After a long-awaited meal of truly delicious cuisine, Kōta and Brook returned to the dilapidated sailing ship being towed by the Freedom.
Brook asked Kōta to help him move the skeletal remains of his companions onto the Thriller Bark and bury them.
Kōta agreed.
To be honest, the Rumbar Pirates were the first pirate crew he had encountered since setting sail that could truly be called an adventuring party.
Their ideals were simple, yet he greatly admired them.
"To make even crying children smile."
Simple, unpretentious, yet an ideal full of laughter.
Just like Brook's personality, even after enduring nearly 50 years of solitude, his heart remained bright. Even as a skeleton, he lived on stubbornly, still full of laughter.
On the island.
Upon a high ground stood a tomb built of stones, with a tombstone carved with names in front of it.
Brook's companions, the Rumbar Pirates, were buried beneath.
"Captain, don't worry! I'm still alive, and today I also heard news of Laboon."
Brook sat in front of the tombstone, lowering his head to speak. "Laboon is healthy, he just misses us sometimes, just as we miss him."
He paused slightly, then his face broke into a smile. "Captain, and everyone, I've decided to carry on your dying wishes and the promise to Laboon, continuing this unfinished journey."
"Although I know the voyage ahead will be exceptionally difficult, I must still go and complete it."
At this moment, he seemed to see the figures of his captain and companions again. They were happy he was alive, happy to hear news of Laboon, but also concerned about his upcoming voyage.
As if sensing the concern of his captain and companions, Brook smiled slightly and continued, "Let go! I've decided..."
"I've decided to join this crew that brought me news of Laboon."
"Let me tell you!"
"Don't let their young age fool you. They are much younger than when we set sail back then, but their strength..."
He shook his head, filled with awe. "It truly surprised me!"
"Yohohohoho!"
"Although their captain, Mr. Kōta, and vice-captain, Miss Kuina, haven't really shown their full power, the mere glimpses of their prowess suggest they could tear the sky apart."
"With such powerhouses, I believe I can fulfill my promise to Laboon by following them!"
"Moreover, I feel they are different from ordinary pirate crews."
"Hmm..."
He stroked his chin in thought, his eyes lighting up. "They give me a feeling similar to our Rumbar Pirates. They are all people with dreams! And they are not bad people. At least, from my interactions, they show no malice whatsoever."
"So! Captain, companions, bless me! Bless us to successfully circle the Grand Line and fulfill our promise to Laboon!"
"Oh... right. Mr. Kōta and the others' dream also seems to be to circle the Grand Line, but their dream is even bigger. They want to travel the whole world. This dream is truly, truly..."
"Aspiratonal!"
On a distant cliff, Kōta leaned his back against the trunk of a withered tree, gazing at the sea hidden in the dense fog.
He drank and daydreamed.
From Brook's attitude, he could sense that he wouldn't be resistant to joining them, so Kōta had no qualms about him.
Even if he didn't join them in the end, it wouldn't matter.
What he was thinking about were the three colossal, sky-piercing dark shadows he had seen before entering this place.
How come they were completely invisible now that he was in this dense fog?
"Strange."
The dense fog was confined to this area. According to historical research, the fog's appearance was untraceable, possibly originating during the Void Century.
Moreover, it was evident this wasn't a natural occurrence. It must have been created by something, or someone, or some monster.
"Forget it, who cares?"
"That thing won't appear in this world anyway. It's probably a projection from another world!"
Kōta shook his head and took a sip from his gourd.
Besides, the feeling that thing gave him was far less dangerous than the demons behind that bizarre door, let alone the colossal eye of that eldritch entity.
So, even if it crossed dimensions to this world, it would only be on par with the strongest powerhouses of this world.
Not to mention him, even the peak powerhouses of this world could handle it. So he had no reason to worry about it here.
Stomp, stomp, stomp!
The sound of leather shoes on stone slabs. Without turning around, Kōta knew who had arrived.
"I've decided."
"Yes!"
Brook emerged from behind the tree, standing at the cliff's edge, gazing at the distant sea, and smiled. "Mr. Kōta, I've decided to continue sailing. I want to fulfill the promise I and my companions made to Laboon, so I've decided to join you."
"Haha! Welcome to the Freedom Adventuring Party, Brook."
Kōta stood up, extended his hand to Brook with a smile, "You will surely fulfill your promise to Laboon."
"Yes!"
Brook nodded, extended his hand, and clasped Kōta's. "I believe you, Captain."
"Haha! Just call me Kōta from now on! Everyone on the ship calls me that."
Releasing his hand, Kōta laughed heartily and raised his gourd for a large swig.
"Yes, Mr. Kōta."
"Yohohoho~"
Brook also smiled and asked, "By the way, Mr. Kōta, why do we call ourselves the Freedom Adventuring Party? Aren't we a pirate crew?"
"We are pirates, as designated by the World Government and the Marines, but we call ourselves an adventuring party. You'll understand later."
"Also..."
"What?"
Kōta tilted his head to look at Brook, opened his mouth, revealing a mouth full of white teeth. "I really hate real pirates."
"Hate... real pirates?"
Brook blinked slightly, then seemed to understand something and nodded, indicating he understood.
He said nothing more and didn't ask further.
Just as Kōta said, if they spent more time together, they would naturally understand what kind of people Kōta and his crew were, what dreams their team had, and what aspirations the members of the team held.
And just as he had told his own companions, although their time together was short, he could completely feel the goodwill emanating from Kōta and the others towards him.
He could also feel that their group had a style of conduct completely different from ordinary pirates.
With these, it was enough, wasn't it?
Back on the ship.
He informed everyone of Brook's joining.
Upon hearing the news, everyone's faces lit up with excitement, and they extended a warm welcome to Brook.
Next, they held a small banquet on the Freedom to celebrate Brook's joining.
After all, they had just eaten.
This banquet was not primarily about eating but about mutual interaction, to help Brook integrate more quickly.
Perhaps it was due to his age or his personality, but Brook easily bonded with everyone.
His way of joining the ship was different from Indigo's and Robin's.
He was, in the truest sense, the first crewmate Kōta had actively invited.
His joining brought more laughter to the ship, and of course, music.
Before, music seemed to be just a mere accompaniment to sailing. But with Brook's music, the sea instantly became interesting, rather than monotonous and unchanging.
This... was the charm of music, wasn't it?
Moreover, with Brook's presence, it was as if Kōta's musical soul was ignited. Kōta could also occasionally play one or two tunes, melodies that no one had ever heard before but were undeniably beautiful.
This made their subsequent voyages filled with more laughter and less boredom.
Of course, they also looked forward to more adventures and more fulfilling voyages ahead.
...