One Piece: With Sign-in System

Two weeks later, Ron sailed alone on the pirate ship, venturing into the fog-covered waters of the Florian Triangle.

The area was shrouded in thick mist, making it impossible to navigate, a challenging task for an average navigator. But for Ron, it posed no real difficulty.

Through the map display in his vision, he could easily track the movements of the massive ship that resembled a floating island.

At the speed of this pirate ship, it shouldn't take too long to catch up with the eerie-looking ghost ship, the Thriller Bark.

On this particular day, the ship drifted through the fog, with no discernible direction.

Ron reclined on a deck chair, sipping fruit juice while reading a book.

He had eliminated all the pirates on this ship, so the treasures and resources the crew had amassed—including food, weapons, and gold intended to buy a Devil Fruit for their captain, Dessa—were now in his possession.

Amidst the trove of loot, Ron found some interesting items, including the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia in his hands.

Within its pages, he recognized many familiar Devil Fruits.

There was the Gum-Gum Fruit, the String-String Fruit, the Flame-Flame Fruit, and the Smoke-Smoke Fruit among others.

"Devil Fruits, huh..." Ron thought to himself as he gazed at the entries, "If a powerful enough fruit comes my way, should I consider eating one?"

He looked off to his left.

"Yohohoho, yohohoho…"

A haunting but cheerful melody wafted through the mist, accompanied by the silhouette of a large ship.

It was a ghostly, decrepit vessel.

On the ship's deck, a skeleton with a large afro was singing with fervor, playing a violin.

Ron's eyes lit up with surprise.

"Who would've thought I'd actually meet him—the wielder of the Revive-Revive Fruit, a future member of the protagonist crew, Brook the musician."

He closed the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, smiling as he watched the ghost ship draw near.

Since fate had brought them together, he might as well go say hello.

Ron set the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia aside, letting the thick, leather-bound book disappear into thin air.

With a light step, he launched himself into the air, using Moonwalk to swiftly approach and land aboard the ghost ship.

Hearing the sound of boots touching the deck behind him, Brook paused his performance and turned around.

Standing there was a young man with black hair, hands in the pockets of his white hoodie, looking at him with a cheerful smile.

"Hello."

"Eh?"

Brook blinked in surprise before his empty eye sockets widened with delight.

"A living person! An actual living person?!"

"Yohohoho, you gave me quite a scare!"

Ron looked at the skeleton with the afro, still talking and moving, marveling once more at the incredible power and mystery of Devil Fruits.

"Yohohoho! Handsome young man, care for some tea?" Brook offered with a grin.

"No need, I brought some wine. Care to join me?"

"By all means!"

In the mist-shrouded waters, on the deck of this eerie ghost ship, a young black-haired man and a skeleton with an afro sat across from each other, drinking and chatting, bursting into laughter from time to time.

The scene, no matter how one looked at it, was far from ordinary.

"So, Ron, you're here looking for that ghostly island ship?" Brook asked, pausing with his cup.

"That's right."

Ron picked up the bottle, pouring himself another drink.

Brook set his glass down, his dark eye sockets gazing seriously at Ron. "I advise you not to go. Gecko Moria is incredibly strong. I'd hate to see a young man like you lose his life in vain."

"No worries. I'm actually pretty strong myself."

Ron downed his glass, smiling at Brook. "Besides, I've already made up my mind."

"Is that so... Well, then." Brook chuckled. "Yohohoho, this wine is truly marvelous! I haven't tasted such a fine drink in decades."

Ron laughed, "Well, then drink as much as you like!"

"Yohohoho, in that case, I won't hold back! Even though I don't have a mouth anymore, I still have a great tolerance for alcohol... Yohohoho." Brook lifted his glass to his mouth, though there was no visible liquid passing through his skeletal frame.

In theory, the drink should have leaked right through his bones, but it didn't. Even when Ron used his heightened senses, he couldn't figure out where the liquid went.

And somehow, Brook could even get drunk—despite being a skeleton.

The powers of Devil Fruits in this world truly defied logic, bending the laws of nature.

As they sipped the fine wine Ron had brought from the Sabaody Archipelago, they chatted about the outside world. When the mood struck, Brook picked up his violin and began playing "Binks' Sake."

"Yohohoho Yohohoho

Yohohoho Yohohoho

We're off to deliver Binks' sake

Sailing 'round the oceans, waves at our command

Sunset's on the tide, and the evening calls

High above the sea, birds sing us on"

As Brook's haunting melody filled the air, they both enjoyed the camaraderie over good wine and song.

When the song ended and the last drop of wine was drunk, Ron stood up to bid farewell.

"Already leaving…" Brook's tone held a trace of reluctance.

Ron noticed Brook's wistful expression and smiled. "In my homeland, we have a saying: 'All good things must come to an end.' We also have another, 'True friends will meet again someday.'"

"Not too long from now, I believe you'll find the companions who are meant for you, Brook. When that day comes, let's share a drink again on the open sea!"

As Ron's ship sailed off into the mist, Brook, standing on the deck with his violin, watched him go. A soft glimmer, almost like a glow from his soul, flickered within his eye sockets.

"Companions… Yohohoho, such a distant but beautiful word. Thank you, Mister Ron."

Even in his very soul, he yearned for that word.

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T/N:

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