Brook had a brilliant idea: take Chief Gandalf and a few Tontatta representatives to visit the Tree of Knowledge on Ohara before finalizing the relocation plan. Gandalf, ever the responsible leader, agreed enthusiastically—he needed to ensure a bright future for his entire tribe!
With that, Gandalf and a dozen Tontatta delegates boarded the Golden Ark, soaring to Ohara. There, they marveled at the majestic Tree of Knowledge. The sprawling branches offered plenty of space for the tiny Tontatta to settle, and Ohara's fertile lands were perfect for cultivating their beloved plants.
After heated discussions, Gandalf and his delegates fell in love with the Tree of Knowledge. They trusted that Shakky, a descendant of the legendary Noland, wouldn't lead them astray. The relocation was a go!
...
Back on Green Bit, Chief Gandalf and his delegates rallied the Tontatta, announcing the move and mobilizing the tribe. Warriors were dispatched to gather seeds from Green Bit's diverse flora, ensuring their botanical heritage would thrive in their new home.
Golden Lion Shiki, with a dramatic flourish, used his Float-Float Fruit to lift the entire Tontatta kingdom—houses and all—into the sky, transporting it to Ohara. The Tontatta could keep their original homes while building new ones among the Tree of Knowledge's branches. A perfect blend of old and new!
"Brook! Huge news! Devil Fruits!"
Shakky burst onto the scene, practically vibrating with excitement, a bulging sack slung over her shoulder. She'd stumbled upon three or four Devil Fruits in the Tontatta Kingdom's storage vault—a jackpot that had her grinning ear to ear!
According to King Gandalf, these fruits were sacred treasures, hoarded over centuries for dire emergencies. Only when the kingdom faced existential threats would the Tontatta consume them to gain powers and fend off invaders.
Since Tontatta lifespans were similar to humans', eating a Devil Fruit without a crisis risked losing it forever when the user died. Their tradition was to stockpile the fruits, saving them for a rainy day when they'd unleash a squad of powered-up Tontatta to crush their enemies!
Brook couldn't help but roll his eyes—well, if he had eyes.
"Seriously? You think eating a Devil Fruit makes you instantly unstoppable? Those powers need training, you know!"
Still, this quirky Tontatta tradition was a goldmine for the Hell Pirates. No wonder Shakky's face was flushed with glee!
"Calm down, Shakky! Think about it: a Devil Fruit's worth maybe 100 million Belly, tops. These few fruits are worth a couple billion. But you're sitting on tens of billions in cash already, aren't you?"
The Hell Pirates controlled over a dozen islands, including Wano, a literal goldmine. They'd plundered the golden city of Shandora, forging the Golden Ark and a floating Golden Island—mobile treasure troves. Money was no object!
"Money's nothing compared to Devil Fruits, Brook! You've gone all materialistic on me!"
Yo-ho-ho! Shakky, the little schemer, had the nerve to clap back at Brook! He shot her a withering glare, his skull somehow radiating disdain.
Brook pulled out a Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, eager to identify the Tontatta's haul. What powers had they squirreled away?
Holy smokes!
The Heal-Heal Fruit! Were these the same fruits from the Dressrosa arc?
It hit Brook like a thunderbolt. A tiny tribe on Green Bit, with no real means to sail the seas, had somehow amassed multiple Devil Fruits in one era. They'd hoarded them for centuries, only unleashing them when Doflamingo invaded, spawning four Tontatta ability users: Mansherry with the Heal-Heal Fruit, Leo with the Stitch-Stitch Fruit, Bian with the Bug-Bug Fruit (Hornet Model), and Kabu with the Bug-Bug Fruit (Rhinoceros Beetle Model).
And now, Shakky had swiped the whole stash!
Two flight-capable insect fruits and a game-breaking healing fruit—Brook felt like he'd hit the jackpot. Not only had they recruited the Tontatta, but they'd scored four Devil Fruits to boot!
Brook was already daydreaming: once he conquered the New World, he'd build golden statues, praying for more of this insane luck.
"Free Devil Fruits? I wouldn't mind this happening every other day!" he chuckled, basking in the universe's generosity.
"But, Shakky, let's be fair. The Stitch-Stitch Fruit goes back to Chief Gandalf. Throw in some extra compensation—whatever supplies they need, we'll cover it!"
Brook plucked the Heal-Heal Fruit, Bug-Bug Fruit (Hornet Model), and Bug-Bug Fruit (Rhinoceros Beetle Model) from Shakky's sack, tossing the Stitch-Stitch Fruit back to her. With a dismissive wave, he shooed her off to return it.
He was itching to deliver the Heal-Heal Fruit to Crocus, leaving a stunned Shakky in his wake.
"You sneaky old skeleton! Calling me shady? You're the real schemer!"
Shakky stomped her foot, fuming at Brook's retreating figure. Grumbling, she marched back to King Gandalf, returning the Stitch-Stitch Fruit and promising to fulfill the Tontatta's every request.
...
The Tontatta settled safely on Ohara, quickly bonding with the island's scholars. They took on roles as caretakers of the Tree of Knowledge, managing book placement and keeping the library spotless—a perfect partnership!
Brook, buzzing with excitement, clutched the Heal-Heal Fruit and tracked down Crocus, who was tinkering with poisons in his medical lab. Barging in, Brook froze at the sight before him.
Crocus whipped around, startled by Brook's entrance. In front of him, a striking woman in black let out a rustling sound, dissolving into a swarm of tiny insects that scattered and shriveled away.
"Well, well, Crocus! You've tamed the Golden Silkworm herself? Not surprising, though—Tia's got plenty of forms to suit your tastes. Spring's in the air, eh? I get it—you're a strapping young man now!"
Brook flashed a knowing grin at the flustered Crocus. He recognized the black-clad beauty as Witch Tia, the 550-million-Belly bounty pirate whose true form was a sentient Golden Silkworm.
Crocus, of all people, had charmed her into shapeshifting into a human form for a chat! Brook was impressed.
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+280 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg