Vesper sensed the subtle shift in his crew's morale, a ripple of doubt spreading like cracks in a hull. But what choice did he have? This mess started with Shirokiri's recklessness. Was he supposed to abandon his son and wage war against the Hell Pirates?
Taking on both the Hell Pirates and the Rocks Pirates at once? His crew wouldn't last a week.
If only his officers were worth their salt—none of them had awakened Conqueror's Haki! Not a single one was fit to carry the Vesper Pirates' flag into the future. Was this why they'd fallen so low? Why Vesper himself was losing his drive to dominate the seas?
At nearly seventy, Vesper was staring down a bleak horizon. Like old Ice Demon before him, maybe it was time to step back, ride the currents of retirement. Maybe force Shirokiri to sire a few heirs for him to mold into something worthwhile.
For now, he had to keep Brook at bay. In the year or two since Brook's rise, Vesper hoped his wayward son or one of his officers could step up and hoist the Vesper Pirates' banner high. If not, he'd call it quits for good.
Thirty years as a legend of the seas—hell, that was a life worth living!
Find a quiet island, raise some grandkids, bask in the joys of family—that'd be the best ending. Anything else would be a disgrace, letting the Vesper Pirates sink and the Vesper family's legacy die with him and his son. A failure he couldn't stomach.
Looking at his wavering officers and crew, Vesper sighed. He was old, worn out, and the crew's spirit was fraying.
"Don't forget our alliance!"
Vesper tossed a small booklet to Brook. Every eye followed the Conqueror's Haki Coiling Manual as it arced through the air.
The ultimate secret of Conqueror's Haki!
Brook caught it, flipped through the pages, and tested a move. Satisfied, he passed it to Redfield, Shiki, and Linlin. After confirming it was legit, he hurled Shirokiri back to Vesper.
Without waiting for Vesper's reaction, Brook's crew turned to leave. Two Seastone keys shot toward Vesper like bullets. He snatched them from the air, quickly unlocking the Seastone cuffs binding Orion and Shirokiri.
"Captain Vesper, should we chase 'em? Or storm Brook's main base?!"
Salem watched Brook's group vanish into the distance, his voice dripping with frustration. Handing over the Coiling Manual to the Hell Pirates stung.
"Orion's too weak right now, and we can't catch up to Brook's Golden Ark. Chasing's pointless. Plus, we're still allied with Brook—no need to hit his islands."
"Attacking would just bleed us both dry. Golden Lion Shiki's Float-Float Fruit could wipe an island off the map in seconds!"
"Head back, all of you. If none of you awaken Conqueror's Haki before the Hell Pirates fully rise, the Vesper Pirates are done for!"
Vesper's heart was heavy. His officers had followed him for decades, but as he aged and weakened, their loyalty wavered. He didn't mind Salem's ambition—what he feared was ambition without the strength to back it up, like a Conqueror's Haki awakening.
Without that, they'd end up as prey, carved up by Rocks and Brook. Better to disband the Vesper Pirates and let his crew forge their own paths than tarnish his legacy.
On Vesper's orders, the Vesper Pirates' fleet withdrew from Brook's territory, sailing back to Ten Kings Island.
...
Staring at a frail Shirokiri, Vesper resolved to make sure his son left heirs before stepping foot off Ten Kings Island again—even if it meant locking him up or slipping him something to get it done!
Meanwhile, Brook and his crew boarded the Golden Ark, setting sail for Ohara-Golden Island to relocate it to a New World sky island for safekeeping.
"Brook, this time the Hell Pirates are gonna take over! Next time I see that punk Shirokiri, I'll make him....!"
Golden Lion Shiki fumed, still sore from being outclassed by Shirokiri. With the Conqueror's Haki Coiling Manual in hand, he was sure he'd surpass him in no time.
"Don't get cocky, Shiki. We don't even know if our Conqueror's Haki is strong enough to handle coiling yet. Keep fighting, build your spirit, and push your Haki to the limit!"
Brook was thrilled with the coiling technique but stayed grounded. He needed to keep his crew sharp. The Hell Pirates finally had the foundation to stand against the Rocks Pirates—it was just a matter of time.
Charlotte Linlin's pen Homies quickly copied four versions of the manual. Every crew member with awakened Conqueror's Haki got a copy.
Kaido, Tiger, and Shakky stared, eyes wide with envy. None of them had awakened Conqueror's Haki, so they were locked out of the elite coiling technique—for now.
Kaido gripped his golden alloy mace tightly. One day, he'd awaken his Conqueror's Haki. Brook himself had confirmed Kaido's potential, a fact that filled him with pride. Tiger, on the other hand, hadn't gotten that confirmation, and Kaido caught the jealous glances from him, even from Shakky and Stussy.
It drove Kaido to train harder, determined not to let his captain down. With the structured training methods, his strength was skyrocketing—Newgate even called him a monster!
Tiger was no match for him now. Kaido's next target? Scarlet, the double-bunned sharkman with a bounty over 100 million. Still out of reach, but Kaido was closing in.
Word was, Brook had a mythical Zoan Devil Fruit—the Octopus Siren Fruit, granting eight arms and insane regeneration. Then there were the flying Zoan fruits from the Tontatta. Each could turn a pirate into a powerhouse, and Kaido's heart raced at the thought.
As a rookie crew member, though, he wasn't sure when Brook would toss him a Devil Fruit. For now, he'd focus on mastering his physical skills, growing stronger, and building his name. That'd earn him a fruit sooner!
Most of the crew's officers already had Devil Fruits. Tom and Tiger, being fishmen, weren't keen on eating them. That meant Kaido was practically guaranteed one!
And if he was getting a fruit, he wanted the best—a mythical Zoan. His eyes gleamed at the thought of claiming that Octopus Siren Fruit!
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+300 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg