Whale Laboon

Brook once again felt the sensation of Being Human, and tears involuntarily streamed from the corners of his eyes.

"The organization's principles have already been explained to you by the Shadow Mecha. I hope you can continue down this path without wavering," Wang Gao said with a smile.

Brook calmed down. "Yohohoho! Overthrowing the Celestial Dragons and the World Government to establish an entirely new order—what a truly mad idea. But I agree. I want to see for myself whether that utopian future can truly be realized."

Wang Gao's voice rang out with conviction. "Then join this tide! Become a creator of the future!"

"It would be my greatest honor!" Even Brook's heart, tempered by death, stirred once more.

With Brook joining them, the three Sea Mist Trees brought under control, and Thriller Bark acquired earlier, the Human Reform League had gained full control over the Devil's Triangle.

With the Devil's Triangle as their territory, Wang Gao immediately decided to relocate the headquarters from Camel Island to the Devil's Triangle.

After all, Camel Island's location was far too awkward, and Giant Morley knew of its existence. It had only served as the headquarters as a temporary measure.

The Mist Sea Trees within the Devil's Triangle were clearly much more suitable as headquarters—concealed, yet able to emerge from the shadows at any time.

As for the Camel Island Base, it only needed some modifications to become a backup base. All important equipment and supplies had to be moved to the Devil's Triangle.

Much of the Camel Island Base's previous function had actually been to maintain contact with Level 5.5 of Impel Down, including supplying materials and dealing with Sudden Situations.

But that was no longer necessary, because Lucifer's Shadow World allowed him to achieve Instant Transmission across the globe.

Camel Island, which could be exposed at any moment, had lost its strategic value.

Moreover, Wang Gao already intended to excavate another Undersea Tunnel.

The Undersea Tunnel connecting Impel Down and Camel Island would be publicly abandoned, with several tunnel collapses staged.

In reality, however, the Human Reform League had deployed countless traps, mechanisms, and dense surveillance throughout that Undersea Tunnel.

The purpose was naturally to prepare for any eventuality, while also waiting for an opportunity to capture Giant Morley.

Although Lucifer's intelligence network was extremely powerful, Giant Morley's ability to hide was equally formidable. Ever since escaping Impel Down, he had concealed his identity, and coupled with his unusual Devil Fruit Ability, they had yet to gather any information on him.

On the other hand, Lucifer had pinpointed the whereabouts of Monkey D. Dragon and Okama King Ivankov.

Two weeks after completing the massive relocation, Lucifer used the abilities of the Shadow Mecha to modify a suitable base within the body of the Mist Sea Tree—Black Mist.

Wang Gao continued formulating new Devil Shadow Mechas.

Meanwhile, Brook, who was adapting to his body in the training grounds, saw Lucifer approaching and stopped his training. "Minister Lucifer, is there a mission?"

Lucifer shook his head. "It concerns a personal matter of yours."

"A personal matter?"

"Come with me!" With that, Lucifer opened a Shadow Tunnel and took Brook from the training grounds. Moments later, they arrived at the starting point of the first half of the Grand Line.

At the lighthouse of Twin Cape, two figures emerged from the shadows beneath it.

At that moment, the enormous Island Whale was tirelessly ramming the Red Line.

Standing on the cliff, Brook's body trembled as he shouted, "Enough! Laboon! Stop!"

The Island Whale that had been ramming the mountain seemed to hear something. It stopped and looked toward the lighthouse, as if trying to confirm something.

"It's been a long time, Laboon. I've come back to take you home," Brook shouted, spreading his arms wide.

Woooo... Laboon cried out excitedly.

Brook took out the Tone Dial he carried with him and began playing the song he and his companions had performed together before their deaths—Binks' Sake.

Yohohoho...

Bring Binks' brew

To where you are

Like the sea breeze, free and easy

Riding wind and waves

A burly man emerged from inside the whale. He had strange fan-shaped hair, and when he saw the figure on the lighthouse cliff, he froze involuntarily.

At dusk, the sun sank in the west.

At the lighthouse, a bonfire burned.

Brook and Crocus sat facing each other, while Whale Laboon happily rolled about on the sea not far away.

"Time passes so quickly. I never imagined that twenty-six years had passed since we parted. I thought you all..."

Brook replied with a complicated expression, "The captain and the others perished long ago. The Rumbar Pirates are now left with only Laboon and me."

"...But why didn't you come back all these years?" Crocus asked with a hint of anger.

Brook fell silent for a moment before answering, "I was trapped somewhere before. I only recently escaped from there."

"All right." Crocus was too worldly-wise to press further, so he changed the subject. "What do you plan to do next? And how will you arrange things for Laboon?"

"I plan to send Laboon back to West Blue."

"Send Laboon back to West Blue?" Crocus frowned. "How is that possible? Are you planning to take Laboon through Fish-Man Island, then pass through the Calm Belt from the New World?"

"Mr. Crocus, I have my own method. Once I reach West Blue, I'll contact you with a Den Den Mushi." With that, Brook tossed a Den Den Mushi to Crocus.

Although Crocus had his doubts, he did not press further. After all, everyone had their own secrets.

With his vast experience, he had more or less guessed at a few possible methods. Certain special Devil Fruits could indeed accomplish such a thing.

The next day, Brook left behind some fine wine he had brought from Gourmet Island, then bid farewell with Laboon and Crocus.

After traveling more than a hundred kilometers and reaching an empty stretch of sea, a thick fog suddenly rose from the surface. Laboon quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Lucifer stepped out from the shadows, wrapped Laboon in shadow, and pulled him into the Shadow World.

"Let's go!"

Although Laboon was enormous, the Calorie Heart inside Lucifer's body had stored 86 million units of High-Energy Calories. Pulling the Island Whale into the Shadow World was merely somewhat strenuous.

Brook was also greatly shocked. This gave him an even deeper understanding of Lucifer's strength—his shadow ability was simply terrifying to the extreme.

A hollow was left on the sea surface, and the surrounding seawater rapidly rushed in to fill it, even causing a small tsunami nearby.

Brook and the others, having entered the Shadow World, were swiftly pulled by Lucifer to West Blue.

About 271 kilometers from Starfish Island in the Palm Archipelago lay a hidden reef island formed from coral reefs. It was the only island in the surrounding area that rose above sea level, a barren island with neither fresh water nor trees.

Only after Lucifer created sea fog once more did he slowly pull Laboon out of the Shadow World and place him in the sea.

The reason he had chosen to place Laboon here was because this was one of Starfish Island Base's branch bases.

Salt Beach Island Branch Base was the second base Belfinger had built in West Blue, mainly to accommodate certain secret factories and hidden forces.

Together with the Vongola Trading Company on Starfish Island, it formed a mutually supportive arrangement.

The base had been built beneath Salt Beach Island. In the nearby seabed lay an extremely vast trench, with an average depth of around 15,000 to 17,000 meters and a width of 300 to 500 kilometers.

Only this kind of seafloor terrain could accommodate an Island Whale's life and concealment.

After all, an adult Island Whale stood around 400 to 500 meters tall and measured as much as 1,500 to 1,800 meters long.

Shallow waters truly were not suitable for them to live in.

Thank you all for your support (ω｀)