Hearing the Navy Fleet Admiral's thunderous rant over the Den Den Mushi, Brook let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"What, you think you can track this signal and take me out? Try it!"
"You done talking? Fine. Next, I'll broadcast the execution of all five royal families from your allied nations—live! And it'll be on your Navy's stubborn heads!"
Brook slammed the Den Den Mushi shut with a sneer. He held all the cards now. Worst case, he'd ditch Ohara Island, haul the valuable books and scholars to Abasta, and call it a day.
With Parrot's Castle Fruit and Bra Kara's Pocket ability, they could stash plenty of loot.
Brook's real plan was to bring Ohara, the Island of Scholars with its Tree of Knowledge, under his control to attract talent from across the seas. But it wasn't irreplaceable—he could cut it loose if needed.
"Jahaha! Brook, my man, that was ice-cold! Hanging up on the Navy Fleet Admiral like that? Pure style!"
Golden Lion Shiki's eyes sparkled with admiration, studying Brook like he was taking mental notes. That move was worth stealing—maybe even the whole "kidnap kings to threaten the Navy" playbook.
Kaido, Tiger, and the rest of the crew stared at Brook with near-religious awe. Their captain had just threatened the Navy Fleet Admiral! That was next-level cool.
None of them realized the precedent Brook was setting. How many kings would cower in fear? How many pirates would get bold ideas? The World Government and Navy HQ's think tanks were already reeling from the sheer audacity of it all.
This trend had to be stopped!
...
On the other end, Kurotaka's face was a storm of rage. A Navy Fleet Admiral, commanding millions across the globe, humiliated by a pirate? Unforgivable!
But the World Government had tied his hands: save the allied kings without tanking the Navy's or World Government's credibility, or face the consequences. Even a Fleet Admiral wasn't above accountability.
"Fleet Admiral, don't let anger cloud your judgment. Brook's got the upper hand right now, but he called us first. He wants something. Let's hear his terms before we act," advised Darian, the Navy's Chief Strategist, trying to cool Kurotaka's temper. His earlier threats to Brook had been a touch too reckless.
"Brook's a scumbag with no limits! First, he targets Celestial Dragons, now allied kings? We can't let him dictate terms! He'll only get bolder—more depraved! We cannot bow to his threats!"
Kurotaka knew his tone was too heated, but as a hardline Navy officer, he refused to coddle pirates. Letting the Hell Pirates slink back to the New World would only breed bigger headaches later.
Darian sighed.
"I'd love to crush Brook's crew, consequences be damned. Sacrifice five kings? Worth it for a clean sweep. But the Five Elders' orders are clear—we can't defy them. This is about the World Government's reputation. Without the Heavenly Tribute from allied nations, where's our funding? Protecting these kings reassures the others. It's a bitter pill, but it's our job."
Darian loathed Brook's cunning. Strong and smart pirates were the worst kind.
"Ugh, this is infuriating!"
Kurotaka glared at the Den Den Mushi, knowing he'd have to swallow his pride and call back. His dignity as Fleet Admiral was in tatters.
"Fleet Admiral, let me handle the call," Darian offered, sensing his boss's frustration. A good subordinate steps in to spare their superior the embarrassment.
Taking the Den Den Mushi, Darian dialed back with a calm expression, ready for a level-headed negotiation. Kurotaka nodded, relieved to have a loyal strategist who knew his place.
...
"It's ringing! It's ringing! Brook, you called it—they're crawling back!"
The Hell Pirates' crew buzzed with excitement, watching their captain prepare to outwit Navy HQ. At Brook's signal, they fell silent, hanging on his every move.
"Yo, who's this jerk interrupting me? I'm busy setting up a live execution of some kings with the press! This'll be headline news worldwide!"
Brook snatched the Den Den Mushi, switching to a brash, trash-talking tone. He feigned ignorance about the caller's identity while casually dropping his plans.
"This is Darian, Chief Strategist of Navy HQ. Brook, cut the act—you're no fool. Let's get to it. What are your demands?"
Darian wasn't fazed by Brook's theatrics. The fact that Brook had called them first meant he wasn't itching for an all-out war with the Navy. Otherwise, he'd have slaughtered the kings and barreled back to the New World.
"Yohohoho! What's this? The Navy Fleet Admiral too scared to keep threatening me? Sending out a strategist to talk instead? Fine by me—I love dealing with sharp minds! You've got your three Admirals rallied, huh? Planning an ambush somewhere on the Grand Line? You know what to do."
"I want a clear path back to the New World. No Navy ships in our way, or we start executing hostages. Once we're safely back, we'll drop the kings on a random island near the Sabaody Archipelago. Deal?"
Brook's voice was cool, but he was ready for anything. If it came to blows, he'd smash Ohara Island into the Navy's faces.
He'd already ordered Shiki to separate the Tree of Knowledge from Ohara's main island. If the Admirals showed up, they'd ditch Ohara without a second thought.
"You know about the Admirals? Where'd you get that intel?"
Darian was caught off guard. The Navy thought their plans were airtight.
"Chief Strategist, huh? Don't play dumb—you're a smart guy. You've got spies; you think I don't? I've got connections in the underworld. That's all you need to know!"
Brook let slip a "mistake," hinting at a Navy mole, then brushed it off, planting seeds of paranoia.
"Hmph. Want us to send you the Admirals' coordinates too? And how do we know you'll keep your word and release the kings?"
Darian's mind raced. A mole in the Navy? Brook's slip seemed too convenient—was it a bluff?
"Relax, I'm a man of honor. You call off the ambush, head back to base, and I won't touch a hair on these kings' heads."
"Don't try any tricks, either. I know what your Admirals were wearing at your last meeting!"
Brook tossed out another smokescreen, implying his "mole" was high-ranking enough to sit in on Navy strategy sessions.
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+240 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg