"No, I didn't sense any human presence, but there were quite a few large fish underwater."
Ginny floated in mid-air, and invisible electromagnetic waves spread outwards. The fog that could block the naked eye could not block this thing.
"Moreover, Brother Oran, the magnetic field in this sea area seems a bit strange. My perception range is much smaller than usual."
After carefully sensing for a while, Ginny gave a negative answer. At this moment, she was truly on high alert. If there really was something like a ghost, she would most likely feel some kind of thunderous force.
According to metaphysics, the power of lightning has a strong restraining effect on demons, but whether the lightning generated by the Rumble-Rumble Fruit can achieve this effect is unknown.
"Don't worry, the Devil's Triangle is a vast area, otherwise so many ships wouldn't have gotten lost here. But this isn't a dead end either; in a truly dead end, no news would get out."
Since the news about this place isn't just a rumor, it means someone has managed to get out of here alive. As long as there's a way out, there's nothing to worry about.
"Waaaaah!!"
"Don't worry, Labun. Your friend is in these waters, but finding him will depend on you. Sensing the currents around here, follow them, and you'll find him sooner or later."
Ginny can sense human presence, but she can't detect ocean currents.
The Devil's Triangle is home to many unmanned, wrecked vessels that simply drift with the current.
Because the ocean currents in this area are almost circular, if an unmanned vehicle goes around in circles, it will eventually return to the starting point. As long as you can find those currents, you won't be far from your destination.
Upon hearing this, Rab carefully sensed the direction of the shallow ocean current and swam in the direction of the current.
In the thick fog, an oval-shaped black shadow drifted on the sea. Laboon had been swimming here for two days. With the supplies stored in the Book-Book Fruit, this amount of time was nothing.
The food and fresh water were enough to feed big eaters like Leriana and Ginny for two years. Clothes for different seasons and even some special equipment were stored in Oran's books. He could be considered a human-shaped resource depot.
Over the course of two days, Ginny's fear of the area gradually diminished.
Fear stems from the unknown. When Ginny discovered that there was nothing in this sea area, her fear of unknown creatures like ghosts dissipated.
"Found it! There's a fluctuation in the southeast direction!"
[Labour, did you hear that? The southeast needs to accelerate!]
There is more than one current in the Devil's Sea, which makes the search difficult. Laboon's patrol is mainly to expand the exploration area with Ginny, the human radar.
Oran and his group couldn't say for sure where they were. They had already ventured deep into the heart of the Devil's Triangle, but fortunately, they had already made progress.
Having received accurate information, Laboon turned the whale around and swam rapidly to the southeast with great excitement.
"Father, there's a boat in the fog ahead."
Before long, Frankenstein was the first to discover the situation in the fog. Her eyes were very different from human eyes, and the fog did not obstruct her view much.
"Indeed, I've sensed it too, and it's getting closer and closer."
At first, Labu was going with the current, but after the current changed, he was going against it and now he has just met a ship coming with the current.
"Whoosh!!!"
As the ship drew closer, its wrecked bow came into view. But when Laboon saw the broken bow, tears welled in his eyes. Without a doubt, it was the Rumbar Pirates' ship.
"Laboon, slow down! That ship is already badly damaged. If you ram it, it'll probably break apart!"
"Waaaaah!!"
Upon hearing this, Labour slowed down slightly, but he was still extremely anxious. At this moment, a whale actually drifted and swung its tail, circling the ship at a speed visible to the naked eye, and came to the other side of the ship, starting to sail alongside it.
"Waaaaah!!"
Lab's voice was mournful, whereas decades ago, whenever it made that sound, many crew members would appear at the ship's side and greet it with great enthusiasm.
But there was no reaction today. The ship remained deserted, with no movement except for the tattered sails billowing in the sea breeze.
Don't worry, I'll go check on the boat for you.
Raab has already made it clear that he didn't pick the wrong ship, so where can Brooke go?
At this moment, Labu was taller than most ships, and Oran easily leaped onto the deck.
The old deck creaked and groaned; if the force hadn't been reduced when landing, the deck would probably have been crushed.
Frankenstein followed closely behind, while Ginny floated alongside Oran.
"Brother Oran, it's probably around here. That aura seems to be inside the cabin."
Having overcome her fear, Ginny opened the door to the cabin, followed by a gasp.
"A ghost!!!"
The scream didn't come from Ginny, but from a skeleton.
Sizzle! Boom!
"ah!!!"
Upon seeing the talking skeleton, Ginny reacted instinctively by waving her hand and releasing a bolt of electricity. Amidst the intense lightning, the skeleton with the afro suddenly changed its hairstyle and then fell straight to the ground.
"Hohoho, that electric shock really went right to my bones, even though I am bones to begin with."
Due to the properties of bones, the lightning strike had no effect; the skeleton that had fallen to the ground quickly got back up and even emitted a rather unique laugh.
His afro had also shown its resilience, now returning to its original state. Looking at the talking skeleton, Ginny angrily questioned:
"Who are you calling a ghost, you skeleton?!"
"No one can float in mid-air!"
"I'm a user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, so what's wrong with being able to fly? But you, what skeleton can speak human language?!"
"So that's how it is, it was all a misunderstanding. I am a user of the Yomi Yomi no Mi (Revive-Revive Fruit), which gives me the ability to bring the dead back to life. Even if I die, I can have a second life."
In my previous life, I was a pirate. When I first entered this sea, I met my fellow pirates. After a great battle, we were all wiped out by the enemy's despicable tactics, and I naturally died as well.
But this fruit brought my soul back from the underworld to the mortal realm. If I had returned to my body immediately, I should have been able to be resurrected. Unfortunately, I got lost, and by the time I found my body, I was already just a skeleton.
At this point, the skeleton suddenly stopped, stood up, and straightened his suit.
"My name is Brook. I'm sorry, I've mistaken you for a ghost for many years. Today I've finally met a human! Hehehe! What a wonderful day!"
"I was shocked so badly just now, this can't be a dream, right? Hehehe! But dreaming is nice, I even heard Laboon's scream just now."
Ginny watched as Brooke's emotions underwent a dramatic shift.
This is Brook's way of life. Ever since the Rumbar Pirates were destroyed, Brook has lived alone on this ship where even the timeline is unclear.
Because of the damaged rudder, Brook was forced to drift with the current. Seeing humans again was a very fortunate thing for him.
"By the way, beautiful lady, may I take a look at your underwear?"
"ha?"
Boom!
Another clap of thunder sounded, and another bolt of lightning struck Brook. Even though his bones were insulated, they began to smoke under the intense heat.
He fell to the ground once again, a plume of black smoke billowing from his mouth, accompanied by his distinctive laughter.
"Hohoho, this time it really isn't a dream."
If Absalom were here, he would surely admire Brooke's courage to make such a perverse request to Ginny; it was simply heroic and fearless.
"That wasn't a dream either. Go to the side of the boat and take a look. It's been waiting for you at Twin Gorges for over twenty years."
The time it took for two consecutive lightning strikes was enough for Oran to get here. Seeing two more pink-haired people approaching, Brooke's empty eyes showed a hint of joy, but he didn't make any more perverted requests.
The hammer in Frankenstein's hand looks painful.
As is well known, blunt weapons deal increased damage to undead.
"Twin Gorges? Labu?!"
Laboon's size had already surpassed that of the Rumbar Pirates' ship, and it had been anxiously circling the vessel, appearing to Brook as a large black shadow.
Actually, Brook heard Laboon's cry, but he thought it was a hallucination in his dream. If he hadn't been struck by lightning twice, Brook might not have been able to wake up.
Living for extended periods in a desolate environment with uncertain timelines and no sunlight can easily lead to mental instability.
It's already quite an achievement for Brooke to maintain this status quo.
"Labu, it really is Labu!"
"Whoosh!!!"
Brooke excitedly ran to the ship's side and met Lab's huge eyes.
Even though there was no flesh and blood left, only a skeleton, Lab recognized the other party's identity from the familiar voice and the distinctive afro.
The whale and the skeleton burst into tears, completely ignoring the rest of the people.
"Father, this doesn't make sense. How can he speak without vocal cords?"
"Yes, Brother Oran, he can still see even though he doesn't have eyeballs."
"This is a Devil Fruit, the most amazing thing on the sea. Although it has lost its flesh and blood, it still retains the functions of a human body."
Oran did not disturb Brook and Lab's reunion. Brook then opened his skull and took out a detonator.
That recording included a group song performed by the other members of the Rumbar Pirates, and it was thanks to that that Brook was able to persevere.
"Bring Binks' wine to your side."
Binks's Sake, Pirate Song, is a song sung by pirates all over the sea.
However, the melodious tune conceals endless sorrow.
"Laboon, I promised to bring you back to find your former comrades, but Brooke is the last survivor."
"Waaaaah!!"
The reunion with Brook was a joy, but it also meant that the deaths of the others were now an absolute fact. Laboon could no longer deceive himself that they might still be alive somewhere in the ocean, but overall, things were leaning towards the better.
Brooke doesn't have the ability to hear the voice of all things, but he can understand Laboon's words.
"Thank you so much for bringing Raab here. I don't know how you knew about my situation, but thank you very much anyway."
Brooke bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle and then continued, "I have no way to repay your great kindness. If you need me, I can do my best to serve you."
I was once known as Brook the Nose Song, with a bounty of 33 million Berries. I do have some strength.
Brook has no more attachments in the world, and Lab is his last companion.
As long as he doesn't encounter the Straw Hat crew, Laboon will go wherever he goes.
Now that Laboon lives near Firefly Island, Brook will be no exception. Even if Oran doesn't need him, he will most likely find a place on the island to live in seclusion, singing and playing the violin for Laboon every day until the end of his life.
With 33 million Berries, considering the Rumbar Pirates' style of doing things and the value of Berries back then, Brook's strength is not bad. He can definitely take on a pirate with around 100 million Berries.
The Straw Hat crew spent most of their time training during those two years, but Brook was on a concert tour. Although he had mastered the abilities of astral projection and Yomi no Izu, his training in strength was not as good as the others.
"Let's leave here first. You've probably had enough of this sea area."
In Oran's eyes, Brook's strength was rather lackluster, at least before he mastered the ability of the Yellow Springs Freezing Qi, but Brook's ability to attract money was extraordinary.
No matter the world, singers who achieve phenomenal success will always earn a lot of money.
"So, does that mean you've accepted my application to join the crew, Captain?"
"That's one way to understand it, but don't call me captain. I'm not a pirate. The situation outside has changed, and you need to learn more about what's happening outside."
For example, Roger completed his final voyage last year and became the Pirate King.
"Roger? Gol D. Roger? I heard about this newcomer when I was sailing, and I heard he's very strong."
Older age can sometimes bring unique characteristics. At least half of the well-known older generation on the high seas today are newcomers in Brooke's eyes.
The others didn't have any objections to Brooke. Whether he was a smooth talker or a real pervert couldn't be hidden from Ginny. If Brooke's inner thoughts were just as filthy, then the outcome of being struck by lightning would be quite different.
Apart from the mysterious Nika, no one can completely ignore the intense heat brought by lightning.
"Yo ho ho ho, you're actually a king? What a coincidence! Before I became a pirate, I was the captain of a kingdom's guard. I'm quite familiar with this kind of thing."
But I still prefer music. Anyone want to request a song during this boring voyage?
"Farewell to summer, on a hillside where poppies bloom."
This is a piece that Frankenstein liked, but Brooke didn't know how to play it.
"Um, could you please change to an older track? I don't know any of the newer tracks from recent years."
"It's okay, here's the sheet music."
Frankenstein, as if he had been prepared, produced a handwritten playlist.
"Hehehe, this looks like a good piece of music. So please allow me to perform a song for you all."
Accompanied by melodious music, Laboon led the four on their return journey, while the ship that originally belonged to the Rumbar Pirates slowly sank into the sea at that moment.
Having seen off its last companion, its mission came to an end.
This shouldn't be a place that confines Brook; a brand new future and a fresh start await him.
Goodbye, Brooke. Live well!
Brooke froze suddenly. In that instant, he seemed to hear his companion's voice, but there was nothing around him.
I went to give a gift today and was a bit busy, so this is only 4,000 words. Sorry for the brevity.
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