Even Brook couldn't hide his shock after seeing the latest news—Rocks had crushed both Edward and Vesper in just half a year.
Sure, Edward was more of a side piece, mainly there to cause chaos, but still, he was a so-called pseudo-overlord. And yet, even with Vesper leading the charge, both were forcefully taken down by Rocks!
If the Rocks Pirates were allowed to dominate the New World like this, it'd spell disaster for the Hell Pirates' ambitions. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, after all—and it was about time the Hell Pirates joined the race for supremacy!
They planned to ally with Vesper's crew in this war for the throne, using Vesper's group to stand in front while the Hell Pirates grew in strength behind the scenes. And when the time was right, they'd swallow up the alliance's resources and rise as the new power capable of standing against Rocks!
Brook wasted no time gathering his crew. One by one, they assembled, each exuding an intense aura. Clearly, in the past six months, every last one of them had grown stronger. His four main fighters had all mastered Ryuo Haki.
Silva now had an unlimited supply of Seastone bullets, while Fishman Tom and the others were clad in lavish Seastone armor and weaponry.
"Brook! We're finally setting sail again—I can't wait any longer! Shyahhahaha~!"
Golden Lion Shiki was brimming with excitement, having completed his training and ready to return to the seas. Newgate and Redfield were also fired up, while Charlotte Linlin was eager to reclaim Sheep's House.
"Shiki, float your island over here and load up all the Seastone weapons and gold stashed beneath the city hall. Redfield, use your lightning metallurgy and build a golden city. Work with Tom and Silva to set up more electromagnetic cannons."
"Shakky—tell our men in Wano to rally their forces. Summon the five town chiefs to guard Hailou Town. We can't let the Kozuki clan take this place back!"
Their venture to Wano had been more than profitable. Not only had they mastered Ryuo Haki, but they'd also hauled in mountains of gold and Seastone weapons.
Even the horns and tails of their Memory Seahorses were now fitted with Seastone—let alone the non-Devil Fruit users among the crew. The claws, horns, fangs, and wings of their Qilin Lion mount were all reinforced with Seastone.
Brook had also recruited a squad of Seastone archers and a band of adventurous swordsmen, each vetted personally by Redfield for loyalty.
Next, he planned to raise a Seastone musket squad. Maybe it was time to ask Vesper for a bulk shipment of weapons and the tech to produce them!
...
A few days later, the five town chiefs arrived at Hailou Town to take up their posts. Meanwhile, Shiki and Redfield finished transforming the floating island. A gleaming golden city now stood atop it, bristling with electromagnetic cannons and prototype Pluton-class artillery.
It was more terrifying than any Marine fortress—a floating fortress-carrier of luxury and destruction.
Even Brook's Wano subordinates were awestruck by his terrifying might and resources. All five clans had sworn allegiance, making Brook their undisputed lord and turning them into his direct retainers.
Even Ashura Doji had become Brook's second disciple, boosting the Ashura clan's status in Kuri Province. Their prestige now rivaled that of Hailou Town's lord, Hyougoro.
"This time, we're heading out to sea for a while. I'm leaving Hailou Town in your hands!"
The clan leaders all bowed and accepted Brook's orders. As for Ashura Jakun, the battle-mad warrior insisted on following Brook to the outside world, eager to sharpen his blade and break through to the Great Swordsman level.
Hyougoror wanted to go too, but his current strength wasn't enough—and besides, Hailou Town still needed him. He couldn't afford to leave.
With everything arranged, the golden airship, the Golden Ark, docked at the floating city. Loaded with the Seastone archers and swordsmen, they set off for the New World!
Hyougoro watched the golden island take to the skies, his heart burning with longing. Someday, he vowed, he would set foot on that island too—and experience the wonders of the open sea!
...
The Ashura clan, Fukujinryu clan, Chiyaryu clan, Hattori clan, Sarutobi clan, Saemon clan, and Hyougoro's own Hana clan—these six families now formed Brook's core forces, each boasting swordsmen of formidable skill.
Among them, the Hana clan had the shallowest roots, but Brook's favor kept them from being looked down upon.
"Chiyo, deputy town chief—how'd you like to run the Udon Seastone mine? Once Brook-sama captures Itachi Port, I'll recommend you as the new town chief there!"
At present, Itachi Port was the only place in Kuri Province still under Kozuki control. Wano's closed borders meant every other port had been destroyed or heavily guarded.
Any citizen who tried to leave was arrested—thrown in jail or forced into labor.
Though Itachi Port had fallen on hard times, under Brook's rule, it was destined to rise again. Chiyo gladly accepted Hyougoro's proposal.
"Pengnan, with your brother setting out to conquer the seas, I'm appointing you acting captain of Hailou Town's guard force."
Ashura Pengan nodded, accepting the command to oversee the town's security in his brother's absence.
"The rest of you—just focus on keeping an eye on the shogunate's moves. We must protect Brook-sama's legacy!"
Hyougoro couldn't help but feel like he now held power on par with a daimyo of Kuri Province. The chiefs of these once-prominent families all treated him with great respect!
Still, Brook had warned him: true power rests on strength alone. So Hyougoro trained relentlessly, striving to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship—and to one day join Brook in sailing the seas to seek his own breakthrough.
Currently, he was only at the entry-level Great Swordsman stage. Fukujin Kishoten stood at the advanced level, while the other chiefs were at the mid-tier. Only Ashura Jakun had reached the Great Swordsman peak.
If all four daimyo attacked at once, they wouldn't be able to hold Hailou Town. But Brook had left behind a electromagnetic cannon and a Hellfire cannon—powerful enough to wound even a peak Great Swordsman if they struck unexpectedly.
...
In the Flower Capital...
When Kozuki Oden learned that Brook's crew had already been gone for several days, he completely lost it. Furious that he wasn't able to tag along, he grew even less interested in studying etiquette and history lessons.
He ran wild, causing havoc everywhere, leaving Kozuki Sukiyaki with a pounding headache.
Meanwhile, Kibi's daimyo, Fugetsu Jinshō, suggested they seize this chance to take back Kuri while Brook was away.
But the Udon daimyo, Ametsuki Maiken, firmly opposed the idea. He was increasingly aware of just how terrifying the Hell Pirates were—if they came back for revenge, Wano would be reduced to rubble.
Even Sukiyaki felt uneasy, sensing that Brook's group was challenging Wano's isolationist policy in a dangerous way. He called for a vote among the four daimyo—two from the Shimotsuki clan abstained, leaving one in favor and one against. Once again, the decision landed squarely back on Sukiyaki's shoulders.
Torn and hesitant, Sukiyaki ultimately didn't dare take the risk. He could only hope that the Hell Pirates would soon sail away and lose interest in backward Wano.
But it was exactly this indecisive nature that slowly caused the Kozuki clan to lose the people's loyalty—while Hailou Town quietly rose as the real, undisputed power in Wano.
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+188 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg