One Piece: Hell Brook

This medical powerhouse didn't seem to attract many pirates, so Redfield couldn't find any worthy opponents to spar with. After all, it was a famous Affiliated Nation of the World Government, and one of the fifty countries allowed to attend the Reverie.

The main focus here was the exchange of medical knowledge. Fighting wasn't welcome, but Fish-Man Tom discovered many new alloys in the island's precious medical equipment, including electromagnetic levitation materials.

This discovery convinced him that rare metals capable of floating on the sea must exist somewhere in the world. One day, he would build a Sea Train connecting the islands and revive Water 7's economy.

Brook sent Shakky and Antonio to buy medical books and medicines commonly used on sea voyages. They had scoured Drum Island's medical texts, and these supplies would come in handy. Brook himself couldn't get sick.

At Shakky's repeated insistence, Brook and the others stayed on Drum Island for one night, enjoying its distinctive night scenery and night market.

The next morning.

Brook and the others climbed out of their warm beds, boarded the Yomi, and left the frigid winter island, heading for Twin Capes, the starting point of the Grand Line.

I wonder what Laboon looks like now. Is it right for me to go back and take him with us?

But leaving Laboon at Twin Capes would only leave them both miserable. Rather than let him spend his days banging his head against the wall, Brook would take him along on their adventures, sharing life and death. Whatever happened in the future, even if he died during their adventures, it would still be a life without regrets.

He had to respect Laboon's wishes instead of demanding that he follow Brook's own ideas. Even if they encountered danger, there was nothing to fear. Rather than cowering here and regretting it, they might as well head out together and live boldly. Thinking it over this way, Brook felt much more at ease.

If Crocus hadn't treated Laboon, he would have ended up smashing himself to death against the Red Line anyway. He might as well take him along.

Drum Island wasn't actually very far from Twin Capes. With an Eternal Pose, they could reach it in a day or two. That was one reason Crocus had such excellent medical skills.

While keeping watch over Twin Capes, he often traveled to Drum Island to buy medical books and study the advanced medicine of this medical powerhouse. He had taught himself, after all. Otherwise, how could an ordinary person suddenly become such a skilled doctor?

"Captain Brook, it's a shame we didn't recruit a ship's doctor this time! Do you think that Crocus you mentioned will really sail with us?"

Shakky was a little speechless. She had actually traveled all the way from Sabaody Archipelago, the end of the first half of the Grand Line, to Twin Capes, the Grand Line's starting point. That was something you only saw once in a century!

Brook wasn't sure, but Laboon would definitely be willing to go with him. That was their promise.

"If we can't recruit him, we'll leave as soon as possible and get ready to enter the New World!"

Brook's words got Redfield and the others fired up, ready to make a real go of it.

Time at sea always seemed to drag, but Redfield sparred with Brook, helping him develop his Revive-Revive Fruit powers further. Redfield's strength was also closing in on Brook's. He truly had the talent of a ruler.

Even Shakky showed a natural gift for the Navy's Six Powers technique, Soru. It was as if she had been born for that speed.

When they saw the two towering lighthouses, Brook and Redfield were overcome with nostalgia. This was the first structure they had seen after crossing the Reverse Mountain currents into the New World, and it had left a deep impression.

Shakky and the others had lived on islands farther along the Grand Line, so they didn't feel the same way.

Crocus was reading the newspaper on Twin Capes when he spotted the approaching pirate ship. Usually, he watched pirate ships rush down Reverse Mountain. He never expected to see pirates sailing back against the current to return along the Grand Line.

A pirate crew like this was either incredibly powerful and traveling around the Four Blues, or fleeing back to the Four Blues like a pack of strays. Any pirate crew with even a little ambition would enter the New World and see the world of pirates for themselves.

"That pirate flag looks a little familiar!"

Crocus stared at the flag on the Yomi and suddenly realized: wasn't that Brook's Hell Pirates?

After Brook successfully avenged himself on Sabaody Archipelago, his wanted poster had been updated again, and Crocus had also learned that the Rumbar Pirates had been wiped out.

If Brook hadn't made it out of the Florian Triangle, and the Poison Smoke Pirates had been wiped out soon afterward on Sabaody Archipelago or in the New World, few people would have heard of the Rumbar Pirates. The news wouldn't have covered such a small pirate crew.

"Laboon! Brook's back!"

Crocus shouted excitedly toward the sea. Laboon, now more than ten meters long, immediately surfaced. He had been separated from his mother not long after he was born. Crocus didn't know whether his parents had been killed or whether he had simply fallen behind the pod.

Later, he had met the Rumbar Pirates and been drawn along by their songs. He followed them all the way from West Blue into the Grand Line and became friends with the crew.

At the time, Captain Yorki of the Spotted Hyena had left Laboon in Crocus's care because he was too small, promising to return for him after sailing around the Grand Line.

But Captain Yorki had fallen ill and left the ship early, and had most likely died. The Rumbar Pirates had also been wiped out in the Florian Triangle.

"Uoooh!"

Laboon cried out and swam swiftly toward the Yomi, sending up wave after wave and leaving a trail of white foam behind him.

"Captain Brook, some kind of sea beast is charging straight at us!"

Shakky shouted, peering through her binoculars. Silvers quickly raised his sniper rifle and took aim at the dark shape speeding through the water. Redfield also rested a hand on the hilt of his Cane Sword.

"Everyone, calm down. Silvers, lower your gun. That's my friend, the Island Whale Laboon, and our future crewmate!"

Brook hurried to stop his crew before they accidentally hurt Laboon. At this rate, Laboon might make a fine sea beast to tow the ship one day. His rate of growth had certainly overturned everything Brook thought he knew.

In just half a year, he had grown so much. That was the Island Whale's enormous size coming through.

Brook stood at the bow, watching Laboon approach so he would see him right away. Brook wondered if Laboon would still recognize him, since he had changed quite a bit too.

Perhaps the bond between friends really was that strong. Laboon approached and stared at Brook for a few seconds before recognizing him. He leaped happily from the sea, letting out a melodious cry.

"Laboon, long time no see! Let's head over to Twin Capes first. From now on, you'll come adventuring with us!"

Brook shouted. Laboon was as intelligent as a human and quickly understood what Brook meant. He grew even happier, leaping repeatedly from the sea as he cheerfully led the way.

If the Yomi had a towing rope on board, Laboon would probably have started pulling the pirate ship along already.

.You provided Great God Great Karma Fire's One Piece: Hell Brook.