When the three girls saw Brook’s reaction, they immediately got upset. Shakky had spent so long coming up with those titles, only for Brook to laugh it off without any respect.
Even Stussy, who had been reluctantly convinced by Shakky to agree to those embarrassing names and poses, now looked a little irritated. Weren’t they supposed to feel like family? Why was he making fun of them?
"Brook! Why are you laughing? Don’t you think we look cool?"
Charlotte Linlin questioned him with a frown. This guy was seriously ruining the mood—she was actually pretty happy with her look today!
"Y-Yes, very cool! Super cool! I’m sure the name of the Hell Pirates will strike fear across the seas thanks to you three!"
Brook immediately changed his tune when he saw their growing resentment. Even Zeus and Prometheus were glaring at him with sparks of hostility. He had no choice but to wholeheartedly praise their slogans and fashion choices just to calm the storm.
Eventually, he managed to smooth things over and quickly took them shopping and out for treats to lift their spirits.
"Brook, when are we going to have kids?" Linlin asked casually while munching on a piece of cake.
Shakky and Stussy froze mid-bite, eyes going wide as their ears perked up.
Pffft! Brook nearly spat out his drink in shock. She really just asked that—in public?!
"Linlin, we’ve only just secured a territory. Things are still unstable... how could we possibly think about something like that right now? Besides, you’re not even eighteen!"
Brook tried to maintain his aloof expression under Shakky and Stussy’s increasingly suspicious gazes.
"So once I’m eighteen, it’s fine?"
Shakky raised an eyebrow, catching the implication in his words. She stared at their captain in disbelief. She’d suspected Streusen might have those kinds of thoughts, but Brook too?!
Then again... she recalled Antonio mentioning that the captain had once undergone a secret check-up back on Drum Island. Maybe Brook wasn’t as... dead as everyone assumed.
"Huh? So I just have to wait for next month’s birthday... then one more next year... so two more birthdays and I’m good? That’s just two servings of caramel cream puffs!"
Linlin began counting on her fingers, visibly pleased with her logic. She was already close to seventeen without realizing it.
Stussy, meanwhile, was calculating her own age, silently noting that if not for her missing three years of memory, she’d be just months away from turning eighteen herself.
Brook shook his head and sighed. He really didn’t want to get roped into this kind of conversation. What mattered now was preparing for the inevitable retaliation from the so-called "False Overlord"—the Edward Pirates.
Bristol Island — Base of the Edward Pirates, one of the Six Great Pirate Overlords
"What?! We lost contact with Brelco? His Vivre Card is burning?!"
Edward slammed his fist on the table. One of his longtime officers had just vanished while collecting tribute—and not even a single word of warning had come through.
"No intel at all? Nothing?!"
The rest of the crew bowed their heads in silence. No one dared answer.
"Captain... could it have been the Rocks Pirates? How else could Brelco be taken out without even having time to call on a Den Den Mushi?"
The speaker was a terrifying man with a chunk of his lip missing. He was Biff, Edward’s most senior officer, and the only one who dared speak his mind around the captain.
Since the fall of the World Dark News, intel across the sea had gotten fragmented. Each of the six powers had to rebuild their own networks, embedding spies and moles wherever they could.
But no major intel broker had risen to power just yet. Smaller networks were still in development—too slow and too limited in scope.
"There’s no info. None. Send half our intelligence agents to Elan Island immediately. We need eyes on that place."
Edward’s eyes narrowed.
"I also want someone on Rocks and his little alliance. If this is his doing, I want to know before I move."
He wasn’t about to step into a trap personally, not without confirmation. Those "allies" of his needed to be watched too. No one could be trusted.
But he also couldn’t send top officers just yet—if it really was Rocks behind this, they’d just be lambs to the slaughter.
None of the agents sent to Elan Island returned any intel. Meanwhile, Rocks, Vesper, and the other Overlords all remained within their own territories. Not one of them had made a move.
Even the pseudo-Overlords—Edward’s supposed "allies"—stayed still.
With all other threats ruled out, that left only one conclusion: whoever was on Elan Island wasn’t someone the big powers considered a threat.
"Damn it! So it was that bastard!"
Edward’s fury erupted as he slammed a massive hand against the wall.
"Send more spies to monitor Rocks—but I’m not waiting anymore. I’m taking them out myself! No damn rookie pirate’s gonna mess with me!"
He stood tall on the deck of flagship of the Edward Pirates. The massive ship tore out of Bristol Island’s port, heading straight for Elan Island.
This time, Edward was coming himself.
And when a Pirate Overlord moved personally, the others were bound to pay attention.
In the New World, everyone played the game of deception—planted spies, hidden pawns—it was just a matter of who played it better.
"So the coward Edward finally crawls out of his hole, huh? Have we confirmed what happened yet?"
Rocks stopped his training momentarily, his aura brimming with dominance. He could feel it—his Haki was on the verge of breaking through again. Soon, he’d surpass even Vesper.
"Our scouts report that someone took over one of Edward’s territories. Two of his officers are confirmed dead, including Brelco—the one with a 300 million Belly bounty."
"Perfect." Rocks sneered. "As long as someone keeps those three fakes busy, I’ll take out Vesper myself."
The New World didn’t need so many kings. He had tolerated three. But now, even false Overlords were popping up like weeds?
He’d wipe them all clean.
One Overlord was enough—and it would be him.
"Brook, based on intel from the News Seagulls and intercepted Den Den Mushi chatter, it’s confirmed—Edward is personally leading his fleet to attack us."
Antonio reported swiftly, laying out the other Overlords’ current positions as well.
Brook’s expression darkened.
"Everyone, get ready for war. We’re not just defending—we’re going to drive the Edward Pirates off the sea!"
He raised his voice, radiating killing intent.
"If we can bury them in the ocean, all the better."
Behind him, Redfield, Linlin, Whitebeard, and Shiki—the four main fighters—were already fully prepared. Each was eager to make their mark in the coming battle.
Not even an Overlord-level crew would be allowed to touch Hell Pirates’ territory!
+122 Chapters on p@treon/tambeerg