Revenge and Shakky

"Poison Smoke Pirates, Poison Cannon Sarin, you aren't escaping today."

The temperature in the entire tavern plummeted. Starting from Brook, white frost began to condense on the floor, spreading continuously toward the interior.

"You're Brook? Brook of the Rumbar Pirates? Hahaha~, how is it that only you are left? You pathetic survivor, go to hell along with them!"

Poison Cannon Sarin laughed wildly, immediately pulling the trigger to launch a poison gas bomb.

Underworld Ghost Qi: Blizzard Slash

The tavern fell into instant silence. Sarin's cannon, along with his entire body, was cleaved in two. Before the blood could even spray, it was frozen into an ice sculpture by the cold, ghostly aura of the Underworld.

A large box covered in cloth sat quietly on the floor by the tavern entrance. Beside it, a thin, ten-year-old boy looked with pure adoration at the man who had appeared behind the ice sculpture in an instant.

"Clatter."

The sound of a wine glass shattering on the floor was accompanied by the sound of gulping. Looking at the icy path stretching from the tavern door to Sarin, the chill radiating from it made even the pirate captains with bounties over fifty million break into a cold sweat.

While they were still in shock, a flash of sword light accompanied by the sound of tearing flesh signaled the end; all the crew members of the Poison Smoke Pirates collapsed, their eyes filled with infinite terror.

"Whoever helps me take Sarin's head to the Marine branch to claim the bounty, I only want half!"

Brook sheathed his sword, walked slowly back to the tavern door to pick up the box, and sat at the table closest to the entrance with Antonio. He grabbed a bottle of wine and chugged it. Brook, crewmates of the Rumbar Pirates, I have avenged you all. Rest in peace!!

Following Brook's words, the tavern finally erupted into a buzzing cacophony. Numerous pirate crews whispered cautiously among themselves, but no one dared to step forward to move Sarin's corpse to claim the bounty.

"You said it yourself!"

Just as no one dared to make a move, a black-haired girl with a cigarette dangling from her lips walked up brazenly in front of the many pirates, hoisted the ice sculpture of Poison Cannon Sarin onto her shoulder, and ran out.

The tavern instantly exploded. That's it? Just like that?

Some minor pirates slapped their thighs and clutched their heads, as if they had missed out on a chance to earn twenty-eight million.

A long time passed. Just as many pirates were assuming the girl had run off with the money and were preparing to mock Brook for being naive and scammed, the tavern door was kicked off its hinges by the short-haired girl. She tossed a stack of Berries to the bartender, still puffing on her cigarette like a little delinquent.

"I'm rich today, keep the change!"

She slowly placed the money box on the table in front of Brook.

"Want to count it? Twenty-eight million. I've already taken my half. Don't even think about going back on your word!"

"No need to count."

Brook took two stacks of Berries from the box and tossed them to the tavern owner.

"Cleaning fee for the corpse. Please handle it yourselves!"

Brook tossed the money box to Antonio, walked out of the tavern, and headed toward the news agency!

"Interesting. A musical adventurer? Too bad his whole crew was wiped out."

The black-haired girl watched Brook's retreating back, a look of interest on her face.

"The Rumbar Pirates were really wiped out. Now only Humming Brook is left to return for revenge."

"Did you see the boy next to him? Is Brook going to recruit new partners and set sail again?"

"Humming Brook, with a bounty of thirty-three million, actually killed Poison Cannon Sarin, who had a bounty of fifty-six million, in one hit! Is Brook's bounty going to skyrocket now?"

"Brook has become so strong. I want to join his new pirate crew, haha~"

The pirates in the tavern discussed it heatedly, and some independent pirates were already considering joining Brook.

"Hey, where did that short-haired girl go? She just vanished! I was just about to rob her! Damn it!!"

"Does anyone know anything about that girl?"

"She's an intelligence gatherer from the Sabaody Archipelago, you hillbilly pirate. Go be a mountain bandit instead!"

"What did you say! Brothers, get him!"

The tavern descended into chaos once more, while the black-haired girl had already slipped away through the back alley.

World Economic News Agency Headquarters.

"Brother Brook, this is a portion of the Eternal Poses for the islands you need. We are still searching for and purchasing the rest. Also, these dozen or so communication Den Den Mushi are a gift for you."

Moore Thomas busily moved everything he had collected and purchased, sliding them in front of Brook.

"Perfect timing. I just slaughtered a pirate and got over twenty million Berries in bounty money. Keep it; the news agency needs funds to retain talent right now."

Because some members of the news agency had been warned by certain bastards recently, they had suffered a loss of talent.

"Brother Brook, it's not necessary. I still have enough money! I've already prepared to move the World Economic News Agency to a remote island in the New World."

Moore Thomas spoke to Brook with a heavy heart. Currently, they were no match for the World Government's World Peace Dove News Agency, and they had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure.

The World Government's control over the New World had never been that strong, and Moore Thomas believed he could survive there!

"If you trust me, you can move to Jaya Island. Above it lies the Sky Island. As long as you control the Sky Island, you will no longer be threatened by the Celestial Dragons!"

Brook didn't want to enter the New World so quickly just yet; at the very least, he needed to find a group of subordinates with potential first.

"Brother Brook, do you believe the Sky Island really exists?"

Moore Thomas did not want to doubt Brook's words, but as a rational man, he truly could not bring himself to believe in such ethereal legends, for there was simply no evidence to prove the existence of Sky Island.

"Moore Thomas, I stake my life on the existence of Sky Island. Furthermore, it is the golden city of Shandora, a territory I am determined to conquer!"

Brook had no choice but to stake his life to retain the influence of the World Economic News Agency.

"I believe you! Big Brother Brook."

Moore Thomas looked into Brook's ghostly blue eyes, gritted his teeth, and made up his mind. He would not move to the New World; instead, he would relocate to Jaya Island first. With his own guard team, surviving on Jaya Island should not be a major problem!

"Shakky, I heard you earned over twenty million Berries. Don't you want to contribute a little?"

A middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses looked at the black-haired woman with a cigarette in her mouth and smiled stiffly.

"Do you want to buy information or not? If not, get lost. I earn my money on the Sabaody Archipelago through my own ability, and I still have to give you a cut?"

The black-haired woman, none other than Shakky, the future proprietress of the Rip-off Bar, sneered at this information-gathering, gold-rimmed-glasses-wearing smiling tiger.