"Hey there! Who might you be, old man? Can you tell us where we are?" Zoro asked politely.
"Shouldn't you introduce yourself before inquiring about others?" Crocus replied, his expression completely serious.
Zoro's mouth twitched as he said, "Ah, my bad. My name is..."
"I'm Crocus, the keeper of Twin Capes, 71 years old, born under Gemini, and I have AB blood type," Crocus interjected flatly, cutting Zoro off.
Zoro was momentarily taken aback, then instinctively reached for his sword hilt, gritting his teeth and straining as Usopp pulled him back, exclaiming, "Don't stop me! I'm going to take him down!"
"Let it go, let it go. Just relax," Sanji tried to calm him.
"Hahaha!" Albert and Nami chuckled awkwardly at their antics.
"Are you making fun of us?" both Zoro and Sanji yelled back in unison.
Bang bang...
"You ought to show more respect," a female member from the Straw Hat crew scolded the two as they knelt on the deck, nursing sizable bumps on their heads.
"Old man, could you tell us where we are?" Usopp asked loudly and respectfully, ignoring the ruckus from the duo.
Not long after, the Straw Hat crew and Crocus engaged in conversation and learned about their current circumstances. Albert also discovered during the exchange that the new member of the Straw Hat crew was named Nala and served as their navigator, leading him to ponder the twists of fate.
"So, you know this old man, Albert?" Nala queried.
"Yes, I came in with him," Albert replied.
Bang...
A loud noise erupted as a metal door slammed, catching everyone's attention.
From a smaller door beside the massive gate, three figures came hurtling through—a man and a woman screaming as they flew.
"It's Luffy!" the Straw Hat crew cried out collectively.
"Ah, Zoro! Can you save me first?" Luffy shouted frantically, clutching his straw hat as he plummeted into the gastric acid-laden sea.
"Huh, aside from Luffy, there are two strangers," Usopp commented from the sidelines.
"Forget it; let's just save Luffy first."
With that, Sanji dove into the sea to rescue Luffy.
"Yo, Albert! Fancy meeting you again," Luffy said with a grin, once back on the ship.
Albert smiled back, "Yeah, it's good to see you again. Why is it every time I see you, you're in such a predicament?"
"Ah, is that right? Is my luck that terrible? Hahaha!" Luffy laughed, unfazed.
"So you're here? You villains better not make me repeat myself. As long as there's breath in my body, I won't let you harm a single hair on Laboon," Crocus's booming voice interrupted their banter.
Everyone looked up to see a blue-haired girl grinning slyly. "Ohohoho~ Even if you say that, today you won't stop me," she declared.
Mr. 9 chimed in, "Our mission is to hunt whales."
"Today, we intend to make a hole in its stomach!"
"Bang..."
Two cannonballs whizzed through the air, but Crocus leaped forward, shielding them with his own body. To Albert, it seemed that Crocus was enveloped in Armament Haki as he absorbed the impact.
"Is he protecting the whale?" Nala asked, astonished.
"Ohohoho... Don't resist in vain!" crooned the girl.
"This whale is destined to be food for our island."
"Ohohoho..."
Albert felt a wave of irritation at Vivi's obnoxious laughter—it reminded him of a bothersome child from his previous life.
Once a princess yearning for freedom, Princess Vivi had become a simpleton after joining 'Baroque Works,' shedding her former self in a bid to blend in—being royalty truly seemed like a curse in need of breaking!
Bang...
Before Albert could make a move, Luffy had already taken down the two attackers. It's clear that everyone shares an annoyance with bothersome individuals and has the urge to retaliate.
The Straw Hat crew quickly secured Princess Vivi and Mr. 9.
Crocus then swam back to the small island, revealing their misdeeds to the Straw Hat crew, which completely extinguished any goodwill the crew may have felt towards them.
Crocus subsequently opened the massive gate, allowing Albert's group to leave Laboon's body aboard the Straw Hat ship.
Having achieved his goal, Albert said his goodbyes to Luffy and the others, then departed on the repaired 'Brave Explorer' with Bartolomeo.
...
In the Grand Line, there are seven routes to the New World, determined by fluctuations in the magnetic field. Nami began navigating using the log pose provided by Crocus.
It's a given that the weather in the Grand Line is highly unpredictable, far worse than in East Blue.
Throughout their journey, Albert focused on sensing the shifts in his internal energy, conducting extensive research with fervor.
Albert's transformation stemmed from a few days earlier, during Laboon's roar, when he noticed a resonance within his body reminiscent of the Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound technique from internal martial arts.
The Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound is a method in internal martial arts used for toning the internal organs. It employs sound resonance to vibrate muscles, bones, and internal organs, enhancing strength. It is also a way to transition from dark energy to transformative energy.
Martial artists often carry dark injuries, and the Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound body forging technique is a way to heal those wounds. It fortifies muscles and bones, trains internal organs, repairs dark injuries, and boosts overall physique, leading to a stronger body.
Each school of internal martial arts has various methods of practicing the Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound, and Albert has been honing his skills through the resonance of his internal energy.
Speaking of internal energy, it serves as a kind of cheat code; it not only amplifies personal strength quickly but also enables various applications.
While inner strength is valuable, Albert generously shared it with Bartolomeo just days ago, and Bartolomeo's rapid progress, combined with his robust physique, has been nothing short of remarkable. Nami has also picked up techniques like Shave and Moon Walk, and she continues to practice Water Walking.
As for Albert, his strength is steadily on the rise. He believes that if he cultivates hard enough to reach the level of a master, he may awaken Conqueror's Haki.
To Albert, the realm of internal boxing corresponds to the concepts in martial arts, including refining essence to qi, transforming qi to spirit, refining spirit to void, and merging with martial arts through emptiness.
...
During their journey aboard the Brave Explorer, Albert practiced the Tiger Leopard Thunder Sound while delving into Crocus's medical texts. After days of study, however, he recognized this career path was not for him; the medical books felt like a foreign language to him. The only skill he managed to acquire was how to apply bandages.
Frustrated, Albert tossed the medical book onto the table and slumped back in his chair, feeling defeated.
It was evident; he needed to find a doctor. He couldn't bear the thought of it any longer.
"Boss Albert, look! A turtle!"
Just as Albert was wallowing in his gloom, Bartolomeo suddenly shouted with excitement, as if he had found a new toy.
Bartolomeo's enthusiasm snapped Albert out of his funk, and Nami also paused her practice to look out at the horizon.
In the distance, on the back of an enormous turtle, sat a black-haired, long-haired woman with dark skin. Wearing a cowboy hat, a white coat, a fitted purple top, and high boots, she was none other than Nico Robin, known as the Devil Child.
"Hello," Robin said, resting her chin in her hand, tilting her head with a smile aimed at Albert and the others.
"Hi, big sister," Nami responded cautiously.
"Hello, Nico Robin. Would you like to come aboard my ship?" Albert leaned against the ship's railing, warmly extending the invitation.
Robin's expression shifted to surprise before she smiled again. "I didn't expect you to know me, Mr. Albert."
Albert shrugged, "Of course! Not only am I aware of who you are, but I also know your story since I'm inviting you to join my crew."
"Oh? I'm intrigued, tell me more," Robin replied, her interest piqued.
"For instance, the Buster Call, and Ohara..." Albert started to say, but then he suddenly grasped the arm that had appeared around his shoulder, catching a whiff of a subtle floral scent, and teased, "Sister, if you want to touch me, just say so. There's no need to be so eager!"
****
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