Chapter 176: The Lonely One and the Return of the Shadow.

"Yohoho, hello everyone!"

On the Sunny Merry, the afro-haired skeleton took off his hat and introduced himself to everyone.

"I am Brook, the skeleton who died and only bones remain. Nice to meet you!"

"Why did you bring a skeleton back?!" x4

Facing the shocked crowd, Luffy replied with a grin, "How about it, fun right? I brought him on board!"

"On board?"

Zoro frowned. When Luffy said "on board," he meant joining the crew! But:

"I don't agree!"

The Straw Hat crew's friendships were forged through blood and fire! Even Franky, who had just joined, had guided and saved Robin at Enies Lobby, built the Thousand Sunny, and saved Merry! Now, just anyone...

"Roman, why don't you keep Luffy in check?"

"Don't panic,"

Facing Zoro's indignation, Roman waved his hand, "You have to trust Luffy's judgment, and—"

"Do you think Luffy would listen to anyone about this?"

Luffy never brought people on board randomly; it was because he 'heard' Brook's heart.

Simply put, Luffy's Haki sensed Brook's decades of 'loneliness' and longing for companions, which is why Luffy invited him so decisively.

"This restaurant is so beautiful, and the kitchen too~~"

Sitting in the Golden Merry's dining room with everyone, Brook kept talking non-stop, as if it wasn't enough to express his excitement.

"This ship is amazing, yohoho!"

"Of course,"

Hearing someone praise his masterpiece, Franky felt proud.

"You have good taste. After all, this super awesome ship was made by me~~"

"Hey, Franky, don't fall for his flattery."

Sanji remained highly vigilant towards the stranger. —As long as the stranger wasn't a beautiful woman.

"Yohoho, I haven't eaten in decades, I'm so hungry my chest is sticking to my back—"

"Even though I only have bones left, with no skin on my chest or back~~~"

"Hahahaha, that's so funny!"

The only one who could laugh so heartily at the skeleton's cold jokes was, of course, Luffy. At least everyone else had a 'I don't know what expression to use, so I'll just smile' look.

Roman, however, somewhat understood him. All his companions died in front of him, and he was trapped here alone for decades. —Brook not going insane already showed his strong will! Even so, he was still wasting away in memories...

Without pressure, one can't become strong just by surviving.

Having his shadow taken by Moria was actually a 'blessing in disguise,' at least it gave Brook something to focus on.

"By the way—"

"My name is Brook..."

"Well then, may I ask your name?"

"I'm Luffy, this is Roman, Zoro..."

"You don't even know each other's names?"

Zoro was furious!

And you brought him on board? How do you expect us to react??

"Don't panic," Roman calmly stopped Zoro, Luffy's natural Observation Haki allowed him to distinguish between enemies, friends, and... companions.

"Let's talk about it after we finish eating."

"Hey, hey, hey, it's one thing for a skeleton to eat," Sanji glanced disapprovingly at Brook at the dining table, "but why are you eating so messily?"

—It's simple, because Brook hadn't eaten in decades.

Although he drank tea with an empty cup every day, eating was a distant memory for Brook, so distant that he ate like a child, getting food all over himself.

"Forget it, Sanji."

Roman tapped the table, and a stack of napkins automatically flew in front of everyone.

"Let's talk about something else, like Brook's identity—"

Whoosh~~

A wanted poster appeared in Roman's hand. Of course, this wanted poster was drawn by Roman himself, and although it certainly different from the real one, no one present would point out the mistake.

"Captain of the Rumbar Pirates: Brook."

In Roman's hand was a wanted poster of a man with a small round pair of sunglasses and an afro. The iconic top hat, afro, and suit all indicated:

"This is... Brook's wanted poster?"

"Yes," Roman pointed to the bottom, "a bounty of 33 million Berries."

"Of course, that was 50 years ago. Nowadays, it would be at least double."

Who could blame the world's increasing inflation? Crocodile was only worth 81 million Berries back then, but how many of those billion-Berry pirates in the New World would dare to show off in front of him?

"Yohoho, it's touching to know someone still remembers my name."

"Unfortunately, I'm already dead. This is my wanted poster from decades ago."

Brook looked at his 'portrait' with a sigh,

"My crew and I fought here and were all poisoned to death. Because I ate the 'Yomi Yomi no Mi,' my soul returned from the underworld, giving me a second life. —But I got lost in this sea, and by the time my soul found my body, it had already become like this..."

"Zoro, he's just like you~~"

"What did you say?!"

"So it really was a Devil Fruit... wait!!"

Nami suddenly realized, looking incredulously at the skeleton with the afro, "You're from the Rumbar Pirates?!"

"Absolutely—"

"The same Rumbar Pirates that Laboon has been waiting for fifty years?!"

?!

"Laboon..."

The familiar name made Brook stand up abruptly. The reason he hadn't gone mad and had kept his promise with Laboon was his motivation to live!

"You... have seen... Laboon?"

Facing the trembling Brook, Luffy patted his stomach.

"Of course, we met Laboon at Twin Cape. He was there ramming the Red Line every day, almost sinking us!"

"Yes, yes, we also met Crocus inside Laboon's stomach! I even fought with Laboon..."

"Really?"

Brook, who had stood up, lowered his head, his trembling figure filled with sincere gratitude.

"Thank you, thank you all!"

The Rumbar Pirates were long gone, and Brook's only attachment in this world was the whale Laboon, who had followed them into the Grand Line. How he longed to see his last companion again! But:

Was Laboon still alive? Was Crocus at Twin Cape still alive? How could he, bearing the wishes of the entire pirate crew, turn back without fulfilling their promise to reunite after circling the world...

Drip, drip,

"Hey, hey, hey? Brook, are you crying?"

"Ah, sorry," wiping the tears from his hollow eye sockets, Brook looked up at the young pirates in front of him.

"I must thank you again: Thank you, thank you very much~~"

"Today, not only did I meet living people after a long time, but I was also invited to a feast," Brook adjusted his top hat, "I have nothing to repay you with, so please leave this sea area quickly."

?

"There is someone here who hunts others' shadows! he is very dangerous..."

Picking up the cane beside him, now that he knew Laboon was still waiting for his news, Brook was determined not to be depressed anymore. He had to reclaim his shadow and then travel around the world to fulfill his promise to Laboon!

Brook looked at Luffy, remembering the invitation to join his crew.

"Your invitation, I must decline."

"Why—"

"Because my shadow was taken, I can't appear in the sunlight, or I will turn to ashes. —So I can't be your companion."

"Why so distant?"

Luffy stood up anxiously.

"Who took your shadow? We'll help you get it back!"

...

"You're really a good person, but I can't put you in danger—"

Boom~~~

At this moment, the Sunny suddenly shook, making everyone instinctively look towards:

"Roman?"

"Ah, don't panic." Roman waved his hand, "Someone 'invited' us to their place."

??

Swish—

Brook was the first to rush out of the cabin at an incredible speed, and the rest of the Straw Hat crew quickly followed. What they saw was an island!

Ruined walls, old trees, crows, and in the distance, Gothic buildings! Everything was shrouded in mist, like a real haunted house, or a dark fairy tale.

"This is... bad!"

Behind their ship was a slowly closing 'giant mouth,'—or rather, a giant valve. The earlier shaking was caused by the 'walls' of the island closing, creating waves.

The Sunny was trapped here!

"Turn back quickly, find a way to break open the valve and leave!"

Brook looked at the eerie island, his hollow eye sockets filled with determination.

"I'll hold them off—"

Smack,

A hand landed on his shoulder, startling Brook! Behind him, Roman's calm voice sounded.

"If I'm not mistaken, this is the lair of the Seven Warlords of the Sea 'Gecko-Moria.'"

?!

"What? Another Seven Warlords of the Sea!"

The rest of the Straw Hat crew frowned. Were Seven Warlords of the Sea that common? They had encountered a second one in such a short time...

"Gecko Moria, Shadow-Shadow Fruit user, must be the one who took Brook's shadow. So—"

Roman placed one hand on Brook's shoulder to 'keep' him, and pointed his thumb backward with the other.

"Don't underestimate our captain,"

Behind him was Luffy, eager and ready to fight!

"He is just another Seven Warlords of the Sea. —Right, Luffy?"

"Of course,"

"Brook! I'll help you get your shadow back! —Then you can be our companion."

"You guys..."

"Alright," Roman waved his hand, and with a rustling sound, a white table appeared on the deck, covered with a miniature model of the island's forests and buildings!

"Come on, the Moria raid is starting! I'll explain the speedrun strategy~~~"

??? x9

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