Hearing Golden Lion Shiki's words, Brook let out a laugh. Roger and Shiki really were a pair of destined rivals. First, Shiki tried to recruit him—when that failed, he went after Roger's crew with a full-on assault. But then a sudden storm rolled in, wiping out most of Shiki's fleet and even jamming a ship's helm straight into his head.
Later, when Roger was captured, Shiki stormed Marineford alone, only to be taken down by Garp and Sengoku working together.
"Roger's your fate. You're tied together by destiny—sworn enemies with no way out. His strength and talent are real. He might just be the child of the next era!"
Brook's words lit a fire under the already hot-tempered Shiki. Right then and there, he swore to settle things with Roger, to defeat him, to crush him completely!
"Brook, are you saying this Roger guy might even beat Rocks someday?"
Even Newgate found himself intrigued. If Brook thought this highly of the man, then Roger wasn't someone to underestimate.
"Maybe. But with us in the picture, everything changes! If Rocks is the man of this era, then Roger is the star of the next. And we... we're the ones who will twist fate off its path!"
Brook grinned. With the arrival of the Hell Pirates, the game was wide open—everything from here on would be unpredictable.
"So Roger's that strong? He could rise fast enough to become a ruler too?"
Redfield, always one to trust Brook's instincts, started paying closer attention to this Roger fellow.
"Relax. Roger's only interested in adventure. He's chasing the Poneglyphs, trying to solve the mysteries from 800 years ago and reach the final island. He's not in this for power. They're strong, yeah—but we're stronger. Much stronger!"
Brook was confident that the Hell Pirates had the firepower to keep Roger's crew under their thumb. No need to fear them.
"Jihahaha~ Brook, stronger than them? That's only natural!"
Shiki could tell Brook respected Roger's crew, but when it came to raw fighting power, he trusted his own team even more.
"He's into the Poneglyphs too? Good. Maybe we could even become friends!"
Redfield's eyes lit up—finally, someone else who cared about history. Shiki and Newgate never gave a damn, and even Brook hadn't shown much interest. Redfield had been waiting for someone who shared his passion.
"Alright, with Roger's crew watching over their turf, we can focus on dealing with the Sea Siren Pirates. Before things heat up again, let's snag that Pocket-Pocket Fruit user!"
Brook issued the order. It was time to track down the Devil Fruit user and, while they were at it, start making moves in the underworld—maybe prop up a few syndicates.
As Brook's command spread, the crew dispersed to their own tasks. Some went to train, others to handle business.
Shakky and Stussy were busy buying up platinum in bulk from the markets. The four top fighters headed off for training. The ship's doctor, Crocus, was deep in research, analyzing the signature poisons used by the Sea Siren Pirates' toxicologist.
Meanwhile, Silva the sniper was feeling a little overshadowed and was quietly sharpening his skills—determined to help out next time by landing a couple of precise Seastone shots at Dawei.
Shipwright Tom was getting hands-on, laying the groundwork for sea train tracks between the islands. He'd already tested a circular line on Sky Island's Baron Island, and it worked like a charm.
As soon as things calmed down, he planned to link Bristol Island and Elan Island with a full-fledged sea train route—boosting both islands' growth.
According to Antonio's intel and Mortomas's inside sources, the underground transport world was dominated by three major powers: one old shipping family and two rising organizations.
The veteran Umi Family, the upstart New World Dispatch Company, and the Worldcom Shipping Syndicate—each led by shrewd, well-connected figures with real muscle backing them.
The New World Dispatch Company, in particular, had abandoned business in the Grand Line and the Four Seas entirely, focusing solely on the New World. Their speed and efficiency let them seize a massive share of the market in record time.
And the Pocket-Pocket Fruit user? He wasn't just a key transporter—he was one of the company's founders, backed by an even stronger person who handled security.
"Yohoho... starting a company with just a Devil Fruit power and rising this fast? This guy's no pushover."
Brook flipped through the files on the Dispatch boss, Maxway, and the transporter, Bra Kara, staring at the photo with interest.
But in Brook's eyes, the company still lacked deep roots. They'd given up too much territory by dropping the Grand Line and the Four Seas. Their growth potential? Limited. Not worth his time to nurture.
No—better to crush them, capture the Pocket-Pocket user for himself, and then turn to the other two groups, whose businesses blanketed the entire New World.
Now it was up to them. Their response would determine the Hell Pirates' next move—whether to support them or wipe them out. Brook had already made up his mind: there would be only one king in the shipping world.
"Antonio, you and Mortomas—get me the Den Den Mushi numbers of the Umi Family and Worldcom's top brass. I want to hear their answer myself!"
Brook's tone was final. Whoever accepted his offer would survive. Refuse—and they'd face the full might of the Hell Pirates.
...
New World. A secret island.
One of the many powerhouses in the underworld's shadowy world. Naturally, they kept their real headquarters hidden; any public offices were just for show.
In fact, many of these big players operated from multiple bases—always prepared, always cautious. The smart ones never put all their eggs in one basket. Some even rotated their HQs constantly.
Right now, in a smoky underground fortress, tension hung heavy in the air.
"We just lost another chunk of market share in the New World. It's starting to hit our business in the Four Seas and even the Grand Line. Things are getting bad."
Umina, dressed in a black suit, addressed his family boss with a grim face. The way his eyes darkened, it was clear—he was ready to strike back at these upstart enemies.
The Umi Family had three brothers. Big brother Umide, the family head and leader of New World operations. Second brother Umile, who managed the Grand Line routes. And third brother Umina, in charge of the Four Seas.
"Yeah, maybe it's time we off Maxway. Or throw a pile of cash at the Dracula family's assassins and have them deal with it."
Umile, the second brother, also felt the heat. In business, it was simple: you're strong, they're weak. They grow, you shrink. And once they took over the market, things got tangled fast—connections deepened, clients started protecting these rising companies themselves. After all, they were already relying on them for shady, high-value shipments.
-----------
+188 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg