NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15: Could it be him?
After several days since Vlad obtained the devil fruits, Vlad and the others were on top of the inverse mountain.
Vlad put his hand on Brook's shoulder and asked, "Are you ready, Brook?"
Brook nodded as he held onto his hat, from below he could see a huge whale hitting its head against the wall.
Vlad's boat slowly descended until it stopped a few meters above the whale.
"Laboon..." Brook started to tear up as he saw the scars on Laboon's head.
Years ago before Brook's old crew died, they had made a promise to a friendly whale who became friends with him.
Unfortunately the entire pirate gang died, but Brook somehow came back from the dead and ended up lost in Florian's triangle.
For years Laboon waited for the promise of reunion, not knowing that his friends were already dead.
"¡¡¡Laboon!! ¡¡he vuelto!!!"
When Laboon heard that voice, he instantly recognized who it was.
Brook felt like 2 huge eyes were staring at him intently.
1 second...
2 seconds...
3 seconds...
Laboon who was staring at Brook instantly burst into tears, although his old friend now looked completely different than before, he knew it was Brook.
"Laboon I'm sorry for making you wait so long!!"
While the skeleton and the whale cried together, Vlad and the others watched the scene with a smile, Vlad was happy, at least he had helped the favorite whale of many One Piece fans.
Brook proceeded to explain to Laboon everything that happened so far, causing the atmosphere to turn depressive.
"Laboon, I'm really sorry. I'm here on behalf of all those who passed away to give you this news. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to travel around the world yet..."
Now that Brook and Laboon had stopped crying, both of them opening their hearts to each other, Laboon understood that Brook would continue trying to keep his promise, and that the next time they meet again, it will be when he has managed to travel around the world.
After a while, Vlad and the others started socializing with Laboon and stayed together all afternoon.
When the Sun was already setting, the others looked at a huge one that encouraged them from below.
"Wait for me Laboon." Brook, who had a satisfied smile on his face, waved his hand as he said goodbye.
"We'll meet again, Laboon!" Vlad waved his hand.
Vincent and Enel also said goodbye with a smile and just like that, the whole ship moved away under Laboon's joyful gaze.
East blue, Remote village.
Vlad and the others were training as they usually did on the sea.
Vlad had come to East Blue to conduct several business.
Find a certain person and find the fire lodge fruit.
Vlad remembered that Asce obtained his devil fruit on an island called sixis island.
The problem is that since Vlad had never been to East Blue, he was completely unaware of where Sixis Island was located.
Thus Vlad and the others wandered across the sea, stopping on an island to buy a map.
On the island, Vlad and the others were having lunch at a restaurant.
While the group was feasting, a commotion was heard from outside.
"Damn thieving boy, I'll show you what happens when you steal this big boss's belongings."
Vlad heard the screams, activating his haki to observe better.
Outside, a group of gangsters had trapped a little boy with glasses and black hair.
Apparently the boy was a thief who messed with the island's bullies by stealing something from them.
After finishing listening to everything, Vlad got up from the table.
"Captain?"
The others noticed Vlad was strange, it was strange because usually, their captain was the last to finish filling his stomach.
"I'll go check something out, you guys just keep eating, I won't be long"
Vlad walked away after saying these words.
Enel and the others were not bothered and continued with their thing.
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Once outside, Vlad saw how the bullies were beating up the boy, while other people passing by ran away in fear.
You see, I walk with a stick in my mouth and I reach the group of gangsters.
....
"Huh, did you miss something, bastard?"
The men watched Vlad arrive with wary eyes, after all Vlad was really tall and usually tall people were strong.
Vlad didn't answer, he just scanned the group with his gaze until he found the one who seemed to be the leader.
The leader, who had a scar on his face and a beer belly, was holding the boy with glasses.
The boy with glasses had a bruised face with angry eyes. Vlad was slightly moved by the tenacity of that look.
"Don't you think that's enough?" Vlad blurted out with his hands in his pockets and stood in the middle of the group.
"This bastard, why don't you go stick your nose into someone else's-"
Before the gangster could finish his words, a punch sent him flying.
The stunned boy fell to the ground, but before he could understand the situation, he saw an incredible scene.
With a few punches, Vlad sent the entire group of gangsters to sleep.
"Amazing" The boy whispered quietly preparing to escape now that no one was noticing him.
But just after taking a few steps, a voice sounded behind him.
"Boy, stop right there"
Vlad slowly turned around as he pulled a lollipop out of his pocket and started eating it.
The boy stood still and understood his situation, he looked at Vlad waiting for him to speak again.
"Hmm your character is not bad, what is your name?"
Tossing a lollipop into the boy's hand, Vlad listened intently to the answer.
"My name is Kuro"
Vlad was surprised to hear this and then looked more closely at the boy's face.
That name along with that pale skin, glasses and black hair...
"Could be?"
Vlad remembered a figure from the future that had made a certain impression on him.
Captain Kuro, one of the most intelligent characters in all of One Piece, probably within the top 3 of the most intelligent characters. At the same time, Captain Kuro managed to possess a strange technique based on speed, similar to Soru but different.
Looking at the boy with that tenacious gaze, Vlad suddenly had a bold idea.