OPTC Chapter 210 Probing Head
"That's pretty much the situation, so for now you're considered a prisoner on our ship. But don't worry, we won't mistreat you. We'll just give you a period of mandatory education, and once you pass the assessment, you'll be free to go."
Zhang Da Ye sat across from Perona, calmly telling her something that was difficult for her to accept. At this moment, only the two of them were inside the small bar.
The Flag Spirits had been driven off by Zhang Da Ye to figure out how to fix the damaged hull — the hole that Absalom had smashed open with an anchor.
Ye Yan had gone back to his room to take a nap. Since he had to stand watch at night, he needed to store up energy during the day.
Brook was preparing to bury his old comrades here. Their remains had been carefully preserved by him, drifting with him across the seas for forty years. Now, finally, he had found an island where they could be laid to rest.
Shark Chili admired Brook's decision and went to help. Artoria followed along as well, wanting to bury the four knights she had defeated yesterday.
Rui Meng Meng returned to her room, intending to pick out a few sets of clothes and ask Tom to tailor them for Perona. She could do simple alterations herself, but nothing as seamless and flawless as Tom's work.
Meanwhile, Tom had gone into the kitchen to prepare food for Perona.
"Moria-sama… is dead?" Perona whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks as she sucked on the lollipop Artoria had given her. She curled up on the sofa of the small bar. "But he promised to help me build a Dream Kingdom…"
"Dream Kingdom? What's that?" Zhang Da Ye frowned. He didn't remember such a thing. Was it like Crocodile promising his men an ideal utopia?
Perona quietly explained, "It's to gather the world's cutest animals, turn them into zombies, and make them obey me."
What the hell do you people want to do to cute little animals?!
Zhang Da Ye cursed Moria in his heart. A young girl placed under his care, and he still managed to corrupt her like this. Looks like educating Perona was going to be a long-term project.
At that moment, Tom carried over a fragrant plate of fried rice and a small bowl of hot soup, setting them on the table in front of Perona. He made a polite, inviting gesture.
That movement, that posture, that etiquette — even in a five-star hotel, he would stand out as the most outstanding of waiters.
But Perona was not in the mood to appreciate it. She curled her legs up and buried her face against her knees. "I don't want it! I want Kumashi, I want to find Moria-sama… sob…"
Though her words were stubborn, her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl. She hadn't eaten a single bite since yesterday evening.
She peeked secretly at Zhang Da Ye trying to hold back his laughter, and her cheeks turned red. "I-I'm not hungry at all!"
Zhang Da Ye leaned toward Tom's ear and whispered something. Tom nodded, then pulled out a small fan and waved it above the fried rice.
The aroma seemed to come alive, snaking its way straight into Perona's nose.
Within seconds, Zhang Da Ye heard the sound of someone gulping. Actually, two people gulping.
He hugged Tom and tugged at his cat face. "Why are you drooling too? Didn't you cook your own portion?"
Tom bared his teeth. While cooking, he hadn't felt hungry, and he had just eaten earlier — but now he suddenly regretted it.
"Come on, let's go to the kitchen and make another one." Zhang Da Ye carried Tom out of the bar.
Sometimes children care too much about saving face in odd situations. Call it tsundere or whatever you like — the important thing was to give her a little space.
Once she heard the footsteps fade, Perona cautiously lifted her head, looked around to make sure no one was there, then carefully picked up the spoon. "If I just taste one bite… nobody will notice, right?"
"So delicious!"
"One… one more bite…"
"Okay, just one last bite!"
From the doorway, a cat's head poked in. Above it, a human head also leaned in. They watched Perona scarfing down the food, then exchanged a smile.
…
Elsewhere, Brook, with Shark Chili and Artoria's help, carried dozens of coffins from his old ship into the forest. They dug graves and raised tombstones in a quiet place.
"Everyone, forgive me for leaving you here. From now on, I'll travel aboard Mr. Da Ye's ship, carrying your memories back to Twin Cape."
"Our promise was to sail around the world and return to Twin Cape from the other side of the Red Line to meet Laboon. But I can't do that alone, nor can I demand Mr. Da Ye and the others to change course for me. And…"
"And Laboon has already waited for forty years. I… can't make him wait any longer. The most important thing now is that he learns of your fate. Forgive me, as acting captain of the Rumbar Pirates, I hereby order our return midway!"
Brook fell to the ground in tears, his skeletal frame trembling. After a long while, he lifted his head. "Before we part, let's listen to our chorus one last time."
He opened his skull and pulled out a Tone Dial, placing it before the tombstones and pressing play.
Music began to flow. Shark Chili, still unfamiliar with what was about to follow, looked at the conch-like Tone Dial with curiosity. "So that's a Tone Dial, huh? I've heard it's a specialty from Skypiea. First time seeing one."
"Yes. I used it to record our final ensemble and chorus before death. This is the last thing we left for Laboon… and the treasure that kept me alive alone for forty years."
"A fine performance," Shark Chili praised as the intro of "Binks' Sake" began.
"Shark Chili, are you sure you should be listening to this?" Artoria asked carefully. She remembered he hated singing, and once the intro ended, the chorus would start.
Shark Chili froze… well, his face couldn't change, but his eyes did. He immediately wanted to run, but it was already too late.
"Yo-ho-ho-ho, yo-ho-ho-ho…"
The singing burst out. Shark Chili clutched his head, shut his eyes tight, and crouched trembling on the ground. "No! Don't sing! I hate singing!"
Artoria considered. She couldn't just turn off the Tone Dial at this moment. Finally, she grabbed his tail and dragged him away.
When they reached a place where the song was barely audible, Shark Chili suddenly told her to stop. "This… this kind of singing… doesn't seem so bad."
"You're not afraid anymore?" Artoria asked.
"No." Shark Chili shook his head. "When I think of singing itself, I still feel uneasy. But this chorus feels… different."
He took a few steps forward. "Listen. The instruments are dropping out, the voices too."
Artoria nodded. Listening carefully, she also noticed faint sounds of people or instruments collapsing. "Brook said… at that time, they were all poisoned. Those who stopped singing… perhaps couldn't hold on any longer."
"But there's no despair or sadness in their voices. Hearing them, it feels like I can see their smiling faces. Maybe this is what they wanted Laboon to remember." Shark Chili's gaze softened.
The two of them stood together in silence, listening as the chorus reached its end. It was as if they were witnessing the Rumbar Pirates' last curtain call.
The grand chorus dwindled to five voices… then four… then one…
The ensemble shrank from five parts… to four… to a lonely solo…
One by one, the crewmates fell silent, leaving only Brook, shedding tears but forcing a smile, to finish the gift meant for Laboon.
The skeleton who had nothing left but bones carefully tucked away the Tone Dial again. With hollow eyes, he gazed at the sky. The mist had dispersed, and a single beam of sunlight broke through, shining on him and the tombstones of the Rumbar Pirates' mass grave—
This was the Rumbar Pirates. No matter when, always filled with laughter. The crew who could even make crying children smile.
A/N: Ah, back when I first saw Brook's memory of this chorus… it was truly…
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