At the same time.
Rayleigh and Kizaru were still fighting.
"Luffy has already left." Not far away, Shakky shouted to Rayleigh.
"It's time to go, Rayleigh."
Rayleigh had already been thinking of retreating, but Kizaru clearly didn't want him to escape, so he pressed forward with even greater ferocity.
Rayleigh panted lightly, trying to break away, but it seemed he wouldn't be able to escape anytime soon.
Kizaru had plenty of room to overwhelm Rayleigh with ease.
The light saber clashed against his blade, producing a dull sound.
Rayleigh chuckled. "I don't have time to play with you."
As he stepped back, he slashed through the air with his sword.
A black crescent-shaped slash flew toward Kizaru.
Kizaru swung his light saber and blocked it effortlessly.
Taking advantage of the opening, Rayleigh rushed to Shakky, grabbed her, and the two leapt together from the high ground.
"Don't run—"
Just as Kizaru was about to pursue, the Den Den Mushi on his wrist rang.
He stopped and slowly pressed the button to answer.
"Straw Hat Luffy has escaped!" came Sentomaru's urgent voice.
"Oh?"
Kizaru blinked, realizing his mission had failed.
"Not only that—he used the power of the Gura Gura no Mi! Admiral Sakazuki was thrown to the bottom of the sea by him!!"
"What!?"
Kizaru's face changed for the first time, his expression filled with disbelief.
---
Beneath the sea, aboard the Polar Tang.
Inside the cabin.
Due to Moria's massive size, the place was overcrowded.
Zoro was squished against the door. "Why don't you make yourself smaller?"
"Kishishishi… Sorry for being so strong, Roronoa." Moria wasn't angry at all—on the contrary, he was quite proud.
Bepo couldn't endure the heat, pressed down to the floor by everyone, drenched in sweat.
"Be patient. We'll find Laboon first," Law said helplessly.
"At three o'clock, about three kilometers away."
Luffy had finally detected Laboon's location with his Observation Haki.
(Come get us, Laboon!)
Soon, a gigantic whale appeared, swimming through the depths. It opened its mouth and swallowed the submarine in one gulp.
Inside Laboon's stomach.
The hatch of the Polar Tang opened.
Zoro was the first to be shoved out.
Then everyone began climbing out one by one.
Luffy was the last, and just as he was about to step onto the ground, he spotted a white bear lying on the floor, sweating, tongue hanging out.
"Hahaha, thanks for your hard work."
Luffy grabbed Bepo and walked out with him.
"This is amazing—something like this inside Laboon's stomach? Is that a sky?" one of Law's subordinates exclaimed in shock.
What drew everyone's attention was the false blue sky above their heads, even dotted with images of seagulls.
Beneath that sky were the remaining four ships of the Straw Hats.
Nearby was also a "small island."
Nami lay on a beach chair on the island, calmly sipping a cold drink.
The moment she saw Luffy and the others arrive, she immediately removed her sunglasses in surprise.
"Luffy!"
Luffy jumped to Nami's side. Vivi quickly handed him a drink, and without hesitation, he took a gulp.
"Get ready—we're heading to Fish-Man Island."
"Will it be dangerous?" Robin asked seriously. "It's safe to stay here, but what about the monsters in the deep sea? And there's also the issue of oxygen."
"Don't worry, Robin. If any Sea Kings show up, leave them to me," Nami said confidently.
Vivi's face broke out in cold sweat. "Nami, your lightning will spread through the sea… Let me handle it. I'll use acid rain to drive away some of the Deep Sea Kings."
"That's right."
Watching the women talk so casually, without any sense of tension, Luffy had to grab Nami's hand and remove the Log Pose from her wrist.
"I'll show you the way. Let's talk while we walk—we'll be there soon."
As he spoke, he leapt lightly toward a door beneath the false sky, opened it, and went inside.
Back at Twin Cape, Crocus had designed complex passages inside Laboon's body to inject tranquilizers.
As soon as Luffy entered the door, he saw Brook and Franky walking toward him.
"Luffy, you're back!" Franky exclaimed. "The inside of this whale is really amazing—there are passages everywhere."
"Mr. Luffy!"
Brook stepped forward and dropped to one knee.
"Huh? What's with you?" Luffy asked curiously.
"Back then, when you invited me to join your crew, I didn't give you a proper answer. This time, please allow me to give you a serious response!"
Saying this, Brook pulled out an old wanted poster.
The picture still showed Brook's youthful appearance.
"I was born in West Blue. Originally, I was the captain of the guard of a certain kingdom. Later, I joined the Rumbar Pirates as a swordsman and musician. After our captain died of illness, I served as his aide."
"We were ambushed in the Florian Triangle, and the entire crew was slaughtered. This is my former bounty—33 million Berries!"
"After that, my soul returned from the underworld, resurrecting as a skeleton, and I wandered aimlessly for fifty years. Now, I have met Captain Luffy and finally fulfilled the wish I had fifty years ago."
"I will never forget what you did for me!"
So grand?
Luffy smiled at Brook, saying nothing as he listened.
"From today on, my life belongs to the Straw Hat Pirates. If I ever betray you or our crew…"
After a pause, his tone grew solemn. "May my body be shattered into pieces!"
Clap clap.
Franky laughed and applauded. "That was an incredible speech! I never thought you could be so serious."
"I've always been serious! Yohohohoho…" Brook looked at Luffy with empty eyes. "Are you satisfied with my answer? Please, let me join your crew, Captain Luffy!"
"I allow you to join us, Brook. You're already a member of the Straw Hats."
[You have recruited a new crewmate named Brook]
[Reward: 400 Adventure Coins]
Luffy crossed his arms, smiling. "Come with me—I'll take you to a cool place."
Brook burst into tears. Fifty years later, not only had he reunited with Laboon, but he had also gained a new captain.
Everyone had been kind to him from the very first moment they met.
His heart was overflowing with satisfaction, and his gratitude toward Luffy had reached the point where he would obey any order from him.
He stood up, lifted his skull high, and picked up his violin.
"Captain Luffy, let me play a song for you. What would you like to hear?"
"Play the song Laboon likes to hear. We've troubled him a lot this time."
"This is the one!"
Amidst the music, the three of them walked for several minutes until they finally reached their destination.
Those were… Laboon's eyes.
Laboon seemed to recognize them as well and let out a happy groan.
"Is there really such a place?" Franky said in disbelief. "You can even see the outside from here!"
"Be careful not to hurt Laboon."
Luffy shook his head, looked at the Log Pose, and grew tired of delaying Laboon any further.
(The deeper you go, the darker it gets, Laboon. Can you see clearly in the dark?)
Laboon nodded.
(Good. As long as you can see, follow my instructions—dive straight down at twelve o'clock!)
The enormous whale, carrying an entire crew within its body, slowly headed toward the mermaid paradise—Fish-Man Island.
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."