Capone Lupo’s uncles and elders frowned as he dropped to his knees, spineless in their eyes. But when Golden Lion Shiki’s wild Conqueror’s Haki crashed over them, they crumpled to the ground, barely clinging to consciousness.
"Jahaha! So, you little punks are the ones who swiped the Castle Fruit? Hand it over now, or I’ll flip this whole island upside down!"
Shiki’s brash voice bood as he descended, golden hair flowing, twin swords at his waist, and a cigar clenched in his teeth. His presence was suffocating, radiating dominance.
Capone Lupo’s jaw dropped. They ca specifically for the Devil Fruit he’d nabbed not long ago!
His first instinct was to bolt, grab the fruit, and hand it over to these terrifying giants, hoping they’d spare his crew. But then, a spark of ambition ignited. Why not seize this chance to align with these titans? With their backing, he could revive the Capone Family and rule the West Blue’s underworld in no ti!
The thought sent his heart racing. He was already plotting how to unify the West Blue under the Hell Pirates’ banner.
"Hey, kid, speak up! Don’t play dumb! We already checked with the William Family on Nostra Island. Cough up the Castle Fruit!"
Shiki’s eyes narrowed, his face darkening. Was this kid frozen in fear? He’d heard Lupo was bold enough to outsmart the William Family, yet here he was, kneeling silently.
"S-Sorry, Shiki-sama!" Lupo stamred, his voice trembling with excitent. "I’ll get the Castle Fruit right now, but please, give us a chance! Let the Capone Family join the Hell Pirates!"
He was all in—success or death. Hitching his wagon to these powerhouses was his shot at glory.
"Yohohoho! A West Blue mafia boss, huh? You’re bold, joining us so openly. Aren’t you worried the Marines will co knocking? Or that spies from other factions might be lurking among your n? Can your crew keep their mouths shut?"
Brook materialized before Lupo, his skeletal presence chilling the air, sending shivers through everyone nearby.
"Teach , please, my lord!"
Lupo, trembling, pressed his forehead to the ground before Brook. Young and brash, he’d overlooked the dangers of the West Blue, where pirates and gangsters survived only under the Marines’ thumb, unlike the chaotic New World.
"First, hand over the Castle Fruit. I’ll give you a chance to serve us in secret. We’ll prop you up as the sole kingpin of the West Blue’s underworld. But you need to clean house—screen everyone here and deal with any leaks. Tell the world the Hell Pirates stord in and stole the fruit. Got it?"
Brook’s faint smile carried a chilling edge. Cultivating a local player like Lupo in the West Blue was a smart move. With the Umi Family and Mortomas as major underworld allies, propping up the Capone Family would be child’s play.
"Yes, yes! I’ll fetch it now! Thank you, Captain, for taking us in and for your brilliant plan!"
Lupo hadn’t expected a legend like Brook to care about his survival. Overwheld, he scrambled to his feet, practically tripping over himself to retrieve the fruit from his hidden vault.
"Brook, why bother with these small-fry Four Seas nobodies? They’re weak!" Shiki scoffed, puzzled.
"We’d be better off recruiting the strongest pirate crew in the West Blue."
"Don’t underestimate these local snakes," Brook replied. "Once they dominate the West Blue’s underworld, they’ll dig up rare treasures for us—Devil Fruits, exotic creatures, unique materials, you na it."
Brook’s vision was grand: extend his crew’s reach across the globe. Ro wasn’t built in a day, and neither was a revolution. The more pawns he placed, the stronger the Hell Pirates would grow.
He planned to recruit underworld allies in the other Four Seas, nurturing loyal factions to feed the Hell Pirates’ growth. Talented individuals and Devil Fruit users from the Four Seas would all be targets!
Soon, Lupo returned, reverently presenting a treasure chest containing the Castle Fruit. His deanor scread absolute loyalty.
"Well done. You’ve got brains and ambition. From now on, you’re our secret agent in the West Blue," Brook said, taking the chest. "Redfield, help him purge his ranks. Make sure Lupo’s in full control and weed out any traitors."
Brook handed Redfield the task of cleaning up the Capone Family, ensuring Lupo’s dominance and eliminating dissenters. He also left Lupo with basic Navy Six Powers techniques, Armant and Observation Haki training thods, and a hefty sum of funds.
As the Hell Pirates departed, Brook tossed in a bonus: blueprints for upgraded firearms designed by Silva, one of their officers. With support from underworld transport and intel giants, Lupo was set to strike it rich.
Lupo watched the Golden Island sail away, collapsing into a chair with a relieved sigh. His eyes burned with ambition. With the Hell Pirates’ backing, he’d cleared out disloyal mbers, leaving only his most trusted followers. The training thods, funds, and weapon designs were a goldmine. He could already taste his rise as the West Blue’s underworld godfather, ready to crush the William Family and devour the region’s black market bit by bit.
...
Aboard the Golden Island.
Brook opened the treasure chest, inspecting the Devil Fruit. After cross-referencing it with the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, he confird it was the Castle Fruit. He beckoned Parrot over.
"Parrot, you’re sticking with from now on. We’ll find Antonio a new assistant later. For now, eat this Castle Fruit!"
Brook eyed his pet, envisioning Parrot as his personal fortress—part warehouse, part prison, part barracks, and all-purpose utility.
"Got it, Captain!"
Parrot pecked at the Castle Fruit, taking a bite. His expression shifted—Devil Fruits were notoriously foul. Brook handed him castle blueprints designed by Vegapunk.
"Parrot, study these plans. Build those castles and rooms inside your body. Start developing the Castle Fruit’s powers, and give it your all!"
Brook gave his pet an encouraging pat, then tossed the half-eaten fruit to Vegapunk. It was useless now, but maybe the scientist could tinker with it. Who knows? He might whip up sothing like the "SAD" or "SMILE" substances for artificial Devil Fruits. In this world, anything was possible.
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240 Chapters on p@treon/tambeerg
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