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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