"Sapphire Scale Disease... I never thought I'd see this illness again."
"Can you cure it?"
"What do you think?" The old man, his hair like a blooming flower atop a bald head, with white strands scattered like a cloak, swept his gaze over the patient: Bonney.
He then lifted his head to look at Dante across from him, a reminiscing glint flashing in his eyes as if recalling something, followed by a long sigh. "If I could cure it, Roger wouldn't have died from his incurable disease back then."
When Crocus said that, Kuma recognizing the name, instantly widened his eyes.
He stared at the man before him in disbelief, as if just understanding something crucial.
'Crocus... The Ship's Doctor of the Pirate King Roger's crew!'
When Roger contracted an incurable disease during his voyage of the Grand Line, the Roger Pirates had sought him out. Crocus accepted, partly because he wanted to search for the Rumbar Pirates, because he wanted to find some peace for Laboon. He ultimately completed the journey with the Roger Pirates.
But after the adventure ended, Crocus returned to Reverse Mountain, looking after Laboon while working as a lighthouse keeper.
Dante had secretly navigated the waters between the Grand Line and the East Blue countless times, so he was, of course, familiar with the gatekeeper of the Grand Line's entrance. "Roger?" A curious expression crossed Dante's face as he looked at Crocus. "Did Roger have Sapphire Scale Disease too?"
Dante knew Laboon, in fact, he'd sought out her caretaker just moments after meeting the whale. "No, that wasn't it!" Crocus replied angrily. "It was just another illness, equally troublesome!" He glared at the man talking nonsense. But even he had to admit... this wasn't a normal Marine at all!
Especially...
Especially... Crocus's gaze swept over the people behind Dante: Nico Robin, the 'Devil Child,' Bartholomew Kuma, the 'Tyrant,' and Mock, the 'New Overlord of the East Blue.' A soft *tsk tsk* escaped his lips. His eyes landed back on Dante. "You've certainly gathered a troublesome bunch around you. Honestly, you'd give the World Government far less headaches as a pirate than a Marine!"
"Focus on her!" Dante waved a hand, looking at the small figure lying on the sickbed.
Being inside Laboon's body meant they didn't have to worry about sunlight exposure, which was tricky with Bonney's condition. They just needed to be careful otherwise.
He frowned and asked again, "Is there really no way?"
"Right now, I don't have a way to completely cure her."
As Crocus's spoke, Kuma, who had been full of expectation, thinking such a legendary doctor might have a cure, felt hope instantly fade from his eyes once more. Lowering his head, he murmured, "Is there really no way...?"
"Dad, I will be fine!" Hearing her dad's discouraged voice, Bonney smiled sweetly, raised her head, and said, "I still want to travel with Dad!"
"Yes Bonney! You will definitely be fine!"
Kuma echoed the sentiment, a determined look on his face. But he knew... he was out of options. As a father, he couldn't possibly show his despair in front of his daughter.
As father and daughter shared their resolve, "You listen to my words clearly! I said, while I can't cure her completely right now," Crocus directly interrupted them, sighing, "I can ease her symptoms. It's just... for her to grow up healthy, we still need to find a proper cure."
Kuma's eyes were starting to well up with gratitude, but Crocus ignored him and glanced at Dante. "You came here about this, didn't you? Figured you'd already found another way?"
The words were barely out of his mouth when...
"Boss..." Kuma looked at Dante excitedly, his mouth opening to speak. He'd assumed Dante's 'method' had simply been finding Crocus. But it seemed there was another plan entirely? Before he could say anything, "There is another method, but it's not possible yet." Dante nodded. "Something's still missing!"
"Missing something? Ah, forget it then," Crocus waved a hand, not dwelling on it. "If you do manage to cure her, bring her by to see me. I'd be curious to see how you will pulled it off!"
Speaking of which, he sighed again. "Where a corrupt Captain like you, stuck in the East Blue, got intel like that, I have no idea. It's a shame though, if only you knew where the Rumbar Pirates were!"
As he finished speaking, just as Crocus looked disappointed,
"I know!"
Crocus stared up at Dante, bewildered by the sudden remark. "You know?"
"That's right, I know!" Dante nodded, looking at Crocus in surprise. "Didn't I mention it?"
"..."
Crocus gritted his teeth and glared at Dante. "Like hell you told me, kid!"
"Oh, right. I might have forgotten. You never asked, did you?"
"So, the Rumbar Pirates..."
"They're all gone. Died in the Florian Triangle."
Hearing the news, Crocus froze, then sighed again. "As expected... they're all gone. I suppose I'd guessed it... but to hear it's actually true-
Before he could finish speaking, Dante continued, "While they're all gone, there's still one crewmate... or rather, one who should be dead." His gaze on the grim-faced Crocus, Dante stroked his chin and quickly explained, "Well, is not completely dead. You remember Brook, the Rumbar Pirates' musician? He's currently..." As Dante recounted, Crocus's mouth twitched.
"If you hadn't told me that, I'd think someone was trying to pull one over on me. There's a Devil Fruit like that? How in the world do you know that, kid?" Crocus gave Dante a confused glance, but then said in a serious tone, "What are you doing in the Grand Line again? Are you seriously planning to go out to sea as a pirate? Don't try to recruit me! I'm retired anyway. If it's anything troublesome, don't tell me."
"It's impossible to be a pirate. I'm doing just fine as a Captain in the East Blue. Why would I go out to sea as a pirate? There's nothing wrong with what I'm doing!" Dante waved a hand and said indifferently, "I just took on a major assignment, and I'm headed to discuss it in person!"
Crocus was about to ask how 'major' this assignment was, the kind that would make this man violate Marine law just by traveling with such notable figures.
*Purupurupuru, Purupurupuru~*
The familiar ringtone of a Den Den Mushi sounded.
Dante picked it up.
When he saw a familiar long horizontal scar appear on the Den Den Mushi's forehead, Dante immediately knew who was calling, and a warm smile instantly appeared on his face. "Bro Crocodile, I've located the Devil Child, Nico Robin!"
Immediately after, without waiting for the stunned Crocodile's Den Den Mushi to respond, and under the curious gazes of those present, Dante sighed, shaking his head with a regretful tone. "It seems this Devil Child is incredibly cunning, she actually managed to escape. But don't worry, I guarantee I'll catch her. Just transfer another 300 million right now, and I'll bring her right to you!"
The moment Dante finished speaking, a sharp *crack* of splintering wood instantly echoed from Crocodile's Den Den Mushi. "Are you messing with me?!"
Then a cold voice came from the mouth of the Den Den Mushi.
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