A Moving Story, a Promise Kept for Fifty Years

Let's rewind to thirty minutes ago.

Franky and Nico Robin are currently facing an enormous Spider Monkey.

Their pirate ship ended up caught in a giant spider web because of the other party.

"Damn it, how come this guy is so hard to kill?" Franky said.

He had already been wielding his giant Nunchaku, slashing the zombie in front of him fiercely, but to no avail.

Hahaha~

"Fool, I'm a zombie! What effect would that attack have on me?!" the Spider Monkey laughed.

"I refuse to believe it!"

Enraged, Franky charged forward again and brutally beat the Spider Monkey, knocking it over.

"Hmph, looks like it's working quite well," Franky scoffed.

"You were careless..."

"What?"

Suddenly, several figures rushed out from the shadows, shooting out Spider Silk at incredible speed, and forcefully binding Franky and the other man.

"Oh no..."

Nico Robin's expression immediately changed; the opponent's Spider Silk was too fast, and she couldn't dodge it at all.

Franky glanced at the slowly descending Rat Spider Group and cursed, "What the hell is that?!"

"Hahaha."

Looking at the two people trapped on the ground, the Spider Monkey laughed loudly, "Fools, you think you can resist us?"

"Under the surprise attack of our Spider Legion, no enemy can escape!"

After saying this, the Spider Monkey stepped forward slightly, looked at the two of them with a mocking expression, and said, "You will soon end up like your companions, with your shadows stolen by your master."

"Shadow..."

"Companion?"

This news made their expressions even more unpleasant.

"Alright, it's time to take you to reunite with your friends," said the Spider Monkey.

But no sooner had he finished speaking than he heard a man humming a song, and the sound grew closer and closer.

"Yohohoho~"

"Yo-ho yo-ho~"

"Yohohoho~"

"Yo-ho yo-ho~"

"What's that noise?" the Spider Monkey asked, puzzled.

"No, boss, it's that guy!!" the Mouse Spider exclaimed in terror, "It's that humming guy!!"

That guy who has the ability to purify them is absolutely terrifying!

"What?!"

Upon hearing that Brook was attacking, Spider Monkey's expression changed, but before he could do anything, he saw a man's back appear in front of him.

"Okay, I'm done chopping!"

"Um?"

"Nose Song Three-Step - Arrow Tail Slash!!"

"Puff!!"

As Brook sheathed his sword, a terrifying force struck the Spider Monkey, cleaving its head in two!

The Mouse Spider were not spared either; their bodies were split open, rendering them unable to move.

"Ah!!"

At the moment of the scream, Brook threw some salt into the other person's mouth, forcibly purifying it.

"What did you use?" Franky asked in shock.

The guy he couldn't kill no matter how hard he hit him, the other side just killed him in one go?

What is that?

"It's salt," Brook nodded. "Salt can be used to purify these zombies."

"Salt?" Franky asked in surprise. "Why?"

"Perhaps it's because seawater is the bane of ability users," Brook thought for a moment and said.

After saying that, he turned around and cut all the Spider Silk binding the two of them, freeing them from their restraints.

Thank you.

"No need to be so polite." Brook shook his head, then said, "Didn't I tell you to leave? Why did you still come to the island?"

"Because Luffy wants to help you get your shadow back."

"Mr. Luffy...?"

Brook paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "He really is a good person."

"Yohohoho~"

It would be a lie to say he wasn't moved, but what could he possibly do to repay her now?

"Now you can tell us what's going on with this island," Nico Robin said.

"All right."

After letting out a long sigh, Brook said, "First, I need to tell you that this time our enemy is Shichibukai, Gecko Moria!"

"Shichibukai?"

Franky raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting to encounter such a character.

"Hmm, and then?" Nico Robin said calmly.

"Huh?!"

"So calm?!"

Brook stared at Nico Robin in shock, never expecting her to be so calm—she was Shichibukai, after all.

"Our captain is going to become the Pirate King, why should I be afraid of the Shichibukai?" Nico Robin retorted.

Besides, the Shichibukai... it's not like they haven't fought them before.

With their current strength, defeating another Shichibukai is not impossible!

"That's... that's quite a bold statement."

"Judging from what that bastard said, one of my companions had his shadow stolen," Franky said. "Why did he steal our shadows?"

"Because Moria can create zombies using his shadows!"

"Creating zombies?"

Franky was somewhat surprised, and subconsciously glanced at the corpses of the zombies on the ground, wondering if these were resurrected shadows?

"Yes," Brook explained, "He can steal other people's shadows by using his Shadow-Shadow Fruit."

"Then attach the shadow to the corpse, and the corpse will be resurrected, becoming Moria's most loyal warrior."

"The stronger the corpse and the shadow, the stronger the resurrected zombie will be."

"So that's why Moria is targeting us," Franky said, stroking his chin.

No wonder they were targeted; with their formidable strength, it would be strange if they weren't being watched.

"Where did Moria get so many powerful corpses?" Nico Robin glanced at the Spider Monkey and said, "It looks like it's been modified."

Without specialized skills, it would be impossible to achieve this level of expertise. Could Moria be a surgeon?

"This is because of a man named Hogback."

"Hogback?"

"You know him?" Franky asked in surprise.

"Yes, this guy is a very famous surgeon," Nico Robin nodded. "Especially in the medical field, almost everyone knows him."

"With him around, Moria certainly won't lack powerful modified corpses."

As she spoke, Nico Robin thought of Chopper, wondering if she had tricked Chopper because of his reputation as a doctor.

The probability of that is not low.

"Wow, this young lady is really knowledgeable!" Brook laughed.

"It's just that I've read more books."

"You're too modest. After all, people with your extensive knowledge are few and far between."

Brook still maintains respect for scholars.

Nico Robin simply smiled and didn't say anything.

"In short... with Hogback around, Moria can obtain many powerful modified corpses," Brook continued. "A powerful shadow combined with a powerful corpse is equivalent to resurrecting a powerful person, thus eliminating the need for disobedient humans."

"That's why this island is teeming with zombies—they're completely loyal to Moria!"

"No need for human subordinates...?" Franky stroked his chin and said, "This guy seems to have been through some things."

Was he betrayed by his subordinates?

"What will happen after their shadow is stolen?" Nico Robin asked. "Will there be any danger?"

Although Brook is still alive, it might be an isolated case, Nico Robin doesn't want to gamble.

"Don't worry, they won't die," Brook said. "The existence of a shadow depends entirely on the life status of its owner."

"Once the master dies, the shadows will also disappear, so Moria won't kill them; at most, he'll throw them back onto the ship."

"So if you go back now, you'll be able to find them."

"If we want to reclaim the shadows later, we can return to the island and challenge them again."

At this point, Brook paused for a moment, then said, "If I were still alive, I would come to help you."

"Well then... goodbye, you two~"

Seeing Brook's resolute expression, Franky instinctively asked, "What are you going to do?"

"Of course I'm going to get my shadow back," Brook said without turning her head. "I made a promise to my companion that I would go back to see him."

"He... waited for us for a very, very long time."

Brook's body trembled slightly as he thought of that tiny whale from back then.

A promise made decades late; I wonder how that little guy is doing now.

Franky paused for a moment, then said, "Even in your current state, you're still going?"

"Of course we're going!" Brook exclaimed excitedly. "We absolutely have to go!"

Even if he's been dead for decades, even if he doesn't know if the other person is still waiting, he'll still go!

After taking a deep breath to calm himself down, Brook said, "I'm sorry..."

"I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now. Please make yourselves at home."

"Hey, skeleton, you should know your current state, right?"

What are you trying to say?

"You should know what kind of consequences your appearance would cause in front of ordinary people," Franky said. "Fear, horror, terror..."

"That's probably how most people would react if they saw you."

Not everyone is like them, inviting a moving skeleton to their home for a meal.

What if Brook went back and met his companions, only to be seen as a monster? How cruel would that be for Brook?

Thinking of this, Franky said, "Aren't you afraid...?"

Franky didn't finish his sentence, but Brook understood what he meant.

"I still stand by what I said," Brook said firmly, "Even so, I'm going!!"

"Is that so..." Franky lowered his arms from his chest and said seriously, "What exactly is this promise that you were willing to pay any price for, that you never wavered in even after drifting alone on the sea for decades?"

Brook paused for a moment, then said, "He really is... a busybody."

He understood what the other person meant; they were reminding him that things might not be as rosy as he had imagined, but even so, he wouldn't change his mind.

Turning back, Brook looked at Franky and said, "That was a long time ago..."

"Back when our Rumbar Pirates were passing through Twin Capes, we had no choice but to leave one of our crew members behind."

"It was a painful farewell."

"Twin Capes?"

Nico Robin paused for a moment. She recognized the place; it was a lighthouse at the entrance to the Grand Line.

Does the other party actually have some connection with that place?

"Yes, Twin Capes." Brook nodded. "After that, we made a promise that no matter what happened, we would definitely return to that place."

"But... we were all wiped out in this sea area, and we can't fulfill our promise to him."

"But I feel that even if I'm the only one left, I have an obligation to tell him about this!"

"Thinking about it carefully... it's been 50 years since the day we died."

"5...50 years?!" Franky exclaimed in disbelief. "That was so long ago, I wasn't even born then..."

"It may sound cruel, but so much time has passed, and that guy couldn't have waited that long for you..."

Before Franky could finish speaking, Brook interrupted him excitedly, "What right do I have to conclude that he's no longer waiting?!"

"What if he believes our agreement and keeps waiting there?"

"He felt betrayed by us, yet refused to believe it, waiting for us alone for fifty years... How much pain he must have endured!!"

Franky was stunned by Brook's words.

The other person doesn't care about their own fate, but is extremely concerned about their so-called companion... Even if that companion might have already died of old age, would that not change their mind?

"But fifty years is enough time for a normal person to..."

"No, fifty years isn't enough time for him to die of old age," Brook said firmly.

"Why?"

"Because he was an Island Whale, his lifespan far exceeded that of humans!" Brook said, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes. "We named him Laboon, and back then, this little guy was only this big."

As he spoke, Brook gestured and then said, "Even if fifty years have passed, it's impossible to die of old age."

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, that little guy will definitely live a good life, after all, it's Island Whale with a lifespan of hundreds of years!

"A whale... a whale?!" Franky exclaimed in disbelief. "Your companion is a whale?"

Nico Robin was also taken aback, never expecting that the other party's so-called companion was a whale; this was completely unexpected.

"Yes, the whale," Brook laughed. "That little guy loved our music, so he followed us all the way from the West Blue to the entrance of the Grand Line ..."

"Perhaps after we left, he looked forward to our return every day."

At this point, Brook's smile faded, and his body began to tremble.

He gripped the Cane Sword tightly in his hand, his voice trembling as he said, "For the past fifty years, I've looked at the sky every day, dreaming of the day I see Laboon."

"But every day I think of that little guy looking at the sky from the sea, crying out in pain... screaming..."

"It's as if it's saying, 'Why don't we go back? Why did we abandon him...'"

"Whenever I think about this, my heart aches."

At this point, Brook paused for a moment, then shouted at the top of his lungs, "A man who says he'll come back, even if he dies, will go back!!"

Smack!

As he spoke, Brook slammed the Cane Sword in his hand into the ground!

"You bastard..."

Franky watched Brook's retreating figure, and at that moment he felt a profound sense of awe.

Even if fifty years have passed, even if his companion is a whale, even if he doesn't know if the other person is still willing to wait for his return... Brook doesn't even know if the other person is willing to forgive him!

Even so, it still couldn't change this man's mind.

Franky was shaken.

"If we survive to meet again, let's drink and reminisce," Brook said. "Then I'll tell you more about our story."

After saying that, he left without looking back. This time, Franky didn't stop him and watched the man leave.

What reason could possibly stop a man from keeping his promise?

After listening to Franky's explanation, Luffy and the others were stunned.

"I never expected that the person Laboon was waiting for would be Brook..."

"Um?"

"You two know each other?" Franky asked in surprise.

"I know him!!" Usopp exclaimed excitedly, "We met that giant whale, Laboon, at Twin Capes!!"

"Huh?" Chopper asked with a puzzled look, "Who's that?"

"Ah, it's normal that you don't know," Usopp explained. "You guys hadn't even boarded the ship yet."

"This is a giant whale we encountered on the Grand Line; it's Laboon."

"I know," Merry said.

Although she couldn't speak at the time, she knew about the giant whale.

Usopp looked surprised, but after recalling Merry's explanation about consciousness, he understood.

Xi Yan, on the other hand, felt somewhat emotional. Although he hadn't experienced that place with the Straw Hat Pirates, he had accompanied them in another way.

This mutual effort deeply moved Xi Yan.

"I never imagined Laboon would be waiting for Brook..." Zoro remarked. "What a coincidence."

"That big guy really gave us a lot of trouble back then."

Seeing that Nami also looked sentimental, Franky couldn't help but ask, "What exactly happened?"

"It's a long story," Sanji said. "Anyway... that giant whale does indeed live in Twin Capes."

As he spoke, a hint of reminiscence appeared in Sanji's eyes. "There was an old man there who once told Laboon that Brook and the others were dead, but that big guy didn't want to believe it."

"So every day it crashes into the Red Line, just like... this way it can break through the Red Line and go to the other side to find its companions."

Even when he was covered in wounds, he never stopped.

"And so, he lived there in this way for decades..."

"If Luffy hadn't taken the initiative to establish a new agreement with Laboon in his own way, Laboon might have continued to crash into the continent and hurt himself," Nami said.

"Right now, he must still be alive, on the other side of the sky, gazing at the Red Line, waiting for his comrades to return."

Franky was deeply shocked by what the others said.

"So, not only has Brook not forgotten this promise for fifty years, but the other party has too...?"

This... this is such a touching thing!

"Ah!!"

"I love it whether it's a skeleton or a whale!" Franky cried.

He admired this kind of man the most, and this brought tears to his eyes.

"They've kept their promise to each other for 50 years..." Usopp wiped away his tears and said, "That's amazing!"

Lola and the others were also shocked. They never expected that someone could stick to such an agreement for a full 50 years; it was truly astonishing.

Luffy, suddenly grinned, showing his teeth.

"This is... exciting!"

"Brook is a musician, a living skeleton, and most importantly, Laboon's ally..."

"Even if I have to drag him onto the ship, I will make him my partner."

"Brothers, do you have any objections?"

"No!!"

This time, the entire Straw Hat Pirates agreed that this skeleton was a loyal and righteous person who could become their partner!

Hearing his crewmates' affirmative answer, Luffy grinned and said, "Brothers, let's go beat up that wretched Moria and get our crewmates back!"

"Profound!!"