WE ARE PIRATES!

Resting and Explanations

After helping Crocus save laboon from the mysterious duo, Crocus began to tell them of laboon's story. 

Crocus explained to the crew how fifty years ago laboon stubbornly followed a crew of well-mannered pirates who wanted to leave him at the west blue, knowing the dangers of the grand line.

Crocus then explained that when the crew left, they asked Crocus to look after laboon and promised the whale that they'll return in three years, but they never returned.

Sanji: fifty years?

Usopp: So laboon has been waiting all this time for his friends to return?

Nami: So that explains why he has those scars 

Rimuru: he must be very lonely 

Crocus: Indeed he is. Even to this day, laboon firmly believes his friends will return

Later after Crocus offered to guide the crew out of laboon's stomach through a massive hallway. 

Zoro: This is some canal. I'm amazed that this whale is still alive with a hole like this in his body

Sanji: I suppose this is your work?

Crocus: just a doctor's playful mind 

Usopp: Doctor!?

Cocus: That's right, legally certified, I did ran a clinic on the cape, and I also had some experience as a ship's doctor

Luffy: Really? That's great! Why don't you join our crew

Crocus: Don't be ridiculous, I no longer have that kind of energy anymore

Rimuru: So I take it that you did this for a good reason?

Crocus: That's right. A creature of this size makes it practically impossible to treat it from the outside, so I made a more drastic solution 

After the crew made it out of laboon, they untied the two strangers and threw them overboard.

Rimuru: Hey, old man, are you sure it's cool for us to let them go?

Crocus: It's fine. A different group would take their place anyway

The crew then docked at shore to make repairs on the merry.

Usopp: Don't you guys think fifty years is a bit extreme 

Luffy: Yeah, those guys sure like to take their time

Sanji: You idiot! This is the grand line. His friends are already dead

Nami: As sad as it is, it's probably true. Around their time, the grand line is an uncharted sea, so it's much more dangerous than it it right now

Usopp: WHY ARE YOU GUYS BEING SUPER PESSIMISTIC! YOU DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE DEAD! THEY COULD STILL COME BACK FOR HIM! COME ON HAVE SOME SYMPATHY! I thought it was very touching, I mean a whale still believing in a promise they made after all these years. That's a true bond

Rimuru: I understand how you feel Usopp,  but the grand line is extremely dangerous, the only way for them to probably come back and keep their promise, is if they have the power to survive getting killed

Crocus: i agree, but sometimes reality can be cruel. Laboon's friends aren't dead, i heard from a reliable source that they've already left the grand line 

Rimuru: w-what!?

Usopp: I don't believe it! I mean, why abandon him like that!

Rimuru: I agree. If it were me, I would rather die trying to keep my promise than to abandon my friends