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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