One Piece: Capitalist Brook's Crew Expansion Plan-Chapter 82: The Admiral Enters the New World

Seeing Newgate's reaction, Shakky wisely shut her mouth, lest she get dragged into another one of the captain's new experiments.

"Captain Brook, I feel like they're constantly draining my vitality!"

Although the effect was minimal at first, Newgate soon noticed a slight discomfort in his body. Given his immense physical strength and boundless stamina, this was no small matter.

"Oh? So it does have some effect! Either these ghosts are too weak, or Newgate is just too strong!"

Brook shifted his gaze to the rookies on board. Weak ghosts needed weak crewmates to demonstrate their effects properly.

"The weather is changing. I'm going to take a closer look!" Shakky bolted, grabbing her memory seahorse to accompany her.

"Captain Brook, the new crew member's Den Den Mushi signal seems to have moved. I'll go check!"

Antonio, recalling his previous terrifying experience with Brook's soul music nearly pulling his spirit out of his body, seized the opportunity to escape when he saw the captain's gaze turn toward him.

"Ahem, Silva, didn't you say you needed new varieties of poisonous bullets?"

Ship doctor Crocus immediately turned and walked back to his lab, dragging the sniper Silva along.

"Right! Crocus, you're too good to me!"

"Don't look at me, Captain. I still need to steer the ship!"

Fish-man Tom quickly rejected Brook with a serious face. He had no intention of being a test subject!

"You lot are unbelievable! Fine, I'll go with the most talented one—Tiger! You're the perfect candidate, don't you think? It's time to assess your progress!"

Brook turned to the eager apprentice crew member Tiger after everyone else had dodged his request.

"No problem, Captain! I'm strong! These little ghosts won't faze me in the slightest!"

Receiving Brook's approval as the "most talented," Tiger was overjoyed. One day, he would definitely surpass Tom and become as powerful as Redfield!

"Excellent! That fearless spirit is exactly what I like. I'm sure you'll make rapid progress and become an official crew member soon!"

Brook encouraged Tiger while silently directing the ghosts toward him. Meanwhile, the crewmates who had just fled were now sneakily returning to watch the show.

"Hah! Come at me, you little ghosts! I'm going to awaken my Conqueror's Haki one day—no way I'd be scared of you!"

Tiger unleashed Fish-Man Karate, but his attacks had no effect. The ghosts phased through him, chilling his body. Even Tom shook his head, while the others started placing bets on how long Tiger would last.

"Come on, Newgate! Are you really making a big deal out of this? It's just a little chill!"

Tiger initially felt refreshed by the cold, but soon his lips turned blue, his limbs went numb, and he shivered uncontrollably. He tried to dodge, but the ghosts stuck to him under Brook's command, refusing to let go.

"Captain Brook! Stop! I can't take it anymore!"

Shaking and pale, Tiger had no choice but to run toward the captain.

"Crocus, check on him."

Brook, pleased with the results, noted how the ghosts drained a person's vitality, leaving them weak. If they could summon more powerful ghosts in larger numbers, they could potentially create an army capable of inducing mass weakness.

"No injuries, just extreme fatigue—like someone recovering from a long illness. A few days of rest should do the trick."

Crocus examined Tiger, comparing his state to someone who had overtrained to the point of exhaustion.

"Captain Brook, play 'Conquer Paradise' for me! I feel like I can't even stand up!"

Tiger slumped in embarrassment. If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have boasted earlier. Now he felt like he had thoroughly humiliated himself.

"Perfect timing—I was in the mood for some music myself."

At Newgate's suggestion, Brook put away his ghosts and took out his violin. As he played, the crew's morale surged once more.

"I'm not afraid of ghosts anymore! I can sleep alone tonight—I'm not scared of monsters under the bed or ghosts in the closet!"

Shakky hyped herself up, completely forgetting she had a Sound Dial that could replay Brook's music anytime.

"Listening to this makes me want to find someone to fight!"

Newgate clenched his fists, invigorated by the music.

...

Time passed through training and battles as the Golden Ark continued soaring through the skies, heading toward Charlotte Linlin's territory.

Meanwhile, Admiral Shirokiri had crossed the Red Line through the official passage, entering the New World. He docked at the classified research island, Punk Hazard, to resupply and deliver new research directives along with rare materials.

This island was now home to a massive gathering of scientists, each conducting their own projects. Due to its location in the New World, it had access to rare experimental materials—including various creatures and even humans.

"The World Government's demands are impossible! They're asking for the unimaginable!"

A newly recruited scientist complained as he scanned the list of research topics: crossing the Calm Belt, recovering Devil Fruits, creating artificial Devil Fruits, developing artificial warriors... even pure gold was on the list.

Each scientist was required to choose a project based on their expertise and form a research team.

"I specialize in firearms, cannons, and explosives. Why are there no weapons projects this year?"

"I was working on robotics back home. Does that count as artificial warriors?"

"I only know about organ transplantation!"

"What about you? What's your expertise?"

"Me? I'm an expert at being experimented on!"

A bald scientist in a lab coat answered proudly. He wasn't just a weapons inventor—his insane durability and bizarre ideas had even led his colleagues to use him for their own experiments.

His latest invention, Reaper's Wrath 3000 – Anxiety Wind, had been widely acclaimed by his peers and had inspired numerous new projects.

Admiral Shirokiri ignored the eccentric scientists and continued deeper into the New World with his fleet, pursuing the fleeing Hell Pirates.

Due to difficulties establishing intelligence networks in the New World, the World Government had secretly formed partnerships with underground intelligence brokers. Nowadays, much of the Navy's intel came directly from the underworld, with a small fraction still supplied by CP agents.

...

The pursuit of the Hell Pirates had only just begun, and the chaotic New World was on the verge of even greater turmoil.

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+100 Chapters on p@treon/tambeerg