CHAPTER 125

At that moment, at a distance of 200 meters, Caesar activated his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), expanding his sensory range to aid in the search.

However, locating their target in this vast and fog-covered region would take time.

Despite Caesar's formidable strength and his advanced mastery of Kenbunshoku Haki, even he couldn't scan the entirety of the Florian Triangle with his perception alone.

Thus, the only option was to proceed with a methodical and patient search.

Fortunately, the crew had no pressing matters to attend to, allowing them to dedicate as much time as necessary to their pursuit.

Previously, the crew had attempted to use the two massive searchlights embedded in the skull-shaped figurehead of their ship, but the thick, unnatural fog severely limited their effectiveness.

Meanwhile, Wei Na and Regina preferred to remain inside the cabin, avoiding the eerie atmosphere outside. They found solace in their respective studies—one in music, the other in medicine—rather than venturing into the oppressive darkness of the Florian Triangle.

For days, the Caesar Pirates sailed aimlessly through the foggy expanse, guided only by the legends they had heard. The tale of a wandering skeletal musician, Brook, intrigued them at first, but as time dragged on without results, the initial excitement waned.

Some crew members even began to doubt the story, wondering if it was merely a baseless rumor.

Despite their trust in Caesar, the prolonged search without any findings wore on their patience.

After another half-day of fruitless searching, Yakesi and Hades found themselves chatting at the stern of the ship.

"You think we'll actually find this ghost ship and the skeleton musician Brook?" Yakesi asked skeptically. Though he believed in the legend, the vastness of the area and the ever-shifting fog made their task seem impossible.

Hades shrugged helplessly. "I have no idea. If it weren't for this damned fog, maybe we'd have spotted something by now."

"With our visibility this bad, it's all down to luck whether we find anything at all..."

Just as their conversation trailed off, Caesar suddenly smirked.

And then, from within the thick fog, an eerie singing voice echoed—a haunting, ghostly melody that sent chills down the spines of the crew.

[133] The Invitation—Weeping Brook

The ghostly tune caused Lili, Wei Na, and Regina to freeze in place. A wave of unease washed over them, sending shivers down their spines.

"A-Ah! What is that sound? A ghost?!" Lili clutched her arms and anxiously scanned the mist around them.

Wei Na's expression hardened as she, too, cautiously observed their surroundings. Even Regina, usually composed and aloof, furrowed her brows, visibly unsettled.

The haunting melody unsettled everyone.

"It's terrifying... Just hearing it makes you think of ghosts. Could the legend really be true?" Eli muttered, shifting uneasily.

Arnold gripped his gun tightly, as if the weapon alone could shield him from the supernatural.

What was even more unnerving was that the eerie voice seemed to be coming from everywhere at once, making it impossible to pinpoint the source.

Gnali, however, remained composed, unfazed by the unsettling atmosphere. "I'm curious. If this ghost is real, maybe we can use it to our advantage."

"You want to use a ghost? That's ridiculous," Brad scoffed. "Though, if it turns out to be real, I wouldn't mind giving it a good punch to test if ghosts can feel pain."

At that moment, Arnold suddenly gasped. "I see something!"

"What?!"

All eyes turned toward Arnold as he pointed ahead.

Peering through the fog, they spotted an enormous shadow—a silhouette barely discernible in the mist.

As they watched, the shape gradually became clearer. It was unmistakably the outline of a ship.

The two vessels were now facing each other.

Slowly, the massive black shape emerged from the dense fog.

The Caesar Pirates held their breath, their eyes locked onto the mysterious ship ahead.

And then, as the shadow came into full view, they saw it—a massive, decrepit ghost ship drifting toward them.

Everything fell into an eerie silence.

The only sounds remaining were the ghostly song emanating from the ship and the pounding of their own hearts.

As the two ships drew closer, the Caesar Pirates saw it.

Standing on the deck of the ghost ship was a skeleton dressed in an elegant black suit.

He was singing while casually holding a cup of coffee.

The skeleton's large afro added to his bizarre appearance. His eye sockets were nothing but empty darkness, yet somehow, the crew could feel his gaze upon them.

It was an unsettling, uncanny sight—a well-dressed, refined skeleton exuding an air of eerie elegance.

The stark contrast between his skeletal form and his gentlemanly attire created an unnatural, almost surreal effect.

The three girls on board gasped, their pupils dilating in shock.

"I-It's really a skeleton! A moving skeleton!"

Lili yelped, immediately clinging to Caesar's arm in fright.

Wei Na and Regina instinctively stepped closer to Caesar as well, though Lili had already claimed the closest spot.

Even Regina, who had dissected countless bodies in her medical studies, found herself unnerved.

Eli, frozen in place, could barely form words.

He had scoffed at ghost stories before, convinced he would never be afraid.

But now, seeing this impossibility with his own eyes, he found himself unable to move.

Gnali, gripping his sword's hilt, remained wary. Despite his strength, he couldn't ignore the innate unease of witnessing something beyond normal comprehension.

Hades tensed, his muscles coiling in preparation for any sudden movement.

Brad and Axi, usually unshakable, were left speechless.

Arnold's finger hovered over the trigger, his gaze locked onto the skeletal figure.

Caesar, however, merely smirked.

The entire ship fell into an eerie silence as all eyes remained fixed on the afro-wearing skeleton.

Although they had set out specifically to find this legendary figure, seeing him in reality was a completely different experience.

He was elegant, refined, and utterly terrifying.

As the two ships slowly passed each other, the skeleton took a sip of his coffee.

Then, raising his bony hand, he suddenly waved at them and spoke:

"Yohohohoho~! How are you?"

His cheerful greeting shattered the silence.

The Caesar Pirates collectively jolted as if snapped out of a trance.

Yakesi's jaw dropped. "Did you hear that?! The skeleton spoke!"

Hades stared in disbelief. "A living skeleton... This is even crazier than the existence of the Minks!"

Lili's voice trembled. "C-Caesar, you said we were looking for a ghost, but that's clearly a talking skeleton!"

"Ah, skeletons and ghosts are close enough," Caesar replied nonchalantly.

Eli, trembling, weakly pointed at the skeleton. "T-The skeleton can talk... I must be dreaming!"

Then, to everyone's shock, Brad suddenly spoke up.

With a serious expression, he looked directly at the afro-wearing skeleton and asked:

"Hey... do you poop?"

A stunned silence fell over the deck.

And then, to their utter disbelief, the skeleton actually responded.

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