Inside a tavern in Loguetown.
Dragon wore the expression of a man who had just stepped on a rake and was waiting for it to hit him again.
Beside him, the girl kept twisting her head left and right, eyes bright, taking in everything with the curiosity of a wild beast that had just wandered into a human market.
Dragon could only sigh.
He really did not want to bring her to meet that shameless master of his, the man who now dominated the world. He was worried that this peaceful, fierce Golden girl would be snatched away by Brook and thrown straight into the war against the World Government.
A few days ago on Menggulia Island, he had been "forced" to beat up his own brother in law before he finally managed to bring Golden Paulina out.
His original plan was simple, take Paulina back to Foosha Village, then go recruit Belo Betty.
And then Brook's Den Den Mushi call had come out of nowhere.
Dragon was still stunned that his cheap master had actually come to the East Blue. Dragon knew the details of Brook's battle with Imu. He had dug into too many secrets.
Brook leaving the New World was not a casual decision.
"Dragon," Paulina said suddenly, chewing on a thick bone of meat. She took a huge bite, swallowed without manners, then asked with shining eyes, "I didn't expect someone as strong as you to have a master. He's an old man with white hair, right?"
Dragon's eyelid twitched.
"…He looks immortal."
He thought of Brook's Devil Fruit, and the legend of pure gold. Brook's appearance seemed frozen at thirty or forty. Dragon himself was already thirty three.
If he had not received a pure gold ring, he might look older than Brook in a few more years.
Paulina frowned, clearly unconvinced.
"What are you talking about? There's no such thing as an immortal person. Since when did you learn to lie? Trying to flatter your master?"
Before Dragon could answer, the tavern door creaked open.
Two figures stepped inside, both in black cloaks and masks.
The noisy tavern froze as if someone had pressed pause. Even the air felt heavier.
The barbecue bone in Paulina's hand lost all its appeal. Her pupils tightened as she stared at the masked man at the entrance.
It felt like a high level predator had walked into the room.
Danger rolled over her skin so hard that goosebumps rose down her arms.
A few small time pirates and bandits immediately threw down money and fled without another word. Anyone with eyes could tell those two strangers were not people you provoked, not unless you had a death wish.
The tavern owner, wearing a knitted cap, looked furious as most of his customers ran, but he still swallowed his anger. He did not dare bark at these guests.
Brook flicked his wrist and tossed a handful of rubies and sapphires onto the counter.
"I've booked the whole place," he said cheerfully.
Then he walked straight toward Dragon's table, Mihawk following behind him like a silent shadow.
Paulina moved like a small leopard. She snapped her bone spear up, stance low, eyes fierce, ready to explode forward at any moment.
"Paulina," Dragon said quickly, pressing her down with one hand. "Relax. He's my master."
Paulina did not lower her weapon, but her breathing shifted slightly.
Even through the mask, she could sense it now.
This was not someone she could bite.
"Yohoho!" Brook laughed as he reached the table and sat without invitation. "Dragon, is this your girlfriend?"
Dragon's gaze sharpened.
Brook's eyes were as calm as ever, but he had already read everything, their rough estimate of his strength, the girl's instincts, even the tension in Dragon's shoulders.
And Mihawk, standing just behind Brook, was also measuring Dragon.
Dragon's presence pressed down like a storm cloud.
Mihawk's thoughts flickered.
Dragon?
Monkey D. Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army?
This man was familiar with Brook, far too familiar.
But Dragon was supposed to rebel against the Marines and build the Revolutionary Army later.
Could it be that Brook had planned it from the beginning?
Mihawk glanced at Brook again.
So this was the kind of man who could declare war on the World Government and mean it.
Paulina finally spoke, voice cautious but direct.
"Are you Dragon's master?"
Brook's aura was already withdrawn to almost nothing, but even like this, Paulina could tell he was a monster among monsters.
"Master?"
Mihawk's eyes widened slightly under his mask.
Dragon, the son of the Navy hero Garp, a man who would become an admiral, betrayed the Marines and became the disciple of the Pirate Overlord Brook?
What kind of twisted relationship was this?
No wonder the world was on fire.
Mihawk had also heard rumors that Brook had a registered disciple who was a former Celestial Dragon, Doflamingo, now stirring the North Sea while extending his hands into the Grand Line.
Brook tilted his head as if amused by their expressions.
"What, you don't believe me?" he said lightly. "If you make me happy, I can have Dragon marry you on the spot."
Paulina's face reddened instantly. She stole a quick glance at Dragon, then looked away like she had been caught stealing meat.
Dragon's expression went stiff.
Even under pressure, he kept his voice controlled.
"Even Mr. Garp can't decide that for me, Mr. Brook. Please don't force me."
Brook leaned back, entertained.
"Forcing you?" he said, laughing. "So you don't like this girl, huh? Fine, I'll introduce her to a man. My sons are all outstanding. You won't mind, right?"
He turned his mask slightly toward Paulina, voice bright and teasing.
"What's your name, little one? Your big brother Dragon looks like he doesn't want you anymore."
Paulina's eyes narrowed. She shot Dragon a glare so sharp it could cut steel.
"My name is Golden Paulina," she said proudly. Then she raised her chin at Brook. "Can I call you Master? Dragon's not that much stronger than me. Once I learn real skills, I'll capture him and make him my husband!"
"Yohoho!" Brook's laughter filled the tavern. "Golden, huh? Interesting."
That surname carried weight.
Gol D. Roger had been called Gold Roger.
Dragon had been hiding this, quietly pulling a D clan girl into his orbit.
Brook's eyes gleamed behind the mask.
"If you dare to call me Master," Brook said, voice playful but sharp, "I'll teach you a few tricks. Enough to snatch men when you want, maybe even enough to beat up Dragon one day."
Dragon exhaled, long and helpless.
So much for keeping things quiet.
"Brook…Teacher," Dragon said reluctantly, the word tasting like defeat. "You don't need to worry about Paulina. I'll take care of her."
Then, like a man throwing meat to a sea king, he added quickly, "If you want another disciple, I can introduce one. Belo Betty. She's twelve, a good age to teach."
Brook's eyes lit up.
Belo Betty?
The future bright commander of the Eastern Army, the user of the Pump Pump Fruit, a top tier support who could stack buffs on allies on a massive scale.
Now that was a name worth hearing.
-----------
Brook had not expected the Revolutionary Army's intelligence network to be this sharp.
In the East Blue, Antonio and Moore Thomas were not as effective as Dragon's people. That alone was enough to make Brook raise an eyebrow.
So Antonio and the others needed to wake up. Even a newborn organization like the Revolutionary Army could sniff out rare talents like Belo Betty.
Dragon had also managed to find a hidden D bloodline, the Golden family, yet their overall gains in the East Blue had still been thin.
"Yohoho!" Brook laughed, tapping the table lightly. "Dragon, over the years I've poured supplies into your revolutionary army. I didn't expect you to still hold back and get rusty."
His gaze drifted to Golden Paulina for a moment.
"The family behind her will come to light sooner or later. Since you're offering a gift, I'll take Belo Betty as interest."
Brook understood Dragon's personality well enough. The Revolutionary Army's leader had his own ideals carved into his bones.
If Brook's descendants ever turned into tyrants like the Celestial Dragons, Dragon would be the type to raise a banner and try to "overthrow the Universal Government" without blinking.
Dragon's expression tightened. In the end, he could only tell Brook what he knew about Belo Betty, reluctantly and in full.
Before he could finish, thick smoke suddenly flooded the tavern, rolling across the floor like a wave.
The owner panicked, thinking the place had caught fire, and bolted out the door. With what Brook had paid, a rebuilt tavern would still leave him with change.
"Enemy?" Dragon's Observation Haki spread instantly.
In the next moment he flicked his hand. A gust of wind ripped through the room, scattering the smoke like it was nothing.
Brook chuckled.
"It's just a brat. I didn't think much of his ability, but since he's asking for punishment, I'll have him join the new navy to atone for his sins."
He snapped his fingers.
A ghostly general appeared beside them, so solid it looked almost real. It stepped forward, then melted into the wall and vanished as if it had never existed.
Paulina's eyes widened.
"Was that a ghost?"
Even someone as fearless as her felt a chill creep up her spine.
So ghosts actually existed in this world? Did people really become that after death?
Brook leaned in, amused.
"Yes. And look, there are a few behind you."
Paulina stiffened.
Slowly, painfully, she turned her head.
Several blood stained, half transparent spirits stood right behind her. Their pale, dead fish eyes stared straight at her, lips curled into strange smiles.
"AAAAH!"
Paulina shut her eyes and swung her bone spear wildly. In one desperate leap she threw herself into Dragon's arms, screaming like her soul was being dragged out.
Brook blinked.
He honestly had not expected Paulina to be scared of ghosts.
Shouldn't a girl like her be the type to chase them down with a net bag, laughing the whole time?
"Don't be afraid," Dragon said, holding her steady with a weary sigh. "That's Mr. Brook's ability. It won't hurt you."
He still remembered his first meeting with Brook, how that cheap master had used soul power to carve the word hell under Dragon's feet just to watch him react.
At that moment, another scream exploded from outside.
A white haired boy struggled in the doorway, flailing in panic. His ability to turn into smoke had failed again. A ghost had him pinned in one hand like a captured kitten.
The boy's face had gone white.
He looked like he was one second away from wetting himself.
Dragon's eyes narrowed as he stared at the ghost general.
Black flame like clouds coiled around its body, and the dark matter in its hands made Dragon's instincts howl.
Is that the Dark Dark Fruit's power?
Brook's ability was getting more unsettling by the day. Dual fruit powers, fused together, fighting without even moving the main body.
How many Devil Fruit users would end up suffering under this kind of power in the future?
"What a noisy kid," Brook said casually.
The ghost general swung its blade.
Smoker was struck and sent flying, tossed straight toward Mihawk like a piece of baggage.
Then, as if the scene had never happened, all the ghosts vanished.
Brook turned back to Dragon, smiling like a man who had just finished a harmless joke.
"I was going to give this natural type kid to you," he said, tone light. "But since you already have Paulina, I won't. Wouldn't want to disturb your little world of two."
Dragon's mouth opened, then closed.
He had nothing to say.
Paulina insisted on meeting this cheap master, and now Dragon was paying for it in full.
He should have refused her from the beginning.
Brook stood, slipping his mask back on.
"I was planning to visit Foosha Village," he said. "Nine year old Makino, and maybe I'd dig around the junk mountain to see if that former Shichibukai Naguri is there."
His voice shifted, decisive.
"But now I'm going to Pucelle Island instead."
Now that he had Belo Betty's location, priorities changed. He would take that student first.
Brook walked out of Loguetown with Mihawk, and with the future White Hunter Smoker dragged along for good measure.
Dragon stared at the empty table for a long time.
Then he turned into a storm and swept Paulina away from Loguetown, heading back to his hometown, Foosha Village.
…
Pucelle Island, a rural village.
A little girl with short purple hair stood at the front of the villagers, gripping a hoe wrapped in torn rags. She shook it hard as if she were shaking courage straight into their bones, urging them to fight back against the bandits from Burgundy Mountain.
The leader of the Burgundy bandits, Compiègne, glared at her with vicious eyes. A long knife in his right hand, a pistol in his left.
He had not expected this worthless little village to cost him men, more than a dozen of his brothers already down.
"Catch that girl!" Compiègne roared. "I'm going to burn this damn witch alive!"
He fired, furious, but the distance was too far and his aim was sloppy. The bullet missed.
Among the villagers, someone who had secretly joined the Revolutionary Army was sweating. A newcomer like him did not even have a Den Den Mushi. Last time, he had needed letters just to pass along information about Belo Betty.
But now, hearing her voice, feeling her presence, he surged forward with a wooden stick, smashing into the Burgundy bandits like he had become a different person.
"Kill that trash!" the purple haired girl shouted. "Don't you dare back off, you bastards!"
She was only twelve, yet she cursed like a tomboy, and sometimes even screamed at villagers who hesitated.
But her scolding, and the shaking of those rag wrapped tools, carried a strange power.
The villagers' eyes burned.
Strength flooded into their limbs.
They swung harder, moved faster, fought like they had been reborn, their combat power doubling in an instant.
Compiègne's face drained.
This was insane.
The village's fighting strength had jumped to something unnatural. Even a bandit leader with a bounty of 8.8 million Berries felt fear crawling up his throat.
"No retreat!" he shouted, trying to steady his men. "Surround her! Kill that witch!"
He loaded his pistol again, slower, more careful.
This time he aimed like his life depended on it.
"Bang!!"
The shot rang out.
The hoe wrapped in rags slipped from the purple haired girl's hands and hit the ground.
Blood followed, dark drops splashing into the dirt.
The villagers froze.
The moment her "encouragement" vanished, the surge in their bodies disappeared like smoke.
They turned back into terrified, ordinary farmers.
Then, screaming, they began to run.
.....
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