Discovered Birka Island

Moore Thomas looked at the now-stable World Economic News Agency and felt an overwhelming sense of security! He hadn't expected Brook not only to conquer Sky Island, but also to somehow become its ruler!

It was as if he'd latched onto a powerful patron. And with so much gold here, he wouldn't have to worry about funding the agency's growth anymore. He'd have Morgans visit his godfather more often!

Previously, under pressure from the World Government, the World Economic News Agency had been forced to relocate and lay low. They hadn't printed a newspaper in several weeks.

The World Peace Dove News Agency had assumed they'd gone out of business, and most of the public thought the exciting new paper had vanished for good!

Since the agency also had a base on Jaya Island, it began collecting news from its special correspondents around the world, then editing and publishing newspapers again.

After that, the Seagull News Birds also began carrying smaller oxygen tanks and oxygen tubes. They held enough oxygen for several trips to and from Sky Island, and the birds could refill them once they were nearly empty.

The World Peace Dove News Agency.

"How could this happen? Moore Thomas disappeared for half a month, and now he's selling papers again? Have you found out where they moved?"

President White Pigeon shouted at the ordinary-looking agent in a suit before him.

"According to our information, they first moved to Jaya Island in the Grand Line. Then they relocated again, and we've had no news of them since!"

The agents had investigated Jaya Island and confirmed that the World Economic News Agency had been there, as well as the fact that it had moved again. But after that, they hadn't been able to find where it had settled.

"Could they have gone back to the Four Blues?"

He'd considered copying the format of Moore Thomas's paper, but his agency was an enterprise under the World Government. How could they report on pirates' amusing antics, the Navy's scandals, or the nobility's corruption?

They could only report on the World Government's glorious achievements, promote the Navy's just side, and go out of their way to smear pirates and play up how terrifying they were!

All he could do now was have the agents keep looking for the World Economic News Agency's new base so they could crush it again!

With Brook's generous funding, Moore Thomas drew on his old connections and began hiring elite reporters at high salaries, gathering information from the Four Blues, the Grand Line, and the New World!

The fledgling news agency was rising once more, reclaiming the market and laying the groundwork for control over public opinion in the future.

Meanwhile, the Hell Pirates were training and adding new Dial equipment to strengthen themselves. Even the news agency's reporters had Visual Dials added to their gear, giving them new recording equipment like camera Den Den Mushi.

Fish-Man Tom, Silvers, and Crocus were also able to create new inventions from the various Dials, making them more powerful. They came up with Flash Dial guns, paralyzing Dials, and storm Water Dials, among other things. These inventions were designed to catch Devil Fruit users off guard.

Brook and Redfield were constantly training and sparring at high intensity. Both practiced extremely fast swordsmanship, and their endless clashes were rapidly making them stronger.

"Lord Brook, we've found Birka Island. Our Waver Wind-Dial Ship can reach it!"

Gan Fumo hurried over to report. The Wavers had not only been enlarged into small sailboats, but also fitted with many more Wind Dials and Breath Dials, greatly increasing their speed.

"Good. We're setting out at once!"

Brook could hardly wait to explore Birka's secrets. He immediately gathered his crew and set off aboard the Yomi. Fish-Man Tom had fitted the ship with all kinds of Dials, making it faster and much more powerful in battle.

With several hundred Breath Dials boosting it, the Yomi could even fly for short periods. Its cannons had also been fitted with Flame Dials to shoot fire, Water Dials to spray water, and Lamp Dials for illumination...

Guided by an Angel Race navigator, the Yomi still took several days to reach the mysterious Birka Island.

The residents here were quite different from the people of Angel Island. Their hairstyles and clothing were distinctive, unlike the uniform look of Angel Island's residents.

According to the guide, the small island had a population of around ten thousand. Its highest-ranking leader was also called a god, and his guards wielded powerful Thunder Dials and Slash Dials—stronger even than the Reject Dials used on Angel Island!

Brook led his crew straight onto the island. The island's guards soon came out to stop them, carrying Slash Dials and Thunder Dials.

None of Brook's crew had wing ornaments on their backs, so it was obvious they weren't dressed like Skypieans.

A muscular man with two magatama-shaped drums hanging from his waist and Dials strapped to both arms stepped forward and regarded the strangers.

"What business do you have on our island? Are you here to buy Thunder Dials and Slash Dials? If so, go back! We don't have enough of these Dials for ourselves!"

The god of Birka Island, Light Pen, spoke to Brook and the others, his eyes full of wariness. Other Skypieans had come to buy the island's unique Dials before.

Lightning flashed across Birka Island now and then, and the rumble of thunder filled the air. Brook found it rather intriguing.

"My lord is the king of the Sky Kingdom. He's here to bring you into the kingdom!"

The Angel Race guide immediately stepped forward and called out to Light Pen. He greatly admired Brook and his crew's strength. They had easily ended the centuries-long war between the Skypieans of Sky Island and the Shandia.

"I don't care what kind of force your Sky Kingdom is! Birka Island will stay right here, guarding the island and worshipping the Thunder God!"

Light Pen refused their offer without a second thought. He untied the drum from his waist and held it against his hip, watching Brook and the others warily.

"Captain Brook, let me handle this!"

Redfield was the first to step forward, drawing his Cane Sword with elegant poise. But there was no hiding the arrogance in his eyes. He looked at everyone that way except Brook.

He often ignored even his fellow crew members, and Shakky frequently complained to Brook about his aloofness.

"Are you planning to fight us? We aren't afraid of you! Guards, surround them!"

As the strongest island in the area, Birka was also known as the Island of the Thunder God. Lightning and thunder often struck the island, giving rise to the Thunder Dial, a special offensive Dial. They also raised powerful Slash Dials.

Their guards were therefore formidable fighters. If they hadn't followed their ancestors' instructions and stayed on the Island of the Thunder God, they could have expanded their territory!

"Thunder God Drum: Thunder Python!"

Light Pen beat the drum in his hands in rapid succession. A current of electricity as thick as a man's thigh shot out, rushing toward Redfield like a python.

The other guards raised their Thunder Dials and Slash Dials, firing thumb-thick bolts of electricity and sword-shaped slashes more than a meter wide at Brook and his crew!

Shakky and the others dodged in different directions. Silvers leaped into a tree, drew his sniper rifle, and fired three shots. Three guards holding Thunder Dials fell where they stood!

Crocus threw a Flavor Dial among the guards. It burst into a cloud of white smoke, and its faint fragrance left them feeling dizzy!

The Great God Great Karma Fire, creator of One Piece: Hell Brook.