On Puso Island, the Sea Siren Pirates' stronghold in the New World, spies and informants from countless factions lurked in the shadows.
News of the Hell Pirates' victory over Dawei spread like wildfire, carried by every possible channel. The battle had raged for five days and five nights, giving scouts plenty of time to relay details of each pirate's abilities, techniques, and approximate strength back to their masters.
The Siren Goddess Calypso, barely clinging to life, was saved by the skilled hands of ship doctor Crocus. But don't mistake this for Brook's sudden burst of kindness.
No, he was fattening the prey before the slaughter. Brook had no intention of wiping their memories and recruiting them—big-name pirates like these were too risky, too likely to cause trouble down the line.
Instead, he needed powerful souls to bolster his own strength. Without them, he'd be a lackluster "emperor," unworthy of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the New World's titans.
Plus, he had a grand experiment in mind—one that could shape his future. The odds of success were slim, but he had to test it!
Puso Island's waters were separated from the Hell Pirates' turf in the Bristol island by the territories of Vesper, Rocks, and Saracha. Brook couldn't claim this place outright, but rules were rules.
He planted the Hell Pirates' flag across the islands, planning to trade or sell them to Vesper or Saracha later. No way he'd let himself come out on the losing end.
Even if Rocks' crew reclaimed the islands, it'd give Brook a righteous excuse to launch a counterattack down the road!
Golden Lion Shiki and Shakky scoured the dozen islands, "legitimately" confiscating a haul of precious resources—platinum, gold, silver, you name it. Oddly, no Devil Fruits turned up.
The Sea Siren Pirates' recent recruits, including officers and ability users, were either swayed by Redfield's charm or handed over to Brook for soul harvesting.
High above Puso Island, the massive Golden Island still floated, a gleaming testament to their victory. Brook wasn't rushing back to the main battlefield just yet. Dawei's defeat had noticeably softened Rocks' offensive, giving the Hell Pirates some breathing room.
The Emperor Alliance's morale soared, but Vesper and Saracha saw a different story unfolding: a new emperor rising with terrifying speed. Their expressions mixed relief with unease—relief at having a powerful ally, unease that the Hell Pirates might be too powerful.
Intel reports painted a grim picture. Even Saracha admitted his Butcher Pirates might not stand a chance against the Hell Pirates, especially after losing his top officer, Harvey. His face darkened at the thought.
Among the four emperors, the Butcher Pirates were likely the weakest link. Maybe in a few years, when Vesper fell and the Vesper Pirates slipped, Saracha could climb a rung.
For now, a balance of power kept Rocks' crew from dominating the New World. Multiple strong players were exactly what they needed—even if the Hell Pirates grew stronger, they'd just replace the Vesper Pirates at the top.
Vesper, watching this unfold, was caught off guard and resigned. The Hell Pirates had crushed Dawei without losing a single officer, a feat that forced him to see them in a new light.
They could become a second Rocks, rising faster with younger, hungrier crew members whose potential seemed limitless.
All he could hope was that, after his death, the Vesper Pirates, led by Shirokiri, could join forces with Brook and Saracha to stand against Rocks. That might keep his crew alive a little longer.
...
On Golden Island, the Golden Ark, a dazzling airship, rested on a custom landing platform at the island's heart.
Inside the opulent city lord's mansion, the Hell Pirates' key officers gathered in a sprawling laboratory.
"Brook, you sure this experiment's gonna work?"
Shakky eyed a seawater pool in the center of the room, where a five-meter-square Seastone chamber sat. Nearby, Brook had laid out an assortment of fruits—apples, pears, melons, pineapples, bananas, even persimmons.
"No clue," Brook admitted, his skeletal grin unwavering. "Legend says when a Devil Fruit user dies, their power latches onto a random fruit somewhere in the world. But there's a chance it could reincarnate nearby.
"Seastone and seawater suppress Devil Fruit powers, so this Seastone chamber in a seawater pool might trap the ability, forcing it to reincarnate in one of these fruits!"
Brook wasn't certain whether the ability would stay contained or escape to a fruit elsewhere in the world.
For this experiment, he'd sourced the largest, purest Seastone block from Wano, mined over the past six months. The block's purity ranged from 50 to 90 percent across its surface.
Would that be enough to lock in a Devil Fruit's power and force it to reincarnate locally? He had no idea, but he was determined to find out.
"They say Mythical Zoan fruits might have a 'consciousness' of their own," Brook continued, turning to Stussy. "Stussy, have a nice chat with Calypso. Show off your strength and potential. Maybe the Siren Fruit will take a liking to you and reincarnate in one of these fruits!"
Brook's plan was equal parts superstition and wild speculation. The Siren form, with its wings and enchanting voice, suited the stunning blonde perfectly—a prime candidate for his "harem" vision!
"What?! That's a thing? Never heard of it in my life!"
Even Redfield, usually unflappable, looked baffled. Still, he dutifully noted down Brook's "wisdom" and "secret techniques."
The other crew members exchanged thoughtful glances, intrigued by the idea.
"Maybe," Brook mused. "They say when your mind and body sync with the fruit's power, that's when it awakens. Could be the 'devil' inside the fruit recognizing you!
"Speaking of, who wants Dawei's Mythical Zoan Octopus Siren Fruit? If it reincarnates here, it's up for grabs.
"Go chat with him, show off your potential. Tiger, Tom, Silva, Crocus, Antonio—give it a shot!"
Brook didn't care who claimed it—he just wanted to trick the "devil" into reincarnating in one of his fruits!
The crew stared, dumbfounded by the absurdity. Fishmen Tiger and Tom had zero interest in Devil Fruits—why would they want to become landlubbers? But Brook shooed them off to "flex" in front of Dawei anyway.
"Yo, Brook, what about Hammerhead Shark Dalma's Hammerhead Shark Fruit? Don't we need to show off for that too?" Shakky asked.
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