On Golden Island, the air buzzed with ambition.
Vegapunk, for now, was tinkering with the island’s security systems, upgrading its firepower and flight capabilities. He’d retooled the low-grade Pluton cannons and Wind Dial propulsion, but his eyes sparkled when he saw the weather ship Brook had snatched from Weatheria, the island of climate science. A vessel that could soar between Sky Islands? That was his kind of challenge.
"I’m gonna whip up so combat airships," Vegapunk declared, and Brook backed him to the hilt.
"Whatever materials you need, we’ll get ’em."
The Umi Family, a titan of the underworld’s transport trade, had risen to new heights after Brook crushed Maxway’s New World Dispatch Company. Now, their sights were set on toppling Worldcom Shipping Syndicate.
With the Hell Pirates’ covert support, the Umi Family was already squeezing the Worldcom Shipping Syndicate’s operation dry. Brook figured it’d take less than five years to boot them out and claim total dominance over the transport industry.
With the Umi Family handling shipping and Mortomas running intelligence, Brook was confident Vegapunk would never lack for experintal materials. Brook had bigger dreams—he wanted Vegapunk to transform Golden Island into a sea-land-sky war fortress, a one-of-a-kind juggernaut that’d make the world tremble.
But all that would take ti. Ro wasn’t built in a day, and Brook had plenty of ti and Belly to spare. Once he tracked down Kaido, he’d head back to the Sky Islands of the Grand Line, load up Shandora’s endless gold, and make Golden Island live up to its na—literally dripping with treasure!
...
"Brook we’ve got fresh intel on that kid Kaido," Antonio said, flipping through a dossier.
"He’s caught up in the war between the Valorant Kingdom and the Vodka Kingdom, fighting on Vodka’s side in their assault on Iron Shield Island. He’s part of their youth brigade."
Antonio, who’d been with Brook for over a year, had grown sturdier, his deanor now calm and sharp.
As the crewmber privy to Brook’s deepest plans and his very first recruit, Antonio was the inner circle’s inner circle, a trusted confidant among confidants. When Vegapunk rolled out those combat suits, Brook was already planning to hook Antonio up first, even if the guy was still a bit of a "weakling."
"The report says Kaido’s got skin like steel, strength like a giant, and an appetite to match," Antonio continued.
"He’s a fearless fighter, survived four frontal assaults, and now the brass are starting to notice him."
Brook leaned back, stroking his bony chin. "So, how do we get this kid on our ship?"
It was a test. Brook wanted to see if Antonio had the makings of a true tactician, soone who could think independently, not just follow orders. The Hell Pirates’ empire was growing, and Brook couldn’t micromanage everything forever. Plus, his knowledge of the future—his "plot advantage"—was fading fast. He needed a brain trust to navigate this chaotic world.
Antonio rubbed his chin, mulling it over.
"Kaido joined the army just to eat, from what I can tell. He’s got a bloodthirsty streak now, but I reckon he’s easy to sway. The Vodka Kingdom’s only fighting to scrape together enough gold for the Celestial Dragons’ tribute. If we toss them so Belly to back off, we could ’buy’ Kaido without a fuss."
"Not a bad plan," Brook said, his eye sockets glinting. "But think about it. We’re the strong ones here; they’re the ones scraping by. Why pay for what we can take? Besides, ’buying’ Kaido? That’d cheapen him. If he ever found out, he might slug you! A guy like Kaido only respects strength. We show up, flex our power, beat ’em into submission, then wine and dine him. He’ll join us heart and soul."
"Yohohoho!" Brook laughed, imagining Kaido’s pride. An eight-year-old Oni kid? All he wanted was a full belly and a good brawl. No need to overcomplicate things.
"You’re right," Antonio said, nodding earnestly. "I’ve got a lot to learn."
He took the lesson to heart. As the guy with access to the crew’s biggest secrets and the least combat skill, Antonio knew he had to step up as the brains of the operation. Failing Brook’s expectations wasn’t an option. He’d been devouring books on managent and strategy, determined to prove his worth beyond just passing intel.
"You’re doing fine, Antonio," Brook said, clapping his skeletal hand on the man’s shoulder. "Keep learning, keep growing. One day, you’ll be a mastermind, pulling strings like you own the world. Use that intel network—it’s your superpower!"
Brook ant it. With Mortomas’s Economic News Agency sniffing out external leads and Antonio’s Den Den Mushi network eavesdropping on the inside, the Hell Pirates were untouchable. Who could ambush a crew with eyes and ears everywhere? Add Shiki’s floating powers and Redfield’s mind-reading as a final line of defense, and Brook was feeling invincible.
...
Brook’s ambitions were snowballing. After seizing control of the transport and intelligence trades, he was eyeing the underworld’s entertainnt industry next. Pirates were notorious spenders, and partying was big business. With Stussy now in his crew, Brook saw a clear path forward. Once the Hell Pirates could stand toe-to-toe with the Rocks Pirates, no venture would be off-limits.
Stussy, backed by the Hell Pirates’ might, could dominate the entertainnt scene outright. It was a cutthroat industry, catering to pirates, rchants, and everyone in between. Without the hardest muscle in the ga, you couldn’t hold it—let alone monopolize it. In the original tiline, Stussy only beca the Queen of Pleasure Island with the World Governnt’s shadow backing. Brook aid to outdo that.
On another note, Brook was starting to agree with Shiki’s earlier pitch. Maybe the Hell Pirates should ditch the Overlord Alliance and strike out as a third power. Even if they were the weakest of the big players, they’d be a force no one could ignore. That was the way to cent their status as one of the four true overlords. Sticking with the alliance just let Vesper, the strongest, hog all the glory.
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188 Chapters on p@treon/tambeerg
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