Under Brook’s command, the terrified Viscount Nass scrambled to obey, grabbing his Den Den Mushi to summon his two lackey merchants. When the merchants arrived and saw Nass groveling on his knees, they nearly collapsed in fear.
Nass spotted the pair and unleashed a torrent of curses, desperate to distance himself from the mermaid trafficking scandal.
"It wasn’t me!" he bellowed. "These two idiots acted on their own, smuggling mermaids and gifting them to me!"
The merchants, trembling like leaves, dropped to their knees beside Nass, their flabby bodies shaking so hard their sweat-soaked clothes clung to them. They didn’t dare speak or resist.
"Enough! Shut it!" Brook snapped. "Tell us everything you know about the Sabaody Auction House!"
Brook had no interest in wasting time on small fry like these. Taking down the auction house and its slave-trading crews would hit harder than crushing these cowards.
The merchants, scared witless, spilled every detail they knew, their words tumbling out like grain from a torn sack. They held nothing back, terrified of what these notorious pirates might do if they lied.
Brook handed the rest to Shakky. The shrewd woman eyed the merchants like a shark circling prey, sensing their wealth was ripe for the plucking. Never one to let an opportunity slip, Shakky planned to strip them of every last Belly.
With her mind-reading ally Redfield and her personal storage expert Bra Kara in tow, Shakky set off to raid the merchants’ ill-gotten fortunes. She even schemed to squeeze some extra cash out of Earl Iron Shield, using Nass as leverage.
Meanwhile, Tom and Tiger had a heart-to-heart with the young mermaid, Ariel. Thankfully, she hadn’t been with Nass long and hadn’t been mistreated. That alone kept the two fishmen from tearing the merchants and Nass apart on the spot.
If Ariel had suffered, no amount of groveling would’ve saved them from a brutal end.
"Tom-san, when can you take me back to Fishman Island? I miss my mom and dad," Ariel said, her voice small and pleading as she looked up at Tom.
She’d been snatched from Fishman Island, trapped on a slaver ship for three days, held at the auction house for a week of promotion, and then spent five or six days in Earl Iron Shield’s mansion. It had been over two weeks since she’d seen her parents.
"Not right away, I’m afraid," Brook said, stepping in. "We’ve got a stop in the West Blue first, then we’ll head to Fishman Island."
Ariel flinched, hiding behind Tom at the sight of the towering skeleton. Brook wasn’t about to rearrange his plans for one mermaid, no matter how pitiful her situation.
"Tom, give your brother Den a call," Brook added. "Confirm her identity and let her parents know she’s safe."
Trying to show a shred of compassion, Brook left it at that and turned his attention elsewhere. He had a certain headstrong Kaido to deal with next.
As Brook strode off, Tom and Tiger reassured Ariel, explaining she’d have to stick with the Hell Pirates for now. Little did she know, this adventure might become the most unforgettable Chapter of her life.
Back with Kaido, the stubborn beast was still glaring at Golden Lion Shiki. He itched to challenge him again, especially since Shiki had crushed his prized spiked club, leaving him weaponless.
"Kaido," Brook began, "do you have any family left? Or others of your kind? Know where the rest of the Oni race might’ve settled?"
Brook’s curiosity about the rare Oni race was piqued. They could be a natural warrior race, a smaller giant-like breed—not as renowned as Giants or Lunarians, but with ordinary members outmuscling even the Mink Tribe.
"Don’t know," Kaido grunted. "Never met anyone but my parents. No other Oni."
Kaido knew he wasn’t human. From childhood, his horns and towering height set him apart. Others called his family monsters, shunning them.
"That’s a shame," Brook mused. "I was hoping to recruit more Oni warriors. Well, from now on, you’ll train under Newgate to master physical combat and Haki!"
Brook paired Kaido with Newgate, whose massive frame and brute strength matched the young Oni’s. Shiki and Redfield, with their speed-focused swordplay, weren’t the right fit.
"Newgate? Who’s that? How strong is he? Stronger than that golden lion?" Kaido demanded.
Before he could finish, Shiki’s earth powers wrapped Kaido in a cocoon of dirt, leaving only his head exposed. The ground squeezed tighter, making it hard for him to breathe.
"Jahahaha! Listen up, Kaido, you little punk! Call me Shiki-senpai or Shiki-sama. One more nickname like that, and I’ll bury you deep in the earth!" Shiki cackled, his grin menacing.
"Damn it! Can’t move!" Kaido thrashed, his face turning red with effort. For original chapters go to novel·fire·net
"Gurarara! Easy, Kaido," Newgate said, stepping forward. "I’ll be your teacher from now on. And trust me, I’m no slouch compared to Shiki!"
Newgate’s fist glowed with quake energy, shattering the dirt cocoon without grazing Kaido.
After Shiki’s roughhousing and Newgate’s display, Kaido finally simmered down, shedding some of the "I’m the strongest" bravado he’d carried from his days in the youth militia.
"You’re strong," Kaido admitted. "I wanna learn that pink energy stuff—the kind that crushed my club! I’ll master it and snap that golden lion’s swords to get even!"
"Yohohoho! One step at a time," Brook chuckled. "If you want a tougher club, talk to our scientist, Vegapunk. You’ll meet him soon. Tonight, we’re throwing a banquet to introduce you to the crew!"
Brook eyed Kaido, pondering a dilemma. Should he reserve the Mythical Zoan Fish-Fish Fruit, Azure Dragon Model for Kaido, or hand over the Mythical Zoan Octopus-Octopus Fruit, Siren Model instead? It was a tough call.
In the original story, Charlotte Linlin gave Kaido the Azure Dragon Fruit after the Rocks Pirates’ fall, when Kaido was 21. Did that mean waiting over a decade to let Kaido eat a Devil Fruit?
Brook decided he’d need to consult Kaido—and maybe the readers—before making a choice.
Just then, cannon fire roared in the distance, smoke rising on the horizon. Brook’s brow furrowed.
"Trouble, Brook!" Antonio shouted, sprinting toward him. "It’s the Navy! An Admiral’s teamed up with Earl Iron Shield’s forces and launched an attack on Shakky and Redfield!"
Before Antonio could finish, Brook was already racing toward the battlefield. Shiki and Newgate bolted after him.
Mid-sprint, Charlotte Linlin scooped Brook up, soaring through the sky on her thundercloud, Zeus. Beside them, Stussy transformed into her human-bird Siren form, wings beating furiously. Both women were anxious for Shakky’s safety.
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