Chapter 16: Crocus
Chiron transformed into his centaur form and carried Akame and Eric onto the back of the whale.
"There really is a door! I thought Captain was just making stuff up," Akame said bluntly.
"When have I ever lied to you? My heart is sincere toward you."
"Not to me, maybe. But to the dojo kids—especially Kuina and Zoro—you lie all the time."
"Those weren't lies! That's just adult banter with kids." Eric imitated Kong Yiji's scholarly tone.
They entered the whale's interior through the door. "It's like a construction site," Eric observed. Steel plates reinforced the walls, with beams for added support. Overhead lights cast a faint glow to illuminate the path.
"You two have good direction, right? I get lost easily," Eric asked.
"You get lost in a straight hallway?" Akame asked in a clueless tone.
"No, I mean if there are maze-like forks, I'll lose track."
"Don't worry. 'Old horses know the way,' after all."
"This really feels like childhood adventuring," Eric said, remembering his secret base days.
"What's that like?" Chiron asked. Born a centaur and abandoned by his mother, who transformed into a linden tree out of shame, he became a sage through his own efforts but never experienced childhood games.
"Mm-mm." Akame gave a similar non-reply. She and her sister Kurome had struggled to survive on the streets before being raised as assassins by the Empire. Her childhood was just pain and training.
"…" Eric instantly went quiet. Not the most tactful person, he searched for words. "Well, the past is past. What matters is the future. Don't worry, don't worry~"
"Ah, it opens into a bigger space," Eric said as they reached a wider chamber. The earlier hallway hadn't been narrow, but the low ceiling had made it feel cramped.
"Which direction has people, Master Chiron?" Eric asked, not wanting to wander around blindly. The whale was several kilometers long, and a wrong turn could waste a lot of time.
"I sense people that way," Chiron replied. Though he couldn't use his full power for unknown reasons, his Observation Haki was still more refined than Akame's.
...
They opened a small door, revealing a blue sky, white clouds, seagulls, and a green-tinted sea.
"It's all painted," said Chiron, using his clairvoyance.
"Yeah, but why is there light? Shouldn't this sealed space be pitch black?" Eric wondered. The logic didn't check out. Maybe he was nitpicking anime physics too much.
"There are two islands over there," Chiron said, locking onto their target.
"Hey! Old man! I've got something to tell you!" Eric shouted, not sure if the man below could hear him.
"What is it?" The reply came from directly below—Crocus had just finished giving Laboon a sedative and was heading back when he ran into the unexpected trio.
"Oh, it's about Laboon. Could you bring your boat over? One of our companions is a Devil Fruit user," Eric explained.
"But the two of us can swim," Akame said honestly.
"But it's all stomach acid down there! No way I'm getting in that," Eric confessed.
"Ah, I see. So you're newbies, huh? Brave to enter the Grand Line with just three people." After returning to the small island and picking them up, Crocus introduced himself. Thankfully, no ominous "DUN DUN DUN!" moments occurred.
"So, what did you want to say about Laboon?" Crocus asked. He clearly cared deeply—why else would he tend to the whale all these years, even joining the Pirate King's crew as doctor to search for the Rumbar Pirates?
"It's important—Laboon should hear it too. By the way, could you tell my two friends Laboon's story? I only remember the broad strokes."
"Like this, and that, and so on…" Crocus explained everything.
"So that's what happened… what a loyal companion Laboon is," Akame said with emotion.
"But you were drooling over him earlier, saying how tasty he might be," Eric exposed her.
"I didn't know the situation then! I'm not planning to eat him anymore!" Akame retorted.
"To treat a creature this large, I had to do it from the inside, which is why I remodeled the interior," Crocus explained.
"But you did all that yourself? How long did it take? How much steel? And how come it hasn't collapsed from Laboon's movements?" Eric asked, poking holes in the logic.
"Took about half a year… as for the steel, I lost count," Crocus said. He didn't really have an answer for the last question.
They sailed through an open gate and exited Laboon's body.
"Laboon, someone here has news about the Rumbar Pirates," Crocus called.
Laboon moved in close, his massive head casting a shadow. His huge Kurome were bigger than the boat, and his massive body stirred up waves. "Too close! Too close!" Eric panicked, even though he knew Laboon wouldn't hurt them.
"The Rumbar Pirates were wiped out by disease 37 years ago, but one member survived by eating the Revive-Revive Fruit. His name is Brook. He has an afro and is now a skeleton. He's been lost in the Florian Triangle ever since, but he still remembers your promise." Eric relayed the story as best as he could. (He only remembered the gist of it.)
"WOOOHH~" Laboon let out a thunderous cry. Was it joy—knowing his friend still remembered him after 50 years? Or sorrow—learning the rest were gone?
"What are you doing, Mr. Crocus?" Eric asked, noticing him packing supplies.
"I'm going to find that guy. Laboon, stay here and no more ramming into the Red Line!" Crocus was actually preparing to set sail himself—to find Brook.
Laboon nodded repeatedly, his movements stirring up the sea.
"Would you like to ride with us? We can't go all the way, but we can give you a lift," Eric offered.
"No need. That'd be too slow. I also need to stop by Sabaody Archipelago and recruit some help. Young man, enjoy your journey!" Crocus declined politely.
"There might be someone dangerous there—like Gecko Moria. Please be careful," Eric warned.
"Ha! I may be old, but I won't be taken down by some rookie."
'Sabaody Archipelago? Must be Rayleigh,' Eric thought. After all, they'd been on the same ship, and Rayleigh was the only true powerhouse stationed there.
"Well then, farewell!" This sixty-year-old man was as swift as ever. In a flash, he was gone—like that teacher who left a resignation note saying, "The world is vast. I want to see it."
Eric turned to Laboon and spoke sincerely: "Laboon, don't ram into the Red Line anymore, and please don't block the exit. People might crash into you and die. They have families waiting for them, too."
"WOOOH!" Laboon bellowed in understanding and nodded.
'I've once again contributed to world peace. I'm amazing,' Eric thought, basking in self-congratulation.
"What's he thinking about?" Akame asked, confused, turning to Chiron.
"Boys this age often act like that. Just smile and watch over them," the all-knowing sage replied gently.
(END CHAPTER)
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