Chapter 44: Amnesiac Streusen

Under the curious gazes of the crew, Charlotte Linlin emitted some golden orbs of light from her palms, infusing them into the air-jet shoes.

Suddenly, the pair of wind-jet shoes sprouted eyes, ears, a mouth, and a nose. They became anthropomorphic, cheering excitedly as they floated and zipped through the air in sync.

"I order you to follow Shakky from now on!"

Linlin chanted a soul-binding spell, making the wind-jet shoes recognize Shakky as their master, obeying her commands. However, as the user of the Soul-Soul Fruit, Linlin still held the highest authority over them, while Shakky was granted secondary control.

The shoes flew to Shakky's feet, inviting her to put them on. The moment she did, they carried her into the air effortlessly, adjusting altitude, speed, and direction based on her commands.

Antonio, Hiruba, and Crocus' eyes gleamed with interest. It seemed this new crewmate had more to offer than just raw strength. If she could bring objects to life, then their equipment could become far more useful!

Have you ever seen a scallop that can automatically release poison or spray seawater?

Have you ever seen a sniper rifle that can reload and fire on its own?

The possibilities were endless!

Antonio immediately led Linlin to his workshop, enviously eyeing Shakky's enchanted footwear. Seeing his excitement, Linlin happily infused Antonio's wind-jet shoes with a soul as well.

Linlin also took a liking to the massive, pink-themed room Antonio had prepared for her, while Hiruba and Crocus were already brainstorming ways to convince her to upgrade their gear.

---

"Oh, I almost forgot! Captain Brook, hurry up and bring Streusen and the Memory Seahorse aboard! We can't leave them behind!"

Feeling completely welcomed by her new crew, Linlin had almost overlooked her old companion.

"Alright, let's go help Linlin move her stuff!"

Even though Brook knew there was nothing valuable on her ship, he still rallied the crew, encouraging everyone to participate so Linlin could integrate into the group more quickly.

"Everyone's so nice! I love you all so much!"

Linlin was deeply moved. She hadn't felt this genuinely happy among friends in years.

The golden ship landed beside her old pirate ship, resting on the waves. Linlin excitedly leaped back onto her own ship.

To her surprise, Streusen was lying on a recliner, seemingly asleep, while the Memory Seahorse continued to prance around idly, hiccupping every now and then.

"Streusen, how can you be napping on such an important day?!"

Linlin grabbed Streusen and shook him back and forth vigorously.

Shakky and Antonio broke out in cold sweats. Was she trying to kill him?!

Jolted awake by the forceful shaking, Streusen groggily opened his eyes. He saw a massive female giant towering over him, and his expression immediately twisted in fear.

When?! How did I get captured?!

He distinctly remembered escaping when their pirate crew was defeated. He had run as fast as he could, certain that he had evaded his pursuers. So how did I end up in the hands of these pirates?!

Pain surged through his body as he fully regained consciousness, terror gripping him.

"I surrender! I surrender! Please don't kill me!"

Still groggy and disoriented, Streusen started flailing in panic.

"What's wrong with you? Streusen, why would I kill you?"

Linlin was confused by his reaction, but realizing she might have been too rough, she carefully placed him back on the deck.

"Please, spare me! I'll do anything! I'm a great chef! I can cook, I swear!"

Streusen dropped to his knees, still pleading. His mind was a mess, but at least these people didn't seem to be the pirates who had originally attacked him.

"Streusen, are you an idiot? It's me! Linlin!"

Linlin frowned, frustrated with his bizarre behavior. He had been resisting her decision to join Brook all this time, and now he was acting like a frightened rabbit.

The other crew members, who knew about the Memory Seahorse, exchanged knowing looks.

Was this Captain Brook's doing?

"Linlin, does your friend not want to join the Hell Pirates?"

Brook asked in a 'concerned' voice, eyeing the confused and frightened Streusen.

"Uh..."

Linlin hesitated. She didn't actually know what Streusen wanted. He had always been against her joining Brook's crew, but now…

"My lord, please! I'm willing to join! Really, I swear!"

Streusen quickly changed his tune after glancing at the intimidating pirates surrounding him. That golden ship alone was enough to convince him—joining such a powerful crew was his best shot at survival.

"Streusen, what are you talking about? We were already planning to join Brook!"

Linlin picked him up again, this time holding him at eye level as she spoke seriously.

"Yes! Yes! I understand now! Of course, we're joining! That's exactly what I meant!"

Streusen immediately went along with her words. If he had any doubts before, they were gone now—resisting was not an option.

"That's great! You finally came around! But from now on, no badmouthing Brook!"

Linlin's words made Streusen shudder. Badmouth Brook?

When did I do that?!

But he wisely chose to nod along, not questioning it further.

The Hell Pirates' crew discreetly glanced at Brook and the Memory Seahorse once more.

So, this was Captain Brook's response to badmouthing him? Did he erase Streusen's memories?

Is Captain Brook really that petty?

Maybe we should be more careful about what we say from now on…

Some of them made a mental note to compliment the captain more often. Yes, praising the captain sounded like a very safe idea!

"Everyone, don't overthink it," Brook said smoothly. "Streusen is our crewmate now. The past is in the past. Just make sure you don't get any weird ideas about Linlin in the future!"

Brook's words made Shakky and the others immediately realize what had happened. Streusen must have had inappropriate thoughts about Linlin, so Brook had the Memory Seahorse erase those memories!

Tiger and Newgate, who had joined the crew later, were still clueless about the Memory Seahorse's ability. They exchanged confused glances, unable to follow what was going on.

Meanwhile, Streusen let out a silent sigh of relief. At least I managed to save my life… But what did he mean?

Me? Having feelings for that terrifying female giant? Impossible!

I'm barely 1.4 meters tall! How could I be interested in an 8-meter-tall monster with enough strength to nearly kill me?!

But he wisely kept his mouth shut.

"I'll be a dedicated chef from now on! I'll make delicious food for everyone!"

Streusen immediately declared, trying to prove his value. He had survived… and now, he just needed to stay useful!

----

After moving Charlotte Linlin's belongings onto the Erebus, Streusen followed as well, stepping onto the luxurious golden spaceship.

What kind of pirate crew had he just joined?

Was he dreaming? Streusen pinched his face. Not long ago, the small pirate crew he belonged to had been wiped out. He had barely managed to escape, but now, in the blink of an eye, he had somehow joined this terrifying and extravagant pirate group.

Was this a stroke of luck? And even someone like him, who had just boarded, actually had a private room? Was he a pirate or a tourist?

Back in his old crew, several pirates were crammed into a single, filthy room, sometimes going months without a bath. But here? This was pure luxury—gold decorations, a spacious cabin, and even a golden vase.

"This kind of pirate crew… I never imagined I'd be part of something like this."

Streusen carefully picked up the golden vase, hugging it tightly. Just to be sure, he bit down on it—solid gold. It was real!

"Let's have a party! A feast!"

At Brook's excited call, Streusen immediately rushed out of his room. As a chef, how could he not contribute to the banquet?

Stepping onto the deck, he was stunned by what he saw—Brook and Antonio had already prepared dishes he had never even seen before. The aromas alone stirred his passion as a chef.

"Today, the Hell Pirates welcome two new crew members! Our core team is nearly complete. From now on, we'll embark on grand adventures, growing stronger until we fear no enemy!"

Brook raised his glass, his eyes filled with excitement. He had successfully recruited three future Four Emperors-level pirates onto his ship. With a lineup like this, he had to push himself to become even stronger—to at least match them, if not surpass them!

"The Hell Pirates are the strongest!!!"

Shakky took the lead, raising her glass with enthusiasm, and the rest of the crew followed.

"Now that we're celebrating, let's take this opportunity to properly introduce ourselves and get to know each other better. We'll all work together to achieve our dreams!"

"Yeah!!!"

The crew erupted with cheers.

The Crew Introduces Themselves

"I'm first!" Shakky grinned. "I'm Shakky, the navigator of the Hell Pirates! My dream? If I'm bragging, I'd say it's to become the world's greatest navigator. But honestly, I just want to find the Devil Fruit the captain mentioned and become a warrior who won't hold anyone back!"

"I'm Fisher Tiger! Right now, I'm just a trainee crew member, but my dream is to defeat the Celestial Dragons, awaken my Conqueror's Haki, and become an unstoppable warrior—a hero among heroes!"

Nobody scoffed at Tiger's bold declaration. Even if the odds were slim, at least he had the courage to say it.

Streusen, however, was already breaking into a cold sweat. Did he just say he wanted to defeat the Celestial Dragons?!

"I'm Hiruba, the ship's sniper! My dream is to become the best marksman in the world! Whether it's a rifle or a pistol, I want to master them all!"

Hiruba's obsession with firearms was evident—he loved his guns more than anything else.

"Hahaha! I'm Tom, shipwright and helmsman! My dream is to build a sea train for Water 7 and bring prosperity to the islands!"

Tom, a Fish-Man, might not be able to construct Water 7's infrastructure himself, but he had already drawn up plans. He was determined to make it happen.

"Crocus, ship doctor. My dream? To be able to cure any disease!"

Crocus had set sail not only for adventure but also to study medicine worldwide, improving his skills.

"I'm Antonio, the Hell Pirates' intelligence officer! My dream is to uncover the secrets of all our enemies and help the captain rise to the top!"

Although Antonio was the weakest on board, he never let anyone forget that he was Brook's first crew member. He wanted respect!

"Gurarara~! I'm Edward Newgate, combatant. My dream is to build a family—a real family!"

Newgate took a swig of sake, smiling. Recently, Brook had been mentoring him in Haki and other combat techniques, which had left him deeply moved.

"I'm Streusen. From now on, I'll be your chef. Please take care of me!"

Having just joined, Streusen was still a little reserved, unsure of his place among these terrifying pirates.

"I'm Charlotte Linlin, and I'll be a combatant from now on! I want to eat lots and lots of desserts and create a country where all races can live in peace!"

Linlin stuffed a cake into her mouth, grinning happily. She could finally enjoy proper banquets with friends again.

"Patrick Redfield, combatant. My goal? To kill the Celestial Dragons and overthrow the World Government."

Redfield's words made Streusen's legs tremble. Another one?!

He had lost some of his memories, so he wasn't aware that Redfield had already slaughtered a Celestial Dragon. But just hearing that there were two people on this ship who openly declared war on the World Government made him want to jump overboard.

What kind of pirate crew is this?! A gang of lunatics?!

"Hahaha! That's all great! We'll help each other fulfill our dreams!" Brook raised his glass, fired up. His ideal crew had taken shape. After a period of training, they might even be ready to contend for dominance in the New World!

Would the Rocks Pirates still manage to become the undisputed overlords of the seas in this era?

With the Hell Pirates rising, Roger's crew had started training their Haki earlier than expected, preparing to enter the New World. The Flying Pirates had not been absorbed into the Rocks Pirates.

Newgate, Linlin, and other terrifying figures had not joined Rocks this time around. Could Rocks still unify the New World?

"The Hell Pirates will become the strongest crew! Let's go for it!!!"

Hearing Brook's declaration, Shakky was filled with confidence. She was sure now—the captain had a terrifying ability to foresee the future.

With control over the World Economic News' intelligence network, they had an edge over everyone.

The future looked bright!

---

Meanwhile, on an Island Near Doerena Kingdom

"Dammit! That was way too close!"

Golden Lion Shiki cursed as he dragged his injured crewmate, Scaredo, away at high speed, abandoning their ship and all their supplies.

Earlier, they had been recruiting new crew members when they saw Rocks D. Xebec's updated bounty. Not only had that ruined their chances of gathering a crew, but it also drew enemy pirates to ambush them. After barely defeating their attackers, they had to steal another pirate's ship to escape.

But just as they had taken to the skies, they encountered a Marine fleet—and not just any fleet.

A navy officer with massive black wings soared out from the warship, single-handedly destroying their stolen ship in a single attack.

Shiki's face turned pale when he recognized the Marine's rank.

"I thought it was just a coincidence that we ran into the Hell Pirates… but now it's the Flying Pirates that got wiped out by Rocks?!"

Admiral Coss Davo watched as the Golden Lion fled but did not pursue. He had more pressing matters—the Celestial Dragons' mission took priority.

Their next target was the Kingdom of Magara.

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