The arrival of the apprentice crewmate Ariel brought a burst of joy and excitement to the Golden Ark. To celebrate her joining, Brook decided to take charge of the kitchen himself, since their head chef Streusen was still back on Golden Island and hadn't come along.
Even Stussy felt a twinge of envy. Brook had never cooked specifically for her. Meanwhile, Charlotte Linlin had no such qualms—her eyes sparkled like gold as she watched Brook's dishes pile up. Seeing Ariel couldn't finish her portions, Linlin pounced.
"Hey, Ariel, you full yet?" she asked multiple times, barely waiting for a reply before scarfing down the leftovers. She even griped that Brook's cooking was too slow to keep up with her appetite!
Ariel, taking dainty bites to savor the flavors, left most of her food for the others. Naturally, Linlin devoured the lion's share.
Brook soon realized there was no satisfying this crew's monstrous appetites. He threw in the towel, announcing,
"We'll have a second celebration on Fishman Island—a proper feast!"
With that, he hung up his apron, done with the endless cooking marathon.
...\
Over a year had passed, and the Hell Pirates returned to Fishman Island with a new swagger. They weren't just the supernova crew of yesteryear—they were now one of the New World's dominant forces!
Thanks to their connection with Tom's brother, Fishman Den, Ariel's parents and Den were waiting at Fishman Island's entrance, eager to greet the Hell Pirates.
The Ryugu Kingdom's royal family, who kept tabs on Den, had learned through Ariel's parents that Brook was coming. Things were different now. The Hell Pirates weren't just any crew—they had the power to protect Fishman Island. King Mars and Prince Neptune personally joined Den at the entrance to welcome Brook's arrival.
This time, they came prepared to request the Hell Pirates' flag as a symbol of protection for Fishman Island. In return, they'd offer a trove of precious treasures as "protection fees." Knowing the Hell Pirates weren't short on Belly, they also gathered rare deep-sea artifacts—items of immense value from the ocean's depths.
Before long, the luxurious Golden Ark appeared on the horizon. A few Sea Kings approached, only to be knocked out cold by a surge of overwhelming aura, sinking into the abyss.
The Fishmen and merfolk at the entrance gaped. That's the presence of a true overlord crew!
The Golden Ark smoothly entered Fishman Island's inner bubble membrane, its coating absorbed as it glided inside. Good thing the ship could fly—otherwise, it'd have crashed into the island's inland river.
The ship touched down gracefully at Gyoncorde Plaza, a place steeped in history. It was where Otohime often gave her speeches, where Hody Jones would later assassinate her, and where the New Fishman Pirates would attempt to execute Neptune during the Fishman Island incident.
As soon as the Golden Ark settled, King Mars and Prince Neptune arrived on a massive whale, while Ariel's parents anxiously awaited their daughter's appearance. Fishman Den, meanwhile, was itching to see his brother Tom, who'd made it big as a Hell Pirate. Den's bedroom was plastered with Tom's wanted poster!
Fisher Tiger was the first to leap off the ship, eager to show his people how far he'd come.
No fame's worth a damn if you don't flaunt it back home!
Draped in a gaudy gold chain necklace, a gold belt cinched around his waist, gold bracelets on his wrists, and gem-encrusted gold rings on every finger, Tiger was a walking display of newfound wealth. He'd begged Redfield for hours to whip up this "nouveau riche" look with his technique.
Tiger's inspiration? Shakky. She'd once told him you've gotta show off when you return home. Last time she went back to the Sabaody Archipelago, she'd "borrowed" Brook's Qilin Lion mount to strut her stuff!
Seeing Tiger's tacky display, Fishman Tom wanted to knock some sense into him. The honest, hardworking Tiger he knew was turning into a flashy punk, thanks to Shakky's influence!
Thankfully, Shakky was off navigating with Golden Lion Shiki, overseeing the flight route from Ohara to Golden Island. If she saw Tiger's garish "rich hick" getup, she'd probably disown her own advice.
As Tiger strutted off the ship, Brook and the others followed. Ariel darted into her parents' arms like a swallow returning to its nest. No tears this time, though—she'd sworn an oath as a mermaid! As an apprentice Hell Pirate, she couldn't afford to cry so easily. Brook had pinned high hopes on her as Fishman Island's beacon of promise.
To ensure no other merfolk suffered her fate of being kidnapped, Ariel vowed to master Observation Haki, as Brook had urged. One day, she'd return to the Hell Pirates as a formidable sea warrior.
King Mars quickly invited Brook and the crew to a grand banquet in the Ryugu Palace, rolling out the red carpet for the overlord crew.
What a difference from their last visit, when the kingdom practically shooed them away, wary of the crew that had just taken down a Celestial Dragon!
Brook didn't refuse Mars' hospitality, understanding the struggles of a weaker nation.
"Thank you, Brook-sama, for saving one of our own!" Mars said, raising a toast to strengthen ties with the Hell Pirates. They desperately needed a powerful protector.
"No need for thanks," Brook replied, waving it off. "Tom and Tiger are my crewmates—how could I abandon one of their kind? Besides, Ariel's now an apprentice crewmate. I hope you'll look after her, King Mars.
"While we're here, we'd like to take those two historical Poneglyphs for study. That won't be an issue, will it?"
Brook hadn't forgotten his main goal: securing the red Poneglyphs. Saving Ariel was a happy accident.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Prince Neptune couldn't take his eyes off Ariel, clearly smitten. How had he never noticed this stunning mermaid before?
Brook caught the prince's starry-eyed stare and smirked.
Oh, come on, Neptune! Your future wife is Otohime, not Ariel!
Then again, Neptune was no saint in the romance department. The guy would be in his forties when he married the twenty-something Otohime. At 46, he'd father Fukaboshi with her at 22!
Brook chuckled inwardly.
But let's be real—my soul's only in its twenties! This thirty-something body isn't the real me!
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+280 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg