First Victory, the Snail-Snail Fruit?

"How could I fall here!"

Disco's red, glossy skin faded, revealing a huge wound across his upper body. Blood gushed from it as he slowly fell, his life ebbing away.

Moore Thomas's wife quickly covered Morgans's eyes, shielding him from the bloody scene.

The Disco Pirates' slave-trading crew scrambled back to their ship, trying to sail away.

How could Moore Thomas let them escape? Seizing the chance to kick them while they were down, he led the few guards he had left in pursuit, venting his fury.

Brook was also overcoming his discomfort at taking a life. His icy blue gaze returned, and he leaped resolutely onto the Disco Pirates' ship, forcing himself to kill and quickly adapt to this pirate world.

Brook cut down the low-ranking pirates one by one, killing every last one of the slave traders. In his previous life, he had edited videos about child trafficking, kidnapping, pyramid schemes, scams in northern Myanmar... He hated these things most of all, even more than murder.

"Mr. Brook, thank you for saving my family. I don't even know how to repay you!"

Moore Thomas had returned to human form, dressed in a sharp business suit and every bit the gentleman. He was deeply moved by Brook—both because Brook had saved his life and because he was a fan of his music.

"Please take me to a nearby island."

Brook was alone now. He needed to gather a new crew and build a new ship before he could continue his voyage. Changing careers probably wasn't an option, especially since he had a bounty of thirty-three million Beli on his head.

"Mr. Brook, please forgive me for asking, but is it true that the Rumbar Pirates really...?"

"Yes. They've all made the ultimate sacrifice."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Brook. I..."

"It's all right. I've moved on. I'll avenge them."

Looking at Brook's pale, cold face, Moore Thomas thought that Mr. Brook had become an avenger. His dream of making music was probably dead.

"Mr. Brook, we're heading to the Sabaody Archipelago. After this incident, I feel the World Economic News Agency has become a thorn in the World Government's side. I plan to move the company. If you like, you could come with us to the Sabaody Archipelago."

"Sure. Sorry for the trouble."

Brook thought it might be worthwhile to befriend this big-shot journalist.

"There are some slaves aboard Disco's ship. Would you like to take a look, Mr. Brook? You might find someone who could make a suitable crew member."

If Brook intended to take revenge on the Poison Smoke Pirates, he would probably need to gather a new crew. Moore Thomas suggested it, hoping he could help his benefactor.

"All right."

Brook wasn't expecting much. He only wanted to find a few promising crew members and build an elite team, but he didn't refuse Moore Thomas.

The two of them entered the hold of Disco's slave ship. The air was filthy and stifling. Dozens of slaves—men and women, young and old, of varying heights—crouched in cages, covered in whip marks and looking haggard. Their eyes were filled with fear.

"The pirates aboard this ship have been defeated by Mr. Brook. You're free! Does anyone here have a special ability? You could join Mr. Brook's crew."

Hope suddenly appeared in the slaves' eyes, and they began to brighten.

"I... I'm a monster. I can turn into a giant snail."

After a long pause, a thin, frail boy of seventeen or eighteen slowly raised his hand, cautiously watching Brook's cold expression.

"You can turn into a snail? Are you a Zoan-type Snail-Snail Fruit user?"

Brook spoke quietly as he walked over, cut the chains binding the boy's hands and feet, and freed him to see what was going on.

"Go ahead. Show me what you turn into."

Brook was curious. He watched as the frail boy slowly transformed into a giant snail one and a half meters tall.

"I only learned to transform like this a year ago. The people in my village thought I was a monster and drove me out. My parents secretly gave me a small boat and helped me escape to sea."

As the giant snail spoke, tears ran from his long eyestalks.

"I can also talk to the little snail the pirate captain who captured me had. Is that a special ability? Mr. Brook, could you take me in? I don't have a home anymore."

"Talk to little snails? Aren't those Den Den Mushi?"

Brook was shocked. Could this be not a Snail-Snail Fruit, but a Den Den Mushi Devil Fruit? Had he just struck gold? The more Brook looked at the giant snail, the more it resembled a Den Den Mushi, and he made his decision at once.

"Good. You'll be my first crew member. What's your name?"

"Thank you, Mr. Brook! Thank you! My name is Antonio, and I can cook!"

The giant snail said happily. If he had had arms and legs in this form, he would probably have been jumping for joy.

"Change back to human form, Antonio. From now on, stay by my side."

Brook had gained his first crew member in the world of One Piece, and he was a little excited.

"Congratulations, Mr. Brook. You've found a fine crew member and taken the first step toward starting over."

Moore Thomas congratulated him from the side, happy for Brook as well. He hoped Brook could truly move on from the destruction of his pirate crew and stop wearing that cold, pale expression.

The remaining slaves were all ordinary people. Brook freed them too and had them help sail and clean the ship. Moore Thomas also recruited a dozen or so to help with sailing, since the Disco Pirates had killed nearly all his guards.

The pirate ship Brook had temporarily taken over was now his. He claimed everything Disco owned and found four or five Den Den Mushi for Antonio to try out.

It really worked! It was amazing.

"Captain Brook, these little snails say I feel very familiar and comforting to them, so they're all willing to communicate with me through their waves. I don't know what waves are, though. They say they all have numbered names."

Antonio was inexperienced, a young novice from a remote island, and didn't know much about the world.

"These little snails are called Den Den Mushi. From now on, you'll talk with them and ask them for information. For now, go eat. You must be starving."

"Thank you, Captain!"

Antonio wolfed down his food, ravenous. Brook ate just as voraciously. He had been hungry for a long time too, and could finally fill his stomach.

After eating, Brook boarded the World Economic News Agency's ship. The fire aboard had been put out, and the vessel had received enough repairs to sail again.

"Mr. Brook, we can set off again for the Sabaody Archipelago!"

With Brook along, Moore Thomas felt a little safer. They still needed to hurry back to their headquarters in Sabaody and find a chance to move. It was far too dangerous on the Celestial Dragons' turf.

You provided Great God Great Karma Fire's One Piece: Hell Brook.