"Hah…"
Chronos lay on the ground, his eyes vacant as he stared at the sky. A massive slash wound had appeared on his chest, nearly splitting open to his internal organs.
His breathing was faint, reduced to instinctive, shallow sounds from his throat.
Red Count was not faring much better. His once neat and complete red suit was now tattered and torn, and his tidy hair had completely frizzed up into a scorched, brown afro.
Faint crackles of electricity flickered across his body, and numerous small wounds continued to bleed uncontrollably. He would need to use Haki bit by bit to stop the bleeding.
Red Count had never imagined that Chronos had already reached such a level.
In the future, when his body fully matures, his Haki peaks with his spirit, and combined with the abilities of the Triple Devil Fruit…
His potential is limitless, truly limitless.
Due to his long solitary voyages at sea, Red Count had also gained some knowledge of medicine—after all, when injured in battle, he could only rely on himself to recover.
After quickly checking his own condition, Red Count glanced toward Chronos, wondering whether he should check on the young man's injuries.
But suddenly, a series of thunderous sounds, like drumbeats, emanated from Chronos's body.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Electricity stimulated his heart, and the blood at his wounds rapidly coagulated, stitching together flesh and tissue.
Under Red Count's gaze, the wounds on Chronos's body slowly shrank until they vanished entirely.
Thud!
With a swift kip-up, Chronos stood up, his pupils erupting with a startling red light.
Is this… Conqueror's Haki!?
Boom!
The same unsettling aura burst out in all directions, like the most soul-shaking fear, yet also the most deeply rooted pride.
Red Count's slash had finally allowed Chronos to experience the sensation of Conqueror's Haki.
That kind of pain and damage was something Chronos had never felt while on the Moby Dick.
Black lightning crackled faintly as Chronos raised his hand, his smile exaggerated, as if this aura had been ready since the day he left Pops Whitebeard.
Clenching his fist slowly, Chronos focused on the sensation of Red Count's Haki lingering on his chest. Was it like this?
Movement, flow, infusion…
The Conqueror's Haki unique to Chronos slowly shifted under his command, as if trying to take shape according to his will, yet it remained stubbornly immobile.
Is it not possible?
Chronos grew irritable and indignant, the desire that drove him to seek power resurfacing once again.
Humans are forever in pursuit of strength.
Turning his head, Chronos looked at Red Count, his expression serious yet fervent.
"Senior Red Count, please strike me with another slash. I haven't fully grasped the key to the King's power yet."
Red Count fell silent, but under Chronos's pleading gaze, he still raised his umbrella sword.
"Don't die on me."
"Of course!"
Chronos laughed heartily, opening his posture wide to Red Count.
Squelch!
The umbrella sword, entwined with writhing black lightning, once again sliced through Chronos's chest.
It wasn't just the pain of the external flesh being cut—there was also an internal devastation that pierced straight to his core, causing blood to gush uncontrollably from Chronos's mouth.
But Chronos's eyes were bright; he felt this sensation once more.
The destruction wrought by Conqueror's Haki prevented Chronos's body from rapidly regenerating, and unprecedented pain made him tremble all over.
Yet Chronos still stood firm in place, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fists, feeling that power until he could sense the aura of Conqueror's Haki at his fingertips.
Crack!
Finally, the twisting black lightning also began to coil around Chronos's hand—its force faint, but undeniably present.
"I've learned it. Conqueror's Haki, and the technique of infusion."
Chronos was delighted, his white teeth stained with crimson, but he paid it no mind.
His steps were somewhat unsteady, but Chronos still walked step by step up to Red Count, then earnestly bowed.
"Thank you, senior."
Looking at Chronos before him—like a flickering candle in the wind, yet also brimming with vitality—Red Count felt both admiration and exasperation.
Young people these days...
Soul Lifespan: Healing!
But the pain was truly unbearable, so Chronos chose to activate his hidden reserve energy.
Long-accumulated Soul Lifespan was consumed, transforming into specks of healing light that bestowed renewal upon Chronos's wounded flesh and bones.
Under Red Count's gaze—who knew how many times he had been shocked by now—Chronos's injuries slowly healed until he was as good as new.
Patting himself down, Chronos felt a pang of heartache. His centuries of Soul Lifespan! Gone again!
But thinking of the new energy he had gained and the techniques he had learned, Chronos calmed down.
This was a worthwhile expenditure.
Twisting his neck, Chronos moved his body, which felt as if reborn. The Conqueror's Haki had finally dissipated, and the vampire's power was now "invigorating the blood and dispersing stagnation."
The stimulation of lightning, the healing of souls, and the tenacious vitality of a vampire.
Perhaps in the future, Chronos would also demonstrate the power of "sit-ups" to his enemies.
Turning his gaze to Red Count, who had arrived in style but now stood in tattered clothes, Chronos blinked and spoke up proactively:
"Would you like to come aboard my ship, Senior Red Count?"
Red Count narrowed his eyes at Chronos. Having already fought once, he couldn't be bothered to put on airs anymore.
"Of course. Unless I'm not welcome?"
Because of Chronos's words, Red Count recalled distant memories. He needed to ask and understand exactly what was going on.
"How could that be?"
Chronos said with a smile. Just as he was about to invite Red Count to leave, his expression suddenly changed.
Observation Haki rapidly expanded, finally detecting Patton, who had long been knocked unconscious by the Haki shockwave and blown far away by the blast.
In a flash of lightning, Chronos picked him up and hurriedly tried to transfer Soul Lifespan to heal the little tanuki's injuries, stabilizing its breathing.
Red Count's footsteps abruptly halted, his expression also turning unnatural.
Only when he sensed Patton's breathing gradually steadying did Red Count's own breathing return to normal.
Patting Patton's large head, Chronos looked solemnly at Red Count and said, "Let this child rest properly."
Red Count pursed his lips, nodded, and began to question himself inwardly.
Indeed, Patton should leave him.
...
Ark Maxim.
Due to Jade and Angeles's departure, Flam and Jun Shiro quickly landed, searching and waiting for them on the spot.
This made it convenient for Moria to return with Tohru and the others.
After everyone had been sent back, Moria, shouldering his large blade, wanted to rush back to aid Chronos. He had just gained a companion—he couldn't lose him now!
But when Moria hurried back, he saw the old and young duo chatting and laughing together.
Moria was dumbfounded on the spot. Wait, do you two actually know each other?
Chronos explained that this was what connections were all about—the sea wasn't just about fighting and killing.
Back on the ship, although the outcome was good, having a legendary pirate like the Red Count aboard made everyone exchange uneasy glances, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
The Red Count, who could even sense emotions and memories, naturally noticed this, but he didn't care.
On the table was freshly brewed tea made from leaves Little Fu Gui had just roasted. The Red Count nodded in approval—he quite liked this kind of light tea.
"No need for further pleasantries, Chronos. Tell me, how much do you know about that phrase?"
Setting down his teacup, the Red Count fixed his intense gaze on Chronos.
"To make even a crying child break into laughter."
That was the slogan the Red Count remembered most vividly from his youth, and it was precisely because of that group of people that he decided to set sail.
The Rumba Pirates—the Red Count's mentors and his guiding light.
In terms of influence, they were no less significant than the Red-Haired Pirates' impact on Luffy in the original story.
One of the Red Count's goals in setting sail was to find them, but unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.
By the time the Red Count began his search across the vast sea, all traces of the Rumba Pirates had already vanished.
"That was the slogan of the Rumba Pirates, active on the sea twenty or thirty years ago. Though called pirates, they were more like a group of musicians, right?"
Chronos also set down his teacup, adopting the air of someone with a story to tell.
"I don't know much about the Rumba Pirates. I learned about them indirectly while gathering information on notable figures in this world."
"Crocus, though not widely known, is one of the most capable doctors on these seas."
"At the time, because Uncle Roger was seriously ill, I collected a lot of information, and Crocus was among them."
"From what I know, twenty or thirty years ago, the Rumba Pirates docked at Twin Capes for several months and became very close friends with Crocus, who was the lighthouse keeper at the time."
"It seems the Rumba Pirates adopted a young giant island whale back then and named him Laboon."
"Unwilling to risk the turbulent waters of the Grand Line, they entrusted the young whale to Crocus, promising to return and meet him again someday."
"But in the end…"
Under the Red Count's trembling gaze, Chronos shook his head regretfully.
"To this day, the Rumba Pirates have never reunited with Laboon, who is now nearly fully grown."
The Red Count lowered his gaze. Of course, how could it be otherwise? A pirate crew that had disappeared for decades—how could there still be hope of survival?
"However," Chronos shifted the tone, "the last known location of the Rumba Pirates was a sea area called the Florian Triangle, a notorious place where ships go missing, with nearly a hundred vessels disappearing there every year."
"If nothing unexpected happened, the Rumba Pirates likely fell victim to that sea."
"But I also have information from captains who accidentally entered the Florian Triangle and managed to leave quickly. They claimed there were ghosts active in that sea, though they looked like skeletons with afros."
"Vice-captain of the Rumbar Pirates, the pirate known as 'Soul King' Brook, also famous for his afro."
"And there's information suggesting Brook might be an Ability User of the legendary Revive-Revive Fruit, with the power to revive once after death."
"So..."
Chronos met Red Count's eyes, which had reignited with fire, and smiled:
"Though the chances are slim, would you like to go see for yourself, Senior Red Count?"
"Absolutely!"
Red Count spoke each word deliberately. Could it be that the regret from his childhood still had a chance to be mended?
"If you don't mind, Senior, I could give you a ride. How about it?"
A playful smile curled at the corner of Chronos's lips as he began to set his plan in motion.
Hmm?
Red Count frowned, studying Chronos's expression, seemingly discerning the man's intentions.
"That won't be necessary—"
"Boss!"
Just then, Patton, who had been nestled in Chronos's arms, suddenly jolted awake. Instinctively, he let out a loud cry, lifted his head, and frantically scanned his surroundings.
"Boss? Boss! Boss?!"
Repeating that special title meant only for him, Patton lunged toward Red Count.
Caught off guard, Red Count still instinctively caught Patton and held him close.
"You..."
Red Count felt a pang of regret. He should have left earlier—that way, he could have successfully entrusted Patton to Chronos.
"Boss, is what Chronos said true? Was 'Patton' once your name? Did you give me the name you once had?"
Patton pressed urgently, his eyes brimming with almost overflowing joy.
"Huh?"
Red Count felt a rare moment of panic. He glared at Chronos—what on earth have you done?!
Chronos calmly took a sip of tea, then imitated Red Count's earlier unhurried tone:
"Earlier, I only calmed Patton down. I didn't make him lose consciousness. So, before our final move—well, our final two moves—Patton probably heard everything we said."
A faint red flush crept up Red Count's cheeks, causing them to twitch unnaturally.
The others on the ship also looked at the old man as if seeing him in a new light.
After a long pause, Red Count finally lowered his head to look at Patton, their eyes meeting.
"Yes, I gave you my name. Whether I used it or not, your name comes from me. That is an undeniable fact."
"Ahhh!!!"
A smile as radiant as blooming flowers spread across Patton's face.
This is wonderful, truly wonderful!
"So, Patton, will you listen to me?"
"Of course!"
Patton replied without hesitation.
"Then leave me and follow Chronos. He is your friend, right?"
"Huh?"
Patton froze, lifting his head to see Red Count's unyielding expression.
"I'm already an old man. I won't be able to take care of you much longer. There's no need to stay with me. You need a broader sky..."
Red Count's expression softened. In truth, what had aged before his body was his heart.
But before he could finish, Patton cut him off.
"No! I don't want to!"
"I want to stay by your side, Boss! I want to be your partner! Boss, please don't abandon me!"
"I want to stay by the boss's side, protecting him forever. No matter how many times you ask, it's the same. Whether I get kicked away or knocked down, even if it's to the ends of the earth, I will follow the boss!"
"This is my dream!!!"
In that sunless research facility, the little tanuki spent the first half of its life. Vegapunk, not wanting the World Government to get their hands on Patton, secretly kept it in the most hidden place, telling it that one day, it would meet a companion to spend its life with.
Thus, upon hearing that hopeful inner voice, Red discovered it, seeing his own lonely past self in it, and gave it his own name.
Staring blankly at Patton, Red Count's gaze softened, and he finally let out a helpless smile.
"It seems entrusting it to you all was a failure."
Reaching out to pat Patton's head, Red Count didn't respond directly, but his answer said it all.
A smile bloomed once more on Patton's face—could it really stay by the boss's side from now on?!
Chronos watched the pair, who were not father and son but closer than blood, and smiled silently as well.
Indeed, no matter the circumstances, this bond that transcended bloodlines was what he hoped to see.
"After all, you two are the best partners. Who could match you in understanding Patton's abilities, senior?"
The leaf transformations of the Tanuki Transformation Fruit required knowledge of the target's abilities—the more information known, the stronger the transformed avatar would be.
For ordinary people, a fight might be necessary, but for Red Count, who could directly read memories, he only needed to glimpse others' recollections.
"Tanuki tanuki."
Patton laughed happily—yes, the boss was its best partner!
"So..."
"Senior Red Count, would you like to join my ship? I am always eager for talented individuals of great strength."
Chronos extended the invitation with a smile.
If he could bring a legendary pirate like Red Count aboard, not to mention the system rewards, just the sheer assistance and the impact on his reputation would be enough to shake the seas.
"What?"
Red Count was stunned; he felt today's emotional shifts had been more intense than a whole year's worth.
Under the shocked gazes of his companions, Chronos maintained his smile and said:
"I mean, would you like to come aboard my ship, senior? People of your strength are always welcome here."
