Chapter 230: The Man Who Stole ShadowsLike a cold, gray veil, the thick fog still clung to the thousand sunny, shrouding the deck in haze and silence.Ink Meteor carried the four of them and the skeleton, stepping lightly through the air as he returned and landed on the familiar lawn deck.When Brook, in his dapper black suit, with his striking white bones, appeared under the lights of the thousand sunny, the companions who had remained behind instantly entered a state of high alert."E-everyone, greetings!"Brook seemed completely oblivious to the nearly tangible shock and vigilance, cheerfully waving his black top hat, his voice still carrying that melodious, comical tone."I'm truly sorry for the trouble my broken ship and I have caused you all this time!"As he spoke, he swayed his body and head from side to side.Then, he suddenly stood at attention, raised his bony palm, and performed a solemn gentleman's bow to the stiff-faced crowd."I am Brook, who has died until only bones remain! Pleased to meet you!""What kind of joke is this—! What the hell are you?"Led by Franky, Zoro, Usopp, and Chopper... all shouted in disbelief, practically in unison."Oh my! Oh my! Such fierce people!"Brook leaned back dramatically, his voice rising as if he were frightened, even though his skeletal face couldn't express any emotion at all."Hee hee hee!"Luffy sat cross-legged on Ink Meteor's back, which hadn't been fully retracted yet, laughing until he rocked back and forth.Nami and Sanji simultaneously lowered their heads and let out a deep sigh, their shoulders slumping with expressions that clearly said, "Of course this would happen" and "I'm so tired."Mark leaned against the main mast with his arms crossed, a playful smile on his lips, watching with great interest as this "first meeting," which defied both race and common sense, was about to unfold."S-s-s... skeleton!! It's alive! And it can talk!"Chopper's scream was almost shrill.It had pulled out a giant cross and was hugging it tightly, with several strings of prayer beads of varying sizes around its neck; its little hooves trembled uncontrollably, its blue nose twitched, and it looked like it was about to roll its eyes and faint.Aside from Zoro, whose eyes were sharp and whose hand was constantly resting on the hilt of his sword, and Franky, who was expressionless but had a scrutinizing look deep in his eyes, Robin's posture was, relatively speaking, the most kind and calm.He picked up a pristine white coffee cup and walked with elegant steps to stand in front of Robin.This time, he didn't offer any elaborate preamble; he simply stood straight, bowed slightly, and said with a sincere tone:"My beautiful lady, would you mind showing me your panties?""Bam—!"A dull thud interrupted his polite harassment.Nami, unable to hold back any longer, took off her shoe and slammed it with force onto Brook's forehead (where a small bump actually began to swell). She bared her teeth, burning with rage:"Shut up! You perverted, sexual-harassing skeleton!"In the midst of this chaos, Usopp disappeared for a moment—probably less than a minute. When he reappeared, he was fully armed."Whoa!"Chopper's attention was instantly captured, and a spark of hope reignited in its wide eyes.It scrambled over to Usopp's side.Usopp's "Evil Spirits Begone" outfit gave him an unparalleled sense of security!Although Usopp's eyes were calmer than before, his legs were still trembling slightly.His attire was a hodgepodge of Eastern and Western mysticism: he wore a rumpled purple Taoist robe, his neck was draped in garlic, his left hand clutched prayer beads, his right hand held a cross high, and on his back was a banner fluttering in the wind with four bold characters inscribed on it— "Evil Spirits Begone"!In his bulging pockets, one didn't need to guess to know they were stuffed with salt, talismans, and handmade voodoo dolls.His strategy was simple: whether Eastern or Western, all the gods and buddhas of heaven, let their powers bless him together!"Y-y-you evil spirit!"Usopp's voice trembled, but he forced himself to puff out his chest, performing a strange, vigilant little dance as he inched toward Brook. "Q-quick, get back! Evil spirits begone! Evil spirits begone!""W-wait a minute!"Brook stopped him in a low voice, laced with a hint of terror, and unconsciously took a step back."Whoa! It works!"Chopper looked at Usopp's "magnificent" back, its eyes filled with stars of admiration. "Usopp! You're amazing!""T-that goes without saying!"Usopp turned his head, proudly showing off his equipment, though his voice was still a bit shaky. "This is my special, 'Evil Spirits Begone: Full Dominance' set!""Evil spirit? Where?"Brook's voice carried genuine confusion and a hint of panic. He turned his skull from side to side, his empty eye sockets "scanning" the surroundings. "Where is the evil spirit? How scary!""It's you—!"Usopp and Chopper simultaneously aimed their crosses at him and shouted in unison."Ah—!!!"Brook was so startled he struck a dramatic pose on one leg, turning sideways toward Chopper and Usopp as if he were truly dodging some invisible, terrifying entity."Hahaha! This is too funny!!" Luffy held his stomach, laughing until he rolled around on Ink Meteor's back."Damn it... how can there be a skull that not only talks and walks but also has an afro! This must be a dream, right, an absurd dream!"Usopp pointed his cross at Brook, but his face turned to Chopper behind him, trying to convince himself."R-really? That's great!"Upon hearing this, Chopper closed its eyes in relief, let out a long sigh, and then fell backward, stiff as a board. "Then I'll go back to sleep...""Moshi moshi~ Wake up, good morning~!"A gentle, magnetic voice sounded right by Chopper's ear.Chopper groggily opened its eyes, and what came into view was that terrifying afro-wearing skull with fluffy black hair, so close it was practically touching its nose."Ah————!!!!"Chopper's scream instantly soared to a new height, its fur standing on end again, and the screeching made Zoro's eardrums buzz."Shut up—!!"Zoro's roar became high and shrill; he covered one ear with a hand, while the other hand pointed angrily at Luffy."Hey! Luffy! You tell me, what the hell is this 'thing'? You just brought an unidentified object onto the ship like this?""Hehe, super interesting, right!"Luffy's eyes narrowed into slits, and he shook his head happily. "I've already decided to make him our new crewmate! Hee hee!""What do you mean 'you've already decided'—! Who would agree to something like this!"Zoro was so angry that the veins on his forehead were bulging. He finished yelling at Luffy, then suddenly jumped in front of Sanji and Nami, pointing at their noses. "And you two! Didn't I tell you to go along and prevent this idiot from doing anything reckless? Is this how you 'prevented' it?"Sanji and Nami were scolded into lowering their heads simultaneously, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, and confessed in unison: "We are deeply sorry! We have no face left!""And you, Mark!"Zoro's rage turned to the Vice Captain, who was leaning to the side watching the show. "How could you just let Luffy act so recklessly? As the Vice Captain, you shouldn't agree to such an absurd thing, right?"Mark blinked and replied slowly and methodically: "Inviting people aboard is Captain Luffy's right and intuition. Besides..."He glanced at Brook, who was currently debating "who is the evil spirit" with Usopp and Chopper, and smiled. "I also think it's quite interesting. Think about it, on our ship right now, we have humans, modified cyborgs, Mink Tribe, elves... wouldn't an 'undead' be the perfect addition to enrich our racial diversity?""Are you collecting a bestiary here?" Zoro opened his mouth wide, baring his fangs, his power to retort fully unleashed."Yohohoho! Everyone, please don't be so agitated."Brook had somehow already escaped Usopp's "exorcism ritual" and walked with elegant steps to the door of the lounge.He turned around, spread his arms as if he were the master of the ship, and warmly invited them: "Please, everyone, come inside for dinner. Don't stand on ceremony with me.""Why are you acting like you're the master—!!"Nami, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp... all scolded in unison."Hahaha, too funny!" Luffy laughed and jumped down from Ink Meteor's back."Yohohoho!" Brook also replied with his signature laugh.Inside the dining room, the bright and warm light finally dispelled some of the creepiness brought by the thick fog outside.Brook was so excited he danced around, his skeletal body looking both eerie and comical under the lights."What a luxurious dining room this is! Soft sofas! Cute round windows! And this... integrated open kitchen! What a unique, creative design!"He spread his bony hands as if to embrace the entire space, his voice filled with sincere admiration."Just how amazing does this ship have to be to be satisfied! Yohohoho!""Right, right!"Luffy became excited as if he felt the same, as if he were the one who built the ship."Yo! This ship was designed by the Super me! You skeleton, although your origins are strange, your taste is actually quite good!"Franky smirked proudly, his perception of Brookimproving slightly.After all, anyone who knows how to appreciate his work, no matter how strange, can't be that bad."Clang, clang, clang!"Sanji rhythmically tapped the edge of the wok with his spatula while stir-frying the fragrant squid, pouring cold water on Franky without even turning his head. "Hey! Franky, don't get too close to that guy, be careful not to get tangled up in some strange curse."Brook didn't mind Sanji's warning.He looked up and said in a longing tone: "However, I am truly, truly looking forward to the food!"He lowered his head, his voice becoming soft. "I haven't... tasted the flavor of proper food for decades."He slowly slumped onto the table, turned his face, and looked at Sanji, who was busy in the kitchen, and the dishes gradually increasing on the table."Every day I was so hungry my chest stuck to my back, living a difficult life..."He suddenly sat up straight, whipped open his dapper suit jacket and the shirt underneath, revealing the empty, rib-only chest cavity inside."Although I am a skeleton, I have no chest, and no back! Yohohohoho!"His tone instantly shifted from disappointment to the excitement of a successful prank.However, except for Luffy, who was still interested, and Chopper and Usopp, who remained in a state of shock, Zoro, Nami, and the others had already developed an immunity to his "bone jokes," and they all rested their heads on their hands, showing bored and helpless expressions."Bone joke!"Brook extended his hands at a 45-degree angle and shouted in a high-pitched voice, expecting someone to take the bait."Bone joke!"Luffy immediately imitated his pose, then clapped his hands together with a "snap" above his head and cheered loudly.A tacit understanding, incomprehensible to others, seemed to have been established between the two."Because I am a gentleman,"Brook straightened his blue bow tie and elegantly patted down the fluffy black curly hair on his head. "So, I love this wonderful time of waiting for a meal elegantly."Before the words had even faded, the very next second, he and Luffy simultaneously grabbed the knives and forks on the table and started clinking them together, "ding-ding-dang-dang," beating out a cheerful and noisy rhythm, while humming an improvised tune:"Eat! Eat! Eat!""Dinner Yeah! Dinner Yeah!""Come on, Baby~!""Head Chef! Bring me some milk for a drink!" Brookshouted."Shut up—!! Wait quietly, damn it—!!"Sanji poked his head out of the kitchen, veins popping on his forehead, and roared.Luffy turned his head and looked at Brook happily: "Right! Borobokuru!""No, it's Brook."Brook stopped tapping and corrected him solemnly, then seemed to remember something. "Ah, that... how rude of me. We've chatted for so long, and I haven't asked for your honorable name yet?""Me? My name is Monkey D. Luffy!"Luffy answered readily, then changed the subject and asked the question that made everyone fall over: "Come to think of it... what the hell are you?""After all this time—you're only just 'meeting' now?"Zoro stood up in anger again, his retort echoing through the roof.Just then, the aroma of dinner reached its peak."Alright! It's done—!"Sanji announced like a supreme commander.Dish after dish was beautifully arranged on the long dining table: golden crispy fried calamari rings, sizzling grilled squid skewers, distinct-grained squid seafood fried rice, spicy and fresh cold-eaten squid tentacles...And most eye-catching of all was the "Squid Feast" multi-layered tower in the center of the table, which could be called a work of art—squid cooked in various ways, paired with vegetables and sauces, stacked into a colorful, giant "cake.""Come on! We can talk about driving the skeleton away later,"Sanji took off his apron, lit a cigarette, and said, "For now, just focus on eating!"At his command, the group, who had long been unable to restrain themselves, instantly turned into hungry wolves, knives and forks flying, the scene becoming quite "brutal" for a moment."Hey! Brook! Sanji's cooking is the best in the world! You have to eat a lot!"Luffy's cheeks were stuffed, and he recommended it incoherently, his eyes shining."More than filling my stomach, what satisfies me even more is my heart... this long-lost, lively, and vibrant dining moment!"Brook covered his face with his bony hands—even though there was no flesh—his voice choked with a hint of emotion. It wasn't a performance, but a touch from the depths of his soul."You..."Sanji looked at Brook, and for that moment, he was truly touched. But the emotion only lasted for a second.Because of what Brook did next, if it weren't for the fear of wasting the food he had painstakingly prepared, Sanji would definitely have thrown this skeleton out of the window along with the plate.Brook elegantly wiped the corners of his mouth—which didn't exist—and then cast his gaze toward Merry, who was sitting next to Robin, eating her chicken and egg bowl in small bites."This lovely little lady,"Brook leaned forward, his tone extremely solemn. "I see that the 'heart' made of fried egg in your bowl is very unique, full of the chef's ingenuity and love.""I wonder... would it be possible for us to swap plates? My fried squid is actually quite good, too."He pointed to the plate in front of him, which was almost untouched.Merry blinked, still unable to process what was happening."Where is your shame? How can you have the nerve to steal a kid's oyakodon!"Sanji's anger flared up instantly, hitting the roof, and the steel spatula in his hand melted from his rage."I am a skeleton, I have no face. Yohohoho." Brookpointed at his smooth forehead bone, sounding completely justified."I... (deep breath)..." Sanji felt his sanity teetering on the edge of snapping."Calm down, stay calm, Sanji."Mark patted his shoulder at the right moment, a cool aura quietly washing over him."Hmm?"Zoro, who was focused on "wrestling" with his food, glanced at the glowing red iron bar in Sanji's hand and raised an eyebrow, thoughtful.On the other side, Luffy and Brook had already started a new round of encrypted communication that no one else could understand."#～@☆~ (chewing sounds) &%..." Luffy's mouth, stuffed with food, opened and closed rapidly as he gestured wildly with his hands."~Oh? You're saying this delicious squid was swimming around in the fish tank on the bow of your ship not long ago? You have equipment on the ship that can raise live fish?"Brook stopped cutting the squid and accurately "translated" and responded.Luffy followed up with another string of Martian language and gestures. #～@☆~"That is truly amazing! I have never seen a ship with such complete functions and such ingenious design!"Brook exclaimed while "chewing" the squid.#～@☆~"Really? Please, you must show me around! Yohoho!" Brook seemed very excited."Clang!"Luffy and Brook's cutlery clinked happily in the air, and a "tour agreement" that no one else could understand was reached."The two of them... what kind of frequency are they communicating on?" Nami looked at this inexplicable rapport, completely speechless as she covered her face."What I'm more concerned about is... how exactly does he'swallow' food? And, where does the swallowed food go?"Mark narrowed his eyes slightly, observing Brookclosely.Currently, he could only observe that when Brookmade a swallowing motion, there seemed to be a faint, unusual flow of energy in the vertebrae of his neck, and the food dissolved into a faint glimmer before entering his chest cavity, not entering any digestive organ.The whirlwind dinner ended in an atmosphere that was rowdy, chaotic, yet inexplicably harmonious.Mark took the initiative to wash the dishes and clean up, while Sanji was responsible for putting away the cleaned plates.The rest of the crew, full and satisfied, sat around on the sofas and chairs, the atmosphere much more relaxed than it had been at the start.Curiosity about Brook gradually outweighed the initial fear and rejection."Revive-Revive Fruit?" Nami repeated the term Brook had just mentioned, waiting for his confirmation."Yes, that is correct."Brook raised his head; his entire body, including his fluffy hair, was covered in rice grains and sauce from being too "excited" at the dinner table, looking quite comical."As expected, a Devil Fruit user!"Franky crossed his legs, wearing an "I knew it all along" expression."Actually, decades ago, I truly 'died' once..."Brook's voice dropped, carrying a hint of reminiscence."Before you tell your story,"Mark walked over, shaking his head helplessly,"let me clean you up first. You look a bit... it's ruining the storytelling atmosphere."He snapped his fingers, and a gentle blue cleansing ripple washed over Brook's entire body.In an instant, the oil stains, rice grains, and sauce all vanished without a trace, even his suit became crisp and new, and his bones shone with the luster of porcelain under the lights."Whoa~~! Amazing! What kind of magical ability is this?"Brook looked down at himself in surprise, dancing about,"This is so convenient! I'm so envious my eyeballs are about to pop out! Although, I'm a skeleton, so I don't have eyeballs! Yohohohoho!""Quit yapping, get to the point!" Zoro tapped the floor impatiently with his scabbard.Brook cleared his non-existent throat, straightened his tie, and continued:"The so-called Revive-Revive Fruit, as the name implies, is a fruit that allows a person to return from the underworld, granting one chance to 'come back from the dead'.""Bring people back to life?" Luffy's eyes instantly lit up, filled with the excitement of an explorer discovering a new continent."So, eating it basically means getting an extra life?" Franky stroked his chin, analyzing."Yes, that's right. Excuse me, urp—!" Brook said, suddenly letting out a loud and long burp."I used to be a pirate just like you, chasing dreams and freedom," Brook continued."Eh? You're a pirate too?" Luffy was even more excited, little stars appearing in his eyes."Yes, I am. Excuse me, pfft—!!" Brook immediately followed up with a loud, audible fart."I really want to teach you right here, right now, what true table and conversation etiquette is—!!"Sanji's forehead veins bulged again, teeth gritted, the rag in his hand creaking from his grip.Amidst Luffy's heartless laughter and Sanji's suppressed fury, Brook began to tell his story:about the Rumbar Pirates, about that tragic battle against a powerful enemy, about dying alone, the fruit's power activating,his soul returning from the underworld only to get lost in the thick fog for a year, and the experience of finding his ship only to discover his body had long since turned into bones...The group gradually became engrossed, and the restaurant was filled only with Brook's low, magnetic voice."You're really stupid, just like Zoro, hahaha."Luffy's one sentence accurately offended both the storyteller and the swordsman beside him."Hey! I'm telling you..." Zoro glared at Luffy, dissatisfied."So, that's how you became a skeleton that can talk and has consciousness?" Franky crossed his arms, tapping his fingers."This is indeed the scary and wonderful side of Devil Fruit abilities. To be able to 'live' even after turning into bones, it's truly unheard of.""Now that your fruit ability has taken effect, the price is becoming a hammer, which counts as another kind of curse, I suppose." Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke, commenting."But, as a skeleton, what's the deal with your hair? Is it a wig?"Zoro finally asked the detail he had been curious about, his tone critical."No, the roots are very firm! Look!"Brook pulled hard on the lock of curly black hair on his forehead, demonstrating its sturdiness."Whatever..." Zoro turned his head away, looking speechless, as if to say, "Forget I asked.""Then... that means you're not an evil spirit or some kind of monster, right?"Usopp and Chopper leaned in again, cautiously holding up a cross toward Brook, their voices still trembling,"Do you still count as a 'person'? No... I guess you can't really count as a person anymore..."Usopp's logic fell into chaos, "In, in any case, you're not a monster, right?"Upon hearing this, Brook suddenly held his face with both hands in terror,"Eek—! I'm terrified of monsters! If I ever run into one, I'll definitely be scared to tears!"Nami couldn't help but take two steps forward, looking at Brook with a mix of sympathy and absurdity:"And you say you're afraid of monsters..."She suddenly remembered something, took out an exquisite small pink makeup mirror from her small bag, and held it up in front of Brook,"Have you never looked in a mirror to see what you look like now?"This simple action, however, produced an unexpected effect."Yaa—! No! Don't shine the mirror on me—!"Brook jumped backward as if burned,using his bony hands to block the direction of the mirror, his voice filled with genuine fear."Hmm?"Usopp was stunned by his violent reaction and subconsciously leaned in to take a look at the mirror."Hey! Hey! Hey! Wait, wait! This... this!"Usopp's face turned pale in a flash, cold sweat instantly seeping from his forehead, his breathing grew rapid, and his eyes stared fixedly at the mirror surface."You? You, you, you..."Chopper also leaned in, looking at the clear little mirror in Nami's hand, so surprised he couldn't even say a complete sentence.In the mirror, Usopp, Chopper, and the background of the restaurant were clearly reflected, but Brook's figure, despite being right there, was missing!"You, you, you, why can't we see you in the mirror—?"Finally, the two stammered out this shocking discovery."Huh!"Now, all the crew members, including the previously calm Robin and Franky, were shocked once again.Even Brook himself seemed stunned."A vampire? Or is it really a ghost?""Clang—!"Zoro's sword left its scabbard, the cold light gleaming.Nami's fingertips danced with golden arcs of electricity.Usopp quickly drew his giant slingshot.Sanji assumed a combat kicking stance.The mechanical sound of "click-clack" came from Franky's arms.Even Chopper hid behind Robin, transforming into his Heavy Point form.Except for Luffy, who was still picking his nose as if it had nothing to do with him, and Mark, who remained seated, everyone instantly entered a combat state, sharp gazes and weapons aimed directly at Brook.The atmosphere in the restaurant dropped to freezing point, tense as if it could explode at any moment."Don't you guys think... this is super cool?" Luffysaid, picking his nose and casually expressing his opinion.But no one was in the mood to retort at the moment.Usopp's trembling finger slowly moved down, pointing to the deck under Brook's feet where the light shone."Y-you guys look... he... he doesn't even have a shadow!""It... it really is... no shadow!" Nami gasped."You shouldn't be a complete spirit, you can eat and touch things... but only spirits or certain special beings would have no reflection in a mirror and leave no shadow!"Merry floated over, her small face serious, judging with her knowledge as a ship spirit.Faced with such a tense, hair-trigger atmosphere, Brook simply, slowly sat back down in his original chair.He reached out, picked up the steaming cup of black tea on the table, and took a sip near his jawbone."Bang!"Sanji slammed his hands onto the table, leaning forward, and roared:"Is this the time for you to be calm?""W-we... were scared to death by you!"Usopp held up the cross, his voice trembling, but he tried hard not to let his hand shake too much."Sigh..."Brook finally put down the teacup and let out a long, heavy sigh.This sigh seemed to pass through decades of loneliness and fog, carrying a heavy weight."Everything... is a long story. I have been drifting in this fog for too long, too long..."He raised his head, and although he had no eyes, everyone could feel that his "gaze" had become incredibly deep and serious."Me becoming a skeleton and my shadow disappearing are two completely different things."Just as everyone held their breath, preparing to hear him tell another shocking secret, Brook's voice stopped abruptly.His entire skeleton seemed to have been pressed with a pause button, stiffly maintaining his speaking posture, motionless.Just before Sanji's rage was about to erupt again, Brook suddenly broke the silence with a storyteller's tone:"To know what happens next—please listen to the next installment!""Tell me clearly right now—!!" Sanji's roar almost blew the roof off the restaurant.Brook seemed not to hear this roar; he shifted to a more comfortable position, crossed his legs, his bony fingers gently tapping his knee, and said in a calm yet chilling tone:"My shadow... was stolen by a man a few years ago.""Stolen?" Usopp repeated subconsciously."Shadow... stolen?"Robin supported her cheek with her hand, her beautiful eyes filled with inquiry and thought."Hmph... since you can talk, walk, and eat, even if you told me the moon was made of cheese now, I probably wouldn't be surprised."Zoro sheathed his sword, crossed his arms, and struck a lazy pose of "whatever, I give up thinking," but the sharpness in the depths of his eyes did not diminish."It can be done," Brook affirmed calmly,"If one's shadow is stolen, it means... one can no longer live uprightly under the sun.""Aren't you living just fine? On this ship." Luffypointed to the bright electric light overhead."No, it's different."Brook shook his head slightly, his hand holding the black tea trembling almost imperceptibly,"Once I am hit by real'sunlight'... I won't be able to survive."He took a sip of the cold black tea, as if drawing a sliver of illusory warmth, and continued,"Nowadays, I can only hide in this thick fog that never dissipates, in order to luckily survive until now.""If... you were directly hit by sunlight, what would happen?"Robin pressed, her questions always aiming straight at the core.Brook was silent for a moment, his hollow eye sockets "staring" at the pendant lamp on the restaurant ceiling that emitted a warm yellow light, as if looking through it toward that scorching and deadly light in his memory.His voice became light and slow, yet carried an unquestionable despair:"Once I am hit by sunlight... my body will turn to ash. Completely, forever disappearing."
Chapter 231: New Goal, Reclaim the ShadowInside the dining room of the thousand sunny, the lights were bright, forming a stark contrast with the thick, eternal fog outside the window.Brook—that skeleton wearing a black tuxedo and sporting an afro—sat in a chair.He had no flesh or blood, unable to make complex expressions, but his slightly lowered skull, the bony hands folded on his knees, and that deliberately softened, slowed tone of voice all revealed a sorrow buried deep under the dust of time."I once… saw it with my own eyes," his voice was filled with emotion, "those whose shadows were taken… under the sunlight, just like that… with a 'hiss,' they turned into a wisp of smoke and vanished completely."His empty eye sockets "looked" out the window, as if they could pierce through the thick fog to see that terrifying scene from his distant memory."That kind of scene… is truly hair-raising. Although I am a skeleton, I have no 'hair' to raise. Yo ho ho ho…"He tried to use his signature laugh to dilute the chill in his narrative, but at this moment, the laughter sounded more like a bitter sigh.He suddenly stood up and spread his pale, bony hands."In other words," his voice rose a little, filled with a sense of powerlessness, "I am a person rejected by the sunlight.""The bright, warm, and vibrant world… for me, is already an unattainable luxury.""I can only live in… this eternal darkness and fog."He paused, "And… my companions are all dead. Only I remain, along with this… tattered old partner with broken sails and a broken rudder, drifting aimlessly in these waters… for decades.""Your life…" Sanji took a deep drag of his cigarette, then slowly exhaled the smoke toward the swaying chandelier above, the light diffusing into a blurry halo within the smoke.He slumped back into his chair, his voice tinged with weariness and a sigh, "It can no longer be described as just 'miserable'.""However," Brook changed the subject, his dejected tone suddenly becoming lighthearted again, and he straightened his skeleton,"I still 'tenaciously' survived! A pile of bones, actually still 'tenaciously' alive, Yo ho ho ho! — I am Brook, who died until only bones remain, please treat me well!"His sudden burst of almost heartless optimism and enthusiasm was like a stone thrown into the pool of sympathy that the Straw Hat had just gathered; what it stirred up was not ripples, but a sense of bewildered amusement.The sorrowful atmosphere that had just been brewing was instantly shattered by this skeleton's miraculous train of thought."W-why are you still so optimistic?" Sanji bit down on his cigarette holder, his brows knitting into a knot; he completely failed to understand this mindset of being able to "Yo ho ho ho" in a desperate situation.Brook did not answer Sanji's question directly. He lifted his head as if looking up at a non-existent sun, slowly spreading his arms in a gesture of embracing the sky, "Yo ho ho ho… Yo ho ho ho…""W-what's wrong? Is he starting to cast a curse?" Usopp and Chopper's hearts, which had just settled, jumped back up. The two scrambled to grab their crosses again, aiming them at Brook, their bodies shaking even more violently than before."…Yo ho~ Yo ho~" Brook laughed, slowly lowering his arms. That unique laughter gradually dissipated into the air, replaced by a deeper loneliness."Today… is truly a good day." His voice was very soft, "In this fog where one cannot tell day from night, where even time seems to have frozen… I have truly… seen living people again."He looked around at the Straw Hat gathered around the table; every vivid face, every lively expression, was to him like a treasure reunited after a lifetime."My companions are all dead, only I remain. Guarding this big ship with broken sails and a broken rudder, unable to go anywhere… just like this, drifting with the waves, one day after another, one year after another… decades have just passed like that."His words were like a dull knife, slowly cutting into the hearts of his listeners. "I am really so lonely…"In the last few words, he carried a hint of uncontrollable sobbing, even though he had no tear glands. "So lonely… and so scared… sometimes, I really want to just disappear completely…"The "exorcism tools" in Usopp and Chopper's hands slid down silently. This time, there was no longer any mockery, fear, or simple sympathy on the faces of the Straw Hat members.They just quietly looked at this skeleton that could talk, sing, and feel "lonely" and "scared," their eyes complex.It was an understanding that transcended species and form, the most direct resonance with a loneliness so long it was despairing.They could almost hear the sound of an originally optimistic and passionate soul, after decades of absolute solitude, having its joy finally heard by someone, being violently pulled between ecstasy and sorrow."Longevity… sometimes it might not be bad?" Brook's voice picked up again, like a curtain call speech for a grand performance, "Because as long as you live long enough, eventually… you can wait for happy things to happen."His "gaze" swept over everyone again; in those empty eye sockets, it seemed some kind of warmth was gathering, "You… your arrival, your laughter, the way you listen to me speak… is the greatest joy I've had in these decades! Yo ho ho ho!"He turned to Luffy, his tone becoming exceptionally gentle and solemn: "Captain Luffy… you sincerely invited me to join you just now… I am really… really very, very happy."He stepped back, took off his top hat and pressed it to his chest, bowing deeply and standardly towards Luffy, his skeleton bending into a respectful arc. "This sentiment, I, Brook… will keep in my heart, I am truly, extremely grateful!""I'm serious! Hehehe!" Luffy, still wearing that sunny smile that seemed to disperse all gloom, looked at Brook with satisfaction."But—" Brook straightened up and put his top hat back on his head, "I must decline your invitation.""Eh—? W-why is that!!" Luffy looked like he had been struck by lightning, instantly entering extreme shock mode: his eyes bulged exaggeratedly, his rubber tongue stretched out and flailed, and the Straw Hat on his head was shaken off by the shockwave, which he scrambled to hold down.Brook slowly straightened up and patiently explained: "Just as I said before, my shadow was taken. A person without a shadow cannot survive in the sunlight."He tilted his head to "look" out the window at the thick fog that protected him but also imprisoned him, "Here, this fog that never dissipates all year round, is my natural barrier. But if I go to sea with you… leave this fog zone, my body, sooner or later, will be burned to ashes by the real sunlight."He paused, his voice trembling slightly with a tremor that was hard to detect, "I have decided… to stay here. Waiting for a miracle… perhaps one day, the moment my shadow can be reclaimed. Yo ho ho ho!""Bang!" Luffy slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, his face full of "incomprehension" and "refusal to accept." "You're being too much of a stranger saying things like that!"He looked up, staring into those hollow eye sockets, his brows furrowed, his tone unassailably firm, "If you need a shadow, we'll just help you take it back! What's there to struggle about!"Luffy stepped closer, aggressively questioning: "Who is it? Who took your shadow? Where is that guy? Tell me!""You… you really are…" Brook was a bit at a loss, caught off guard by Luffy's unreasonable yet direct and burning concern, "A good person. Precisely because of that…" His voice lowered, "I absolutely cannot tell you.""Why?" Luffy was a bit annoyed."How could I… let you guys, whom I've only just met, risk your lives for my sake?" Brook's voice was heartbreakingly sincere."Oh~? Does that mean the enemy is too strong, strong enough that you don't even dare mention their name?" Franky leaned against the sofa, crossing his mechanical arms, his tone carrying a bit of provocation and disdain, "Just say it, you won't lose any bones. At least, tell us which bastard did it!""No, it's not that I don't dare to say…" Brook shook his head, "Actually… I don't even know where he is specifically right now. This sea area is too big, too eerie. Yo ho ho ho…" His laughter was full of helplessness."We are strong, Brook!" Luffy clenched his fists, the light in his eyes unwavering, "Very strong!""I know... I can feel your extraordinary nature."Brook's voice became resolute."But, precisely because of that... I cannot drag you down further. I also don't know if I will have the chance to see that 'person' again in this lifetime. If... if I can really see him again..."Two ghostly flames ignited in his empty eye sockets, "I have decided, I will fight to the death, alone."The atmosphere stagnated for a moment.Brook seemed to want to divert this heavy topic; he suddenly turned, bent down, and fiddled with a black case. He unzipped it and carefully lifted out a violin that had been polished until it shone."Yo ho ho ho!"He turned around, skillfully tucking the violin between his cheek and shoulder, picking up the bow with his other hand, his entire skeleton radiating a completely different kind of focus and confident glow that belonged to an artist."Let me sing a song for you! I am actually... quite skilled with instruments."He tilted his head slightly, his posture as elegant as a musician about to perform at a royal theater, "In my former pirate crew... the role I held was that of a musician.""Mu-si-cian...?"Luffy was stunned, he blinked, as if he hadn't heard the word clearly. Then, these two words exploded in his mind like a thunderclap— "Musician! Musician! Musician!!!"The next second, under the stunned gaze of everyone, Luffy's tears gushed out like a broken dam, instantly carving two clear rivers of tears down his face."Wuaaaaah! A musician! It's a musician!!!"He cried like a child who had found a long-lost treasure, trembling all over with excitement."Hey... isn't this a bit too exaggerated?"Franky looked at Luffy's exaggerated reaction, snot and tears streaming down his face, his mouth twitching, completely unable to understand. Wasn't it just a musician?But the other crewmates—Nami, Usopp, Zoro, Sanji, and even Robin and Chopper—wore expressions of realization and understanding."Please! Brook! You must join us! You must become our crewmate!"Luffy jumped in front of Brook, tears still wet on his face, but his eyes were already emitting a light brighter than the stars, staring fixedly at Brook, his gaze filled with an irresistible longing and determination."So, so dazzling!"Brook subconsciously used the hand holding the bow to shield his "eyes.""Although I am a skeleton and have no eyes, I feel like I am about to be scorched by this light! Yo ho ho ho!""Then... let's have a sea shanty!" Brook bowed slightly and said no more.When the first note flowed from his strings, the air in the entire dining hall changed.That familiar "Binks' Sake," in a more mellow and distant way, echoed in every corner.The beautiful melody seemed to possess magic, washing away the fatigue of days of sailing, dispelling the fear of the unknown in their hearts, and making everyone's thoughts involuntarily relax and drift away.Even the usually serious Zoro closed his eyes, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curling into a relaxed arc.Chopper and Usopp forgot their fear, Nami and Robin were immersed in it, and Sanji flicked the ash from his cigarette, his eyes soft.This music connected the past and the present.The song ended, the lingering notes still echoing. After a moment of silence, "Clap clap clap clap—!" enthusiastic applause spontaneously broke out, filled with sincere appreciation."I have decided!"Luffy stood up, pressing down hard on the Straw Hat on his head with both hands.When he looked up again, the excited tears were gone from his face, leaving only a firm, declaration-like determination.He looked directly at Brook, and said clearly, word by word, "You—are already my crewmate.""Eh?... Eh???!!!"Brook was completely bewildered.He played the violin, intending to use his most cherished music as a gift to repay the people who had brought him such long-lost warmth.He never dreamed that this would become the "straw that broke the camel's back," directly causing this rubber Captain to unilaterally and unquestioningly "claim" him!The light and determination in Luffy's eyes were like the strongest chains, instantly "binding" his skeleton, which had been drifting for decades, firmly in place."Now, it's our turn to 'catch' you."A hint of slyness and dominance curled the corners of Mark's mouth.He leaped easily from the half-railing in the dining hall, landed beside Brook, and raised a hand to pat his stiff thigh."Sorry, Brook."Mark's voice was not loud, but it carried an irresistible power, "From now on, what you say doesn't count. Even if you want to run away—"He looked around at his crewmates, who already understood and were starting to rub their hands in anticipation, "It's no use. Whatever Luffy decides is the supreme order of the Straw Hat Pirates. Even if we have to tie you up, we'll get you on the ship; even if we have to snatch you, we'll get you; even if we have to'steal' you, you are already a solid member of the Straw Hat Pirates, because we are unreasonable pirates."Mark's gaze swept over every crewmate: "Everyone, do you know who the first crewmate Luffy wanted to find when he first mentioned setting sail to me?""Isn't it you?" Usopp interjected."That's not it."Mark shook his head and looked at Luffy, who grinned at him."The first person Luffy most persistently wanted to find... was a musician.""Ah! I remember!"Usopp pinched his chin, trying hard to recall, "Back in Syrup Village, Luffy did seem to keep mentioning... between a shipwright and a musician, he seemed to favor a musician first?""Hey hey hey! What kind of logic is that?"Franky crossed his arms, his mouth pouting high, clearly a bit jealous, "Why must it be a musician? I super don't get it!""Because—" Mark deliberately drew out his voice.The next moment, Nami, Usopp, Zoro, Sanji, Chopper, Merry... and even Robin, all said in unison, in a knowing, smiling tone: "Without a musician, how can we have a banquet!!!""Eh?! You all actually knew!"Franky was so surprised his jaw almost dropped, his body curling up in an exaggerated manner."It seems..."Mark withdrew his gaze and exchanged a look with Luffy, flames of eagerness igniting in both their eyes, and they nodded in silent agreement."We are going to make a huge scene in this 'Devil's Triangle' again!"Mark turned around, facing all his crewmates, his black hair moving without wind, his eyes instantly becoming sharp as knives, a flash of scarlet passing deep within his pupils.He raised his voice, like a pre-battle declaration: "Captain's order—!"All the crew, including Franky who was just complaining, straightened their backs involuntarily, their eyes burning."Take back the stolen shadow of our new Straw Hat Pirates member—the musician Brook!"Mark's voice was resolute, echoing in the dining hall, "Objective clear, at all costs!""OH—!!!"The uniform, spirited response almost blew the roof off the dining hall.In that sound was an unreserved acceptance of a crewmate, an eager excitement for the challenge, and even more, an infinite anticipation for the upcoming adventure."Eh...???!!!"Brook still maintained his post-playing posture, "standing" blankly on the spot, his empty eye sockets "gazing" at this group of guys who had instantly entered a combat state, aggressive and imposing.His lake of a heart, which had experienced decades of loneliness and had long been frozen over, seemed at this moment to have been struck by a red-hot branding iron, sizzling and hissing, the ice cracking open, and something scalding, long-lost, called "hope" and "belonging" was uncontrollably gushing out.His finger bones unconsciously brushed gently over the smooth body of the violin.Yo ho ho ho... this time, perhaps... I can really look forward to the future.
Chapter 232: Thriller Bark AppearsThe shaking of the thousand sunny came abruptly and violently.The deck bucked uneasily beneath their feet, and the wooden structure let out an overwhelmed creak, instantly breaking the atmosphere in the dining room that had frozen due to Brook's shocking confession."It seems we don't need to bother looking for it."A nearly manic, wicked grin curled at the corners of Zoro's mouth, and with a light push of his thumb, the wado ichimonji at his waist slid partway out of its sheath, revealing a flash of cold light."The enemy is quite sensible, delivering themselves right to our doorstep.""No—!!!"To everyone's surprise, the one who reacted most violently was actually Brook.He let out a terrified scream and instantly collapsed to the floor."Hey! What's wrong? What did you see?" Sanjiimmediately sensed something was wrong and asked sharply."Click... click-click..."Brook's upper and lower jaws were clattering violently and uncontrollably, making a rapid tapping sound.He raised a trembling bony finger and pointed to the center of the dining room. "Gh... gh... ghost!!"Following the direction he pointed, everyone saw with horror a translucent, eerie doll floating above their heads."Ah—! What is that thing!" Chopper's scream instantly spiked."Evil spirits begone! Evil spirits begone! Buddha, God, Jade Emperor, protect us—!"Usopp scrambled to raise all his "equipment" again, his voice cracking from extreme fear."Don't come any closer—!"Chopper squeezed his eyes shut, screaming at the top of his lungs, his little hooves kicking wildly."So cool! Is it a real ghost?"Luffy's eyes, however, erupted with astonishing light; it wasn't fear, but pure curiosity and excitement."Don't run!" he shouted, his rubber arm stretching out with a "whoosh" to grab the translucent doll outside the window, but it passed straight through, catching only a handful of cold mist."Huh? Can't grab it?" Luffy retracted his hand, looking at his empty palm with a face full of surprise."R-really a ghost?"Nami had been scared out of her wits, but seeing the ghost doll seemingly unresponsive to Luffy's attempt to grab it and instead slowly dissipating, she let out a breath of relief, still shaken. "As l-long as it's gone...""Could it be..."Brook, who was slumped on the floor, seemed to suddenly realize something and sprang up. "Oh no!"He didn't even have time to explain; he turned abruptly, shoved the dining room door open, and rushed frantically toward the deck."Hey! Brook!" Sanji hurried to follow.Everyone followed closely, rushing onto the deck. The sight before them made everyone gasp.The thick fog seemed to have been dispersed by some force, but what appeared was not the horizon where the sea meets the sky, but a wall.A pale, massive stone wall that towered into the clouds, with no visible top.Its surface was rough, covered in traces of erosion from time, like the jagged teeth of a giant beast, carrying an absolute sense of oppression as it lay directly in front of the thousand sunny, cutting off all paths forward.The Moonlight shone bleakly on the stone wall, casting a chilling, massive shadow that enveloped the entire thousand sunny."How could this be? Has this ship been under surveillance?"Brook's voice trembled uncontrollably as he pointed at the massive stone gate. "Look! There is... no way forward anymore!""W-what is this?" Even Luffy was stunned by this unimaginable sight, his eyes wide."Hey, hey, hey! This looks like we've been swallowed whole by some super-giant monster!"Usopp hugged his cross, his voice weak.The continuous, fang-like outline of the stone wall certainly gave rise to hair-raising associations."This is... too exaggerated!"Zoro looked up at the obstacle that almost obscured half the sky, and a cold drop of sweat couldn't help but trickle down his temple.Mark did not just stand there in shock like the others; he closed his eyes, and his invisible perception spread outward like ripples in water.A moment later, he opened his eyes, his expression grave. "It's not just in front. We've been'surrounded'. Within a radius of several kilometers, there are similar'stone gates' or stone walls, forming a... closed space.""Exactly! This is the inside of the 'gate'!" Brookconfirmed Mark's judgment, and he hurried with the group to the stern.The scene at the stern confirmed everything.Behind them, there were equally visible, endless pale stone walls, like the inner walls of a cage, standing silently in the thick fog and darkness.The thousand sunny, this ship that had once freely galloped across the Grand Line, now seemed to have become a tiny speck of dust trapped in the mouth of a giant beast."W-what is going on?"Nami held onto the railing, feeling a wave of dizziness.As a navigator, what she couldn't tolerate most was losing her course and freedom.Brook turned abruptly, his empty eye sockets "staring" at Luffy and the others, his tone filled with disbelief and a hint of realization. "You... surely didn't pick up a 'drift bottle' floating on the sea, did you?""Oh~!" Luffy rolled his eyes upward, pretending to try and recall, then suddenly clapped his hands, realizing. "Ah! It was a barrel with the word 'Treasure' written on it!"He then added proudly, as if he had done something remarkable. "But we were very careful! We didn't open it on the ship; we opened it in Mark's Rainbow Space! And then 'bang', it was just a strange signal flare!"Brook's jaw clicked, making a sound like smacking lips. "As I thought... Then, your bounties must be quite astonishing figures, right?" His tone was almost certain."Bounties?" Luffy tilted his head, rubbed his nose with his index finger, and said nonchalantly, "It seems to be... 600 million?""What? 600 million Berries?" Brook was so shocked that his entire skull almost flipped backward; he hurriedly used his hand to straighten it. "600 million Berries? That's a bounty only a large-scale, intimidating pirate crew could possibly have!""Ah, I haven't calculated it carefully."Luffy pointed his thumb casually at his companions behind him. "But Mark seems to be 600 million too. Everyone has one!""Y-you're lying, right? Everyone is a wanted criminal of that level?"Brook's head turned in jerks like a rusty wind-up toy, scanning every face on the deck—the steady swordsman, the cigarette-smoking cook, the beautiful navigator and archaeologist, the trembling long-nose and reindeer, the massive cyborg, the petite ship spirit, and that magnificent gluttonous beast... Finally, his "gaze" fell back on the rubber boy with the bright smile and pure eyes in front of him.A sense of absurdity and reality intertwined, making his skeleton feel cold."That's right!" Luffy pointed to Ink Meteor, who was lying quietly to the side, as if showing off a treasure. "Even Ink Meteor has a bounty!""...Then it's no wonder."Brook let out a long, sigh-like breath. "For figures like you to intrude into this sea area, for them not to notice... would be impossible.""Them? Who is 'them'?" Franky crossed his arms, his metal fingers tapping against his arm, making a "clinking" sound.Brook raised his hand and pointed to the endless pale stone walls, as well as the even more massive and profound shadowy outline vaguely emerging from the depths of the thick fog behind the stone walls. His voice lowered, carrying undisguised fear. "The master of... Thriller Bark."As if responding to his words, the surrounding thick fog flowed again and thinned.A scene that was incredibly grand, yet extremely eerie and terrifying, slowly unveiled its mysterious and shocking veil.It was no longer just a simple stone wall.It was an island—no, more accurately, it was a giant ship, so massive it defied common sense, like an island!The continuous Gothic castle spires pierced through the thick fog, and the old, dilapidated towers stood silently like the skeletons of giants.The architecture as a whole presented a morbid purple-black tone, shrouded by the purple-black mist that never dissipated all year round, carrying an ominous meaning. One couldn't see the full picture clearly, which only added to the infinite eeriness.And those "stone gates" seen earlier were now perfectly clear—they were simply the jagged "teeth" at the front of this giant ship, opened like the blood-red maw of a real monster!Each "tooth" was a pale, indestructible giant rock, dozens of meters high.Brook's pirate ship wreckage, which was originally considered huge, was as tiny as a sesame seed stuck between teeth compared to these "teeth"."That's right..."Brook's voice was dry, yet resolute. "This is one of the biggest and most terrifying secrets of the Florian Triangle—the Ghost Island that forever drifts in the thick fog, the moving nightmare ship, 'Thriller Bark'!""Wait a minute!"Nami suddenly raised her wrist and looked at the log pose. The needle showed no reaction, still hanging lazily."This... this should be an island, right? Why is there no movement from the log pose?""That's only natural."Brook turned around and explained. "Because this 'island' is not an original island of the Grand Line. It comes from... the distant West Blue.""West Blue?" Nami exclaimed. Crossing the Calm Belt and sailing an island-like ship into the Grand Line? What kind of madness is this!"Mm."Brook responded simply, not explaining further. He suddenly strode off, walking quickly toward the dining room."Hey! Where are you going?" Sanji called out, his tone guarded.Before long, Brook returned.In his hand, he carried a somewhat old-looking leather suitcase, and in his other hand, he held his exquisite cane.His pace had regained its customary elegance, yet it carried a sense of determination."Today is truly a lucky day."He jumped onto the railing, his voice filled with a strange sense of emotion. "Not only did I meet all of you whom I like, but it seems... the opportunity to fulfill my long-cherished wish has also arrived.""Hey! Brook! What are you doing?" Luffy sensed something was wrong and hurriedly tried to stop him.Brook, however, leapt lightly, jumping from the railing onto the higher figurehead.The Moonlight spilled onto his snow-white bones and stiff suit, outlining a lonely yet firm silhouette."Such a light body..." Sanji narrowed his eyes."That's right."Brook raised his voice slightly, as if giving a final farewell speech. "Because I died and only bones are left, my body is particularly light."He raised his bony hand, gently lifted his top hat, and performed a standard farewell salute to everyone on the deck."Mr. Luffy, and everyone, thank you very much for your sincere invitation. Being able to have dinner with you has been the warmest moment of these past few decades for me."He paused, his tone becoming solemn, even carrying a hint of apology. "However, if my joining means bringing such a terrifying disaster and strong enemy to your side, causing endless trouble and danger to everyone... then I would feel deeply ashamed. Although I am a skeleton and have no face to blush. Yo-ho-ho-ho..."This final joke, heard at this moment, had no humor at all, only endless desolation and determination."These 'gates', for those of you with such strength, breaking them surely won't be difficult." He pointed to those pale giant teeth. "Let us part ways here! If fate allows... on the vast sea, perhaps we shall meet again!"Before the words had even faded, in the astonished eyes of the Straw Hat crew, Brook leaped, actually jumping toward the pitch-black sea!"Hey—!! He's a devil fruit user!!" For the first time, Zoro's voice carried obvious anxiety."Why jump into the sea? Suicide?" Usopp also screamed.However, the scene of a devil fruit user struggling helplessly after falling into the water, as expected, did not appear."Pa-pa-pa-pa—!" A clear and rapid sound of footsteps, like walking on hard ground, came from the surface of the sea!Everyone rushed to the stern, only to see Brook's black suit moving rapidly on the pitch-black sea!He tapped his feet alternately on the water's surface, each step light and swift, stepping out a fleeting ripple, actually running on the sea in an incredible way!Under the Moonlight, his skeleton rose and fell among the waves, his speed astonishingly fast, like a stubborn black ghost, rushing forward without looking back toward the massive, eerie, and all-consuming Thriller Bark.