One Piece: Capitalist Brook's Crew Expansion Plan-Chapter 71: Charlotte Linlin’s Wrath

Brook followed Antonio back to his Den Den Mushi room. He had already told Shakky and Antonio not to mention the mobile Den Den Mushi chat group to anyone else.

The new crew members weren't aware of it, and there was no telling whether Redfield had picked up on Antonio's thoughts. But that hardly mattered.

Besides, even Shakky didn't know about Brook's private conversations with Charlotte Linlin and Edward Newgate, and Antonio wasn't the type to eavesdrop on his captain's business.

Still, it was time to render Charlotte Linlin and Edward Newgate's mobile Den Den Mushi useless. The screen connection cables had a built-in detachment function, allowing them to disconnect and revert the devices back to regular Den Den Mushi.

Perhaps when Edward Newgate woke up tomorrow, he'd find his mobile Den Den Mushi broken, its connection cables severed.

Every lie required another to cover it up. Brook had anticipated this moment long ago. He felt a tinge of helplessness, but these were 'benevolent' lies—never intended to harm anyone.

If fate had transported him to this world and given him knowledge of these people's futures, wasn't that an 'arranged' encounter by the heavens? Brook had already convinced himself of this logic.

...

Brook picked up his own mobile Den Den Mushi, preparing to inform Charlotte Linlin that Streusen was leading her away.

[Carmel: Linlin, have you found Brook yet?]

Charlotte Linlin, still thrilled by the speed of the pirate ship, believed they were closing in on the Hell Pirates. Hearing the vibration of her mobile Den Den Mushi, she immediately grabbed it to check.

[No. 43: Mother Carmel, this is great! You finally contacted me again! We're already on our way to find Brook!]

[Carmel: Linlin, are you sure you're heading in the right direction? Is Streusen lying to you? Ask him. If he hesitates, stop at the next island and wait for Brook to find you.]

[No. 43: Mother Carmel, Streusen wouldn't lie to me! He's the one who's always taken me out to sea!]

[Carmel: Linlin, do you not trust me? I...]

Before the message could be fully delivered, Linlin noticed a small puff of white smoke rising from her mobile Den Den Mushi. The screen connection cable detached, and the Den Den Mushi shrank weakly into its shell, refusing to emerge.

Linlin panicked, frantically trying to reconnect the screen, but to no avail.

Streusen, watching from the side, couldn't suppress a satisfied grin—but his smirk didn't escape Linlin's sharp eyes. Her fury ignited instantly.

"Streusen, did you do something to my Den Den Mushi?!"

Seeing her wrathful expression,Streusen immediately wiped the grin off his face and scrambled to explain.

"It wasn't me, Linlin! I swear I didn't touch it!"

He waved his hands frantically, trying to absolve himself. But inside, he was rejoicing. With the mobile Den Den Mushi broken, Brook could no longer deceive Linlin. As long as he led her far away from the Hell Pirates, she would remain under his control. Damn that Brook for interfering with his plans!

"Why were you laughing? I've lost contact with Mother Carmel! And—where exactly is our ship heading?"

Linlin's expression darkened as she recalled Carmel's last words, which implied she didn't trust her. That thought alone hurt her deeply. Seeing Streusen's suspicious smile only fueled her anger.

"I... I..."

Streusen's mind raced for an excuse, but he couldn't think of one fast enough to divert Linlin's suspicions.

"So you were lying to me! Turn this ship around—go back to the last island!"

Linlin was now convinced that Carmel had been right. Streusen had been leading her in the wrong direction, and now her Den Den Mushi was broken—obviously his doing.

"Linlin, how do you even know—"

Streusen was stunned. How had she figured out they were going the wrong way? Did that damn Brook discover his plan again? Had he somehow tracked their movements?

Brook had just learned that Antonio had developed a navigation function for the Den Den Mushi. The possibilities of this feature made Brook's mind race.

If they could distribute these special Den Den Mushi through News Coo birds—free of charge—to notorious pirate crews and even Marine Admirals and Vice Admirals, they could monitor everyone's movements in real-time!

Global surveillance... It all came down to Antonio and his network. Brook was beginning to understand just how valuable Antonio truly was.

"You! It was you!"

Linlin grabbed the short-statured Streusen by the collar, her furious eyes locking onto him. He had tried to steer her away from the Hell Pirates. He had broken her mobile Den Den Mushi. He had severed her connection to Mother Carmel!

"Linlin, that Carmel woman is a fraud! Just trust me for once!"

Streusen was growing frustrated. Linlin was a complete fool, allowing Brook to manipulate her. How dare she turn against the man who had raised her for ten years?

"You're still lying! Tell me—right now—are we sailing in the wrong direction?!"

Linlin's grip tightened as her rage boiled over.

"Linlin, I just wanted to keep you away from that liar Brook! He's the one impersonating Mother Carmel! And he's made an enemy of the Celestial Dragons! If we go with him, we'll end up doomed!"

Streusen had no choice but to go all in. He had to make Linlin see Brook's 'true nature.'

"Brook doesn't even know us! How would he possibly know about Mother Carmel? You're the one who's lying!"

Very few people knew the truth about Carmel and the Sheep's House. How could Brook, a complete stranger, have knowledge of something so obscure?

Linlin no longer believed a single word from the man in front of her. No matter what, she would fulfill Mother Carmel's wish and join Brook's Hell Pirates!

Streusen clenched his teeth. He wanted to shout at her—tell her that she was the one who had eaten Mother Carmel and the other children. How else did she think she got her Soul-Soul Fruit powers?

But if he said it aloud, their relationship would be permanently severed. Worse, Linlin might kill him on the spot. He had seen firsthand the terror of her rampages.

"Linlin, I was wrong. I lied. I won't stop you anymore. I'll take you there—I want to join the Hell Pirates with you!"

Streusen swallowed his pride and surrendered. He saw the murderous look in Linlin's eyes and knew that if he delayed even a second longer, she would crush him where he stood.

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