The Whale Guarding the Lighthouse

"Crocus!"

After enjoying their time in Alabasta, Giotto and Aria decided to leave. They had come to the Twin Capes for a special reason - to meet a person Giotto hadn't seen in a long time. During their days on Roger's ship, this person had taken care of Giotto, especially when he was injured.

However, when they arrived at the lighthouse, there was no sign of anyone.

Noticing the absence, Giotto realized that old man Crocus was probably on his private island inside Laboon, the giant whale.

"Waaa!"

"Wuwuwuwu!"

"Bam!"

Suddenly, the sea and the Red Line shook and the loud sound echoed throughout the area. Along with it, a certain cry could be heard. It wasn't a human voice but the cry of a whale that continuously rammed its body at Red Line.

"He sounds so sad."

Aria's perception was far more acute than the average person's. When she heard the cry, she could feel the sadness behind the cry. She couldn't help but wonder what the whale had gone through to let out such a cry.

After some time, Laboon emerged from the water, no longer let out a cry. His huge eyes were fixed on Giotto, as if he was expecting something.

"I was wondering who it was. It turns out to be you, huh, Giotto? What makes you come all the way here? I've been keeping up with the news, and it seems you've become famous in New World, not inferior to Roger himself. Even the people that passed through here said they planned on joining you in New World."

Crocus soon entered Giotto and Aria's line of sight. Despite his appearance, he was once part of Gol D. Roger's crew and an exceptional doctor. He also had a strong Color of Observation Haki, so he had sensed Giotto and Aria's arrival before they called him. He had chosen to live on Twin Capes, a place frequently visited by pirates. However, like Rayleigh and other former Roger Pirates, the Marines had decided to leave them alone as long as they didn't cause trouble.

"Knock that off, Crocus. I'm not a pirate, why would they want to join me? We came here today to bring you something special."

Giotto presented a bottle of precious sake. "I just got married, and this is wedding sake, brought specifically for you."

"Ah? In that case, I will gladly accept it. But did you really come all the way here just for this, or do you have something else you need me to help with, a secret you can't talk about with others?"

Crocus inquired playfully.

Giotto's expression suddenly changed. It seemed that the elderly folks of this world were not to be underestimated. How did he see through this?

'And, why did he assume I have some hidden secrets?'

'Do I have anything I hide from Aria?'

'Well, she probably already knows, right?'

"If it were Rayleigh who said that, I would have challenged him to a fight. But since it's the joke you always make, I'll just let it slide. Anyway, before we get into that, we did come to bring you wedding sake. But now, there's something else."

Giotto pointed to Laboon and said, "Have you noticed that Laboon has been watching me the whole time since I arrived here?"

"It seeks an answer from you, Giotto," Aria said before Crocus could respond. Indeed, Laboon was expecting an answer, a different one from what Crocus always gave him, something that would make all these years of waiting worthwhile."

"I remember you came here once and promised Laboon that you would find the crew of the Rumbar Pirates, right?"

Crocus suddenly remembered the promise that Giotto had made to Laboon long ago and couldn't help but sigh. He knew that the Rumbar Pirates had disappeared without a trace, and that could only mean one thing...

Death!

Grand Line had claimed the lives of numerous pirate crews, and Rumbar Pirates were just one of them.

After Roger Pirates' disbandment, Crocus returned to Twin Capes and informed Laboon about the fate of Rumbar Pirates. However, Laboon refused to accept this and continued to ram its body into the Red Line, wishing to see Rumbar Pirates once again...

"Yes, that's right. I did promise him, so this time, I've brought good news for Laboon. About the Rumbar Pirates, I found them. The man you made a promise with, his name is Brook, the musician of the Rumbar Pirates!"

"Whuwhuwhuwhu!"

Laboon immediately let out a series of cries, and Crocus' eyes widened.

He had been searching for information about Rumbar Pirates for so long, but there was no news of their whereabouts, yet Giotto managed to find them?

Crocus could see from Laboon's reaction that the name "Brook" was enough to stir Laboon's heart.

"Where is Brook? Have they abandoned him? Why hasn't he returned yet?"

Aria read through Laboon's emotions and said, "He's asking these questions. He's excited but also a bit scared."

"Laboon, that afro-head hasn't forgotten his promise with you. It's just that he's facing some trouble at the moment and can't come to see you right away. Please be patient a little longer. Don't keep banging your head against the Red Line. Do you understand?"

Hearing Giotto's words, Laboon gradually calmed down, as if he understanding what Giotto said.