"So, it's been such a long time, hasn't it?"
After hearing Nicholas's words, Brook couldn't help but speak up.
Clearly, over the past dozen years or so, the sea had undergone tremendous changes.
"I didn't expect those little guys like Whitebeard, Shiki, and Roger, who were just starting out back then, to become great pirates ruling the seas."
Originally, Nicholas wanted to console Brook a bit, but upon hearing this profound statement, his comforting words got stuck in his throat.
Indeed, in terms of experience at sea, this guy should be the most experienced.
"Why did you set sail back then?"
Sitting on a stool, flipping through a book about the scenery and customs of the West Sea, Nicholas asked.
"Hehehe, becoming a brave man of the sea, that's the dream of countless people. And there were so many people setting sail back then, after all, the stories of adventurers like Noland were widely circulated on the high seas."
"The great swindler Noland?"
Hearing Brook mention this name, Nicholas was somewhat surprised.
Noland was an adventurer from over 400 years ago, the admiral of the exploration team of the North Sea Lvneel Kingdom and a botanist, known for having a large chestnut on his head.
During the third Great Voyage, Noland and his crew arrived at Jaya Island to escape a storm, where they saved the Shandia tribe from "tree fever" and killed the 'god' worshipped by the Shandia tribe, ending their tradition of sacrificing humans. He also became good friends with the "great warrior" Kalgara.
Although Noland saved the Shandia, he became infected with the tree fever in order to prevent it from recurring and secretly cut down the already infected trees without informing the Shandia tribe. In the Shandia tradition, the souls of their ancestors would return with the sound of the bell in Sandora, attached to these trees.
However, Noland cut down all of Shandia's "sacred trees," which the Shandia misinterpreted as the actions of a criminal who violated their traditions and beliefs.
Kalgara issued an order of banishment to drive them away after learning from his daughter Mousse why they cut down the trees.
Unable to bid farewell to Noland, it became something he deeply regretted.
Kalgara also promised to sound the golden bell every day to guide Noland back.
After returning to his country, Noland told the king about his experiences, and later the king, accompanied by a large number of soldiers, returned to Jaya Island to search for gold. At this time, Jaya Island had already been washed away to the White-White Sea.
Because they couldn't find the gold they had hoped for, they committed the crime of deceiving the king, and Noland was executed and given the title of "King of Liars."
Afterward, Noland the Great Swindler became a character in the well-known fairy tales of the North Sea, and the protagonist Noland was a fool and liar who often lied.
"That's just a fairy tale passed down in the North Sea, but anyone who has read Noland's navigation diary knows what a respected navigator he was."
This time, Brook didn't add his usual laughter but spoke quite seriously.
Subsequently, the two of them chatted for a long time, but it was quite evident that most of the information Brook had to offer wasn't particularly secretive. After all, Brook wasn't a famous pirate back then, otherwise the entire Rumbar Pirate Group wouldn't have been wiped out in the Devil's Triangle region.
Even Brook hadn't completed the first half of the Grand Line journey.
"Ah, Fishman Island? An island located ten thousand meters below the sea? Are there really beautiful mermaids and ugly fishmen there?"
Brook seemed particularly interested when Nicholas mentioned Fishman Island.
"If you have the chance to see it for yourself, you'll know. By the way, have you lost some bones, and how do you speak without vocal cords?"
Nicholas observed Brook, who appeared to be a skeleton, but upon closer inspection, it was evident that some of Brook's smaller bones were missing.
Snap.
Brook cracked his joints with his hand, then said, "Hehehe, I haven't lost any bones, all 206 of my bones are in their proper places."
Two seconds later, after resetting his bones, Brook looked at Nicholas.
"As for speaking, it's no problem even without vocal cords, hehehe!"
Upon hearing the sound and seeing Brook's closed mouth, Nicholas began to ponder silently, thinking to himself, "Yomi Yomi no Mi, huh..."
It seemed that only a power affecting the soul could achieve this, which meant that the words Brook spoke were not produced by vibrating vocal cords but acted directly on the soul.
In other words, if Brook didn't want you to hear what he was saying, he could just block you out, just like talking to everyone else.
"Brook, would you like to come aboard my ship and continue the unfinished journey?"
"Uh?"
Upon hearing Nicholas's sudden invitation, Brook was slightly taken aback and asked, "What did you just say?"
Nicholas smiled and repeated, "Come aboard my ship and help them complete the journey of all the Rumbar Pirate Group members who have passed away. How about it?"
"Ah?"
Brook was surprised to hear Nicholas's invitation, and hesitated, "But, as you can see, I'm like this..."
"I don't mind such trivial matters. There are many incredible things in the sea, like giants, long-arms, fishmen, demons, three-eyed tribes, furry tribes, and a talking skeleton is nothing compared to them. So, what do you say?"
Nicholas interrupted Brook again and extended the invitation once more.
Such a sudden invitation left Brook somewhat flustered, and the uncompleted dreams of his companions were indeed a very tempting reason.
However, he also thought of the agreement between the Rumbar Pirate Group and Laboon. The initial waves of his heart gradually calmed down.
"Thank you very much for your invitation, but I'm sorry, I have a commitment that I must fulfill. When the commitment is fulfilled, if you still want to invite me to join, then I will definitely be willing."
"Commitment? Do you mind telling me about it? Perhaps I can help you fulfill it."
Nicholas was well aware of what Brook's so-called commitment was, but he couldn't show it, as only the Rumbar Pirate Group and the one at Reverse Mountain, Crocus, knew about it.
Brook fell silent for a moment.
Faced with Nicholas's willingness to take him back to fulfill the agreement with Laboon, Brook didn't hesitate for too long before revealing the commitment between him and Laboon.
Listening to Brook's account, Nicholas remained calm.
After Brook finished recounting, Nicholas went on to describe Laboon's current situation.
When Brook heard about Laboon constantly colliding with the Red Line trying to enter the Grand Line in search of them, leaving himself battered and bruised, tears welled up in his empty eye sockets.
"Hehehe..."
He couldn't suppress his emotions, unsure whether it was happiness or heartache, laughing and crying at the same time.
After all, they had made a pact with Laboon that they would definitely return to Twin Capes to take it on a journey together three years later, but they broke that promise, and it had been over a decade.
"Hehehe... So, Laboon has been waiting for us to come back all this time!"
Nicholas silently watched Brook venting his emotions.
Once Brook's emotions had somewhat settled, Nicholas looked at him seriously and said, "Brook, if you want to go back to Twin Capes, I can help you right now."
"..."
Upon hearing Nicholas's words, Brook slowly closed his mouth, his empty, dark eye sockets staring seriously at Nicholas, then shook his head and said seriously,
"A true man never looks back, and besides, I must... honor the promise I made with Laboon, we'll meet again... 'face to face'!"