Morgans Becomes Adopted Son

Brook looked at the Moore Thomas family. Right now, the World Economic News Agency was only just beginning to rise; it was not yet the monolithic "Big News" powerhouse of the Great Pirate Era, nor was it one of the six great underground dark emperors.

"Mr. Moore Thomas, I feel a strange affinity for Morgans. Would you allow me to take him as my godson? Of course, this will remain between us and will not be publicized."

Brook took the initiative to step forward and tease Morgans in Monice's arms. Monice was Moore Thomas's wife, a virtuous and gentle woman.

"Mr. Brook, this is Morgans's honor. You are the savior of our family; from now on, we are one family."

Moore Thomas was also delighted to establish such a close, familial bond with his idol.

"Morg, call him Big Brother Brook. 'Mr. Brook' is too formal."

Monice also felt that the powerful Brook could become a mentor for Morgans. The World Economic News Agency was currently suffering under the suppression of the World Government and was in a precarious position; they needed to prepare an escape route.

"Right, right! Big Brother Brook, from now on you are Morgans's godfather, and we are good brothers!"

Moore Thomas rubbed his hands together excitedly, seemingly very satisfied with this arrangement.

"I am aware of the predicament you are currently in. I will develop my forces as quickly as possible, occupy a Sky Island, and have you move to the safety of the clouds!"

Brook promised Moore Thomas, though in his heart, he intended to bring the rising World Economic News Agency under his own command.

"A Sky Island? Big Brother Brook, Sky Islands are just legends. You must not believe those rumors; they get people killed!"

In this era, even Moore Thomas, as the president of a news agency, had never obtained concrete news about a Sky Island, so he did not believe in them.

"Leave it to me. When you return to Sabaody Archipelago, you must be extra careful and keep a low profile for a while."

Brook held Morgans and teased him for a while before ending the topic.

"Sabaody Archipelago should have Log Poses for sale, right?"

Brook needed to develop his forces and expand his crew as quickly as possible; he could not afford to land on every island along the route—it was too much of a waste of time.

"Big Brother Brook, leave that to me. I still have a few channels. Just tell me which island you need a Log Pose for, and I'll prepare it for you!"

Moore Thomas patted his chest, taking the task upon himself. When Brook suggested purchasing a batch of Den Den Mushi, Moore Thomas took care of that as well.

And so, the two ships set off one after the other toward Sabaody Archipelago. Brook had already discarded the pirate flag from the ship he had captured and replaced it with the seagull emblem of the World Economic News Agency.

Brook had finally made it through his first day of meeting people safely, having recruited a crew member and taken a new step forward.

"Big Brother Brook, we have arrived at Sabaody Archipelago."

Brook walked out of the captain's office and saw the silhouette of a massive mangrove tree.

The Yarukiman Mangrove was known as the largest mangrove tree in the world. Because its roots remained exposed above the water and collected soil, they formed the Sabaody Archipelago.

The most distinctive feature of the Sabaody Archipelago was that the roots of the Yarukiman Mangrove secreted a special natural resin due to respiration. These resins expanded with the air to form bubbles that floated into the sky; they were also the essential material used to coat pirate ships for travel through Fish-Man Island.

Because the bubbles were only suited to the climate of the Yarukiman Mangrove, once they left the archipelago's climate zone, the resin could no longer maintain its strength, and the bubbles would burst.

"How spectacular!"

This was Brook's first time visiting this island, and he was too stunned for words.

"There are 79 tree islands here, and each area is divided by different factions. Our news agency headquarters is on the sightseeing street of Grove 49."

Moore Thomas introduced the place to Brook as they docked their ship at the port of Grove 50 to have a shipping company look after it.

As for the ordinary slaves who had been kidnapped, Moore Thomas had a guard take them to the Marine base in the 60s to be dropped off.

The zoning of the Sabaody Archipelago was very clear:

Groves 1 to 29: Primarily human trafficking shops, human auctions, and the Lawless Zone. Groves 30 to 39: Primarily the Soap Bubble Park.

Groves 40 to 49: Primarily sightseeing areas and specialty shops. Groves 50 to 59: Primarily shipyards and coating artisans.

Groves 60 to 69: Primarily Marine headquarters and government entry points. Groves 70 to 79: Primarily hotel districts.

The Moore Thomas family and the remaining guards brought Brook and Antonio back to the World Economic News Agency headquarters.

This allowed the family to breathe a sigh of relief; with plenty of guards here, the World Government agents would likely not dare to openly come in and assassinate them.

Brook was also very interested in this island—bubble cars, bubble Ferris wheels, houses built on bubbles... bubble culture permeated every corner of Sabaody!

After exchanging the treasure he had seized from the Disco Pirates for several tens of millions of Berries in cash with Moore Thomas, he chose to go out and explore with Antonio.

His appearance had changed significantly; his previously dark skin had become pale, his top hat was gone, and his afro was tied back, turning into a low-budget version of Yasuo's hairstyle. For the time being, no one should be able to recognize him.

At a nearby clothing store, he and Antonio changed into new white shirts, black coats, slim-fit casual trousers, and combat boots. Both of them felt completely refreshed.

"Thank you, Captain!"

Antonio was truly overjoyed; this was better than even his parents had treated him.

"Activate your ability. Can you hear where there are a lot of Den Den Mushi?"

Den Den Mushi, as strategic creatures, were mostly sold on the black market. Official Den Den Mushi shops were rare and were primarily prepared by the World Government for the Marines and merchants. These places were frequently patrolled by Marines, so pirates generally did not dare to purchase Den Den Mushi there.

"Understood, Captain."

According to Moore Thomas's plan, he could purchase some Den Den Mushi for Brook at the shops, but Brook wanted more. Since he wanted both options, he took Antonio out to find the black market.

"Captain, I hear them! Lots of little snails chatting! I'll take you there!"

Antonio, dressed in his new clothes, was particularly excited and diligently followed Brook's instructions. He led the way, turning left and right, until they had reached the Lawless Zone in the 20s.

As this is the essential gateway to the New World, it has become a gathering place for countless pirates, merchants, and bounty hunters; even human traffickers are abundant here, with the buying and selling of humans, rare races, merfolk, and fish-men being tacitly permitted.

In a sense, this island is rotten to the core; the fact that the Celestial Dragons also enjoy coming here to select slaves has only made the place more prosperous, and all the darker for it.

"Captain, I found it."

Antonio shouted in excitement, immediately drawing many gazes toward them, which frightened him into shrinking back behind Brook. Brook swept his ghostly blue, deathly eyes across the crowd, causing the temperature to drop by several degrees, which scared these people into quickly returning to their own business, no longer paying them any mind.