They had stolen a Navy warship and were now sailing along the Grand Line.
Barn sat at the bow, fishing with a rod he had found aboard. He was still wearing the prison uniform he had escaped Impel Down in, as were Golden Lion and the others. Five men dressed as prisoners sailing a Navy warship would certainly make quite a sight...
"You're going to Twin Capes? What for?"
Golden Lion looked at Barn in confusion as he asked.
"To see an old crewmate..."
At Golden Lion's question, a warm, nostalgic smile spread across Barn's face as he answered.
The warmth of Barn's smile gave Golden Lion the shivers. He spat out, "Disgusting," and walked away.
World had already snorted at the word "crewmate" and left the deck for the cabin.
As for Oniwood and Leonard, both wore expressions that said it was none of their business. One slept against the mast, while the other lay on the deck staring at the sky.
Barn merely shook his head with a wry smile at their reactions. He was still fishing, but his mind was already elsewhere...
Before long, they could see the lighthouse at Twin Capes. Barn's destination was almost within reach, but just then, they felt a distinct tremor!
The tremors came at long intervals, but each one grew more pronounced.
"Laboon..."
Knowing the story, Barn naturally understood that Laboon was ramming its head against the Red Line!
"Is this an earthquake?"
Leonard grabbed the railing and muttered.
"Leonard, how far are we from Twin Capes?"
"Hmm? Not far. It's just ahead... Huh? Mr. Barn!"
Before Leonard could finish, Barn stepped onto the railing and launched himself off, shouting.
"Laboon! Laboon! It's me, Barn! I've come to see you!"
At that very moment, the violent tremors stopped. In their place, a gigantic whale surfaced from beneath the sea, its head covered in scars. The waves it raised nearly capsized the warship. Fortunately, Golden Lion emerged from the cabin and used his power to lift the ship into the sky before it could overturn.
Barn now stood atop Laboon's head. The whale strained to turn its eyes upward and inward, trying to see Barn, the companion it had waited twenty years for.
Barn lay against Laboon's head, stroking its scars with both hands. He couldn't help crying. Tears streamed from his eyes and dripped onto the horrifying wounds on Laboon's head.
"Laboon... Sorry for the wait..."
At Barn's words, Laboon let out a joyful cry, carried him ashore, and nudged its head into his arms.
The nudge knocked Barn onto the ground, but his hands kept stroking the scars on Laboon's head. Sadness slowly crept into his once-excited eyes as he spoke softly.
"Laboon, come with me. Captain York and the others aren't coming back..."
Laboon's eyes, narrowed in happiness a moment ago, flew wide open at Barn's words. Then it angrily butted him again and again, letting out cries as though saying:
"You're lying! Captain York and the others will come back!"
Laboon rammed Barn over and over in a frenzy, but its furious eyes were filled with tears...
Barn was knocked down again and again. He got up, only to be knocked down once more, until...
"Enough, Laboon!"
Barn's shout stunned Laboon into stopping. Only the tears continued to flow from its wide eyes.
Barn slowly approached, opened his arms, and leaned against Laboon's scarred head. Tears spilled from his eyes as he sobbed.
"Laboon, I understand. I understand everything. But Captain York and the others can't come back. They're dead! Dead!"
Laboon froze. For that moment, it even forgot to cry. But a little while later, it could no longer hold back its tears. They burst from its eyes like a broken dam, and it cried together with Barn.
Laboon was an Island Whale, and Island Whales were social animals. Having sailed with Captain York and the others since it was little, it had long considered them its companions.
It was a whale with deep feelings. Now that it had learned the companions it had waited twenty years for were dead, how could it not grieve?
By then, Golden Lion had flown the Navy warship over. He, Oniwood, and Leonard stood silently at the bow, watching Barn embrace the whale and weep. Only World was absent. Perhaps he had no interest in such things, or perhaps he was deliberately avoiding them. Either way, he had not appeared on deck.
Meanwhile, two people emerged from the lighthouse at Twin Capes. One was Barn's old friend, the legendary Ship's Doctor, Crocus.
The other man, who walked out of the lighthouse chatting and laughing with Crocus, was none other than "Dark King" Rayleigh!
"What a touching scene, Crocus."
Rayleigh's eyes narrowed slightly behind his glasses as he looked at Barn and spoke with a smile.
"Yes. The moment I heard he'd escaped from prison, I knew he'd come here. Ah, he's wrung a few more tears out of me."
Crocus wiped the tears from his eyes with his arm as he spoke.
Hearing Crocus and Rayleigh's voices, Barn turned around in delighted surprise and called out.
"Crocus? Rayleigh? Is that you?"
"Hahaha, it's me, Barn!"
Crocus walked up to Barn and hugged him, then said happily:
"I'm so glad you're all right."
Those words made Barn's nose sting. Seeing Crocus arrive, Laboon also let out a happy cry.
Rayleigh walked over with a smile as Golden Lion brought the warship down to land.
"Long time no see, Shiki."
Golden Lion, Oniwood, Leonard, and World jumped down from the ship.
Golden Lion was surprised to see Rayleigh there, but he greeted him anyway.
"Yes, it's been a long time, Rayleigh."
Golden Lion's remarkably calm response surprised Rayleigh.
Golden Lion has changed.
Rayleigh smiled and nodded as the thought crossed his mind.
"Barn, where are you heading now?"
Rayleigh looked at Barn as he asked.
"We're going to see Roger."
Barn answered.
"'We'?"
Rayleigh was clearly puzzled.
"Yes, we. Golden Lion too. He wants to see Roger."
Rayleigh was astonished. Golden Lion and Roger were sworn enemies, yet Golden Lion was taking the initiative to visit him?
"Shiki was imprisoned in Impel Down because of Roger..."
Rayleigh froze but said nothing, and Barn continued.
"Shiki once said that Roger was the only man he acknowledged. Roger defeated him, but earned his respect. Later, when he heard the Navy had captured Roger, he was so furious that he led his fleet to attack them. But Garp and Sengoku defeated him together, and he was locked up in Impel Down. His followers probably scattered after that. When I told him Roger had turned himself in, he desperately wanted to know why. He even cut off his own feet to escape and see Roger. He wants to find out exactly what Roger is trying to do."
"I see. So that's how he lost his feet. Yes... what is Roger trying to do?"
Rayleigh's eyes dimmed. Clearly, Roger's surrender had dealt him quite a blow as well.
"Take me along too, Barn. I also want to know what Roger is thinking!"
Rayleigh suddenly raised his head and addressed Barn, his eyes shining with resolve.
"All right."
Barn nodded lightly and agreed.
"By the way, Barn, how did you know Roger turned himself in?"
Rayleigh asked.
Barn merely smiled without answering.
The next day, Golden Lion flew the warship over Reverse Mountain with Rayleigh, Barn, and the others aboard. Laboon came too, of course. Golden Lion carried the whale and the seawater around it to the other side of Reverse Mountain as well. There, Barn met Adam, the apprentice he hadn't seen in half a year.
He had come alone, without any luggage. All he carried was a sword in his arms: Demon Moon, which Barn had asked Fisher Tiger to deliver to him.
"So you finally decided to come out, you bastard master."
Barn smiled. He walked up to Adam and gave him a sharp rap on the head!
"I really missed you, you idiot apprentice!"
"Ow, ow, ow! That hurt! So, where are you going now? I've already set up the guild you asked for. When should I hand it over to you?"
Adam rubbed his head as he asked.
"I still have something very important to do. Take Laboon back with you. I'll come find you soon."
Barn placed a hand on Adam's shoulder as he spoke.
"Again? Do you know how upset Lia was last time?"
"How's Fitz?"
Barn ignored Adam's words and asked his own question.
"Fine. You..."
"Thanks, Adam."
With that, Barn left without looking back and jumped straight aboard the warship.
Adam watched his master's departing figure. All his complaints dwindled into a single sentence only he could hear.
"Stop making everyone worry about you, you bastard master..."