"Disco, you dare attack me! Tomorrow, I'll expose you and have the Pirate Hunters and the Navy hunt you down!"
Moore Thomas was a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user who could transform into a seagull. He was the president of the World Economic News Agency, one of the world's three major news agencies, and was currently based in the Sabaody Archipelago, where he kept a large number of seagulls to serve as News Coos.
"Moore Thomas, your recent news coverage has been a little too much. I'm under orders to deal with you, and I'll be taking your newspaper."
Disco burst into laughter. His true identity was the captain of a slave ship secretly owned by the Celestial Dragons, as well as a pirate captain. The World Economic News Agency had been eating into the market share of the World Peace Dove News Agency, which was controlled by the World Government.
The World Peace Dove News Agency was headed by White Pigeon, a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user who could transform into a white dove. He kept a large number of white doves to serve as News Coos. The agency specialized in promoting the rule of the Celestial Dragons, the Navy's glory, and the achievements of the Affiliated Nations. It was an official news outlet.
Moore Thomas's World Economic News Agency, on the other hand, reported on news from both the legitimate and underworld sides. With its writers, planners, and creative ideas, it reached a wider audience and sold more papers. But it had no powerful backers and was very weak.
There was also the World Dark News, a newspaper founded jointly by the New World's overlords and the underground underworld. Its current president was the pirate merchant Candor, a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user who could transform into a vulture.
The vulture News Coos he kept roamed freely throughout the New World and were regular visitors to pirate crews and non-Affiliated Nations. But because the agency was aligned with pirates and poorly managed, its coverage was highly biased, and its sales were only so-so.
Now, the World Economic News Agency's coverage of both the legitimate and underworld sides was more comprehensive and popular with all kinds of people. Pirates could learn about the Navy through the papers, and the Navy could learn about pirates; ordinary people could keep up with both their movements.
Moore Thomas had never imagined that on this trip back to his wife and son, who had just turned one, he would be ambushed by Disco at sea after leaving the Sabaody Archipelago, where the agency was headquartered.
"World Government, Disco, you'll pay for this! If I get away, you'll regret it!"
Moore Thomas cursed Disco furiously. It had been a grave mistake not to bring all the newspaper's guards with him.
"There, there. Don't cry, Morgans. Watch Daddy beat the bad guys!"
His son, nestled in his wife's arms, had started wailing too. She hurried to comfort him, while Moore Thomas, in his half-seagull form, looked at his son with concern.
Brook had just leaped aboard the ship. Hearing that name, he couldn't help but freeze. Why did it sound so familiar?
Morgans—the future "Big News" and president of the World Economic News Agency, one of the Six Great Underworld Emperors.
"Hey, who are you?"
The two sides, who had been fighting, both stared at the man who had suddenly jumped aboard. Was he a Pirate Hunter?
"Humming Brook? Weren't you killed in the Florian Triangle?"
Moore Thomas asked in shock. A while ago, the Poison Smoke Pirates had been going around claiming that they had destroyed the Rumbar Pirates. It had made him rather sad.
He was a fan of Humming Brook, too. It was Brook who had carried "Binks' Sake" from the West Blue to the rest of the world. And the Rumbar Pirates, being a pirate crew devoted to music, had a good reputation. They were a band of adventurers who truly lived for music.
Though Brook looked somewhat different now, Moore Thomas recognized him at a glance.
Brook no longer wore his black top hat. He had tied his afro back carelessly, and his suit jacket hung open, exposing his chest. His complexion was somewhat pale, and he gave off an icy air that made people reluctant to approach.
"You know me?"
Brook was taken aback, unable to believe that anyone would recognize a small-time pirate like him so quickly.
Humming Brook was like a celebrity among pirates. Even Count Patrick Redfield was one of his admirers.
"Humming Brook, bounty: thirty-three million Beli. Acting captain of the Rumbar Pirates."
Disco recognized the pirate star and musician, but he wasn't the least bit afraid. So what if he was a pirate with a bounty of just over thirty million? Disco had captured plenty of those. He wouldn't hesitate to pick a fight only with Supernovas whose bounties exceeded a hundred million.
"Mr. Brook, please help us drive off these pirates. I, Moore Thomas, will reward you handsomely."
Moore Thomas knew that the Rumbar Pirates were kindhearted adventurers, so he asked Brook for help.
"Humming Brook, I advise you to mind your own business. Otherwise, I'll kill you too and send you to join your crew."
Seeing Brook alone, Disco guessed that the Poison Smoke Pirates might have been telling the truth. But he couldn't figure out how Brook had survived on his own.
"Good timing. I wanted to try out my new move."
Brook's breath came out in icy white clouds, a sign that he had entered his Underworld Ghost Qi state. To his surprise, he discovered a new ability: he could sense the fluctuations of nearby living beings' life energy.
The crewmen on both sides gave off different energy signatures. It was like looking through a thermal scanner and seeing different colors. His Underworld Qi and Underworld Ghost Qi were completely unlike those life energies. It was a little like a special kind of Observation Haki. Was this his cheat ability?
So Brook named it "Observation Haki: Life Detection." Looking at the size of Disco's orange-red life signature, then sensing the size of his own ghostly blue one, he could tell they weren't even close to the same level.
Could he take this man down in one hit?
Had absorbing Underworld Qi and Underworld Ghost Qi in the Underworld really made him a max-level powerhouse like Bone King Ainz Ooal Gown?
Brook forced down his pounding heart, excitement bubbling inside him. He was eager to test his theory on these men!
Underworld Ghost Qi: Direct Piercing!
Brook drew his Cane Sword in a flash and thrust it at Disco. A layer of white ice formed beneath his feet.
Soru!
To his surprise, Disco knew a few of the Navy's Six Powers. He barely dodged the attack, and a huge hole appeared in the cabin behind him, billowing white mist.
"That's incredible! Mr. Brook is so strong!"
Moore Thomas flapped his wings in the air, amazed by Brook's destructive power. He could see hope of survival now. As a newspaper president, he wasn't much of a fighter, and he had to protect his wife and child. Disco had repeatedly taken advantage of that to ambush and injure him with the Six Powers.
"What's going on?! Humming Brook can't be this strong! He's only got a thirty-three-million bounty! It's impossible!"
Disco yelled. If he hadn't dodged at the very last moment, Brook's sword would have run him through the heart.
"Life is part of the cycle of reincarnation. Your part in it is over!"
Underworld Ghost Qi: Desolation Slash!
Brook exhaled a cloud of icy mist. His ghostly blue eyes were filled with death as he watched Disco. He charged at incredible speed and vanished from sight.
"I don't believe you've gotten this much stronger!"
Iron Body!
Disco accelerated his blood flow in place. His skin reddened and gleamed like metal as he assumed the Vajra Immovable stance, ready to withstand Brook's slash.
Everyone watched the fight intently. All was silent.
Provided by Great God Great Karma Fire, author of One Piece: Hell Brook.
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