As the Yomi entered the harbor at Twin Capes, Crocus felt a little excited. He had gotten along very well with the Rumbar Pirates, and he had loved the atmosphere aboard their ship.
If he hadn't been stationed at Twin Capes as the lighthouse keeper, he would have wanted to join the Rumbar Pirates and sail around the world.
But if Crocus had joined them back then, could Captain Yorki's illness have been cured? Could the Rumbar Pirates have survived the poison-weapon attack?
Or would Crocus have died alongside them? Would Roger still have been able to extend his life? Would the Great Pirate Era ever have begun?
"Brook, I never thought I'd see you again!"
Crocus rushed over and gave Brook a bear hug, tears welling in his eyes. Captain Yorki and the others were gone, and Brook was the only one left.
After learning that the Rumbar Pirates had been wiped out by a poison-weapon attack, Crocus had worked even harder to study medicine. He only regretted that he hadn't been able to help them at all.
"Crocus, I only escaped death and came back to life thanks to a Devil Fruit! Thank you for looking after Laboon. He's the last companion left in our Rumbar Pirates."
Brook sighed with emotion. Although he hadn't experienced it himself, Brook's soul held vivid memories of it.
"Did you come back specifically for Laboon?"
Crocus watched Brook's crew sail all the way back against the current. They must have had some lingering purpose, and the only possibility was the whale, Laboon.
"Yes. It took dying once for me to understand: if we don't sail all the way around the Grand Line, we'll have broken our promise to Laboon. Rather than leave him waiting here forever, I'll take him along on our adventures, no matter how dangerous it gets. Besides, I have some confidence in my strength now!"
Brook paused before answering. Actually, one of the main reasons he had returned to Twin Capes was to invite Crocus aboard.
Rather than search the vast seas for people whose future potential was unknown, he might as well bring aboard the ones he knew would become major figures.
That was the only advantage his knowledge of the story gave him. As for what kind of butterfly effect might happen in the future, that wasn't Brook's concern.
The world wouldn't stop turning for anyone. He should secure the greatest possible benefit for himself first.
"I see!"
Crocus marveled at how much Brook had changed, but he had also grown deeply attached to Laboon over the past six months or so!
"Crocus, I'd like to invite you to join our crew as our ship's doctor. I don't want what happened to the Rumbar Pirates to happen again. Please!"
Brook suddenly held out his hand and made the offer with great solemnity, his eyes utterly sincere!
"I..."
Crocus was torn by Brook's offer. Keeping watch over the Twin Capes lighthouse was important too. The lighthouse was a guiding light for many merchant crews and fishermen, and it couldn't be left unattended.
"Go if you want to, Crocus. I'll take care of the lighthouse. Young people should get out there and see the world!"
A middle-aged man with slightly graying temples stepped forward. He looked robust and seemed like a formidable fighter!
"Uncle Lighthouse, what brings you here?"
Crocus turned and saw his uncle approaching, then promptly greeted him with respect.
"Ever since your parents died in a shipwreck during a storm at night, you've guarded these two lighthouses, believing that the accident was caused by their age and disrepair. I know that, besides studying medicine, what you love most is reading the papers to learn about the outside world. Your eyes are full of curiosity and longing!
"Your uncle's getting old now. I'm tired of going out fishing every day. Seeing as I've spent all these years fishing to buy you so many medical books, why don't you let me take over the easy job of guarding the lighthouse for a few years? Hahaha!"
Lighthouse joked boisterously. Tears welled up in Crocus's eyes once more. Ever since his parents had passed away, this uncle had been the one to raise him and often support him financially.
He had made sure Crocus could afford more medical books and learn all he could. Uncle Lighthouse had even taught him how to use a harpoon gun. He was a renowned sea-beast hunter among the nearby islands.
His hunting skills were far better than those of pirates who had just entered the Grand Line. He might not have been as strong as a Supernova, but he was still worth a bounty of thirty or forty million!
Otherwise, how could he have kept the lawless pirates from wrecking Twin Capes all this time? Crocus's parents had been around the same level of strength.
Now, even Crocus's abilities were nearly on par with Lighthouse's. Ordinary pirates from the Four Blues with bounties of twenty or thirty million wouldn't necessarily be a match for him.
"Uncle Lighthouse..."
Crocus's gaze grew resolute. He'd made up his mind: he would go with Brook and the others to see the wonderful world beyond.
"You've studied medicine for so long. It's time to go out and make a name for yourself. Let's make our family's harpoon skills famous across the seas!"
Lighthouse placed a hand on Crocus's shoulder. Crocus, who was twenty-one that year, looked at his uncle's calloused hands and nodded. Uncle, you can stay here at Twin Capes and get some rest.
I'll make our family famous. Even the harpoon skills we use to hunt sea beasts can become known throughout the world. And I'll prove that my medical skills are no worse than those of the doctors on Drum Island!
"Captain Brook, I accept. From now on, I'll be the ship's doctor of the Hell Pirates. Take me along to see this wonderful world! Let's make a name for ourselves across the seas!"
Crocus shouted to Brook, letting all the youthful energy and ambition of his age shine through!
"Welcome aboard, Crocus. I can promise you this: we'll make the world tremble at the name of the Hell Pirates!"
Brook glanced at Lighthouse gratefully, then spoke to Crocus with confidence.
Hearing him, Redfield and the others clenched their fists too. Make a name for themselves across the world—make the world tremble at their arrival!
Afterward, everyone held a bonfire feast on the shore, and even Laboon the Island Whale could join them by the water. They had a wonderful evening.
The next day.
After Crocus had settled the Twin Capes lighthouse affairs with Lighthouse, Brook and the others helped him carry some of the medical books he'd treasured for years aboard the ship. He left a few commonly used ones for his uncle.
The Yomi also had many medical books newly purchased on Drum Island. They loaded the duplicates onto Lighthouse's boat, making him laugh as he said, "Maybe I should teach myself medicine too."
They also added a huge towrope to the Yomi, so Laboon could help pull the ship now and then and speed it up.
Watching the Yomi disappear into the distance as Crocus waved goodbye again and again, Lighthouse wore a relieved smile.
He quietly unfolded a deck chair, picked up a newspaper, and sipped his juice in comfort.
"I've worked hard for so many years. It's about time I enjoyed myself~"
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