Hermes's intuition had not been wrong. As Homies born from the fusion of souls and certain materials from the present age, Hermes had almost no natural enemies. Even Haki could not harm this kind of elemental life-form.
Only corresponding elemental counters could hurt them. For example, water could make Prometheus, who had been created from fire, feel scalded.
Brook's Revive-Revive Fruit, meanwhile, possessed the power to draw forth the chill of the Underworld, making it a natural counter to this kind of soul-based creature.
"Don't make such a fuss, Hermes. This skeleton just set sail a little earlier than us.
I am right, aren't I, musician of the Rumbar Pirates, Humming Brook."
Just as Hermes felt that Brook's words lacked respect, Nereus came aboard as well and directly revealed Brook's identity.
"May I ask... what year is it now?"
"Sea Circle Calendar 1504. It is March."
After the God Valley Incident, Nereus had spent quite some time sailing the seas. Judging by the distance, he had already crossed most of the Grand Line, and a new year had arrived.
"1504... Has it been almost fifteen years already? What a long yet fleeting time... Since you know my name, I assume you came specifically to find me. But I do not understand. What could possibly be worth your personal visit to these waters?"
"I once met a little dolphin. It helped me with a small matter, and while chatting with it, it told me that it had a whale friend.
Its whale friend waited at Twin Capes every day for a group of pirates to return and see it. That whale's name... was Laboon."
There were some things Nereus was destined not to reveal, and Laboon made for an excellent excuse.
As for whether whales counted as fish...
From a biological