Dead Resurrected, Passing Each Other By

After receiving the order, the subordinates had no choice but to return to the cabin of that eerie ancient ship.

Holding their oil lamps with trembling hands, they continued searching the dust-covered cabin, tapping the walls and floor with their knife hilts.

Just as they searched near the hall they'd found earlier, one pirate accidentally kicked something in the corner.

"Ow... Wh-what is this...?"

A bewildered and confused voice suddenly rang out in the silent cabin.

Several pirates jumped in fright and whipped around, their oil lamps all shining toward the source of the voice.

In the corner.

A skeleton wearing a top hat and a black suit that had long since faded and decayed leaned against the wall. Two grass-green flames suddenly flickered in its hollow eye sockets.

"My body... has returned..."

"But this body is completely reduced to a skeleton..."

The skeleton—Brook—blankly sat upright. He raised his bony hand and touched his skull.

"But I can move? Can I still think? Yohohoho! This is... truly marvelous!"

He tried to sense his condition, then pushed himself up from the floor and stood. His movements were a little clumsy, but steady.

Brook turned his head, his pitch-black eye sockets "looking" toward the several pirates who had been scared stiff. Instinctively, he made a gesture as if taking off his hat.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen... although it may not be afternoon right now, and the sun can't be seen through this fog."

"To find my body and immediately see living people again has moved me to tears..."

"Although I no longer have eyes to shed tears with. Yohohoho."

Brook tried to greet them with his unique brand of cold humor.

"A ghost! It's a ghost!!!"

The pirates finally came to their senses and screamed as they scrambled and rolled out of the