As the Red-Haired Pirates' ship sailed onward, the world around them felt unreal. The massive, fleshy walls enclosing the vessel curved upward like living cliffs, pulsing faintly with each slow breath.
Giovanni stood near the railing, eyes wide, taking it all in. His heart pounded as the realization finally settled in.
I'm really inside Laboon, he thought to himself, awe flooding his chest. This is insane.
No matter how much he replayed it in his head, it still didn't feel real. Sailing inside a whale, one so enormous it housed currents, structures, and even land was something straight out of a fever dream. And yet, here they were.
Building Snake broke the silence first, his voice tinged with disbelief as he scanned their surroundings.
"Shanks," he said, "are you sure someone lives inside this whale. It just seems surreal to me."
Shanks leaned casually against the side of the ship, hands behind his head, looking perfectly at ease as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
"Of course," Shanks replied easily. "Crocus-san lives here. I planned on meeting up with him anyway after recruiting Yassop. But now he can also treat Giovanni. It's like killing two birds with one stone."
Just then, something massive appeared ahead of them. The shadows shifted, and what first looked like a strange rock formation slowly came into focus.
Giovanni leaned forward, gripping the railing. "There's really an island here," he said, disbelief thick in his voice. "What a weird whale."
Beckman, leaning against the side of the ship while calmly smoking, finally spoke up, his tone as measured and analytical as ever.
"This whale most probably belongs to the Island Whale species," he said. "They are the largest type of whale on the Blue Planet and are capable of growing in size to the size of an island."
Shanks and Giovanni both turned toward him at the same time, eyes wide with genuine amazement.
"Wow," Giovanni said, staring at Beckman with sparkling eyes. "Beckman, you are so smart and informed."
Shanks nodded in full agreement. "I don't think there is anything Beckman doesn't know."
Beckman looked at the two of them flatly, exhaling smoke through his nose. "I can't tell if you two are mocking me or are being genuine."
Giovanni and Shanks immediately chuckled into their hands, shoulders shaking as they tried and failed to suppress their laughter.
Beckman grit his teeth. "You two…"
Before the bickering could escalate further, Building Snake suddenly stiffened, peering ahead with a focused gaze.
"Whoa," he said. "There is actually a house on that island."
He leaned forward, squinting. "And when I look even more… I see an old man outside basking in the sun."
Shanks' eyes lit up instantly. "Really?"
He bolted to the front of the ship, nearly tripping over himself as he tried to get a better look. After a moment, his face broke into a wide grin.
"That's him," Shanks said with certainty. "That's Crocus-san."
Giovanni hurried over to join him, standing shoulder to shoulder as he followed Shanks' gaze. When he finally spotted the old man relaxed, casual, and almost goofy-looking his jaw dropped.
"That's him!?" Giovanni blurted out. "That goofy looking old man was part of the Roger Pirates?"
Shanks laughed loudly, the sound echoing faintly inside Laboon. "Don't underestimate him because of how he presents himself, Gio."
Giovanni frowned, eyes still glued to Crocus. "Is he a good fighter or something?"
Inwardly, Giovanni couldn't help but think about what he knew. In the original manga, Crocus didn't seem particularly strong.
And yet, One Piece had made one thing very clear, old people were monsters.
Garp. Rayleigh. Gabban. Whitebeard. Even Don Chinjao.
Old men in this world still had that dog in them.
Crocus, compared to those legends, didn't have the same overwhelming presence. Sure, he did one-shot a giant squid, tanked a bazooka, and swam through literal acid, but Giovanni still wasn't convinced.
Shanks chuckled at the question. "No matter what I told you, you wouldn't believe me," he said. "Some things are better left for one to see themselves."
Giovanni recoiled as if struck, turning to Shanks with visible disgust. "Shanks," he said, "did you just use high-level intellect against me. How disgusting."
Shanks grinned smugly. "Gio. It's not my fault you struggle to comprehend high-level conversation."
As the two continued to bicker back and forth, their voices overlapping in playful insults, Building Snake and Beckman watched from a short distance away.
Building Snake smiled softly, the tension in his shoulders easing.
Beckman exhaled smoke, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
For all the danger that awaited them in the Grand Line, moments like this, loud, ridiculous, and full of life were very much welcome.
---
Crocus lay back in his chair, the warm artificial sunlight washing over his face as the gentle rhythm of Laboon's body moved around him. To anyone watching, he looked completely relaxed, an old man enjoying a quiet nap on his tiny island in the middle of nowhere.
But beneath that calm exterior, something shifted.
A faint pressure brushed against his senses.
Crocus' brows twitched.
Hm?
A presence. No, several presences. Familiar ones, too. Strong, lively, and unmistakably loud in spirit.
Slowly, Crocus opened one eye, then the other, and turned his head just enough to peer toward the vast inner sea of the whale. In the distance, cutting through the water, was a ship.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"So," Crocus muttered to himself, voice calm and amused, "you've started your own journey."
He closed his eyes again, unbothered, as if this were exactly what he had been expecting all along.
---
A while later, the Red-Haired Pirates' ship reached the tiny island nestled within Laboon. The water slowed, the ship drifting gently until it came to a natural stop near the shore.
Shanks stood at the front, hands on his hips, grinning like a kid who had just returned home after years away.
"Alright," he said brightly, "let's go everyone. I'll introduce you."
The four disembarked, boots crunching softly against the strange, island-like ground. Giovanni immediately began looking around, eyes darting upward and then back down again.
"Uhm," he said slowly, squinting, "is it me or are there clouds and a literal sun in here?"
Beckman glanced upward briefly before answering, his tone casual. "They're not real."
Giovanni froze. "Really?"
Building Snake tilted his head, taking a moment to process that. "That's surprising," he said. "It feels so real."
The warmth on their skin, the gentle breeze, even the shadows, it all felt real. Giovanni waved a hand through the air as if expecting it to glitch or flicker.
"Man," Giovanni muttered, "this whale is built different."
The four continued forward until they finally reached Crocus, who was still laid back in his chair, eyes closed, arms resting comfortably at his sides. He looked like he hadn't noticed them at all.
Giovanni tilted his head, frowning. "Is this old man sleeping?" he asked. "Does he not have a sense of danger?"
Shanks smiled knowingly. "Oh Gio," he said, shaking his head. "You are so wrong."
Shanks took a step forward and raised his voice slightly. "Crocus-san. You can stop pretending now. You most probably sensed us the second we entered the whale."
Crocus' lips curled into a grin. He opened his eyes slowly and turned his head toward Shanks.
"Shanks," Crocus said warmly. "Still as observant as ever."
Shanks laughed. "Of course. And it would be weird if you didn't sense us with your Haki."
Crocus shifted, pushing himself up just enough to sit more upright. His eyes drifted over the group, sharp despite his laid-back demeanor.
"I see you've brought visitors with you," he said.
Shanks straightened proudly. "Yes. These are my crewmembers. There are two others that are not here right now."
He stepped aside slightly and gestured. "That's Beckman. He's my first mate and second in command."
Beckman gave a small wave. "Nice to meet you."
Crocus nodded in return. "Nice to meet you too."
Shanks continued without pause. "This is Building Snake, and he is the navigator of our crew."
Building Snake dipped his head respectfully. Crocus returned the nod.
Then Shanks moved closer to Giovanni and, without warning, slung an arm over his shoulders.
"And this," Shanks said with a grin, "is the second mate, the crew's swordsman, and most important of all, my best friend. Giovanni."
Giovanni froze.
Best friend?
The words hit him harder than he expected. They had known each other for less than a month, barely any time at all. And yet, when he thought about it… Shanks was the closest thing he had ever had to a best friend.
Bellé-mer had been important to him. Precious, even. But this was different.
Shanks shared his hobbies. His interests. His stupid jokes. His reckless energy.
When Shanks called him his best friend, something warm settled in Giovanni's chest.
Crocus laughed. "Best friend, huh. Well then, it's nice to meet you, Giovanni."
Giovanni snapped out of his thoughts, smiled, and said, "It's nice to meet you too, old man."
Then, as if remembering something important, his eyes lit up.
"Old man," Giovanni said, leaning forward, "you were part of the Roger Pirates, right?"
Crocus blinked, slightly taken aback. "Yes," he said. "I was."
Giovanni grinned. "Does that mean you're strong?"
Crocus chuckled softly. "I see. So you're one of those who enjoy fighting and talking to the strong."
Giovanni scratched his cheek. "I don't know about that."
Crocus continued calmly, "Well, strength is pretty subjective. There are many different types, and everyone has something they are strong in. So your question is pretty vague."
Giovanni's excitement slowly faded. His shoulders slumped just a bit.
Well, he thought, that's something weak people say to comfort themselves.
I guess Crocus is weak.
________________________________________
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