"Charlotte Linlin of the New World—she's only sixteen, and her bounty has already reached 580 million Belly!"
A voice suddenly rang out from the crowd, instantly dousing Golden Lion Shiki's enthusiasm like a bucket of cold water.
"Who said that?! Which bastard is running their mouth? Show yourself!"
The crew members of the Flying Pirates scanned their surroundings with menacing glares, eager to find the source of the comment.
"Forget it," Shiki muttered, his expression darkening. He took a deep drag of his cigar, then exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. "I was just about to head into the New World anyway. I'll see for myself how strong this Charlotte Linlin really is. Hmph!"
...
"Captain Shiki, are you still accepting new crew members? I want to join you!"
A wandering pirate stepped forward, eager to become part of the most infamous rising force in the seas. After all, joining the Flying Pirates meant experiencing the thrill of soaring through the skies and indulging in the lawless freedom under Shiki's command.
"Of course! I'll take them all! I'm building a fleet—an aerial armada to dominate the world! Gahaha!"
At this moment, Golden Lion Shiki stood tall, his wild golden mane flowing in the air like a true king of beasts. His very presence exuded an untouchable aura of sovereignty. But beyond his regal demeanor, an undeniable ambition burned in his eyes—an ambition to conquer the seas and rule the world.
To the members of the Flying Pirates, Shiki was the embodiment of nobility, glory, and grandeur. The entire tavern erupted with excitement, the deafening cheers of eager pirates shaking the walls.
More and more pirates flocked to join the Flying Pirates, while weaker crews with bounties in the tens of millions chose to quietly slip away, realizing they were out of place in such a gathering.
...
"Captain Shiki, don't you love singing and dancing? Well, Brook is currently on Sabaody Archipelago! His Rumbar Pirates were completely wiped out—he's alone now, making him an easy recruit."
"Yeah! And he single-handedly took down the Toxic Smoke Pirates. His bounty has already reached 80 million Belly—not bad at all."
Some of the newer recruits were quick to prove their worth, eagerly suggesting potential additions to the crew.
"You mean that Brook? The one who sings 'Bink's Sake'?"
Shiki's eyes gleamed with interest. Though his dancing was terrible, he still enjoyed a good party. And who in their right mind would dare criticize their captain's moves?
"That's right, Captain Shiki! You should get a musician for the crew. Having one would make our feasts even better. Besides, Brook isn't weak—he'd be a solid addition!"
A veteran member of the Flying Pirates chimed in. Right now, aside from Shiki, no one else in the crew had a bounty exceeding 100 million Belly. The strongest among them only had bounties in the range of 70 to 80 million. If Brook joined, he'd easily rank among the top three.
"Alright! If we run into Brook before we finish coating the ship, I'll recruit him!"
On Sabaody Archipelago, Shiki was the only true Supernova at the moment. The highest bounties among the others barely scraped 90 million Belly, making Brook one of the top contenders.
...
"Captain Shiki! Talk about timing—Brook just walked past the tavern!"
A pirate burst through the door, panting with excitement as he relayed the news.
"Gahahaha! The heavens favor me! Where is my musician? Show me!"
Grinning widely, Shiki grabbed his twin swords and strode outside, exuding the confidence of a captain eager to expand his crew. In this era, it was common for renowned captains to personally invite powerful individuals to join them—just as Red-Haired Shanks had once done with Yasopp.
Meanwhile, Brook, accompanied by Shakky, was making his way through Sabaody, unaware that fate—and the Golden Lion himself—were already rushing to meet him.
"I've heard you're quite strong. How about joining my crew as our musician?"
Golden Lion Shiki's wild mane billowed as he spoke, his voice brimming with confidence. His direct invitation stunned Brook. He had only come to spectate, curious to see this legendary pirate in person—he never expected Shiki to extend an invitation to him personally.
"Captain Shiki, my apologies, but I have no intention of entering the New World just yet."
Brook quickly regained his composure, his face remaining as cold and expressionless as ever. He spoke politely but firmly, rejecting the offer.
"Brook, have you lost your nerve? Did you lose the courage to continue your journey after the Rumbar Pirates were wiped out?"
A voice came from Shiki's side—his second-in-command and the brains of the Flying Pirates, Scarlet "Bloody Fist". With a bounty of 92 million Belly, he was just shy of being a Supernova. His words carried a provocative edge, clearly attempting to goad Brook into action.
"Brook, with me as your captain, you'll never taste defeat again. Join my crew."
Shiki studied Brook with interest, as if assessing whether he had truly lost his fighting spirit. Yet, despite the refusal, he extended the invitation once more.
"Have you awakened Conqueror's Haki? Can you use Armament Haki yet?"
Brook ignored Scarlet's provocation and instead directed his question at Shiki, his tone calm but inquisitive.
"Haki? I've heard of it, I suppose."
Shiki frowned, seemingly puzzled by Brook's sudden inquiry.
Brook could hardly believe it. A pirate with a bounty of 440 million Belly—one who had shaken the seas—had only 'heard' of Haki? It was likely he had never even learned to use it.
It was yet another testament to the World Government's control over the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line. Knowledge of Haki was practically nonexistent outside of certain bloodlines, major factions, or the New World. Most pirates who set sail after obtaining a Devil Fruit had no clue about it until they reached the New World. And by then, they'd either be beaten into the dirt, learning through sheer survival, or they'd vanish beneath the waves. Only a rare few ever made it far enough to become legendary figures.
"Armament Haki is a standard ability among the New World's strongest fighters. It allows users to strike the physical form of even Logia Devil Fruit users and defend against the bizarre powers of Paramecia users. There's also Observation Haki, which grants the ability to predict an opponent's attacks."
Brook gave a simple explanation. Armament Haki was, indeed, a formidable defense against Devil Fruit abilities—but only if the user's Haki was stronger than their opponent's Devil Fruit mastery. If not, even a mediocre Logia user could still dominate a weak Haki user.
The relationship between Devil Fruits and Haki was like fire and water—whoever wielded the stronger power dictated the outcome.
"So, you're saying that without Haki, I can't become a powerhouse in the New World?"
Shiki took a deep drag of his cigar, flicking away the ash with an air of disdain. He had absolute confidence in his Fuwa Fuwa no Mi and swordsmanship.
"That's the general idea. Which is why I won't be heading to the New World just yet," Brook admitted honestly.
"Haki might be important, but how do you expect to grow stronger without fighting? What's the point of hiding out in the Grand Line? Brook, come with us to the New World! We'll steal the knowledge of Haki for ourselves—problem solved! Jihahahaha!"
Once again, Shiki extended his offer, laughing arrogantly, convinced that Brook would eventually give in.
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+100 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg