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The voice was gentle and soft, sounding directly within Laboon's heart. The whale, which had been continuously crashing against Twin Cape, immediately trembled all over.
Beneath the water, Laboon lifted its bewildered gaze, trying to see through the currents to find out who was speaking to it.
Its enormous body gradually rose above the sea surface, allowing everyone to finally see Laboon's full appearance. Shock spread across their faces.
"So huge!"
"I've never seen such an enormous creature."
"So this is a whale?"
They stared curiously at Laboon, and soon noticed the countless scars crisscrossing its body. Sympathy rose in their hearts. Through Crocus's story, they naturally understood that these scars had all been caused by years of crashing into Twin Cape.
At that moment, however, Laboon stopped attacking Twin Cape and instead turned its gaze toward the figure standing on the shore.
"Captain!"
Seeing Laboon's eyes fixed upon Rojen, everyone couldn't help but feel astonished.
"Stop hurting yourself by crashing into this place anymore. The person you're waiting for… he's still alive!"
Rojen said with a smile.
Cry…!
Intense excitement appeared in Laboon's eyes. It suddenly leapt from the sea, trying to rush toward him, but the height difference prevented it from reaching the shore.
"Yes, what I'm saying is true. In the future, he will definitely come to see you." Rojen nodded, seeming to understand the meaning behind Laboon's cries.
Ji! Ji!
Laboon continued asking questions, its eyes filled with excitement and joy.
"Him? Does he have a head of black afro hair? Right? And his name is Brook, isn't it?" Rojen asked with a smile, conversing with Laboon.
Jiii!
Laboon's cry became even happier. It believed Rojen's words.
"So then, don't hurt yourself anymore. Brook has taken very good care of that afro of his just so he can meet you again."
"Laboon, you also need to take good care of yourself. Don't injure yourself anymore. Otherwise, when Brook finally comes back to see you, covered in scars like this… he might not even recognize you!"
Rojen said seriously to Laboon.
Every word he spoke somehow reached directly into Laboon's heart, allowing it to understand.
And every cry from Laboon, he could understand as well.
Ji! Ji! Jiii!
Laboon jumped excitedly, rolling through the seawater and sending towering sprays into the air. Yet it truly no longer rammed into Twin Cape; its eyes were now filled with hope.
"I've met him before. He told me himself that one day, he would definitely return here again. So, Laboon… from now on, protect yourself properly, okay?"
Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Rojen spoke softly.
Laboon answered joyfully. Even it didn't understand why it trusted the words of the man before it so completely, but it simply felt that he would never deceive it.
It was as though the person standing above possessed a natural warmth that inspired closeness and trust.
Seeing Laboon agree, Rojen smiled and slowly rose to his feet.
"Come, Laboon. Make a promise with me, from now on, you won't hurt yourself anymore. Instead, you'll wait patiently for Brook to return."
He stretched out his hand.
"I promise you: one day, Brook will definitely come back. And you must promise me… that you'll protect yourself."
Rojen's right hand remained suspended in the air, seeking to forge a pact with Laboon.
This scene drew amazed exclamations from the people behind him.
"Laboon can actually understand what Captain is saying, this is incredible!"
"Compared to that, I'm more curious about how Captain can understand Laboon's cries."
"This is amazing… they can actually communicate!"
Crocus exclaimed in astonishment. He had seen countless pirates enter the Grand Line, and many of them, for failing to satisfy Laboon, had their ships destroyed and suffered devastating losses.
Someone capable of communicating with Laboon, this was the first time he had ever seen such a person.
Looking at Rojen standing there with his hand outstretched, Crocus couldn't help but wonder inwardly.
What kind of power is hidden inside this seemingly ordinary young man?
Cry~!
The whale's unique call rang out. With a leap, Laboon stretched up and touched Rojen's right hand with its body.
"Good! It's a promise then, Laboon!"
Rojen burst into laughter.
Laboon cried out happily as well, swimming rapidly through the seawater and stirring up wave after wave.
Back in his previous life, Rojen had still been young when he watched this part of One Piece. Laboon, who had devoted itself wholeheartedly to waiting for Brook, its resilience and unwavering determination had deeply moved him.
The suffering Laboon endured for the sake of a promise had struck his heart profoundly back then.
Now, seeing the whale in person, Rojen could, through his Observation Haki, deeply sense the joy and anticipation within Laboon's heart, which only filled him with greater admiration.
It was difficult to imagine that the bond between a human and a whale could reach such a level.
For the first time, Rojen truly felt that this world was fundamentally different from Earth.
At the same time, he understood something else, in the world of One Piece, all things possessed spirit.
"You're really something, kid. In all these years, you're the first person who's managed to calm Laboon down."
After Laboon had settled down, Crocus gazed at the deep ocean and sighed.
He was extremely curious about how this had been accomplished.
"You seem able to communicate with Laboon. As far as I know, Roger possessed a similar ability back then?"
"Mine is a little different from his, perhaps. But yes, I can communicate with beasts and animals. I can understand their words… no."
Rojen thought carefully for a moment, paused, then corrected himself.
"It's more accurate to say… I can understand their emotions."
"Emotions?" Crocus asked in surprise.
"Yes!" Rojen nodded.
It truly was the ability to understand emotions.
The events on Abiles Island were branded deeply into Rojen's memory, impossible to erase. The gratitude of that ten-thousand-strong dragon herd had seemed to open some mysterious connection within his mind, allowing him to perceive the emotions of living creatures.
It was a miraculous ability, and a precious one as well.
Although it differed from hearing the Voice of All Things, Rojen was perfectly satisfied with it.
"How fascinating… what other powers are you hiding?" Crocus stared at Rojen curiously, wanting to see through him completely.
But no matter how he looked, the young man before him appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary fellow.
"Laboon probably won't hurt itself anymore from now on. You can relax." Rojen turned and said to him again.
"I'm curious about the things you said." Crocus raised his head toward Rojen.
"You mean… about the person Laboon has been waiting for?" Rojen asked with a smile.
"Exactly. Have you truly met Brook?" Crocus asked.
As far as he knew, the people who had once known Laboon had all died in the Grand Line.
Too much time had passed. That group had probably long vanished into the river of history.
If that were the case… then had Rojen been lying to Laboon?
"I have met him. He's still alive." Rojen nodded without denying it.
Crocus froze, then his face filled with shock.
"He… he's still alive?"
"Yes. Alive somewhere in an unknown sea region, drifting alone in loneliness and desolation. He, too, is waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"Waiting for companions… who can take him away from there."
(End Of This Chapter)