Chapter 376: Luffy’s Promise and the Storm at Sea

Seeing everyone staring at him, Ye Fan didn’t waste words and instead offered a clue.

“If I remember right, there’ve been reports of ghost sightings in the Devil Sea.”

“And Brook of the Rumbar Pirates is actually a Yellow Spring Fruit user.”

As Ye Fan spoke, he pulled out a wanted poster from who knows where—on it, Brook as he looked fifty years ago.

The bounty was a staggering 33 million Berries!

“That’s right, this guy is definitely Brook.”

Even Crocus was surprised that this unassuming young man could produce Brook’s wanted poster from back then. After all, it had been fifty years—how could a poster be preserved so well?

While watching Ye Fan, Crocus felt as though he glimpsed a familiar face from the New World. He couldn’t tell if it was just his imagination.

“Then there shouldn’t be any mistake. From what I’ve gathered, there have been sightings of terrifying ghosts in the Devil’s Triangle of the Grand Line—it’s likely because of his Devil Fruit power.”

As he spoke, Ye Fan pulled out another sheet of paper detailing the Yellow Spring Fruit’s abilities.

“Sode shi nai!”

“So that’s what this Devil Fruit does—it lets people come back to life!”

Luffy smacked his right fist into his left palm, eyes shining with sudden understanding.

“Devil Fruits really are wild!”

“Still, I trust my sword more than any fruit.”

“Yosh!”

“Hey, Laboon!”

Luffy’s call echoed out, loud and lingering.

Whooo! Whooo! Whooo! Whooo!

Hearing that familiar shout, Laboon turned and swam over toward the shore.

“Wh-what are you doing, Luffy?”

“I—I swear I’m not scared at all. Not one bit.”

Nami and Usopp couldn’t help feeling nervous as Laboon headed toward them.

“Laboon, let’s make a promise.”

“After we sail all the way around the Grand Line, we’ll come back to see you again.”

“And when we do, we’ll bring Brook to you.”

As Luffy finished, Laboon’s eyes filled with giant tears.

It was the first time in so long he’d heard anyone talk about a promise.

It gave him the strength to go on, though who knew if Luffy’s big talk would actually come true.

Luffy grabbed a few buckets of paint and leaped right onto Laboon’s head, waving the brushes with wild abandon.

In no time, a crooked image of the Straw Hat Pirate flag was painted right onto Laboon’s head.

Streaked with paint, Luffy folded his arms and grinned wide at Laboon. “There! That’s our promise. As long as you see this, you can’t go bashing your head up again until I come back.”

Laboon: “Moo!”

“Yosh! The promise is sealed.”

“Hey old man, you really aren’t coming with us?”

Luffy extended another invitation to Crocus. He figured that if Crocus could treat a giant whale like this, then he had to be one of the best doctors around.

“Haha, I’m too old now, not nearly as lively as you youngsters. But if you’re looking for a doctor, try heading to Drum Island. It used to be famous for its doctors. I’m sure you can find a good companion there.”

Crocus clasped his hands behind his back, giving Luffy a grateful look.

Thanks to Luffy’s new promise, Laboon finally had a reason to stop crashing into the Red Line.

After all these decades with Laboon, Crocus had come to care for the whale. Now that Laboon wouldn’t be hurting himself anymore, he could feel relieved.

Mr. 9: “Who the heck are you, anyway?”

Having been captured and brought here by someone, Mr. 9 suddenly popped up from behind the house upon hearing Luffy’s loud declaration.

Luffy perked up at the question. “Me? I’m the guy who’s gonna be King of the Pirates!”

“What a ridiculous pirate!”

Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9 both giggled behind their hands.

Who still dared to dream of being Pirate King these days?

Didn’t they know the New World was terrifying?

Neither of them knew quite how they’d ended up here, but that didn’t stop them from mocking Luffy.

Luffy and his group sure thought highly of themselves.

Luffy didn’t hear their whispering. “Whatever. Since the promise is made, it’s time we set out.”

He took the rag from Ye Fan, wiped the paint off his body, stretched, and gazed out at the deep blue sea.

“See you soon, Laboon!”

“Full speed ahead to the next island!”

Laboon watched the ship head for the open sea, letting out a loud bellow as if sending them off.

With no Log Pose and no ship, the two had no choice but to join Luffy’s crew on the journey to the next island.

Crocus stood on the shore, watching Luffy and his friends disappear into the distance. “Roger, could they be the ones we’ve been waiting for all along?”

“What an incredible young man!”

“Wouldn’t you say so, Roger?”

“Yeah, times are changing. Old friends gotta get moving too!”

A man draped in a red cloak stepped from the cottage behind them and gazed at that familiar straw hat, a mysterious smile on his lips.

……

Barely an hour after setting sail, wild winds whipped up and rain began to fall.

“Quick, lower the sails!”

“Gin, turn the rudder this way!”

“We’re taking on water below deck! Usopp, Johnny, you two check it out.” “On it!” x2!

The rain hit out of nowhere but lasted only about an hour before the sun came shining back.

Zoro leaned against the entrance to the cabin, perfectly still, lost in meditation.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

“Nani?”

“Watch out, hail from the sky!”

As their navigator, Nami was the first to spot the hail falling from above.

“Shoulder meat!”

“Special Attack—Exploding Star!”

Boom!

Thanks to Usopp’s improved ammo, his shots exploded like mini grenades right after firing.

“Clang clang clang!”

Johnny, Yosaku, and Gin all grabbed weapons, smashing the hail chunks raining down from the sky.

Ye Fan joined in, smashing giant hailstones with his Iron Fist.

The small hail was no big deal, but every chunk falling was as big as a person’s head.

Letting that stuff keep pounding down on the Merry, it wouldn’t last long, reinforced or not.

Then the snow started falling thick and fast, gradually burying the deck.

“Johnny, Yosaku, Gin, clear the snow off the deck—move!”

As they pushed forward, the hail grew lighter and lighter.

Nami kept the three busy clearing snow. If they didn’t, the growing drifts could actually sink the ship.

“Got it!” x3!

The trio ducked into the cabin, hauling out giant shovels to scoop the snow. By now, Zoro had been completely buried by the snowdrift, though he showed no signs of stirring.

Their shoveling went on for hours.

When the weather finally cleared, sunshine warmed Zoro’s face, and at last he stretched and yawned.

“Huh? What are you all doing slumped there? Aren’t you supposed to be on guard?”

Opening his eyes, Zoro took in Luffy, Usopp, Sanji, Ye Fan, Johnny and the rest—everyone sprawled all over the deck, panting for breath.