On Golden Island, after downing the nutrient concoction mixed by ship doctor Crocus, the Golden Lion Shiki was quickly regaining his strength. Who knew—once he hit the frontlines, he might have to throw down with the Rocks Pirates again!
"Yohohoho~ So, Shiki, what do you think? Does Roger have what it takes to be your destined rival?"
Brook chuckled as he looked at Shiki, who was wrapped in bandages beneath his freshly changed clothes. The guy had gone all out against Roger for two straight days—clothes shredded, his body slashed up like a pincushion!
The proud Golden Lion spat out just three words. And the fewer words Shiki used, the bigger the deal—this was his way of showing how seriously he was taking Roger!
What grated at him even more was realizing that Roger’s Conqueror’s Haki outclassed his own. That stung. Roger was just another rookie, no more seasoned than he was. So why the hell was his Haki stronger?
"The Roger Pirates might have even greater potential than Saracha’s Butcher Pirates," Redfield remarked coolly. "That crew with two overlords aboard... they could rise to the top if they wanted. Give ’em time, and they’ll blow past the Butcher Pirates."
But as far as the Hell Pirates were concerned, they had their eyes on replacing Vesper’s crew as one of the two supreme powers of the New World—rivaling even the Rocks Pirates!
This island sat right between the territories of the Vesper Pirates and the Rocks Pirates, and it had already become a battleground for their many clashes. Even the would-be overlord Edward had met his end here.
The land was stained red with blood. After two massive wars involving over a hundred thousand pirates, more than forty thousand bones had already been buried in this cursed soil.
Smaller skirmishes had broken out here a dozen times—localized battles between high-ranking officers. It was no exaggeration to call this place the most infamous meat grinder in the New World. Countless mid- and low-level pirates from the Rocks Pirates had perished here, and the Overlord Alliance had paid a steep price too.
Now, the alliance was gathering again to counter the swelling might of the Rocks Pirates. Edward’s crew had been wiped out completely, and their remnants folded into the rising Hell Pirates—who were showing up at this kind of high-level summit for the very first time, now recognized as key newcomers within the Overlord Alliance.
The Vesper Pirates, Butcher Pirates, and the New Ice Demon Pirates had already arrived at the meeting spot.
"Tch. Hell Pirates? What the hell are they? And why are they being put on the same level as my Ice Demon Pirates? The World Government and Marine HQ must be out of their damn minds!"
Wilank, who commanded both snow giants and Elbaf giants, growled loud enough to make the whole hall tremble. The deep, booming sound rolled through the air.
Even Vesper and Saracha looked like dwarves next to the towering Wilank, who stood over forty meters tall. But they both shot him a look full of scorn.
Sure, Wilank was a powerhouse—but even Saracha, let alone Vesper, could actually beat him one-on-one. Hell, even the late Edward had a tougher bite than this oaf.
If not for Wilank’s two giant armies being absolute slaughter machines against lower-ranked pirates, he wouldn’t have even qualified to sit among the overlords, much less lead a near-overlord-level crew.
"Sa-ha-ha~ Hey Wilank, maybe you should go test the Hell Pirates for us. See if they’re really cut out to be part of our little club!"
Saracha grinned slyly, trying to egg Wilank into doing his dirty work. But he underestimated the giant’s cunning. Wilank might grumble and complain, but when it came to actual fighting, he wasn’t about to waste energy brawling with potential allies—not after Dawei pummeled some sense into him last time. These days, he played it safe, relying on his giants’ sheer numbers to overwhelm enemies.
Vesper, meanwhile, was staring off into the distance, deep in thought. Three days ago, he’d felt an overwhelming wave of Conqueror’s Haki from far away—it still lingered in his memory. For it to reach him across such a distance... just how monstrous was the person behind it?
He only hoped it wasn’t someone from the Rocks Pirates or the Hell Pirates. If it was, his own Vesper Pirates might be staring down their doom—either crushed by Rocks or replaced by Hell. Neither option sat well with him.
Suddenly, a commotion snapped Vesper back to reality. A glittering, golden island appeared in the skies—an opulent floating fortress that made every pirate in sight drool with greed.
Even Wilank and Saracha’s eyes lit up, their tiny pupils darting as their greedy minds spun up schemes.
Loud music blared from the airborne island, rousing the gathered pirates. Shiki the Golden Lion erupted with his own Conqueror’s Haki, his golden mane swirling wildly as he made his grand entrance in rhythm with the music.
Below, weaker lackeys collapsed outright, while the rest of the pirates swallowed their greed and watched with wary eyes.
"Jihahaha~ The Hell Pirates have arrived!!"
Shiki hogged the spotlight up front, while Brook and the others made a steadier entrance at the rear. Charlotte Linlin glanced around, sizing up the scene.
Wilank scowled. Watching Shiki flaunt his might left a bitter taste—after all, Wilank had no Conqueror’s Haki of his own. Meanwhile, the Hell Pirates had several members wielding that rare power. It gnawed at him.
Even Saracha sobered up, his playful attitude vanishing as he felt the sheer pressure rolling off the Hell Pirates. Their overall strength utterly dwarfed that of his own officers.
And then there was Brook at the center of it all—his presence was unnervingly blank, like that of a corpse. Yet this "dead man" commanded respect from subordinates brimming with Conqueror’s Haki. Clearly, he was no ordinary figure.
Among Vesper’s crew, Orion and Shirokiri—both of whom had clashed with the Hell Pirates before—looked grim. In just half a year, the Hell Pirates’ aura had grown explosively. It was absurd.
Orion could feel Redfield now posed a direct threat to him, while Shirokiri was even more shaken. He was certain that against young Whitebeard now—he’d be completely outmatched.
"Yohohoho~ Sorry to keep you waiting, captains. We’re a bit late!"
Brook, flanked by his four main combatants, casually took his assigned seat like he owned the place.
Vesper’s sharp gaze swept over the Hell Pirates. Their aura was terrifying—far stronger than his own useless son. Intel already suggested that at least three among them had awakened Conqueror’s Haki.
What kind of ridiculous lineup was this? If they kept rising , the balance of power in the New World was about to get shaken to its core...
It seemed that, regardless of whether the Hell Pirates won or lost against the Sea Siren Pirates, he would need to find a way to weaken them.
"Captain Brook, you’re truly the man! To have so many capable Conqueror’s Haki users under your command—why, even this old man is jealous!"
Vesper smiled as he spoke, but there was something off in his tone.
"Under your command?"
"Capable subordinates?"
The wording had a condescending edge to it.
+188 Chapters on p@treon/tambeerg