"Toxic Smoke Pirates! There's no escape for you today, Poison Cannon Sharin."
The temperature inside the bar plummeted. Frost spread outward from Brook's feet, creeping along the floor and coating everything in a thin layer of ice.
"You're Brook? Brook from the Rumbar Pirates? Hah! What a joke! You're the only one left? A damned survivor like you should just go to hell!"
Poison Cannon Sharin let out a manic laugh and pulled the trigger, launching a toxic gas bomb straight at Brook.
Silence fell over the bar. Sharin's massive cannon—and his entire body—were cleaved clean in two. Before a single drop of blood could spill, the chilling aura of the underworld froze him solid, leaving behind nothing but an ice sculpture.
...
At the bar's entrance, a large cloth-covered crate sat quietly on the ground. Beside it, a frail-looking boy, barely in his teens, stared at the swordsman with an expression of pure awe.
"Crash."
The sound of a glass shattering on the floor broke the stillness, followed by the audible gulping of nervous patrons. A frozen path stretched from the entrance to Sharin's lifeless form, radiating an eerie chill. Even the most hardened pirates in the room—each carrying a bounty of over 50 million Belly—felt beads of cold sweat on their foreheads.
Before anyone could react, flashes of steel cut through the air. The gruesome sounds of flesh being torn apart followed, and in mere moments, the entire Toxic Smoke Pirates crew collapsed to the floor, eyes wide in terror.
Brook calmly sheathed his sword. "Whoever takes Sharin's head to the Marine base for the bounty can keep half of it."
Without waiting for a response, he turned back toward the entrance, picked up the crate, and sat at the nearest table. Pouring himself a drink, he raised the bottle in a silent toast.
"Rumbar Pirates... I've avenged you. Rest in peace."
The bar, which had been deathly silent, suddenly erupted into a low hum of murmured conversations. Pirates exchanged wary glances, but not a single one dared to step forward and claim the corpse for the bounty.
...
"You said it yourself!"
Just as everyone hesitated, a girl with short black hair, a cigarette dangling from her lips, swaggered forward. In full view of the stunned crowd, she slung the frozen body of Poison Cannon Sharin over her shoulder and walked straight out the door.
The bar erupted.
"Seriously? Just like that?!"
A few small-time pirates smacked their foreheads in frustration, gripping their hair as they realized they had let a 28 million Belly fortune slip through their fingers.
...
Time passed, and as the girl failed to return, many assumed she had simply run off with the reward. Some even began sneering at Brook, thinking he had been scammed.
Then—BANG!
The bar door was kicked open. The black-haired girl stomped back in, tossing a thick stack of Belly onto the counter.
"I got paid today! Keep the change!" she declared, cigarette still hanging from her lips, looking every bit like a delinquent.
She casually placed a small chest in front of Brook.
"Want to count it? 28 million. I took my half already. If you're thinking about backing out, tough luck."
Brook didn't even glance inside. "No need."
He pulled out two stacks of Belly and tossed them to the bartender.
"Clean-up fee. Handle the corpses yourselves."
He shoved the chest toward the boy, Antonio, then stood and walked out, heading toward the news agency.
...
"Interesting... A musician and adventurer, huh? Too bad his crew is gone."
The black-haired girl watched Brook's retreating figure, a glint of intrigue in her eyes.
"So it's true. The Rumbar Pirates were completely wiped out. Brook is the only one left... and now he's out for revenge."
"Did you see that kid with him? Is Brook gathering a new crew? Maybe he's setting sail again."
"His bounty's 33 million Belly, but he just one-shot Poison Cannon Sharin, who was worth 56 million! That means Brook's bounty is going to skyrocket!"
"Brook has gotten really strong. I think I want to join his new crew, hahaha~"
Inside the bar, pirates were deep in discussion. Some of the unaffiliated pirates were already thinking about joining Brook.
"Huh? Where did that short-haired girl go? I was just about to rob her! Damn it!"
"Anyone know where she went?"
"She's an information broker in the Sabaody Archipelago, you idiot. Go be a bandit instead!"
"What did you just say?! Get him, boys!"
Chaos erupted once again inside the tavern, but the black-haired woman had already slipped away into the alley behind the bar.
...
World Economy News Headquarters
"Brook, here are some of the Eternal Poses for the islands you wanted. We're still searching for the rest and working on acquiring them. Oh, and these dozen Den Den Mushi are a gift from me."
Mortomas eagerly moved the collected and purchased items in front of Brook.
"Perfect timing. I just took down a pirate and got over 20 million Belly in bounty. I'll leave it with you. The news agency needs funds to keep its talent from leaving."
Recently, some members of the news agency had been warned off by certain bastards, leading to a loss of skilled personnel.
"Brook, that won't be necessary. I still have enough money! I've already planned to move the World Economy News to a more secluded island in the New World."
Mortomas spoke with a heavy heart. Right now, they were no match for the World Peace Dove News under the control of the World Government, so this was their only option.
The World Government had never maintained a strong grip on the New World, and Mortomas believed he could survive there!
"If you trust me, move to Jaya Island. Right above it is Skypiea. Once you control Skypiea, you won't have to worry about the Celestial Dragons ever again."
Brook wasn't in a rush to enter the New World just yet. First, he needed to gather a crew with real potential.
"Brook, do you really believe Skypiea exists?"
Mortomas wasn't trying to doubt Brook, but as a rational person, he found it hard to believe in such an elusive legend. After all, there was no real proof that Skypiea was real.
"Mortomas, I stake my life on the existence of Skypiea. Not only that, but it is also home to the City of Gold, Shandora! That land is mine to conquer!"
Brook had no choice but to swear on his life to ensure the World Economy News remained an ally.
"I believe you, Brook!"
Mortomas looked into Brook's deep blue eyes, gritted his teeth, and made his decision. He wouldn't move to the New World just yet. Instead, he would relocate to Jaya Island. With his security team, surviving there shouldn't be an issue!
...
"Shakky, I heard you made over 20 million Belly. How about sharing a little?"
A middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses gave a stiff smile as he looked at the black-haired woman smoking in front of him.
"Are you here to buy information or not? If not, then scram. I earn my money fair and square in the Sabaody Archipelago. Why the hell should I give you a cut?"
The black-haired woman, none other than Shakky—the future owner of Shakky's Rip-off Bar—scoffed at the smooth-talking informant with gold-rimmed glasses.
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+100 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg