"Whale, whale, whale… a whale! A whale as big as a mountain!"
Nami's shriek echoed across the waves as the colossal island whale, Laboon, burst from the sea, its massive body towering like a living mountain.
"President."
Erza's hand rested on the hilt of her magic blade. At the slightest command from Sugisawa Yuuto, she was ready to unleash a devastating strike.
"Wait… wait a moment, Erza!" Juvia cried out quickly, stepping forward. "That's not just any sea beast—that's Laboon, Grandpa Crocus' partner!"
Crocus nodded gravely. "President Sugisawa Yuuto, to be precise, this is not my request, but Laboon's. If you're willing… please, listen to his story."
Yuuto gestured politely. "Please—go on."
Crocus' eyes softened as memories resurfaced. "It was fifty years ago, when Laboon followed a pirate crew from West Blue…"
His voice carried the weight of half a century, retelling the tale of the Rumba Pirates and the young whale that had crossed the seas alongside them.
When the story ended, silence hung heavy over the group.
"Why… why is it like this?" Mira whispered, her voice trembling.
"Did they really abandon Laboon?" Juvia's eyes glistened with tears. Even the bright sky above seemed dimmer.
"No." Crocus shook his head firmly. "I don't believe they forgot their promise. More likely… they perished here, on the Grand Line."
He sighed. "That's the truth as far as I know. I once set out to search with others, but we found nothing. Now, knowing this, do you still wish to accept this commission?"
"Accept? Of course I accept! Why wouldn't I?" Yuuto's reply came without a heartbeat of hesitation—three affirmations in a row, each stronger than the last.
"But… the Rumba Pirates may already…" Nami frowned.
"So what?" Yuuto shot back with conviction. "A man's promise lasts a lifetime. Even in death, he should crawl from the underworld to keep his word."
His voice carried such force that even the waves seemed to pause.
"A fifty-year-old mission, huh? Interesting." Erza's eyes burned with fighting spirit, her fingers tightening on her sword.
"Mr. Crocus," Mira said, holding out a parchment, "this is the official commission contract. Please review it, and if it suits you, sign here."
Crocus looked once more at Yuuto, at the unwavering flame in his gaze, then nodded without hesitation. He signed both his name and Laboon's onto the contract.
Only after the ink dried did a thought strike him. "Ah… but how much will this commission cost? I'm not wealthy, I'm just an old man. I can only offer what little I have."
Yuuto smiled warmly. "You've already cared for Juvia these past two days. That offsets much of the fee. As for the rest… we can settle it another way."
"What do you want?" Crocus asked, sensing there was more behind Yuuto's words.
"It's simple," Yuuto said lightly. "I want you to teach the girls a skill or two."
"If it's medicine, I know a little. That, I can teach," Crocus replied.
Yuuto shook his head. "Not medicine. What I want is… Haki. Armament and Observation Haki."
"Nani?!"
Crocus' pupils contracted sharply.
"As a former member of the Pirate King's crew, you know it, don't you?" Yuuto said with a knowing smile.
The old man froze. His chest tightened. Few in the world knew this secret—that he had once sailed aboard the Oro Jackson with Gol D. Roger. And yet Yuuto had stated it as fact.
"Wait, wait, President! Did you just say Mr. Crocus was a member of the Pirate King's crew?!" Nami's eyes widened in disbelief, her voice trembling with shock.
"One Piece… that's the legendary figure you mentioned before, isn't it?" Erza muttered, her hand once again drifting toward her sword. "If his crew was so strong, then fighting them would be…" Her eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"Stop! You'll get yourself killed!" Crocus barked, his tone suddenly fierce. His whole demeanor shifted, like a storm pressing down on the sea.
The girls stiffened, expecting him to reveal some overwhelming power.
Instead, he added gruffly, "I mean I'll get myself killed!"
"Eh?!"
Nami stumbled back, nearly falling over. The whiplash from his words left her dizzy. This old man… didn't seem to fit the image of a legendary pirate at all.
"As I said earlier," Crocus explained with a weary sigh, "I did sail with Roger's crew—two years at sea, searching for the Rumba Pirates. But my Haki… it's nothing compared to the captain or the others. I only know the basics."
"That's enough," Yuuto said, nodding firmly. "A master shows the gate; the disciple must walk the path. As long as they can get started, that's all I ask."
He knew well that Haki could only be sharpened through battle. Even Monkey D. Luffy, after two years of brutal training on Rusukaina, had only reached a middling level. It wasn't until the war in Wano that he grasped Advanced Armament within a week, and later, Conqueror's coating in the heat of combat.
In the end, the battlefield itself was the greatest teacher.
And so, Crocus agreed.
For three days, Fairy Tail remained at Twin Point, training under the old lighthouse keeper's guidance.
Nami—gave up.
Juvia—gave up.
Mirajane—gave up.
Erza—finally broke through.