Hearing the furious roar of Count Iron Shield, Viscount Nass was stunned. He didn't understand—wasn't it his father's order to bring the mermaid within the hour?
"Father, why? I didn't miss the time! I really brought it here!!"
Viscount Nass immediately opened the barrel, revealing the mermaid's head so that his father could see clearly. This scene was also seen by Tom and Tiger.
The eyes of the two fish-men turned red. The most precious treasure of Fishman Island—a mermaid—was being sold here like a slave.
Count Iron Shield immediately rushed forward and slapped Viscount Nass to the ground. Then, he dragged his dizzy son in front of the Hell Pirates.
"My Lords, I have failed to educate my son properly. I now sever all ties with this rebellious child. I leave him to you—do as you see fit! I truly knew nothing about the mermaid!"
Count Iron Shield bent his waist to a full 90 degrees, his attitude humble to the extreme. Cold sweat covered his forehead. He was beyond terrified.
The little mermaid in the barrel couldn't hold back her tears when she saw the terrifying young man knocked down and the familiar figure of a fish-man in the distance.
She knew that fish-man. He was the pride of Fishman Island—the great shipwright, Tom. He had become a new-generation idol for all fish-men. Even Fisher Tiger's name was legendary on the island!
"Save me, Master Tom~!"
The little mermaid didn't care about the land. She leapt out of the barrel, hopping and crawling toward Tom and the others. Even though the scales on her tail were worn down and bleeding, she seemed to feel no pain.
All she wanted was to escape this terrifying human world and return to Fishman Island. Tiger immediately rushed forward and scooped the little mermaid into his arms. She cried uncontrollably in Tiger's embrace, like a child reunited with her parents.
She was lucky—lucky to meet her people in such a foreign place. She didn't want to play anymore. She only wanted to go home, to her family in Fishman Island.
Viscount Nass snapped back to reality when he heard the little mermaid crying. He swallowed nervously as he looked at the terrifying fish-men.
"Sirs, please! Spare me! It's not my fault—it really isn't! Those two bastards bought her from the auction house in the Sabaody Archipelago and gave her to me! I didn't buy her! If you want to kill someone, kill those bastards and the auction house!"
Viscount Nass had finally seen the truth of the situation. The little mermaid's kin had come for her—and they were so powerful even his father had to bow. If he wanted to survive, he'd have to offer those two damned merchants up instead!
Because of this, the noble House of Iron Shield was now caught in the crossfire. His father had disowned him in front of the world!
"Hmph. Slave traders and auction houses are scum, but you noble buyers are even filthier. One day, I'll wipe all of you out!!!"
Tiger glared hatefully at the trembling noble. The sniper, Hiruba, pulled a bubble coral out of his toolbox—one they'd brought from Fishman Island. He blew a bubble shield large enough to let the mermaid float in the air.
It wouldn't last long outside the unique climate of Sabaody and Fishman Island, but it worked in emergencies.
"My Lords," said Count Iron Shield, "this was the private action of my rebellious son and those wealthy businessmen. It has nothing to do with Iron Shield City. I leave him to you, and we will now withdraw."
He lowered his head and slowly backed away, praying silently: Don't drag me into this. Don't turn your anger on me!
Seeing the man's clear sense of self-preservation—willing to sacrifice his own son just to survive—the Hell Pirates weren't sure whether to act. Other than Tiger, who clenched his fists and glared, the crew let him go.
Count Iron Shield turned and led his troops to the far side of the island. In his heart, he was rejoicing—he'd survived! But he also turned around and immediately killed the staff officer who had made the false judgment.
The man had nearly provoked the Hell Pirates… and cost him his son.
His only son, spoiled though he was, had been his flesh and blood for more than twenty years. Now he was gone.
The Count quickly contacted the Marines, begging them to send an Admiral at once to handle the Hell Pirates. Maybe, just maybe, they could save his worthless son!!
"No way... My father really abandoned me??"
Viscount Nass begged, "Please spare me! I'll take you to those two rich bastards who bought the mermaid from the auction house! It was them, not me!"
The ship's doctor, Crocus, was already tending to the mermaid's wounds. But the little mermaid was still terrified of humans and kept dodging him.
It wasn't until Tom and Tiger worked together to comfort her that she finally calmed down enough to allow the bandaging.
Brook looked at Viscount Nass. The slave trade was booming across the seas—even he, an Overlord, couldn't change that reality.
Many rare races and non-member nations had become hunting grounds for slavers. Even pirates were getting in on the trade, catching and selling exotic creatures to make a quick buck.
"Bring those two rich bastards here," Brook said coldly. "Tell me who's in charge of the auction house in Sabaody and where they are. I want to know who has the guts to capture mermaids—and sell them to nobles like you. How many mermaids have they trafficked already?"
Looking at Viscount Nass, Brook saw just how massive this black market was. Even nobles could casually buy mermaids.
If that was the case… how many rare races had the World Nobles—the Celestial Dragons—already bought?
After all, those auction houses catered mostly to Celestial Dragons. Their slave mortality rate was absurdly high.
The Celestial Dragons regularly visited Sabaody to restock their "supplies." When one batch of slaves died or bored them, they simply bought new ones. That was the root of the endless stream of slaves sold in the Sabaody Archipelago.
The lawless zones were home to countless slave-hunting teams and pirates who sold rare species and creatures—and they were sponsored by the Celestial Dragons.
Otherwise, with Sabaody so close to Marine Headquarters and Enies Lobby, wouldn't the World Government have cleaned up the illegal auctions long ago?
But no—Sabaody Archipelago, just below the holy land of Mary Geoise, was the darkest place in the entire world of One Piece.
It housed the richest, most powerful scum in the world—the Celestial Dragons—along with the largest gathering of slaves, auction houses, and showrooms on the sea.
Brook recalled Stella, the slave once favored by the Golden Emperor, Tesoro. She had been sold in a display window, like merchandise.
That alone showed the horrifying scale of the slave trade in Sabaody.
As long as the Celestial Dragons existed… the slave trade would never end.
---------------
Under Brook's order, the terrified Viscount Nass immediately called his two lackeys—the wealthy businessmen—through Den Den Mushi. When they arrived, they were stunned to see Viscount Nass kneeling on the ground.
The moment Viscount Nass saw those two bastards, he started cursing and distancing himself from the mermaid. He kept screaming that it was them who bought and sold the mermaid and gave her to him without permission!
The two wealthy businessmen also fell to their knees, trembling beside Viscount Nass. They were so terrified their body fat shook, and their clothes were drenched in sweat.
"Alright, shut up! Spill everything you know about the Sabaody Auction House!"
Brook wasn't interested in dealing with these small fries. Wiping out the auction house and the slave-hunting teams would have a much greater impact than killing these idiots.
Scared out of their minds, the two businessmen immediately confessed everything, pouring out every detail they knew without hesitation. They feared the wrath of these notorious pirates more than death.
Shakky handled the rest. The little fox figured those rich bastards had plenty of money and could be squeezed dry. Following the principle of never wasting anything valuable, Shakky planned to bleed them for every last berry.
With the help of the mind reader Redfield and her own personal storage unit, Bra Kara, Shakky launched her raid on the businessmen's wealth. She even considered blackmailing Count Iron Shield and scamming some cash from Viscount Nass.
Tom and Tiger took time to talk with the little mermaid. Thankfully, she hadn't been with Viscount Nass for long and hadn't been mistreated, so the two fishmen didn't feel the need to kill the three men on the spot. If she had been abused, the businessmen and Nass would've been executed immediately—no mercy, no loot.
"Uncle Tom, when can you send me back to Fishman Island? I miss my parents."
The little mermaid, Ariel, looked at Tom with teary eyes. She'd been captured from Fishman Island, spent three days on a slave ship, waited a week in the auction house for sale, and then lived at Iron Shield City in theCounts's mansion for another five or six days. She'd lost contact with her parents for over two weeks.
"Not just yet. We still need to head to the West Blue before going to Fishman Island," Brook said as he approached.
His presence startled Ariel, who quickly hid behind Tom. Of course, Brook had no plans to change his route for a regular mermaid.
"Tom, contact your brother Dan and confirm her identity. Let her parents know she's safe."
Brook gave the order, trying to appear more humane. He then turned away, leaving the mermaid in their care—he had other things to focus on, like dealing with that stubborn brute Kaido.
Tom and Tiger comforted the little mermaid, explaining she would travel with the Hell Pirates for now. Whether she liked it or not, this would likely become the most unforgettable chapter of her life.
---
Back to Kaido, the guy was still staring at the Golden Lion Shiki. Aside from wanting a rematch, he was still pissed that Shiki had crushed his beloved mace. Now he was left weaponless.
"Kaido, do you have any family? Do you know where the rest of your Oni tribe is?"
Brook was intrigued by Kaido's rare race—the Oni. A natural warrior species, they were considered a small giant race. Though not as well-known as the Giants or the Lunarians, their average members were stronger than those from the Mink Tribe.
"I have no idea. Besides my parents, I've never met anyone from the tribe."
Kaido knew he wasn't human. He'd had two horns since birth and was taller than any normal human. People had always called his family monsters.
"That's a shame. We were hoping to recruit more Oni Warriors. For now, you'll train in martial arts and Haki under Newgate!"
Brook assigned Whitebeard Newgate, a fellow powerhouse with similar size and strength, to mentor Kaido. Shiki and Redfield were too focused on speed and swordsmanship—styles that didn't suit Kaido.
"Newgate? Who's that? Is he stronger than the Golden Lion King?"
As soon as Kaido asked, Shiki wrapped him in earth using his powers, leaving only his head exposed and squeezing him tightly.
"Hahaha! Listen up, little Kaido. You better call me Shiki-senpai or Shiki-sama! If I hear anything else, I'll bury you alive!!"
The Golden Lion roared with laughter. This kind of brat needed to be taught manners—or he'd grow up arrogant and wild.
"Damn it! I can't move!" Kaido shouted, his face turning red as he struggled.
"Gurarara~! Relax, Kaido. Let me train you! I'm not any weaker than that Golden Lion bastard!"
Newgate stepped up, and with a glowing white punch—his signature Tremor-Tremor Fruit power—he shattered the mud prison without harming Kaido.
After that, Kaido calmed down. The arrogance he showed back in the Young Army days was gone.
"Damn... he's strong. I wanna learn that pink move—the one that smashed mud!"
Kaido still missed his mace and dreamed of using a move like Newgate's to destroy Shiki's swords and get revenge.
"Yohoho! One step at a time. If you want a tougher mace, go find Vegapunk on our ship. Though you two haven't met yet, I'll hold a welcome party tonight so you can meet everyone."
Brook looked at Kaido, still weighing a choice—should he give him the Mythical Zoan: Fish-Fish Fruit, Azure Dragon Form or the Mythical Zoan: Octopus Siren Form?
In the original timeline, Kaido got the Azure Dragon Fruit from Charlotte Linlin after the Rocks crew disbanded—when he was 21. Does this mean Kaido still needs to wait ten more years for a Devil Fruit?
Brook would need Kaido's opinion... or maybe even input from the readers to decide. Otherwise, it was a tough call.
Just then, artillery fire roared in the distance. Smoke rose from beyond the hills, making Brook's expression darken.
"Oh no! Brother Brook! The navy's here! They've teamed up with Count Iron Shield's forces to attack Shakky and Redfield!"
Antonio came running at full speed, yelling in panic. Earlier, Shakky had taken Viscount Nass and the others to loot wealth, not expecting Count Iron Shield to link up with a Marine Admiral. Now, they were launching an assault to save his son!
Brook didn't hesitate. He took off toward the battlefield, with Golden Lion Shiki and Whitebeard Newgate close behind.
As they raced through the air, Charlotte Linlin grabbed Brook and soared on her thundercloud Zeus. Stussy, now in her Siren form—bird body, human arms—followed beside them, both deeply worried about Shakky.
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