The Golden Ark soared out of Wano's waters and made its way back toward Elan Island. According to the reports from the Economic News Agency stationed on Sky Island's Baron Island, the Hell Pirates had raised their flag there.
Neither the Vesper Pirates nor the Rocks Pirates had dared to touch the island. A few Supernova crews had come by, but after failing to meet Brook, they'd left empty-handed.
Even world-shattering figures like Byrnndi World and the great pirate Une had come calling, eager to see the rookie crew bold enough to challenge the so-called pseudo-overlord pirates.
Later on, even a crew claiming to be the incarnation of the Fox God paid a visit to Elan Island, but they too left with nothing.
...
On the Golden Ark—
The samurai who had never left Wano were buzzing with excitement as they gazed at the endless sea. They had no idea what kind of storm Brook was about to drag them into.
Their first voyage would throw them straight into the fiercest battlefield in the world — the Overlord War between the Rocks Pirates and the Vesper Pirates. One misstep, and they'd be swallowed whole.
After resting for a day on Baron Island, the Hell Pirates began digging for contact info — specifically the Den Den Mushi number of Vesper. Word was, they were licking their wounds somewhere in the Ten Kings Sea.
With every defeat Vesper suffered, cracks were spreading through his ranks. The Vesper Pirates had always relied on their overwhelming numbers in the lower tiers to wear down Rocks' elites. But now, with Rocks gaining more and more followers, that gap was closing fast.
Everyone could feel it — Rocks was poised to become the supreme overlord of this era.
Vesper was getting old. This old lion couldn't fend off the young tiger Rocks forever. Wilank had even run back to the Ice Kingdom, begging the old Ice Demon to return, only to be coldly turned away.
...
On Madagascar Island
Vesper coughed into his fist as he looked down at his gloomy officers. He couldn't hide the fatigue in his eyes. These guys... they still hadn't grown strong enough.
Meanwhile, Rocks kept rising. Vesper was no longer a match for him. Even Edward, who was supposed to pin down Rocks, was dead. Next time Rocks attacked... what could he even do?
Even the usually carefree Shirokiri was drowning his sorrows in booze, not even glancing at the women around him. For the first time, he saw his old man looking weak — and the weight of it crushed him.
And worst of all, he couldn't do a damn thing about it.
In the corner, a beautiful woman wearing a captain's hat sat expressionless, though grief still flickered in her eyes. She was Angelie Edward — the daughter of the late Edward, now the inheritor of the Edward Pirates.
But with just a 500 million Belly bounty, there was no way she could uphold her father's legacy. The once-mighty Edward Pirates had already fallen to second-rate status, reduced to little more than a vassal crew under Vesper.
She, with her fair skin and beauty, had even been pursued by Shirokiri once. But now? In times like these, who had the heart for romance?
"Captain Vesper," said the cold voice of the Sea Butcher, Saracha. "If you can't hold off Rocks, then next time I'll join the fight. But I hope you have someone in your ranks who can handle Dawei. If not, we might as well prepare to lose everything and become wandering pirates."
His bounty was 1.55 billion — just a notch below Dawe's 1.6 billion. Last time they clashed, Saracha and Wilank had teamed up to wound Dawei. In a one-on-one, he could still hold his own.
Vesper bit back regret. He never should've sent Dawei to snipe Wilank — that only got Dawei captured by Rocks, while useless Wilank ended up as their reluctant ally.
"I just hope Wilank can convince the old Ice Demon to come out of retirement... and we're still looking for the Hell Pirates. They vanished for half a year, but if we can pull them in, they could help balance against Rocks."
Vesper had been eyeing the Hell Pirates ever since they defeated Edward. Now that Edward was dead, there were no more barriers. It was time to bring them into the alliance.
Angelie's fists clenched at the mention of the Hell Pirates. It was them — they had shattered her father's fleet, driven him into despair, weakened him just enough for Rocks to strike.
She rose abruptly, no longer interested in the council. Gathering the last loyal Edward pirates, she set off—her target: Elan Island.
As she walked away, Vesper and Saracha barely spared her a glance. Just a little girl grieving her father. Nothing to worry about.
Their real focus was on roping in the up-and-coming Supernova crews, dragging every pirate in the New World into this muddy war. No one would get to sit this one out.
"Captain Vesper! Urgent news — the comms team just picked up a Den Den Mushi call... from the Hell Pirates! They're requesting to speak with you directly!"
The messenger's words made Vesper's heart jolt. As if summoned by fate, just when they mentioned them, the Hell Pirates called. Maybe today was his lucky day.
Saracha's eyes gleamed with interest. Whatever their motive, if they could pull the Hell Pirates into the fray, they could ease some of the burden.
Vesper grabbed the receiver.
"Yeah, this is Captain Vesper. Who's calling?"
"Yo-ho-ho! This is Brook of the Hell Pirates!"
"You finally showed yourself, Brook. So what's it going to be? Will you join us and stand against Rocks... or wait until his crew crushes you too?"
"We want all of Edward's territories, plus a massive stockpile of weapons and design schematics."
"Tch... quite the appetite. How many of Rocks' officers can you handle?"
"Oh no, no — the Hell Pirates will deal with Dawei and his Sea Siren Pirates. As for Rocks himself... that's your problem, big shots."
Vesper and Saracha exchanged glances. That... could work. Edward's lands were already under Angelie's shaky control — it was only a matter of time before they fell. Letting the Hell Pirates take over wasn't a bad move.
As long as they could neutralize Dawei and fill Edward's vacant seat, their alliance might just survive another round. It might even hold back Rocks' advance.
"Fine. But are you sure you can handle Dawei? We won't have spare men to back you up."
"No worries. Dawei is ours to deal with. Just make sure none of Rocks' other officers interfere."
"Two days from now, the weapons and blueprints will be delivered to Bristol Island — Edward's old base. And a heads-up: Edward's daughter might come looking for you. Keep an eye out — she's quite the beauty."
Vesper let out a booming laugh, his mood finally lightening. If the Hell Pirates could tie down the Sea Siren Pirates, it'd take a massive load off his back.
Meanwhile, Shirokiri felt an uncomfortable pang. Hearing that the woman he admired was heading straight toward the Hell Pirates... it felt like something precious was about to slip away from him forever.
-----------
+188 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg