"Woo!"
By the shore, Laboon let out a long, resonant whale cry.
[I won't lie to you. I'll eventually do everything I promised, even if it takes a little longer.]
The more proficient Oran became with the Voice of All Things, the easier it was for him to communicate with other creatures. Now, whether he was talking with Terra, the Elemental Wyrm, or the cats from the Meow Meow Task Force, he no longer needed a translator.
"Croccus, lend me Laboon for a while. I'll bring him back safely."
"Looking at him like this, I couldn't stop him even if I wanted to."
Croccus could sense Laboon's excitement. Though he had no idea what Oran had said to Laboon, he could not think of any reason to stop him.
Laboon was an Island Whale meant to roam the seas. How could Croccus keep him confined to that cove?
Judging by Laboon's movements, he even seemed to think Oran was being too slow.
[Don't rush. We need to prepare a few other things first. You've held on for so many years already, so don't be impatient now.]
The main objective was to conduct some diplomacy with the Ryugu Kingdom. Helping Laboon find Brook was a promise Oran had made when he talked Croccus into becoming the hospital director.
Since he had promised, he had to follow through, unless both sides had ulterior motives from the beginning.
Finding Brook was incidental, but it held other value as well.
Though the combat ability of that high-ranking skeleton remained uncertain, as an Ability User of the Revive-Revive Fruit, he had a connection to the mysterious realm of the underworld.
Beyond that, his economic value was considerable. A country needed more than military strength; cultural influence was equally important. With Brook's circumstances, a little promotion