Chapter 120 Luffy's invitation to the skeleton is rejected, and Moria appears."Holy crap!"
Usopp, who was drinking water, spat it out, terrified. "Mom! Wake me up! I'm having a nightmare!"
Zoro's hand trembled, and with a "clang," he drew his Wado Ichimonji.
Everyone roared at Luffy in unison, "Are you kidding me?! What the hell did you pick up, Luffy?!"
"Yohohoho... Everyone's eyes are so fierce!" Brook, startled, assumed his classic 45-degree tilt stance.
Luffy, amused by the diverse expressions on everyone's faces, exclaimed, "Having fun, isn't it? Let me introduce you, this is our ship's mood-setter—the musician, Brook."
Brook, seemingly oblivious to their discomfort, approached Vivi, Robin, and Kalifa, repeating his previous tactic:
"These beautiful ladies, nice to meet you... May I see your panties?"
Kalifa adjusted her glasses and coldly replied, "That's sexual harassment, not part of your job."
Brook, sporting a head full of freshly made bumps, slunk back to the group of men.
The men looked at him with disdain: "Serves him right..."
Luffy, watching this scene, felt a pang of emotion.
In his previous life watching One Piece, besides Nami's plea for help and Merry's farewell, the scene that moved him to tears the most was Brook's flashback.
That promise that transcended life and death, that "Binks' Sake" that played as his crew fell one by one, and that decades of despair adrift in solitude.
This soul-deep bond made Luffy determined to bring Brook onto the crew no matter what.
Besides, the reason they came to the Devil's Triangle was to recruit Brook.
This guy is not only incredibly strong (though he usually slacks off), but his personality is also extremely interesting.
More importantly, Brook's identity is connected to a top legend in the pirate world—"The Lone Red" Barolok Redfield!
That ruthless man who could single-handedly rival Roger and Whitebeard is Brook's number one fan!
Havingn't seen a living person for decades, Brook was as excited as a hyperactive child, constantly trying to strike up a conversation.
"Because I'm a gentleman, I love this elegant time of waiting for my meal."
"Dinner! Dinner! Dinner! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"
Brook, knife and fork in hand, shouted like a monkey banging a gong.
Everyone was speechless: "..."
"You call this gentlemanly? Gentlemanly my foot!"
Then, Brook recounted his tragic story of eating the Revive-Revive Fruit, resulting in his soul getting lost and unable to find his body, ultimately finding himself possessing a skeleton.
After hearing the explanation, everyone breathed a sigh of relief: "Oh, so he's a Devil Fruit user."
"If it's a Devil Fruit, that makes much more sense."
When Sanji brought the sumptuous meal to the table, Brook, who had been so excited moments before, suddenly fell silent.
Looking at the steaming food before him, his voice low and choked with emotion: "It's been so many years... since I've had proper food..."
"Although, more satisfying than filling my stomach is the feeling in my heart."
Suddenly, Brook's demeanor shifted, turning to Robin beside him: "Miss, your portion of meat seems to be more than mine. Could we switch?"
Sanji instantly transformed into a demon, his mouth full of sharp teeth: (╬￣皿￣)!
"There's plenty more in the pot! Just eat your own!!"
After a hearty meal, Luffy solemnly extended his hand to Brook again: "Brook, officially become my crewmate!"
However, this time Brook didn't agree as readily as before.
A deep sense of disappointment emanated from his empty skeleton: "Although I really want to say yes... but I'm sorry, I refuse!"
At this moment, Zoro and the others were all astonished.
After the meal, everyone had actually accepted this unlucky and goofy skeleton and wasn't opposed to him joining the crew.
Unexpectedly, Luffy personally invited him, and this guy actually refused?
Luffy, however, showed no surprise, instead smiling as if he had expected it:
"Is it because of the shadow?"
Brook was shocked, his empty eye sockets widening in disbelief: "How did you know?!"
Luffy didn't answer directly, but looked at him meaningfully:
"Laboon is still crashing into the Red Line at Twin Cape, waiting for you to come back."
These words struck Brook like a thunderbolt.
Even Zoro, Nami, and Usopp were shocked: "What?! That island whale was waiting for him?!"
Just then, the Going Merry suddenly shook violently, as if it had hit something.
A pale ghost passed through the deck, coldly watching everyone.
"A ghost!!"
Brook collapsed to the ground in terror, clutching his head and screaming.
Everyone was speechless: "You're the demon yourself! What are you yelling about?!"
Suddenly, Brook seemed to realize something, scrambling to his feet in a panic and rushing out of the room.
What came into view was a gigantic island, like a monster with its jaws wide open, surrounded by towering walls like sharp teeth.
"How could this be! Has that guy been monitoring this ship?!"
Brook looked at the Thriller Bark in despair, turning to ask, "Did you find the Drifting Tag?"
"Ah, that? We did find it."
Sanji nodded. "Didn't Kalifa say that thing was used by Moria to locate his prey?"
Brook froze: "Since you know that… why aren't you running?"
"Run? Why? We came here specifically to find that otaku Moria."
Luffy walked to the bow, looking at the enormous "mouth," a confident smile playing on his lips.
"Don't worry, skeleton, I'll get my revenge on your shadow, with interest."
Brook was completely dumbfounded, looking at this group of arrogant young people with disbelief: "Who...who are you people?"
Luffy put on the coat that symbolized justice, his back as straight as a mountain, and chuckled:
"I am Monkey D. Luffy, Vice Admiral of the Marine Headquarters!"
Brook's jaw dropped with a "crack," literally landing on the deck.
"Eh? Didn't Luffy tell you? Our mission target this time is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—Gecko Moria."
With the crisp click of a lighter, a wisp of smoke rose from Sanji's fingertips. He stared at the colossal, sky-obscuring structure before him, his eye twitching involuntarily.
This was too outrageous! It wasn't so much a ship as a floating island adrift on the dark sea!
Luffy adjusted his straw hat, calmly explaining that this was the lair of the Shichibukai Gecko Moria, the legendary Thriller Bark ship.