Brook, a character whom netizens jokingly called "the only supporting character in the protagonist's crew."
Even among the Straw Hat crew as they were now, Brook's presence was astonishingly low.
In terms of combat strength, he was even inferior to Jinbe, who had joined after him. As for his abilities, after dying once, it seemed he had already exhausted the greatest function of the Revive-Revive Fruit.
Even the one talent he could truly show off—his singing and musical performance—had been overshadowed by Uta, the user of the Sing-Sing Fruit.
And yet, it was precisely such a character, one who seemed unremarkable in every way, who always managed to reveal astonishing pieces of his past.
For example, that classic iconic line—
"Rookie pirate Roger."
As someone who had set sail before the Great Pirate Era had even begun, before Roger himself had gone out to sea, using dreams as his vessel and resolve as his oars in a vain attempt to conquer this ocean...
Brook and the Rumbar Pirates he belonged to had always been the seeds of legend, even if they never bloomed.
Still, wherever they had gone, they had left behind quite a few stories.
It was just that most of those tales had long since been worn away by time and vanished completely.
But there would always be some traces left behind, proof of Brook's former glory.
What could be called legend was not limited to strength alone!
And now, the legendary pirate standing before Red and the others had, in fact, been inspired to set sail and become a pirate because of a conversation he had with Brook when he was a child!
That's right!
Brook was actually Redfield's "enlightening teacher"!
"..."
Looking at that afro, exactly the same as in his memories, Redfield's heart suddenly trembled.
He would never forget the figure who had once given him the courage to set sail.
At that moment, Redfield—who already knew he was no match for Red and the others—let the crimson aura around him fade away. All of his fighting spirit vanished as well, easing the tension at the scene.
"Mr. Brook," Redfield murmured softly, complicated emotions flickering in his eyes.
And when Brook saw Redfield again, he also let out a sigh filled with emotion. The fire of his soul flickered slightly, as though recalling days long past.
The battlefield in the sky quickly turned into a place for old friends to reunite.
With just a few words exchanged, Brook slowly recounted to Redfield everything that had happened to the Rumbar Pirates, as well as what had happened to himself.
Only after quite some time did Redfield finally let out a long sigh.
"No wonder that when I first set out to sea, no matter how hard I searched, I could never find any trace of you or the Rumbar Pirates."
"I never imagined something like that would happen to all of you."
"Yohohoho~ What's past is past."
Brook, who had long since made peace with it, smiled lightly and did not linger on old matters.
Knowing Red's plan, he changed the subject and asked directly:
"So then... Redfield, what are your plans for the future!?"
"The future?" Redfield's gaze shifted slightly.
He understood very well why Red had asked Brook to appear at this moment.
And Brook didn't beat around the bush either. He spoke plainly:
"Sir Red just told me that your Devil Fruit ability would be a huge help to us, so he hopes you can join the Straw Hat Pirates."
"Though I don't really want to put it this way, if you refuse, we won't just let the matter drop."
"So I still hope you'll think it over carefully, Redfield."
"I truly never would have imagined, even in my dreams, that Mr. Brook would threaten me one day."
Redfield sighed ruefully.
But Brook shook his head.
"My apologies, but we also have things we absolutely must accomplish!"
Redfield raised his head, but his gaze shifted from Brook to Luffy and Red behind him.
"It seems I have no other choice."
"Decades ago, my greatest dream was to become Mr. Brook's companion and sail the seas together with him."
"I never thought that wish would come true today, decades later."
"You are the king of this era—Monkey D. Luffy, aren't you!"
Redfield's figure flashed, and he appeared directly in front of Luffy, then assumed a kneeling posture on one knee in midair.
"I am Balorick Redfield, known as 'The Lone Red.' I request permission to join your pirate crew and serve under you!!!"
At that moment, perhaps even Redfield himself did not know why he had chosen not to resist to the bitter end, and had instead made such a choice.
Was it because he knew the gap in strength between himself and the Straw Hats? Or because he wanted to become companions with the person he had once admired?
Those might have been part of the reason, but they were definitely not the whole of it!
"That won't do!"
What Redfield had not expected, however, was that when a legend like himself chose to bow his head and submit, the answer he received was an immediate, unhesitating refusal.
He jerked his head up, only to see a pure, simple smile on Luffy's face.
"Even though Red said he wanted to invite you aboard because he valued your abilities..."
"But if you're Brook's friend, then you're my friend too. Talking about serving me and all that is just too weird!"
Luffy suddenly stepped forward and helped Redfield back to his feet, the smile on his face growing even brighter.
"No matter what, we're companions now!!!"
Pat, pat~
Luffy laughed heartily as he patted Redfield on the shoulder.
Even though they had been enemies just moments ago, since Redfield was Brook's old friend, and since Red had said Redfield would make a great companion, Luffy was of course happy to accept him!
What could be more exciting than gaining more like-minded companions?
And besides, with a new crewmate, could a new feast be far behind?!
At that thought, the corners of Luffy's mouth lifted even higher.
"..."
Looking at the smile on Luffy's face, Redfield's gaze suddenly drifted.
That was it... This feeling—there was no mistaking it!
The scene instantly reminded him of the first time he had met Roger.
The corner of Redfield's mouth lifted as he sighed inwardly.
"Perhaps... this isn't a wrong decision after all~"
...
...
"H-Hey... what does that mean!?"
"The legendary pirate, The Lone Red, actually joined the Straw Hat Pirates!?"
"That's a man said to stand shoulder to shoulder with Whitebeard!!!"
"Heh, am I the one who's gone insane, or has the whole world gone insane!?"
"With both the Eternal Pose to the Final Island and The Lone Red now in their hands, the Straw Hat crew has basically locked down the Pirate King's throne, haven't they?!"
"T-This is bullshit! No matter how hard we try, there's no way we can ever be their match!"
"How about... if we can't beat them, we join them!? I heard the Straw Hat Pirates have been recruiting heavily in the underworld. Maybe they're short on manpower!"
"..."
"..."
The pirates who had witnessed the scene of The Lone Red dropping to one knee before Luffy felt their hearts surge like a flooding river.
Even the other members of the Straw Hat crew had not expected that attending a single festival would somehow bring them yet another new companion.
Fortunately, Red had already relayed everything to them through the mental network: Redfield's situation, his Devil Fruit ability, his strength, and his connection to Brook.
Learning that such a legendary powerhouse was about to join them, the Straw Hats felt nothing but delight.
Of course, not everyone in the Straw Hat crew was immersed in the joy of welcoming a new companion.
...
...
"That guy still isn't here yet!?"
Having deliberately chosen a high vantage point, Zoro swept his gaze around before looking out toward the sea beyond the island.
Red had said that according to the intelligence he possessed, before the festival began, Festa had already spread information about the Pirate King's treasure throughout the underworld.
And the festival staff really had received an application letter from Mihawk, along with the Eternal Pose they had sent him.
No matter the reason, Mihawk was clearly interested in this festival.
And now that news of the Final Island had also broken out, there was no reason for that man to quit halfway through.
Although Zoro trusted Red's intelligence completely, so much time had passed and not even a shadow of Mihawk had appeared. His heart was being tormented beyond endurance.
But just then, it was as if the heavens had heard his urgency.
In an instant, Luffy—who had still been looking at Redfield—and Zoro—who had been waiting for Mihawk all this time—both froze at the same time, then suddenly turned their heads to look in the same direction beyond the island.
There, beneath the distant horizon, a massive warship slowly emerged and charged rapidly toward the island.
"T-That is..."
Up in the sky, on the Marine warship being protected by Fujitora, a lookout immediately spotted the vessel.
But when he raised his telescope and saw the flag flying above that ship, his face changed dramatically.
After freezing for a moment, he immediately cried out in alarm:
"B-Bad news!!!"
"It's the Beasts!!!"
"It's one of the Four Emperors—the Beasts Pirates!!!"
"They've come to the Pirate Festival too!!!"
The lookout shouted at the top of his lungs, then quickly relayed the information to the other Marine warships using their communication equipment.
But at that very moment...
A fierce slash suddenly came flying from the distant sea, heading straight for the Marine fleet.
Shing!!!
Without giving the Marines even a moment to react, the terrifying slash swept horizontally across several Marine warships.
In the next instant... those massive Marine battleships were split cleanly in half, revealing smooth cut surfaces before losing the effect of the Gravity-Gravity Fruit and crashing into the sea below.
At the same time, atop the Beasts Pirates' warship in the distance—
Watching those obstructing Marine warships get effortlessly destroyed, Kaido immediately let out a dark, rumbling laugh.
"Wororororo..."
"As expected of the world's strongest swordsman. Your attack was truly sharp!"
"But speaking of which, you're not one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea anymore, are you!? There's no place left for you in this world."
"So are you really not planning to join my pirate crew!?"
Kaido, whose two eyes shone like spotlights, lowered his head and looked toward the figure beside him who was sheathing his blade.
And a man who could be called "the world's strongest swordsman," one whom even Kaido treated as an equal, could only be one person!
That's right!
He was the man Zoro had been waiting for all this time—"Hawk Eyes" Dracule Mihawk!
As for why he had appeared on Kaido's ship, and was even helping the Beasts fleet clear the way...
Sliding Black Blade · Yoru back into its sheath, Mihawk turned his gaze directly toward Kaido.
"I've already upheld our agreement and cleared a path for you. Don't let me hear any ugly rumors spreading across the sea."
"Wororororo~" Kaido burst into laughter again upon hearing that, then replied:
"Relax! I'm one of the Four Emperors, after all. If I say I'll do something, I naturally can!"
"It's just that..."
"Pffft!!!"
Under Mihawk's murderous stare, Kaido suddenly failed to hold it in and let out a strange snorting laugh.
Noticing Mihawk's gaze, he immediately forced himself back into composure and waved a hand.
"The matter between us is settled!"
"It had better be!" Mihawk shot him a vicious glare. Seeing that the ship was now close enough to the island, he stepped onto the railing and leaped off like a man fleeing disaster, landing swiftly on the island below.
Kaido remained alone at the bow, watching his back with a dark grin.
And his thoughts involuntarily drifted back to this exact time one day earlier.
At that time, the Beasts Pirates had also learned through espionage that the Going Merry had left the Pokémon seas and was heading for Festival Island.
Coincidentally, Queen had just announced that the biochemical weapon he had developed specifically against the Straw Hat Pirates was complete.
Realizing this might be the perfect chance to strike directly at the Straw Hat Pirates without having to worry about the existence of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, Kaido did not hesitate in the slightest. He immediately gave the order for the entire force to set out for Festival Island and ambush the Straw Hats.
What he had never expected, however, was that just as they were about to arrive at Festival Island, an uninvited guest would appear in front of their fleet...
A swordsman sailing across the sea while standing on his blade!
That's right, that person was Mihawk, who had just escaped from the giant sea whirlpool.
At their first encounter, both sides had been startled by the other's appearance.
Kaido, after receiving the report, personally came out and confronted Mihawk head-on.
After all, Mihawk had once fought Red-Haired Shanks to a draw. Since Kaido knew how powerful Shanks was, he did not dare relax in the slightest.
At the same time, he also could not allow Mihawk to simply leave.
This operation by the Beasts Pirates had been kept completely secret. To avoid the Straw Hat Pirates catching wind of it and ruining the plan, only high-ranking members of the Beasts Pirates had been allowed to participate.
And on Mihawk's side, the situation was unbearably awkward!
He had never imagined that after being shipwrecked and losing his only vessel, forcing him to continue sailing by standing atop one of the Supreme Grade Meito—Black Blade · Yoru—he would actually be seen by Kaido of the Beasts Pirates!!!
If it had just been an ordinary pirate crew, he could have simply cut them down with a single slash and buried that secret forever beneath the sea.
Just as he had done before.
But...
The warships of the Beasts Pirates were not something he could casually cut apart whenever he pleased.
In the end, with both sides harboring their own schemes, they signed a non-aggression agreement.
Having guessed something, Kaido promised he would pretend not to have seen that ridiculous scene, while Mihawk agreed to ride Kaido's ship to the festival grounds.
And that was precisely why...
The scene of Mihawk helping the Beasts Pirates clear a path had happened just now.
And after watching Mihawk's figure disappear, the somewhat dimwitted look in Kaido's eyes suddenly vanished, replaced by a cold killing intent.
"If you want to blame something, then blame your bad luck, Mihawk..."
(End of Chapter)