Sniper Silva, wielding the Glare-Glare Fruit, kept a sharp eye on both pirate crews' movements. In his spare moments, he scanned for traces of the elusive Rocks, determined to track down the legend's whereabouts.
Brook's surveillance network was now a well-oiled machine, a veritable Skynet blanketing the world. Antonio's spy Den Den Mushi, Mortomas's news seagulls, and Silva's piercing fruit powers formed a trinity of precision tracking.
Most big-name pirates, Supernovas, and Navy admirals were under the watchful gaze of news seagulls. Key figures had spy Den Den Mushi planted on them, distributed through rigged newspaper raffles. Even the Navy's top brass at headquarters had "won" these bugs, slipping more spies into their ranks. Plans were in motion to target kings and key officials of various nations, fishing for intel on Devil Fruits, rare treasures, and more.
This sprawling intelligence network was Brook's brainchild, fleshed out and executed by Antonio and Mortomas. Even Stussy, with her knack for espionage, was assigned as Antonio's right hand, lending her skills to bolster the operation.
Brook was on a relentless hunt for talent to expand his empire. The Hell Pirates were no longer just a crew—they were the embryo of a pirate empire, a sprawling organization poised to dominate.
With the Hell Pirates' covert backing, the Umi Family, titans of the underworld's transport trade, had swallowed the New World Dispatch Company whole. Now, they were tightening the screws on the Worldcom Shipping Syndicate, gunning to become the undisputed monopoly—the new underworld emperor!
The Umi Family and Mortomas fueled each other's growth, merging and expanding their domains with ferocious momentum. Their rise sent shockwaves through old-guard families, who sensed a major player had entered the game.
Seasoned underworld bosses sniffed out the truth—some massive force was pulling strings. Spooked, the entertainment and commerce giants scrambled to secure allies or powerful backers, aiming to lock down their own monopolies.
Though a pirate by name, Brook was a builder at heart, a pragmatist who thrived on progress. He admired Charlotte Linlin's dream of a nation where all races coexist and planned to borrow her Totto Land vision. Once the Hell Pirates cemented their place as a top New World power, Brook would found his own pirate empire—called Totto Land!
...
Lost in these grand schemes, time slipped by. Silva's shout snapped everyone to attention, announcing the remaining distance of Vesper's pirate fleet.
The crew aboard the Golden Ark snapped into focus. Vesper, a true New World titan, was approaching. Brook, riding his Cloud Hera, hovered over the sea, opting not to meet on the island for this trade.
Perched on his shoulder was Parrot, who'd eaten the Castle Fruit. Shirokiri and Orion were locked in the castle prison within Parrot. Redfield stood at Brook's side.
Charlotte Linlin floated beside him on her thundercloud Zeus, while Golden Lion Shiki, arms crossed, swords at his waist, and cigar clenched in his teeth, levitated with a steely gaze fixed on the horizon.
A massive pirate fleet emerged, led by the grand flagship. Its banner, woven with golden thread, fluttered with imposing swagger—a testament to Vesper's dominion.
Befitting the New World's richest overlord, the ship gleamed with enormous gemstones, rivaling even Brook's Golden Ark in ostentatious wealth!
...
Seeing Brook's quartet waiting on the sea, Vesper signaled his fleet to halt. No island meeting? This wasn't going to be a drawn-out talk.
"Yohohoho! Captain Vesper, it's been too long since our little encounter! I've missed you dearly!"
Brook hadn't forgotten the bitter retreat. Today was about collecting interest—and there'd be plenty more chances to settle the score.
"Brook, I know your game. Let's cut the chatter—where's Shirokiri and the others?"
Vesper's eyes narrowed, noting only four figures. Were they demanding payment before handing over the prisoners? Not a good sign.
"One at a time, my friend! Show me the Devil Fruits first."
At Brook's signal, Parrot's gunners hauled out Orion, shackled in Seastone cuffs. Tossed from the fortress, he reverted from a shrunken state to full size, landing with a thud on Brook's Nimbus Cloud Hera.
"You've even got that kind of Devil Fruit power? I'm starting to envy you, Brook!"
Vesper couldn't believe it. Brook's crew was stacked—multiple Conqueror's Haki users, top-tier Devil Fruit abilities. Decades as a titan, and Vesper's roster paled in comparison.
He retrieved a large chest containing three ordinary Zoan-type Devil Fruits and tossed it with a flick. The chest hurtled toward Brook, but Shiki darted forward, snatching it mid-air and inspecting its contents.
With Shiki's nod of confirmation, Brook mirrored Vesper's move, casually tossing the Seastone-cuffed Orion. The act was a deliberate jab, humiliating Orion in front of Vesper's crew.
Tossed like cargo, Orion's pride stung as Vesper caught him with one hand, setting him down gently.
"Seastone? Where's the key?" Vesper's face darkened.
"Patience, patience! There's still Shirokiri and the small fry. Consider the two sets of Seastone cuffs a freebie—quite the deal!"
Brook signaled Parrot again. The fortress spat out a group of pale, drained pirate grunts onto a rickety boat controlled by Shiki. The lot was returned to Vesper's crew—ready to be "fattened up" for another round of "honest blood donation" to fuel Brook's spectral army.
"Now, hand over the Conqueror's Haki infusion technique. Don't make me cross, Vesper."
Brook hoisted the freshly released Shirokiri, watching Vesper's every move. One wrong step, and Shirokiri's life was forfeit.
Vesper's crew stirred at Brook's demand. Handing over the rare Conqueror's Haki infusion technique—something only true emperors mastered—was a bitter pill. Salem's face twitched with displeasure.
Vesper was giving up a treasure even Saracha of the Butcher Pirates couldn't beg or bribe out of him, despite offering islands and pleas. To see Brook extort it so brazenly stung the crew's pride.
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+300 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg