One Piece: The Cryo Doctor on the Straw Hat Ship

“We can have a good talk.”

Containment!

With a thought from V, Blackbeard's body vanished instantly.

All the darkness receded quickly, like a receding tide.

The long-awaited sunshine shone on the land of the terror dart.

Unbeknownst to anyone, this out-of-control, terrifying three-masted sailing ship had quietly sailed away from the Devil's Triangle, a sea area shrouded in thick fog.

"it's over!"

Usopp put down his sniper rifle, "Reality," his long nose twitching slightly. His tone was one of relieved exhaustion, mixed with a hint of disbelief.

"It seems so." Zoro sheathed Wado Ichimonji, and Ashura and Satori seemed to melt back into his body.

Sanji lit a new cigarette, took a deep drag, and let the nicotine soothe his slightly rapid breathing after the intense battle.

"Is this what a world-class powerhouse is like...?"

"If we let him go all out, he won't be so easy to deal with."

"We... are still a long way off."

"Okay, stop thinking about it."

Nami reluctantly returned the drone to the Merry's cabin.

These drones aren't cheap to make; the cost of that one attack, just to attract Blackbeard's attention, must have been tens of millions.

The smoke of battle has not yet completely dissipated.

But the battle for V has already begun again.

He then brought all of Blackbeard's crew into the control room, said goodbye to his companions, and disappeared.

Everyone is already used to V's efficient operation.

And just then...

"that……"

A gentle, slightly hoarse, yet polite voice abruptly broke the brief post-war tranquility.

"Thank you all so much for saving my life."

The sound did not originate from any of the Straw Hat crew.

Everyone was startled almost simultaneously, and then quickly looked in the direction of the sound.

A few dozen meters away, in an open space, stood a complete skeleton.

It wore a slightly worn but still neat formal suit, a somewhat comical top hat, and two eerie blue flames of soul flickered in its empty eye sockets.

At this moment, the skeleton is bowing to the Straw Hat crew in an extremely standard, even somewhat classical aristocratic, posture.

The air fell silent for a moment.

"...Hmm?" Luffy tilted his head and blinked, seemingly not quite understanding.

Usopp's scream ripped through the air: "Skull, skull, skull... The skull is talking!!!"

He jumped up suddenly, hid behind Zoro, and pointed forward with a trembling finger.

Chopper was startled too, his little hooves gripping Robin's trouser leg tightly, but he couldn't resist peeking half his head out from behind her out of curiosity:

"It's...it really is a skeleton...and it's alive?"

Chapter 131 The Musician Brook (Seeking monthly votes~)

Brooke seemed unfazed by the surprised expressions on everyone's faces.

Or rather, in those long and lonely years, he had long since become accustomed to the various reactions of the living when they saw a skeleton.

"Please don't be afraid."

He maintained his polite demeanor, his bony hand steadily supporting the brim of his hat, and bowed slightly again, his movements so fluid that it was as if his skeleton still contained flesh and the elegance befitting a formal suit.

"I apologize again. It was not my intention to startle you all."

Brooke's voice remains gentle, with a husky quality honed by the years.

"My name is Brook. In my previous life, I was the captain of a guard in a certain country and also a pirate musician who traveled the world."

"Now... due to some unforeseen circumstances, I can only face you all with this appearance, and I am truly sorry."

"Pirates!?"

"musician!?"

Having just finished a fierce battle with Blackbeard, and still bearing some wounds and dust, Luffy's eyes suddenly shone with an astonishing light.

Can you sing? Or can you play a musical instrument?

In his eyes, skulls and the like are not a problem at all; on the contrary, they are a plus.

And their ship was just missing a musician!

Brooke seemed somewhat taken aback by this overly direct enthusiasm, and replied in his gentle, husky voice:

"Oh ho ho ho~ Thank you for your concern."

"I did have some experience in singing and playing instruments during my lifetime, and I also know a little about instruments such as violin, piano, and guitar."

"You know a little bit about everything?!" Luffy's eyes widened even more, and his smile was as bright as the sun breaking through the clouds. "Wow! What an interesting guy!"

He put his hands on his hips and looked at Brooke as if he had discovered a treasure.

Without hesitation, he reached out his hand to the drifter from the underworld, extending that signature, heartfelt invitation:

"Hey, Brooke! Want to be my partner?! We're looking for a musician on board!"

This unexpected invitation plunged the deck, which had just recovered from the fierce battle, into an eerie silence once again.

The other members of the Straw Hat crew had different expressions. Zoro crossed his arms and seemed thoughtful, Sanji raised an eyebrow, while Usopp and Chopper were still reeling from the shock of "the skeleton talking."

Brook himself was even more stunned, his soul fire seemed to freeze for a moment, and his bone hand unconsciously raised the brim of his hat.

However, within this atmosphere that blended astonishment, curiosity, and a touch of absurdity—

"Wait a moment!"

Nami's sudden voice broke the brief silence.

As if she had suddenly grasped some key information from the depths of her memory, her brows furrowed instantly, and she strode forward, her gaze abruptly falling on Brooke.

"What did you just say your name was? Brooke?"

How old are you now?

Have you heard of the Rumbar Pirates, who disappeared in the Devil's Triangle fifty years ago?

Upon hearing this, not only was Brook stunned, but the flame of his soul flickered violently in his empty eye sockets, and even the rest of the Straw Hat crew turned their astonished gazes toward Nami.

"The Rumbar Pirates?" Usopp's exclamation followed closely behind. "Isn't that... the crew Laboon has been searching for?!"

These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples among the Straw Hat crew.

"That's right!"

Chopper, the only one who could communicate normally with Laboon and had the best relationship with him, suddenly stomped his hoof.

"Labu told me before that after our battle, it would come here to find its companions."

"What...what did you say?"

The flame of soul in Brooke's empty eye sockets suddenly throbbed violently, trembling and swaying as if swept by a gale.

Despite having no skin or muscles, his face flashed with a series of emotions, including disbelief, ecstasy, fear, and anticipation.

"Rabu...you...you guys...know Rabu?"

For the first time, Brooke's voice lost its elegant composure, becoming hoarse and trembling.

His bony hands unconsciously rose to his chest, as if trying to grab something, but then stopped in mid-air.

"More than just acquaintances!"

Luffy took a step forward, his eyes shining brightly beneath his straw hat, and he grinned, revealing a radiant smile:

"It was with Laboon's help that we were able to rescue Ace so quickly!"

Although he didn't know Blackbeard's purpose in capturing Ace, if it weren't for Laboon, they might have really missed Ace and the Blackbeard Pirates.

"You really are Brook of the Rumbar Pirates!?"

Brook was still trembling with excitement when Usopp pressed him for more information.

This time, however, his voice was even higher than before, now that he had confirmed the answer.

He no longer cared about hiding, nor was he afraid of Brooke's skeletal body. "How could there be such a coincidence in the world!"

"Hey, Luffy..." Usopp looked at Luffy and said hesitantly, "How about we... take Brook to see Laboon first?"

“Okay, go ahead!” Luffy nodded in agreement.

Although V is still working hard for everyone in the pirate crew, he would be very happy to see Laboon meet Brook even a second earlier.

“In that case,” Zoro’s calm voice rang out. His gaze swept over his companions and finally landed in the direction where V had disappeared. “I will stay here and wait for V to explain the situation to him.”

"I'll stay too," Robin said with a gentle smile.

"It's up to you guys, Zoro, Robin!" Luffy grinned, showing his gratitude.

He turned to face Brooke again, his smile brighter than the sun, his eyes filled with pure joy and anticipation:

"Let's go, Brooke! We're going to see Raab!"

"Now! Immediately!"

Before he finished speaking, Luffy had already run towards the port, waving vigorously back at Brook as he ran:

"Hurry up and catch up! Rabbu has been waiting for you for fifty years, it must be getting impatient!"

Brooke stared blankly at the group of young people in front of her.