With the addition of trainee crewmember Ariel, the Golden ship became even more lively. To celebrate her joining, Brook took it upon himself to cook again—Chef Streusen had stayed behind on Golden Island and wasn't with them.
Brook made a hearty spread for the mermaid Ariel, who didn't eat much meat. He prepared Mapo Tofu and Chinese-style Fried Rice, along with several delicious noodle dishes—knife-cut noodles, Yangchun noodles, and spicy dry noodles.
Even Stussy looked a bit jealous. Brook had never cooked for her before. Linlin, on the other hand, wasn't worried about any of that. Her eyes sparkled as she stared at the food like a predator. Seeing that Ariel couldn't finish everything, she repeatedly asked if the mermaid was full—and once she got the green light, she cleared the table like a vacuum.
"Bro, you cook too slow," Linlin muttered, pouting. "You gotta keep up with my speed, man!"
Ariel just sampled the remaining dishes, leaving most of it for others. Unsurprisingly, Linlin devoured the bulk of it.
Eventually, Brook came to a tragic realization—he'd never be able to keep up with this crew's appetite. He tossed his apron aside and called it quits.
"That's it! We're heading to Fishman Island for a proper feast! I'm not cooking a second longer!"
Over a year had passed since the Hell Pirates last visited Fishman Island, but this time they weren't just rookies—they were now recognized as one of the Overlord Crews of the New World.
Thanks to their connection with Tom's younger brother, Dan, word had spread. Ariel's parents and Dan arrived early at the island's entrance, eagerly waiting for the Hell Pirates to return.
The royal family, having kept tabs on Dan, already knew Brook was coming. But things had changed. The Hell Pirates now had enough strength to protect Fishman Island. This time, King Mars and Prince Neptune came personally, alongside Fishman Dan, to greet Brook.
Their request? A pirate flag—proof that Fishman Island was under Hell Pirate protection. As a gesture of goodwill (and "protection money"), they also prepared a batch of precious undersea treasures. Knowing the Hell Pirates didn't care much for berries, they instead brought rare and valuable deep-sea items.
Before long, the golden ship arrived. A group of Sea Kings swam up curiously—only to be overwhelmed by its aura and sink into the depths in submission.
The fishfolk watching were stunned. That was the presence of a true Overlord crew.
The ship glided through the island's bubble membrane with ease, entering Fishman Island's inner sanctum. The coating on the Erebus was absorbed smoothly into the membrane. Thankfully, Erebus could fly—otherwise, it would've plunged straight into the river below.
The golden ship touched down in Gyoncorde Plaza, a historic location. It was where Queen Otohime used to give her speeches… and where she was tragically assassinated by Hody Jones. It was also the site where the New Fish-Man Pirates once tried to execute Neptune.
As the Erebus landed, King Mars and Prince Neptune arrived riding a giant whale, while Ariel's parents waited nearby, eyes scanning anxiously for their daughter.
Dan was there too, thinking of his brother Tom. He never imagined Tom would become a crewmember of an Overlord crew. He even had Tom's bounty poster hanging in his bedroom.
Fisher Tiger was the first to leap off the ship. He couldn't wait to show off to his fellow fishfolk.
"Man, if you don't show off after making it big, what's the point?" he grinned to himself.
He'd gone all out—dripping in gold chains, a gold belt, gemstone rings on every finger, and thick gold bracelets. He'd begged Redfield for hours to use his "Thunder Metallurgy" ability to craft this flashy "returning-home" outfit.
He got the idea from Shakky, who told him, "When you go back home, make damn sure they know you made it."
Apparently, the last time Shakky returned to her hometown on the Sabaody Archipelago, she even stole Brook's Kirin Lion just to flex.
Tom watched Tiger's glittering get-up with a twitching brow.
"Damn idiot's gone full peacock," Tom muttered. "He used to be humble... now look at him. Shakky turned him into a clown."
If Shakky had seen Tiger's current look, she would've denied ever giving him advice.
As Tiger strutted off the ship, Brook and the rest followed behind. Ariel ran straight into her parents' arms like a little swallow flying home. This time, though, she didn't cry. She was a sworn member of the Hell Pirates now—she had to stay strong.
She was also Fishman Island's new hope, entrusted with high expectations by Captain Brook himself.
To prevent other young mermaids from being kidnapped like she was, Ariel had vowed to master Observation Haki.
One day, she promised herself, I'll return as a full member of the crew—a real sea warrior!
King Mars personally invited Brook and the others to Ryugu Castle for a grand feast—very different from his attitude the first time they met, when he was terrified of associating with the crew that had killed a Celestial Dragon.
Brook didn't take it personally. He understood the fear of the powerless.
"Thank you, Captain Brook, for saving a member of our tribe," King Mars said, raising his glass.
Brook nodded calmly. "No need to thank me. Tom and Tiger are my crewmates—of course they'd help. And now Ariel is part of the family too. I trust you'll take good care of her while she trains."
He paused, his voice turning slightly more serious. "By the way… our main purpose for coming is to retrieve the two historical Poneglyphs for research. I assume that won't be a problem?"
Mars quickly agreed—there was no way he'd risk offending the Hell Pirates now.
Meanwhile, the young Prince Neptune, 19 years old, couldn't take his eyes off Ariel. He stared like she was a rare delicacy.
Brook noticed instantly and nearly dropped his drink.
Oi, Neptune! Dude—your future wife is supposed to be Otohime! Why are you eyeing Ariel like that?!
Wait, hold on… You were 46 when you married Otohime, and she was just 22?! Man, you're worse than me!
At least my spirit is still in its twenties! My body might be old, but I'm young at heart!
----------------------
After hearing Brook's words, King Mars of Fishman Island fell silent for a few moments. The two Poneglyphs had been stored in the Sea Forest for generations. Most of their history from the past 700 to 800 years was lost, and they had no idea what was written on them anymore.
Still, the fact that their ancestors chose to preserve these stones meant they had significance. Mars didn't know how to respond at first. But when he heard the unwavering tone in Brook's voice—the Overlord of the New World—he realized he had little choice. Rather than risk offending him, he might as well go along with it.
Hopefully, the ancestors won't blame me for this. After all, I'm doing it to secure a powerful ally for Fishman Island.
"If Captain Brook desires it, then take them," Mars said after a brief pause. "But in return, I ask that the Hell Pirates protect Fishman Island and plant your flag here. As a token of our appreciation, we'll also offer a batch of treasures."
Brook laughed. "Yohoho~ No problem! From now on, Fishman Island is under the protection of the Hell Pirates."
Mars breathed a sigh of relief at Brook's quick agreement. If nothing else, this alliance would shield his people from pirates and slave traders.
"Thank you, Captain Brook. We'll be counting on you from here on!"
He immediately signaled the underwater musicians and the mermaid dance troupe to resume their performance. The banquet hall erupted in renewed cheer.
Tom carefully handed the Hell Pirates' flag to King Mars and respectfully asked him to look after Ariel, the trainee crew member. He also relayed Brook's personal appreciation for her.
"She's still young and inexperienced, but she's got potential," Tom said seriously. "No one is allowed to harm her."
Mars took a mental note. He had assumed Ariel was just another random recruit, but Brook's attention proved she was anything but ordinary.
After the feast, Redfield the Earl couldn't wait. He grabbed Tom and flew the golden battleship straight toward the Sea Forest to retrieve the two Poneglyphs.
Meanwhile, King Mars escorted Brook to Ryugu Castle's treasury to let him choose a few treasures. After all, the Hell Pirates were notorious for their wealth. The Golden Island and golden ship were proof of that.
"King Mars," Brook said casually as he browsed the piles of treasure, "I heard there's a national treasure in your treasury—a jade box. Mind if we take that too?"
Mars froze for a moment.
Brook was referring to the Tamatebako, which had been stolen by Hody Jones in the original timeline. Inside was the notorious Energy Steroid—a deadly drug that temporarily boosts strength but drastically shortens the user's lifespan. Its effects were extreme, but the risks were deadly.
Now that Brook had Vegapunk, the world's top scientist, there was a real chance the formula could be improved. Even if it couldn't be perfected, it could serve as a last-resort drug in emergencies.
Taken in moderation, the side effects weren't catastrophic. And in a life-or-death moment, it might just save someone.
In fact, in the One Piece world, there were multiple examples of powerful enhancement potions:
Alabasta's Tension Hormone Water temporarily boosted strength but had fatal side effects. The royal guard used it as a suicide mission weapon to fight Crocodile's army.
SIQ, the evolution drug made from IQ plants, transformed animals into monstrous forms with elemental powers, like lightning fangs or fire-breathing beetles. The side effect? They became uncontrollably violent.
The Vitality Hormones on Momoiro Island, used by Ivankov, were the only known enhancement method with zero side effects—capable of instantly restoring stamina and strength.
Brook intended to collect all of these formulas for Vegapunk to study and create a perfected enhancement serum.
"Lord Brook," Mars replied, "The jade box contains a deadly drug that drains a person's lifespan. I don't think it deserves to be called a national treasure. But my ancestors stored it, so we sealed it away instead of disposing of it. I'm curious though—how did you even know about it?"
Brook's mind raced. "Ah, I read about it in an ancient book from the Tree of Knowledge in Ohara. It mentioned some rare relics of Fishman Island, including the Tamatebako."
Mars' eyes widened. "So that's how… I read in the paper that you had the Golden Lion's crew lift the entire island of Ohara. What incredible power…"
For a brief moment, Mars even considered asking if Fishman Island could be lifted into the sky. But then he shook the thought away—his people thrived in the sea, not the air.
"Well, if you want the Tamatebako, it's yours," he finally said. "I just want peace for Fishman Island. With your flag flying here, I believe things will start to change."
Mars led Brook into the treasury, and the pirate captain couldn't help but marvel at the collection.
Night pearls the size of basketballs illuminated the chamber. Boxes of snow-white pearls the size of ping-pong balls lined the walls. Piles of six-colored gemstones, gold stacked into mini-mountains—it was a hoarder's dream.
If Shakky had seen this place, she would've been grinning ear to ear. Even Brook felt a rare twinge of greed. After all, who doesn't want more treasure?
Then, something caught his eye—a mysterious crystal ball, placed alone on a velvet cushion made of rare sea beast fur. It glimmered with an otherworldly glow, radiating an almost hypnotic aura.
"That's our legendary Divination Crystal," Mars explained, noticing Brook's gaze. "It's been passed down for generations, but no one's been able to awaken its power. We've always hoped a new prophet of Fishman Island would arise to use it."
Brook stepped closer, intrigued. If no one had claimed it yet, maybe fate was waiting for someone new.
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