◉◉◉◉◉
Aero extended his arm, holding out the Log Pose to Crocus.
The old man first wiped his hands with a rag before taking it.
He turned it over, inspecting it for a moment, before asking, "Something wrong with it?"
"No. The Log Pose works fine," Aero replied. "But time is short for us. We need to leave immediately so I want to trade for one that's already locked onto the next island."
Crocus nodded slightly. "I have one like that. But why should I give it to you?"
Aero smirked. "Name your price, old man."
"Hah! At my age, what price could I have?" Crocus laughed, shaking his head with a trace of regret. "No… just one little wish. I want you to find a certain pirate crew for me."
He looked away. "They sailed fifty years ago. No word since. They're probably long dead. Never mind… forget I said anything."
With a wave, he left. But a minute later, he returned with a second Log Pose in hand.
"Here," he said, handing it over. "But tell me how did you even know I had a spare?"
Aero's eyes lit up as he took the device, noting its steady point toward their next destination. "Let's just say… I know more than most."
"Oh?" Crocus raised an eyebrow. "Then tell me what exactly you know?"
"You think I invited you aboard just because you're a good doctor to that whale?" Aero leaned closer, lowering his voice. "I know you were the ship doctor… of the Pirate King."
That made Crocus freeze.
Aero waved it off. "Don't worry. I was joking about recruiting you. The new era is here and frankly, you old legends can't keep up with us."
"Big words for a brat," Crocus growled, rolling up his sleeves.
"Relax," Aero said quickly, spotting the incoming fist. "Besides… I've got something important to tell you."
Crocus paused. "What?"
Seeing the tension fade, Aero breathed easier. He handed the Log Pose to Eddie and said, "That crew you mentioned Laboon's friends? At least one of them is still alive."
The giant whale, floating nearby, let out a deep, haunting call, almost trembling with excitement.
Crocus blinked. "Is that true?"
"I've no reason to lie to you," Aero replied with a shrug.
"I sailed around the world and never found them. You've barely set foot in the Grand Line!" Crocus said, still skeptical.
"And yet," Aero said, pointing to the ground beneath them and the sky above, "here I am."
Crocus's gaze sharpened. "How certain are you?"
"One hundred percent."
"Then who is it? Tell me who survived."
"A musician. Big afro. Name's Brook."
Aero said nothing more.
Crocus understood that if only one member was alive, it was him. Half-believing, half-hoping, Crocus glanced at Laboon, who was now rolling joyfully in the water.
"Where is he? Why hasn't he returned?" the old man asked.
"He's the last of his crew… and barely hanging on himself. You understand," Aero said.
Eddie, meanwhile, had no idea what they were talking about. He knew his captain had "special sources," but even as the crew's intel man, Eddie couldn't match him.
He slipped the Log Pose onto his wrist, and his eyes drifted to a set of bounty posters on a nearby stump.
His eyes went wide.
"My bounty went up again?!" he yelled.
Aero kicked him. "Focus. We're leaving."
"Yes, Captain!" Eddie returned the posters and rushed off to alert the crew.
After a flurry of activity, the Hurricane Pirates' fleet was ready.
Aero boarded the New Dove. The adventure in the Grand Line was only just beginning.
Laboon swam close alongside them, unwilling to leave. Only when Aero promised that his friend would one day return did the whale finally stop, watching the fleet vanish into the horizon.
As for how Brook would make it back… well, one thing was certain:
It wouldn't be aboard Aero's ship.
◉◉◉◉◉
~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
◉◉◉◉◉
For early access to advanced chapters on P-atreon:
P-atreon/iamxeno
(Just remove the - hyphen to access Patreon normally)
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!