On this day, even the world’s mightiest nation, Elbaf, bowed to the threat of the New World’s overlord—the Hell Pirates!

King Harald had secretly inked a cooperation pact with Brook, making Elbaf the only pirate force they’d allied with. Giant Village had been rebuilt by other giants, establishing steady trade ties with Hell Giant Village!

Meanwhile, Elbaf’s other port, Dorn Port, had its World Government-sanctioned trade routes snatched away by the Hell Pirates in one fell swoop!

Elbaf brimmed with untapped resources, but no one had bothered to exploit them. Rocky and others, fresh from joining Hell Giant Village, brought Hell Pirate tech to the island, scouting for metal ores in hopes of unearthing rarities like Gungnir divine steel!

They even hauled along Hell Pirate brochures to lure giants from other villages, tempting young ones to settle in Giant Village—where they might just get sweet-talked into crewing for the Hell Pirates!

The Navy, catching wind of Harald’s backroom deal with Brook, could only grit their teeth and deploy a couple of giant admirals to rally Navy-friendly villages near Dorn Port.

Harald played it smart, keeping the World Government and Navy on good terms while stacking his ranks with giants from both sides—pirates and Marines alike!

"Bor-ing!"

The fight that never happened left Golden Lion Shiki in a foul mood. He’d been itching for a scrap with Harald!

"War with the giants would do us more harm than good. Let’s wrap this Elbaf trip and call it quits. Shiki, you and Newgate take the Treasure Tree Adam back to Elan Island first. Help Tom and Vegapunk whip up a low-spec warship from the Adam wood!"

"Oh, and patch up those rowdy pirates along the way. Redfield and I will hop the Golden Ark to Wano. Once my Shichiseiken’s reforged, we’ll head straight back to Baron Island!"

With Elbaf squared away, Brook needed cadres to hold down the fort back home—too long away, and trouble brewed!

"Gurarara! Perfect timing to show these brats the ropes!"

Whitebeard Newgate hefted his beloved Supreme Grade blade, Murakumogiri, grinning ear to ear. This outing would cement the Third Division’s rep!

"Fine by me, but Brook—lend me Arber and those other four. We’ll sweep the turf on the way back!"

Shiki had zero interest in Wano. He’d rally his sky fleet for some real fun, and if Brook tossed in the whole Lunarian squad, those aerial aces would give him a massive edge!

"Sure thing!"

Brook dispatched his full forces with Shiki, keeping only Redfield, sniper Silva, and ship doctor Crocus—plus his wives, kids, and pets—for the Wano run.

Kaido, Scarlet, Tiger—they all tagged along with Shiki for the brawls, none keen on Wano’s drama.

The Hell Pirates split: one group bound for Wano, the other sailing home to Elan Island.

...

Meanwhile, in the Flower Capital, Kozuki Oden was out of options. He slipped off to Hailou Town in Kuri Province, leveraging his status as Brook’s bargain-bin apprentice to score knockout gas shells, coma potions, and even debilitating weakness agents from Hyougoro.

Against the ironclad Guard, Oden knew brute force was suicide. He’d outsmart them! Time to play dirty like a ninja—poison the guards, even if it spat on samurai honor. For a shot at the sea, he’d swallow his pride!

Hyougoro even hooked him up with a stash of premium sake from the outer seas, urging Oden to "smooth things over" with Kozuki Sukiyaki—prime for spiking!

"Young Lord Oden, when Brook swings by next, he’ll head straight to Ringo’s Shimotsuki Kozaburo for sword-forging. Don’t blow this chance!"

Hyougoro dropped another hint about Brook’s itinerary. Since Brook was after the Fruit, he’d pull strings to help Oden seal the deal!

"Brook’s getting another sword forged? Didn’t they just craft a Supreme Grade last time? Is the master gunning for another Supreme Grade blade?"

Oden’s eyes widened. Shimotsuki Kozaburo’s last Supreme Grade masterpiece had rocked all of Wano—earning him the title of the country’s top smith!

If Brook returned and had Kozaburo forge yet another, the old man’s legend would hit god-tier—untouchable!

"This reforging’s for Brook’s own blade. After that, he might not circle back for a year or two!"

Hyougoro shot Oden a knowing glance, prodding the hothead. Blow this shot, and it’d be another year or two before another sea-bound window opened!

"No way—I’m grabbing Dad’s Pattern Fruit now!"

Oden bolted back to the Flower Capital, loaded with his "goodies." This time, he’d snag the old man’s prized possession!

...

Hyougoro chuckled at Oden’s retreating figure. Brook had tasked him with scouting Sukiyaki’s sorcery—figure out what that fruit could really do.

If it wasn’t a game-changer, Brook might just hand it over.

Who’d have thought, just two or three years back, he was a Flower Capital yakuza boss scraping by? Now he ruled Kuri as daimyo, second only to Hakumai in turf!

Kuri sprawled as Wano’s second-largest region, dwarfing Udon, Kibi, the Flower Capital, and Ringo. And its bustle? Already outshining the capital!

He felt like he’d crested life’s peak!

But he knew Wano’s samurai hordes eyed his seat with envy. To hold it, he’d need ironclad strength—no room for weakness!

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+400 Chapters on p@treon/tambeerg