New World, Elan Island.
A few days ago, the Hell Pirates' stronghold expanded by two more islands, drawing curious pirates from across the seas. Now, Brook had officially laid down the law through the World Economic News paper, declaring the rules for his territory!
He unveiled the Pirate Guild, a system where crews could register, pass tests, and complete missions to earn ranks: Bronze Pirate, Silver Pirate, Gold Pirate, Diamond Pirate, King Pirate, and the coveted Pirate Emperor.
To claim the Pirate Emperor title, a crew had to take down a Navy Admiral or Fleet Admiral. In return, they'd get free food, lodging, and travel in Brook's territory, plus resources to dominate their own corner of the seas!
King Pirate status required defeating five Navy Vice Admirals, one Admiral candidate, or even an Admiral outright. Those who achieved it would enjoy a 90% discount on all expenses in Brook's domain.
Lower ranks—Diamond, Gold, Silver, and Bronze—depended on bounty levels, challenge test results, or notable feats. Slaying Navy officers like Vice Admirals or Rear Admirals was a key metric for ranking up!
Bounties, test performance, defeating Navy officers or rival pirates, and exploring uncharted waters were all part of Brook's new scoring system, redefining what it meant to be a pirate in the New World!
Diamond Pirates got a 70% discount, Gold Pirates 50%, Silver Pirates 40%, and Bronze Pirates 30%. But even the lowest Bronze rank demanded at least one Navy Rear Admiral's head—a baseline for surviving the New World!
Brook also clarified that branch officers ranked one step below headquarters officers. A branch Vice Admiral equated to a headquarters Rear Admiral. Defeat one, register with the Pirate Guild, and you'd instantly earn Bronze status!
Bronze Pirates could sail freely in Hell Pirates' territory with a 30% discount, as long as they didn't stir up trouble. The Hell Pirates wouldn't touch them.
Slay three Navy Vice Admirals, register with the Guild, and you'd score Diamond status, practically living free in Brook's domain!
Need cash? Raid Vesper's or Rocks' crews. Or take on Guild missions: hunt rogue non-members, explore unknown seas, or track down rare creatures and materials!
...
The Pirate Guild sent shockwaves through the seas, stunning pirates and Navy alike. The Hell Pirates were openly defying the World Government and Navy by making officer kills a core ranking criterion!
What was Brook gaining from this? Legitimizing pirates in his territory with official ranks?
And those steep discounts—wouldn't he lose a fortune? These islands were his to begin with. Was he just handing out profits to other crews?
But Brook wasn't one to lose money. He knew the value of building an authoritative platform. Once pirates registered with the Guild, he'd have plenty of ways to reap the rewards!
By monopolizing the ranking system, Brook could control the pirate world's ambition-driven arena. Every registered crew would dance to his tune, shaped by his invisible hand!
With this platform, Brook could issue any mission he wanted. He could even mimic the Cross Guild, putting bounties on Navy officers and World Government officials!
Countless crews from the Four Seas and Grand Line, unwilling to bow to the three dominant powers, lived as guerilla fighters. They hid on remote islands, scraping by, occasionally raiding but risking annihilation.
Now, Brook's Pirate Guild offered them a lifeline—a chance to grow without being hunted to extinction. Register, keep the peace, and sail freely in Hell Pirates' territory, free to develop and adventure!
The Guild drew a flood of rookie crews eager to register, but many couldn't even meet the Bronze Pirate standard!
Brook quickly introduced a Black Iron Pirate rank. Pay a 100,000-Belly registration fee, and you'd become a Black Iron member, complete with a Black Iron Den Den Mushi. This device granted 30 minutes daily to view the Guild's mission board on its tiny screen!
From now on, every crew's rank-specific Den Den Mushi would unlock their rights to sail and score discounts in Brook's territory. But there was a catch—their info, including locations, was now tracked by Antonio's surveillance network!
...
New World, Sky Island
"Captain Brook, why go through all this hassle? Just conquer the pirates you can and crush or chase off the rest!"
Golden Lion Shiki couldn't wrap his head around Brook's schemes. He, Whitebeard Newgate, and Charlotte Linlin knew the Den Den Mushi tech came from Antonio. It stung a bit to be outmaneuvered, but the plan was already in motion, and it wasn't hurting them, so they rolled with it.
Newgate barely cared about the Den Den Mushi drama. He was even grateful Brook brought him into the fold. Linlin, though, was still hung up on Carmel's fate.
Shiki, having worked with Brook for so long, admired his strategic genius. He'd been played from the start and had to hand it to Brook's cunning. He was outclassed!
Shiki even used Brook's Den Den Mushi to sweet-talk the Roger Pirates, picking up intel on Roger's crew. They'd been locked in a months-long chess match with Saracha, slowly dismantling the Butcher Pirates!
Destiny's Child, Roger, had snagged the previous overlord's Conqueror's Haki Coiling technique and a Poneglyph. Now, he was being hunted by a lone, crazed Saracha, hell-bent on wiping out Roger's crew!
Saracha didn't know the power of a Child of Destiny. In the chase, Roger and Rayleigh were steadily mastering Conqueror's Haki Coiling. Soon, they'd turn the tables and take Saracha down!
When Brook, Shiki, Newgate, and Linlin heard this, they were floored. Their own progress with Conqueror's Haki Coiling was crawling, and now Roger was about to leap ahead?
The group reached out to Roger for advice, only to learn they'd grown too comfortable. Roger's crew, hunted daily, was forced to evolve fast. Constant life-or-death pressure was the key!
Brook made Roger an offer: if they defeated Saracha, could they spare his life and hand him over? Brook had his eye on Saracha's Corrupt-Corrupt Fruit.
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+300 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg