The song concluded.
That longing, like the ever-present fog in this sea, lingered around this area, refusing to dissipate. Then, like a guiding light on a lost path, it broke through the mist, crossed space, and appeared above Twin Capes.
Laboon, who had been basking in the sun in the sea, seemed to sense something and let out a roar to the sky.
While this roar still carried longing, it was no longer filled with sorrow, but with hope.
Crocodile, on the shore, didn't know why Laboon was suddenly crying out, but he could sense a different emotion in Laboon's cry.
Turning his gaze towards the Grand Line, a smile touched Crocodile's lips.
"Is it you? Mr. Kouta?"
"Did you find Brook?"
"That's wonderful!"
The wind gradually picked up, scattering the sadness that had been clinging to Twin Capes, ruffling Crocodile's hair, and stirring his aged heart.
Behind him.
On the stone table.
A stack of newspapers lay piled, along with wanted posters, all featuring news and bounties for Kouta and his crew.
It seemed the old man had been keeping up with Kouta's news all along!
...
Seeing that everyone was still lost in thought,
Kouta rose from the piano.
He didn't close the piano lid, intending to take the ancient instrument aboard the Freebird.
And from Brook's song, he had heard his answer.
As Brook had sung, he would fulfill the promise of a man, so even if he were the last one left, he would carry the hopes of the entire Rumbar Pirates and continue sailing, circling the Grand Line to truly fulfill his vow to Laboon.
Therefore.
"Brook, become my nakama!"
"Eh!"
The sudden invitation snapped everyone back to reality. Their eyes widened in surprise as they stared at Kouta, then seemed to understand. Their ship had always lacked a musician, hadn't it?
Haha!!
The crew then looked at Brook with anticipation.
"Nakama?"
Brook looked at Kouta, seeing his smile, which didn't seem like a joke.
He also felt as if Kouta had made this decision a long time ago.
He paused slightly, then set down his instrument, closed the case for his violin, and turned to Kouta, saying with all seriousness, "Thank you for your invitation, Mr. Kouta, but I'm afraid I must disappoint you. I cannot join your ship."
"Why?"
Kouta looked at Brook, and before he could answer, he calmly said, "Is it because of your shadow?"
As he spoke, he glanced below Brook.
"You know?"
Brook glanced down at his feet, then looked up, saying sternly, "My shadow was stolen by someone I met years ago. Since then, I can no longer appear in sunlight, for to do so would be my end. Surely you don't want a nakama who cannot see the sun!"
"I am a burden to you all right now!"
"Heh heh!!"
Kouta opened his mouth and let out a soft chuckle. "It's just a shadow! If you lost it, just go and get it back."
"There really is no shadow!"
At that moment, everyone crowded around. Upon seeing that Brook truly had no shadow beneath him, they were all astonished.
But they quickly hid their surprise. Just as Kouta had said, if it was taken by someone, they could go and get it back.
"I can't get it back. For years, I've been searching for the island where my shadow was stolen, and the person who stole it, but after all this time, I have no clues."
"And that guy... is very powerful. I was no match for him at all back then."
He paused slightly and scanned the crew. "I don't know your strength, but given your age, you are no match for that person. Please, don't concern yourselves with me."
"How can we do that? We promised Laboon we would bring you back to see it!"
"What will happen to Laboon if you die here?"
Allo looked at Brook, speaking sternly, then his tone shifted to a lighter one, "And besides, don't underestimate us just because we're young. Our entire crew's bounties exceed 5 billion!"
He didn't want to mention bounties to outsiders, but since Brook clearly didn't believe them, he had no choice but to use their bounties to gain his trust.
"5 billion?"
As expected, Brook was completely stunned by the mention of this bounty.
Although his pupils were black, everyone could feel his shock.
"Yes, 5 billion."
Allo then pointed at Kouta and said, "Our captain, Silver-Haired Kouta, has a bounty of 2.5 billion Berries. A man the World Government and the Marines are utterly incapable of dealing with. Not long ago, he killed a Marine Admiral, perhaps someone even stronger than an Admiral."
He paused briefly, remembering that Brook was from 50 years ago, and continued, "You know what Admirals are, right?"
"They are the representatives of the highest combat power in the Marines. Kouta first defeated an Admiral leading five Vice Admirals, and then, with Kuina."
He pointed at Kuina and said proudly, "Kuina and I defeated an ambush set by two Admirals and killed one of them."
"That powerful."
Brook's gaze swept between Kouta and Kuina. He couldn't see how these two could defeat an Admiral.
As a combat member, and thus vice-captain, of the Rumbar Pirates, who were quite famous 50 years ago, he certainly knew of Admirals.
While he hadn't personally witnessed top-tier fighters in action, the highest combatants of the Marines were certainly not ordinary people.
"Huh?"
At that moment, Kouta and Kuina simultaneously turned their heads towards the dense fog in the distance. A flicker of electricity appeared in Kuina's eyes, and a hint of red light flashed in Kouta's.
Then they exchanged a glance, their lips curved into smiles.
"Alright."
Kouta turned to look at Brook and said with a smile, "It's just a shadow! We'll get it back for you later."
After speaking, he glanced at the Freebird below, and the pale blue silver mist in his eyes swirled slightly, revealing a cold glint, before he retracted his gaze and looked in the direction of his Kenbunshoku Haki.
Seeing Kouta's expression, the crew knew something was coming, and judging by Kouta's demeanor, it seemed to be the Ghost Island that had stolen Brook's shadow. So they followed Kouta's gaze, looking into the dense fog in the distance.
On board the Freebird, in the ship's cabin, a translucent ghost stood frozen.
Its once emotionless pupils now displayed a human-like terror.
"He saw me, he saw me! That is, that is..."
In a castle on a rapidly moving island, a familiar room, a familiar bed, a familiar girl.
But the girl was no longer calm, her face filled with terror.
Her mouth hung open, and she cried out in fear, "Impossible, impossible, impossible..."
As she spoke, she shook her head.
"Perona-sama, Perona-sama, what's wrong? What's impossible?"
Beside the bed, a doll looked at the girl's frightened expression and quickly asked.
The doll's voice startled the girl, bringing her back to her senses.
She steadied her mind, which had almost collapsed from Kouta's single glance, and quickly floated out the window, heading towards the highest castle at the center of the fortress.
She had to make Moria stop the ship quickly, because the person who had arrived was not someone they could afford to provoke.
Most pirate crews didn't understand what a pirate with a 2.5 billion bounty represented, but having grown up with Moria, how could she not know how terrifying someone with a World Government bounty of 2.5 billion Berries was?
Fifth in the entire world!
The four above him were the Four Emperors!