The Yellow Springs sailed forward under the helm of shipwright Tom, with Redfield and Silva adjusting the sails as they entered the cloud waterfall. Inside the observation room, Shakky closely monitored their surroundings, her keen eyes scanning the dense white mist ahead.
Brook stood at the bow, fully alert. As they pushed deeper into the cloud waterfall, their vision became completely obscured by thick mist. With no way of knowing what lay ahead, they could only press forward blindly.
A sense of tension filled the air. The unknown stretched before them—was this what adventure truly felt like? Placing their lives on the line, embracing the thrill of the unknown?
After five or six minutes of navigating in darkness, sunlight finally broke through the clouds. Before them lay a lush green island.
"There's an island hidden within the cloud waterfall? Incredible! I wonder if there are any people living here?" Shakky's curiosity was piqued, her excitement barely contained. The rest of the crew, equally intrigued, were eager to uncover the mysteries of this strange land.
The sight of the island stirred something in Brook's memory. It reminded him of a movie he had once seen—a place protected by the mythical Qilin Lion.
"This island looks familiar… It's a Rare Beast Island. There's a beast king here—the Qilin Lion. Be careful, everyone. I have no idea how strong it is!" Brook warned his crewmates.
A Qilin Lion... it certainly sounded impressive. Could it be tamed as a mount?
"A Qilin Lion? Is it a Mythical Zoan? Either way, it must be an extremely rare creature! Brook, let's go check it out!" Shakky said excitedly.
Meanwhile, Memory Seahorse's eyes gleamed with ambition. A beast king? If it could consume the Qilin Lion's memories, could it evolve? Maybe even grow wings and transform into a Millennial Dragon?
"Hmph~ I'd like to see for myself if this so-called Qilin Lion is really as strong as Brook claims!" Redfield declared, a confident smirk playing on his lips. He had grown far stronger lately. A mere beast king? He hardly saw it as a challenge and was more than ready to put its strength to the test.
...
Since this island was uninhabited, there were no ports. The Yellow Springs dropped anchor in the shallows, and the crew lowered a landing boat. Even Tom, the shipwright, joined them—there was no need for anyone to remain on board.
"Finally, we're on land. This island feels like a paradise untouched by the outside world!"
The vegetation was lush, the dense forest a deep emerald green. Even the grasslands were perfectly smooth, almost as if they had been trimmed by human hands.
As Brook and his crew disembarked, a crowd of bizarre creatures gathered along the shore to watch them. A long-haired hippopotamus, a wild boar with trumpet-like tusks, a green giraffe...
Brook frowned. None of these creatures fit his aesthetic preferences. Instead, they looked like strange, jumbled hybrids. So these were Rare Beasts?
Suddenly, one of the trumpet-boars let out a loud call and bolted away, kicking up a cloud of dust as it ran. It was as if it were sounding a battle horn, warning the island's other beasts of an intruder.
"Brook, these Rare Beasts are ugly… and weak!" Redfield said flatly, sounding disappointed. This wasn't the kind of battle he had been hoping for.
Before Brook could respond, the ground began to tremble. Thick clouds of dust rose in the distance as an overwhelming number of Rare Beasts charged toward them from deep within the island. It was like an army on the move, ready to encircle them.
At that moment, a dazzling golden figure soared through the sky. A magnificent lion with golden fur, crowned by two shimmering, coral-like horns.
It was the Qilin Lion, the king of Rare Beast Island!
With a mighty roar, the Qilin Lion unleashed a shockwave that stirred a violent gust of wind, its voice a declaration of dominance.
Redfield's eyes gleamed with anticipation. This was the opponent he had been waiting for.
"Let's see if this so-called beast king is truly as strong as Brook claims!" He cracked his knuckles, ready for battle.
"What are you humans doing here?!"
A sudden voice rang in Brook and his crew's ears. Could it be that the Qilin Lion could talk? But no—behind the beast, a green parrot, over a meter tall, flapped into view. It was the one speaking.
"Whoa, a talking parrot! That's a rare find, Captain Brook."
Shakky's eyes sparkled as she fixated on the bird. No matter what, she was determined to bring it aboard. A talking bird was something she had never seen before.
The parrot, unnerved by the group's stares, darted back behind the Qilin Lion. But, reassured by the beast's strength, it quickly regained its confidence and flew out again.
"Humans, state your purpose, or our king will drive you away."
As the parrot spoke, the Qilin Lion let out a thunderous roar. Its golden horns gleamed, releasing a scorching beam of light that blasted a deep crater into the grass before Brook's group—a clear show of power.
"Impressive strength."
Redfield had already drawn his cane sword, ready to engage the airborne Qilin Lion to test its true might.
"What a magnificent creature! Qilin Lion, you and that talking parrot—do you have any interest in setting sail with us and exploring the world?"
Brook stepped in front of Redfield, extending an invitation to the two rare beasts. The Qilin Lion was simply too dazzling—golden, majestic, the perfect way to make an impression!
"Humans, our king is Qilin Lion His Majesty, and I am his elder, Parrot Assistant. Remember it well!"
The green parrot, emboldened by the Qilin Lion's presence and the many exotic beasts gathered behind them, showed no fear despite the small size of Brook's crew.
The Qilin Lion rumbled a few words to Parrot Assistant, who then relayed the message.
"Our king has spoken—he will never leave this land. He will protect it until his dying breath!"
Hearing this, Brook couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. What a glorious beast—it would have made the perfect addition to their crew!
"Captain Brook, do you like this rare beast? If so, allow me to capture it for you!"
Seeing his captain rejected, Redfield was less than pleased. Without hesitation, he bypassed Brook, slashing his cane sword and sending a sharp wave of sword energy straight at the Qilin Lion. In an instant, he closed the distance, aiming for a close-quarters battle.
Brook considered stopping him, a remnant of his past self still clinging to some sense of kindness. He didn't fully embody the ruthless nature of a pirate.
Unlike Redfield, who acted with true pirate instincts—if you wanted something, you took it. That was the essence of piracy, was it not?
As the saying goes, 'If you're not ruthless, you won't stand firm.' Once you become a pirate, there's no room for heroics. Even Shakky and Silva seemed ready to make a move. Wasn't plundering the very foundation of piracy?
With that realization, Brook let go of his hesitation. There was no place for mercy here. If he truly desired the Qilin Lion, then he would take it. If the beast refused to set sail, then the Memory Seahorse would erase its past, and he would tame it anew.
Brook finally embraced the true mindset of a pirate—profit above all else!
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+100 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg