Some smart ones quickly leave the area and go to their ships without waiting for Brook to say anything else. This is a race, after all, so whoever starts first will have the advantage. Brook obviously doesn't stop them and keeps talking about the competition.
There is no rule to this competition, but everyone needs to pay 100 thousand belly to participate. Those who don't pay can't participate in the competition. Obviously, many don't care and try to leave the island to get the ship quickly.
"Yohohoho, some of you are in very high spirits. But I told you that every single one of you needs to pay to participate. Those who don't pay aren't allowed to join the competition."
*BOOM*
Suddenly the ships that have left the island explode. Each explosion is big enough to engulf a whole ship, even the biggest one. Everyone who is still on the island or has just gotten on their ship is shocked.
"We don't allow illegal participants, please understand. Now, we will open the registration. Everyone who boards your ships needs to pay without exception. Ah, wait, anyone below 3 years old is free."
Many closed tents around the plaza suddenly open their curtains. In each tent, there is a desk and 3 people with official suits.
"Everyone, please register yourselves at these registration desks. You need to be quick or others will go before you, YOHOHOHO!"
Everyone finally realizes that the registration is also a race. But many of them don't bring their money with them, so they need to go back to their ships first. Some don't even have enough money for their crews, so they plan to rob the other participants.
Those who already have enough money at hand quickly register themselves and the officials are very quick too. They note the participants' names, take their photos, and also give them badges to prove they are participants.
The officials move very quickly and each person only needs a few seconds to register. All participants are very impressed by how fast these people work. But they don't have time to be stunned, so they go to their ships immediately after registering.
But not everyone is in a rush. Those who are confident in their power like the Straw Hat Alliance are very relaxed. Some of them go back to their ship to take the money needed, but they aren't in a rush and be careful instead because they know the others will target their money.
Most of them go back to their ships to take the money while some stay in the plaza to see the situation. Leo is among those who stay in the plaza and he is actually approaching Brook who is still on the stage.
"UNCLE BROOK!"
"Hmm? Blue hair and twin cutlasses. Are you Leonardo?"
"Yes, it's me. It's been a long time, Uncle Brook."
"Yohohoho, indeed. Last time I saw you, you were still this tiny."
Brook made a gesture like he's pinching something invisible in midair to show how tiny Leo was.
"What the-?! As if a kid can be that tiny! I wasn't a bug."
"Yohohoho, I'm just joking. I have heard a lot of things that you did as a member of Straw Hat Pirates. You joined the crew with Nami-chan, right? Where is she?"
"She has been looking for Dad since yesterday, so she didn't see your show."
"What show? I was just explaining a few things to everyone. Do you want to participate, little Leo?"
"Of course. That's the reason we come here in a rush. So, Uncle Brook, can you exclude us from paying? And also, do you know where my dad is?"
"Yohohoho, so that's why you approached me immediately. But too bad, boy, I can't make any exception, even if it is you, the Grand Captain's son. You all need to pay as it is a fair competition for everyone. I know where the Grand Captain is though."
"Tch, stingy. Where's dad though?"
"UNCLE BROOK!"
Nami suddenly arrives after going around searching for Buggy. He isn't here, so obviously she can't find him.
"Oh, Nami-chan, or should I say Nami-san, now? You have grown to be a beautiful woman. So, can you show your panties now?"
"AS IF!"
Nami was excited to see Brook and almost hugged him. But that hug turns into a punch on the skeleton's face.
"I don't know if I should call you brave or dumb. You were asking this to mom anytime you met her and now you asked my sister."
Leo can only sweat drop at Brook's antique. But then he gets even more speechless by Nami who suddenly becomes nice to Brook again while asking if they can join the competition for free. Of course, Brook says they need to pay and he doesn't give up no matter what tricks Nami uses.
It makes Nami's attitude change again like she hates Brook very much. In the end, the Straw Hat alliance needs to pay. They pay quite a large sum because they have many people. The Straw Hat Pirates pay the smallest amount because they only have a few people.
"By the way, where's my dad, Uncle Brook?"
"It should be a secret, but I will tell you this. Grand Captain is waiting on Hachinosu. He is guarding the rewards and anyone who wants to get the rewards needs to defeat him first. So if you want to meet him now, you need to go there. But remember, he won't go easy on you just because you are his children."
"Heh, just what I hoped for. I'll show him how much I've grown and defeat him."
"Yohohoho, I'd like to see that too."
"But that sounds like this competition is a scam. You said it's a race, but there is a boss monster waiting at the end of the way."
"Big Sis is right. It sounds like you never intended to give the rewards to anyone."
"Yohohoho, that is the point. We are not giving Oro Jackson to anyone
"Are you the only one here?"
"Yes, I am the only one from the main crew here, tasked to maintain the order on Clownland until the competition ends."
"You seem very free though."
"Well, isn't that a good thing then because that means there's no problem too big that I would need to interfere? It means the others can handle the problems on the island, yohohoho."
"Is that so? Then, you are free, right? So how about a match, Uncle Brook? It's been a long time."
Leo looks very excited and Brook is grinning with his skull face. Everyone else is also interested in the match that's about to unfold. They want to join the competition immediately, but this match looks more interesting.
However, it doesn't go as they thought. They thought it would be a battle of swordsmen because they knew Brook is a swordsman too. Instead, this actually turns into a battle of musicians who compete for their musical ability.
They were quite disappointed, but it turned into a great excitement very quickly. Leo & Brook are very great musicians and their music is top-notch. Even those with low musical senses can feel the greatness of their music.
Brook is impressed by Leo's current level in music which has grown a lot. He is Leo's music teacher, after all, and he has seen Leo's growth in music art since the beginning. After not seeing Leo for months, he didn't expect Leo to grow this much.
But, Brook can't lose to his student, so he goes all-out now. His song captures the hearts of everyone who hears it. Brook's music is so good that even the pirates who are trying to get back to their ships stop to hear the music more.
Leo widens his eyes in surprise because Brook's music is too incredible. He still can't produce that level of music with his current musical skills. The result is clear already with Brook as the winner. It's an overwhelming victory.
"Ugh, I still can't beat you in music. But it will be different in a real battle, let's spar, Uncle Brook."
"Wait, Leo!"
"What is it, Zoro?"
"You already fought him, so it's my turn now. He is a swordsman, right?"
"Huh? But it was a battle of music, not a battle of power."
"It doesn't matter, a fight is a fight, and you lost. Now it's my turn to fight."
Zoro doesn't wait for Leo's answer and attacks Brook with 1 sword vertical slash. Brook unsheathes his sword a little and blocks Zoro's attack quite easily.
"Shouldn't you ask for my approval first before attacking to know if I want to spar?"
"Are you declining?"
"Yohohoho, well, not really."
Brook slashes forward while unsheathing his sword to push Zoro. He has a wide grin on his skull face as he points his sword at Zoro.
"Then, show me what you've got, young swordsman."
As a member of Clown Pirates, Brook also becomes someone who loves battle. He can feel this young swordsman is powerful and it makes him excited.
________________________________________
You can read more chapters ahead of my fanfics and more pictures on my Pa_treon page if you are interested.
Voting for this book is highly appreciate. Cover image is the MC, artist's ig: @fatmaqn_
I've uploaded Chapter 557. Undefeated Brook
- Pictures of both stories (ex: bounty poster & magazine cover) by fatmaqn_
https://www.pa_treon.com/CaptMermain
(the web didn't use _underscore_, it's to avoid censorship)
— Un nuevo capítulo llegará pronto — Escribe una reseña