You guys hear that?
Hearing a faint sound drifting over the waves, Buggy stiffly turned his head toward Fang Yi and asked.
"Ah~ that's Binks' Brew…"
Shanks' expression also grew serious as he nodded.
In a place like this, on such a ship, to hear a song like that was… unnerving.
Even Barrett, who usually showed little interest in anything unrelated to fighting, looked surprised.
"Come on, let's get closer and see for ourselves!"
As they neared the dilapidated pirate ship, Fang Yi finally smiled and said.
He had deliberately kept Brook's existence a secret from Shanks and the others.
"Ahem… uh… You guys go ahead. I'll just wait here with Wangzai."
Buggy coughed awkwardly. The eerie atmosphere had made him lose his nerve. He pointed at the still-snoring Wangzai beside him.
The ship looked exactly like the ghost ships from legends—Buggy figured he'd be safer staying put.
"Oh? You sure you don't want to go? There could be treasure there…" Fang Yi teased.
"Don't joke around! That's no treasure ship—that's a ghost ship! I'm not falling for it!" Buggy shouted, as if to convince himself.
"But… treasure usually has to be guarded, right? Maybe this ghost ship has a huge stash aboard. If you don't come, the treasure's ours. You know how much belief it takes to build a pirate ship…" Fang Yi shrugged.
He had been looking forward to meeting Brook, and it wouldn't be complete without Buggy's antics.
Sure enough, the temptation of treasure was too strong for Buggy—plus, if the others all went aboard and he stayed behind alone, he might be in more danger.
He glanced at Wangzai, still dead asleep, and abandoned the idea of staying.
Finally, the four of them quietly climbed aboard from the stern.
"Uh… there aren't ghosts here, right?" Buggy whispered from behind Fang Yi as they walked.
"Hahaha… Buggy, you don't believe in ghosts, do you? That's just a legend!" Shanks laughed from the lead.
"Who told you it's just a legend? Ghosts are real, idiot Shanks!"
As soon as Shanks opened his mouth, Buggy forgot his fear entirely and jumped ahead to argue, slipping back into their usual bickering routine.
"Shh… quiet."
Barrett suddenly frowned.
Tap… tap… tap…
"Binks' Brew…"
Once Shanks and Buggy fell silent, the four of them could hear footsteps and soft singing coming from the deck ahead—someone was pacing as they sang.
"Let's go."
They exchanged looks, then carefully moved toward the deck under Barrett's lead.
"Someone's here!"
From the shadows near the cabin, they spotted a figure walking back and forth on deck.
The person had their back to them—just a human with an afro, it seemed.
"What now?" Barrett asked Fang Yi quietly.
"They might have a reason for being here alone. Let's be cautious, but approach." Fang Yi decided.
Barrett and Shanks, both skilled in close combat, took the lead. Fang Yi followed, and Buggy—naturally—hid behind Fang Yi.
"Hm?"
Perhaps hearing them approach, the figure slowly turned around.
"Who are you?"
Brook looked surprised to see Fang Yi's group.
"Waaahhh!"
The moment Buggy saw Brook's skull face, he screamed—and fell apart, his body splitting into pieces that scurried away in all directions.
Brook, equally startled, froze—he'd never seen a person split apart like that before.
After a chaotic moment, things finally calmed down.
Even though Fang Yi had been mentally prepared, seeing Brook in person still made him jump.
"And who are you? Some kind of skeleton man?"
Shanks, now curious rather than scared, asked.
"Ah~ my apologies! It's been so long since I've seen strangers that I forgot to introduce myself. Greetings, I'm Brook—a man who died and was left with only bones!"
Brook tipped his hat and bowed politely.
Fang Yi and the others quickly returned the gesture.
"A skeleton man… for real?" Shanks asked, wide-eyed.
"You… you must be a Devil Fruit user, right?" Fang Yi stepped forward to introduce them: "We're pirates. I'm Fang Yi, these are my crewmates Shanks and Barrett, and that guy's Buggy—also a Devil Fruit user."
"Yohohoho~ So you're pirates! Yes, I'm the user of the Revive-Revive Fruit," Brook replied.
"The Revive-Revive Fruit?"
Other than Fang Yi, the rest of them were shocked.
"Ah, before I died, it was useless except for making me a poor swimmer. But after I died, my soul returned from the underworld. Unfortunately… by the time I found my body in this place, it was already reduced to bones…" Brook explained with a shrug.
After some conversation and basic introductions, they learned Brook's story.
Barrett lost interest quickly, and Buggy was disappointed there was no treasure, but Fang Yi and Shanks remained curious.
"I've been alone on this ship for so long… It's terrifying. This sea is trapped in eternal night—I keep thinking there's a ghost ship out here."
Brook's voice carried loneliness.
"You're afraid of ghost ships? You are a skeleton!" Buggy retorted.
Brook, despite being a skeleton for years, often forgot—and would startle himself in mirrors. His long isolation had also given him a slightly silly personality.
"Want to come with us? I'm forming my crew. We're heading to Water 7 to build our ship." Fang Yi invited.
"Thank you… But I still have something left unfinished," Brook said with a shake of his head.
"Something important? Need help?" Shanks asked.
"Yes… It's a promise," Brook said. "When our crew first set out, we made a vow with a friend—that after sailing around the world, we'd return to see them again."
Brook told them about the Rumbar Pirates and the whale Laboon.
"What loyalty!" Shanks gave him a thumbs-up.
Buggy scoffed—he saw no point in such promises. Barrett said nothing, deep in thought.
"The Rumbar Pirates… doesn't that name sound familiar to you two?" Fang Yi asked Shanks and Buggy.
"Huh? Now that you mention it…" both muttered, thinking.
"Crocus! Is this the crew Crocus has been looking for?" Shanks suddenly exclaimed.
"You know Crocus?" Brook asked, surprised.
Fang Yi explained their connection to Crocus and told Brook that their captain, Gol D. Roger, had reached the Final Island and become Pirate King.
"Gol D. Roger!? I can't believe someone made it. Incredible!" Brook said in awe.
"Brook, after we build our ship, we're heading to East Blue. Laboon is still waiting for you at Twin Cape!" Fang Yi invited again.
"Laboon…" Tears welled in Brook's empty eye sockets. Thinking of that friend filled him with bittersweet emotion—Laboon was all he had left.
"Then please… take me to Twin Cape!" Brook bowed deeply.
"Hahaha… no problem, it's on our way. And if you want, you can stay with us afterwards. Maybe bring Laboon and keep sailing together!" Fang Yi grinned.
Brook smiled faintly, but said nothing—he knew the dangers of the Grand Line. Laboon wouldn't survive long out here.
When they returned to their ship, Wangzai woke up, sniffing the air.
"Woof! Woof!"
Seeing the bony Brook, tears of hunger—or joy—formed at Wangzai's mouth.
Uh… is that… your pet? Brook froze, sensing the dog's intentions.
Pfft—Wangzai, this is Brook, our new crewmate! He's not food! Fang Yi laughed.
Wangzai's our companion too. Lately, he's been sleeping a lot. Don't worry, he won't hurt you, Shanks said.
Sure enough, Wangzai yawned and went back to sleep.