"Disco, you dared to attack me! Tomorrow, I'll expose you and have the Pirate Hunters and the Navy hunt you down!!"
Moore Thomas, a Zoan-type Seagull Model user, is the president of the World Economic News, one of the three major news agencies in the world. Currently stationed in the Sabaody Archipelago, he keeps a large number of seagulls in captivity as news birds.
"Moore Thomas, your recent news has been stepping out of line. I was ordered to deal with you. Consider your newspaper under new management."
Disco laughed. His true identity was the captain of a slave ship secretly working under the Celestial Dragons, as well as the leader of a pirate crew. The World Peace Dove News Agency, now controlled by the World Government, had been struggling against the World Economic News Agency, which had taken a large share of the market.
The World Peace Dove News Agency, led by White Peizhen, a Zoan-type White Pigeon Model user, raises a large number of white pigeons as news birds. It specializes in glorifying the rule of the Celestial Dragons, the prestige of the Navy, and the achievements of the allied nations. It is an official propaganda tool.
In contrast, Moore Thomas' World Economic News Agency covers both the light and dark sides of the world. With creative screenwriters, planners, and diverse content, it has gained a broader audience and higher sales. However, it lacks a powerful backer and remains relatively weak in influence.
Another major player in the industry is the World Dark News, a publication established by the New World overlords and the underground network. Its current president, the pirate merchant Kandor, possesses the Zoan-type Vulture Model. His vulture news birds dominate the New World, frequently supplying information to pirates and unaffiliated nations. However, due to its biased reporting and poor management, its sales remain mediocre.
Among them, the World Economic News Agency is the most balanced, catering to a wide range of readers. Pirates learn about the Navy's movements, the Navy keeps track of pirates, and civilians stay updated on both.
Moore Thomas never expected that during his trip to retrieve his wife and one-year-old son, he would be ambushed at sea by Disco upon leaving Sabaody Archipelago.
"World Government, Disco, you're ruthless! If I escape, I swear you'll regret it!"
Moore Thomas cursed, deeply regretting that he hadn't brought his entire security team with him this time.
"Be good, don't cry, Morgans. Watch Daddy chase the bad guys away!"
His wife desperately tried to calm their crying son. Transformed into his hybrid seagull form, Moore Thomas looked at his son with worry.
Brook, who had just leapt onto the ship, froze upon hearing the name.
Morgans—the future "Big News" Morgans, president of the World Economic News Agency, and one of the six underground emperors of the underworld.
"Who the hell are you?"
Both sides turned toward the unexpected intruder. Was he a pirate hunter?
"Brook? Weren't you killed in the Florian Triangle?!"
Moore Thomas was shocked. Rumors had spread that the Poison Smoke Pirates had wiped out the Rumbar Pirates, leaving him saddened. As a fan of Brook's "Bink's Sake," he had admired how the Rumbar Pirates spread music across the seas, earning a reputation as true adventurers.
Although Brook's appearance had changed, Moore Thomas recognized him instantly. Gone was the black top hat—his afro was now loosely tied, his blazer unbuttoned, revealing his chest. His pale skin exuded an eerie chill, making him appear untouchable.
"You know me?"
Brook was taken aback. He didn't expect anyone to recognize a small-time pirate like him so quickly.
In truth, Brook was a celebrity among pirates—even the legendary Red Count, Bartholomew Redfield, was a fan of his music.
"Soul King Brook, bounty: 33 million Berries. Acting captain of the Rumbar Pirates."
Disco sneered, unimpressed. To him, a pirate with a mere 30-million bounty wasn't worth fearing. He had captured too many pirates to be fazed by anyone under 100 million.
"Mr. Brook, please help us! If you can drive away these pirates, I, Moore Thomas, will reward you handsomely!"
Knowing the Rumbar Pirates were true adventurers, Moore Thomas didn't hesitate to seek Brook's help.
"Brook, I suggest you stay out of this, or I'll send you to the afterlife to reunite with your crew."
Disco eyed Brook coldly. He assumed the rumors were true—that Brook was the sole survivor of his crew—but he didn't know how.
"Well, I was looking for a chance to test my new abilities anyway."
Brook exhaled, releasing a faint white mist. He had unknowingly entered his new state—UnderworldGhost Aura. To his surprise, he could sense the life energy of those around him, almost like heat vision.
He observed the fluctuating energy on both sides of the battle. His own dark blue aura, infused with Yellow Spring Ghost Energy, was vastly different from theirs. Looking at Disco's large, fiery orange aura and then at his own, he realized something: the gap between their power levels was enormous.
Could he end this fight in one move?
After absorbing dark energy and ghost energy from the underworld, had he become an overwhelming force like Ainz Ooal Gown?
Suppressing his excitement, Brook prepared to use these enemies to verify his theory.
"Underworld Ghost Slash!"
Brook swiftly drew his cane sword and lunged at Disco, a trail of ice forming beneath his feet.
"Shave!"
To Brook's surprise, Disco knew Rokushiki. He barely dodged, leaving a massive ice crater in the cabin behind him, white mist rising from the impact.
"Amazing! Mr. Brook is so strong!"
Moore Thomas, flapping his wings in midair, was stunned. As a news agency president with limited combat skills, he struggled to protect his family and had suffered repeated injuries from Disco's sneak attacks.
"What the hell is going on?! Brook shouldn't be this strong—his bounty is only 33 million! Impossible!"
Disco was in disbelief. If he hadn't dodged just now, Brook's sword would have pierced his heart.
"Life is part of the cycle. Yours ends here."
"Underworld Ghost Aura: Desolation Slash!"
Brook exhaled a breath of chilling mist, his dark blue eyes glowing with death's embrace. He sprinted forward and vanished.
"Damn it! I refuse to believe you're this powerful!"
"Tekkai!"
Disco's blood pumped rapidly, his skin turning red as it hardened like iron. He braced himself for impact, ready to withstand Brook's strike.
All eyes were on the fight. A tense silence filled the air.
"How could he fall here?!"
The shimmering red glow faded from his skin, revealing a massive wound across his upper body. Blood spurted out in torrents as he staggered backward, his breath slipping away. Moments later, his body crashed to the ground, lifeless.
Thomas' wife immediately covered Morgan's eyes, shielding him from the gruesome sight.
The remaining crew members of the Disco Pirates, terrified, turned and bolted for their ship, desperate to flee.
Moore Thomas wouldn't let them off so easily. Seizing the moment, he rallied his few remaining guards and launched a pursuit, cutting down the retreating pirates in a fit of righteous fury.
Brook, still adjusting to the reality of killing, forced himself to harden his resolve. His cold, blue eyes gleamed with determination as he leapt onto the fleeing pirate ship.
With his sword in hand, he moved swiftly and efficiently, cutting down each slave-hunting pirate with a single strike. In his past life, he had seen too many horrors—child trafficking, kidnapping, pyramid schemes, fraud rings in northern Myanmar. He despised those who preyed on the weak more than anything, even more than killers themselves.
---
"Mr. Brook, thank you for saving my family! I don't even know how to repay you!"
Moore Thomas, now back in his human form, was dressed in a refined suit, his manners polished and sincere. The gratitude he felt toward his savior was deep, and as a long-time fan of Brook, his admiration only grew stronger.
"Please, take me to the nearest island," Brook said, his voice calm and composed.
Now that he was alone, he needed to find new crew members and a new ship before he could continue his journey. With a bounty of 33 million Berries hanging over his head, the idea of retiring wasn't an option.
"Mr. Brook... If I may ask, is it true that the Rumbar Pirates..."
"Yes. They're all dead."
"I... I'm sorry, Mr. Brook. I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine. I've come to terms with it. But I will avenge them."
Moore Thomas observed Brook's pale, cold expression. The lively musician of legend was gone, replaced by a man who had become an avenger. It pained him to think that Brook's dreams of spreading music and joy might have died along with his crew.
"Mr. Brook, we're heading to the Sabaody Archipelago. After this incident, I suspect the World Government will see the World Economic News Agency as a thorn in their side. I plan to relocate my company. If you don't mind, I'd like you to travel with us to Sabaody."
"Sure. That works for me."
Brook figured it wouldn't hurt to have connections with someone as influential as Moore Thomas.
"By the way, there's a group of slaves on Disco's ship. Lord Brook, would you like to take a look? You might find potential crew members among them."
Brook raised an eyebrow at the suggestion. He didn't have high hopes, but he wasn't against the idea either. If he was going to get revenge on the Poison Smoke Pirates, he needed a crew.
"Alright. Let's take a look."
---
Brook and his companions stepped into the ship's dimly lit cabin. The air was thick with filth and the stench of neglect. Dozens of captives—men, women, young, and old—sat huddled inside iron cages, their bodies covered in whip marks. Fear lingered in their eyes, dull and hopeless.
Moore Thomas stepped forward and addressed them. "The Disco Pirates are dead! You are free now! If any of you have special abilities, you may have the chance to join Brook-sama's crew."
At first, silence.
Then, after a long pause, a frail young man, around seventeen or eighteen, hesitantly raised his hand. His voice was shaky. "I... I'm a monster. I can turn into a giant snail."
Brook's eyes narrowed slightly. "A Zoan-type Snail Fruit user?"
Intrigued, he stepped forward and sliced through the shackles binding the young man's hands and feet.
"Alright, show me your transformation."
The boy nodded nervously and took a deep breath. His body began to shift, and within moments, he had transformed into a massive snail nearly 1.5 meters tall.
"I ate the fruit a year ago," the boy explained, his voice thick with emotion. "But the villagers called me a monster. They chased me out. My parents helped me escape in a small boat... but I've been homeless ever since."
Tears welled in his long, sad eyes.
"I... I can talk to little snails. Like the one that captured the pirate leader. Does that count as a special ability? Lord Brook, will you take me in?"
Brook's mind raced. "Talking to little snails? Wait... You mean Den Den Mushi?"
His expression shifted.
Could it be? This wasn't just a Snail Fruit—it had to be the Den Den Mushi Fruit!
A rare find. A true treasure.
Brook smirked. "Alright, you're in. What's your name?"
"Thank you, Captain Brook! My name is Antonio, and I can cook!"
Had Antonio still been in his human form, he probably would have been jumping for joy.
"Change back," Brook instructed. "From now on, you stay by my side."
Moore Thomas smiled at the scene. "Congratulations, Lord Brook. You've taken your first step toward rebuilding your crew."
Brook gave a curt nod, but deep down, he felt a flicker of excitement. He had his first crew member.
The rest of the slaves were just ordinary people, so Brook set them free. Some stayed behind to help clean the ship, while Moore Thomas recruited a dozen to assist in sailing his own vessel—his guards had suffered heavy casualties in the battle.
With the Disco Pirates wiped out, Brook claimed their ship and looted everything onboard. Among the spoils, he found four or five Den Den Mushi and handed them to Antonio.
"Try using these. See if your ability works on them."
Antonio nodded eagerly and placed his hands on the little snails. Moments later, his eyes widened in amazement.
"Captain Brook! They're responding! They say I feel familiar... comfortable... like family! They're willing to communicate with me using radio waves!"
Brook chuckled. "Hah! Looks like we hit the jackpot. You just became our communication specialist. You'll be chatting with these little guys from now on."
"Yes, Captain!"
With that settled, Antonio's stomach rumbled loudly. Brook's did the same.
"Eat first. We can talk later," Brook said, grabbing a plate.
Both of them tore into the food, their hunger finally sated after what felt like an eternity.
---
Once their meal was finished, Brook boarded Moore Thomas' Seagull newspaper ship. It had been patched up and was ready to set sail.
"Mr. Brook, we're heading for Sabaody Archipelago."
Brook simply nodded.
Moore Thomas let out a breath of relief. Having someone like Brook on board made him feel a little safer. But he knew time was running out. He needed to relocate the World Economic News Agency before the World Government made their move.
Sabaody was dangerous—especially with the Celestial Dragons lurking about.
But that was a problem for another day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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