"No way! Weren't we swallowed by a whale?"
"How can this guy's belly have blue sky and white clouds?"
"Are we dreaming?"
Alo looked around in shock, and secretly pinched his thigh.
"Hiss! That hurts."
"It's not a dream."
"Then what in the world is going on here?"
He looked around, full of confusion, then his eyes lit up.
"Look, isn't that a small island over there?"
"Huh! It really is a small island!"
Everyone's gaze followed the direction of Alo's finger.
In the distance, amidst the waves, an island with only one tree and a house, was rapidly approaching them.
As the island drew closer, they finally saw clearly. This wasn't a small island at all!
It was clearly a ship shaped like an island.
"Hmm! Someone's here."
From the house on the island, a robust dark figure emerged.
Upon closer inspection, it was an old man!
The old man wore a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, and slippers. His attire suggested he wasn't in danger, but on vacation.
He glared, frowned, and stared intently at Kong Tai and his companions, without speaking, slowly walking towards the only tree on the island.
The old man's intense gaze made Ah Hua and the other two nervous, thinking he was some kind of peerless expert.
His gaze was so oppressive!
Unmoved, the old man stood under the coconut tree, sat down on a lounge chair, unfolded a newspaper, and began to read, ignoring Kong Tai and the others.
"You guy, say something!"
"Hmm!"
The old man glared at A Tao.
A Tao's hand trembled, making him drop his cigarette, startled by the old man's gaze.
Then he became angry, "You punk, are you looking for a fight? Don't look at me like I'm beneath you!"
"Want to fight? People will die."
"Uh... you mean who will die?"
"Me."
"Oh, it's you!"
The old man declared loudly, with wide eyes.
"You guys barged into my home without a word, and now you want to fight?"
"Also! Fighting will really cause death, so please don't cause trouble here. You'll be able to leave soon."
"Oh... I'm sorry."
Everyone bowed to the old man in unison.
Ah Hua adjusted his glasses and stepped forward, asking curiously.
"Sir, can you tell us where we are? I remember we were eaten by a giant whale. How is it the same here as outside?"
"And who are you?"
"This place?"
The old man pondered, then stared at Ah Hua and said, "When asking someone's name, it's polite to introduce yourself first, isn't it?"
"Oh... that's true. My name is..."
Before Ah Hua could finish, the old man spoke automatically.
"My name is 'Crocodile', I am the lighthouse keeper of the Twin Capes, 69 years old, Gemini, blood type AB."
"Can't you wait for me to finish before you talk?"
Ah Hua was furious with the old man.
"Alright, calm down a bit!"
A Tao quickly pulled Ah Hua back.
The old man paused, then said, "To ask where this is, you've barged into my private resort and you're speaking so arrogantly!"
"Private resort?"
Alo looked up at the sky and then around.
"This sky looks fake."
"Yes, I painted it."
"You guys don't think you're inside a rat's belly, do you?"
"So, you're saying we really are inside a giant whale's belly."
The old man nodded affirmatively. "Yes."
"We are currently inside Laboon."
"Laboon?"
"Laboon is the name of this whale."
At this point, Gu Yina stepped forward and asked Crocodile, "Sir, why are you inside this whale?"
"Me? Don't let my appearance fool you, I'm a doctor!"
"What!"
"So you're a doctor!"
"We thought you were hiding inside the whale to hunt it!"
Ah Hua and the other two breathed a sigh of relief.
Gu Yina, unlike Ah Hua and the other two, asked Crocodile calmly, "So, sir, are you staying inside the whale to heal its injuries?"
"Yes."
The old man's gaze turned towards the distant sea, and he shouted, "It's coming."
"What's coming?"
Everyone looked bewildered.
Just then, they heard a deafening cry, followed by a "bang," and the entire lake churned like a stormy sea, with monstrous waves.
"What's happening? What's going on?"
Ah Hua and the other two quickly held onto objects on the ship to prevent being capsized by the giant waves.
Listening to Laboon's constant cries, a hint of sadness flashed in Kong Tai's eyes.
"It must be in pain."
Then he instantly teleported to Crocodile's side. His spatial domain expanded, controlling Crocodile's island and heading towards a tall iron gate obscured by the paintings in the distance.
"Sir, quickly give it a sedative! This guy is frighteningly persistent!"
"You know Laboon?"
"Yes! You could say I do, and you could say I don't."
"Don't give me these tongue-twisters, you brat."
Crocodile yelled at Kong Tai.
Then he looked at Kong Tai, especially his silver hair and sky-blue eyes, his brows furrowed, and his eyes suddenly widened.
"Silver-haired Kohtai."
"What, sir, do you know me?"
Kong Tai turned to look at Crocodile, a hint of curiosity on his face.
Had his reputation spread across the entire sea so quickly?
He didn't know that his name had been spread throughout the Grand Line, and even the Four Seas, by the World Economic Journal in less than a day.
Crocodile was stationed at the Twin Capes, and when he had nothing else to do, he would read newspapers. He knew about almost everything reported, so of course, he knew Kong Tai.
He had been lamenting a few days ago how Shiki was defeated by a newcomer who had just set sail, and unexpectedly, today he had met the person himself.
He didn't overthink it, looking at the gate in front of him, he quickly climbed up the iron ladder.
Giving Laboon a sedative was more important.
"Sir, wait a moment, I'll bring my companions over, and we can go see together!"
"Alright! Hurry up, Laboon can't wait much longer."
"We'll be quick."
With that, Kong Tai instantly vanished from his spot.
"Hmm! Teleportation?"
Crocodile's eyes narrowed as he looked at the spot where Kong Tai had disappeared.
When Kong Tai first teleported beside him, he hadn't seen it clearly, thinking it was speed. Now he realized it was teleportation, no wonder he couldn't sense him at all.
"What a monster."
In a short while, Kong Tai controlled the Going Merry and charged over.
When they reached the iron gate, Ah Hua and the other two marveled, then climbed up the iron ladder.
Kong Tai and Gu Yina followed closely behind, while Indigo remained on the ship. He had no interest in this.
Let alone a Laboon hundreds of meters long, he had seen Sea Kings that were thousands, even tens of thousands of meters long.
Therefore, he had no interest in Laboon at all.