Back then, Laboon had only been a little whale.
After the Rumbar Pirates asked Croccus to look after Laboon, they completely lost contact.
They never returned, not even by the day they had promised.
That care lasted twenty-four years.
To Croccus, Laboon was like his own child, one he had watched grow up with his own eyes.
Even after learning something of the Rumbar Pirates' current situation, Croccus still chose to remain by Laboon's side.
Oran had made his first invitation when Croccus first landed on Firefly Island with the Roger Pirates, though it had not been particularly formal.
The invitation before the Roger Pirates disbanded had been the second.
This time, Oran had merely happened to be passing through, but Croccus himself did not know that. From Croccus's perspective, Oran had come with utmost sincerity.
Since Oran himself had solved Laboon's problem, Croccus could find no reason to refuse.
The pirates of the Four Seas were no great concern to Croccus. Dealing with such small fry would be easy for him.
Croccus had not missed either the Battle of Edd War or the three-day battle against the Whitebeard Pirates, but even ants became irritating when there were too many of them.
Laboon was an Island Whale, and it had now grown up. So long as it did not enter the Calm Belt or accidentally wander into an area inhabited by Sea Kings, it would basically be safe. That was what ultimately made Croccus decide to take the position and move away.
"Welcome, Director Croccus."
"Wait. Director?"
Croccus sensed that something was off. How had he somehow become a director? Hadn't he just accepted an invitation to work as a doctor?
"Yes, Director. Isn't the director of a hospital also a doctor?"
Firefly Island's hospital had always lacked top-tier doctors