"It seems there's someone in that house," Zoro said quietly, eyes sharp as he watched the old man.
"I think we should fire the cannons," Usopp added, already halfway to panic, pointing dramatically. "Just in case!"
"No," Sanji said, raising a hand. "Wait."
Luffy stayed silent.
The old man—calm, unbothered—walked past the shoreline without sparing them more than a glance. He crossed the grass, unfolded a lawn chair, sat down, and opened a newspaper as if a pirate ship appearing inside a whale was the most boring thing in the world.
That somehow made it worse.
The crew tensed.
Sweat rolled.
Weapons stayed half-drawn.
Luffy watched closely, curious how they'd react.
"Hey!" Sanji finally shouted. "Aren't you going to say something?"
"If you want a fight, we can fight!" Usopp yelled from the cabin, clearly overcompensating. "We've got cannons!"
Luffy sighed inwardly. Yep. Still Usopp.
The old man slowly lowered the newspaper and glanced at them over the rim of his glasses.
"If you do that," he said calmly, "someone will die."
Usopp squeaked.
Zoro's hand tightened on his sword. Sanji shifted his stance. Nojiko stepped forward protectively. Nami dragged Usopp fully into the cabin.
"And who would that be?" Zoro asked coldly.
"Me," the old man replied.
Luffy burst out laughing.
"Crocus," Luffy said, stepping forward, amusement clear in his voice. "Can you stop terrorizing my crew?"
The old man blinked.
Then squinted.
"…Who are you," Crocus asked irritably, "and why are you ruining my joke?"
"I'm a friend of Red-Haired Shanks," Luffy said lightly, "and Silvers Rayleigh."
That did it.
Crocus' eyes widened just a fraction—barely noticeable, but real. He chuckled, folded the newspaper, and finally gave Luffy his full attention.
"Well I'll be damned," Crocus said. "Haven't heard those names in a long while. How are those idiots?"
"They're doing fine," Luffy replied. "I'll tell you stories later. But first—where exactly are we, and how do we leave?"
Crocus gestured around lazily.
"You've been swallowed by a whale," he said. "Exit's over there."
Everyone turned.
Two massive metal doors were embedded into the whale's inner wall.
"…Whales don't usually have doors," Yosaku muttered.
Before anyone could respond, the entire chamber shook violently.
Water sloshed.
The ship lurched.
"What's happening!?" Nojiko shouted, grabbing the railing.
"It's started," Crocus said quietly.
Nami pointed. "THAT'S NOT AN ISLAND!"
They all turned back—and finally noticed the truth.
The landmass was artificial.
Metal.
Reinforced.
Floating.
"…We're in stomach acid," Usopp whispered.
"That means the ship won't last long," Sanji said grimly.
"What's wrong with this whale!?" Yosaku shouted. "Why is it doing this?"
Crocus stood and looked up at the painted sky.
"He's angry," he said. "And lonely. He keeps ramming the Red Line."
"That explains the scars," Nami said softly.
"And the crying," Nojiko added.
"He's suffering," Luffy said quietly.
Everyone looked at him.
"And the old man?" Nojiko asked.
"He's not trying to kill the whale," Luffy said. "He's keeping it alive."
Before they could ask more—
Crocus jumped straight into the stomach acid.
"What the hell!?" Usopp screamed.
"He'll melt!" Nami cried.
"He won't," Luffy said. "He's done this before."
Moments later, Crocus resurfaced near the doors and climbed the stairs. At the top—
BANG! BANG!
Gunshots rang out.
Two figures emerged from a hatch, firing wildly.
"FREEZE!" one shouted.
Luffy sighed.
"…Of course."
The shooters were a man with a strange crown and a blue-haired woman holding a whip.
"Who the hell are they?" Sanji muttered.
Crocus looked annoyed. "Pests."
Luffy stepped forward, lightning crackling faintly.
"Mr. 9," Luffy said calmly. "And Miss Wednesday."
Both froze.
"You—!" Mr. 9 stared. "The Thunder Demon!?"
Miss Wednesday swallowed.
Luffy's eyes narrowed slightly—not with anger, but recognition.
"…So Baroque Works is already sniffing around Reverse Mountain," he murmured.
He looked up—through Laboon's painted sky—toward the Grand Line beyond.
Good, he thought. That means the real story finally begins.