[No. 36: Isn't that obvious? Why else would we set out to sea? You need money to have subordinates!]
[No. 54: Haha, I don't care about treasure! I just love the thrill of adventure!]
[No. 43: I'm more into sweets, especially caramel cream puffs!]
[No. 18: Be careful revealing your personal interests. It makes it easier for others to figure out who you are, and that could get you disqualified by No. 1!]
Edward Newgate sighed and put down the Den Den Mushi. This thing didn't seem all that useful to him anyway.
Suddenly, the screen switched to a private chat.
[No. 2: You're Newgate, right? Have you obtained the Tremor-Tremor Fruit yet?]
[No. 50: How do you know who I am?]
Newgate immediately tensed up. Weren't identities supposed to remain hidden here? How did No. 2 know his? Was he the one who sent the Den Den Mushi through the News Coo? Was he a relative from Sphinx?
[No. 2: I'm a fortune teller. I can predict certain things. I'm also one of the founders of this place. After obtaining the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, your strength must have increased rapidly, hasn't it? Is your captain starting to see you as a threat?]
[No. 50: If you already predicted it, why ask me?]
Seeing this reply, Brook knew Newgate had essentially admitted to it.
[No. 2: This crew isn't where you truly belong. Do you want to know where you'll find companions who feel like family?]
[No. 50: Are you saying I'll leave the Lion Pirates? I doubt it. I've already spoken to the captain about it.]
Ever since setting sail from Sphinx, Edward Newgate had been with this crew for some time. He had grown somewhat attached, even if their personalities didn't completely align with his.
[No. 2: Not every captain can tolerate having a subordinate stronger than themselves. Think about it. If you ever have questions, come find me.]
Brook decided not to push further—he didn't want to provoke Newgate's suspicion. He'd let him mull over it on his own.
Newgate stared at the message with a complicated expression. Would he really find comrades who felt like family one day?
His gaze shifted toward the war room on the ship's deck. Inside was Captain Lyon. Would he really start fearing my strength?
Brook set down the Den Den Mushi. That wasn't easy.
Taking a deep breath, he gathered his resolve. The net had been cast—it was just a matter of time before the results came in.
But strength was still the most important thing. Brook immediately resumed refining his Yomi Yomi abilities, further exploring the power of Underworld Aura.
If his Deathly Aura allowed him to sense the life energy of those around him, functioning similarly to Observation Haki, then his Underworld Aura worked like Armament Haki, able to cut even souls. If so, then his Hellish Aura might be akin to Conqueror's Haki, exerting a deathly pressure over all living beings.
It seemed these three auras—Deathly, Underworld, and Hellish—corresponded to Observation, Armament, and Conqueror's Haki. This decayed body of his might no longer be able to produce Haki naturally, but as long as the effect was the same, it didn't matter. What mattered was getting stronger.
"Captain, based on the current ocean currents and seasonal winds, reaching Asuka Island might take longer than expected. Should we stop at a few islands along the way to resupply?"
Shakky studied the nautical charts provided by News Agency President Mortomas. There were several islands they could visit en route.
Brook wasn't particularly knowledgeable about navigation. As long as they reached Asuka Island, that was all that mattered. The Seven Star Sword should still be sealed within the temple there.
"Understood, Captain!"
Shakky immediately started planning their next island stop, considering what supplies they needed and whether they could encounter any interesting people or events—anything that might help Captain Brook recruit new crew members.
Sailing could be tedious. Days of nothing but endless ocean often left people feeling adrift. Fortunately, Brook now had his own crew to keep things lively.
"Antonio, make me a cup of lemon tea."
Antonio, who also handled cooking duties, diligently took on various chores. Since he wasn't a combatant, he figured he should at least be useful in other ways.
"I'll take a milk tea!"
"Then I'll have a rum," added Tom, the Fish-Man shipwright, who had seamlessly integrated into their little group. He enjoyed listening to Brook's grand visions and firmly believed in their future.
"Captain, our next stop is Gunner's Island! I've heard that sharpshooters from all over—whether from the Four Seas, the Grand Line, or even the New World—come here to duel and prove themselves. They fight for the title of the world's greatest marksman."
Shakky spoke excitedly. Perhaps Brook would be able to recruit a sniper here—just as she had planned when mapping out their route.
"Then we definitely have to check it out! I'd love to see just how skilled the snipers of this world really are."
Brook's interest was piqued. It was true that their crew could use a sharpshooter.
Gunman's Island was incredibly lively. At the harbor, merchant ships and pirate vessels coexisted in an unspoken truce.
Merchants came here to hire bodyguards, while pirates sought to recruit skilled crewmates. Some pirate crews even brought their own snipers to challenge the island's top marksmen, hoping to boost their reputation.
In the pirate world, every strong individual chased a legendary title—World's Greatest Marksman, World's Greatest Swordsman, World's Greatest Chef...
As the Yellow Springs sailed into the harbor, shipyard workers rushed forward, advertising their services: repairs, maintenance, storage—whatever a crew might need.
Gunman's Island was under the rule of a retired World's Greatest Marksman who had somehow survived long enough to step away from the battlefield. Now, he led the Sniper Guild, maintaining order on the island. Few dared to cause trouble here—especially since this was the Grand Line, where only the truly powerful thrived.
Any warrior stronger than the retired world champion would have already moved on to the New World, staking their claim to power. They wouldn't linger in the Grand Line, waiting for the Navy to hunt them down.
After arranging for their ship to be taken care of at an official dock, Tom, ever cautious, chose to stay behind and guard the Yellow Springs.
Brook, carrying his memory seahorse over his shoulder, set off with Shakky and Antonio to explore the famous Gunman's Island and experience its unique culture firsthand.
The streets teemed with pirates and bounty hunters, all armed to the teeth. Flintlock pistols, revolvers, long-barreled sniper rifles—everywhere they looked, firearms were an inseparable part of daily life.
"Looks like there's a duel up ahead! Let's go check it out!"
"I heard the Sniper Guild's leader himself declared that this guy—Silva—has the potential to become the World's Greatest Marksman! He's a well-known young sharpshooter on Gunman's Island!"
"And the challenger? It seems to be Peterm, the sniper from the Roger Pirates! I heard he used to be part of a royal palace sniper squad."
Brook's eyes widened. Instantly, he perked up and hurried to follow the crowd...
+100 Chapters on p@treon/tambeerg