MIZAKI, THE CITY OF PROMISE

Inside the massive stomach of the whale Laboon, the Going Merry sails smoothly along a constructed waterway. Someone remarks, "This water way is very good." Another voice adds, "He has a big hole inside his body, but he's still alive. Isn't this because he is playful?" On the ship, Luffy looks at Crocus with a wide grin and asks, "Can you become our doctor, then?" Crocus, sitting calmly, replies, "A doctor? When I used to stay at Mizaki, I worked on a ship for 2-3 years. It's just my funny idea, but I am a doctor." Nami leans against the railing and deduces, "You are a doctor. So, you are giving this whale medical treatment from inside his body, right?" Crocus confirms, "Yes. Because he's getting too big for outside treatment now." He then turns a large wheel to open a massive metal door, saying, "Here I open the door for you." He adds, "I am not as strong as I used to be now. Don't be stupid."

The Going Merry sails out of the metal gates and emerges from Laboon's mouth into the open ocean. Luffy stands triumphantly on the ship's figurehead, throwing his arms up and shouting, "HA! I SEE THE REAL SKY!!" Meanwhile, Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday are unceremoniously tossed overboard, splashing into the water. They sputter, "UGH!" and "WHAT'S THIS? IS THIS GASTRIC LIQUID?" Sanji, watching from the deck, asks, "What are we going to do with these two?" Zoro replies, "Just throw them out somewhere around here." In the water, Mr. 9 realizes, "NO. IT'S SEA WATER, MS. WEDNESDAY." Miss Wednesday, looking annoyed, replies, "IT SEEMS THAT THOSE PIRATES ARE LETTING US GO, MR. NINE." Back inside the whale, Crocus closes the gate.

Treading water, Miss Wednesday points aggressively at the ship and declares, "THAT'S RIGHT, MR. NINE. IT REALLY INVOLVES OUR COMPANY. YOU'D BETTER BE PREPARED!" Mr. 9 adds, "WAIT, MS. WEDNESDAY. EVEN THOUGH IT'S NONE OF HIS BUSINESS, WE STILL HAVE SOME RELATIONSHIP WITH PIRATES." Sanji leans over the railing and asks, "SO, WHO ARE YOU?" Miss Wednesday retorts, "IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS." The two Baroque Works agents then swim away at incredible speed, leaving a wake behind them. They shout back, "WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON. YOU COUNTRYSIDE PIRATES!" and "CLAUCUS! ONE DAY, WE WILL TAKE THAT WHALE FOR SURE!" Sanji watches them go, swooning, "HER NAME IS MS. WEDNESDAY? WOW! WHAT A MYSTERIOUS GIRL SHE IS." Luffy holds up a strange compass-like device and asks, "WHOSE IS THIS?" Nami looks concerned and asks Crocus, "IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO LET THEM GET AWAY? THEY CAN COME BACK TO KILL THE WHALE." Crocus replies stoically, "IF WE HOLD THEM HERE, THEY WILL SEND NEW GUYS TO KILL THE WHALE ANYWAY."

Outside, the massive form of Laboon rests in the water near the Twin Cape lighthouse. A voice notes, "BUT IT'S BEEN 50 YEARS." The Straw Hats are gathered around a table on the shore with Crocus. Sanji, smoking a cigarette, says, "THOSE PIRATES MADE THIS WHALE WAIT FOR THEM FOR A REALLY LONG TIME. IDIOT! DO YOU REMEMBER THIS IS GRAND LINE? THEY SAID THAT THEY'LL COME BACK IN 2-3 YEARS, BUT IT'S ALREADY BEEN 50 YEARS. HE SHOULD KNOW AN ANSWER." Crocus looks out toward the sea and states bluntly, "THEY ARE ALREADY DEAD! NO MATTER HOW LONG HE WAIT FOR THEM, THEY WILL NEVER COME BACK."

Crocus continues, "WHY ARE YOU SAYING SOMETHING LIKE THAT? WHO KNOWS? MAYBE THEY ARE COMING BACK. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING TO KNOW THAT THIS WHALE IS STILL KEEPING HIS PROMISE." Sanji replies, "BUT THE TRUST IS MORE CRUEL THAN THE DREAM." Crocus then reveals the harsh truth: "THEY ARE ALREADY GONE! I HAVE CHECKED ALREADY." Usopp is shocked, exclaiming, "WHAT? WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Crocus confirms, "THEY'VE ALREADY LEFT FROM GRAND LINE." Nami pieces it together, "SO, THIS WHALE WAS ABANDONED? BUT IF THEY ARE GOING TO ESCAPE FROM HERE, THEY HAVE TO GET THROUGH CALM BELT." Crocus nods, "THAT'S RIGHT, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE STILL ALIVE OR DEAD. EVEN IF THEY ARE STILL ALIVE, THEY WILL NEVER COME BACK. NO ONE WANTS TO STAY IN THIS CATASTROPHIC ATMOSPHERE."

Crocus explains the harsh reality of the sea: "IF YOU ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH, YOU CAN'T SURVIVE IN THIS SEA. BECAUSE ONCE YOU'VE EXPERIENCED THE FEAR OF GRAND LINE, YOU WILL BECOME WEAK." Sanji summarizes, "SO, THIS MEANS THAT THEY WEREN'T STRONG ENOUGH AND FEAR OF DEATH SO THEY DECIDED TO LEAVE THIS PLACE WITHOUT THINKING OF THE PROMISE." Usopp is heartbroken, crying out, "THIS WHALE HAS BEEN ABANDONED EVEN THOUGH HE HAS BELIEVED IN THEM FOR 50 YEARS!! THIS IS TOO CRUEL!" Nami asks Crocus, "SINCE YOU'VE ALREADY KNOWN THE TRUTH, WHY DON'T YOU TELL HIM? THIS WHALE CAN UNDERSTAND HUMAN LANGUAGE, RIGHT?" Crocus replies, his eyes closed in sorrow, "I'VE ALREADY TOLD HIM EVERYTHING, BUT LABOON DIDN'T LISTEN. LABOON. LISTEN TO ME."

A flashback shows Crocus standing on the shore, speaking to Laboon. Crocus tells the whale, "THOSE PIRATES, WHO TOLD ME TO TAKE CARE OF YOU, ALREADY LEFT GRAND LINE." Laboon remains silent, listening. Crocus continues, "YOU ARE FRIENDS. AND THE PROMISE BETWEEN YOU AND THEM CAN'T BE A LIE, BUT THEY WILL NEVER COME BACK HERE." Suddenly, Laboon's eye widens in denial, and he lets out a massive, earth-shaking roar: "BO!" The force of the roar creates a huge splash in the water.

The flashback continues with Crocus desperately trying to get through to the grieving whale. Crocus yells, "LISTEN TO ME, LABOON!" Laboon responds with a defiant roar: "BO!" Crocus pleads, "LA-BO-ON." Laboon roars again: "BO!" Crocus tries to finish his sentence, "THEY'VE ALREADY..." but is interrupted by another "BO!" from Laboon. Crocus shouts, "...LEFT THIS PLACE!" Laboon thrashes in the water, roaring "BO!" Crocus begs, "PLEASE LISTEN TO ME. LABOON!" Laboon continues to roar, "BO!" Crocus screams his name, "LA-BO-ON!!!" and Laboon answers with one final, deafening "BO!"

In the present, Crocus finishes his story. "YOU..." he says, remembering Laboon's roar. "SINCE THAT DAY.....LABOON ALWAYS FACES THE LOOSE MOUNTAIN AND CRIES." Luffy listens quietly, resting his head on his hands. Crocus continues, "AND HE HAS HIT HIS FOREHEAD TO DESTROY THE RED LINE......AS A SIGN THAT THEY WILL COME BACK HERE." Nami looks on with a somber expression. Crocus concludes, "I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH LABOON MANY TIMES, BUT LABOON STILL DOESN'T ADMIT THE TRUTH."

Sanji reflects on the story, "WHAT A WHALE! EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS THAT HE WAS BETRAYED, HE'S STILL WAITING. EVEN THOUGH IT'S WORTHLESS TO WAIT." Luffy casually picks his nose and says, "YES. BECAUSE HE WILL HAVE NOTHING LEFT IF HE LET DOWN THE PROMISE. THAT'S WHY WHY HE DOESN'T WANT TO LISTEN TO ME. HE'S AFRAID OF LOSING THE MEANING OF WAITING." Crocus adds, "LABOON'S HOMETOWN IS IN WEST BLUE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF RED LINE. THAT MEANS HE CAN'T GO BACK THERE ANYMORE. SO, THOSE PEOPLE ARE HIS ONLY HOPE AND HIS EVERYTHING." Sanji takes a drag from his cigarette and asks Crocus, "HE IS SURELY POOR, BUT YOU WERE BETRAYED, TOO. WHY DO YOU STILL GET INVOLVED WITH HIM? LOOK AT THOSE SCARS ON HIS FOREHEAD."

Crocus explains his dedication to the whale: "IF HE CONTINUES HITTING HIS HEAD, HE WILL DIE. I'VE BEEN WITH HIM FOR 50 YEARS, HE'S BECOME PART OF MY LIFE. I CAN'T LET HIM DIE." Suddenly, Luffy screams, "YAAHHHHH!!" Nami gasps, "EH!?" Sanji looks up in disbelief, "WHAT IS THAT MORON GOING TO DO? MAYBE HE WANTS TO HIKE ON THE WHALE. WE CAN'T LET HIM OUT OF OUR SIGHT." High above them, Luffy launches himself into the air with the broken mast and shouts, "I'VE ARRIVED AT YOUR FOREHEAD! YOUR NEW SCAR MUST BE OVER THERE! RUBBER..."

Luffy plunges the broken mast of the Going Merry directly into the massive, scarred wounds on Laboon's forehead, shouting "...ARRANGING FLOWER!!!" Blood spurts from the impact. Sanji, Zoro, and Usopp watch in shock. Sanji asks, "ISN'T THAT A SHIP'S MAST?" Zoro realizes, "FROM OUR SHIP?" Usopp confirms, "ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!" Laboon's giant eye widens in sudden pain and shock. The whale lets out a pained and furious roar: "BO!"

Laboon thrashes wildly, roaring in agony and rage: "BO!!" The massive whale rears up out of the water, its mouth wide open. On the shore, Usopp, Sanji, Nami, and Zoro all scream in unison, their faces contorted in panic: "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT MORON DOING!!!? HE BROKE OUR SHIP'S MAST! AHH!!" Luffy is sent flying through the air from the force of Laboon's thrashing, yelling "AHH!!" as he tumbles backward.

Laboon towers over the lighthouse, its massive scarred head casting a shadow over the area. Usopp screams in terror, "HE'S COMING THIS WAY! HE'S GOING TO HIT THE FLOOR!" The giant whale crashes down toward the shore, causing a massive explosion of water and debris. The impact sends shockwaves through the area, with a loud "SPLAT" as Laboon's body hits the shallows near the lighthouse.

Laboon roars furiously, "BO!" Crocus panics, yelling, "THAT KID!! THAT... IT'S DANGEROUS, MISTER! DON'T WORRY ABOUT HIM. HE WON'T DIE!" Luffy, battered but grinning, taunts the whale, "HA HA IDIOT!" Laboon charges, roaring, "(ANGRY) BO!" Luffy winds up his arm and delivers a powerful punch directly into Laboon's giant eye, shouting, "HERE! UGH!" Usopp watches the chaotic battle and asks in disbelief, "WHAT IS HE THINKING?" Laboon thrashes wildly, roaring "BO!" as the fight continues.

Laboon lets out another massive roar, "BO!" Sanji, watching the chaos, yells out, "LUFFY, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?" Suddenly, Laboon stops thrashing and stares down at Luffy, panting heavily. Luffy, covered in scratches but smiling confidently, looks up at the giant whale and declares, "WE ARE EVEN NOW! I AM VERY GOOD, RIGHT?"

Luffy stands before the massive whale and says, "BUT WE STILL DON'T KNOW THE RESULT OF THIS FIGHT. SO WE HAVE TO FIGHT AGAIN IN THE FUTURE." Laboon stares at him silently. Luffy continues, "YOUR FRIENDS ALREADY DIED, BUT I AM STILL ALIVE. WE WILL TRAVEL AROUND GRAND LINE. AND WE WILL COME BACK TO SEE YOU AGAIN." Crocus, Nami, Sanji, and Usopp watch the exchange in awe. Laboon's eye begins to well up with tears.

Luffy flashes a huge, genuine smile and shouts to the whale, "LET'S FIGHT AGAIN NEXT TIME." Hearing this new promise, Nami, Sanji, Zoro, and Crocus all smile warmly. Laboon, moved by Luffy's words, lets out a joyful, resounding roar: "BO!" The whale's massive form rests peacefully in the water, the tension finally broken.

Crocus smiles gently as the others look on. Nami explains, "THAT'S WHY HE'S CRYING FOR THEM AND HITTING HIS HEAD AGAINST RED LINE, SO HE CAN GET TO ANOTHER SIDE." Usopp adds, "IT'S BEEN 50 YEARS NOW." Luffy hangs from the palm tree above them, while Crocus agrees, "THAT'S RIGHT." Laboon lets out another happy roar, "BO!" Crocus looks at the whale with affection and concludes, "HE STILL BELIEVES THAT HIS FRIENDS ARE STILL ALIVE." Laboon rests calmly in the water, facing the Red Line, but this time with a sense of peace.

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