Brook handed Sandy to Vegapunk for study, figuring he'd decide the guy's fate later. Once Vegapunk perfected a device to recycle Devil Fruit powers with 100% success, they'd deal with Sandy.
As for the Kurozumi siblings' plea to defect, Brook didn't give them a second thought. They were doomed—two more Devil Fruits to harvest. Wano was Brook's turf now, and no way was he letting the Kurozumi stir up trouble!
In just a week or two, Totto Land had transformed into a hub of laughter and joy. With Head Chef Streusen's help, the crew turned a new castle into a giant cake, and Charlotte Linlin used her Soul-Soul Fruit to bring it to life as a Homie.
And so, a talking, self-closing Whole Cake Island Homie rose on Totto Land, piquing the curiosity of several Sky Island races.
Dwarves from the Tontatta Tribe and winged angels from Skypiea had already started settling in. Linlin welcomed them with open arms—the more races, the merrier!
She even had Fishman Tom call Fishman Island via Den Den Mushi, asking King Mars to send a few dozen fishmen and mermaids to join the Totto Land party.
The Hell Pirates' forty-plus islands began recruiting rare races to join the Sky Cake Island project—Snakenecks, Longarms, Longlegs, Longheads, you name it!
After talks with Linlin, Brook decided Totto Land would descend to 1,000 meters above Elan Island after Linlin's eighteenth birthday bash, becoming the first layer of their Sky City plan.
Ohara, the island of scholars, would settle at 2,000 meters, re-emerging as the world's hub for intellectual exchange—the second layer of the Sky City.
The first layer, Totto Land, would be a paradise of coexistence for all races. The second, Ohara, would revive its legacy as a global scholars' center.
More islands would be scouted to flesh out the Sky City plan, but for now, the blueprint was taking shape!
...\
After days of careful screening, a batch of peace-loving, capable rare-race folks ascended to Sky Island, officially becoming Totto Land residents.
With the population booming, the island buzzed with life. Linlin's birthday was just days away, and the new residents pitched in to plan an unforgettable party for one of the Hell Pirates' top officers.
"Brook, you're totally playing favorites!" Stussy pouted, draping herself over him. "Linlin's birthday gets a whole island and rare races, but mine? Just a lousy cake, some popsicles, and all-night poker with you. So unfair!"
"Poker's a blast, isn't it? Everyone loves it!" Brook shot back, grinning. "Linlin's dying to play, but she's too busy. You should be grateful, Stussy!"
He gave her a playful smack on the head, then pulled Angelie into a hug. Convincing these two for a poker marathon took some serious effort.
"Come on, let's help out," Angelie said, slipping away. "If we keep vanishing like this, Linlin's gonna throw a fit!"
Truth be told, Brook had already lost most of his "army rations" in poker bets. Another round, and he'd be flat broke.
...\
Meanwhile, Shakky was fuming, ranting to anyone who'd listen.
"That jerk Brook's off who-knows-where again, and he's dragged Stussy, that schemer, along with him!"
"Shakky, the Whole Cake Island is all set!" Linlin chirped, her cheeks flushing. "Just waiting for my birthday now. Do you think Brook might... propose?"
Her mind spiraled into dreamy fantasies of romantic proposals. She'd poured her heart into this birthday bash, hoping for a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
"Whoa, hold up, Linlin!" Shakky gasped. "You're that eager to tie the knot? You're the flower of the seas, the most stunning and powerful lady pirate out there! Why rush into settling with Captain Brook, that... "
"Wait a couple years, okay?" Shakky pleaded, patting her chest with a loyal grin, though her expression was a bit... off. "I'll personally check if Brook's still got all his screws tight!"
"Shakky, are you trying to steal my Brook?!" Linlin's eyes narrowed, her voice firm. "No way, absolutely not! Brook promised me ages ago, and I swore to Mother Carmel I'd take care of him!"
Linlin was already daydreaming about how many kids she'd have with Brook. Mother Carmel had said he was the last of the tribe—dozens of little babies were needed to keep the tribe alive!
"Who, me? Nah!" Shakky waved her hands frantically. "I'm just saying Brook's a bit of a flirt. You should keep an eye on him. Lately, he's been hanging with Stussy and Angelie, playing who-knows-what, and leaving us out!"
"Flirt? Brook's great to all his crew!" Linlin countered, puzzled. "Stussy and Angelie are just training with him, getting tips on Devil Fruit powers. My Soul-Soul Fruit tricks? Brook helped me develop those! Next time, we can all train with him!"
Shakky blinked, thrown off. "Linlin, do you even know what love is? Or marriage?"
"Of course I do!" Linlin beamed. "Brook explained it. He said, 'If you sleep with someone today and want to again tomorrow, that's love. If you sleep with them today and still have to tomorrow, that's marriage!'
"For me, it's like eating dessert. If it's yummy today and I want more tomorrow, that's love. If it's so-so today but I still eat it tomorrow, that's marriage. Right, Shakky?"
Shakky's fist clenched, her jaw dropping. That unreliable Brook, teaching this nonsense! In any allied nation, he'd be locked up for misleading innocent girls!
"Uh, I dunno," Shakky mumbled, flustered. "He told me love is getting along great, feelings growing over time, and... uh, 'zero-distance contact.' Whatever that means!"
Even the sly Shakky couldn't always decode Brook's cryptic sayings, but she had a sneaking suspicion they weren't exactly wholesome.
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+300 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg