Golden Lion Shiki and Scaredo rowed desperately through the storm. One wrong move, and the massive waves could swallow them whole.
"Hurry up! Keep rowing! Once we get past the worst of the storm, I can fly us out of here!" Shiki urged.
Even with the Float-Float Fruit, the storm's chaotic winds made it too dangerous to use his powers. He had no choice but to escape the old-fashioned way.
Meanwhile, the remaining crew members on the Flying Pirates' ship were losing their minds.
"Captain Shiki actually ran away?! That damn so-called Notorious Rookie! That 'fearsome Conqueror's Haki user'! What a joke! That cowardly, irresponsible Golden Lion actually abandoned us like this!"
(Note: I just remember that the supernova term at that time did not exist)
Shiki seemed to hear their furious shouting through the howling wind. He snorted in disdain. "Hmph! You lot? My crewmates? Don't make me laugh! I told you to lower my flag and retreat strategically! You weaklings were never worthy of being my crew in the first place!"
He knew he had lost face today. But sooner or later, he would gather a stronger crew—true elites—and take back the honor he had lost from Rocks!
Rocks Arrives
Onboard the ship, Rocks and his top officers watched the commotion unfolding on the Flying Pirates' ship. Something was off.
"An internal conflict?" Silver Axe mused.
Rocks narrowed his eyes. The white flag had been raised, but… was it possible that Golden Lion Shiki had abandoned his crew and fled?
If that were true, then these spineless grunts were useless to the Rocks Pirates. Rocks had no interest in them—he only wanted Shiki's Float-Float Fruit.
Unfortunately, the Flying Pirates' ship blocked Rocks' view, preventing him from spotting the small boat Shiki was using to escape. If he had seen it, he would have pursued immediately.
But fate was on Shiki's side.
Desperate to survive, the Flying Pirates eagerly approached the Hachinosu, hoping to surrender. This delay bought Shiki even more time.
(Note: 'Hachinosu' name of their ship just like the Hachinosu Island)
As soon as the two ships were close, Rocks, Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, and the other officers jumped onto the deck.
"Where's the Golden Lion?!" Rocks grabbed a small officer by the collar and roared, his monstrous aura causing the pirate to nearly pass out from sheer terror.
"C-Captain Shiki and Officer Scaredo already escaped! Captain Rocks, please spare us! We're willing to join the Rocks Pirates! Please, take us in!"
One pirate dropped to his knees, pleading for his life. The others quickly followed, bowing their heads and begging Rocks to accept them.
"Hahaha~! As expected, that bastard Shiki finally ran off!" Rocks laughed loudly, clearly amused.
Instead of being angry, he actually seemed to admire Shiki's defiance.
"A man with Conqueror's Haki won't surrender so easily," Rocks mused. "His fleet was destroyed in our first encounter, and now he's even abandoned his ship and crew. The next time we meet, it'll be his turn to kneel before me."
"Captain Rocks, what should we do with these rats?" Wang Zhi asked, his sword gleaming menacingly in the stormy light. With a single order, he would cut them all down.
"Hahaha! Since they surrendered, we'll take them back to Hachinosu," Rocks decided. "They can work as laborers. Let's make our base look a little better. And when we capture Shiki, we'll make sure he sees the crew he abandoned!"
Rocks glanced in the direction Shiki had escaped, a smirk playing on his lips.
He had missed the perfect chance to capture the Golden Lion. Next time, it would be even harder. But Rocks had absolute confidence in himself. He knew fate was on his side.
He was a member of the D. clan—destined to shake this era!
All the great pirates would either kneel before him or become stepping stones on his path to becoming king!
---
A New Beginning for the Flying Pirates
Shiki and Scaredo finally broke free from the storm's grasp. The moment they were in calmer skies, Shiki activated his Float-Float Fruit, lifting their small boat into the air and soaring away at high speed.
"Captain Shiki, where are we heading now? Should we start recruiting new crewmates?" Scaredo asked, relieved they had escaped Rocks' clutches.
But there was also a lingering sadness in his voice. The mighty Flying Pirates were reduced to just two men. They had lost their ship, their crew… everything.
"That's right! But this time, we'll gather only the strongest elite fighters!" Shiki declared.
At this stage, without a solid territory, having a massive fleet was nothing but a liability. It made them an easy target for New World overlords. The risk wasn't worth the reward.
Instead, Shiki would rely on his Float-Float Fruit to form an elite crew. Once they were strong enough, they would claim territory—then, and only then, would they expand into a proper fleet.
Suddenly, a thought crossed Shiki's mind.
The Den Den Mushi chat group had been quiet lately. He hadn't contacted Brook in a while. And now, Brook was doing better than him.
That pissed him off.
At one point, Shiki had even considered recruiting Brook. The guy was sharp—too sharp. He had even predicted Shiki's defeat today.
"Damn it… I need to find someone smart. Someone who can see the big picture. And more importantly, a talented navigator," Shiki muttered.
If he had a proper navigator, he wouldn't have blundered into a storm and gotten chased down by Rocks like some fool.
For now, they needed to lay low and avoid detection. But in the New World, hiding was easier said than done.
Anyone willing to pay the right price could buy location intel from the World Dark News. Their president, Kandor, was a master of the underground information trade. If you had the money, he'd even send out buzzard news birds to spy on your target.
If you pissed off a major power, you couldn't stay in one place for too long. And if you noticed news birds circling a little too often, or intelligence brokers lurking around? That meant trouble was coming.
---
Meanwhile, Aboard the Erebus
On the golden ship Erebus, the crew celebrated Newgate's arrival. Brook, in a rare moment, personally cooked a meal, and Antonio eagerly seized the opportunity to learn from him.
"Gurara~! This is my first time on a flying pirate ship!" Newgate laughed heartily, standing at the ship's edge, looking down at the scattered islands and the endless deep blue sea.
"Brother Newgate, you'll get used to it! I was just as shocked when I first boarded," Fisher Tiger chuckled as he scrubbed the deck—a daily task for a cadet.
"Newgate," Redfield called out, swirling a glass of red wine in his hand. "According to Captain Brook's plan, I'll help you awaken your Armament and Observation Haki as quickly as possible. With your physique, you've already met the physical requirements. All you need is the right training, and I believe you'll awaken soon."
This particular wine was a rare specialty brewed for the mermaids of Fish-Man Island. Even Brook was reluctant to part with it—Redfield only took it out when he wanted to show off.
"Thank you. I'll do my best to become a fighter who can protect everyone," Newgate said with determination.
If he could awaken Haki, his strength would skyrocket. With his monstrous physical power, he could even stand alongside Brook and Redfield as an equal.
Meanwhile, Fish-Man Tom had begun preliminary designs for the Sea Train. Brook had also tasked him with researching an Island Cloud Train for Sky Island—something that had never been attempted before.
The ship's doctor, Crocus, was experimenting with the deadly poisons collected from Fish-Man Island, while sniper Hiruba had already developed highly toxic bullets.
Brook smirked. These two were more than qualified to be the Sixth.
Even Shakky had started serious training, declaring that she was preparing to awaken her Conqueror's Haki.
Brook didn't have the heart to discourage her.
----
Marine Headquarters, Marineford
"The latest intelligence confirms that after passing Fish-Man Island, the Hell Pirates have been spotted near the Magara Kingdom in the New World. They've also recruited a new crew member—Edward Newgate, a formidable pirate!"
Chief of Staff Weimark delivered his report, his expression tense. The Hell Pirates had been a thorn in the side of the Marines, and the Celestial Dragons were growing impatient with their lack of progress.
"It's said that Newgate was abandoned by the captain of the Lion Pirates, Ryan, because his strength far exceeded that of the Lion Pirates' captain!"
Weimark rubbed his temples. The Hell Pirates' ability to fly made them incredibly difficult to track, and the Navy's control over the New World had always been weaker than desired.
"Due to the Celestial Dragons' demands, we have dispatched Admiral Coss Davo to the New World," Weimark continued. "Meanwhile, Admiral Sora will soon begin purging the Sabaody Archipelago, leaving only Admiral Hoss stationed here at Marineford."
Fleet Admiral Kukulkan had personally given the order. Admiral Coss Davo, a Mythical Zoan user, possessed the ability to fly, making him one of the few capable of countering the Hell Pirates' aerial mobility.
---
Holy Land, Mary Geoise
"This latest batch of CP0 recruits is promising. Ever since Mother Carmel mysteriously disappeared and Charlotte Linlin—'Iron Balloon'—escaped, we haven't found such high-quality candidates."
A CP0 agent wearing a white mask and suit examined the files in his hands.
"Mother Carmel death has already been confirmed," another agent, dressed in black and wearing sunglasses, stated coldly. "Her Devil Fruit ability has manifested in Charlotte Linlin."
The first CP0 agent nodded, then flipped to another file. A photograph of a blonde-haired girl caught his attention.
"This girl's race is quite rare… They say her appearance never changes after she reaches adulthood. The Celestial Dragons are particularly fond of such slaves. Why are they sending her into CP0 instead of keeping her for themselves?"
"Her combat ability is exceptional," the black-suited agent replied. "His Majesty, a Celestial Dragon, personally selected her to infiltrate the Hell Pirates."
Brook had a tendency to recruit strong and talented individuals, so the Holy Rothschild Family saw this as the perfect opportunity. Their goal? Plant a spy in Brook's crew, gain intelligence, and dismantle the Hell Pirates from within.
"She won't stand a chance against Brook or Redfield," the CP0 agent scoffed. "Even if she's stronger than most in her age group and proficient in Rokushiki, she lacks the raw power to fight them."
"A spy doesn't need to win fights," the black-suited agent countered. "She only needs to gather information. That alone is enough."
The CP0 agent sighed, shaking his head. "A waste… With her looks and skills, she would've been perfect for the underground intelligence network."
Shifting gears, he pulled up another file.
"The World Pirates have been growing bolder lately. That fool Brynndi World even calls himself the 'World Destroyer.' He's just another overhyped rookie. Their crew is still recruiting, correct?"
The black-suited agent nodded.
"Good. Send a couple of our agents to infiltrate his crew," the CP0 agent ordered.
Recently, a Celestial Dragon prince had expressed an interest in Brynndi World's Devil Fruit. The agents knew that, should the prince ever demand the fruit, they would need to capture Brynndi World immediately.
"One more thing," the black-suited agent added. "Gol D. Roger. Although we erased the 'D' from his wanted poster, he's still searching for Poneglyphs. We must monitor him closely."
"The Five Elders have issued two absolute orders:
Find the Nika Fruit.
Ensure no one learns the truth of the Poneglyphs."
"Understood!"
"Lastly, the Rocks Pirates are growing too quickly. Rocks D. Xebec is a D. He must be contained."
"Understood! We'll deploy CP agents to join various pirate crews and infiltrate his ranks."
---
Grand Line – Pruett Island
"Roger, we need to enter the New World already. The Grand Line is swarming with Marine fortresses!"
The Roger Pirates had just survived another Naval pursuit, this time led by a Vice Admiral. Every few days, they found themselves fighting or running from the Marine fortresses.
Even Rayleigh and Gaban were beginning to feel worn down.
"Yeah, this isn't sustainable. Let's head to Sabaody Archipelago and coat the ship for the New World," Roger agreed.
Rayleigh frowned. "That won't work. Because of Brook killing a Celestial Dragon, an Admiral is currently purging Sabaody! We can't go there now!"
Roger sighed but then grinned. "Brook really doesn't care about rules, huh? Killing a Celestial Dragon… that's a crime worse than my Poneglyph research!"
Rayleigh smirked but remained thoughtful. He had long suspected that Brook had connections to the World Economic News Agency. From the Den Den Mushi messages Roger received to how the newspapers spun Brook's actions, the connection was undeniable.
Even Moore's News Seagulls seemed to favor Brook, subtly whitewashing his reputation.
"Senior Brook is insane!" Roger laughed. "He'll pick a fight with the entire World Government if it means protecting his crew!"
"Less talking, more running!" Rayleigh suddenly shouted.
"That damn Vice Admiral Mad Dog is chasing us again!"
A Marine dog-head battleship appeared on the horizon, relentlessly pursuing them.
"This guy's stronger than you, Roger," Rayleigh grumbled.
Roger just laughed, gripping his sword.
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