This guy has been drifting in this dim sea for nearly 50 years, and he hasn't truly gone mad. It has to be said, he's truly optimistic!
This guy has had a much tougher time than Laboon. Although Laboon was also waiting, it always had a companion by its side, never leaving.
As for Brook, after decades, the only other human he probably saw was when Moria stole his shadow, when he encountered him on the Thriller Bark!
"Truly pathetic."
Kong Tai gazed at Brook, a flicker of admiration flashing in the depths of his eyes.
If he were left alone in this dim, sunless sea, he might have given up long ago and committed suicide.
The skeleton glanced at everyone, as if sensing their pity. He opened his mouth and chuckled, his low voice becoming lighter with his laughter.
"Yohohoho~ I never expected to live this long."
Saying that, he raised his hand, looked up at the sky, and declared loudly, "People bring joy, and for me, you are my joy, yohohoho..."
Looking at the laughing skeleton, the pity in everyone's eyes vanished, and smiles appeared on their lips.
When the person himself can face 50 years of lonely life with such composure, what can outsiders say?
Apart from admiration for Brook, they could only join him in laughter.
Laughter!
This must be his attitude towards life!
No wonder the first thing they heard in his song was those unique characteristic laughs.
"50 years?"
A Luo looked at Brook, focusing on his afro, then turned his head to look at the skull on the tattered sail again.
As he watched, his eyes widened, and finally, they lit up.
"What's wrong? You alright?"
A Hua, beside A Luo, noticed A Luo's strangeness and couldn't help but turn to him with a questioning look.
A Luo ignored A Hua, turned to Kong Tai, and when he saw Kong Tai looking at him and nodding, he understood. He knew. So this guy in front of them was the person Kong Tai was looking for!
He had wondered why the skull on this ship looked so familiar.
It turned out he had seen him at the old man guarding the Twin Capes when they first entered the Grand Line!
"Brook!"
A Luo withdrew his gaze, stared at the skeleton, and called out his name loudly.
"Uh..."
The laughter, like a suddenly jammed bullet, came to an abrupt halt.
Brook lowered his hand, stared at A Luo, and said with disbelief, "Sir, do you know me?"
"Brook?"
Everyone, except Robin, glanced at A Luo at his exclamation, then scanned the entire ship, finally settling on the skull on the tattered sail.
If A Luo had just called out the name Brook, they wouldn't have been sure, but seeing the somewhat familiar skull, and recalling the giant whale they encountered when they first entered the Grand Line, they knew who this guy in front of them was.
"It really is Brook."
A Hua adjusted his glasses, turned to stare at Brook, his eyes lighting up like A Luo's.
"That afro, that skull flag, and the time... no way! No way! Could it really be Brook?"
A Tao took a hard puff of his cigarette, his eyes also shining as he stared at Brook.
"Uh..."
Seeing everyone's reaction, Brook cautiously asked, "Do you really know me?"
"Yes!"
Everyone nodded in unison, and then their faces showed excitement.
"I am indeed Brook. Although I might have been somewhat famous in the West Blue 50 years ago, my fame wouldn't last until now. You must have mistaken me for someone else."
"No, it's you."
A Luo stepped forward, standing at the forefront of the group, and said happily to Brook, "Do you know the Twin Capes!"
"Twin Capes?"
Brook recalled, then as if remembering something, his body froze. The coffee cup in his hand seemed to suddenly lose its grip, falling rapidly. With a bang, it shattered into pieces.
Ignoring the shattered coffee cup and the coffee splashed on his shoes, Brook instantly snapped back to reality. He stepped forward, grabbed A Luo's shoulders, and held on tightly, "You've met Crocus, you've met Laboon."
His body trembled, and his voice trembled, showing his nervousness.
"Yes."
A Luo didn't make Brook wait long, nodding solemnly.
"It..."
As if realizing something, Brook released his grip, took a few steps back, and said, "I'm sorry, sir, I got a bit excited just now."
After speaking, he looked at A Luo with anticipation again and asked, "How is Laboon? Is it alright?"
"It..."
As A Luo was about to speak, Kong Tai stepped forward and patted his shoulder, interrupting him. "Let me say it."
Kong Tai stood beside A Luo, his hand on his shoulder tightening.
Some things didn't need to be said. It was enough for Brook to know that Laboon was still waiting for him and that it was doing well.
As for what decision he would make afterward, that was his own affair.
Actually, he wanted Brook to accompany them to complete the promise of sailing around the Grand Line.
Because with them, this promise would definitely be fulfilled, and it wouldn't take long.
Perhaps it would even be faster than him returning alone to find Laboon!
But these were his thoughts.
The decision about the next journey belonged to Brook himself; no one else had the right to decide for him.
And he wasn't Monkey D. Luffy, and he didn't know if Brook would join his ship.
To be honest, sailing on the sea was a bit boring. If there were a clown on board, a clown who told bad jokes, and a musician clown at that, it would add a lot of fun to their upcoming voyage.
Kong Tai looked at Brook and first introduced himself, "Hello Brook, I'm Kong Tai, the captain of the Free Adventurers, and I'm also a pirate wanted by the World Government. Though I don't agree with it, hahaha!!"
Brook looked at Kong Tai, extended his hand, and shook it. "Hello Kong Tai, I'm Brook, also a pirate, and also a musician."
"I know you."
Saying this, Kong Tai released his hand. "Old Man Crocus knew you and your pirate crew. You met Laboon at the Twin Capes and made a promise with it."
"A promise?"
"Yes!"
Kong Tai nodded. "I made a promise with Laboon that in my upcoming voyage, I would find a person with an afro. Don't ask me how I knew you were alive, I just know."
"As for Laboon, whom you care about, although that guy can be very moody sometimes, with Crocus there, don't worry, it's very healthy. It just occasionally misses you and the companions it made a promise with, and cries out towards the Red Line."
"It... has always been at the Twin Capes, always waiting for you to return."