"

Hearing Brook's declaration, Shakky was filled with confidence. She was sure now—the captain had a terrifying ability to foresee the future.

With control over the World Economic News' intelligence network, they had an edge over everyone.

The future looked bright!

---

Meanwhile, on an Island Near Doerena Kingdom

"Dammit! That was way too close!"

Golden Lion Shiki cursed as he dragged his injured crewmate, Scaredo, away at high speed, abandoning their ship and all their supplies.

Earlier, they had been recruiting new crew members when they saw Rocks D. Xebec's updated bounty. Not only had that ruined their chances of gathering a crew, but it also drew enemy pirates to ambush them. After barely defeating their attackers, they had to steal another pirate’s ship to escape.

But just as they had taken to the skies, they encountered a Marine fleet—and not just any fleet.

A navy officer with massive black wings soared out from the warship, single-handedly destroying their stolen ship in a single attack.

Shiki's face turned pale when he recognized the Marine’s rank.

"I thought it was just a coincidence that we ran into the Hell Pirates… but now it’s the Flying Pirates that got wiped out by Rocks?!"

Admiral Coss Davo watched as the Golden Lion fled but did not pursue. He had more pressing matters—the Celestial Dragons’ mission took priority.

Their next target was the Kingdom of Magara.

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Chapter Text

The Kingdom of Magara, a non-member nation of the New World, was a pirate haven. Here, piracy was not just tolerated—it was celebrated. Even the kingdom's army functioned as a notorious pirate crew, similar to the Hachiman Navy of the Flower Kingdom.

Today, several Rookie pirate crews and infamous pirate groups had gathered on the island, their presence creating an electric atmosphere.

Inside the island's largest pirate bar, the air was thick with the scent of alcohol and sweat. Pirates roared with laughter, slamming down mugs of booze, and breaking into brawls over the smallest provocations. In a large private room, the captains and key figures of several pirate crews had convened.

"Urdi, what's the big idea calling us all here? I ain't got time for kids' games!"

Byrnndi World barked at a bald man covered in tattoos. Though Byrnndi current bounty was only 200 million berries, his strength far exceeded that figure. With the power of the Momo Momo no Mi (More-More Fruit), few ships could escape his attacks.

"Be patient. The other captains are on their way," Urdi replied, his tone calm.

A moment later, a pair of massive twin brothers stepped into the room, their sheer presence overwhelming. These were the Karnz brothers of the Karnz Pirates—legendary figures among rising Rookie Overlord.

"Hurry up and get to the point! I was on my way to Dressrosa to enjoy some fine women!"

Another pirate, lounging in his seat with a crown atop his head, finally spoke. He was Eric Dane, captain of the King Pirates.

"As you all know, the Rocks Pirates are aggressively recruiting across the New World," Urdi began. "The John Pirates got crushed and were forced to join them. Even the Flying Pirates—the strongest of the Rookie Overlord —were completely wiped out! Only Shiki the Golden Lion and one crewman escaped!"

His voice carried both urgency and excitement.

"So what do you think happens next? WE become their next target! That's why I'm proposing an alliance! If we join forces, we might even take the title of the New World’s next overlords!"

Urdi spread his arms wide, his expression filled with a crazed enthusiasm.

"Hah! You’re a fool."

A low voice interrupted him.

"You don't even have all three types of Haki, and you think you can challenge the Overlord?"

The words came from an unassuming pirate sitting in the corner, smoking a pipe. His cowboy hat cast a shadow over his eyes, but when he exhaled, a terrifying pressure filled the room.

A wave of Conqueror’s Haki burst forth.

Everyone tensed. Even Urdi felt his throat tighten.

"So this is the power of Conqueror’s Haki…" Brynndi muttered, clenching his fists. He had only recently awakened Armament Haki, but seeing this display made his blood boil.

Byojack, Bundy's elder brother and strategist, rested on his shoulder, offering him a look of encouragement.

"Practice hard and get stronger," the cowboy-hatted pirate continued, rising to his feet. "Forming alliances at this level is pointless. You lot aren’t even in the running for the New World’s throne."

With that, he walked out, dismissing Urdi's so-called alliance as a child's game.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Brynndi chuckled. "He's got a point. No matter how many of us join forces, we’re not ready to take on the Rocks Pirates. I'll be going too."

Adjusting his horned helmet, Brynndi turned to leave, Byojack following close behind.

"Hah! They think they're too good for us? Let’s see how long they last against Rocks!" Urdi growled, his pride wounded.

But not everyone dismissed the idea.

Eric Dane exhaled a stream of smoke, his eyes sharp. "That guy was right—we're not strong enough yet. But an offensive and defensive alliance? Now that I can work with. Exchanging information, watching each other's backs—that could help us survive."

The Karnz brothers, massive and built like demons, exchanged a glance before nodding.

"We're in. But we want training manuals—Armament Haki, Observation Haki, and combat techniques. If we’re gonna fight, we wanna be ready."

The deal was struck. Out of all the pirate crews that had gathered, only three formed an alliance: Urdi’s Great Evil Monk Pirates, Eric Dane’s King Pirates, and the Karnz Pirates.

While others laughed at the idea of alliances, these three crews took the first step toward power.

---

Meanwhile, Elsewhere in the New World…

"Why?! WHY?!!"

On a desolate beach, Shiki the Golden Lion knelt in the sand, fists pounding the ground.

His voice was a mixture of rage and disbelief.

"First, I got wiped out by the Rocks Pirates! Then I barely escape, only to get attacked by a Marine Admiral! How the hell does this keep happening?!"

Exhausted, Shiki collapsed onto his back, staring up at the sky, his golden mane spread out on the sand.

His only remaining crew member, Scaredo, sat beside him, flipping through a newspaper.

"Captain… the whole New World is talking about our defeat," Scarleto muttered.

Shiki groaned.

The World Economic Newspaper was filled with headlines about his humiliating downfall. With the Flying Pirates destroyed, most of the New World had already written Shiki off.

Worse still, some pirate crews were now trying to recruit him—treating him like a washed-up relic instead of a rising legend.

Scarleto sighed. "Captain, why don’t we go back to Paradise? We can rebuild, gather new crew members, and—"

"Shut up!!" Shiki roared.

His eyes blazed with fury. He may have lost, but this wasn’t the end.

He would rise again.

And next time, the world would know the true power of Shiki the Golden Lion.

----

Even the other two dominant pirate groups had begun to spread the word—if Shiki the Golden Lion joined them, he would immediately be granted the rank of cadre. Once he grew stronger, he would have a chance to rise even further, potentially competing for the highest-ranking title in the crew.

Such titles included "Three Great Generals," "Three Supreme Commanders," "Three Divine Pillars," and even "Three Sacred Beasts"—all representing the strongest figures in each pirate crew.

"I will NEVER surrender! I am the Golden Lion! I've awakened Conqueror's Haki!!"

Shiki roared, unleashing a powerful burst of his willpower. His overwhelming aura crashed onto the beach, making Scaredo dizzy and lightheaded.

Even after venting his frustration, Shiki still felt bitter. In just one battle, the reputation of the Flying Pirates had plummeted to the point where they could no longer attract strong crew members in the New World.

If I’d known this would happen, I never would have provoked the Rocks Pirates! Now, I've completely squandered my advantage. Before, the Flying Pirates had the reputation to recruit powerful allies, but now I've lost everything. Why did I let my pride get the best of me and challenge that mad dog Rocks?!

Shiki clenched his fists, seething with regret. Rocks had been eyeing his Float-Float Fruit ability for a long time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Now, what were his options?

Should he return to Paradise in disgrace and recruit weaker pirates who didn't even know Haki? If he did that, the next time he entered the New World, he would still be a pushover.

Or should he train his own crew from scratch and teach them Haki? But that would take too much time. And where could he even find talented pirates? It wasn’t like he had a way to measure their potential.

Frustrated and lost, Golden Lion Shiki could only take Scaredo to a nearby island to steal some food and hijack a pirate ship…

---

Meanwhile, aboard the Hell Pirates' ship—

"Captain Brook, is there really a Sky Island in the New World?"

Shakky asked excitedly. If they found one, it would be an ideal stronghold.

"Yeah, but I don’t know its exact location. That’s why we need everyone gathering intel—and Antonio’s abilities."

Brook knew there was an island where Kidd, Hawkins, and Apoo would later form their alliance, only to be crushed by Kaido, the King of Beasts.

That Sky Island was crucial. Kaido had jumped down from it, crashing into Kidd’s territory, singlehandedly shattering their alliance. Apoo and Hawkins immediately surrendered, while Kidd, refusing to yield, was taken to Onigashima for forced labor. His right-hand man, Killer, was even forced to eat a failed SMILE Fruit, turning him into a laughing fool.

Additionally, Urouge, the captain of the Fallen Monk Pirates, had also taken refuge on that same Sky Island. After defeating Snack, one of Big Mom’s Four Sweet Commanders, he had been recuperating there when he witnessed Kaido’s insane suicide dive from the clouds.

"If we can claim a Sky Island as our New World base, it’ll give us a massive strategic advantage," Redfield said. "We’ll have time to develop without worrying about an immediate invasion from the major powers."

Right now, only two pirate crews in the New World could freely navigate the skies—the Hell Pirates and the Flying Pirates. Any others attempting to reach the Sky Island would need either a flying Zoan Devil Fruit or some rare mythical beast ability.

"Captain Brook! Can we also claim Sheep's House Island in the future?"

Charlotte Linlin asked eagerly. She still had deep emotional ties to that island, where Mother Carmel had raised her. Later, Streusen had even hidden a decade’s worth of treasure there.

That island would later become the heart of Toto land—Whole Cake Island, a bizarre land full of living Homies powered by Linlin’s Soul-Soul Fruit.

"Of course!" Brook grinned. "As long as we’re strong enough, we can take any island we want! Our first step will be claiming Sky Island. Then, we’ll secure Sheep's House, and finally, we’ll bring Sphinx Island under our protection!"

Sphinx was the hometown of Edward Newgate—Whitebeard. A place with great strategic importance. Brook couldn’t afford to let any other pirates take it.

"Hell yeah! I’m gonna get stronger!"

Linlin was now actively training in Haki alongside the others. With talent as monstrous as hers, she awakened Armament Haki in just a few days—something that took most people years to master.

Brook, Shakky, and Antonio could only watch in horror as Linlin, Newgate, and Redfield grew stronger at absurd speeds.

"This is ridiculous! What kind of freakish talent is this?! Compared to them, we’re like background characters!"

Even Brook, who had a Legendary Paramecia - type fruit, was starting to feel the pressure. He had to keep growing stronger, or he’d lose control over his own crew.

Luckily, Brook had absorbed an enormous amount of dark energy and ghostly aura from Underworld, gaining terrifying new abilities from his Revive-Revive Fruit.

Now, he discovered something truly horrifying—

The souls of those he killed didn’t pass on to the afterlife. Instead, his Devil Fruit seemed to trap them in the Underworld, in a state of soul death.

And even worse—these souls could be forced to devour each other, growing stronger in the process.

At the moment, after countless battles, only three powerful ghosts remained…

Would this force me to kill even more people? Would I eventually turn into a monster?

Brook hesitated. Deep down, he still had a human conscience. He couldn’t slaughter people indiscriminately just to grow stronger.

But in the New World, strength was everything. If he wanted to keep the Hell Pirates stable, he had to keep up.

Then I'll target only strong pirates. A single powerful soul is worth hundreds of weaklings.

This was the price of becoming a New World Overlord.

Brook clenched his fists. He would do whatever it took to ensure his crew’s survival.

---

"Captain Brook! Land ahead! There's an island below!"

Shakky, holding a pair of binoculars, shouted excitedly.

"If we dock there, we can gather intel on Sky Island… and maybe have a little fun while we're at it."

At his side, sniper Hiruba smirked.

Recently, he'd been getting destroyed in training battles against Redfield, Newgate, and Linlin. His confidence had taken a serious hit.

He needed to vent his frustration—and what better way than bullying some lesser pirates?

"Let’s go!"

Tonight, the Hell Pirates would feast—both on food and on the fear of the weak.

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Chapter Text

The appearance of the golden flying ship, Erebus, immediately attracted the attention of everyone on the island!

Most islands in the New World had a tough, battle-hardened culture, where pirates and indigenous people had long since mixed. The overall structure was simple—large areas of mixed residences and small pockets of concentrated settlements.

Every island carried the atmosphere of piracy. This was the lawless paradise for criminals and vagabonds across the world, where one could sail without the constraints of kings or governments. The only rule here was strength—if you were strong enough, you were the one who made the rules.

But the New World was also a pirate's graveyard. There was always someone stronger, always someone higher. The goal of every pirate was to challenge the Overlord Pirate Crews—either by joining them or by overthrowing them to become the new rulers of the sea.

Even the World Government and the Navy had failed to purge the New World's criminals, allowing it to remain a lawless wasteland under their tacit acknowledgment.

Because of the existence of Devil Fruits, countless individuals across the world gained extraordinary abilities overnight. Most of these people, drunk on newfound power, quickly turned ambitious, disrupting order and committing atrocities.

But the World Government ruled the Four Seas and the Grand Line—how could they tolerate such instability? So, these criminals, hunted by the Navy, were driven into the sea, eventually becoming pirates.

All those who sought to carve out their own kingdoms set sail for the New World, calling it the land of "freedom"—a place where they would no longer be exploited or controlled by the World Government.

With time, the number of powerful pirates in the New World grew exponentially, forcing even the Navy to retreat. Now, only the islands near the Red Line remained under the Navy's watch, along with a few allied nations that still clung to World Government protection.

Currently, the only member nations of the World Government in the New World were located near Dressrosa and the Prudence Kingdom, close to the Red Line and the entrance from Fish-Man Island. But they were few and far between.

Each year, the Navy suffered enormous losses battling pirates in the New World. Eventually, the World Government shifted its focus back to the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line, gradually pulling out of the New World altogether.

After all, Devil Fruit users outnumbered the Navy's forces by an overwhelming margin. If the pirates ever united into a single force, even the World Government would struggle to contain them.

For centuries, the Navy had maintained dominance over the seas through strict discipline, superior resources, cutting-edge technology, and centuries of experience. But in the New World, power belonged to those who could take it by force.

---

"A flying pirate ship?! Could it be the Flying Pirates from the News?! How dare they show themselves so openly?! Aren’t they afraid of being hunted down by the three Overlord Crews?"

"No… I heard the Sky Pirates' ship was stolen. And this one… this ship is made of pure gold! Could it be… the Hell Pirates?!"

Whispers of speculation spread across the island as more and more pirates turned their gazes toward the golden flying ship. Some had already drawn their weapons, eager to make a move.

Brook stood at the helm of Erebus, overlooking the bustling port town below. "Go down and gather intel on Sky Island. If possible, we should also dig up information on the New World's underground market… It's about time we paid the Underworld Emperors a visit."

To properly establish their foothold in the New World, Moore would need to set up a World Economic News branch here, allowing them to expand their intelligence network.

"Antonio, keep an eye on the Den Den Mushi transmissions from the Underground News. We need to find their leader. Also, monitor any movements from the underground intelligence organizations."

Brook's command was clear—intelligence was power, and they needed it now more than ever.

Meanwhile, Moore ’ grand scheme was already in motion. "Winning" a Den Den Mushi from his World Econmic News Prize Giveaway was about to become the worst stroke of luck for some unfortunate souls.

---

"Hahaha!! A golden flying ship?! And it’s actually landing?! Boys, open fire!! We’re robbing it today!"

A greedy pirate captain bellowed, his bloodshot eyes reflecting the golden glow of Erebus.

"Redfield, leave them alive," Brook instructed, stepping forward. "I need to harvest their souls myself."

He had recently discovered that his Revive-Revive Fruit could imprison the souls of those he personally killed, trapping them within the path of the Underworld. The more powerful the soul, the more valuable it was.

Redfield, understanding Brook’s intent, nodded. "Understood."

With a casual gesture, a massive crimson lightning storm erupted from his body, forming a vast net of electricity that swallowed the pirate crew below.

As the chaotic scene unfolded, Sniper Hiruba calmly raised his rifle, taking aim at the pirate captain leading the attack.

One shot—his finger was blown off.

A second shot—his kneecap shattered.

Had Brook not wanted him alive, Hiruba would’ve already taken his head.

Meanwhile, Shakky picked up a modified pistol crafted by Hiruba and began practicing her shooting skills.

"I'll do it too!"

Charlotte Linlin grinned wickedly as she sent out Zeus, the Thundercloud, and Prometheus, the Sun.

Lightning and fire rained down from the sky, turning the pirate ships in the harbor into smoldering wrecks. It was like a natural disaster had struck.

The pirate residents on the island could hardly believe their eyes.

"W-Wait… even that steel balloon… is part of the Hell Pirates?!"

Hands trembling, they pulled out bounty posters for Brook, Redfield, and Charlotte Linlin.

A pirate crew with bounties exceeding 500 million berries…

It was terrifying enough that Brook’s bounty had skyrocketed after killing a Celestial Dragon, but if even Charlotte Linlin had joined him… didn’t that mean these guys were stronger than her?!

How else would she willingly join another crew?

A deep, rumbling laugh echoed through the battlefield.

"Gurararara~!! Redfield! Linlin! Give me a chance to shine! Your bounties are already higher than mine—let me catch up!"

With a thunderous crash, Edward Newgate leaped down from Erebus, his legs coated in a massive halo of glowing energy.

As soon as he landed, the entire harbor cracked apart. The earth rumbled violently as the port town sank several meters, sending shockwaves strong enough to blast pirates off their feet.

Dust and debris shot into the sky. A terrifying pressure filled the air.

Newgate stood tall, his godlike physique alone enough to paralyze weaker pirates in fear.

"E-Edward Newgate…!!"

Another monstrous newcomer had arrived.

Wherever Newgate went, pirates fell with a single punch. Not a single enemy could withstand a second blow.

Standing aboard Erebus, Fisher Tiger watched the carnage unfold, eyes burning with admiration.

"Brother Newgate is SO COOL!!! Captain, I wanna learn that too!!"

Brook couldn't help but laugh as he watched the Fish-Man warrior's excitement.

The Hell Pirates had officially arrived in the New World.

And the whole world was about to take notice.

-----

The pirates watched in shock as the ships burned in thunder and fire, while the very earth beneath them cracked from powerful shockwaves. What kind of terrifying monsters were these people?!

"No!! Stop right now!! This island is under the protection of Captain Jevaler of the Diger Pirates! Do you dare provoke an overlord of the New World?!"

A pirate, who appeared to be the island's overseer, ran out and stood in front of Newgate without fear, his face full of anger.

The surviving pirates who had attacked the Hell Pirates first scrambled behind this man, desperately seeking protection. They knew if they stayed in the open, they’d be wiped out in an instant!

"Guralala~! Didn’t you see? They were the ones who attacked our Hell Pirates first!"

Brook’s crew had been trained to never cower before an enemy, not even the dominant pirate crews of the New World. If they couldn't win, they could always retreat on their golden ship and return for revenge later!

"They attacked you, so you have the right to kill them! But you've caused too much damage to Marseille Island! Don't you know this is a major pirate trading hub?! This island is the most important connection between the Grand Line and the New World!!"

Vasily, Jevaler’s subordinate, cursed at Newgate. He was the one in charge of this island, responsible for collecting protection money for Captain Jevaler.

But now, thanks to the destruction of the port, there would be massive losses! If he couldn’t gather enough tribute for Jevaler this month, he’d be the one to suffer!

"Captain Brook, the Jevaler he mentioned should be a high-ranking officer under the Diger Pirates, one of the three dominant pirate groups in the New World. His bounty is the same as yours—600 million berries."

Antonio, the Hell Pirates’ intelligence officer, quickly pulled out Jevaler’s bounty poster. The man had golden, curly hair draped over his shoulders, wore a captain’s hat, and had a thin but cunning look to him.

"You’ve gotta be kidding me. We really have to run into the three dominant pirate groups already? What kind of unlucky streak is this?!"

Shakky sighed in frustration. She had originally planned to avoid confronting the overlord-level crews too soon. But now? They had destroyed a port in one of their territories. There was no backing out now.

Brook didn’t blame Newgate for the destruction. At most, he’d just be more careful about their movements in the future. But if they could turn a big problem into a small one—or even avoid trouble altogether—then that would be ideal.

"Hey, you. You know your people attacked first, right? Of course, we’re responsible for the damage too. How about this—I kill all these scumbags and trade their heads for bounties to pay for the port?"

Brook slowly drew his Seven-Star Sword, his calm but murderous smile sending chills down Vasily’s spine.

But Vasily quickly regained his arrogance. Brook had the same bounty as Jevaler, but Jevaler had the entire Diger Pirates behind him. There was nothing to fear!

"That’s not enough! Even if you exchange all these pirates for their bounties, it won’t cover the damages. If you hand over that golden ship as compensation, we’ll forget this ever happened!"

Vasily’s eyes gleamed with greed as he looked at the golden ship of the Hell Pirates. Recently, all three of the dominant pirate groups had been trying to recruit Golden Lion Shiki—all because they wanted his Float-Float Fruit ability to fly.

If Vasily could extort this golden ship, it would be an enormous contribution to the Diger Pirates. He might even rise to the top and live in luxury!

Though managing Marseille Island was already a profitable position, who wouldn’t want more?

Brook's expression darkened. "You dare try to take my ship? You must have a death wish."

Even if Jevaler himself were here, Brook wouldn’t tolerate such greed. Killing a pirate with a 600 million bounty was no longer impossible for the Hell Pirates. But the Diger Pirates behind him were a different story.

"Are you serious? You think you can just take our golden ship? These pirates’ bounties should be more than enough to fix your damn port!"

As a former information broker in the Sabaody Archipelago, Shakky had a good estimate of how much the bounties would be worth.

In the New World, bounty collection worked differently than in the Grand Line and the Four Seas.

Living criminals fetched the full bounty.

Dead criminals only fetched 70% of their bounty—unless they had made the news, and their killer was confirmed.

If a pirate’s status was unclear, others could falsely claim the kill and take credit for the bounty.

This gave rise to a bounty fraud industry, where fake bounty hunters would collect rewards for kills they didn’t actually make. They took a 30% cut for themselves, and the Navy got their dead bodies.

Some pirate captains saw this as easy money—40% of a bounty was still a decent profit, especially when looting enemy ships.

---

"Little girl, don’t you know Lord Diger’s Pirate Code? As long as we are within his territory, all pirates are forbidden from fighting!"

Vasily sneered, looking down at Shakky like she was clueless.

"When you were in the open sea, you weren’t in Lord Diger’s territory. So, the Pirate Code didn’t protect those fools who attacked you. But now, you’re on Marseille Island. If you dare to attack, you’ll be violating Lord Diger’s law!"

Vasily smirked. He was going to use his authority to squeeze every last bit of value from the Hell Pirates. If he could get that golden ship, his future would be set!

"So what you’re saying is…" Brook’s eyes turned cold. "The only way to avoid ‘punishment’ under your Pirate Code is to give up my ship?"

"Exactly! That’s the rule! I hope you don’t overestimate yourselves!"

Vasily grinned. He had pulled off countless shakedowns in the past, all in the name of the Diger Pirates.

But this time, he was dealing with the Hell Pirates—and he had no idea the storm he was about to bring upon himself.

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Chapter Text

Brook couldn't understand why the Diger Pirates would send such a greedy man to oversee an important pirate trading island.

Did they really think all pirates would fear the Overlord Pirates? Weren’t they worried that some reckless and stubborn crew would come along and wipe this place off the map?

Every Overlord Pirate Group could only maintain dominance for a few decades before being overthrown by a rising force. The captain of the Diger Pirates was already 65 years old this year.

Rumor had it he planned to pass his title on to his son, but that son was a rebellious pirate who cared only for adventure and not for managing the crew.

Still, that son carried the second-highest bounty in the Diger Pirates—an astonishing 1.1 billion berries.

Meanwhile, other rising pirate groups had been eyeing the Overlord position for years. As soon as Diger either died or grew too old to defend his throne, they would strike.

Among them were powerful crews with captains boasting 1.3 billion and 1.2 billion berry bounties. Though they wandered without fixed territory, they had been gathering strength, waiting for their time.

Like young lions prowling the savanna, they would inevitably drive out the old king.

---

"Since you've decided to play dirty and refuse to settle this peacefully… and since you’re after my golden ship… there's nothing more to say!"

Brook’s eyes turned cold as he swung his Seven Star Sword.

"Newgate, Redfield, Lingling—show them our power!"

Brook wasn’t one to compromise. If words wouldn’t work, then action would. If the world wanted to test the Hell Pirates' strength, so be it!

"Maaah~! I've been waiting for you to say that!" Charlotte Linlin grinned, her voice full of excitement.

"Zeus! Prometheus! Let loose!"

Thundercloud Zeus swelled to an enormous size, flashing with terrifying lightning. Meanwhile, Sun Prometheus burned wildly, its flames turning the docks into a blazing inferno.

"Gurarara ~! You refused our captain’s offer and dared to covet our ship? Now I’m pissed off too!"

Edward Newgate’s fists gleamed with white energy.

With a single punch, he reduced a towering building to rubble. With a second, he sent dozens of pirates flying, the ground beneath them fracturing like a spiderweb.

"Tch. Looks like our road to becoming an Overlord starts sooner than expected."

Redfield sighed, then raised his hand.

BOOM!

A massive lightning pillar struck down, obliterating the tallest building in sight. His attack was the most devastating of them all.

"Sigh~ Looks like I have no choice but to follow Captain Brook’s lead and be reckless!"

Shakky smirked, activating the jet boosters on her wind shoes. She soared through the battlefield, picking off pirates with precise gunfire.

But soon, she abandoned her pistols, preferring close combat.

"Wind Jet—Two-Ton Flying Kick!"

With a burst of acceleration, she delivered a high-speed kick to a pirate's face. The impact sent him crashing through a nearby building, leaving a gaping hole in the wall.

---

From the golden ship, Hiruba provided covering fire, sniping down fleeing enemies with deadly precision.

Meanwhile, Fishman Tom and Tiger wreaked havoc on the battlefield. Tom swung a giant sledgehammer, crushing pirates like they were nothing, while Fisher Tiger unleashed his Fishman Karate, sending enemies flying with each punch.

Antonio, the ship’s intelligence officer, didn’t participate in the fight. Instead, he took out his Den Den Mushi camera, snapping dramatic action shots of the crew.

He needed high-quality material for the Hell Pirates’ next wanted posters.

On the other hand, ship doctor Crocus calmly sipped tea, sitting with his Memory Seahorse on deck. He showed no interest in the chaos, watching the battle unfold like it was a festival.

Beside him, Kirin Lion and Parrot cheered enthusiastically. They had no plans to fight, but they were having a great time as spectators.

Even the ship’s chef, Streusen, hesitated to join. He was eager to prove himself, but after seeing the destruction caused by his crewmates, he decided to stay behind.

Instead, he focused on preparing a victory feast for when they returned.

---

"Noooo! You bastards! If you dare attack the Diger Pirates, you’re dead! Captain Diger will hunt you down!"

Vasily screamed in terror as he watched his island crumble.

His once-bustling port was now in ruins. His guards were dead or fleeing. And now, he realized the Hell Pirates had no intention of stopping.

Brook suddenly appeared in front of him, the Seven Star Sword glowing ominously.

"Didn’t you say we violated the so-called Pirate Code? Since we’re going to be hunted anyway… let’s go all the way!"

Brook slashed, releasing a blast of Underworld Ghost Energy that spread across the battlefield.

The chilling mist swallowed the pirates, trapping them in an eerie fog. As they struggled to escape, Brook’s figure flickered among them.

Each time he moved, another pirate turned into a frozen statue, their terrified expressions forever preserved in ice.

"Be careful in your next life… oh wait, you won’t have one. Your souls are mine!"

Brook’s laughter echoed as he harvested their souls, adding more strength to his ghostly power.

---

"Ah~ Captain Brook, I shot this one, but he’s still breathing! Come finish him off!"

Shakky called out, her voice playful.

She knew Brook had a special ability to absorb souls, and she didn’t want to let even one go to waste.

With that, she landed among the enemy ranks and continued fighting.

---

"I, Tiger, am a man who will become the strongest warrior!"

Fisher Tiger roared as he clenched his fist.

"Karate Six Styles—3KW Fist Gun!"

Combining Fishman Karate and Rokushiki, Tiger unleashed a devastating punch.

The pirate he hit collapsed instantly, eyes rolling back as blood trickled from his nose and mouth.

Tiger grabbed him by the collar and threw him aside.

"You know how many days and nights I trained to perfect that punch? Do you?! Who can stand against me?!"

He pounded his chest dramatically, as if he had just defeated a high-bounty pirate.

In reality, he had just knocked out a low-ranking crewman, barely worth mentioning.

---

Edward Newgate, after seeing that Brook had finished off the main attackers, stopped his rampage.

Despite his strength, he had no interest in harming innocent people. This was his own personal rule.

However, he wouldn’t stop his crewmates either. He believed everyone had the right to make their own choices.

Brook, satisfied with his soul harvest, didn’t press deeper into the island.

He had no intention of destroying Marseille Island completely. It was an important trading hub in the New World. As long as they eliminated the key enemies, that was enough.

---

"Captain Brook, are you sure you don’t want to raid the trading center for treasure?"

Shakky asked, raising an eyebrow.

After all, they were pirates.

They had already declared war on the Diger Pirates, so why not go all the way?

Besides, if they didn’t loot the place, some other crew would take advantage of the chaos.

In the end, the Hell Pirates would still get the blame.

That meant they’d gain nothing from the battle—except a powerful new enemy.

And that? That was definitely not worth it.

----

Shakky's words immediately won Redfield’s approval. As pirates, they didn’t need to follow some so-called moral code. When it was time to rob, they would rob; when it was time to kill, they would kill.

Even though they weren’t short on money, the law of the New World was simple—survival of the fittest. Strength dictated everything, and the strong deserved their spoils.

Brook quickly realized this as well. Since they had already offended the Diger Pirates, they might as well go all out! Just as long as they didn’t harm too many civilians.

That said, in the New World, the concept of a true civilian island didn’t really exist. Nearly every island was under pirate control, and even children here might already have blood on their hands.

Newgate had grown up fighting human traffickers and ruthless pirates, killing countless foes along the way. The people of the New World were hardened by this cruel world.

Those who refused to fight back, those who were weak, could only be exploited and enslaved. It wasn’t a personal failing—it was the world itself that was broken!

---

The Hell Pirates swiftly looted the pirate trading island. This marked their first real plunder since descending from Sky Island, and for Shakky, it was a long-overdue return to true piracy.

Technically, their raid on Sky Island didn’t count—gold was practically worthless to the people there. But this? This was real pirate work!

Shakky, ever the money-grubber, even tried selling the bodies of defeated pirates to a shady bounty hunter who wanted to cash in on their bounties at a 40% discount.

Like hell she’d accept that!

Through intense bargaining, coercion, and sheer persistence, Shakky the Miser finally got him to agree to 30%.

Unfortunately, by the time she finished, Brook and the others had already returned to the ship and were preparing to leave.

In the end, she begrudgingly parted with the corpses at a lower price, cursing the tightfisted bounty hunter. For someone like her, failing to get the upper hand in a negotiation was an unforgivable humiliation!

---

Onboard the Golden Flying ship, Erebus

"Captain Brook! If you hadn’t rushed me, I wouldn’t have suffered such a loss!"

Shakky grumbled while counting stacks of berries, occasionally licking her fingers to flip through the bills faster.

Brook shot her a look of disdain. "Oi, I was the one who killed those pirates. Besides, we’re not exactly short on money. Do you really have to keep nagging after we’ve already set sail?"

"Hmph, what do you know? Bargaining isn’t just a skill—it’s a woman’s instinct! It’s practically a belief system!"

Shakky gave him a scolding glance as she continued counting her loot. "Besides, you’re the biggest spender on this ship, Captain. You don’t know the first thing about saving money. Do you have any idea how much I worry about our finances?"

Brook ignored her ramblings and instead turned to Tom. "Set a course for the next island. We need to lay low for a bit. I don’t like the way the wind’s blowing."

From the information they’d gathered on the island—along with what Antonio had eavesdropped—things were looking bad for the Hell Pirates.

Apparently, Kandor, the President of the World Dark News, was a subordinate of the Diger Pirates.

This Kandor wasn’t just some low-level lackey—he was known as the Hidden King of the Diger Pirates, controlling the intelligence network of the New World. Even the World Government had ties to him.

The real question was: Was Kandor truly loyal to Diger, or was he just using him as a stepping stone for his own ambitions?

---

Ten Kings Island Sea - Chichijima

On Chichijima, one of the Ten Kings Islands, a pirate captain with golden curls and a captain’s hat put down his Den Den Mushi.

His expression was dark.

Marseille Island had been one of his biggest sources of income—and now it was gone!

And all because of some upstart Rookie crew that didn’t respect him—Jevaler, King of the Earth!

The Diger Pirates called themselves an empire, with Emperor Diger at the top and his Nine Island Kings ruling over his territories.

He acted as if he was running a miniature World Government, revealing his insatiable ambition.

But Jevaler wasn’t one of the weaker kings—he was among the strongest. And now, the Hell Pirates had stepped on his pride.

He wasn’t about to let that slide.

He scoffed at Brook’s "inflated" bounty. "Hah! A fake rookie overlord bounty, huh? Just because he killed some Celestial Dragons, the World Government jacked up his price."

In Jevaler’s eyes, these rookies were nothing.

He’d spent years grinding his way through the New World to reach 600 million berries. These rookie brats hadn’t even mastered Haki yet!

No way they could compete with a real veteran.

Just then, a signal officer ran into the room and knelt on one knee.

"Captain Jeval! Emperor Diger has summoned all Island Kings to a meeting at Madatascar!"

Jevaler narrowed his eyes. "Hmph. Understood. Leave me."

After the man left, Jevaler tapped his fingers on the table, thinking about the Hell Pirates.

They could fly—which was a problem.

He might need to team up with a few other Island Kings to take them down.

That said…

If Emperor Diger was interested in the Hell Pirates’ flying ship, things might get interesting.

---

Madatascar – The Emperor’s Court

Madatascar, the central island of the Ten Kings Islands, had long been a symbol of power.

But ever since Diger Sparrow declared himself Emperor, Madatascar had become an Imperial Capital—a testament to his unmatched dominance.

Diger sat high on his throne, his massive pirate hat towering above him—even bigger than a normal captain’s hat, because of course, an Emperor’s hat had to be bigger than everyone else’s.

His flesh-covered face was adorned with a thick, braided beard, and his long black hair was tied into dreadlocks. His piercing eyes exuded authority.

He looked nothing like a 68-year-old man.

For 29 years, Diger had reigned at the top—longer than Rocks D. Xebec had held his own throne.

When Rocks had overthrown the previous overlord pirate group, it had taken years before he could fully stabilize his rule.

Even after defeating the previous King, he had to spend months recovering before he could truly declare himself the New Overlord.

In the New World, even if you killed the top dog, you might not inherit his throne.

There were always other hungry predators waiting to strike.

This was the rule of the New World.

And Diger Sparrow—as ruthless and cunning as he was—understood this better than anyone.

Even he had to admit…

That Rocks D. Xebec was one hell of a monster.

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Chapter Text

The Diger Pirates had a more structured system than any other pirate crew, complete with a pirate code. This made Diger’s territory the most stable and developed place in the New World.

However, this same structure also turned away some of the more lawless pirates, causing a gap in the upper levels of their combat strength. Even so, Diger’s crew remained one of the most powerful, firmly maintaining its status as an overlord.

Diger wasn’t just a formidable pirate—he was a shrewd businessman. He had a natural talent for making money and was now the richest pirate in the New World. His influence stretched across various industries, and even the World Dark News was under his control.

Among the three dominant pirate crews, the Diger Pirates had the strongest overall strength. In contrast, the Ice Demon Pirates and the Rocks Pirates had no sense of long-term planning. They only knew how to plunder and squeeze the islands under their control dry.

This was why Diger saw himself as superior to these reckless fools.

But what troubled him the most wasn’t Rocks or the Ice Demon Pirates—it was his own son. The so-called heir to the Ten Kings was undeniably talented, but he spent his days lazing around, adventuring aimlessly, and showing no ambition.

Diger worried that as he grew older, the Diger Pirates would be swallowed up by Rocks, that ravenous wolf.

Right now, his son wasn’t even strong enough to defeat the captains of the upstart pirate crews vying for overlord status. When he went out to sea, he was chased and beaten like a dog.

It was humiliating.

If Diger hadn’t personally injured those captains and driven them back to remote waters, his useless son probably wouldn’t even dare to leave the Ten Kings Island Sea.

And now? He had no idea which island the brat had run off to this time.

Lately, Diger had noticed something strange.

This year, there were far too many young overlord emerging—young pirates with extraordinary potential, top-tier Devil Fruits, and terrifyingly rapid growth.

It reminded him of something an old O'Hara scholar had once told him:

"Every few decades, a new wave of exceptional warriors will rise, shaking the world."

Diger had dismissed it as nonsense at first. But then, after coming across the indestructible Poneglyphs, he had sent a copy of one to that same scholar.

What he learned after that changed his view forever.

There was no doubt in his mind now—the World Government was hiding something.

And the Will of D? That so-called "natural enemy" of the Celestial Dragons?

Diger wasn’t convinced they were the "liberators of the world" as some believed. He had seen Rocks with his own eyes. If the D-Clan was supposed to be the world's saviors, then Rocks must have been an anomaly—a ruthless, bloodthirsty beast.

Diger didn’t believe in some grand destiny.

He only believed in power and in the Pirate Code he had created.

Still, he wasn’t a fool. He could see that this era was about to shift.

"If I don't act now, even as an overlord, I could be swallowed by the tide of rising monsters!"

And so, he gathered his officers. Instead of clashing head-on with these dangerous young upstarts, he decided to pull back his forces, abandoning some low-value islands.

The Ten Kings Island Sea would become his stronghold.

If his officers fought, it wouldn’t be for territory—it would be for eliminating threats completely. No loose ends. No mercy.

Like Rocks, he might even take matters into his own hands and recruit one of these rookies before they got too powerful.

Or better yet… he could sit back and let Rocks wear them down, then swoop in and offer the survivors a choice—join him or die.

That way, he wouldn’t have to suppress them with brute force like Rocks did. Instead, he could buy their loyalty with the gift of survival.

The Rocks Pirates ruled by strength alone. That was a recipe for disaster.

If Rocks died, his pirate crew would collapse in an instant.

The internal conflicts in Rocks’ ranks were well known. Crew members openly fought each other, creating endless chaos.

Diger despised that kind of lawlessness.

"Even pirates need rules!"

This was why he had founded the Pirate Code—to bring order to the chaos of the New World.

The Nine Kings Gather

By midday, most of the Nine Kings had arrived on Madatascar Island, gathering for Diger’s emergency meeting.

Only one was missing—his own son.

"Captain Diger, why did you call us here? I'm busy as hell these days! Rocks is reaching further into my territory, and when I get back, I’m going to kill that bastard Wang Zhi!"

The speaker was Xiaofeng Jou, King of Shiranoya islands, a bald-headed brute. He was furious with Wang Zhi, one of Rocks' commanders.

Though they were both from the same ancient country, Xiaofeng hated the man for reasons even he didn’t fully understand.

"That’s right, Captain!"

Another voice chimed in—it was Barb Bosa, King of Caspian Island. He was the smartest of the Nine Kings, idly stroking the monkey perched on his shoulder.

"The Rocks Pirates are getting too bold. They’re expanding their power recklessly, acting like we don’t even exist. If we don’t put them in their place now, it’ll be too late!"

Their words rang true.

The Ice Demon Pirates had always been strong, but they kept to themselves in the frozen seas of the Ice Kingdom, only bothering with winter islands.

They had ruled for centuries. But now, word was spreading that their old captain was dying, and their second-in-command was just as much of a useless bastard as Diger’s son.

And yet, Rocks was on the rise.

The balance of the New World was shifting.

Diger sat in his massive chair, his sharp eyes sweeping across the Nine Kings gathered before him.

"A new era of chaos has begun."

If even the Three Overlords couldn’t remain untouched by the coming storm…

Then it was time to seize control of it.

-----

In this era, the Diger Pirates and the Ice Demon Pirates seemed to be the victims of the New World's reshuffling. Both Diger and the Old Ice Demon had reached old age and were beginning to decline.

The heirs of these two dominant pirate groups were incapable of carrying their banners, while Rocks was in his prime—an ambitious force seeking to unify the New World under his rule.

"Captain Diger, isn't it just Rocks? Just fight him and scare them! What's all this talk about a great change in the times? Do you really think these so-called rookie overlord are worth our attention?"

The one speaking was Jevaler, a battle-hardened pirate who had come to seek aid. He wasn't interested in hearing such unpleasant news about drastic shifts in the New World. To him, it seemed like Captain Diger was getting old and too cautious!

"It just so happens that the Hell Pirates have robbed my Marseille Island, and I was planning to take them down myself. Which one of my brothers will help me?"

Jevaler glanced around, hoping for support.

"Captain Diger, even if there's a major reshuffling, we'll be the ones clearing out these ignorant fools! Our Diger Pirates are the strongest!"

The one who spoke next was Barb Bosa, a pirate with a bounty of 1 billion berries, stationed on Caspian Island. Under his command were dozens of elite fleets. Powerful and intelligent, he never took the rising rookie seriously.

To him, the only real threats were the candidates for the overlord pirate groups and the Rocks Pirates. He didn't even consider the Ice Demon Pirates worth his time, dismissing them as weak and stagnant.

After the Diger Pirates had risen to dominance, Barb Bosa had taken on a role similar to a butler, managing Diger’s territory and assigning missions. This left him with fewer opportunities to fight, causing his bounty to rise at a slower pace compared to the chaotic upstart pirates.

The so-called candidates for the overlord position had no fixed territory. They roamed the seas, constantly fighting, burning, looting, and killing, which made their bounties skyrocket. Some had even surpassed Barb Bosa, despite him being the strongest officer of the Diger Pirates.

To make matters worse, even Captain Diger's son, Jack Sparrow, had a higher bounty than him! All because Jack was a reckless wanderer who stirred up trouble everywhere he went.

As a result, many in the outside world now wrongly believed that Jack was the most powerful of the Nine Kings!

In truth, Barb Bosa was slightly stronger than Jack and infinitely more intelligent. This false perception infuriated him. If Jack weren’t Captain Diger’s son, he would have "proven" who was stronger long ago!

Feeling bitter, Barb Bosa resorted to petty revenge—naming his pet monkey Jack. Every day, he would mockingly call out "Jack" as if commanding a monkey, which at least gave him a bit of satisfaction.

"According to Kandor, the president of Dark News, six rookies attempted to form a secret alliance in the Magara Kingdom. In the end, only three pirate crews successfully banded together."

Digger Sparrow spoke calmly, his right hand gently stroking the Pirate Code on his throne.

"Meanwhile, Rocks has already recruited the John Pirates and defeated the Flying Pirates. Luckily, Shiki the Golden Lion wasn't subdued by him. If Rocks had a flying fleet, he would become an even bigger threat!"

Diger's voice carried a weight of certainty.

"As for the Hell Pirates that Jevaler mentioned, they’re nothing to worry about. Killing a Celestial Dragon isn’t so easy. The World Government and the Navy Headquarters have already sent admirals into the New World to hunt them down!"

To Diger, the Hell Pirates were already as good as dead. They had assassinated a Celestial Dragon—something even an Overlord wouldn’t dare attempt.

Now, they had gone too far by seizing his territory.

All he needed to do was feed the right information to Kandor, and the Navy would do his dirty work for him.

"So, what should be our next move?"

The voice belonged to Madam Qingci, her face covered in thick makeup. She was the king of Taiping Island and controlled hundreds of pirate ships responsible for supplying all of Diger’s territories. Because of this, she had earned the title "The Shopkeeper’s Wife."

"Our next priority is to suppress the Rocks Pirates and curb their expansion."

Diger leaned forward, his expression serious.

"We’ll follow Rocks' example. We will suppress the young overlords and even steal the spoils of his victories. Any pirate he tries to recruit—we must get to them first."

He paused, looking at his officers.

"From now on, you will operate in pairs. Never engage a young overlord you don’t fully understand on your own. Always bring backup."

Diger was well aware of the shifting tides. If his subordinates grew arrogant and underestimated these rising pirates, they would soon suffer for it.

To ensure stability, Diger even elevated Willannuo, a pirate with a mere 200 million berry bounty, to the rank of Ninth King.

It was a symbolic move—on the surface, the Diger Pirates looked as grand as ever. But in truth, their high-end combat power was lacking.

Even Barb Bosa, the strongest officer, struggled against the captains of upstart overlord candidates. The Diger Pirates' dominance rested on Diger’s own strength.

Once he died, the Diger Pirates’ reign would end, and a new overlord would rise.

The Ice Demon Pirates faced a similar fate. If an overlord candidate targeted their Ice Kingdom, their dominance would crumble after the Old Ice Demon passed away.

But their situation was even worse.

The Ice Kingdom was a frozen wasteland. Its harsh conditions made it nearly unlivable, and its food supply was nearly nonexistent.

The new Ice Demon leader was weak—far inferior to the Old Ice Demon. Hundreds of years of inheritance could be destroyed in his hands.

The Ice Demon Pirates and even the Ice Giants could soon vanish from the New World!

"Then there's no other way. If we need to move in pairs, who will join me in killing Wang Zhi?"

Xiaofeng called out, ready to take action.

Jevaler, realizing he had no chance to deal with the Hell Pirates, immediately agreed to join him. Their sights were now set on the Rocks Pirates!

"You should also keep an eye on Shiki the Golden Lion," Diger added as a final warning.

"His Devil Fruit is far too powerful. Even if we can't obtain it, we must not let Rocks have it!"

Unlike Rocks, Diger valued his subordinates. He ruled with principles and order, not through sheer brutality.

Rocks, on the other hand, raised his crew like poisonous insects, letting them fight and kill each other to ensure only the strongest remained.

Meanwhile, the Hell Pirates…

The Hell Pirates, worried about being hunted down by the Diger Pirates, had already fled to a remote sky island, hiding out of reach.

"Redfield—use your Observation Haki and the radio waves of the Thunder Fruit to scan the area. Don't let any vulture News Birds from Dark News near us. Kill them on sight!"

Brook gave the command.

He knew exactly how Dark News tracked pirates.

"Captain Brook, President Moore Thomas sent word—the Admiral is still tracking us! He told us to be careful!"

Antonio relayed the message, but Brook had already considered this.

In addition to eliminating the News Birds, there was another problem—

The Den Den Mushi broadcast system probably had already transmitted their bounty to the Admiral’s warship!

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Chapter Text

Three warships sailed swiftly across the sea. The largest among them was an admiral-class advanced battleship, towering over the two frigates escorting it.

At the bow stood Admiral Coss Davo, his expression dark with frustration.

According to reports, the Hell Pirates had entered the Diger Pirates' territory—only to vanish without a trace.

As a Navy Admiral, it wasn’t wise for him to charge blindly into the dominion of an Overlord Pirate Crew, even if the Navy Headquarters had a covert working relationship with the intelligence networks under Diger.

"The old man Diger is as strong as me, but if we provoke him on his own turf, we'd be swarmed by pirates in no time. My three warships wouldn’t even be enough to fill the gaps!"

His fleet wasn’t suited for a direct assault against an Overlord. Even with a Vice Admiral and three Rear Admirals, they lacked the strength to take on Diger’s officers in a full-scale battle.

Helpless, Admiral Coss Davo had no choice but to report back to Navy Headquarters, requesting further orders.

The reply was simple:

Withdraw to the garrison base in the New World and wait for further instructions.

Surprisingly, the World Government and the Celestial Dragons—despite their initial fury—did not press the Navy to continue the chase. It was as if they had already anticipated this outcome.

After all, once most pirates entered the New World, the Navy’s success rate in eliminating them dropped below 40%.

That’s precisely why the Celestial Dragons had dispatched their specially trained spies so quickly. They had long since lost faith in the Navy’s efficiency.

--

"Whoa! I actually won?! This is real?!"

A communications officer shouted in excitement.

At first, he thought the World Economic News' prize giveaway was just a scam. Yesterday, aside from purchasing the official White Dove Peace Newspaper, he had also picked up a copy of the Vulture Dark News and the World Economic News Agency.

As an intelligence agent, collecting multiple newspapers was standard practice. However, when he saw the World Economic Newspaper hosting a lucky draw for a Den Den Mushi, he dismissed it as a gimmick.

Yet, when he bought another newspaper today and casually checked the winning numbers, he actually won.

Excited, he immediately cut out yesterday’s winning ticket and sent it to the World Economic News claim his prize.

Half a day later, a seagull courier arrived, delivering a brand-new Den Den Mushi worth 100,000 berries.

It was a huge win—a single newspaper costing only a few berries had netted him a prize worth thousands!

At first, he considered keeping it for himself, but since he had redeemed the prize in front of so many Marines, it was impossible to hide it.

Instead, he decided to share—offering fellow officers a chance to call home using his prize Den Den Mushi.

"This was bought with public funds, right? So, it’s not too much to use it for official purposes, yeah?"

Unfortunately, the commotion caught the attention of the Vice Admiral, who immediately confiscated the Den Den Mushi.

As the Vice Admiral walked away, the communications officer felt his heart shatter. From that day forward, the ship had one more miserable soul aboard.

His only solace was venting his bitterness on his fellow Marines.

---

Inside the Admiral's Office

In the admiral’s office, Coss Davo reviewed the latest reports on the Hell Pirates, casually asking:

"What’s all the noise about?"

"Ah, nothing major," the Vice Admiral chuckled. "Just a small Den Den Mushi causing a stir. These young ones all wanted a piece of it."

He wasn't wrong.

Compact Den Den Mushi were only issued to officers of colonel rank and above. Lower-ranking Marines—especially below lieutenant colonel—rarely had access to one unless assigned to critical missions.

Even the communications team mainly relied on large, landline Den Den Mushi, which were as big as footballs.

A small, portable Den Den Mushi that fit neatly in the palm? That was a rare luxury for them.

"You wanted it too, didn't you?"

Admiral Coss Davo smirked knowingly.

The Vice Admiral shrugged. "Nah. I just didn’t want the young ones making a ruckus over it. I’ll leave it here with you for now. Just remember to feed it."

As the Den Den Mushi slowly emerged from its shell, it stared directly at Admiral Gauss Davo with eerie intelligence.

"...Are you hungry?"

The admiral casually grabbed some Den Den Mushi feed, tossing it over.

The small snail studied him for a moment before reluctantly eating.

But deep down, it had only one thought—

This food is nowhere near as good as Antonio’s.

Unfortunately, it had lost a bet and was now stuck doing spy work.

Hopefully, one day, it could return to its real family… alive.

---

On the Golden Ship Erebus

"Captain Brook! The multifunctional Den Den Mushi successfully infiltrated the admiral’s warship! It’s now inside Admiral Coss Davo’s office!"

Antonio’s excitement was evident.

Originally, he had only planned to get the Den Den Mushi into the hands of a communications officer. That alone would’ve allowed them to track the ship's location.

But now?

Not only had their spy-snail entered the ship—it had gone straight to the admiral himself!

"Yohohoho! That’s perfect! This Coss Davo is no longer a threat to us!"

Brook let out a relieved chuckle.

With an admiral on their heels, things had been tense.

But now, they had direct surveillance inside the admiral’s own quarters!

"The next step is to make sure other Overlord Crews—like the Rocks Pirates—win similar 'prizes.' We don’t need to steal their secrets—just track their fixed locations."

--

A cold-blooded blonde girl wiped the blood from her hands, her expression instantly shifting to one of innocence.

"Lost them again? This mission is such a hassle..."

She had been chasing the Hell Pirates all the way from the Red Line, passing through the Magara Kingdom and Broccoli Island. Now, she was at Marseille Island—and still hadn’t caught up.

"It seems I need a new strategy…"

Her glistening blue eyes flickered with thought.

"Maybe I should become a famous pirate first! That way, they’ll recruit me themselves!"

She pondered her pirate persona—

A victim of tragedy?

A dreamer chasing freedom?

A survivor persecuted by the underworld?

Or perhaps… someone who worships the pirate who killed a Celestial Dragon?

Meanwhile, the CP organization had caught wind of the Hell Pirates’ interest in Sky Islands and began devising an ambush strategy.

This information soon reached Admiral Coss Davo—but thanks to the spy Den Den Mushi, it also made its way back to Brook.

"Hmm… so both the Navy and CP already know about our Sky Island search?"

Brook frowned.

"Looks like we’ll have to step up our counter-surveillance tactics…"

------

Somewhere on the island.

The atmosphere on the island was tense and oppressive. Both ports were packed with pirate ships, their flags fluttering fiercely in the wind.

"Wang Zhi! Have you Rocks Pirates gotten too full of yourselves? You've only ruled the seas for a few years, and now you dare to expand into our territory?!"

Xiaofeng glared at the enemy before him, his bald head gleaming under the scorching sun. The tattoo on his face seemed to writhe like a living thing.

Today, Xiao Feng of the Diger Pirates formally challenged Wang Zhi of the Rocks Pirates to a duel.

Neither side’s captains intended to intervene.

Emperor Diger trusted in Xiao Feng Zhou’s strength—after all, he had been fighting in the New World much longer than his opponent.

(TL: Diger treat himself As an Emperor and his crew like a Empire)

Wang Zhi, though a overlord candidate in the past year or two, had grown rapidly under Rocks D. Xebec’s brutal training. Now, he was not only a Great Swordsman but had also mastered both Armament and Observation Haki.

His bounty had skyrocketed to 700 million berries—though still below Xiao Feng 800 million bounty.

But Rocks wasn’t concerned.

He knew Wang Zhi’s madness and his unique Killing Sword Intent.

His actual combat strength was only slightly lower than Xiao Feng, and as a member of the Rocks Pirates, wasn’t he supposed to get stronger in the face of powerful enemies? Wasn’t that the essence of Rocks’ crew—to constantly push beyond their limits?

"Wang Zhi has the potential to become the world’s greatest swordsman!"

---

"A new king will always surpass the old!" Wang Zhi sneered, drawing his twin blades. "You Diger Pirates are aging! You can’t handle all this territory anymore. You should hand over half of it to Captain Rocks!"

Wang Zhi wielded dual swords with unmatched attack power. His Killing Sword Intent was overwhelming, and he had no fear of death.

"Ptui!"

A spit landed on the ground beside him.

The culprit—Jevaler—stepped forward, brandishing his rapier, his gaze locked onto Silver Axe X, who stood covered in armor.

"In my eyes," Jevaler scoffed, "how could the so-called new overlord of the Rocks Pirates have the guts to challenge the true overlord, the Diger Pirates?!"

Silver Axe X, clad in silver armor and wielding a massive double-handed axe, let out a cruel laugh.

"Captain Rocks already spoke with your old man, Diger. This battle decides the fate of four islands in the Changshui region. Whoever wins—gets the land!"

None of the Rocks Pirates' officers were good people. They were all ruthless, bloodthirsty warriors.

"Hahaha! Then let's fight! Men—kill them all!!"

Xiao Feng waved his hand.

In an instant, pirates from dozens of Diger Pirate ships surged forward.

As an old overlord, the Diger Pirates had a vast crew, twice the number of Wang Zhi’s forces.

But pirate wars were never fair.

The Rocks Pirates had fewer men, but they were raised through bloodshed and survival of the fittest—like insects devouring each other until only the strongest remained.

Though they were outnumbered, their fighting spirit was not inferior.

---

However, Rocks had underestimated one thing—

The wealth of Diger, the Richest Pirate.

The Diger Pirates’ forces were equipped with overwhelming firepower. The moment Wang Zhi’s men charged, they were met with a devastating barrage of cannon fire and bullets.

Explosions lit up the battlefield.

Even the most hardened bandits under Rocks couldn’t charge through a storm of iron and lead with just steel blades alone.

"Hahaha! Wang Zhi, do you understand now?!" Xiao Feng mocked as the battlefield turned into chaos.

"Do you know what foundation means?! Do you know what it means to be a veteran overlord?! Do you understand firepower supremacy?! You backwater fools! War isn't just about duels—WAR IS ABOUT MONEY!! You broke bastards!!"

He laughed viciously as Rocks’ pirates were cut down in waves.

"Damned…!!"

Wang Zhi roared in rage. He crossed his twin swords, releasing two massive slashes of crimson sword energy, slicing directly toward the Diger Pirates' artillery units.

"You think I’d let you do that?!"

"Wind Control—Endless Wind Sword!"

Xiao Feng pointed a finger.

Instantly, the swords of the pirates around him flew into the air, shooting toward Wang Zhi like a storm of blades.

As for the gunmen and artillery crew targeted by Wang Zhi?

Xiao Feng didn’t even bother to defend them.

He could replace them as easily as buying new weapons.

But Wang Zhi’s opening? That was an opportunity he wouldn’t waste.

---

For masters, battles could be decided in a fraction of a second.

Wang Zhi reacted instantly, blocking most of the incoming swords with his twin blades—but one blade, infused with Armament Haki, pierced his waist.

Blood gushed out.

Yet, even as pain wracked his body, Wang Zhi’s expression didn’t waver.

If anything, his fighting spirit burned even hotter.

"Hahaha!" Xiao Feng laughed cruelly. "Don’t you Rocks Pirates believe in survival of the fittest? Putting strength above all else? Then why did you just risk your life to save your men?"

He didn’t care about the hundreds of gunmen that Wang Zhi’s sword energy had obliterated.

What mattered was that he had wounded his enemy.

Wang Zhi wiped the blood from his waist with his fingers—then licked it.

His eyes turned bloodshot, his twin swords beginning to glow red.

"So that’s how your Wind Control Fruit works…" Wang Zhi muttered.

"You can control wind speed and direction, allowing you to manipulate weapons—but you can only control one direction at a time."

Xiao Feng smirked.

"Hahaha! So what?! And even if you’re right—why would I tell you my weaknesses?!"

He was well aware of his Wind Control Fruit’s limitations. If he could freely control wind direction, he would’ve created a flying ship by now.

But his powers only allowed him to propel objects in one direction at a time. If he wanted his pirate ship to fly, he could create an updraft—but he wouldn’t be able to change its direction midair, making it useless.

Still, even with this drawback, his ship was the fastest on the sea!

Though if Brook had taught him aerodynamics, he might’ve realized he could still adjust direction indirectly…

But no matter. His abilities were already enough.

He raised his sword, and dozens of floating blades formed around him again.

Wang Zhi’s lips curled into a grin.

"Because of that weakness—your flying weapons can only attack once per launch."

He gripped his twin swords tightly.

Then—with explosive speed—he lunged at Xiao Feng, shattering the ground beneath him.

"Hahaha! Do you think my Wind Control only applies to swords?!"

Xiao Feng charged forward, his wind-enhanced movement making him even faster.

The battlefield erupted into chaos as two future legends clashed!

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Chapter Text

As Wang Zhi slashed through Xiao Feng’s flying swords, the latter was already swinging his blade down with both hands, aiming straight for Wang Zhi’s face. The situation was critical.

At the last moment, Wang Zhi crossed his twin swords and blocked Xiao Feng’s lethal strike. A bloodthirsty grin spread across his face as he licked his lips, his eyes burning with madness.

"Are you underestimating me? How dare you fight me in close combat!!!"

Wang Zhi roared as he launched a relentless assault, exploiting his advantage in close combat and refusing to give Xiao Feng any chance to use his Devil Fruit abilities.

"Wang Zhi, do you really think you can beat me in close combat?!"

Did he think Xiao Feng’s greatest strength was just the Wind-Wind Fruit? His swordsmanship and physical prowess were nothing to scoff at either! Today, he would crush this ignorant brat head-on!

The battle between the veteran powerhouse and the rising swordsman grew more and more intense, shaking the battlefield. Meanwhile, on a larger scale, the Diger Pirates had already begun overpowering the Rocks Pirates.

However, the outcome of the strongest warriors on both sides could still determine the fate of the entire battle.

---

Elsewhere on the Battlefield

"Damn bulky tin can! You're all size, no speed!"

Jevaler taunted as he repeatedly dodged Silver Axe’s massive swings, his swift movements leaving only afterimages as the ground beneath them was torn apart by the sheer force of Silver Axe’s attacks.

"You little flea! All you do is run! Fight me head-on if you’ve got the guts!"

Silver Axe X roared in frustration. He was a berserker, a monster of raw strength. But this slippery opponent refused to stay still!

"What, is your skull packed with nothing but muscle?"

Jevaler sneered, using the shattered terrain to further slow down Silver Axe's already sluggish movements.

"Thrust Waltz!"

In a blur, Jevaler’s speed surged even higher. The sound of clashing metal filled the air as sparks flew from every strike. Bit by bit, Silver Axe’s armor shattered, exposing his muscular frame. Even with Armament Haki reinforcing his body, Jevaler’s rapier left countless wounds, crimson streaks painting his skin.

"You're stronger than me, and your defense is solid... but fighting isn't just about brute strength, kid!"

Jevaler smirked. At over forty years old, he was an experienced warrior. Compared to him, Silver Axe was just a hot-headed young man in his twenties!

Though Jevaler’s bounty of 600 million berries dwarfed Silver Axe’s 490 million, this was war—there was no fairness in war. Victory was the only thing that mattered!

He was just about to finish off the promising Rocks Pirate when something in the sky caught his eye. His expression darkened.

A golden ship hovered above them.

His fury ignited. The Hell Pirates?! Those bastards who stole Marseille Island?!

It was an unfortunate reunion. Seeing that the battle was almost over, he abandoned Silver Axe and rushed toward Xiao Feng.

"Xiao Feng! Let's finish off Wang Zhi together, then you can blow those Hell Pirates out of the sky with your wind!!"

Jevaler assumed Xiao Feng had the upper hand. He didn’t notice Wang Zhi’s crazed, bloodshot eyes burning with an ominous red glow.

And at that moment, Xiao Feng wavered for just a second.

"Bloodthirsty Twin Dragon Slash!"

Wang Zhi’s blades lashed out—not at Xiao Feng, but at Jevaler!

Jevaler’s eyes widened. He couldn’t react in time!

Xiao Feng gritted his teeth. Damn it!

With no other choice, Xiao Feng sacrificed his own defense. He caught one of Wang Zhi’s swords with his Armament Haki-coated palm, blocked the other with his own blade, and kicked Jevaler out of harm’s way.

But Wang Zhi had anticipated this!

His true target had always been Xiao Feng!

With a sudden, violent twist, his blade sliced deep into Xiao Feng’s palm. Even through Armament Haki, the bones beneath were exposed—a sickening flash of white against the crimson spray.

A sadistic grin stretched across Wang Zhi’s face as he pressed the attack, targeting the wounded hand relentlessly.

Xiao Feng clicked his tongue. Tch! He was forced to use his Wind-Wind Fruit to blast Wang Zhi back, widening the distance between them.

He had originally wanted to defeat Wang Zhi solely with swordsmanship—to prove he was the superior swordsman. But now that he was injured, he had to fight more seriously.

No more holding back.

"Damn it, Xiao Feng! I just wanted you to help blow those Hell Pirates away—I didn’t mean to distract you!"

Jevaler called out apologetically. But when he saw Xiao Feng’s exposed bone, his heart sank.

Xiao Feng didn’t reply. Instead, he raised his hand—and a powerful gust of wind surged toward the golden ship in the sky.

However, to his surprise, the ship barely moved. The effect was much weaker than expected.

---

Aboard the Golden Ship, Erebus

"Captain Brook! There’s a massive pirate battle below!"

Shakky called out, peering through her binoculars. She had expected to run into some trouble while escaping the Marines, but not a war between two dominant pirate crews!

Over forty pirate ships clashed in the sea below—it was absolute chaos.

"Captain, it’s bad! Those are the Diger Pirates and the Rocks Pirates! We should get out of here—now!"

Antonio's face paled as he recognized several bounty posters through the telescope.

Brook’s eyes widened. "What?! Rocks and Diger are here?! RETREAT! NOW!!!"

Was Rocks already making his move to conquer the New World?!

"Captain Brook, we have a problem!"

Fishman Tom’s hands moved rapidly across the controls.

"A sudden gust of wind blew the Erebus toward the island!"

"Damn it!" Brook cursed.

Tom maxed out the wind jets, while Redfield increased power to stabilize their trajectory.

"Captain, the top officers of both pirate crews are fighting below, but their captains are nowhere in sight!"

Sniper Hiruba scanned the battlefield through his ultra-range scope.

"The strongest fighters down there are Xiao Feng of the Diger Pirates—800 million berries—and Jevaler, the guy we pissed off on Marseille Island. On Rocks’ side, we’ve got the swordsman Wang Zhi and Silver Axe X."

Hiruba adjusted his scope.

"Rocks’ forces have taken heavy losses. Silver Axe is wounded. Wang Zhi and Xiao Feng are injured too."

Shakky’s eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute! Xiao Feng … he ate the Wind-Wind Fruit, right? That must be why the wind suddenly changed!"

Brook’s expression darkened. Damn it!

"Tom! Redfield! Can we stabilize the ship and counter his ability?!"

Redfield’s eyes gleamed. "We should be able to resist it from this distance. But if we want to mess him up, I’ve got an idea..."

A bolt of lightning surged from Redfield’s fingertips, striking the battlefield below.

Charlotte Linlin grinned wickedly. "Zeus! Prometheus! Attack!!!"

A thunderstorm raged as Newgate smashed a shockwave into the battlefield with a single punch.

Brook wasn’t about to be left out.

He raised his blade, channeling his energy. "Seven-Star Slash!!!"

Even Hiruba joined in, firing poisoned bullets at the legendary figures below.

The Hell Pirates would not be easy prey!

----

Wang Zhi watched as Xiao Feng used his Devil Fruit ability to attack the golden ship above. He remained silent, hoping that some unexpected external force would intervene and shift Xiao Feng’s attention. If luck was on his side, this could be his best chance to land a killing blow.

However, what greeted them wasn’t salvation—it was destruction.

Pillars of lightning rained from the sky. Thunderclouds roared, spitting out streaks of electricity. Flames erupted, spreading across the battlefield in an infernal blaze. Then, a white, glowing shockwave descended, shaking the entire island to its core.

And that wasn’t all.

A terrifying sword aura sliced through the air—it carried a force on par with Wang Zhi’s own great swordsmanship. Xiao Feng twisted and turned, dodging bullets from an unseen sniper. When they struck the ground, they left crater-sized holes as big as bowls. A faint light-purple aura seeped from the impact sites, a clear sign that the bullets were laced with a deadly poison.

Wang Zhi barely evaded a lightning strike when he spotted thundercloud flames flickering in the sky. His expression darkened. That power… Could it be—?!

He suddenly recalled a monster he had heard about in the New World.

A woman known as an Iron Balloon.

Charlotte Linlin.

"How the hell are there so many dangerous people on that ship?!"

The moment Xiao Feng was forced to focus on avoiding the sniper’s attacks, he could no longer maintain the strong wind blowing against the golden ship. With his ability suppressed, the ship stabilized in the air.

---

Aboard the Golden Ship, Erebus

"Captain Brook! The Howling Wind’s ability has vanished! We can retreat normally now!"

Tom the Fishman shouted excitedly, but when he turned around, his face stiffened.

Redfield, Charlotte Linlin, and even Newgate… all of them looked eager to fight.

Redfield’s aura surged with excitement. "Captain Brook, the two captains aren't here, and the top fighters are already injured. Why don’t we go down and fight them?"

His eyes gleamed with battlelust. He had recently awakened his Conqueror’s Haki, and now, he burned for a challenge against the old legends of the New World. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Newgate cracked his knuckles. "Captain, I also want to test my training results!"

He had awakened both Armament and Observation Haki, and with the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, his strength had skyrocketed. A fight like this would solidify his name and boost his bounty!

Brook sighed. "The bounties are no joke, you know. Xiao Feng —800 million berries. Wang Zhi—700 million. Jevaler—600 million. Silver Axe—490 million. And they have over 2,000 pirate troops. Are you sure about this?"

Even though the Rocks Pirates and Diger Pirates were already tearing each other apart, diving into this war was pure madness.

However, Brook couldn’t ignore the fact that the Hell Pirates had bad blood with the Diger Pirates. If they joined forces with Wang Zhi and his men, they might just turn the tide of battle.

---

The Battlefield Situation

On the ocean below, 30 Diger Pirates' ships clashed with 15 Rocks Pirates' ships in a brutal war.

The Diger Pirates started with over 3,000 men, while the Rocks Pirates had only 1,500. Wang Zhi had personally cut down dozens of enemies, and the gunmen had thinned the numbers on both sides.

Now, after suffering massive losses, the battle had entered close combat. The Diger Pirates had around 2,000 fighters remaining, while the Rocks Pirates had been reduced to 600 or 700 men.

Even the ruthless Rocks Pirates were beginning to consider retreating. Their casualties had passed 50%, and while they were elite warriors, it was a simple truth of battle: if an army lost 20% of its forces, signs of collapse would already appear.

---

The Hell Pirates Decide to Join the Battle

Redfield smirked. "Captain Brook, those weaklings are just small fry. My Conqueror’s Haki combined with your Death Gaze will wipe them out in an instant. Leave Wang Zhi to me! My swordsmanship is about to reach the level of a Great Swordsman—after this, my bounty will definitely rise again!"

His pride burned at the thought that Charlotte Linlin's bounty was higher than his own. He had to prove himself.

Newgate laughed. "Gurarara~! In that case, I’ll take Jevaler. Gotta break past 600 million sooner or later!"

His strength had grown at a monstrous rate, like a teenager hitting a second puberty. He was growing taller by the day, and his legendary white beard was beginning to appear—even though his hair was still golden.

Brook sighed, remembering that Newgate's crescent-shaped mustache would fully grow in by the time he turned thirty. That iconic crescent-shaped mustache would one day earn him the title Whitebeard.

Brook shrugged. "Hey, hey~, I might not be able to take on Xiao Feng alone!"

Charlotte Linlin grinned. "Mmmmh! Don't worry, Brother Brook! I'll help you smash him!"

Shakky and the Fishman duo—Tom and Tiger—volunteered to take on the injured Silver Axe together.

Hiruba, the sniper, and ship doctor Crocus took responsibility for support and long-range cover. Even the cowardly Streusen trembled as he raised his sword. The Kirin Lion roared in agreement.

The Memory Seahorse obediently stood beside Antonio, waiting to claim the spoils of war. Meanwhile, the parrot perched on Antonio's head, flapping its wings excitedly.

Brook exhaled deeply. "Well… since you all have this much fighting spirit, let’s show them what the Hell Pirates are made of!"

With their enemies wounded and unsupported, this was the perfect time to make a name for themselves.

---

Xiao Feng & Wang Zhi’s Reaction

Xiao Feng and Wang Zhi watched as the golden ship descended—not fleeing, but launching an all-out assault.

"Are they seriously picking a fight with BOTH the Rocks Pirates AND the Diger Pirates?!"

Suddenly—

A massive wave of Conqueror’s Haki erupted from the golden ship, crashing down on the battlefield like a tidal wave of willpower.

The fighting stopped.

Hundreds of pirates collapsed unconscious, their bodies thudding against the bloodstained ground. The ones who remained standing were the strongest elites, but even they felt dizzy and lightheaded.

Xiao Feng and Wang Zhi’s expressions darkened.

"T-They have a Conqueror’s Haki user?!"

Jevaler clenched his fists. "These bastards… they’re the ones who stole Marseille Island from me!"

A massive Soul Reaper manifested above the golden ship, its eerie aura suffocating the battlefield. The air grew thick with the stench of death, and countless pirates froze in terror. Many collapsed, their eyes rolling back in paralyzing fear.

Xiao Feng gritted his teeth. "Damn it… Just who are these guys?!"

Brook’s voice rang out.

"Yohohoho~! Brother Xiao Feng, we were just passing by, yet you attacked us first! Allow me to return the favor with a little gift!"

As the golden ship hovered above, the Hell Pirates leapt from the sky, their battle auras shaking the battlefield.

Silver Axe stumbled backward—the moment he recognized Charlotte Linlin, his blood ran cold.

He had fought her once before…

And barely survived.

Xiao Feng scoffed. "A little pirate crew that’s been in the New World for less than a year… thinks they can challenge us?"

He was about to find out just how wrong he was.

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Chapter Text

Every year, new Overlord Candidate enter the New World, and without fail, rookie pirate crews—thinking they're invincible—challenge the dominant pirate crews without even mastering Haki.

Without exception, they either get beaten half to death and barely escape, end up crippled, or surrender on the spot after being crushed.

Only those who understand the reality of the New World—who know when to keep a low profile, hide their weaknesses, and grow their power in secret—have a chance to make a real impact. These are the ones who rise to become contenders, earning the wariness of even the reigning pirate overlords.

But there are exceptions. Rocks, for instance, took the brutal path of fighting his way up, using battle to fuel his growth. Even so, he deliberately avoided clashing with the strongest factions in the beginning, steadily gaining strength through combat.

By the time the other dominant pirate crews realized the threat he posed, he had already gained enough power to challenge them. From there, he recruited more warriors, built his influence, and eventually took down the old overlords head-on—becoming a legendary pirate and one of the New World’s new rulers.

---

"Wow~, so you're saying the longer you're in the New World, the stronger you get? Then I should just ask people their age instead of fighting them! If getting stronger was just about time, what’s the point of being a genius?!"

A genius is someone who shatters expectations and breaks limits. No matter the era, true geniuses develop at insane speeds, achieving things in a few years that others take decades to accomplish.

"Hahaha! You're arrogant and ignorant, just like the rest! I’ve personally killed at least thirty cocky candidates like you—maybe even fifty! And the ones who survived? They either fled in disgrace or bent the knee to our Diger Pirates!"

Xiao Feng loved dealing with rookies who had more confidence than sense. Nothing pleased him more than watching their cocky smirks turn into terror when faced with the brutal reality of the New World. Seeing their pride crushed, their bodies beaten down—it never got old.

Now that the Hell Pirates had walked right up to his doorstep, he might as well take their heads himself. But first, he had to take care of the real threat—Wang Zhi.

"Brother Xiaofeng, you handle Wang Zhi! I’ll take care of the Hell Pirates myself!!"

Jevaler stepped forward, his tone firm. He thought the Hell Pirates had come to join forces with Wang Zhi’s side against them.

Until now, he'd assumed their sky-high bounties were only because they killed Celestial Dragons. But after seeing their presence up close—the way they carried themselves, their sheer battle aura, and the infamous Iron Balloon, Charlotte Linlin, standing among them—he no longer dared to underestimate them.

Still, Jevaler had the pride of an Overlord crew. Today, he would fight them alone and show them what the Diger Pirates were truly capable of.

"Gurarara~! Your opponent is me!"

Edward Newgate stepped forward, placing himself in front of Jevaler. His eyes burned with excitement—if he could take down Jevaler, his bounty would skyrocket to the level of Redfield and the other Crew.

"Hah! Are you serious? Who the hell even are you?! Some no-name brat thinks he can challenge me?!"

Jevaler burst into laughter, feeling outright insulted.

Even Wang Zhi, watching from the side, shook his head. He had expected the Hell Pirates to at least bring someone capable of keeping Xiao Feng occupied, but instead, they were making reckless decisions.

---

"Hey, Wang Zhi! I want to fight you!"

Redfield drew his sword, his voice ringing out across the battlefield.

Challenge? No—this wasn’t a challenge. Challenges were for the weak trying to prove themselves against the strong. Redfield didn’t see himself as any weaker than Wang Zhi.

"What? You want to fight me??"

Wang Zhi’s expression twisted in disbelief.

Did the Hell Pirates really have another monster among them? He already knew about Linlin, but was there another rising legend in their ranks? He had expected them to side against Xiao Feng, yet they were turning against him instead.

"Hahahaha! Not only are you reckless, but you're out of your damn minds!"

Even Xiao Feng couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He had assumed the Hell Pirates would team up with Wang Zhi against him—but instead, they were going after both overlord crews at the same time.

He had originally planned to eliminate them while dealing with Wang Zhi, but now… this was getting interesting.

Meanwhile, Wang Zhi’s expression darkened.

The Hell Pirates’ decision threw his whole plan into chaos. If Xiao Feng found an opening, he might not make it off this island alive.

He had two options:

1. Kill Redfield instantly, then focus on dealing with Xiao Feng.

2. Retreat.

He had been too arrogant today. There was still a gap between him and Xiao Feng—not a massive one, but enough to make this situation dangerous.

---

On the other side, Jevaler made the first move, attacking Newgate without hesitation.

He couldn’t stand the idea of some unknown pirate daring to challenge him—so he went straight for the kill.

“Dash—Eviscerating Thorn!”

His rapier, coated in Armament Haki, pierced through the air, creating sonic booms along the way. His bounty was no fluke—he had earned it through countless battles, cutting down enemy after enemy with his blade.

"Gurarara~, just in time!"

“Shockwave!”

Newgate’s right hand glowed with white energy, and with the sheer power of a giant, he threw a punch straight at Jevaler’s sword.

BOOM!!!

The impact sent shockwaves through the air, causing a deafening explosion of force. The white glow was blinding, and the sheer collision sent hurricane-like winds across the battlefield.

Jevaler’s rapier bent slightly from the force, and violent air currents erupted between the tip of his blade and Newgate’s fist.

The sheer pressure made everyone's clothes and hair whip violently in the wind.

---

"He actually blocked it?!"

Xiao Feng and Wang Zhi both felt a jolt of surprise.

Jevaler was no joke—he had just toyed with Silver Axe in battle, stabbing him full of holes. Yet this giant, someone they had never even heard of before, stopped his attack head-on?!

"Enough standing around—let’s fight!"

Redfield didn’t waste time. His blade, once Brook’s cane sword, now reforged under a new name, crackled with electricity as he flashed forward at terrifying speed.

Lightning sparked around him as he thrust his sword straight at Wang Zhi.

"You really dare?!"

Wang Zhi grinned bloodthirstily.

His waist injury slowed him down, but that didn’t mean he was someone a mere Redfield could take lightly!

CLANG!

He crossed his swords, coating them in Armament Haki, blocking Redfield’s strike while deflecting the lightning bolts that followed.

"You want to take me out first and then fight Xiao Feng, huh?"

Despite being slightly weaker than Xiao Feng, Wang Zhi wasn’t blind. He could see exactly what Redfield was planning.

Redfield’s Observation Haki was extraordinary—almost like he could predict the future.

Against a great swordsman who could use Haki, most Logia users wouldn’t dare rely solely on their elementalization. Unless they were supremely confident in their speed and foresight, they’d get sliced apart before they could even react.

And Wang Zhi?

He wasn’t planning to lose today.

-----

Wang Zhi realized that his Armament Haki and swordsmanship were stronger than Redfield’s, but every time he unleashed a deadly move, Redfield managed to block it.

What annoyed him even more was that Redfield dared to use his Logia intangibility against an Armament Haki attack, perfectly avoiding fatal strikes. That level of arrogance pissed him off.

"Your Observation Haki... you can see into the future?!"

Because of the devastating offensive power of the Thunder-Thunder Fruit, Wang Zhi had to reinforce his entire body with Armament Haki, significantly increasing his stamina consumption. His expression turned solemn.

Redfield’s Devil Fruit not only granted him immense lightning-based attack power but also extreme speed. More than that, thanks to Captain Brook’s teachings, he had fused electromagnetic waves with his specialized Observation Haki, allowing him to sense his opponent’s thoughts with ease.

“I wouldn’t say I can fully see the future just yet… but predicting your movements? That’s easy.”

After dodging another of Wang Zhi’s ferocious slashes, Redfield spun his sword in a flourish, dispersing the lightning. He had decided—he would fight Wang Zhi in a pure sword duel. This battle would be his whetstone, sharpening his skills and pushing him closer to the rank of a Great Swordsman.

“You want to use me as your grindstone? You better be careful, or you’ll lose your damn life!”

Wang Zhi could see through Redfield’s intent. A bloodthirsty smile formed on his lips. He remembered when he was just as reckless.

A true swordsman must face battle with unyielding pride. Even when facing someone stronger, they must press forward with unwavering sharpness, determined to claim victory.

“Come at me, then! I won’t fall here—my dream’s still far from over. You? You’re just another stepping stone!”

Redfield coated his blade in Armament Haki, stepping forward to engage Wang Zhi in a proper duel of swords.

---

"Hahahaha! Now this is interesting!"

Xiao Feng was thoroughly entertained. A newcomer blocking Wang Zhi? If their captain, Brook, was even stronger than that, then the Hell Pirates were already on their way to becoming a top-tier pirate crew.

With that in mind, their potential was terrifying. They had that golden warship as a tool for expansion. Given enough time, the Hell Pirates would carve out a place for themselves in the New World.

"Hey, Brook, how about joining the Diger Pirates? We can forget about that Marseille Island incident. With your strength, you’d be ruling as one of the Ten Kings in no time!"

Right now, the Hell Pirates were stronger than the six lower-ranked Kings and nearly at his level—the Third King. If he could recruit Brook, he wouldn’t just take him in—he’d wipe out Wang Zhi and Silver Axe right here and now.

With that, the Diger Pirates would become the dominant force, surpassing even the Rocks Pirates and maintaining their reign as the strongest crew in the New World.

However, the moment Xiao Feng made his offer, Jevaler scowled. He was currently locked in battle with one of Brook’s crew members—and getting completely held down by the guy. It was downright embarrassing.

His frustration doubled his speed and power, yet he still couldn’t break through his opponent’s defense. That little giant was absurdly strong, and even his Devil Fruit abilities were rattling his internal organs, leaving him increasingly uncomfortable. The entire battlefield around them had been shattered from the impact of their blows.

Aside from slightly weaker Haki, this guy is my equal in every other aspect. I can’t put him down quickly…

"Join you?" Brook unsheathed his Seven-Star Sword, shaking his head. "Nah. I’d rather carve out my own legend."

Charlotte Linlin stepped forward as well, Thunder Cloud Zeus and Sun Prometheus fusing into her fists.

Her left fist crackled with lightning. Her right burned with fire. With her iron-balloon defense, she stood tall as the frontline tank, allowing Brook—whose Devil Fruit abilities made him a lethal support fighter—to go all out.

"Hahahaha! I like it! Hell Pirates, I’d say you’re the craziest rookie of the year!"

Xiao Feng abandoned the idea of recruiting them. A crew with a member who possessed Conqueror’s Haki? That meant Brook’s ambition was probably even greater than his own. Another ruthless bastard like Rocks had arrived.

That wouldn’t do.

In that case, the best choice was to crush them here and now, before they grew into a future threat.

Charlotte Linlin charged toward Xiao Feng. He was one of the top commanders of the Diger Pirates, a pirate with an 800 million berry bounty.

Xiao Feng flicked his wrist, unleashing a barrage of flying swords toward her—swords so sharp they had even forced Wang Zhi onto the defensive before.

But when they hit Charlotte Linlin’s skin…

CLANG!

The swords bounced right off, scattering sparks in all directions.

“What the hell?! Even Wang Zhi couldn't block those!!”

Xiao Feng’s eyes widened. He knew for sure his swords were coated in Armament Haki, so how in the hell did they not even scratch her?!

Even for an “iron balloon” body, this was absurd!

His swords were capable of slicing through steel like butter, and he had mastered the sword to that level for over twenty years.

"Doesn't it hurt when you hit people like that?"

Charlotte Linlin smirked before swinging her Lightning Fist and Fire Fist at him. The force behind her attack was devastating, but Xiao Feng, empowered by the Wind-Wind Fruit, was far too fast.

With a blur, he vanished—dodging the strike in an instant. The spot where he once stood erupted in a massive explosion of fire and lightning, leaving two deep craters in the ground.

Xiao Feng appeared in the distance, catching his breath—only to hear a voice whisper from behind him.

"Too bad. I'm just as fast."

Underworld God’s Wail – Seven-Star Phantom Slash!

Brook materialized behind him, gliding across an icy path formed from Underworld energy. A flash of his blade, and—

ZSHING!

A thin, precise cut appeared across Xiao Feng’s chest. Blood trickled out—but before it could fall, it froze into tiny crimson ice crystals from the chilling ghost energy.

“Hahahaha! Not bad! Not bad at all! You even managed to cut me?!”

Xiao Feng grinned, but his eyes darkened. He had let his guard down. He had actually been injured by a rookie.

If this got out, how many would laugh at him?

“Tch. I was gonna take it easy on you, but that sword of yours pissed me off.”

His playful demeanor vanished, replaced by the cold, savage presence of a true New World pirate. His eyes gleamed with murderous intent as his Armament Haki surged, forming rippling waves along his blade.

Brook’s expression hardened.

"Advanced Armament Haki… Flowing Form?"

This was bad. If Xiao Feng had trained his Armament Haki that far, then even Charlotte Linlin’s iron-balloon body wouldn’t be completely safe.

“Wind Domain – Howling Tempest!”

Xiao Feng raised his hands, summoning a roaring hurricane that tore across the battlefield, battering the Hell Pirates with immense force.

Then—

"You made me bleed… now die!"

Brook barely had time to react. Xiao Feng, eyes bloodshot with rage, flashed in front of him, faster than a blink.

Brook’s pupils shrank.

A sharp blade pierced his chest.

Xiao Feng’s violent Armament Haki ripped through his heart, the sheer force crushing it completely.

"Captain Brook!!!"

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Chapter Text

Jevaler laughed as he steadied himself against the raging storm. He knew that Xiaofeng had finally revealed his true strength.

"Haha! In Brother Xiaofeng’s Wind Devil fruit, none of you can stop his attacks!!"

He had already seen Brook’s heart pierced by Xiao Feng, and next, it would be the turn of these hateful enemies. The Hell Pirates should prepare for their demise!

"I don’t believe Captain Brook would die so easily!!"

Newgate roared, steadying himself before throwing a furious punch at Jevaler. The latter blocked with his rapier, but the impact still sent him flying, his bones audibly cracking in the wind.

"Your captain is dead. Do you want to join the Rocks Pirates?"

Wang Zhi effortlessly stabilized himself in the storm and continued attacking Redfield. He had already acknowledged his opponent’s strength—this man had managed to hold out for so long against his swordsmanship and was even growing stronger before his eyes.

"Captain Brook won’t die!!"

Redfield unleashed his Conqueror’s Haki, causing faint arcs of lightning to crackle around him like a spectral storm elf, completely unaffected by the raging wind.

"BROTHER BROOK!!!"

Charlotte Linlin’s eyes turned bloodshot as she let out a furious roar. The sheer force of her voice dispersed the storm around her, creating a vast vacuum in the raging winds.

She had promised the nun that she would protect Brook!

A surge of black and red lightning erupted around her, violently surging toward Brook and Xiaofeng.

"Damn it! Another Conqueror’s Haki!"

Xiaofeng was about to pull his sword from Brook’s chest when he suddenly realized that the man who should have been dead had actually grabbed the blade with one hand—while slashing at him with the other!

Xiaofeng barely dodged the attack, forced to abandon his weapon as he swiftly teleported away using the raging winds to evade Charlotte Linlin’s furious assault.

"So getting my heart pierced still hurts like hell... But at least Linlin has awakened her Conqueror’s Haki. That makes this worth it!"

Brook yanked Xiaofeng’s sword from his chest and casually tossed it aside. A thick Underworld energy seeped from his wounded heart, slowly filling the gaping hole.

I didn’t react in time back there. The moment the storm began, I barely steadied myself before Xiaofeng ambushed me. But I won’t be caught off guard again!

Charlotte Linlin, her scarlet eyes burning with rage, continued chasing Xiaofeng through the storm. However, in this chaotic battlefield, Xiaofeng’s speed had increased dramatically. The storm restricted his enemies, forcing them to waste energy resisting the wind’s force. Worse still, Xiaofeng controlled the wind, constantly shifting its direction to throw his opponents off balance.

"I wonder if my soul is affected by the storm!"

Brook’s soul suddenly separated from his body.

A colossal Reaper’s Soul materialized, followed by a horde of enslaved ghosts. Fortunately, the storm didn’t affect his spectral form. Soul Brook immediately led his ghostly army into the howling winds, heading straight for the battlefield.

Charlotte Linlin, upon seeing Brook’s soul, momentarily regained her sanity.

Redfield had known about Brook’s immortality for a long time, so he had no concerns. The other Hell Pirates, including Newgate, also sighed in relief.

Meanwhile, Silver Axe was still fighting fiercely, but he was now under siege by multiple Hell Pirates.

Fisher Tiger acted as the main tank.

Shakky was the primary attacker.

Tom provided support.

Even so, the three of them were no match for Silver Axe, who relentlessly overpowered them.

Luckily, sniper Hiruba’s poisoned bullets had been continuously landing hits, gradually weakening Silver Axe. Crocus also landed several successful paralyzing harpoon and smoke shell attacks, further debuffing Silver Axe.

"Damn it, you bastards fight dirty!" Silver Axe cursed.

Xiaofeng, meanwhile, shifted his attack toward Wang Zhi and Redfield.

"Today, I’m keeping all of you here!"

As for that damn steel balloon—he would deal with her later!

Redfield, already fully elementalized, saw through Wang Zhi’s movements time and time again, allowing him to dodge attacks preemptively.

But when Xiaofeng suddenly launched a sneak attack, it forced a three-way melee.

Xiaofeng, with his unstable mastery of Haki, was still the strongest of the three, pressuring Wang Zhi and Redfield to briefly cooperate to repel his relentless assault.

Meanwhile, Soul Brook finally found his opening and entered the fray.

Both Xiaofeng and Wang Zhi quickly noticed something shocking—their attacks had no effect on Brook! They couldn’t even break his Armament Haki!

However, Soul Brook didn’t seem to have any offensive power. He simply led his ghost army around the battlefield.

The two warriors weren’t sure whether these ghosts could actually harm them, so they instinctively avoided them.

"Welcome to my Soul Funeral Song!"

Brook grinned as his Underworld and Netherworld energy enveloped his enemies. A skeletal guitar manifested in his spectral hands, and he began playing wildly—waves of eerie soul magic rippling through the battlefield.

Xiaofeng and Wang Zhi instantly knew something was wrong.

They reinforced their entire bodies with Armament Haki to counter Brook’s strange ability.

"Follow my voice... and leave your body behind!"

A terrifying force suddenly pulled at their souls. They struggled desperately, their bodies trembling.

In an act of sheer willpower, both of them forcibly expelled bursts of gray energy from their bodies, resisting Brook’s pull.

"If you don’t want to leave your body—then explode!"

Both warriors coughed up blood.

Their Armament Haki had failed to defend against Brook’s soul attack!

Brook’s eyes gleamed with hunger.

If I can kill them, I’ll have two high-ranking warriors as ghosts under my command!

One day, when my spectral army can truly attack physically, my strength will snowball endlessly!

"Damn you, Brook! Crushing your heart didn’t kill you, but this soul attack actually hurts?!"

Xiaofeng spat out more blood.

"Fine, I admit defeat today! But next time—I’ll smash your body to pieces!"

With his last ounce of strength, Xiaofeng activated his Wind Devil Fruit and escaped the battlefield, taking Jevaler with him.

Pirates of their caliber had monstrous vitality and recovery abilities. As long as they weren’t instantly killed, escaping was always an option.

"Captain Brook! A fleet of pirate ships is approaching from the distance! We need to retreat!!!"

Antonio shouted, his voice urgent.

At the same time, flocks of Vulture News Birds appeared in the sky.

Brook’s face darkened.

"Damn it! These news birds must have informed the Diger Pirates. We need to get out of here!"

There was no time to finish off Wang Zhi. They had to escape before getting surrounded by two overlord-level pirate crews!

-----

The overlord of the New World, the Diger Pirates' flagship—the Codex of the Diger.

Diger Sparrow couldn't believe that Xiao Feng and Wang Zhi’s duel would be interrupted by a Supernova pirate crew. But according to intelligence from the Vulture News Bird, Xiao Feng had already used all his signature techniques yet still failed to get rid of Wang Zhi and the meddling Hell Pirates. This made Diger Sparrow even more determined to recruit Brook and his crew, prompting him to come in person.

When Rocks learned that Diger Sparrow had set out himself, he couldn’t let Wang Zhi and his crew face absolute danger alone. As the captain, he personally led his ship to escort them.

Brook had already gathered all his crew aboard the golden flying ship, making a quick retreat. His unintentional Soul Strike earlier had injured both Xiao Feng and Wang Zhi, draining a massive amount of their stamina and vitality.

If they clashed head-on with Brook in this state, both Xiaofeng and Wang Zhi would be completely overwhelmed.

Wang Zhi watched the golden spaceship retreat warily before moving toward the injured Silver Axe. Back then, neither he nor Xiao Feng understood the peculiar nature of Brook’s Devil Fruit power, which was why their souls suffered damage.

Next time, it wouldn't be so easy for Brook’s Soul Phantom to touch them. They would strike his physical body first and eliminate him at the root!

Meanwhile, Xiao Feng was cursing under his breath. Brook’s soul attack had drained over half of his vitality and stamina, leaving him with injuries far worse than his exposed-bone wound.

“Next time, if I don’t cut Brook into pieces, I won’t be called Xiao Feng!”

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he grimaced. He had suspected that Brook’s intangible phantoms had unique abilities, but he never expected them to not only attack souls but also siphon away massive amounts of stamina and vitality.

He felt that if he didn’t feast nonstop for the next few days to replenish his energy, he might not even be able to wield his Flowing Haki. And without that, breaking through Charlotte Linlin’s defense would be impossible. Rather than getting beaten down while severely injured, retreating now and seeking revenge later was the better choice.

Now that he had figured out the Hell Pirates’ abilities, he would be prepared next time.

“Brother Xiao Feng, put me down already!”

Jevaler, being carried by Xiao Feng, felt embarrassed. After all, he was a fearsome pirate—if others saw him like this, it would be humiliating!

It was already disgraceful enough to have his hand bones shattered by that unknown little giant. Next time, he would unleash his full strength immediately instead of underestimating his opponent!

Xiao Feng brought Jevaler back to his ship and put him down. He spotted the Hell Pirates still retreating and debated whether to intercept them despite his injuries and stall them until Captain Diger Sparrow arrived.

Just as he was about to use his Wind Fruit to blow the golden ship back, a wave of weakness washed over him. His soul felt faint, his face turned pale, and his limbs grew cold.

“Damn it, Brook! What kind of ability is this?!”

Xiao Feng staggered into the ship’s kitchen, searching for food to replenish his vitality. Those phantoms had an effect far beyond what he expected—he had completely underestimated Brook.

Not only was Brook incredibly fast, but his attacks carried a chilling Underworld Aura that bypassed conventional defenses. Even striking him fatally didn’t ensure his defeat. His ability to separate his soul from his body made him as troublesome as a Mythical Zoan user.

“Brother Xiao Feng, you’re seriously injured too?”

Jevaler watched as Xiao Feng devoured food like a starving beast, not even tending to his mangled hand. Jevaler, who only had a minor fracture, immediately fetched the ship’s medical kit. He quickly bandaged Xiao Feng’s palm, leaving the proper treatment to the ship’s doctor later.

“I got tricked by that bastard Brook!!”

Both Xiao Feng and Wang Zhi had believed their Armament Haki would block Brook’s strange attack. They never expected the real damage to come from a direct assault on their souls, leaving them both severely wounded.

It was just like Law’s Ope-Ope Fruit—Vergo’s full-body Armament Haki had meant nothing when Law cut him to pieces. Even Big Mom’s near-impenetrable defense was useless when her insides were targeted.

That’s why, when facing a Devil Fruit user, understanding their abilities first was crucial. Not only did it allow for proper countermeasures, but it also revealed their weaknesses.

Even Conqueror’s Haki masters could be rendered helpless by certain Devil Fruits—just like those elite fighters in Dressrosa who were turned into toys by Sugar’s Hobby-Hobby Fruit.

There were many Paramecia-type Devil Fruits that were outright broken, such as the Pet-Pet Fruit. Once someone was marked, even powerful figures like Law or Luffy would be forced to obey its user’s commands.

Even the strongest warriors could fall into the traps of strange Devil Fruits and lose the ability to resist.

“The next time we face Brook, we need to destroy his physical body before he can unleash his soul phantoms!”

Xiao Feng warned Jevaler, though Jevaler likely wouldn’t dare to provoke the Hell Pirates alone now. Their strength had exceeded expectations.

This rookie crew, which had only entered the New World a few months ago, already showed the makings of a future Overlord-level force.

If not for carelessness, Xiao Feng might have been the one overturned today.

The next time they crossed paths, Xiao Feng wasn’t sure if he could still suppress the Hell Pirates. These young pirates grew fast—once they overcame the Haki threshold, newcomers would soon rival the old legends!

“I understand,” Jevaler nodded.

He had witnessed Brook surviving a pierced heart, which suggested a strong recovery ability or even an immortal body. But every power had limits—if they chopped Brook into pieces, he shouldn’t be able to regenerate.

After all, as a dominant pirate crew, they had fought many battles. Captain Diger Sparrow himself had once slain an awakened Zoan user by cutting him into pieces and tossing him into the sea.

“By the way… you seriously couldn’t handle that little giant?”

Xiao Feng gave Jevaler a questioning look. Had he been slacking in his training? His combat skills seemed to have regressed!

“Brother Xiao Feng, that little giant’s strength surpasses that of actual giants. His Devil Fruit ability penetrated my Haki and directly injured my internal organs. He’s a real powerhouse—not someone to underestimate!”

Jevaler quickly defended himself, making it clear that it wasn’t his strength that had declined—the enemy was simply that formidable.

“That means the Hell Pirates have another member with a bounty over 500 million…”

Xiao Feng muttered to himself, analyzing the situation.

With Brook, that little giant, the two other core members, and the Iron Balloon Charlotte Linlin, the Hell Pirates now had at least four fighters on par with himself and Wang Zhi!

Though injured, Xiao Feng wasn’t worried—he still believed Brook alone wasn’t a threat. Now that he understood the nature of Brook’s Devil Fruit, he was confident that no matter how many times they clashed, Brook wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

Chapter Text

The Diger Pirates and the Rocks Pirates entered the waters of Changshui Island at the same time, only to find the bodies of pirate minions strewn across the ground—nearly half of them had lost their lives.

Rocks' expression was dark and fierce, his mood clearly soured. The casualties on his side seemed even worse than expected. He had meticulously trained his men, yet they still couldn't withstand the Diger’s artillery force.

His gaze landed on Wang Zhi and Silver Axe, both severely wounded. It wasn’t what he had envisioned—Wang Zhi didn’t achieve a breakthrough in the heat of battle, nor did he slay Xiao Feng to boost Rocks' prestige.

Emerging from the pirate ship, Xiao Feng looked visibly embarrassed. Though he had taken a short rest alongside Jeviler, his face was still pale. He hadn't expected to not only fail in taking down Wang Zhi but also be humiliated by an upstart pirate group.

“Xiao Feng, what happened? Have you gotten weaker? You can’t even handle Wang Zhi? Tsk, tsk~”

A lazy, slurred voice broke the silence. A man swaggered forward, his pirate saber dangling at his waist. His clothes were filthy, and his captain’s hat was tattered.

“Jack, shut up!”

Before Xiao Feng could snap back, Diger Sparrow cursed his own disappointing son, Jack Sparrow.

“Diger, if you want to discipline your son, do it back at your base instead of embarrassing yourself here! Now tell me—what’s the plan? The battle has no clear winner. Why don’t we just split these four islands in half?”

Rocks grinned menacingly, crossing his arms over his chest. His aura alone was enough to make the Diger Pirates' lower-ranked crew members bow their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.

“Hey, I was already beating Wang Zhi into the ground! I could’ve finished him off anytime! If those Hell Pirates hadn’t interfered, Wang Zhi would be a corpse by now!”

Xiao Feng, despite his pale complexion and shaved head, stepped forward angrily.

“Hah! You think so? Who's to say whose corpse it would’ve been?”

Wang Zhi stood up, despite his severe injuries. Blood continued to seep from his waist wound, but his posture remained firm—his body, like a drawn sword, refused to waver.

“Oi, Wang Zhi, don’t push yourself too hard. Look at you—your kidneys are practically hanging out! If you don’t get treatment soon, you’ll be half a eunuch. If you don’t need them, why not donate them to someone more deserving, eh?

Oh! Speaking of which, I know this black-market organ shop that doubles as a funeral home. Want me to introduce you? Maybe they'll even give you a discount on your coffin, haha—”

Before Jack Sparrow could finish, Barbossa jabbed a telescope into his mouth, effectively shutting him up before he could provoke further chaos.

“You bastard, Jack! Let’s settle this in a duel today!”

A Rocks Pirate officer with a massive upper body stepped forward, his killing intent clear. He was an old veteran who had followed Rocks for years—his rank even higher than Wang Zhi’s!

“Oh, it’s you! Dumbass Rocket Jonas.”

Jack Sparrow spat to the side, cracking his knuckles in provocation.

“That’s enough! Jack, get your ass back here!”

Diger raised his hand and threw Jack behind him. A loud crash followed—along with the sound of bowls and pots shattering.

“Rocks, since the duel between Xiao Feng and Wang Zhi was interrupted by the Hell Pirates, let’s settle it another way. Whoever captures or forces the Hell Pirates to submit first will get ownership of these four islands. Sound fair?”

Before arriving, Diger had also caught a glimpse of the golden flying ship fleeing the battlefield. It was a pity, but he wasn’t about to let that pirate crew rise unchecked.

He wanted to team up with Rocks to suppress the Hell Pirates’ growth—even crush or recruit them if possible!

“Hahaha~, Diger, I see what you’re playing at—but fine, I accept! The strong take all!”

Not only would the victor seize control of four more islands, but they could also subjugate the Hell Pirates, a rising force in the seas. Rocks had already set his sights on their golden ship—it was now a target worth taking.

Moreover, their crew had many promising fighters, especially Charlotte Linlin. He had heard rumors of her strength years ago and had intended to recruit her.

And now, the Thunder Fruit had appeared among them? That only fueled his desire to conquer this Overlord candidate pirate group even more.

---

BOOM!

“But before that… how dare you interfere when I’m disciplining my own son!!”

Diger was the only one allowed to berate his son—outsiders had no right to do the same!

“Hah! Your son’s got a damn nasty mouth. My crew won’t just sit back and let him run his mouth unchecked!”

Rocks laughed wildly. Was this a show of strength? Fine! He'd let Diger see how much he'd grown!

When two Overlords meet, they must exchange blows—otherwise, how could they claim to have stood before each other?

Their Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror’s Haki) erupted, shaking the very air itself. The pressure was so immense that all the pirates nearby were forced to bow their heads, unable to withstand the overwhelming force.

Then, from their respective pirate ships, both Rocks and Diger gathered their full strength—a powerful punch from each of them clashed in midair with their peak energy and spirit behind it!

On the sea between the two pirate crews, two massive, transparent fists materialized and collided violently. Black lightning crackled in the sky as the sea itself churned in response. The thick storm clouds above were torn apart, creating a gaping void in the heavens.

BOOOOM!

The impact was devastating! Gigantic waves dozens of meters high crashed down as their respective ships were forcefully pushed back by the shockwaves.

“Hahaha! Diger, you’re getting weaker! I can feel it!”

Rocks let out a boisterous laugh, leading his pirate ship away first. His voice was brimming with arrogance and unshaken confidence—it was only a matter of time before he surpassed Overlord-level power!

Diger, expressionless, followed suit with his crew. The pirate minions who had perished on the island? They were simply fertilizer for the land.

With that, the four islands had temporarily become no man’s land. For now, they might be occupied by some minor pirate groups, but that was of no concern to these two Overlords.

---

On board in Rocks ship...

Rocks observed the injured Wang Zhi and Silver Axe, his gaze indifferent. He wasn’t pleased. They had failed to break through and become stronger warriors.

“You said the Hell Pirates have a little giant who can fight against Jevaler?”

Hearing Wang Zhi’s report, Rocks was momentarily taken aback.

As the Overlord of the New World, he had seen most Devil Fruit records. But now, the Hell Pirates had not only the Soul-Soul Fruit and Thunder Fruit…

They even had a Tremor-Tremor Fruit user?

Interesting.

A glint of ambition flickered in Rocks' eyes.

----

These Devil Fruit abilities are terrifying, each holding limitless potential. If I can bring these individuals under my command, I will unify the New World within ten years!

How could this Overlord candidate, Brook, have such insane luck in recruiting so many powerful crew members? Moreover, his Devil Fruit seems incredibly strong. Could it be a soul-type fruit?

With this, Rocks' attention shifted away from Shiki the Golden Lion and onto the Hell Pirates. They even possess a flying pirate ship! Their value now far surpasses the strategic importance of Golden Lion Shiki.

However, Rocks D. Xebec declared that he wanted both the Hell Pirates and Shiki the Golden Lion! There was only one ruler of the New World—him.

Still, when it came to intelligence, the Rocks Pirates couldn't compare to the Diger Pirates, who had held dominance for years. Now, even the World Dark News belonged to Diger.

Most of the information he received came from Kandor, the president of the World Dark News. This imbalance was a major problem for Rocks.

Rocks had maxed out his military prowess, but his ability to manage and expand his power was far inferior to Diger’s. A firm believer in raw strength, he was beginning to realize just how crucial an intelligence network was.

“I should just kill Diger and seize the World Dark News for myself!”

At this point, Rocks felt as if his entire crew was being watched by Diger, with vulture news birds constantly monitoring their every move.

From now on, whenever I see one of those vulture news birds, I’ll shoot it down! If worse comes to worst, I’ll stop buying their newspapers altogether. I’d rather let the Navy track my location than have Diger know my movements!

“The newspapers from the Economic News Agency are actually better than those from the Dark News. Plus, I won a prize a few days ago—got a free Den Den Mushi!”

Hearing this, a tall and lanky man with a monkey on his shoulder boasted proudly while casually promoting the Economic News Agency.

“Hoshizuki, how the hell does an old pervert like you have such ridiculous luck? This is completely unfair!”

A small giant with a skull belt wrapped around his waist grumbled. He was often overshadowed by Hoshizuk, which created some tension between them.

“You big-headed skull collector, I can’t even be bothered to talk to you!”

Hoshizuki dismissed him with a wave. The little giant had gained Rocks' favor due to his loyalty, but Hoshizuki had no patience for him.

“What?! You damn monkey, fight me if you’ve got the guts!”

The little giant was furious, but Hoshizuki ignored him completely. The ranking system on Rocks’ ship dictated that higher-ranked fighters could challenge lower-ranked ones, but not the other way around. Since the little giant outranked Hoshizuki, his challenge was meaningless, and Hoshizuki had no reason to respond.

On this ship, rankings were determined through constant duels, which also dictated the distribution of loot. Lower-ranked members could refuse challenges, but higher-ranked ones had no such luxury. Those at the top had to defend their rank—or lose it.

Special crew members and those who completed additional missions were given extra rewards, but beyond that, power dictated everything.

Rocks saw the crew’s internal conflicts but didn’t care. He only intervened when someone with great potential needed extra support.

This brutal system ensured that the Rocks Pirates continuously produced top-tier powerhouses. Currently, their mid-to-high-level strength was on par with the Diger Pirates.

However, the gap between them lay in military forces and weaponry at the lower levels. Their wealth and territory also lagged behind. If they clashed now, Rocks was confident he could survive—but at the cost of 80-90% of his elite forces. That kind of loss would create an opening for the Ice Demon Pirates and other rising factions.

So, Rocks had to continue growing his forces. Only when he held an overwhelming advantage—enough to annihilate the Diger Pirates and fend off multiple rival overlords—would he make his move to dominate the New World.

“With the Diger Pirates cutting off intelligence trades with us… Heh, interesting.”

If I can’t have an intelligence network, then neither can they!

Determined to shatter Diger’s monopoly on information, Rocks changed tactics. Instead of pursuing Shiki and the Hell Pirates, he ordered a full-scale attack on the Diger Pirates’ territories.

Their primary target: the World Dark News.

Kandor, the president of the Dark News, was a Zoan-type user with the Vulture-Vulture Fruit—a flying Devil Fruit that made him invaluable in gathering intelligence. But even he couldn’t escape the darkness that fell upon his island that day.

Under the cover of night, the World Dark News was wiped off the face of the New World.

Kandor, the so-called Hidden King, vanished from existence.

When Diger arrived, he found only a razed island. Enraged, he pursued the Rocks Pirates, and the first earth-shattering battle between two overlord factions erupted.

The clash left both sides in ruin.

The Rocks Pirates lost the majority of their lower-ranked members, overwhelmed by the superior numbers and strength of Diger’s forces.

However, among the top elites, Rocks managed to injure Diger—a shocking turn of events. Their high-ranking officers fought to a near-standstill, suffering heavy casualties on both sides.

At the same time, three aspiring overlord factions—sensing an opportunity—attempted to seize power for themselves.

But instead of rising to prominence, these three factions merely provided Rocks and Diger an excuse to halt their battle. The enemy of my enemy is my ally, even if only temporarily.

As a result, a massive shift occurred in the New World’s power structure.

With so many key figures dead, a power vacuum formed across multiple islands. The three ambitious pirate groups used this chance to officially step into the overlord scene, while countless young rookies rushed to carve out their own territories.

To prevent further chaos, the Navy Headquarters took advantage of the situation and introduced a new system.

The old Three Overlords of the New World were now the Six Overlords—a restructured balance of power.

The Rocks Pirates, battered but not broken, retreated to Hive Island and Hachinosu to rebuild their forces. After all, no matter how vast their territory was, it meant nothing without soldiers to hold it.

Meanwhile, the three new overlord factions formed an alliance to defend their newfound power from the original three.

But would Rocks—the most ambitious man in the New World—allow them to thrive?

The answer was obvious.

Even the Hell Pirates had their sights set on this fragile new alliance.

Perhaps the Four Emperors of the future would emerge from this chaos…

Chapter Text

On the golden flying ship, Erebus.

"Brother Brook, do you know how worried I was about you? Woo woo~"

The 8.8-meter-tall Charlotte Linlin leaned over, gazing at the 2.7-meter-tall Brook with teary eyes, as if she wanted to hold him in her hands. Her expression was reminiscent of Princess Shirahoshi’s pitiful and adorable look when she clung to Luffy.

"Don't worry, I'm a man who crawled back from the Underworld. I won't die so easily. Besides, I haven't seen you all achieve your dreams yet—how could I bear to leave?"

Brook sighed in relief when he saw that Linlin had fully recovered. He had been worried that her unstable emotions might lead her to destroy Erebus.

He stroked Linlin’s hair, gently comforting the immature beauty. Suddenly, she scooped Brook up in her hands, pressing him to her chest, rubbing her face against him as if she wanted to fuse him into her body.

Brook found himself trapped between two massive, snow-capped peaks. Though he didn’t need to breathe, he still felt overwhelmed. Happiness had come too suddenly. He once envied Luffy for bouncing on Princess Shirahoshi’s soft and majestic bosom—but now, he had his own paradise!

"Brother Brook, I’ll definitely protect you from now on!"

Charlotte Linlin’s tear-filled eyes made Brook’s heart melt. If only she could be as gentle as Shirahoshi. However, after awakening her Conqueror’s Haki, she might become even more domineering in the future…

I have to train Charlotte Linlin well. She can be wild with others, but with me, she must be gentle. It would be best if she listens to me, obedient and well-behaved.

"Gurarara~! Captain Brook, you had immortality and never told us new crew members? I was shocked too!"

Edward Newgate took a swig from a bottle of red wine he had found somewhere, glancing at Charlotte Linlin with envy. She had awakened her Conqueror’s Haki so easily.

I wonder when I’ll awaken mine…

Brook had explained that Conqueror’s Haki could awaken in moments of extreme emotional turmoil, usually when someone with deep personal significance was in grave danger.

Newgate pondered this. Is there anyone that important to me yet? He glanced around at his crewmates, hoping to bond with them soon and become their closest comrade. Perhaps only when facing true danger would his Haki awaken.

"Big Sis Linlin! Please share how it feels to awaken Conqueror’s Haki!"

Fisher Tiger, who normally hated reading, interrupted Brook and Linlin’s intimate moment with a notebook and pen in hand, eager for knowledge.

It was the first time Tiger had witnessed someone awakening Conqueror’s Haki firsthand. He was beyond impressed. Watching pirates collapse like cut wheat under Linlin’s aura—it was too damn cool!

He could already imagine his own awakening: The mighty Fish-Man Hero, the War God Tiger, descending from the heavens with divine power, the center of everyone’s attention!

Just as he was lost in his fantasy, a loud slap brought him back to reality.

Brook had delivered a loving lesson to this clueless Tiger. How dare he interrupt their intimate facial massage?

Tiger crouched, rubbing his throbbing scalp, eyes brimming with tears. Why did you hit me?!

"Haha~ I’m dying of laughter~"

Shakky, ever the sharp observer, had long noticed Brook’s addiction to Linlin’s gentle and sweet face massage. But being a tactful woman, she chose not to expose him.

Though she carried herself like a mature and experienced underworld queen, Shakky was actually younger than Linlin. She had always exaggerated her age to appear more reliable.

Back in the Sabaody Archipelago, she had realized that being too young would make her intelligence work less credible. So, she started dressing more maturely, lying about her age, and even picking up smoking to enhance her image. Not even Brook knew her real age.

"Damn it, Captain Brook! It was Sister Shakky who set me up! You should hit her too!"

Tiger, unwilling to suffer alone, immediately ratted out Shakky.

Sure enough, Shakky’s face stiffened. You little brat actually snitched on me?

She had seen Brook getting lost in Linlin’s embrace and had mischievously "guided" Tiger to interrupt. Now, the tables had turned.

Brook shot her a sharp look. Shakky, thick-skinned as she was, awkwardly smiled. The crew’s curious gazes landed on her, but Brook chose to let it slide.

"Alright, Linlin, tell everyone about your experience awakening Conqueror’s Haki."

Tiger, still rubbing his head, cried out in grievance.

"Captain, you’re playing favorites! You treat men and women differently! You’re bullying an eight-year-old Fish-Man who’s barely two meters tall!"

But there was nothing he could do. He could only swallow his bitterness.

Seeing everyone’s eager expressions, Linlin hesitated for a moment—was this what it felt like to be the center of attention?

"Honestly… I don’t really know. I just saw Brother Brook’s heart get pierced, and I thought he was going to die. I felt so much pain and sadness… Then, I got so angry that I wanted to crush the bastard who hurt him!"

As she spoke, Linlin seemed to recall the moment Brook had fallen. Her eyes turned red again, and an overwhelming aura burst forth.

The parrot perched on Antonio’s head immediately rolled its eyes and collapsed.

"Linlin! It’s okay, calm down~"

Brook hurriedly comforted her. She was still unfamiliar with Haki, and once it erupted, it was an indiscriminate attack.

Luckily, under Brook’s gentle head-patting technique, Linlin quickly withdrew her aura.

Thus, Wuzhu(parrot) officially earned the title of the weakest on the ship, as the only one who fainted from the mere leakage of Linlin’s aura.

At least Antonio’s training had shown some minor results—though compared to others, his progress was insignificant.

"I’m sorry, everyone. I almost hurt you again…"

Linlin lowered her head, afraid of being feared and rejected once more.

"It’s fine, Linlin! Everyone is learning from you! You’re the best!"

Brook reassured her, while the crew members pondered deeply.

Each of them now had the same thought—

Maybe… I have a chance to awaken my Conqueror’s Haki too!

------

In Brook's opinion, aside from Edward Newgate—one of the Four Emperors in the original timeline—who had a strong chance of awakening Conqueror’s Haki, the rest of the crew could only dream about it. Their chances were slim to none.
However, anything was possible! It all depended on fate’s favor!
Brook was very satisfied with the lavish lunch prepared by Chef Streusen. His cooking skills were far superior to Antonio’s. In just a few days, he had mastered Brook’s techniques and even managed to fuse the flavors of two different worlds.
“Fate is truly on my side! The Dove of Peace News Agency is in shambles, and the Dark News Agency has been completely wiped out by Rocks. I should send him an award! It’s finally time to push Moore Thomas’ Economic News Agency to the top as the world’s number one!”
Brook had not anticipated such a fortunate turn of events. Not only had this resolved the issue of being monitored by the vulture news birds, but it had also cleared the path for the Economic News Agency to dominate the New World’s market.
In addition to instructing Moore Thomas to increase the number of seagull news birds entering the New World, Brook also ordered him to locate a Sky Island within the region and secure a territory. This would serve as a vital outpost for their news agency.
After all, other young Overlord —such as the Evil Monk and the Karnz Brothers’ pirate crew—had already established their own domains in the New World.
But to Brook, these Overlord candidate became even bigger targets once they settled down. Once Rocks regained a bit more of his strength, he would undoubtedly make a move against them. Bringing these potential threats under his command would not only help him reclaim lost ground but also strengthen his crew with fresh talent.
As for the Diger Pirates, they might have appeared to hold the upper hand in battle, but anyone with sharp eyes could see the truth—Diger was getting old. The fact that he had been wounded by Rocks alone made it clear.
Once Diger Sparrow falls, the most powerful, wealthiest, and most dominant pirate crew in the New World would be torn apart by the Rocks Pirates and other major forces.
Unless someone from the Diger Pirates could rise up and claim the throne, their collapse was inevitable. Their era as rulers of the seas would come to an end.
After the battle between Xiaofeng and Wang Zhi on Changshui Island and the infamous Dark News incident, the New World had erupted into chaos. Countless pirates had fallen, and numerous rising stars bared their fangs.
Many old bounty posters had been revoked, while new ones flooded in. Whether they were ambitious newcomers or infamous veterans, everyone received a fresh bounty update.
“Moore Thomas is quite the capable man. He’s managed to establish ties with both the Navy Headquarters and the World Government, turning them into business partners. He’s even connected with the New World’s overlords.”
Under Brook’s guidance, Moore Thomas was determined to make the Economic News Agency the number one news organization across both legitimate and underground networks. His ultimate goal was to become the shadow ruler of the world’s intelligence industry.
Unlike before, the Economic News Agency was now welcomed rather than shunned by the major powers of the New World. After Rocks obliterated the Dark News Agency, seagull news birds became the dominant news source.
Diger had tried to build his own rival news agency, but the other powerful forces quickly crushed his efforts. They had no intention of letting Diger monopolize the intelligence trade ever again. Instead, they preferred to let the neutral Economic News Agency take control of the New World's media.

“Gurarara! The new bounties are out, and mine just shot up!”
Edward Newgate roared with laughter as he held his updated wanted poster. His thick white mustache quivered, giving Brook an uncomfortable feeling. So this is what Newgate’s beard looked like before it grew longer...
The battle on Changshui Island, the attack by the Hell Pirates, and the brief skirmishes—all of it had been reported. Whether this information had come from the World Government’s spies or leaks from Dark News reporters was unclear.
The coverage was surprisingly detailed. It turned out Antonio had played a part, sending Moore Thomas several high-quality photographs he had taken.
Knowing how much Newgate cared about increasing his bounty, Antonio selected a few well-angled shots and submitted them to both the Economic News Agency and the Navy Headquarters—earning himself two royalty payments in the process.
One particular shot captured Newgate landing a devastating punch on Jevaler, which immediately caught the Navy’s attention. As a result, Newgate’s bounty skyrocketed from 90 million to a staggering 500 million berries. The increase was insane!
Redfield, after going head-to-head with Wang Zhi for an extended period, saw his bounty rise by 50 million, reaching 600 million.
Charlotte Linlin, having awakened her Conqueror’s Haki, also saw an increase of 20 million, bringing her bounty up to 600 million—placing her on equal footing with Redfield.
Meanwhile, thanks to a powerful move that injured both Xiaofeng and Wang Zhi at the same time, Brook’s bounty soared by 100 million, reaching 700 million berries. He had officially stepped into the ranks of the great pirates, shedding his former title as a mere Overlord Candidate!
Other members of the crew who contributed to the battle also saw significant bounty hikes. Fish-Man Tom earned 120 million, sniper Hiruba reached 100 million, ship doctor Crocus received 90 million, and navigator Shakky climbed to 80 million.
Even Fisher Tiger—who had only been a bystander—received his first-ever bounty of 10 million berries, much to his delight.
Antonio, who had not participated in the battle, remained bounty-free. Similarly, Streusen and Kirin Lion, having stayed out of the fight, kept their original bounties.
Back when Streusen followed Charlotte Linlin, his bounty had already reached 80 million. Seeing his wanted poster now, he was utterly baffled. When did his bounty get so high? Did he lose his memory?
At that moment, the Memory Seahorse flashed Streusen a knowing smile, leaving him even more confused.
(TL: what! How does a seahorse flashed a smile?)
As for the crew’s pets—Parrot and Memory Seahorse—the Navy Headquarters hadn’t even considered them threats. They were merely treated as harmless mascots, so neither had received a bounty.
The biggest controversy revolved around the three pseudo-overlord pirate captains, who had now officially crossed the 1.5 billion mark. The World Government had “recognized” them as three of the six New World overlords.
However, most experienced pirates knew these so-called overlords still had a long way to go before they could truly claim the title. They were slightly stronger than the top commanders of the actual emperors, but not quite at the level of the real rulers of the seas.
Upon seeing that his bounty was now equal to Charlotte Linlin’s, Redfield made up his mind. Next time, he would be even more ruthless, targeting an even stronger opponent. He had to surpass Linlin’s bounty and solidify his position as the strongest officer on the ship!
“A rare occasion calls for celebration! Let’s have a party, Newgate! A feast for everyone!”
Brook’s enthusiastic announcement instantly ignited the mood on the golden ship, filling it with excitement...
Meanwhile, on an island deep in the New World, a blonde-haired man with a heroic presence stared at the latest newspaper and bounty updates. The cigar in his mouth suddenly lost all its flavor...

Chapter Text

The Golden Lion Shiki bit down on the cigar in his mouth, shifting it around restlessly—clear proof that he wasn’t at ease. He had entered the New World alone, only to be relentlessly hunted by the reigning overlord, Rocks.
Even the Flying Pirates had been disbanded, leaving him—once the leader of the Overlord Candidate —with a title that now felt hollow. Yet, despite that, even the Navy acknowledged his ability to escape from Rocks.
His bounty had increased time and again, rising from 440 million to 500 million berries. But now, looking at the bounties of Brook’s Hell Pirates, his own bounty seemed like a joke. It was the same as a rookie’s. Was Brook really that strong?
Back in the Sabaody Archipelago, Brook had barely managed to hold his ground against his subordinates. Yet now, his crew members had bounties on par with Shiki himself?
"Captain Shiki, our name isn’t feared like before. Recruiting strong crew members has become difficult. Why don’t we join the Hell Pirates? Captain Brook has some history with you, after all…"
Scaredo cautiously suggested, worried he’d be beaten for even bringing it up.
"How dare you suggest such a thing?! I wield Conqueror’s Haki! I am a natural-born king!"
The Golden Lion Shiki glared at Scaredo, eyes burning with rage like an enraged beast. If not for Scaredo’s unwavering loyalty, he might have killed him on the spot.
"But Captain, Brook now has two top-tier Haki users under his command—Thunder Red Earl Redfield and the Iron Balloon Charlotte Linlin. They’re monsters in their own right! And their ship… it can fly!"
Scaredo was clearly envious of the Hell Pirates' strength. Their crew was filled with elites, their potential seemed limitless, and Brook himself was a man of wisdom and mystery.
"No! I will rely on my own strength to surpass them and become the strongest!"
The Golden Lion Shiki couldn't accept the idea of submitting to another. He longed for powerful comrades, but not at the cost of his pride!
"But Captain, our current situation isn’t looking good! Haven’t you heard the saying? ‘If you can't beat them, join them.’
Hundreds of years ago, the wielder of the Thunder-Thunder Fruit, the God of Thunder Durant, was defeated by the strongest pirate crew of his era—the Warriors Pirates. He then joined them and eventually rose to become their captain, ruling the seas for years.
If we join the Hell Pirates, Captain, you’ll have time to grow stronger than Brook. And when that happens, you could end up leading them. Who knows? Maybe even the other Haki users will follow you!"
"Captain, don’t you believe in yourself? Or do you think you’re weaker than the God of Thunder Durant?"
Scaredo’s words lingered in Shiki’s mind like a spell. If you can't beat him, join him… Grow stronger… Take over leadership…
As for why they wouldn't join the Rocks Pirates instead? That was simple. They despised them. The Rocks Pirates had destroyed everything they had. They would never bow to Rocks.
And besides, Shiki had some history with Brook. If he surpassed Brook, then a smart man like him might willingly step aside. That way, taking control would be much easier.
The more Shiki thought about it, the more tempting the idea became. But a lingering sense of pride held him back.
"This isn’t right. That would make me a dishonorable pirate. I have my own pirate code!"
Shiki still believed in surpassing Brook through his own strength. If Brook refused to step down, it would be troublesome!
"Captain, Brook is a wise man. He wouldn’t handle things that way. And besides, by the time you’ve grown stronger, we will have already established ourselves within the Hell Pirates. The pirate world is ruled by strength. If you prove yourself, some of Brook’s strongest subordinates might even follow you instead!
If we decide to set out on our own again, I doubt Brook would stop us. We could even maintain an alliance with the Hell Pirates."
Scaredo’s analysis was entirely based on the idea that Shiki would surpass Brook. If that happened, he could attract powerful followers, making it easy to separate and rebuild his own fleet.
But if Shiki couldn’t surpass Brook, then he would have no choice but to remain in the Hell Pirates.
That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. If Brook’s crew was stronger than Shiki’s, then staying in the Hell Pirates was simply acknowledging reality. Even Scaredo himself was beginning to think that joining them would be better than their miserable days on the run.
Fortunately, the World Dark News Agency had been wiped out by the Rocks Pirates, meaning no Vulture News Bird was tailing them. That, at least, made their escape easier, and the three dominant pirate groups were no longer focused on them.
In a strange way, Rocks had unknowingly done them a favor!
"This… actually sounds like a good plan. I can use the Hell Pirates to regain my strength. And if I leave later, Brook won’t make things difficult for me."
Though he hated the idea of living under someone else’s banner, he knew the alternative was worse. If he joined one of the three dominant pirate groups, leaving would be impossible. But with Brook, their friendship meant he had more flexibility.
The perfect scenario? Gaining so much strength that even a man as sharp as Brook would recognize his power, willingly stepping aside. Then, with the full force of the Hell Pirates, he could crush Rocks and become the new overlord. The legendary Flying Pirates would rise again!
Shiki could already envision Brook acknowledging his strength, following his lead, and together, they would take down Rocks!
“Hahahaha~”
Shiki burst into laughter, his eyes filled with ambition. Meanwhile, Scaredo, standing beside him, wore a complicated expression.
"Captain, I hope you truly surpass Brook one day and don’t just end up as his subordinate forever..."
But then, as Scaredo thought about Shiki’s intelligence, he suddenly had second thoughts about his suggestion.
Did I just trick Captain Shiki into joining the Hell Pirates and becoming Brook’s crew for life…?
He shook his head, reassuring himself. No, no, I only made a suggestion. The captain’s fate is still in his own hands… I just hope he can truly live up to his title as the Golden Lion and rise to become the king of the seas!
···

-----

After asking around, Brook and his crew finally gathered information about the Sky Island in the New World. Near the waters of Doraganzo Arlan Island, massive human-shaped black shadows occasionally appeared in the clouds.

Many pirates and locals believed these were nothing more than mirages—after all, such gigantic beings couldn't possibly exist in the world.

But Brook knew better. This was most likely the massive shadows cast by the residents of Sky Island. A similar phenomenon had been observed near Jaya Island in the Grand Line, scaring many pirate and merchant ships passing through.

Even in the original story, Luffy and his two companions—who were fearless by nature—rowed their boat frantically to escape from those enormous silhouettes, as if they would be crushed in the next second.

"Yohohoho~! Now this is the kind of adventure I live for!"

Brook lounged under the sun in his beach chair, sunglasses on, fully enjoying his break. Without the constant surveillance of the vulture news birds, and with top dogs like Rocks too occupied to chase down the Flying Pirates, things had settled down for a while.

The three so-called pseudo-overlords were too busy guarding their own territories against the true overlords to bother with them. The admirals in the New World were also under Antonio’s watch, and both the Seagull News Agency and the Economic News Agency had infiltrated the region, slowly taking over the intelligence and journalism industry.

With so many threats momentarily removed, even Brook had grown a little lax. If not for the fact that his three main fighters were skyrocketing in strength, forcing him to keep up, he might have just chosen to kick back and enjoy life.

"Captain Brook! Bad news! Doraganzo Island used to be under the control of the Rocks Pirates. After the Dark News Incident, the captain stationed there was taken out. Now, Teach Ewald, one of the three new overlords, has seized it! Luckily, only one of his officers is stationed there for now."

Antonio, after piecing together underground intelligence from More Thomas and intercepted secrets, relayed the latest information to Brook.

"It looks like we can’t avoid a direct confrontation with the forces of the New World..."

The New World’s territories had already been divided among the major powers. Anyone looking to claim land would have to fight for it.

The Sky Island above the New World might be hovering 10,000 meters over Doraganzo Arlan Island, but just like Jaya Island below the Grand Line's Sky Island, controlling the island beneath it was crucial. Without it, getting up and down safely would be a nightmare.

After all, Brook was planning to station the World Economic News Agency’s personnel on the New World Sky Island. He was even considering setting up a base on Doraganzo Arlan. Without control of the island, nothing could move forward.

Before the Dark News Incident, Teach Ewald’s bounty had already reached 1.15 billion berries. Afterward, the World Government bumped it up to 1.5 billion, officially making him one of the six overlords of the New World.

Although he was still leagues behind true powerhouses like Rocks and Diger, the Hell Pirates weren’t in a position to take him on directly.

However, they had one major advantage—their mid- and high-level fighters were far stronger than those of the pseudo-overlords.

The three pseudo-overlords had built their empires around a single dominant figure. Their crews lacked depth, with very few true elites. In contrast, real overlord crews were structured like pyramids—strong warriors at every level, with new talent constantly emerging.

Of course, this was the result of years of suppression. Without stable territories, these pseudo-overlords couldn’t recruit top-tier crew members. Their existing fighters were constantly being whittled down in clashes with true overlords, making it impossible to replenish their ranks.

Now that they finally had land to their names, they could start recruiting, but it would take time before they built up a solid roster of skilled fighters.

These pseudo-overlord groups were much like Kidd and Law, who each had a 3-billion-berry bounty but barely any noteworthy subordinates.

Kidd had only Killer to rely on, who had been force-fed a defective artificial Devil Fruit, turning him into a Smiler. As for Law, his strongest subordinate was Bepo, the white bear.

Brook glanced at Redfield, Edward Newgate, and Charlotte Linlin aboard his ship. Every one of them was a potential Overlord. Even Hiruba had the potential to become the world’s strongest sniper.

"In that case, let’s check out Doraganzo Arlan first. If there really is a Sky Island above it, we’ll claim that first. We can always move on to taking the island itself afterward."

He wanted to confirm the Sky Island’s existence before picking a fight with Teach Ewald. It would be foolish to start a war, only to find out there was nothing above.

"Understood, Captain Brook~!"

Under the control of shipwright Tom and Redfield, the golden ship Erebus began to ascend upon reaching Doraganzo Arlan’s waters, searching for the rumored Sky Island.

---

Meanwhile, on Doraganzo Arlan, a stunning young woman with short golden hair had been watching the skies for days, waiting for something—or someone—to arrive.

"Tch, are the Hell Pirates really this slow? I thought they’d track this down immediately. Then again, they’re just a pirate crew. How could their intelligence network compare to the World Government’s CP organization?"

Her cold, confident voice carried an air of superiority.

Originally, Admiral Coss Davo had wanted to set up an ambush here, but Doraganzo Island was already deep within New World territory. With the recent shake-ups among the pirate factions, everyone was on high alert.

If a Marine admiral were to set foot here, they’d likely be swarmed by multiple overlord pirate crews. Even he might not survive the chaos.

With direct intervention out of the question, the only option was infiltration. The CP spies had been ordered to "join" the Hell Pirates, biding their time for the perfect moment to strike.

The golden-haired woman had already made a name for herself among the island’s pirates. She was strong, elusive, and had a knack for staying hidden. Even Captain Goth, the island’s current ruler, had taken notice.

He had sent multiple recruitment offers—some polite, some forceful. But she refused every time, even killing a dozen of his men in the process.

Infuriated, Goth used his authority to launch a full-scale hunt for the "ungrateful wench."

Yet, she evaded capture with ease, all while waiting for her true target to arrive.

At the same time, she carefully built the perfect pirate persona—fair-skinned, stunningly beautiful, undeniably powerful, and seemingly down on her luck. She was playing the part of a stranded rookie pirate, just waiting for the right crew to scoop her up.

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Chapter Text

The golden flying ship, Erebus, continued its ascent, reaching an altitude of ten thousand meters in search of a sky island.

Hiruba’s research and invention lab was well-equipped, even stocked with oxygen supplies. However, with everyone's strength having improved, enduring the low temperatures and thin air had become much easier. Only a few weaker crew members had to stay inside the cabin, wearing oxygen masks and thick winter clothes, emerging only when the oxygen levels and temperature stabilized.

"Captain Brook, maybe the Sky Island in the New World really exists! Just like the one we found in the Grand Line, the oxygen and temperature are returning to normal. That means we must be close!"

Shakky wore a pair of goggles, ice crystals forming on the lenses. Brook and the others had frost covering their clothes, and even the mustache on Newgate’s upper lip had turned into ice.

Only near a Sky Island would the oxygen and temperature recover. In all other high-altitude areas, whether at ten thousand meters or just a thousand, the environment remained frigid and oxygen-deprived.

Perhaps the Sky Island’s unique atmosphere allowed for increased temperatures and oxygen levels, making it habitable for the island's residents.

"The island cloud has appeared! There really is a Sky Island!!"

Newgate and Linlin had never seen a Sky Island before. Despite being notorious pirates worth hundreds of millions of berries, they couldn't help but shout in surprise when they spotted the buildings atop the island cloud.

"Very good, everyone! From now on, this Sky Island will be part of our territory! Full speed ahead!"

Brook drew the Seven-Star Sword, pointing it forward, declaring his ambition to conquer the Sky Island.

"Wow, a Sky Island! I wonder if there's a golden city like Shandora up there!"

Shakky removed her goggles, raised her binoculars, and scanned the New World’s Sky Island.

"Uh, Captain, this Sky Island looks a little shabby... It’s not even as good as Angel Island~"

Through her binoculars, she saw that most of the buildings were made of white island clouds, with little color. There was barely any soil, and hardly any greenery.

"The conditions may be worse than the Sky Kingdom, but at least it's safe. Hopefully, the crew from the News Agency sent to establish a base here can endure it. That’s why we need to secure Doragenzo Arran Island below—to provide supplies for this place!"

Since the Sky Island lacked soil, plants were scarce. This was the very reason the Skypieans and Shandians had fought over Shandora for centuries—to claim its land and vegetation.

Some might wonder how an island with no plants could sustain life. Wouldn't they suffer from malnutrition?

The Inuit, an indigenous people living in the Arctic, rely heavily on hunting and fishing for their diet. Their traditional food sources include seals, whales, walruses, fish, and seabirds, as well as land animals like caribou and polar bears. While the harsh climate limits plant-based foods, they also consume berries, seaweed, and edible roots when available..

Ever heard of an entire seabird, feathers and all, being fermented in a seal’s stomach for months, then eaten whole to supplement nutrition? It may sound bizarre, but it exists.

In short—if something exists, it must be for a reason!

(Oda is just a manga artist, and Huo is just a failed author making things up...)

Brook gazed at the Sky Island. Was this where the future Overlord Candidate, Urouge, was born? Or was he from another Sky Island? Either way, Urouge definitely knew how to reach this place.

After all, when he defeated Snack, one of Big Mom’s original Sweet Four Generals, Snack was demoted, leaving the Sweet Three Generals.

That victory completely enraged Big Mom, and she sent Charlotte Cracker, one of her top generals, after him. Urouge was eventually defeated and thrown into the ocean during one of Big Mom’s summoned storms.

How he survived remains a mystery. Was he really a Devil Fruit user? What was certain was that he later appeared on a Sky Island, recovering from his injuries, and even witnessed Kaido’s infamous suicide attempt by leaping from the island.

Urouge's homeland was a Sky Island steeped in monk culture, where most residents were peaceful priests—except for Urouge himself, a warlike monk who had broken his vows. Yet, despite his nature, he always wore a smile.

Brook shook his head. It didn’t matter how bad the conditions of this Sky Island were, or if there were no vegetables to eat—this island was going to be his!

As Erebus approached, the island’s residents spotted the massive golden ship. Some were sailing on island clouds aboard Wavers, but none had ever seen a flying ship of such enormous size before.

Alarms blared across Baron Island, and its guards took up defensive positions, warily watching the unknown vessel approach.

"Captain Brook, they seem to have a lot of Impact Dials and Jet Dials. It looks like they rely heavily on breeding these Sky Shells!"

Through the ultra-long-range scope of his sniper rifle, Hiruba identified the attack-type dials wielded by the Sky Island guards.

The island’s residents had distinctive tentacle-shaped braids and the characteristic wings of Sky Islanders. The guards’ skin tone was similar to that of the Shandians—a deep brown.

Their clothing was minimal, indicating that the temperature here was fairly warm. At the forefront of the defense stood a leader wielding a monk’s staff as thick as a bowl, with Paijibei tied to both elbows.

"Strangers from the Blue Sea, what is your purpose here?"

These Sky Islanders were well aware of the Blue Sea people. Every few years, an unfortunate pirate or merchant ship would be swept onto Sky Island by an updraft. If they survived, they would leave behind stories of the outside world.

"We are here to claim this Sky Island as our own. Submit, and nothing in your lives will change. In fact, things might even improve!"

Redfield stepped forward, unleashing a burst of Conqueror’s Haki. The overwhelming pressure caused many guards to faint on the spot!

"You... You want to invade Baron Island?!"

The island's leader, Monk Wumi, trembled under the crushing weight of Redfield’s aura. Despair and anger flashed in his eyes—his people stood no chance against such power.

"No, this isn't an invasion. We're here to lead you to prosperity!"

Brook stepped forward, his own fierce presence further crushing Wumi’s resolve. The monk lowered the rapier blades attached to his elbows, surrendering.

Charlotte Linlin, riding Zeus through the sky with lightning crackling around her, hovered over the cowering guards. Prometheus, the massive sun, burned brightly at her side, striking terror into the islanders, who clasped their hands together, bowed their heads, and sat down in submission.

"Hoho~ Don't worry, we don’t think too highly of you. I already rule another Sky Island. Just live your normal lives. Even if I ask you to help build houses, I’ll pay you!"

Seeing that the Sky Islanders had been completely subdued by the overwhelming power of the Hell Pirates, Brook grinned.

It was time to begin construction on their new Sky Island base.

------

When Brook’s golden ship entered Baron Island, he finally understood what Shakky meant by "shabby."

This Sky Island truly looked impoverished and underdeveloped—just barren land and empty skies. The monk culture here seemed to have turned the people into a lazy race!

Every resident of Baron Island had a peaceful smile on their face. Even if they went hungry for two days, they wouldn’t hunt more beasts or fish to fill their stomachs.

Maybe it was the scarcity of resources that gave birth to this strange belief—a pursuit of peace and respect for life, to the point where even sky beasts and sky fish, which were supposed to be food, were treated with reverence!

Aside from the island’s guards, who were unusually tall and strong due to their diet of meat, the rest of the people had a mentality of "as long as we’re alive, it’s good enough."

This kind of culture was a disaster for governance and development! Offering them food as an incentive wouldn’t work, let alone getting them to help build a palace.

These people only cared about surviving another day, whether they ate well or not didn’t matter...

Would they really have to force them to work?

"Captain Brook, the people here remind me of that poor kingdom, Haraheitania. They’re all too damn lazy!"

(TL: The only location on Namakura Island mentioned is Harahettania, a kingdom containing a Satan-worshiping tribe run by Pekkori.)

Shakky crossed her arms and scoffed. She had never seen a race so indifferent to food before—honestly, they should’ve gone extinct a long time ago!

"It looks like we’ll have to establish a pressure-based rule here. Otherwise, these people will never change their so-called ‘kindness,’ ‘peacefulness,’ and ‘Buddhist-like’ personalities, no matter what benefits we offer them."

Brook hadn’t expected this Sky Island to be in such a sorry state. There was no demographic advantage at all, let alone any potential warriors. Even if a rat wandered onto this island, it’d probably just turn around and leave!

"Brook, there’s no dessert here! Why don’t we take over Sheep House, Elbaf no. 2 instead? I hate this place!"

Charlotte Linlin frowned, the initial excitement she had felt upon arriving fading into disappointment.

"This is just ridiculous. A place like this, with so much peace, and yet they waste it by refusing to work or improve their lives. If only the people from my homeland could live in a place like this..."

Newgate’s tone carried a hint of resentment. His homeland had been ravaged by pirates and human traffickers for years, forcing its people to live in constant fear.

"Not even a single rare type of Sky Shell... what a waste!"

After searching and asking around, Hiruba was utterly disappointed. Every kind of Sky Shell available here could already be found on Angel Island—there was nothing new or valuable at all.

"There’s no choice but to force them to build a branch of the News Agency and set up our base here!"

Brook didn’t have time to reform their way of thinking. As long as they built what was needed, he could improve their living conditions later—and maybe even train some decent warriors among them.

If they could produce more fighters like Urouge, it would be a huge win.

The Erebus landed at the highest point of Baron Island. Their base camp had to be in the most conspicuous location, which meant the locals living there had to move.

Brook ordered the monk Wumi to gather the islanders and begin mass-producing clouds, while Charlotte Linlin, Newgate, and the others headed to the White Sea to hunt sky beasts and sky fish.

None of them had ever tasted creatures that lived at such high altitudes, so they were eager to see how these exotic animals tasted.

Brook even described the appearance of a Devil Fruit to Monk Wumi, but the monk swore he had never seen anything like it.

This place really was a dump—no resources, no fighters, not even a single Devil Fruit.

Too damn miserable!

—

While Brook was setting up his base on Sky Island, a blonde woman on Doraganzo Island had been waiting for two weeks.

If not for her training as an agent, she would have cursed out the Hell Pirates for taking so damn long to find the island!

Meanwhile, Golden Lion Shiki, along with Scaredo, was once again controlling a stolen pirate ship, flying over the sea in search of any trace of the Hell Pirates.

"Captain Shiki, Mr. Brook and his crew left us with too little information. We’re flying blind out here!"

Scaredo sighed, feeling their luck was particularly rotten. Shiki had finally made up his mind to join the Hell Pirates, and now they couldn’t even find them!

It was ridiculous!

Right now, all six of the great pirate factions wanted Shiki in their crew. A flying fleet was an unbeatable advantage.

As long as they weren’t as stubborn as before, any group with Shiki’s floating ships could directly challenge the Rocks Pirates for dominance over the seas!

With a skilled navigator, they wouldn’t have to worry about weather conditions blocking their way anymore.

Shiki, frustrated as hell, decided to look for news about Brook through the underground network.

But after the fall of the Dark News Agency, the entire intelligence industry was crippled. Information was now slow to spread, and crucial details were often missing.

"Wait... I forgot I have a Den Den Mushi!"

Shiki smacked his forehead, remembering he actually had Brook’s personal number.

Recently, he had heard that many of the number holders had died—a grim reminder that in this world, even the strongest warriors could be killed at any moment.

When Shiki tried to ask about Brook’s location in a Den Den Mushi group, he was instantly kicked out.

Stunned, he was about to smash his Den Den Mushi in anger when a mysterious "No. 2" sent him a warning.

However, No. 2 also gave him Brook’s direct number, but told him that his special Den Den Mushi would soon revert to a normal one.

As Shiki stared at the device, the screen went blank, and the connection severed itself. The Den Den Mushi returned to being a standard communication device.

A strange feeling crept up his spine—as if he had just lost his chance to uncover the world’s greatest secret.

Meanwhile, Rayleigh from Roger’s crew noticed that several familiar Den Den Mushi contacts had disappeared one by one.

He assumed it was because of the new world war—too many pirates had been wiped out recently.

At the same time, it was a grim reminder of how dangerous the New World was.

The Roger Pirates had only entered the New World after Admiral Coss was forced to retreat.

Back then, the Dark News Agency’s collapse had just happened, and the great pirates were still fighting for dominance.

They had kept a low profile, quietly building strength, avoiding the war for power, and had no interest in territorial disputes.

—

When Brook finally heard that Golden Lion Shiki wanted to join him, he was stunned and overjoyed.

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Shiki would choose the Hell Pirates.

Could it be that his luck had finally turned around?

If Shiki could create floating islands, Brook was already considering having him move eight to ten islands into his domain.

He even started planning—building an Eighteen-Layer Hell Island, or even a Nine-Layer Sky City.

Brook’s mind raced with possibilities. Beast Island could become Beast Hell. Boeing Islands could become Gluttony Hell...

If nothing else, Linlin would definitely love that one.

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Chapter Text

The Golden Lion, Shiki, flew toward Doragonzo Island aboard his pirate ship, with Scaredo at his side. Since they had no navigator, they had to find their way while flying, moving cautiously to avoid extreme weather. Their journey was slow, but they pressed on.

"Captain Shiki, did Brook really find a Sky Island? He wants to use it as the first territory in the New World. This is perfect for your Float-Float Fruit ability!"

The Bloody Fist, Scaredo, was already looking forward to his new life as a pirate under the Hell Pirates’ banner. The idea of a territory that perfectly complemented Shiki’s Devil Fruit was almost too good to be true.

"A Sky Island has always been my dream territory. I didn’t expect Brook to actually find one… Does this guy have some kind of special ability? He’s been pinpointing powerful crew members, and now even the perfect base seems like it was chosen in advance!"

Shiki took a deep drag from his cigar, his gaze thoughtful. In his eyes, Brook was becoming more and more mysterious. That calm and calculating aura of his was something truly fascinating.

Damn, it would’ve been great if I had recruited him back at Sabaody Archipelago… Most of the Hell Pirates’ crew could’ve been mine.

If he’d had Brook’s support back then, he wouldn’t have been so reckless as to go against the Rocks Pirates. The Flying Pirates wouldn’t have been scattered, and by now, his crew could’ve been one of the strongest in the world.

"Also, once you join the Hell Pirates, don’t call me Captain Shiki anymore. Call me ‘Mr. Shiki.’ Brook is the captain now."

Since he had decided to temporarily ally with the Hell Pirates, Shiki knew he had to follow the pirate world’s code. He couldn’t let anyone think he didn’t understand respect and hierarchy.

"Got it, Mr. Shiki!" Scaredo responded immediately, admiration in his eyes. "You really look out for your crew, sir."

"I mean, now that you’ve joined the Hell Pirates, you should still call me Captain Shiki from time to time!"

Shiki’s words struck a chord with Scaredo, who was deeply moved. Captain Shiki… Your emotional intelligence is still as terrible as ever.

"I understand, Captain Shiki. I understand, Captain Shiki!"

Despite everything, Scaredo remained fiercely loyal. Even if they were now part of the Hell Pirates, in his heart, Shiki would always be his true captain.

---

New World, Baron Island

After nearly two weeks of effort—with every member of the Hell Pirates helping with design and construction—the Building Headquarters was finally completed.

Under the military rule of Brook and his crew, the Sky Island residents had no choice but to cooperate. But it wasn’t just fear that motivated them. The Hell Pirates had brought in sky beasts and sky fish, ensuring three hearty meals a day.

Surprisingly, some of the Sky Island residents had even started to enjoy it. After years of their strict vegetarian diet, eating meat was a new experience, and it turned out to be… delicious. Even the green vegetables brought by their new rulers seemed to awaken a forgotten joy.

The once-devout vegetarians now saw "being vegetarian" as a belief rather than a lifestyle. They worked harder than ever, all for a chance to eat the freshly converted vegetables made by the Hell Pirates’ chef.

Meanwhile, the Economic News Agency branch was also under construction. Brook had underestimated how easily these passive Sky Islanders could be manipulated—just by offering them food.

Brook sent several permanent pointers of Baron Island back to Moore through a Seagull News Bird. He ordered Moore to send trusted men as soon as possible to establish an Economic News Agency branch and intelligence center.

However, the crew’s real focus was on Doragonzo Arran Island, located directly below Baron Island. They were determined to capture it and turn it into a logistics hub, supplying food and intelligence for Sky Island.

---

Brook's Strategy Meeting

"Redfield, how’s the Devil Fruit ability development I asked for? The one that combines Antonio’s Den Den Mushi?"

Brook turned to Redfield and Antonio, waiting for a solid answer.

"If I couldn’t make it work after following Captain Brook’s theory, wouldn’t that be an insult to both his wisdom and my talent?" Redfield smirked. "Rest assured, Captain. My Rumble-Rumble Fruit can now completely jam all Den Den Mushi signals!"

Brook’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Perfect. That means we can cut off all communication before our attack on Doragonzo Arran Island. Even if Teach gets wind of it, it’ll take him days to respond!"

In the New World, every extra day of preparation mattered. With more time, their crew would grow stronger. And soon, the Golden Lion himself would arrive, making the Hell Pirates even more formidable.

Even if they couldn't defeat Teach just yet, they could at least secure Doragonzo Island. With the combined powers of the Quake-Quake Fruit, Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Soul-Soul Fruit, and Float-Float Fruit, they could hold their ground at sea.

Even if Teach personally came for them, he wouldn't be able to set foot on their island.

Keep the enemy locked out—no matter what.

Not even an Overlord like the Rocks Pirates could get close to this sea. Whitebeard’s Tremor-Tremor Fruit could already trigger small tsunamis, making him the ultimate island defender.

And one day, when his power fully matured, he would be more than just a defender—he would be the king of island destruction. A walking natural disaster, drowning enemy fleets before they ever reached land.

Meanwhile, Redfield’s Rumble-Rumble Fruit could rain hell on ships before they even entered range. And Shiki’s Float-Float Fruit could turn entire islands into floating fortresses, ready to obliterate invaders from above.

Brook’s vision was nearly complete—a New World stronghold that no force could breach.

"Alright, I can’t wait any longer!"

Brook’s excitement spread to the rest of the crew. For the first time, they felt worthy of challenging the great powers of the sea.

Right now, they could only dominate defensive battles at sea. But once their Haki fully developed… that’s when the true war for territory would begin.

---

Doragonzo Arran Island

On Doragonzo Arran Island, Captain Goth, one of Teach’s key officers, was in a foul mood.

For over ten days, he had been hunting a certain blonde girl, but she remained just out of reach. Her delicate face, full curves, and defiant attitude had been haunting his thoughts.

No longer able to resist, Goth personally led the latest hunt to capture his elusive prey.

At the same time, the blonde girl stood hidden in the shadows, her expression blank.

They’re still not here?

She had been waiting for Brook and the Hell Pirates to arrive. But for days, she had been forced to keep dodging these disgusting pirates. She was getting impatient.

Suddenly—

A golden flying ship appeared in the skies above Doragonzo Arran Island.

Her heartbeat quickened. They’re here.

But before she could celebrate, the entire sky flashed white.

A massive surge of electricity erupted from the ship, forming a gigantic lightning cage over the entire island—trapping everyone inside like birds in a cage.

The battle had begun.

-----

Captain Goth, who was leading the search for the blonde girl, stared in horror at the shocking scene before him. Lightning engulfed the entire Doragonzo Island.

"Hurry!!! Call Captain Edward and request reinforcements! Doraganzo Island is under attack!!!"

The panic in his voice was evident. Just moments ago, he had been burning with ambition, but now fear gripped him. He turned to his crew, demanding they contact Captain Ewald, the ruler of Doraganzo Island and their base of operations.

"Captain Goth! The Den Den Mushi… it’s not working! There's no signal! I can’t get through!!"

The communications officer was visibly shaking. The moment they saw the enormous lightning net covering the entire island, they knew what it meant—this enemy was beyond anything they had faced before.

The blonde girl’s face turned pale. She had intended to report the appearance of the Hell Pirates to the CP organization, but now, with the Den Den Mushi out of commission, she had lost all contact with her superiors.

With no other options, she made a quick decision—she would find a way to join the Hell Pirates and, when the opportunity arose, deliver the information. She immediately left her hiding spot, searching for the right moment to reveal herself to Brook and the others.

"Well then, let me make the first move!"

Charlotte Linlin grinned, mimicking Brook’s eerie laugh. Riding atop Zeus, she surged forward, lightning crackling around her. With a massive flaming fist, she smashed down on Captain Goth’s men, instantly turning them into ash and leaving behind a burning crater.

Only Captain Goth barely managed to escape, his Armament Haki shielding him from Charlotte Linlin’s scorching flames.

"Hell Pirates!! Do you have any idea what you're doing?! You dare challenge the Ewald Pirates?! We rule these seas! Aren't you afraid Captain Ewald will hunt you down?!"

Though he shouted in defiance, his heart was pounding. The Hell Pirates weren’t ordinary. They had fought the leaders of both the Diger Pirates and the Rocks Pirates simultaneously. Their bounties were skyrocketing, and Charlotte Linlin—the "Iron Balloon"—stood before him with a staggering 600-million-berry bounty. Rumors even claimed she had awakened her Conqueror’s Haki.

"Big Bro Brook said we’re taking this island! Doraganzo belongs to the Hell Pirates now—nobody’s stopping us!"

Charlotte Linlin wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. She only listened to Brook. With another flaming punch, she charged at Goth once more.

"Damn it!!!"

Seeing that even Captain Ewald’s name didn’t scare her, Captain Goth turned and ran. He knew he had no chance of winning alone, and with the entire Hell Pirates crew still aboard their golden ship, he was doomed if he stayed.

"Trying to run from me?! Life or Death!!!"

Charlotte Linlin activated her Soul-Pocus, using fear to judge Captain Goth’s life force. The moment he felt even the slightest fear, she could rip his soul from his body.

She could extract life in increments, from a single month to several decades, depending on her will and the target’s remaining lifespan. If she took more than what was left, her victim would die instantly.

However, the ability had limits—the target had to hear her voice, and those who felt no fear of her were immune.

Goth barely made it a few steps before his body froze. His soul, now a faint gray mist, was yanked from his body by Charlotte Linlin’s massive hand. She held it up like a toy, grinning.

"Please! Don’t kill me! I surrender! I’ll leave the Ewald Pirates—I’ll join you instead! I don’t want to die!!!"

Goth’s soul writhed desperately, pleading for mercy. He had only recently joined the Ewald Pirates and was assigned to guard the island, collecting protection money in Ewald’s name.

The real core members of the Ewald Pirates were with Teach Ewald himself, preparing for potential clashes with other powerful crews.

Despite his pathetic state, Goth wasn’t weak—he had mastered both Armament and Observation Haki, with a bounty of 290 million berries. He had been a veteran pirate in the New World for years.

Brook and the others descended from the ship, with Antonio riding the Kirin Lion and the Memory Seahorse helping the Parrot fly. The sight made the Parrot envious—it lacked any special abilities and could only hope that Brook would one day find it a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.

Memory Seahorse unleashed its move, Little Demon Flying Kick: Tail Finger Gun—a name Brook personally gave it. The impact left a huge crater in the ground.

Charlotte Linlin ignored Goth’s pleas and drained ten years of his lifespan as payment for daring to challenge her. She then turned to Brook.

"Big Bro Brook, what should we do with this little guy?"

Goth, now feeling an unbearable emptiness inside him, shuddered in fear as Charlotte Linlin tossed him toward Brook.

"Captain Brook! I swear I’ll be loyal! Please don’t kill me!!"

With his soul returned to his body, Goth scrambled to his knees, begging for mercy.

A seasoned pirate who had survived in the New World for over a decade, he had made the mistake of joining a powerful crew too soon. If he had just stayed independent, he could have continued living comfortably, picking on weaker Rookies who hadn’t even awakened Haki yet.

Brook gestured, and Redfield stepped forward. Using his unique Observation Haki, he peered into Goth’s thoughts.

"He’s not loyal to the Ewald Pirates—he only joined recently. But he’s a coward. He fears the strong and preys on the weak. He’s the type to switch sides whenever it benefits him. He has no value to us."

Redfield’s verdict was like a death sentence. Goth’s face went pale.

"Please!! I swear, I’ll never betray you! Don’t kill me!!"

Tears streamed down his face as he trembled uncontrollably. Was it so wrong to want to survive? Was it a crime to fear death? Did they really expect him to throw his life away against stronger enemies?

Brook remained silent for a moment, then turned as Antonio stepped forward.

"Captain Brook, I’d like to test my new ability as well."

Antonio’s voice carried a hint of excitement.

His Den Den Mushi Fruit had already granted him all the abilities of the traditional Den Den Mushi, making it an incredibly valuable Devil Fruit. But now, it seemed he had unlocked something new…

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Chapter Text

Seeing the curious looks from the crew, the weakened Antonio became a little shy, acting coy.

"Oh, so that's why you rode the Kirin Lion down here! You just wanted to show off your new abilities~"

Shakky teased, clearly disappointed she couldn't ride the majestic Kirin Lion for free. But when she saw Antonio getting on, she immediately changed her mind, stepping down using Moonwalk instead.

"Wow~, what new abilities did you develop? Come on, show them off! Let’s see how strong the First Crew member is!"

Brook's tone carried a hint of amusement, but he wasn’t wrong. Antonio was indeed his first crew member, and Brook had always valued his Den Den Mushi Fruit ability. Even though Antonio’s combat strength was lacking, that wasn’t a major problem.

Hearing Brook refer to him as the "first crew member," even Redfield, the arrogant swordsman who always wanted to be the strongest officer on the ship, chuckled.

Antonio had often bragged about being Brook’s first crew member, hoping for some extra respect from the others. But “first crew member” said by Brook and “first crew member” said by him had two different meanings.

Still, technically, Antonio wasn’t wrong.

Amid the laughter, Antonio straightened his chest, feeling proud. Having Brook’s recognition was his greatest encouragement!

Under everyone’s watchful gaze, Antonio focused on Goth for a moment. Then, something unexpected happened—his hairstyle, clothing, and even his appearance started changing to resemble Goth’s.

"Shit, Antonio! Your Den Den Mushi Fruit can transform you too?"

Shakky was stunned. She immediately walked up to Antonio and pinched him out of curiosity.

"This is the mimicry ability of the Den Den Mushi. I was inspired by how Den Den Mushi can imitate the voice of the person they’re transmitting. So, I experimented with it, and I didn’t expect it to work. But the face still isn’t perfect."

Antonio now looked about 70% like Captain Goth. He explained his ability seriously, with a trace of pride in his voice.

Brook watched Antonio demonstrate his newly developed Mimicry ability and couldn’t help but praise him. Even though it wasn’t a perfect imitation yet, who knew? If Antonio kept developing it, he might achieve full transformation.

"Not bad! This is a real surprise. Perfect timing—over the next few days, you can imitate this bastard and report the island’s information to Ewald!"

Antonio’s ability made Brook decide that keeping this fence-sitter around was pointless. It was time to kill Goth, reclaim his soul, and add him to the ghost army.

Seeing Brook’s killing intent, Goth struggled desperately, but Brook simply drew his Seven-Star Sword.

"Traitor, this is the end for you. I’ll be the one to take your head~"

A sharp cry rang out.

A young girl with short blonde hair suddenly rushed forward, dagger in hand, aiming straight for Goth. Her eyes burned with deep-seated hatred.

But Brook wasn’t about to let someone else steal his kill.

"I, the Hand of Noxus, Brook, will never allow someone to take my head!"

Seven-Star Sword: Guillotine!

A flash of the blade.

Goth’s eyes widened in shock.

The blonde girl’s dagger stabbed into his chest—again and again—until his body was covered in blood.

His head tumbled to the ground, blood splattering across the girl’s face.

Her expression of hatred softened into one of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Tears welled up in her large eyes and streamed down her face.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

The vengeful girl was now a pitiful, tear-streaked beauty, making others feel protective of her.

Brook, satisfied, absorbed Goth’s pirate soul—one with a 290-million-berry bounty. But as he looked at the girl’s delicate, sorrowful face, something about her seemed oddly familiar.

"Excuse me… Are you the Hell Pirates? The ones who defy the Celestial Dragons? Thank you, great pirate heroes, for helping me get my revenge!"

The blonde girl gazed at them with admiration and gratitude, but Redfield frowned.

She was too fast.

And that movement—why did it feel like Shave, one of the Navy’s Six Powers?

"Yeah, we’re the Hell Pirates. Little sister, what’s your grudge against this guy?"

Shakky was stunned by the blonde beauty before her, as were the other men.

"Sniff… I was born on this island. After this pirate took control, he saw me on the street and wanted to capture me with those disgusting eyes. My parents tried to protect me, so he killed them both.

They bought me time to escape, but ever since then, he’s been hunting me down. I hate that bastard!!"

The blonde girl sobbed pitifully, her tragic past immediately stirring the sympathy of Charlotte Linlin and Antonio.

"So… how exactly did you escape from a pirate with a 290-million-berry bounty?"

Brook raised an eyebrow.

If she was weak, how did she manage to escape someone that powerful?

"Because my family once saved a stranded Marine officer. That Marine uncle taught me an escape technique, so I can run really fast!"

It sounded reasonable, but… the Six Powers?

That was a superhuman technique, supposedly requiring an insane physique to master.

"Captain Brook, is she using Shave from the Navy’s Six Powers?"

Shakky was surprised.

"Maybe she’s a genius like me, someone who can master superhuman skills at a young age!"

She was clearly flattering herself, but she wasn’t wrong. There were some rare talents in the world.

And this girl was beautiful—too beautiful. Even Shakky felt a little envious.

"May I ask your name?"

Shakky took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the blood off the girl’s face, revealing a delicate, breathtaking beauty.

If I had her looks, even a cool guy like Captain Brook would fall for me…

"My name is Stussy~"

The blonde girl introduced herself softly.

The moment Brook heard that name, his mind clicked.

The hair. The face. The figure.

It was her.

Even her name remained unchanged.

The future Queen of Pleasure Street. One of the Six Rulers of the Underworld.

Stussy.

-----

Redfield’s expression shifted slightly. He could already tell what Stussy was thinking. He was about to warn Brook, but when he saw the look in Brook’s eyes, he calmed down and decided to watch how this CP agent performed.

Brook sneered inwardly. The World Government trying to plant a spy directly within the Hell Pirates? What a joke.

Their little scheme was doomed from the start. Even if it wasn’t Stussy but some other agent, Antonio’s Den Den Mushi Fruit would have easily exposed her whenever she transmitted information. And then there was Redfield—his ability to read minds through Observation Haki meant no spy could hide from them.

As Stussy continued trying to gain sympathy from Shakky, Linlin, and the others, Brook quietly considered how to deal with this blonde beauty.

Currently, thanks to Redfield’s Thunder Fruit, all Den Den Mushi signals on Doraganzo Island were completely blocked. That meant she hadn’t reported the Hell Pirates’ presence yet.

But the fact that she was already here meant the World Government had anticipated that Brook and his crew were searching for Sky Island. They must have stationed Stussy in advance, waiting for an opportunity to infiltrate the Hell Pirates.

This also meant the Government had likely guessed the location of his Sky Island territory in the Grand Line. That was a problem. Jaya Island and Sky Island Shandora might no longer be safe.

Brook needed to warn Moore Thomas. Had the World Government already confirmed Sky Island’s existence? Or was this just speculation based on intelligence analysis?

The more he thought about it, the more frustrating it became. But worrying wouldn’t help. At the very least, he could instruct Moore to deploy more seagulls to patrol Sky Island and have the navy’s flying Devil Fruit users monitored using spy Den Den Mushi.

They also needed to stockpile Water Shells to counter potential aerial attacks. If anyone attempted to fly up to Sky Island, they would shoot them down.

And if worst came to worst… Shiki the Golden Lion could simply move the Grand Line’s Sky Island closer to the New World’s Sky Island, making it impossible for the Government to pinpoint its location.

---

Watching Shakky comfort Stussy, Brook glanced at the Memory Seahorse and flashed a small smile.

Stussy was no ordinary woman.

In the future, she wouldn’t just become the Queen of Pleasure District—one of the Six Dark Emperors of the Underworld—she would also rise to CP0’s elite ranks.

Her true strength was hard to gauge, but the fact that she could kill the Loan Shark King, Feld, from a thousand meters away using Flying Finger Pistol spoke volumes.

This woman had been personally gifted by the World Government. It would be a shame to let that talent go to waste.

And then there was her race… a mystery. She possessed eternal youth, never aging despite the passage of time. Her commanding yet deceptively cute looks made her stand out. Brook found the idea amusing.

She was someone who could be captured but never truly imprisoned.

---

"Ms. Stussy, from now on, Doraganzo Island belongs to the Hell Pirates. What are your plans?"

Brook approached with an easygoing, almost gentle expression. He looked harmless.

"Captain Brook, you're my idol!" Stussy exclaimed, her voice filled with admiration. "Ever since I saw how you stood up to the Celestial Dragons, I’ve wanted to join you!

Now that the bastard who killed my parents is dead, I have nowhere to go. Please take me in! I’ll work hard, I won’t slow you down!"

She even flexed her arms to show her "strength." Though they looked soft and delicate, she made sure to emphasize her determination.

Standing nearby, Fisher Tiger scoffed. To him, those little arms were nothing. Real strength belonged to Fish-Men.

But Brook knew better.

Stussy was dangerous.

Her Flying Finger Pistol could kill from a thousand meters away. That wasn’t something just any fighter could do.

And yet, despite her beauty, she had managed to navigate the Underworld without ever being taken advantage of. That alone was proof of her terrifying power.

She even addressed Big Mom as ‘Linlin’ at the Tea Party, something very few dared to do. Not only did Big Mom accept it, but she also happily took the gift Stussy prepared.

Brook estimated that, at her peak, Stussy would be at least at the level of an elite Vice Admiral, if not higher.

---

"It’s not impossible for you to join us," Brook said, stepping even closer. "But do you have any special talents?"

Stussy hesitated. Was she exposed?

"I can sing and dance!" she declared. "And I’m super fast! That kind navy officer once said I had natural talent for martial arts!"

She made sure to present herself as gifted, full of potential, yet vulnerable and in need of guidance.

Brook smiled.

"You said you admire us because we attacked the Celestial Dragons." His voice remained casual. "So, I take it you hate them as much as we do?"

Stussy nodded.

"Good. Next time we kill a Celestial Dragon, we’ll let you be the first one to do it." Brook’s grin widened. "That way, you can get a taste of the New World firsthand!"

A chill ran through Stussy’s spine.

Were these people insane?! They were planning to hunt Celestial Dragons?!

No. This was worse than she imagined.

She had to alert the Admirals immediately and wipe out the Hell Pirates before they became an even greater threat.

"I…"

She tried to think of a response, but Brook’s next words nearly shattered her composure.

"Alright, let’s make it simple. As a test to join the Hell Pirates, all you need to do is curse the Celestial Dragons ten times… and then come up with five different ways to kill them."

Brook's serious expression made her want to tear his face off.

If the Celestial Dragons ever found out about this, even if she completed her mission, her life would be over.

"Captain Brook, do we really have that kind of test?" Fisher Tiger suddenly chimed in. "I didn’t have to do it when I joined! I’m great at cursing Celestial Dragons!"

Without hesitation, the young Fish-Man launched into a stream of insults.

"Celestial Dragons are pigs, snot-nosed morons, uglier than blobfish, weaker than katydids, meaner than cherry fish, softer than mudfish…"

Stussy swallowed hard.

Did she really have to curse her own masters like this vulgar Fish-Man?!

"And killing them? That’s even easier!" Fisher Tiger continued excitedly. "Smash ‘em, strangle ‘em, chop ‘em into pieces, drown ‘em, or even better—whip ‘em to death!"

The enthusiasm in his voice was almost infectious.

Stussy felt a cold sweat form on her back.

How the hell was she supposed to pass this "test"?!

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Chapter Text

Redfield, standing beside Brook, caught onto Stussy's hesitation, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. Captain Brook really knows how to play this game.

Fisher Tiger was just as amusing. What he said nearly shattered the composure of the beautiful blonde spy in front of them.

"Is this enough? Have you learned it? Curse them a few more times. Once you pass Captain Brook's test, you’ll be one of us. The Hell Pirates take pleasure in taking down any Celestial Dragon we come across!"

Tiger spoke to Stussy with a mix of encouragement and mischief, like an older veteran welcoming a rookie. Even though he was younger than her, he had been part of the crew much longer.

"I..."

Stussy was still reeling, caught off guard. Meanwhile, Shakky found the test to be quite simple. She trusted that Brook had his reasons and looked at Stussy with an expectant gaze.

They never trained me for this. As a spy, she never imagined she’d have to stand here and curse her supposed masters—the Celestial Dragons—ten times in a row. Stussy, who had always thought of herself as experienced and composed, suddenly found her mind shutting down like an amateur recruit.

But she knew that if she refused now, she would be exposed. The Hell Pirates would surround her, leaving her no way to escape. Today could be the day she died.

I have no choice but to go along with this.

She would curse the Celestial Dragons now, pass their so-called test, and then—she’d eliminate every single one of these pirates. That way, no one would be left alive to expose what she had done. If the World Government ever found out she had uttered even a single insult against the Celestial Dragons, her life would be forfeit.

A cold glint flashed in Redfield’s eyes. This little CP agent actually thinks she can kill all of us? He sneered internally. How naive.

"Captain Brook, I have no personal grudge against the Celestial Dragons... but they are idiots, pig-brained scum, cruel dogs, born with mental deficiencies, and utterly inhuman! I will stab them, poison them, trample them, hack them to pieces..."

As Stussy let loose her tirade, she found herself getting carried away. The words flowed more easily than she expected. A strange sense of exhilaration bubbled within her—an unfamiliar, almost intoxicating feeling.

Since childhood, she had been indoctrinated by the CP organization to believe that the Celestial Dragons were gods, beings above all others. She had been trained to obey without question, to execute their orders no matter the cost, to protect their power at all costs, and to uphold the "dark justice" that the World Government wielded from the shadows.

"Yohohoho~! Feels good, doesn’t it?" Brook chuckled, watching her with amusement. "Would you like to be able to curse them whenever you want?"

With a press of a switch, Brook activated a sound shell—playing back her curses over and over.

Stussy’s face darkened.

Brook was still grinning. "I bet it feels great to finally say all that out loud, huh?"

For a brief moment, Stussy almost let slip how satisfying it was. But she caught herself at the last second.

"If it feels that good, why don’t you take this back as a keepsake?" Brook smirked. "I’ll even get it published for you. Maybe put out an ad cursing the Celestial Dragons—help you vent that frustration properly."

Stussy’s expression twitched. He recorded it?!

That recording was dangerous. If it ever fell into the hands of the Marines, the World Government, or—worse—the Celestial Dragons, she’d be executed without question.

"Captain Brook, thank you for your kindness. I’ll take good care of it," she said, masking her panic with a grateful smile as she stepped forward, reaching for the sound shell.

But Brook wasn’t fooled.

"Stussy, let’s be real here. If you want the freedom to curse the Celestial Dragons, you’ll need to become a real pirate."

The real trap was finally revealed. Stussy realized that Brook had known her identity all along. He had just been toying with her.

What kind of bullshit test is this?!

As an elite agent, she had been outplayed by a damn pirate! Even the most patient person would snap.

Stussy’s eyes narrowed. She launched herself at Antonio, the weakest member of the crew, hoping to take him hostage for leverage.

But before she could reach him—

Crackle!

A surge of lightning erupted, and Redfield intercepted her in an instant. The rest of the crew was already on high alert, surrounding her before she could make another move. Even Shakky, who had been feeling sympathetic toward her earlier, now looked at her warily.

Cold sweat formed on Shakky’s brow. Stussy’s speed and strength… she’s stronger than me. She had been completely fooled.

"How did you figure it out?" Stussy asked, her voice calm despite the situation. She knew she was done for. If a mission failed, death was an expected outcome. She had made peace with that long ago.

Still, she was curious. If she could learn how they saw through her, she could pass that knowledge on to future agents—if she somehow made it out alive.

Brook chuckled. "Oh, we have our ways. But what do you say? An exposed spy is worthless. Why not make it real? Ditch the World Government and join us. You seemed to enjoy cursing the Celestial Dragons a little too much."

Brook didn’t have high hopes that she would actually accept, but if she did, it’d be a hell of an outcome. The problem was that spies like her were conditioned from childhood. If he used the Memory Seahorse to erase her loyalty to the World Government, it might take years to rebuild her skills.

To his surprise, Stussy didn’t hesitate.

"Alright," she said nonchalantly, as if it didn’t matter. "I’m sick of those Celestial Dragon bastards anyway. But, Captain, don’t doubt me every day in the future~"

The crew was stunned.

Brook narrowed his eyes. "A liar swallows a thousand needles, Stussy. Do you have any ‘family’ being taken care of by the World Government?"

Redfield was watching her closely, ensuring she couldn’t pull any tricks. If she was lying, they could always use the Memory Seahorse on her later.

For the first time, Stussy hesitated.

Family?

She had none. She had been raised by the CP organization, trained like a machine. According to her instructors, her parents had probably been killed by pirates. But she never verified that—never even thought to.

It didn’t matter, though.

She would never betray the World Government. Never abandon the CP organization. Even if she died, dark justice would continue moving forward.

-----

Redfield shook his head at Brook. There was no way this spy agent would just surrender to the Hell Pirates like that.

"Poor girl, were you an orphan taken in by the World Government? They must've completely brainwashed you. There's nothing I can do about that... but I promise you, from now on, we'll be your family!"

Brook let the Memory Seahorse devour her memories, but not before Redfield took one last look at what secrets were buried in her mind.

"Captain Brook, I hate the Celestial Dragons! They've experimented on my body time and time again. I have no family, and all I want is to live a free life! Please, take me with you. Let me be part of your family and escape their control!"

Stussy cried out, her hysterical plea even managing to move someone like Shakky. If Brook hadn't noticed Redfield still shaking his head, he might've actually fallen for her acting.

The CP organization spent over a decade molding their agents—did she really think Brook would switch her loyalty with just a few words? What was this, some fairytale where the MC talked his way into winning? Did she think he was Naruto, pulling a talk no-jutsu on Nagato and Obito like they hadn’t been villains for decades?

Brook walked up to the tearful Stussy and gently stroked her head. She thought she'd succeeded in fooling him. The next second, she felt a sharp pain in her neck—then everything went dark.

"Captain Brook, you—!!"

Shakky and the others were shocked. Did he not want to recruit her? What happened to the whole "we'll be your family" speech?

"You really think you can turn the World Government’s top-trained agent just like that? Don’t be naive. I’ll admit, though, her acting was damn good."

Brook tossed Stussy over to Redfield, signaling for the Memory Seahorse to do its job—first watching, then erasing her memories.

"So she was just acting... Damn, she really had me fooled."

Shakky wiped away her tears, while even the simple-minded Linlin had been moved enough to cry. The rest of the crew, a bunch of grown men, subtly turned their heads, pretending they hadn’t been touched.

"Stussy is 17 this year. She was taken to Guanhao Island at six to train in the Six Powers (Rokushiki). By 14, she was already a CP9 candidate.

Later, her beauty and strength caught the eye of the Celestial Dragons, and she was taken to Mary Geoise to undergo further training as a CP0 candidate. She was naturally gifted. Within two years, she mastered Life Return (Seimei Kikan) and six advanced techniques. Her strongest move is the Flying Finger Gun (Tobu Shigan).

This mission was her final test. If she succeeded, she’d officially become CP0—the youngest female member in over 700 years!"

Redfield read out Stussy’s memories, letting the crew understand exactly who they were dealing with.

No wonder she called Big Mom "Auntie." She was actually a year older than Linlin! Her race had an insane talent for maintaining youth.

At 13, Rob Lucci slaughtered 500 soldiers and an entire pirate crew to officially join CP9, becoming the youngest and strongest agent in 800 years. Comparing their stats, Stussy was just as terrifyingly talented as Lucci. The World Government sure knew how to pick 'em.

"Write down all the training methods for Life Return and the six advanced Rokushiki techniques. From now on, her skills are ours."

Brook sighed. Thankfully, Stussy was still young and hadn’t learned Haki yet. Otherwise, even with the Hell Pirates surrounding her, she would’ve been a nightmare to take down.

But she relied too much on her acting and thought she could fool them. That mistake let Brook take her out easily. If she had completed this mission, returned to CP0, and learned Haki, her strength would’ve skyrocketed.

Brook had the Memory Seahorse erase the last three years of her life, reverting her to a 14-year-old CP9 reserve agent. She wouldn’t remember becoming a CP9 candidate or being taken by the Celestial Dragons.

This way, he only needed to train her for a few years. If he erased everything and reverted her to six years old, even with her current physical abilities, it would take too long to retrain her.

Stussy woke up groggily. The moment she opened her eyes and found herself in an unfamiliar place, she jumped up, instantly alert. A quick scan of her surroundings told her all she needed to know—she was surrounded by pirates.

Wasn't she training in Rokushiki with her fellow CP9 candidates on Guanhao Island? She was the strongest among them and was about to officially become a CP9 agent!

Brook was prepared. He pulled out a Sound Dial and pressed play. Stussy's own voice echoed through the room—her cursing the Celestial Dragons. He watched her reaction closely. If she resisted, the Memory Seahorse would erase more.

Stussy stared in shock as she heard herself speaking. That was her voice… but she was cursing the Celestial Dragons?

Even as a CP9 reserve member, she had been taught absolute loyalty to the Celestial Dragons and the World Government.

"Stussy, have you forgotten? This is your voice. The World Government, the Marines, and CP units are all after you because you insulted the Celestial Dragons. We saved you.

So tell me, are you gonna attack us? Or do you want to go back and die?"

Brook’s words hit her like a hammer. That was her voice. That was her own voice cursing the Celestial Dragons.

"H-how is this possible?"

She felt like she had made some terrible mistake. Before she had even begun her mission as a CP9 agent, she had already pissed off the Celestial Dragons?

"You lost your memory, huh? You even begged us to be your family!"

Brook played another Sound Dial—this time, it was Stussy’s own voice, crying and screaming about wanting to escape the Celestial Dragons and join them.

"I… lost my memory? I… cursed the Celestial Dragons? I… wanted these pirates to be my family?"

Stussy touched her face, feeling the dried tears on her cheeks. Had she really cried? Had she really joined them?

Otherwise, why was she in this strange place? These pirates couldn’t have kidnapped her from CP9’s secret training base, could they?

"Where am I? Who are you people?"

Even as a CP agent, her instincts kicked in. She needed to understand her situation immediately.

"This is Doraganzo Island in the New World. We’re the Hell Pirates—your future family. You don’t have to be afraid of being hunted by the Celestial Dragons anymore!"

Brook explained, watching Stussy closely.

It was a good thing Streusen hadn’t come down from the golden ship, or else he’d realize how she lost her memory.

Not that it would change anything. Even if he knew, he wouldn’t be able to resist. Hell, he'd probably be happier this way.

"This is... the New World?"

Stussy was starting to believe it. Guanhao Island, where she had been training, was a top-secret base in the Grand Line. Yet now, she was suddenly in the New World?

This was impossible… but here she was.

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Chapter Text

Brook couldn't help but laugh as he looked at the self-doubting Stussy. The Hell Pirates had just welcomed another talent sent by the World Government.

"Stussy, I don’t know what kind of hell the Celestial Dragons put you through to make you hate them so much, but that doesn’t matter anymore. We’re partners now. From here on, we live for freedom! Forget the painful past!"

His words made Shakky and the others admire Brook's cunning. He had seamlessly twisted the situation into a perfect excuse for Stussy to defect, making her betrayal seem natural. It was a masterstroke of manipulation.

Brook was truly a tactician, always thinking three steps ahead before making a move. Thankfully, he was their captain and not their enemy.

Looking at Brook’s outstretched hand, Stussy accepted her new identity—someone persecuted by the Celestial Dragons, who escaped from CP, lost her memory, and became a pirate.

With Redfield’s approving nod, Brook smiled in satisfaction at their newest crew member.

"Welcome, Stussy! From now on, you’re officially part of the Hell Pirates!"

Brook’s declaration was met with cheers. Shakky, Linlin, and the others grabbed Stussy’s hands, celebrating her arrival. Meanwhile, Brook discreetly handed a Den Den Mushi he had confiscated from Stussy over to Antonio.

While Redfield took care of the remaining forces of the Ewald Pirates on the island, Antonio began searching for all Den Den Mushi connected to outside forces, cutting off external communications.

Once everything was in place, Redfield deactivated the island’s signal blockade, and Brook immediately called Moore, instructing him to send some members of the New World News Agency over.

At the same time, Shakky started training Stussy in the Navy’s Rokuogan (Six Powers), refining her Life Return techniques and advanced combat moves. This helped Stussy integrate with the crew faster.

In Antonio’s Prism Gate Den Den Mushi Room, under Brook’s direction, he mimicked Captain Goth’s voice to report back to the Ewald Pirates, claiming that everything was under control. He also imitated Stussy’s voice to report to CP, saying the Hell Pirates had yet to appear.

Additionally, they spread false intel that the rumors about a Sky Island above Doragonzo Island were likely false and that the Hell Pirates may have gone elsewhere in search of it. CP’s response was simple—Stussy was ordered to lie low for another month. If there was still no news by then, she was to withdraw and await new orders.

With the outside world in the dark, the Hell Pirates strengthened their foothold on Doragonzo Island. They subdued the pirate crews and locals, establishing a news agency branch and a supply procurement base to support their operations.

Meanwhile, the Rocks Pirates, never ones to sit idle, launched another wave of attacks.

Previously, the Overlord Candidate pirate groups had roamed freely without claiming territories, making them hard to track. But now that they had seized lands, they had effectively painted targets on their backs.

To Rocks, this was an open invitation to crush them.

It was much like how Kaido, the King of Beasts, later destroyed the alliance of Kid, Hawkins, and Apoo with ease, showing the vast gap between a true overlord and upstart supernovas.

Rocks stormed through their territories. The Evil Monk Urdi refused to surrender and was captured. The Karnz Brothers chose to submit and joined the Rocks Pirates. Only Eric Dane of the King Pirates was cunning enough to escape, retreating with a hefty sum of treasure.

Rocks' ruthless attack forced the three remaining pseudo-overlords to tighten their defenses, uniting to fend off future invasions.

Confident in his power, Rocks reached out to Diger, hoping to forge an alliance to crush the three pseudo-overlords and restore the balance of power in the New World.

However, to his shock, Diger did the opposite—he allied with the pseudo-overlords to wage war against Rocks.

Facing the combined might of four powerful pirate crews, the Rocks Pirates suffered heavy losses. Rocks himself barely avoided injury, saved only by the fact that his enemies were wary of each other and held back.

Forced to retreat, Rocks withdrew to Hachinosu (Pirate Island) to regroup.

Seeing the growing resistance against him, Rocks realized his greatest weakness—his lack of absolute power.

If he wanted to reign supreme, he couldn’t just be stronger than Diger. He had to be powerful enough to single-handedly suppress Diger and all three pseudo-overlords at once!

Determined to break this deadlock, Rocks locked himself away and began a brutal training regimen to push his strength beyond its limits.

Thus, the New World saw an uneasy peace for half a month as everyone silently prepared for the next battle.

Elsewhere, Golden Lion Shiki and his crew were still lost at sea, wandering aimlessly without a navigator.

They had been searching for Doragonzo Island for weeks but couldn't find it.

Brook, growing impatient, finally sent a permanent Log Pose via the Seagull News Agency.

With the Log Pose in hand, Shiki the Golden Lion finally arrived at Doragonzo Island!

As soon as his ship entered the island’s waters, Antonio’s surveillance network picked up his Den Den Mushi signal. Immediately, the Hell Pirates prepared for their new arrival.

Everyone in the crew was aware of Shiki’s legend—the infamous Flying Pirate and a former top Overlord Candidate, once ranked alongside Redfield and Whitebeard.

Shakky and Antonio, however, were more impressed by Brook's long-term planning.

They had witnessed the rise of the Den Den Mushi intelligence network firsthand and knew that the very first Den Den Mushi Brook sent out was given to none other than Shiki the Golden Lion himself.

Even though they had stayed out of Brook’s secret dealings, they never expected that he had been orchestrating Shiki’s recruitment from the very beginning.

Brook’s insane foresight left them in awe.

"Captain Brook," Shakky grinned, "With Golden Lion Shiki’s Float-Float Fruit, getting to Sky Island just became a whole lot easier!"

Brook had been forcing Redfield to use the Golden Ark Maxim to haul supplies up to Sky Island—including dirt—which was a ridiculous waste of a legendary warship’s abilities.

"Captain, I heard that Shiki has also awakened Conqueror’s Haki," Redfield spoke up. "Are you really sure he’ll willingly join us?"

Having awakened his own Conqueror’s Haki under Brook’s guidance, Redfield knew firsthand that Brook’s influence was terrifying. He was bound to Brook by fate and would never betray him.

But Shiki?

A man of such ambition, wielding Conqueror’s Haki… would he really submit?

Brook just smirked, his usual carefree laugh carrying a hint of mischief.

"Leave that to me."

-----

Brook also knew that those who had awakened Conqueror's Haki rarely ever truly submitted to anyone again. If their belief in their Haki was shattered, it would stop growing or even degenerate entirely.

However, there were exceptions—Ace, the son of the Pirate King, was one of them. Despite awakening Conqueror's Haki, he joined the Whitebeard Pirates and genuinely submitted to Whitebeard.

His dream of surpassing Roger, escaping his father’s shadow, and becoming the Pirate King was shattered. The Ace who once competed with Luffy for that title was gone.

Instead, he became Ace of the Whitebeard Pirates, devoted to helping Whitebeard become King of the Seas, believing only in Whitebeard’s strength. Under Whitebeard’s fatherly love, Ace’s Haki grew even stronger.

Those who awakened Conqueror's Haki under a captain's guidance were often fiercely loyal—like Rayleigh’s reverence for Roger and Katakuri’s unwavering devotion to the Charlotte family.

Of course, there were exceptions. Yamato, despite being Kaido’s child, claimed to have inherited Kozuki Oden’s will, turning against her own father. To Kaido, she was nothing but a leaky black jacket.

Even Sengoku, a man of the Navy, awakened his Conqueror's Haki through his belief in the Marines' absolute justice and the system of obedience.

It was clear—if one’s Conqueror's Haki belief clashed with their actions, their Haki would wither. But if their belief was tied to loyalty toward a person or cause, their Haki would only grow stronger, even without being the ultimate ruler.

---

"Strength, shared interests, and emotional bonds make people inseparable," Brook muttered with a mischievous grin. "Once you’re part of us, it won’t be so easy to leave. Yohoho~!"

Brook knew he had to understand Shiki’s belief in Haki first. If Shiki's Conqueror's Haki was driven by his desire to dominate the world, then forcing him to submit was pointless.

The best he could do in that case was to form an alliance or cooperative relationship. Should he let Memory Seahorse take action?

No, no, no. That would be a complete waste of Shiki’s potential and talent. Besides, Brook didn’t have time to let Golden Lion re-cultivate his Float-Float Fruit abilities.

More importantly, if Shiki fled, the Hell Pirates would struggle to stop him. If things went south, Shiki could end up joining the Overlord Alliance and turning into a massive threat.

Brook couldn't afford to lose this golden opportunity. Since Shiki had willingly come to him, it meant that their bond was still strong. His favorability was high—this was his chance.

As Shiki’s small pirate ship approached, Brook came up with a bold idea to secure their bond: a sworn brotherhood ceremony.

Just like Luffy, Ace, and Sabo, they could become sworn brothers, forging an unbreakable bond. It wouldn’t weaken their Haki—if anything, it would make their connection even stronger.

With dozens of sworn brothers, Brook could create his own version of the Eighteen Layers of Hell. In the current pirate era, there was no Pirate King title yet.

Brook would become the hidden mastermind behind the future intelligence giant, quietly pulling the strings with Moore at his side.

---

"Brook!"

Shiki the Golden Lion flew down from his ship, gazing at Brook with complicated emotions. He didn't know what to say. He even regretted coming, feeling awkward and conflicted.

"Shiki, don’t act so shy!" Brook laughed heartily. "From now on, we’re brothers! Let me introduce you to the crew!"

With a grin, Brook enthusiastically introduced Shiki to his brothers and sisters—the powerful Redfield, the unstoppable Charlotte Linlin, the mighty Edward Newgate, and the rest.

To celebrate, their chef prepared a lavish feast, combining delicacies from both worlds.

For the Golden Lion and Scaredo, it was the first time in months they had eaten anything so delicious, bringing tears to their eyes.

Remembering their recent hardships, they each ate two extra bowls.

---

"Shiki, what’s your dream?"

After the feast, Brook finally asked the question he had been waiting for.

Shiki fell silent, but as a man who had awakened Conqueror's Haki, he didn’t shy away from it.

"I want to dominate the New World—like a Lion King—and become its overlord!"

At this point, Shiki knew nothing about Poneglyphs or Ancient Weapons. There was no One Piece yet, so becoming the New World’s overlord was the ultimate dream.

Brook’s eyes narrowed.

"Shiki… your Conqueror's Haki awakened because you wanted to become the overlord of the New World, right?"

The Golden Lion nodded, recalling the time he was nearly devoured by Sea Kings near Fish-Man Island.

Dying there, without ever conquering the New World, was unacceptable.

It was in that moment of desperation that his Haki erupted, terrifying the Sea Kings and allowing him to escape.

"Shiki," Brook said firmly, placing a large barrel of wine between them. "Become my brother."

"I will help you train Redfield, Linlin, Newgate, and the others—until we are all overlords of the New World!"

Brook took a knife, sliced his palm, and let a few drops of dark blue blood fall into the wine barrel.

"Today, I abandon my role as captain," Brook declared passionately. "Let us drink this sworn brotherhood wine! From this moment on, we are brothers and sisters, through thick and thin!"

With an excited grin, Redfield was the first to step forward, slicing his palm and letting his blood mix into the wine.

One by one, everyone followed suit—letting their blood drip into the wine, creating a bond that would never be broken.

Finally, Golden Lion Shiki, his fighting spirit ignited, cut his palm and added his blood to the mix.

Brook shook the blood wine and personally poured a glass for each crew member.

The crew raised their glasses and drank deeply, feeling the burn of blood and wine bonding them together.

"From now on," Brook declared, raising his glass, "we are a family bound by blood. Let us become like dragons, awaken Conqueror's Haki, and reign over the New World!"

"Cheers!!"

Everyone raised their glasses, drinking with fervor.

Brook suddenly slammed his glass down with a grin, and the crew followed, smashing their glasses in unison.

In that moment, they felt invincible.

---

"From now on, don't be so formal!" Brook grinned. "I’m older than all of you—so you call me big brother from now on!"

Laughter filled the hall as calls of ‘big brother’ echoed throughout the ship—even Golden Lion Shiki shouted it, making Brook’s grin widen.

Captain or big brother—it didn’t matter.

Brook had only one goal: to gather all the monsters of the sea around him, forming a family bound by both interests and emotion.

He was no longer just building a pirate crew—he was forging a dynasty.

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Chapter Text

The next morning, Golden Lion Shiki woke up from his drunken stupor, recalling the excitement and joy of the previous night.

He had actually become Brook's sworn brother—and gained a group of powerful siblings in the process.

Brook had pledged to support him in becoming the overlord of the New World. Even more ambitious, Brook vowed to raise every crew member to the level of an overlord.

Shiki chuckled at himself—Brook's ambition was far greater than his own.

While Shiki dreamed of ruling the New World, Brook aimed to lead a whole fleet of overlord-level figures and control the entire New World.

Becoming Brook's sworn brother didn’t conflict with his own Conqueror's Haki beliefs.

Maybe—just maybe—he could become an overlord himself while helping his elder brother Brook become the true master of the New World.

For the first time, Golden Lion Shiki recognized Brook’s absolute ambition—and he fully accepted his role as Brook's younger brother.

---

"Brother Shiki~"

Scaredo, still groggy from the night of drinking, called out to Shiki in his sleep.

Shiki glanced at him with a complicated expression.

This long-time subordinate was now his sworn brother. He recalled Scaredo's overjoyed expression from the night before.

Maybe becoming brothers with the captain he had followed for so long was something worth celebrating.

From Captain Shiki to Big Brother Shiki—Shiki shook his head, feeling the unfamiliar but warm bond of true brotherhood.

---

"Brother Brook~"

Redfield had already dropped the title of captain, now addressing Brook as his sworn brother.

As Brook’s loyal admirer, Redfield was overjoyed—feeling that they had truly become family.

So overjoyed, in fact, that he brought out most of his treasured Fish-Man Island Mermaid Red Wine to celebrate the brotherhood ceremony.

Even the new member, Stussy, was swept up by the festive atmosphere.

Despite never having drunk red wine before, she indulged herself—silently calling Brook ‘big brother’ several times in her heart.

---

Throughout the morning, cheerful shouts of “Brother Brook! Brother Captain!” echoed around the ship.

Meanwhile, Brook, immune to drunkenness, was already training.

As he focused his energy, a large amount of Underworld energy returned to his body, dispersing the lingering ghostly frost that had frozen the ground.

Charlotte Linlin approached with a large plate of desserts, placing it in front of Brook.

If she wasn’t so massive, she probably would have fed it to him herself.

"Brother Brook, Linlin has so many brothers and sisters now! How about I take Sheep House Island (future toto island) as our territory?!"

Even as a child, Linlin was still thinking about Sheep House Island, the place where Mother Carmel's orphanage once stood.

"When the time comes, let Shiki transport the entire island here," Brook said with a grin.

"But your mission now is to get stronger—strong enough to protect Sheep Island!"

Brook’s words made Linlin beam with joy.

She immediately sought out Redfield, pestering him to train her in swordsmanship.

After all, the future Big Mom would become a monstrous swordswoman.

---

Under Brook's guidance, every Devil Fruit user was developing new creative techniques, while the non-Fruit users trained relentlessly in:

Navy Six Styles

Fish-Man Karate

Judo

And mastering Haki

Meanwhile, Golden Lion Shiki was transporting massive amounts of soil to Sky Island every day, expanding their farmland.

The island’s development was accelerating, and it wouldn't be long before the entire island could float.

---

"Brother Brook! The Ewald Pirates are sending men to Doraganzo Island to collect protection money!"

Unknowingly, a month had passed.

In that time, three new members had joined the Hell Pirates, and Moore Thomas had dispatched people to the New World Sky Island to establish a news and intelligence agency.

---

"Then let’s see if you can fool them. If not…" Brook’s eyes narrowed coldly.

"Kill them all—and officially start the fight with Ewald!"

Brook hoped that Antonio, with his half-baked anthropomorphic form, could deceive the pirates collecting the protection fees, buying the Hell Pirates another month of development time.

But he also knew that if Antonio were to meet the enemy face-to-face, he’d be exposed immediately.

Brook refused to let Antonio take that risk—after all, he was still too weak.

Fortunately, the three pseudo-overlords of the New World were too paranoid to leave their base camps.

The threat of Rocks kept them in check, fearing interception and death.

Because of this, the Ewald Pirates could only send low-level cadres to attack the Hell Pirates.

Brook knew it was only a matter of time—when Ewald himself was forced to act, that would mark the beginning of their real war.

---

"Brother Brook!"

Shiki’s voice crackled through the Den Den Mushi.

"The Ewald Pirates’ ship just entered Doraganzo Island's waters!"

Antonio's voice rang out, causing a wave of excitement among the Hell Pirates.

They were eager to face this new enemy, curious about their strength and bounty.

---

A pirate ship with an octopus figurehead sailed into Doragonzo Island's port.

Bleco, a cadre of the Ewald Pirates, wore a scowl of annoyance.

The island leader, Captain Goth, had failed to come out and greet him.

As one of Ewald’s top cadres, Bleco had been with him for years.

Despite only collecting protection fees for the last three months, he held high authority.

Bleco marched into town with dozens of pirates, only to find that Goth was nowhere in sight.

Worse still, there were new buildings on the island—and not a single Ewald Pirates flag was visible.

---

"Something’s wrong," Bleco's face darkened.

"Retreat immediately!" he barked.

"Contact the captain—now!!"

As a veteran New World pirate, Bleco’s gut screamed danger.

Before he could use the Den Den Mushi, a bolt of lightning struck it, reducing it to charred remains.

The Den Den Mushi was obliterated, leaving Antonio with a brief pang of regret.

---

"Who dares invade Ewald Pirates' territory?!"

Bleco roared, drawing his sword.

His minions followed suit, raising their rifles and blades, pointing them in every direction.

"Ugh, can’t you guys come up with better lines?"

A flash of lightning flickered—Redfield appeared before Bleco, elegant and calm.

The sudden roar of artillery rang out, ripping Bleco apart.

However, his mangled body reformed from lightning plasma, shocking the onlookers.

"Logia-type Thunder Fruit…"

Bleco's face paled as he recognized the Thunder Red Count of the Hell Pirates.

The man in the black and red noble attire was a nightmare, with a bounty far higher than his own.

"Tch. Just a small fry."

A man with a wild mane of blond hair floated down from the sky, a cigar clenched between his teeth.

He sneered at the financial officer, mocking him with disdain.

"Shiki the Golden Lion…"

Bleco’s voice trembled in disbelief.

The infamous Float-Float Fruit user, once coveted by countless overlords, was now fighting alongside the Hell Pirates.

------

Golden Lion Shiki, eager to show off his strength in front of his new companions, didn’t care about his opponent's weakness—he attacked fiercely.

"Lion Power: Earth Scroll!"

With the Float-Float Fruit, Shiki lifted the entire ground, morphing the land into massive lion heads that charged at Bleco, biting and crushing everything in their path.

Facing the giant earth lions, Bleco dodged frantically.

His eyes widened as he spotted more Hell Pirates emerging from the shadows, completely surrounding him.

His face turned grim.

The dozen pirates he had brought with him weren't killed by Redfield—instead, they were being used as sparring practice by the Hell Pirates' rookies.

---

"Are you Hell Pirates trying to start a war with the Ewald Pirates?!"

Bleco barked, attempting to sound intimidating, but his trembling voice betrayed him.

"You actually took over this island without a word?!"

The Hell Pirates were far more brazen than expected.

First, they interfered in the battle between Xiao Feng and Wang Zhi.

Now, they had seized Ewald’s territory right under their noses.

---

"Enough talk. This is our answer!"

"Lion Slashing Wave!"

Golden Lion Shiki, a ruthless man of action, slashed down with his twin blades, Oto and Kugarashi, sending a furious wave of golden sword energy toward Bleco.

Today, Shiki was determined to claim his first victory in front of his new crew.

Brook had given clear orders—they had to capture Bleco alive.

He couldn’t be allowed to bring news of their attack back to Bristol Island, the Ewald Pirates’ base.

---

"Damn it!!"

Bleco cursed Goth, the man in charge of Doraganzo Island.

That fool hadn’t sent a single warning to headquarters before he was slaughtered, leaving Bleco exposed.

"I've followed Captain Ewald for years…"

Bleco hands trembled with fury.

He had endured countless hardships, barely surviving the crew purges.

When Ewald finally became an overlord, he had enjoyed only two months of peace—and now, he was about to die.

"I worked too damn hard to die here!!"

With Armament Haki coating his blades, Bleco roared and slashed through Shiki's sword energy, dispersing it with all his might.

But with just one strike, the difference in power was exposed.

Bleco heart sank.

The Hell Pirates' monsters were far stronger than he had imagined.

---

"Hell Pirates!" Bleco snarled, his eyes bloodshot.

"Our captain will slaughter you all to avenge me! I'll be waiting for you in hell!!"

Despite facing certain death, Bleco refused to beg for mercy.

His loyalty to Ewald burned fiercely.

Clenching his blades, Bleco charged, determined to carve a piece of flesh from Shiki—even if it cost him his life.

The fierce determination of a New World pirate.

---

"Hahahaha! We are hell!"

Shiki laughed maniacally, his eyes flashing with frenzy.

"We’ll send your captain down to join you!!"

"Lion's Might: Hundred Beasts Slash!"

The Golden Lion unleashed a storm of golden crescent-shaped sword energy, each slash powerful enough to tear apart a mountain.

Dozens, then hundreds of slashes rained down on Bleco, engulfing him in a maelstrom of golden fury.

The ground shattered beneath the relentless assault, explosions rocking the island.

Smoke and dust billowed, the clanging of steel echoing for a few seconds—then silence.

---

When the smoke cleared, Bleco lay in a massive crater, his body riddled with sword wounds.

If not for the slight rise and fall of his chest, he would have appeared dead.

"Lord Bleco!!"

Several of Bleco men screamed in terror, only to be swiftly cut down by:

Shakky

Stussy

Tiger

The rookies of the Hell Pirates showed no mercy, dispatching the minions with ease.

---

"Too weak… so damn weak!"

Shiki stormed over, grabbing Bleco by the throat.

He cursed in frustration, glaring at his half-dead opponent.

"You’re supposed to have a 350 million berries bounty? With dual Haki?!"

"This is all you’ve got?!"

---

"Hah… not that weak after all…"

To Shiki’s shock, Bleco broken body suddenly morphed into a giant leech, wrapping around him.

The leech's fanged maw lunged for Shiki's neck, dripping with venomous saliva.

"You let your guard down, Shiki!"

Bleco sneered wickedly.

"I’m the user of the Leech-Leech Fruit!"

"Your sword energy can’t harm me! Prepare to die!!"

---

Bleco, a veteran of the New World, was no pushover.

His vitality was monstrous—even on the brink of death, he refused to fall.

The Leech-Leech Fruit gave him incredible regeneration—his wounds closed rapidly, and he regained strength by draining blood.

A living, low-tier vampire.

---

"Bite!"

But before Bleco’s fangs could pierce Shiki's neck, two floating swords—Oto and Kogarashi—barred his path.

The swords slammed together, blocking Bleco bloody maw.

"Hahaha~ You thought you had me?"

Thanks to Brook's training, Shiki had mastered the sword-controlling technique—an advanced skill that let him control his blades remotely with precision and speed.

---

"Damn New World freaks… always full of surprises!"

"Lion's Power: Imperial Palace Scroll – Earth Spear!"

Suddenly, jagged stone spears erupted from the ground, impaling Bleco and sending him flying.

Taking the chance, Shiki shot into the sky, breaking free from Bleco’s death grip.

---

Watching from afar, Brook smirked in satisfaction.

Shiki's Float-Float Fruit abilities were evolving.

He was starting to fight like a Hokage-tier Earth-style user, using the terrain as his weapon.

Brook grinned.

"Redfield's lightning style must be almost complete by now…"

"And Linlin's elemental attacks are already absurdly overpowered. Even Newgate has his Water Style: Tsunami."

---

"Damn it!!"

Despite the spear wounds, Bleco’s body began to heal again, his Leech powers mending the damage.

But Shiki, filled with fury, wasn’t about to let him recover.

"You almost humiliated me, bastard!"

"Lion's Might: Imperial Palace Scroll – Palm of Hell!"

The ground transformed into massive stone hands, which clapped together, flattening Bleco like an insect.

---

"Shiki! Don’t kill him!"

Charlotte Linlin and Brook called out.

They needed his soul.

Although Shiki held back, Bleco was left crushed beyond recognition.

Yet, his damn leech powers kept him alive.

But when Linlin’s Conqueror’s Haki shook his soul, Bleco finally crumbled, his lifespan stolen.

Brook’s sword finished the job, trapping Bleco soul in his ghost army.

Even the ruthless Shiki shuddered at their mercilessness.

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Chapter Text

At this time, the Memory Seahorse was grumbling loudly, cursing that it was late to the party.

Logically, shouldn’t it have been allowed to feast first before Linlin and Brook drained Bleco’s surplus value?

Even Redfield felt they moved too fast.

He hadn’t even had the chance to read Bleco’s memories, missing out on valuable intel on the Ewald Pirates' headquarters.

---

Left with no other choice, Brook had to set a new rule:

When encountering important enemies, Redfield would first read their memories.

Then, the Memory Seahorse could have its meal.

Afterward, Linlin would drain the soul's lifespan.

Finally, Brook, the boss, would enslave the entire soul.

Brook grumbled to himself, feeling a little depressed.

"What the hell? I’m just the leftovers now?"

He wondered if the ghosts he collected would grow weaker after being stripped of multiple layers of power.

---

The Hell Pirates' crew couldn't help but shake their heads.

The name "Hell Pirates" was fitting—they truly were hell for their enemies.

From now on, no soul would be able to escape their merciless exploitation.

---

Brutal Stussy

Stussy, being a former CP agent, showed her deadly prowess.

Among the thirty or forty pirates, she single-handedly took down over twenty.

The chests of her victims were riddled with holes from her Finger Pistol (Shigan).

Had Brook not ordered them to spare their lives, she would have aimed for their hearts—leaving them dead on the spot.

---

Even Stussy was shocked by her own strength.

She was far stronger than she remembered being during her training days.

Shakky, with a smirk, reminded her:

"You didn’t just learn the Six Powers (Rokushiki)—you also mastered advanced skills and Life Return (Seimei Kikan). You just forgot it all."

Now, Stussy realized that as long as she trained, she would quickly recover her past skills.

She couldn't believe how powerful she had once been—now she was desperate to relearn it all.

---

Tiger’s Frustration

Meanwhile, Fisher Tiger was growing frustrated.

First, he had been bullied by Shakky.

Now, he was being outshone by Stussy—another formidable woman.

The pressure was on.

---

After mopping up the remaining pirates, Charlotte Linlin created more Homies to patrol the island.

At the same time, Brook harvested several ghosts, keeping them as food for his ghost.

---

Shiki vs. Redfield: Rivalry Intensifies

The Golden Lion Shiki, ever ambitious, was determined to become the strongest in the Hell Pirates.

He repeatedly challenged Redfield, eager to prove his dominance.

But Redfield wasn't about to back down.

They were now locked in a fierce rivalry, constantly pushing each other’s limits.

Although Shiki's Float-Float Fruit was powerful, Redfield's Rumble-Rumble Fruit was faster and deadlier.

Redfield's lightning speed allowed him to dodge and counter with ease.

His strikes were faster and more destructive than Shiki’s terrain manipulation.

In terms of swordsmanship, they were evenly matched.

Both wielded exceptional skill, exchanging devastating slashes.

However, when it came to Haki, Redfield had the edge:

His Observation Haki was several levels higher, enhanced by the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's sensory boost.

His Armament Haki was stronger, thanks to more systematic training and longer practice.

His Conqueror's Haki was also more potent, driven by his vengeance against the Celestial Dragons.

Meanwhile, Shiki, despite his ambition, still carried mental scars from being defeated by Rocks, slightly dulling his fighting spirit.

"Newgate, still worried about awakening your Conqueror's Haki?"

Brook smirked.

"Stop overthinking it. It’ll come when it comes. Just go with the flow."

---

Watching Redfield and Shiki duel, Edward Newgate grew restless.

He wanted to join the fight but felt lacking without Conqueror's Haki.

"Gurara~! I can’t help it! They’re too damn cocky!"

Newgate, now on par with Shiki, didn’t even need Conqueror’s Haki to beat him.

With just his Tremor-Tremor Fruit and two-type of Haki, he could overpower Shiki.

All of Shiki's floating attacks were shattered by Newgate’s Tremor powers.

Against Redfield, however, it was different.

Redfield's speed and advanced Observation Haki allowed him to see through Shiki's moves, making Shiki's attacks ineffective.

Even Brook had to admit:

Redfield had superior natural talent—his special Observation Haki made him terrifyingly unpredictable.

Newgate was innately powerful, gifted with raw strength.

Shiki, while skilled, lacked their natural talent, making him slightly inferior.

Still, all three wielded three-types of Haki, top-tier Devil Fruits, and formidable swordsmanship, making them unstoppable.

"Brook, come with us to buy food!"

Charlotte Linlin appeared, grabbing Brook and tossing him over her shoulder.

Shakky and Stussy hovered overhead on the thundercloud Zeus, laughing.

Newgate watched them leave, shaking his head with a chuckle.

"Gurara~! They’re just having fun."

Then, he turned and grinned wickedly.

"Time to beat up Shiki again! That bastard's been flexing his Haki too much!"

---

Meanwhile, Sniper Hiruba, Doctor Crocus, and Shipwright Tom were experimenting.

They were developing a paralysis cannon, aiming to neutralize powerful foes quickly and reduce the Hell Pirates' battlefield risks.

"Crocus! Get the toxins from Fish-Man Island!"

Hiruba barked.

"We’ll turn the water gun into a poison cannon!"

Combining a Wind Shell and Water Shell, the new weapon would double its effectiveness against Devil Fruit users and ordinary pirates alike.uv

"Tom, your blacksmithing skills are top-notch. Help me make some precision parts!"

Hiruba worked alongside Tom, constantly refining the designs of various firearms.

They were also studying Pluton’s blueprints, hoping to learn from its technology.

"Brook, from now on, we’re the Three Sisters of Hell!"

Charlotte Linlin grinned.

Shakky added, smirking:

"The Marines give ugly nicknames—we’ll name ourselves first!"

"I’m the Hell Witch, Linlin!"

"I’m Stussy, the Hell Demon!"

"I’m Shakky, the Saint of Hell!"

"We are the Three Sisters from Hell!"

Watching their dramatic posing, Brook was speechless—but he couldn’t help but laugh.

"Stussy… what the hell happened to you?!"

------

When the three girls saw Brook's reaction, they immediately got angry.

Shakky felt that she had spent so much time coming up with the three titles, yet Brook didn't even take them seriously.

Stussy was just as frustrated.

It had taken a lot of convincing from Shakky before she agreed to such a shameless nickname and embarrassing pose.

"Where’s the family bond you promised?! Why are you making fun of me?!"

"Brother Brook, why are you laughing?! Don’t you think we’re cool?!"

Charlotte Linlin frowned, thinking Brook was being too mean with his laughter.

She was very satisfied with their new look!

"Yeah, yeah, yeah~ Super cool! You guys will definitely make the Hell Pirates famous!"

Seeing the resentment rising from the three women, Thundercloud Zeus and Sun Prometheus also glared at Brook.

Feeling the pressure, Brook's face stiffened.

He quickly praised their creative slogans and appearance, fully affirming their brilliance.

Finally, Brook managed to placate the three girls and took them out for shopping and food.

"Brother Brook, when are we going to have a baby?"

Charlotte Linlin casually asked while devouring cake, nearly making Shakky and Stussy choke in shock.

Their eyes widened and their ears perked up.

"Pfft!"

Brook spat out his drink, stunned by Linlin's blunt question in front of everyone.

"Linlin, our territory is still unstable. How can we even think about that right now?! And you’re not even eighteen!"

Under the awkward stares from Shakky and Stussy, Brook could only coolly explain himself.

"Oh? So you’re saying she just needs to be eighteen?!"

Shakky's eyes narrowed, staring at Brook in disbelief.

She had joked before that Streusen might have such perverted thoughts, but she never imagined that Brook was the same kind of person!

At the same time, Shakky thought to herself:

"So Brook still has that desire?"

"I thought he had lost that function after being revived from the dead…"

"No wonder I heard from Antonio that he secretly had a physical checkup on Drum Island!"

"Oh! Then I’ll just celebrate my birthday next month… and have another birthday the year after!"

Charlotte Linlin said innocently, counting on her fingers.

"That way, I can eat caramel puffs twice!"

Without realizing it, Linlin was already close to seventeen.

Watching her childlike behavior, Brook sighed helplessly.

Stussy also began calculating her own age.

She realized that due to her memory loss, she had lost three years, making her just seven or eight months away from turning eighteen.

Feeling uneasy, Brook decided to drop the topic.

There were more pressing matters to focus on—the revenge of the Ewald Pirates was looming.

—-

Ewald Pirates’ Headquarters

At Bristol Island, the headquarters of the Ewald Pirates, one of the six dominant pirate groups, Teach Ewald was fuming.

"What?! Bleco lost the intel AND his vivre cards burned?!"

His roar of fury shook the room.

The trusted cadre, who had served him for years, had been killed without even being able to send a report.

"No intel at all?! Have you found any clues?!"

Seeing Teach Ewald growing rage, the other cadres kept their heads down, too afraid to speak up.

"Captain, could it be the Rocks Pirates?"

A sinister-looking man with a missing chunk of his lip, Biff, stepped forward.

AsEwalds's longest-serving cadre, he respected his captain but felt no fear of him.

"Otherwise, how could Bleco die without even making a call?"

After the Dark News Agency was destroyed, the intelligence networks of the major pirate overlords had weakened significantly.

They were now forced to slowly retrain spies to infiltrate enemy territories.

With the new intelligence powerhouse still not emerging, they were left in the dark.

The smaller spy networks had:

Limited reach

Slow updates

Underdeveloped resources

"There’s no information yet…"

One of the cadres suggested:

"Should we send half of our intelligence agents to Doragonzo Island to investigate? At the same time, we should track the movements of the Rocks Pirates and keep an eye on those so-called allies!"

Teach Ewald was concerned that the Rocks Pirates were behind the attack, so he didn’t dare to personally investigate.

Instead, he sent his subordinates to confirm the situation and monitor the allies.

In the following days, none of the intelligence agents sent to Doragonzo Island returned.

Instead, they confirmed that the major overlords—Rocks and Diger—had remained on their own territories, not making any moves.

Since Rocks didn’t attack his pseudo-overlord allies, it meant that the culprits on Doragonzo Island were unrelated to Rocks.

---

"Damn it! It’s that bastard who hit us!"

Teach Ewald slammed his fist into the wall, snarling.

"Deploy the spies! Monitor Rocks! I’ll personally lead the fleet today and destroy this bastard who dared to offend us!"

Ewald flagship, the Queen Anne's, sailed out from Bristol Island and headed straight for Doragonzo Island.

The other overlords quickly took notice, as Teach Ewald personal involvement was a rare occurrence.

All the overlord forces had spies planted among each other.

It was just a matter of who had the better infiltration skills.

On Hive Island, Hachinosu, Rocks received the intel.

"That coward Ewald finally left his cave, huh?"

Rocks paused his training, feeling his Haki on the verge of another breakthrough.

Soon, he would stand above even Overlord Diger.

"According to the spies, some pirate group seized the Ewald Pirates’ territory and killed Bleco, who had a bounty of over 300 million berries!"

Rocks grinned wickedly.

"Good! Let these unknown bastards pin down the pseudo-overlords."

"Once they’re weakened, I’ll crush that old fool Diger in one blow!"

Rocks no longer wanted multiple powers in the New World.

For him, one overlord was more than enough.

Back at Hell Pirates’ base, Antonio rushed to report.

"Brother Brook! The Seagull Newsbird and Den Den Mushi surveillance confirmed it!"

"Teach Ewald is personally leading his fleet to wipe us out!"

"Everyone, are you ready for this war?"

Brook's gaze turned cold.

"We’ll crush the Ewald Pirates at sea!"

"If possible, we’ll bury them beneath the waves!"

The four major fighters—Redfield, Linlin, Newgate, and Shiki—were ready to make their mark in this legendary battle.

Even an overlord-level pirate group would fall before the Hell Pirates!

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Chapter Text

The Queen Anne's sailed swiftly across the sea, with seven or eight pirate ships trailing behind. The Ewald Pirates' flag fluttered violently in the wind, displaying their might and dominance.

"Captain Ewald, although we haven't confirmed which pirate group is responsible, it's most likely the Hell Pirates, the World Pirates, or the Golden Pirates... these Overlord candidates crews. But Captain, do we really need you to personally deal with them? Aren't you giving them too much credit?"

The main cadres of the Ewald Pirates had gathered, leaving Bristol Island, their base camp, nearly defenseless. If Rocks decided to attack, they could lose everything.

"With Diger and the others watching Rocks, we just need to act quickly, resolve the matter at Doragonzo Island, and head back immediately!" Ewald voice was cold and calculated. He wasn't reckless. He had already contacted his so-called allies, ensuring that Rocks wouldn't strike his territory while he was away.

After all, if he couldn't reclaim Doragonzo Island, how could he face the world as an overlord? His position was already tenuous, and being humiliated by unknown pirates would destroy his reputation.

"Prepare for battle! I want every last one of those bastards wiped out!"

His men roared in response. The attack flag was raised, and the fleet began its approach. The sound of the battle horns echoed across the sea, sending chills down the spines of the island's residents.

Terrified, the locals fled into their homes, locking their doors and windows. They had already suffered under countless pirate groups. All they wanted was for the conflict to end, no matter who came out on top.

"Newgate, you’ll start the first wave of defense," Brook ordered with a calm but commanding tone. His eyes were sharp as he stared at the approaching fleet.

"Got it, Brother Brook!" Edward Newgate stepped forward, his massive frame exuding raw power. His right arm bulged as veins pulsed violently. With a mighty swing, he unleashed his Tremor-Tremor Fruit power.

"Earthquake Tsunami!"

The entire Doragonzo Island and the surrounding sea trembled violently. Cracks split the surface of the ocean, creating a massive wave. The water surged upward, forming a colossal tsunami that towered hundreds of meters high, crashing toward the Ewald Pirates' fleet.

"Good job, Newgate!" Brook's eyes gleamed with approval. Redfield, Linlin, and Shiki were equally impressed, watching the disaster-level attack unfold.

Meanwhile, on the Queen Anne's, Ewald eyes widened in disbelief. The sea itself was splitting apart, creating a tsunami of apocalyptic proportions.

"Impossible... what kind of power is this?!"

His crew screamed in terror. The massive wave loomed over them like a god of destruction.

"Brace yourselves!" Ewald roared, activating his Devil Fruit ability.

The sea surged violently. Pirate ships were tossed around like leaves in a storm, helpless against the overwhelming force. One ship after another was engulfed by the tsunami, dragged into the bottom of the sea, never to surface again.

"NOOOO!!!" Ewald heart sank as he watched his fleet being annihilated. These were the pirates he had raised, the men who fought for him, and now they were nothing but wreckage.

But with the waves closing in, Ewald had no time to mourn. He activated his Devil Fruit power, encasing the Queen Anne's in a protective bubble of compressed seawater, submerging the ship and allowing it to ride beneath the wave like a submarine.

Once the tsunami passed, the ship emerged from the sea, surrounded by floating corpses and shipwrecks.

"Brother Brook, most of the fleet is destroyed! Brother Newgate is too strong!" Shakky shouted, peering through a telescope. She was amazed at the sheer scale of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power.

"Gurara~! How about that, Shiki? This time my bounty might just surpass yours!" Newgate laughed heartily, clearly proud of his destructive display.

"Hmph, it’s our turn now!" Golden Lion Shiki grinned wickedly. With a wave of his hand, dozens of pirate ships and hundreds of boulders rose into the air. He soared skyward, commanding the floating islands and debris with his Float-Float Fruit power.

Redfield, riding the golden ship, followed closely behind Brook and the others. His electromagnetic cannon began to charge.

On the Queen Anne's , Ewald was pulling his surviving crew from the sea with Devil Fruit-enhanced ropes, his face contorted with fury. Only one-tenth of his forces had survived the onslaught, and they were drenched, trembling, and disoriented.

"That bastard... it was Golden Lion Shiki after all!" Ewald eyes turned bloodshot with rage. He immediately spotted Shiki floating in the sky, wielding his massive airborne arsenal.

The Hell Pirates' aerial assault commenced. Rocks, boulders, and even small islands rained down upon the Queen Anne's, leaving no time for Ewald to retaliate.

"Do you really think you can destroy me so easily?!" Ewald bellowed, activating his Devil Fruit ability.

A transparent spherical barrier with a 100-meter radius appeared around him, freezing everything within its range. The falling boulders and islands suspended mid-air, unable to advance.

"Within my Devil Fruit domain... everything is under my control!!" Ewald grinned darkly. With a casual flick of his finger, he hurled the massive rocks into the sea, creating massive splashes.

Then, without warning, he drew his sword and slashed. A titanic wave of sword energy shot toward Shiki’s floating ship.

"Too slow!" Shiki sneered, effortlessly dodging the attack with his flying ability.

-----

Golden Lion Shiki effortlessly dodged Ewald’s massive sword slash. Even though it was far stronger than his own, Shiki knew he couldn't block it head-on. Instead, he watched as the sword energy cleaved through an ordinary pirate ship, splitting it clean in half.

"Damn it... my attacks are useless against him?" Shiki scowled. The fact that he was being outmatched by Newgate frustrated him. Why couldn't Ewald just fall properly?

Ewald prepared to strike again, but before he could, pillars of lightning rained down from the sky, bombarding both him and the surviving pirates struggling in the water. Those still waiting for rescue were instantly electrocuted, their bodies convulsing before they sank lifelessly into the sea.

"DAMN IT!!" Ewald roared in fury. Watching his men slaughtered mercilessly, he felt himself going insane. His elite fleet was gone. Only the crew aboard the Queen Anne's remained.

From above, Redfield's lightning and Charlotte Linlin's thundercloud flames descended upon Ewald relentlessly, scorching the ship.

"Teach Ewald—bounty: 1.5 billion berries. A Paramecia Devil Fruit user capable of controlling all matter within a 100-meter radius. Also a terrifying great swordsman," Antonio announced, reading out their enemy's profile.

Shiki's face turned grim. "Why the hell is my attack ineffective?" he muttered.

Gritting his teeth, Shiki decided to go big. "Fine! If a 100-meter island isn't enough, I'll drop a thousand-meter island on him!"

"Wait... could it be that he can't control the elements?" Brook's eyes narrowed. He quickly noticed that Ewald's fruit ability only controlled physical matter—not elemental forces. That was why Redfield's lightning and Linlin's fire weren't affected.

Hearing Brook's observation, Redfield and Linlin intensified their assault. They bombarded Ewald's flagship with fire, lightning, and soul attacks, giving the enemy no time to breathe.

Meanwhile, the pirates on the Queen Anne's returned fire, launching cannonballs, bullets, and sword slashes toward the golden flying ship in the sky.

"The Hell Pirates are here too?!" Ewald's eyes widened as he recognized the emblems on the enemy ships. "So you bastards were working together all along... no wonder you had the balls to attack me!"

At the same time, sniper Hiruba realized that his bullets were ineffective. Whenever they entered Ewald's control space, they simply stopped mid-air, floating uselessly.

"Ewald! From today on, Doragonzo Island belongs to us! I hope you’ll give us some face!" Brook's voice rang out mockingly. "Newgate, give them another tsunami!"

At Brook's command, Edward Newgate once again unleashed his Tremor-Tremor Fruit power. With a massive swing of his arm, he summoned another colossal tsunami aimed at the Queen Anne's.

"You... it was you who caused the first tsunami!!!" Ewald's bellowed in rage, his eyes bloodshot with fury. He stared at Newgate with a murderous glare.

Realizing the overwhelming force of the second wave, Ewald's knew he couldn't fight it head-on. Gritting his teeth, he once again transformed his ship into submarine mode, allowing it to dive beneath the tsunami.

If he hadn't done so, the massive wave would have torn his ship apart.

"Brother Brook, I want to go down and fight him!" Redfield growled, eager for a direct confrontation. Watching Ewald's get pummeled without being able to fight back only made him crave a duel even more.

"No! You’re underestimating him!" Brook's voice was firm. "Right now, we only have the advantage in air and long-range attacks. If you go into his Devil Fruit's range, you’ll be at his mercy. You won’t last long!"

Even though the Hell Pirates were dominating from afar, Ewald's power in close combat was still formidable. Once he pulled them into his control field, the battle could turn against them in an instant.

"EVERYONE, GET BACK!" Golden Lion Shiki bellowed. His voice echoed over the battlefield as he lifted a massive island—nearly a thousand meters wide—using his Float-Float Fruit. His veins bulged, showing the strain of holding such a large mass.

"Shiki... are you insane?!" Newgate's eyes widened slightly, impressed by Shiki's resolve. The Golden Lion's refusal to accept defeat made him grin slightly.

Watching Shiki hurl the massive island toward the Queen Anne's, Ewald's face turned ashen. Even a pseudo-overlord like him knew the impact would be catastrophic.

(TL: The reason he is part of the Overlord In the New World is because he is allied with other pirate crews, combining their forces to become a true powerhouse. Together, the crews strength reach an overlord-level strength, comparable to Rocks' crew in terms of overall might.)

"What the hell?!" Ewald cursed as the massive island plummeted from the sky. "You bastards! Do you all have Devil Fruits with the power of natural disasters?!"

Desperate, Ewald pushed his Devil Fruit powers to the limit, exerting every ounce of strength. His arms bulged with veins, muscles tearing from the force as he unleashed a colossal sword slash, cutting the falling island clean in half.

The two halves of the island crashed into the sea with a deafening roar, creating tidal waves that surged violently.

But before Ewald could catch his breath, another pillar of lightning struck his ship, and Brook's ghost army descended. The ghostly figures swarmed the Queen Anne's, creating mass confusion among the crew.

"Captain, let us help you!" Ewald's top officer, Biff, rushed to his side, leading a group of elite pirates. They clashed with the ghost army, but their attacks passed through the phantoms harmlessly.

Meanwhile, Linlin's thunder and fire struck the ship repeatedly, leaving the Queen Anne's in tatters.

On the Hell Pirates' side, Shakky and the other crew members, unable to contribute much to the long-range battle, watched the four main fighters perform with awe. Even sniper Hiruba couldn't get involved due to Ewald's control field.

"It’s time for some music!" Brook grinned, pulling out his skull-shaped guitar.

Antonio immediately activated the sound shells, amplifying the music through the Den Den Mushi.

Brook's ten-meter-tall Soul Death manifestation appeared, and the haunting melody of "House of Flying Daggers" filled the air.

The souls of the Ewald's Pirates' crew began to tremble violently. Their faces turned pale, their limbs grew cold, and their life force plummeted.

"NOOO!!!"

Even Biff, Ewald's top officer with a 700 million berry bounty, felt his blood run cold. His energy waned and his body slowed, leaving him vulnerable to Redfield and Linlin's combined assault.

Ewald, still reeling from the constant barrage, clenched his teeth in fury. For the first time since his debut, he felt utterly humiliated.

Despite his powerful Haki, advanced swordsmanship, and fruit mastery, he was completely suppressed. The Hell Pirates gave him no chance to counterattack.

"Brook! I'll remember this grudge!" Ewald's roared in frustration.

But despite his defiant words, Ewald's fled with his tail between his legs. He had come with overwhelming force, yet he was retreating like a drowning dog.

From that day forward, Ewald's reputation as a new world overlord would be severely tarnished.

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Chapter Text

As the Queen Anne's turned tail and fled, Brook had no intention of letting it escape so easily. The golden flying ship relentlessly chased it for hundreds of nautical miles, bombarding it with cannon fire.

Brook himself even fired several electromagnetic cannon shots, proving just how devastating air-to-sea combat could be when used effectively.

However, when they spotted the flag of the Diger Pirates sailing in to reinforce Ewald's, Brook quickly ordered the Hell Pirates to retreat. After all, Xiaofeng's Wind Control Fruit was a major threat to both the Golden Spaceship and Shiki's Float-Float Fruit.

Meanwhile, the news of the Hell Pirates pursuing the Ewald Pirates spread like wildfire. Spies from various pirate factions quickly relayed the information back to their bosses.

···

Beehive Island – Hachinosu

"What? Teach Ewald was being chased down and beaten?!" Rocks D. Xebec slammed his fist on the table, his expression dark.
"Golden Lion Shiki... joined the Hell Pirates?" he muttered bitterly.

The mere thought of Shiki choosing to join Brook's crew instead of aligning with his overlord pirate group made Rocks scowl with displeasure.

"And according to the reports, Edward Newgate of the Hell Pirates can summon tsunamis—which was the main reason why the Ewald Pirates suffered heavy losses," one of Rocks' subordinates reported.

Hearing this, even the cadres were visibly shaken.

"Tsunamis, falling islands, roaring thunder, raging fire, and an army of ghosts..." one muttered in disbelief. "It’s like a natural disaster fleet!"

"Tremor-Tremor Fruit... it really is the darling of the sea," Rocks sneered. He recalled seeing it in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia and couldn't help but feel greedy for its power.

In his mind, Newgate and the rest of the Hell Pirates should be under his command.
The Hell Pirates boasted tremendous Devil Fruit users:

Tremor-Tremor Fruit

Float-Float Fruit

Thunder Fruit

Soul-Soul Fruit

Their combined power was exactly what Rocks wanted in his ranks.

"If only I could conquer the Hell Pirates... once they grow stronger, they could help me unify the New World," he mused.

However, Rocks knew that attacking the Hell Pirates now could backfire. It would only drive them to seek protection under Diger's faction. With their flying ship and floating island, the Hell Pirates could easily flee beyond his reach.

Still, the Hell Pirates' falling out with the Ewald Pirates was a blessing in disguise. Rocks was wary of the pseudo-overlords forming an alliance, but now they were fighting each other.

"Spread the word," Rocks ordered.
"Let it be known that the Rocks Pirates are willing to form an alliance with the Hell Pirates. We’ll support them to replace the Ewald Pirates!"

Although Rocks was infamous for his brutality, he knew when to use strategy over raw force. If he could pit the Hell Pirates against Diger, he could weaken both and swoop in to claim dominance.

···

Ten Kings Island – Madagascar

On Diger's flagship, the pirate overlord wore a grim expression.

"Tsk... Ewald was that weak?" he muttered in disdain. "Defeated so quickly by the Hell Pirates... who have only been in the New World for less than a year?"

The embarrassing defeat of the Ewald Pirates only cheapened the title of overlord. Although Diger didn't recognize Edward or the others as true overlords, he needed them for now.

His strength alone wasn't enough to suppress Rocks, so he had to recruit pawns.

Meanwhile, news of the Ice Demon’s fading influence was spreading. It seemed that the old overlord was nearing the end of his reign. The Ice Demon Pirates would likely retreat from the New World within two years.

Diger knew he had, at best, five years of dominance left—maybe even less.

"Jack still hasn’t broken into the overlord level," Diger sighed. Although Barbosa was cunning, his strength was still too weak to support the Diger Pirates in the long run.

If Diger were to die, he would rather let Barbosa take over the Diger Pirates and send Jack out alone. His son was more suited for adventure than territory control.

When the other pseudo-overlords heard of Ewald's crushing defeat, they laughed mockingly.

"Hah! That weakling was considered an overlord?" one of them scoffed.

By the time the news spread the next day, Edward's status as an overlord would be all but gone.

After all, a pirate crew defeated by the weak had no business being called an overlord pirate group.

···

Marine Headquarters – Marineford

"The Hell Pirates have far more potential than those three new dominant groups," Marshall Admiral Kukulkan grumbled, massaging his temples.

Previously, the Navy had pushed Ewald and the others into the overlord position, hoping to split the New World’s power and prevent one group from dominating.

But in just a few months, one of the dominant groups had already crumbled.

"Do we continue recognizing the Ewald Pirates as an overlord group?" Kukulkan asked himself. "Or do we push the Hell Pirates into power?"

But promoting the Hell Pirates was risky. After all, they were Celestial Dragon killers. If they became an overlord, the Navy would struggle to suppress them.

"Chief of Staff Weimark," Kukulkan called out.

"We’ve confirmed the Hell Pirates' base at Doragonzo Island. Also, the World Government reports that CP agents have successfully infiltrated their crew."

Wilmark nodded. "If we play it right, we can exploit our spies and cripple the Hell Pirates from within," he said confidently.

"But their combat power... it’s absurd." Kukulkan grimaced. "It’s like I’m looking at a new version of the Rocks Pirates."

It had taken Rocks over a decade to dominate the New World, but the Hell Pirates were rising at an alarming speed. It was as if they were favored by fate itself.

With Edward Newgate, Shiki, Redfield, and Charlotte Linlin all in the same crew, their strength rivaled legends.

···

Grand Line – Sky Island

On Sky Island, Moore Thomas watched the news reports and shook his head.

"Brother Brook's Hell Pirates are too strong!" he exclaimed.

"No way... I’m moving the news agency headquarters to the New World Sky Island. This place is too dull!"

Realizing that Sky Island was now exposed to the World Government, Moore decided to relocate. The New World was where the action—and profit—was.

Only by setting up shop there could he achieve the greatest influence.

Moore lifted his two-year-old son, Morgans, in his arms.

"One day, you’ll inherit the largest intelligence network in the world," he said lovingly.

He smiled slyly.

"And I’ll make Brook your godfather, so you’ll grow up with the protection of a pirate overlord!"

···

Back at Baron Island

The Hell Pirates returned to their base on Sky Island, throwing a massive victory banquet.

Edward Newgate was the undisputed star of the battle, having stolen the most limelight with his tsunamis.

Meanwhile, Golden Lion Shiki, despite his earlier frustration, redeemed himself by smashing an island in half.

Even Redfield felt the pressure. He realized he needed to develop a large-scale technique if he wanted to shine in the next battle.

"Only a wide-range, catastrophic move can make the world take notice," he mused, already planning his next power upgrade.

------

Streusen kept serving dishes, his excitement barely contained. He couldn't believe his luck—he had found himself under such a powerful leader. The Hell Pirates had actually defeated the Ewald Pirates, one of the new overlords.

"Could it be that the Hell Pirates will soon become one of the six dominant pirate groups in the New World?" Streusen thought, feeling his chest puff with pride.

"I’ve only been here for a few months, and I’m already about to become the head chef of an overlord crew?!"

Streusen stood a little straighter. Although he still didn't fully understand how he ended up joining the Hell Pirates, he was thoroughly enjoying the lavish lifestyle aboard the Golden Spaceship.

Meanwhile, the crew members who hadn't participated in the recent battle were motivated. They were determined to become stronger and prove themselves in the next fight—to play a part in making the Hell Pirates the rulers of the New World.

"Brook, once we settle things here, can we go look for Devil Fruits right away?" Shakky asked eagerly.

"I want to join the battle next time!"

Shakky had always longed for a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit. She was tired of being the protected one and wanted to fight alongside her crewmates.

"No problem," Brook replied with a grin.
"Once Ewald and the others no longer dare to invade our territory, we’ll set out to find Devil Fruits!"

Brook had already been considering searching for powerful fruits to boost the strength of his crew.

Only Fishman Tom and Fisher Tiger had no interest in Devil Fruits, preferring to keep their ability to swim. The rest of the crew, however, would gladly accept one if they found a suitable match.

"Brother Brook, when are we going to Sheep Island to take it over?"

Charlotte Linlin asked impatiently. She once again brought up the island she had set her sights on. Her gaze drifted toward Golden Lion Shiki, hoping he would soon master the Float-Float Fruit enough to levitate entire islands.

"Fine," Brook smirked.

"Next time, we’ll raise our flag on it—and while we’re at it, even on Newgate’s hometown, Sphinx Island!"

"And on Fishman Island!"

Fisher Tiger raised his hand eagerly. He was determined to protect his homeland from human traffickers and pirates.

"If you want to protect what’s important, you must become stronger!" Brook declared, his voice filled with conviction.

"In this world, strength is the only voice that matters!"

He knew that controlling Fishman Island wasn’t just about protecting it. It was also a strategic stronghold—the future birthplace of Sea King Poseidon, an ancient weapon of immense power.

"Hahaha! Brook, that bastard Rocks actually wants to ally with us against the Overlord Alliance!"

Golden Lion Shiki laughed, clearly amused.

For the first time in a while, Shiki felt proud. The New World was finally recognizing his strength.

Gone were the days when Rocks' crew had chased him like a dog. Now, Rocks himself sought his cooperation.

"Let’s see what he offers," Brook smirked.

"If he throws in some Devil Fruits or territory, I wouldn’t mind using his influence to develop a bit. And once we’ve grown strong enough..."
Brook’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

"...well, what happens then is another matter!"

He found it amusing that Rocks, a man known for brute force, was now seeking an alliance. Clearly, Diger and the three pseudo-overlords were starting to pressure him.

Brook knew that if Rocks and the overlords fought to the death, both sides would be weakened. Even if Rocks survived, he’d be too crippled to dominate the New World.

A commander without an army was meaningless—even if he stood alone as the last overlord.

···

The Ice Demon Pirates – Ice and Snow Kingdom

While the Hell Pirates were plotting, the Ice Demon Pirates of the Ice Kingdom were holding a giant war council.

The forty-meter-tall Old Ice Demon sat at the head, coughing weakly. His ancient body was failing him.

Below him, the Ice Giants from the Ice Kingdom and the Elbaf Giants who had joined the Ice Demon Pirates stood silent.

Even the Elbaf Giants, towering over 20 meters, looked like children next to the Ice Demon.

Nearby, human pirates sat on tiny chairs placed directly on the giant table, looking comically small in comparison.

"The New World is in turmoil," the Old Ice Demon rasped.

"Willank is too weak to lead the Crew. We are not vile marauders. Our only duty is to protect our homeland.
So... once I die, the Ice Demon Pirates will relinquish the title of Overlord Pirate Group!"

He gazed sorrowfully at his second-in-command.

Despite years of training, Willank still hadn’t awakened Conqueror’s Haki, and his Armament Haki was merely intermediate level.

The 1.1 billion berry bounty on Willank’s head was overinflated, gained only through sheer physical strength and the feared reputation of the Ice Demon Pirates.

The Ice Giants and Elbaf Giants had also failed to awaken Haki, leaving the Old Ice Demon deeply disappointed.

"Each generation grows weaker," he thought bitterly.

"Captain!" Willank protested.

"Even if you step down, the pirates won’t dare invade our territory! Most of our lands are winter islands, and our Ice Giants are nearly unstoppable in the cold!"

The Old Ice Demon shook his head.
"Willank... your bounty is inflated. You haven’t earned it by defeating true powerhouses.
What have you done? Destroyed islands? Killed civilians?"

The Old Ice Demon scowled in disgust.
His protégé had become cunning and opportunistic like humans, abandoning the heroic spirit of the giants.

Ever since the Elbaf Giant Pirates disbanded, many Elbaf warriors had joined the Ice Demon Pirates. But Willank’s ambitions had grown dangerous—he no longer sought to defend their lands but to expand through bloodshed.