After wrapping up the situation with Dragon Mom Daene Targary, the birthday banquet carried on, but once that Mythical Zoan Ice Frost Giant Dragon fruit showed up, all the other groups suddenly felt like their own gifts paled in comparison.

Still, they gritted their teeth and presented them one by one. Brook had someone log everything, sorting out return gifts based on how valuable each one was, while plenty of factions seized the chance to enroll their heirs in Brook’s martial arts academy.

Even if these kids only sat through one of Brook’s lessons, they could call the overlord Brook their teacher or master—and just like that, they’d be official disciples of an overlord, prestige through the roof!

That’s the thing: if you’re powerful enough, countless groups will scramble to link up with you in any way they can. Even without scoring direct perks, they can at least drop your name to sound impressive!

Once the banquet wrapped up, the various factions scattered, poking around the shops on Hell’s Eighteen Islands for weapons, potions, or services they needed—or maybe spying on the business setups to see if they could replicate them back home.

...

On Baron Island, in the Golden Hall.

The three toddlers were all staring at the Ice Frost Giant Dragon devil fruit. Figuring the kids were too young to handle their powers properly, Brook decided to wait until they were a bit older before letting them eat it.

Plus, the eldest, Hades, and the second, Osiris, didn’t even have their devil fruits picked out yet—he couldn’t play favorites by giving Kanna hers first.

"Wait until you’re not three-year-olds anymore~"

Brook tucked the Mythical Zoan Ice Frost Giant Dragon fruit away in his collection room.

Gazing at his devil fruit shelf, Brook smiled with satisfaction. He could only hope the Celestial Dragons on God Valley were as capable and impressive as him, hoarding a bunch of top-tier devil fruits!

God Valley had centuries of history behind it—fingers crossed their stash would deliver a real surprise!!!

...

The next day.

Still no word from Rocks. He’d been asked to send one of his officers back to the Sabaody Archipelago to stir up trouble and keep Kong occupied—a simple task like that, and he couldn’t even pull it off. Yet here he was, pushing Brook to rally forces for a navy siege!

With some free time on his hands, Brook headed straight out with Daene Targary, bound for the Winter Island on the border of the Ice Kingdom. Did this Night King Arzuka really think holing up in the Ice Kingdom meant no one would come knocking?

With Brook’s current strength, he wasn’t about to back down from some decrepit old overlord. If that old ice demon dared to stick his nose in, Brook wouldn’t mind reaping another overlord-level soul!

The Ice Kingdom’s freezing temps were actually pretty ideal for the Shadow-Shadow Fruit—at least the zombies wouldn’t rot, stink, or turn into piles of decaying bones.

He honestly wondered if those weak-sauce zombies from Gecko Moria’s crew in the original story gave off a stench. How did the Straw Hats just ignore the corpse smell? Did Moria and Dr. Hogback really go through the trouble of preserving and deodorizing the bodies?

"Brook-sama, I can’t thank you enough—truly, from the bottom of my heart—for stepping in personally to save my country. This humble woman has no way to repay you... but I’ll never forget your immense kindness~"

Daene Targary gave Brook a proper princess curtsy. She and her guards boarded the golden flying ship too, catching a ride back home!

She’d never imagined the trip there would be such a grind, while the return would be this effortless—and with the mightiest flying fleet in tow. Looked like her choices had paid off!

"You already paid your dues, and besides, I’ve got my own interest in this Night King Arzuka!"

Brook half-expected this dragon girl to offer herself up as thanks, but no—it was just talk of remembering his kindness. Sigh, talk about lacking sincerity.

Hearing Brook’s cool, detached tone, the spark of excitement Daene Targary had just felt fizzled out. She bowed her head and fell silent.

Such an icy tone!

It nearly scared the pants off me—worthy of the legendary overlord!! Worthy of being my idol!!

Rising to become a New World overlord in just a few years, building a massive empire... that’s the kind of goal I need to chase and admire!

But Brook acts so differently around princes and princesses compared to everyone else—warm and welcoming like a spring breeze, instead of this chilling terror!

"Brook-sama, I want to become the queen of the Westeros Kingdom. Please, crown me yourself! I’ll swear eternal loyalty to you—I’ll be yours!"

Daene Targary suddenly locked eyes with Brook, her face set with determination. Her father the king, her brothers and sisters—they were all gone now. The Targary royal line was down to just her, one lone woman.

To keep the Westeros Kingdom going and honor her father’s legacy by protecting the nation, she needed a powerful ally. Otherwise, even after Brook crushed the rebellion, she’d still be vulnerable!

And in the New World, who better to back her than the overlord right in front of her—Brook himself?

If she could join his inner circle, her throne would be untouchable!

And if she could truly become Brook-sama’s woman, maybe even bear his child... then the Dragon Blood Family Targary would thrive once more!

"As long as that’s what you want—to be queen. I’ve heard your family can tame giant dragons? Does Rokudō Island really have dragon eggs?"

Last night, Brook had skimmed the intel from Antonio and Mortomas. Rokudō Island had apparently once been home to actual giant dragons.

Legend had it that the dragon slain by Wano’s dragon-slaying swordsman, Shimotsuki Ryuma, might’ve come from there. The World Government had even sent agents to Rokudō Island to snatch up dragon eggs and bones, hoping to hatch them or clone the beasts for study!

Brook recalled Vegapunk mentioning that Punk Hazard did have an artificial giant dragon project underway, though it hadn’t panned out.

"Yes, Brook-sama—our Targaryen clan did once command giant dragons. But at some point, they started struggling to survive, and even the eggs became nearly impossible to hatch. That’s why we don’t have any left."

"Still, our dragon tomb should have some petrified dragon eggs tucked away. No idea if they could still hatch, though. That Night King Arzuka’s been obsessed with breaking in there to steal the dragon remains."

"Oh, and there was this guy named Roger who landed on Rokudō Island before. He was asking around about dragon eggs everywhere and even helped us fend off the Night King Arzuka once."

"We rolled out the red carpet for them, but the next day, they were just... gone. And the guards watching the dragon tomb that night? They all blacked out for reasons no one could explain."

Hearing Brook agree to her request and show interest in her family, Daene Targary lit up and started chattering away. She’d done her research too—she knew the Roger Pirates had a solid rapport with Brook.

After all, the Roger Pirates were still the Pirate Guild’s one and only diamond-level crew, held in high regard by Brook himself.

"Roger went to Rokudō Island too?"

Brook was caught off guard. Could Roger’s giant dragon egg have been swiped from there?

And the guy hadn’t even bothered to tip him off—after all that talk about calling him on the Den Den Mushi if he ever stumbled across a giant egg!

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+400 Chapters on p@treon/tambeerg