Chapter 94: Observation Haki and Rewards

Beneath the lighthouse at Twin Cape.

Everyone lay sprawled haphazardly on the grass, each gasping for breath with heaving chests.

"Huff, we're saved..."

The moment the melody of "Binks' Sake" echoed beneath the dome, Laboon finally ceased its thrashing, and the group seized the opportunity to escape its stomach, returning to the outer ocean.

Nami squatted before Laboon and explained Brook's situation in detail.

Laboon widened its eyes, looking left and right at Nami, until it locked gazes with Crocus; only after confirming the truth did it—

"Wuuu—"

Lift its head and emit a long, mournful cry, then immediately dive headfirst into the water, intending to swim desperately toward the depths of the Grand Line to find the companion it had awaited for nearly fifty years...

"Wait, Laboon!" Crocus hurriedly blocked its path. "Give me a moment to pack and prepare; I'll set out with you immediately!"

"Eh?" Nami asked with a grievous pout. "I thought you and Laboon were going to join us?"

The ship happens to lack a doctor; might as well try tricking this old man into coming aboard first!

"What nonsense are you spouting? I have my own ship!" Crocus pressed his forehead. "Little girl, we've only just met; there isn't much affection between us, so putting on such a reluctant act is too fake! Besides, Laboon is heading straight for the Florian Triangle, which isn't on your route. Do you really think it can wait for you?"

That was true enough; Nami pursed her lips, realizing she couldn't deceive the old man, sniffled once, and instantly dried her tears, controlling them with ease.

Crocus couldn't bear to watch; he turned away, pinching his chin in deep thought.

Come to think of it.

That Florian Triangle mentioned by that young fellow Siano is currently the territory of one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Gecko Moria, isn't it?

Could it be that Brook was trapped there, unable to escape, because Moria stole his shadow? It seems that is the only possibility.

This has become somewhat troublesome.

With his old frame, he probably couldn't withstand it; frowning, the old man thought for a moment, entered the small hut, rummaged around, and retrieved a slightly trembling piece of paper.

"Is this... a Vivre Card?" Nami curiously leaned in again. "I've read about them in books, but this is my first time seeing one. Uncle, whose is this?"

"He retired many years ago; let's not mention him."

Crocus shook his head. "Anyway, he's a formidable fellow. I must find him first; it's been years since we last met, so we can reunite, and I can see if he's able to help."

If the other party were willing to act just once, Brook's shadow should be successfully recovered, right?

However, the old man still had a doubt.

Where exactly did that noise come from just now?

Could it, could it be that there are ghosts drifting inside Laboon's stomach?

"Oh, you mean this?"

Siano raised an object resembling a conch shell. "A Tone Dial I picked up two years ago; it likely fell from Skypiea. It stores several songs, including 'Binks' Sake'."

"So it was you!!!" The old man nearly toppled over. "Why didn't you say so sooner? I truly thought there were ghosts! Just thinking that I lived alongside it for so many years without noticing gives me such a fright I feel a heart attack coming on!"

"You never asked."

Siano rolled his eyes and put away the conch.

Of course, he hadn't picked up this thing; several years ago, he had spent 100 points to buy it from the Shangcheng.

—Outwardly, it appeared to be a Skypiea Tone Dial, but in reality, it was a limited-edition One Piece-themed MP3 player.

Built-in were hundreds of thousands of songs for retrieval, and its external speakers were extremely powerful; back then, Siano had tested it at the mountain peak, and at maximum volume, it scared the entire Cocoyasi Village into thinking an earthquake was happening, causing everyone to rush out of their houses in a panic.

When he first bought it.

Siano would listen to it for a while after training when exhausted, using it to relax and soothe his body.

This time, under urgent circumstances, he had a sudden flash of wit and found this song, "Binks' Sake," within the music library.

He reasoned that this melody, which Brook played for Laboon before their parting, would most likely calm Laboon down first.

If it truly didn't work, there was nothing else for it; he would simply use the next track in the playlist, "LOVE Theme from TIGA," to send Laboon off.

Don't ask; if you must ask, it's Skypiea technology. Enel could build a ship to carry people to the moon, so what's the big deal about this little gadget?

He squatted by the seaside, stroking Laboon; seemingly aware that Siano was the one who had discovered Brook's whereabouts, Laboon floated obediently there, allowing him to pet it.

The consequences of its earlier attempt to commit suicide by crashing into the Reverse Mountain also manifested; Laboon felt a discomfort in its mouth, smacked its lips, and *pa*, spat out several loose teeth.

Quick-eyed and fast-handed, Siano, while no one was looking this way, without hesitation picked up the nearest tooth and activated the sacrifice.

【You sacrificed a tooth of the Island Whale Laboon, obtaining 400 points】

So high?

And it really can be sacrificed!

Siano suddenly recalled the Lord of the Coast and Moo Moo from back then; tsk, if he had known, he should have exploited them for some benefits before letting them go.

However, those two were far inferior to Laboon in size and combat power, barely enough to fill Laboon's teeth gaps; even combined, they probably wouldn't amount to much. Now that he was well-off, he wasn't particularly concerned about it.

"Hey, Uncle! Uncle!"

A noisy commotion suddenly came from behind; Siano turned to look.

It was Nojiko and Nami, who had finally remembered that this person was a formidable fellow who had accompanied Roger to Raftel.

Taking advantage of the time he was packing his luggage, they flanked him, left and right, questioning him like curious babies:

"Uncle, where exactly is Raftel?"

"I don't remember."

"Does ONE PIECE really exist?"

"Let's say it does."

"What treasure did Roger actually bury back then?"

"He didn't bury it; he found it."

"Uwaa, darn it, seriously! I knew you'd give that kind of answer. Can't you at least tell the truth about some unimportant gossip?"

"That, I can do."

"Are those two tufts on Roger's face actually a beard or nose hair?"

"..." Crocus's forehead vein bulged. "Do you have to ask me about that too! Isn't that old cook on your ship much the same? Just ask him!"

"These are clearly a beard, got it! Where in the world would you find nose hair this thick, you damn old man!"

Outside the house, Zeff's voice rang out in furious anger, "It's just that I forgot to put salt in the dish I made for you when we last came to the Grand Line! Is that reason enough to hold a grudge against me until now?"

Siano, hearing the noisy commotion, smiled and lay back down on the lawn, leisurely crossing his legs to admire the upside-down mountain scenery above.

Not until Crocus finished packing, carrying a heavy bundle on his back, did he arrive before him.

"Young Siano, although your crew members are each more unreliable than the last—oh, except for that little girl with the black ponytail who doesn't like to speak—regardless, this time you helped Laboon, and you also helped me a great deal."

The old man said seriously, "I am a person who dislikes owing favors for long. Is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Hmm, perhaps there really is."

Siano thought for a moment. "Actually, I quite like collecting items from legendary figures as souvenirs. Since you are a ship doctor, do you have on you, uh... for example, Roger's kidney, or Oden's oden or something?"

"Of course not!"

Crocus's face turned black; now he finally understood why those crew members were all of that nature. "I am a proper doctor, not some guy who cooperates with criminal gangs in a black clinic!"

Also, what exactly does Oden's oden mean!

"However, your request is not difficult to fulfill."

Crocus went inside, rummaged for a while, and handed over a somewhat tattered straw hat. "Jabra visited me two years ago. Before leaving, he forgot to take his broken straw hat. I probably won't have a chance to meet him again in the future. This thing, I'll give it to you."

Jabra?

One of Roger's right-hand men, equal in fame to Rayleigh, the Jabra who stirred a vat with a toothpick?

There really is an unexpected harvest!

Siano's spirits lifted; he quickly sat up from the lawn and accepted the straw hat.

"Of course, this small souvenir cannot repay the debt, so I am also willing to point out a hidden risk on your ship as a true repayment."

"A risk?"

Siano turned his head in confusion, looking toward the Curtain Fall.

What risk? Isn't it perfectly fine? The Adam Tree lives up to its name; after crossing the Reverse Mountain and falling into Laboon's stomach, it remains completely intact and unharmed.

"I am not talking about the ship, but about a person hidden on the ship."

Crocus narrowed his eyes, staring at the ship. "Originally, I thought that fellow was also one of your crew members, but just now I asked that little girl named Nami. There are only five people and one dog on your ship in total, and they are all here. Therefore, the one who has been staying on the ship must be an enemy with ill intentions."

There is another person on the Curtain Fall?

Everyone was greatly shocked. Ignoring Yin, who was shouting angrily at Crocus, they all drew their weapons in an instant and surrounded the ship from all directions.

A magnitude 7.9 earthquake next door; people on high floors felt it strongly, their brains almost shaken dizzy. This chapter was written on a mobile phone while taking shelter on the lawn downstairs. The update is a bit late, please forgive me.

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(End of this chapter)