Captain Goth, who was leading the search for the blonde girl, stared in shock at the scene before him. A massive web of lightning had completely surrounded Elan Island!
"Quick!!! Call Captain Edward with the Den Den Mushi! Request reinforcements—Elan Island is under attack!"
Goth, who had been reveling in his indulgences just moments ago, was now utterly terrified. He hurriedly ordered his subordinates to contact their home base on Bristol Island, where their boss, Captain Deacon Edward, ruled.
"Captain Goth! The Den Den Mushi... it's dead! There's no signal at all! We can't get through!!"
The communications officer was equally frantic, panic creeping into his voice as if the world was ending. One glance at the massive lightning net covering the entire island told them all they needed to know—the enemy they were about to face was beyond anything they could handle.
The blonde girl's expression darkened. She had intended to report the Hell Pirates' presence to the CP organization, but with the Den Den Mushi out of commission, she was cut off from her superiors.
There was no other choice. She would have to find a way to join the Hell Pirates first and bide her time until she could pass along the information. Without hesitation, she slipped out of her hiding place, searching for the right moment to reveal herself to Brook and his crew.
"Ma-hohoho~! Guess I'll make the first move!"
Charlotte Linlin, mimicking Brook's signature laugh, shot into the sky on her thundercloud, Zeus. She hurtled toward Goth and his men, a massive flaming fist slamming down, obliterating them into charred remains. A blazing crater was all that remained.
Only Goth managed to escape by the skin of his teeth, his Armament Haki barely withstanding the searing heat of Linlin's flames.
"The Hell Pirates!! How dare you attack us! Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?! We're part of the Edward Pirates—one of the ruling crews! Do you truly wish to make an enemy of Captain Edward?!"
Goth barked out his threats, but his heart pounded furiously. He knew full well that the Hell Pirates weren't a crew to be trifled with. They had already clashed with the Vesper Pirates and the remnants of the Rocks Pirates and were still standing. Their bounties had been rising at an alarming rate.
And standing before him was none other than Charlotte Linlin, a pirate with a bounty of six hundred million. It was even rumored that she had awakened Conqueror's Haki.
"Brook said it—Edward is our target. Elan Island belongs to the Hell Pirates now. No one else matters."
Linlin paid no heed to Goth's threats. She only listened to Brook. Without another word, she launched another flaming fist at him.
"Damn it!!!"
Realizing that even invoking Edward's name wasn't enough to deter Linlin, Goth turned to flee. He knew he stood no chance against her, especially with the rest of the Hell Pirates still on the Golden Ark above.
"Running away in fear? Life or death—choose!!"
Linlin's voice echoed like a death knell as she activated her Soul Pocus. If Goth so much as flinched in terror, she would be able to rip the very essence of his life away.
Soul Pocus allowed Linlin to extract a person's lifespan at will, anywhere from a single month to decades, depending on her desire. If she took more years than the target had left, they would perish instantly, unable to resist in any way.
However, the ability had its limitations. It only worked if the target heard her question, and it was completely ineffective on those who held no fear of her.
Goth, consumed by terror, barely had time to react before Linlin's massive hand seized his very soul, pulling out a wisp of gray-white essence as if it were nothing more than a toy.
"Please don't kill me! I surrender! I'll leave the Edward Pirates! I'll join you! Just spare me—I don't want to die!!!"
Goth's soul writhed and struggled in Linlin's grasp. He had joined the Edward Pirates only recently, chosen by Edward for his strength and sent to oversee this island while collecting tribute. The true core members of the Edward Pirates remained by their captain's side, ready to fend off rival crews at any moment.
Though Goth might have looked pathetic now, he was still a pirate who had survived in the New World for years. He had mastered both Armament and Observation Haki, and his bounty was an impressive 290 million. He was no mere weakling.
Brook and the rest of the crew descended from the Golden Ark. Even Antonio, the self-proclaimed weakling, rode down on the Qilin Lion. Nearby, the Memory Seahorse clumsily attempted to use Geppo, causing the parrot to eye it enviously.
Brook had even named one of the seahorse's techniques—"Tail Shigan." When used, it could leave a crater in the ground.
Meanwhile, a mere parrot with no combat abilities, could only dream of acquiring a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit one day.
Linlin ignored Goth's pleas, siphoning ten years of his lifespan as payment for making her exert effort. The rest would be up to Brook.
Goth felt an immediate loss—something vital had been stripped from him. But with no power to resist, he could only focus on surviving.
"Brook, what should we do with this guy?"
Linlin, now rejuvenated from absorbing Goth's life force, grinned and tossed him to Brook.
"Brook, I'll do anything! Just don't kill me!"
Goth, back in his body, scrambled to his knees before Brook, bowing repeatedly. He had spent years surviving in the New World by adapting, but now, after just recently joining a ruling pirate crew, he found himself in this mess.
Had he known, he would have remained an independent captain, pillaging weaklings in the early parts of the New World. Perhaps he could have even bullied some fresh Supernova pirates who had yet to master Haki.
Brook motioned toward Redfield, who stepped forward, activating his unique Observation Haki to peer into Goth's mind.
"He hasn't been with the Edward Pirates for long. His loyalty isn't particularly strong. But... he's a coward. He grovels before the strong and preys on the weak. A fickle man. He wouldn't be of much use to us."
Redfield's words were like a death sentence, causing Goth's face to drain of color.
"No! Please, don't kill me! I swear I'll be loyal! I'll never betray you! Just give me a chance!!"
Goth trembled uncontrollably. Was it so wrong to want to live? To bow before the powerful and avoid throwing his life away meaninglessly?
"Brook, I'd like to try out my new ability."
The voice that spoke was unexpected. Antonio, the self-proclaimed weakling, had developed a new power? His Fruit already granted him a variety of unique abilities, making him an invaluable asset.
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+122 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg