When Brook's Golden Ark sailed into Baron Island, he finally understood what Shakky meant by calling it "pathetic."
This Sky Island was the very definition of poverty—run-down, destitute, and practically devoid of development. It seemed like the island's monk-like culture had turned its people into a race of passive sloths who had long abandoned ambition.
Every resident of Baron Island bore a gentle smile, as if even going hungry for two days wasn't enough to push them into hunting more Sky Beasts or Sky Fish to fill their stomachs. Perhaps it was the lack of resources that had shaped their strange belief system—one that revered peace and the sanctity of life to the extent that even creatures meant for food were treated with undue respect.
Aside from the Guard Corps, where a few muscular warriors feasted heartily, the rest of the islanders embodied an attitude of "as long as we're alive, it's enough."
This kind of culture was hardly conducive to governance or development. Even if Brook offered food as compensation, he doubted it would be enough to motivate them to work—let alone assist in constructing a palace.
Simply surviving seemed to be their only goal...
Would force be necessary to make them work?
"Captain Brook, this island's people are lazy! Useless layabouts!" Shakky scoffed, unimpressed. She had never seen a race so indifferent to food. By all logic, they should have gone extinct ages ago!
"It seems we'll need to establish rule through pressure. This kind of slothful race won't change simply by offering incentives. Their 'kindness,' 'peacefulness,' and 'passive' attitudes are too deeply ingrained," Brook mused.
He hadn't expected this at all. A Sky Island settlement with zero potential for workforce or recruitment? Even rats would probably abandon this place out of sheer frustration!
"Brook, there's not a single sweet treat here. We should claim Sheep's House instead—I don't like this place!" Charlotte Linlin complained, wrinkling her nose at the barren land. Her initial excitement about a new island had instantly plummeted.
"It's hard to believe," Newgate muttered, shaking his head. "A land so peaceful, yet filled with such complacency. If only the people of Sphinx Island could live in a place like this… they wouldn't have to suffer constant pirate raids and human traffickers."
"The Sky Dials here aren't even special. Trash." Silva grumbled after scouring the area, utterly disappointed. Everything they had here, Angel Island already possessed. There was nothing worth looting.
"We have no choice but to force them to establish a News Agency branch and a base of operations for us," Brook decided. He had no time to waste reforming their ideology. As long as they built the necessary structures, he was willing to help improve their quality of life. Maybe, just maybe, a few of them could be trained into warriors like Urouge.
The Golden Ark descended upon the highest point of Baron Island, claiming the most prominent location for their headquarters. The original inhabitants were promptly relocated elsewhere.
Brook assigned Elder Monk Umit to recruit locals to begin large-scale cloud manufacturing and processing. Meanwhile, Charlotte Linlin and Newgate took to the White Sea to hunt Sky Beasts and Sky Fish—eager to taste these exotic high-altitude creatures.
Brook even attempted to describe Devil Fruits to Elder Monk Umit, but the old monk had never seen or heard of such things. This island was truly cursed with misfortune—bereft of everything valuable!
...
While Brook was occupied setting up a base on Baron Island, a blonde-haired girl had already been waiting for over a week on Elan Island. Had it not been for her professional agent training, she would have lost her patience and started ranting. Just how incompetent was the Hell Pirates if they couldn't even locate this island?
Meanwhile, Golden Lion Shiki, accompanied by Scarlet, drifted through the sky on a hijacked pirate ship, still searching for the Hell Pirates.
"Captain Shiki, we have almost no intel on Brook and his crew. We're basically flying blind at this point!" Scarlet complained. It was pure bad luck. Just when Shiki had made up his mind to join the Hell Pirates, he couldn't even find them.
It wasn't surprising, though. All six major ruling factions wanted Golden Lion Shiki under their banner, eager to wield his floating fleet as an ultimate strategic weapon. As long as he didn't repeat his past mistake—directly challenging the Rocks Pirates head-on—he could truly become an unstoppable force.
With a competent navigator, even the worst storms wouldn't be able to stop them.
But for now, Shiki was out of options. All he could do was scour the newspapers, hoping for a clue about the Hell Pirates' whereabouts. Asking around on different islands yielded nothing useful either.
Ever since the World Dark News was obliterated, the intelligence network had collapsed. Without a central organization, information circulation had slowed dramatically, and many details were simply lost.
"I almost forgot—I have a Den Den Mushi for this!" Shiki smacked his forehead, realizing he still had Brook's personal number.
Recently, many Den Den Mushi numbers had gone silent—their owners likely perished. It was a stark reminder that even the strongest in this world weren't immortal.
When Shiki sent a message into the encrypted Den Den Mushi group chat, asking for Brook's location, he was instantly kicked out of the chat. He stared at the screen, stunned.
Before he could smash the useless Den Den Mushi in frustration, he received a warning from Number 2—a major figure in the underworld. However, Number 2 also provided him with Brook's direct contact information, while simultaneously notifying him that his Den Den Mushi had reverted to a standard communication device.
A strange feeling settled over Shiki as he stared at the now ordinary-looking Den Den Mushi. He had just lost access to one of the world's deepest intelligence networks.
...
Elsewhere, aboard the Roger Pirates' ship, Rayleigh noticed something odd as he scrolled through his own Den Den Mushi contacts—several familiar numbers had vanished.
Had the New World War claimed even more powerful figures?
New World was dangerous. Even the Roger Pirates had waited until the Marine Admirals withdrew before landing on Sabaody Archipelago and entering the New World. Back then, the Dark News Agency War had just concluded, and the major factions were still battling for dominance.
The Roger Pirates had always remained neutral—never seizing territory or interfering with the great power struggles. Their focus had always been on pure adventure.
...
Brook was utterly shocked when he learned that Golden Lion Shiki wanted to join the Hell Pirates.
Excited, even.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined Shiki willingly coming to him.
Could this be a stroke of plot armor? Was his luck finally turning around?
With Shiki on board, he would have to reevaluate all his plans. Once Shiki could lift entire islands, Brook would demand at least ten or more be moved.
Perhaps even creating an Eighteen-Layer Hell Island or a Nine-Layer Floating Sky Fortress...
Brook's mind raced with possibilities.
A Beast Hell Island, Melville Island transformed into a savage wilderness…
A Gluttony Hell, using Boin Archipelago…
Brook smirked. Charlotte Linlin would love that one.
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+122 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg