The old chief looked at the earnest, passionate faces in front of him. Warmth surged through his chest, but his resolve did not waver.
"Nonsense! I'm old. I've lived long enough! You are the future of this tribe. I'm the one who should go!"
"That's exactly why you can't go!"
The young man who had just been shouted at stepped forward again, stubborn as ever. He stretched his neck forward, even taking another step closer, almost face-to-face with the chief.
"As long as you're alive, the tribe has a future! Even if we die out there… as long as you remain, the tribe will survive!"
"Ridiculous!"
The chief raised his hand in anger, about to strike him.
But the young man didn't dodge.
Instead, he lifted his chin higher, defiance burning in his eyes.
Someone else shouted from the crowd:
"Chief, if you insist on going, then we'll follow you! You can't stop us!"
"That's right! We'll go with you!"
"In the worst case, we'll face it together!"
The scene began to spiral into chaos.
Some of the more impulsive young men had already picked up their weapons, clearly prepared to chase after him by force if necessary.
The unspoken message was simple:
Either you come with us willingly, or we drag you along.
The old chief looked at them.
At these stubborn, bull-headed children he had raised.
His hand trembled in the air, but he could not bring it down.
His lips quivered. He wanted to scold them again, to command them to stay.
But the words would not come.
Could he force them to remain?
Maybe.
But he knew them too well.
They would follow him in secret anyway.
And that would be even more dangerous.
It was a mutual resolve.
Beautiful.
And cruel.
The old chief was willing to risk his life for the tribe's future.
And the tribe was willing to throw their lives away to protect the man who guided them.
Reid leaned casually against a wall, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold.
For a brief moment, he felt something stir.
Wait.
No way.
He blinked.
Had he… just been moved?
Reid thought about it.
He had rarely experienced betrayal in his life.
He silently thanked the great River God.
There had been no betrayal on Roger's ship.
None among the Red-Haired Pirates either.
Reid almost felt like his life had been absurdly smooth.
The River God must be watching over him.
River God: Hmph. You little brat.
Anyway, back to the present.
Reid simply watched the arguing crowd without intervening.
This was their decision to make.
At this point, it would not be an exaggeration to say he was the tribe's benefactor.
Then suddenly
"Hm?"
His gaze shifted.
Under the shade of a tree, the little girl sat quietly, as if detached from everything.
Reid walked over.
"Hey, hey, hey. What's going on over here? We're having barbecue tonight. Aren't you excited?"
The girl said nothing.
Reid crouched slightly, grinning.
"Come on, just say you want to eat. Then nod like crazy. Show some enthusiasm."
The girl opened her mouth.
Then froze.
This question… was beyond her.
So she did what she always did.
She stayed silent.
Reid, of course, felt zero embarrassment.
Why?
Because Reid had no sense of shame.
Seeing her stubborn silence, he grinned wider.
Good.
Very good.
Kid, you've awakened my competitive spirit.
If gentle methods don't work, then we escalate.
Without warning, he bent down and scooped her up with one arm, tucking her under his side.
He let out what he believed was a menacing laugh.
"Heh… little brat. If you don't answer me, then I'll… hmm…"
He dragged out the sound, trying to build tension.
But
Nothing.
The girl stiffened slightly when he lifted her, but she did not struggle.
She simply waited.
Calm.
Indifferent.
Reid felt his confidence slipping.
Come on, give me something to work with.
I'm running out of villain lines here.
He needed a punishment.
Something intimidating.
But not creepy.
Not childish.
Spanking?
Too immature.
Throw her to a Sea King?
What if she didn't even care?
No.
That would ruin his image.
After a long pause, staring at her completely unbothered expression, inspiration finally struck.
"I've got it!"
"I'll make you eat burnt meat every single day! Every meal! Until you talk!"
He nodded proudly, as if he had just delivered the perfect threat.
Not only did it assert dominance, it even carried a hint of "I care about your diet."
Perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
At least, in his mind.
The girl blinked.
For a brief moment, something flickered in her empty gaze.
Speechless.
She had expected many things.
But not… this.
Compared to starving in the past, burnt meat was not a punishment at all.
In fact
The thought of eating meat at all made the faintest trace of light pass through her eyes.
But her way of surviving was simple.
Silence.
Indifference.
Emotionless.
Reid smirked inwardly.
You think you're playing from the second floor.
But I'm already on the rooftop.
He leaned back against the tree and adjusted his hold, letting the girl sit against him, her back resting lightly against his chest.
He could feel it clearly.
The constant, faint trembling in her body… had eased.
Just a little.
A quiet, unconscious trust had begun to form.
Even she didn't realize it.
Reid lowered his head slightly, glancing at the small head in his arms.
No scent.
Good.
At least as a future "goddess," she had standards.
He let out a soft laugh.
"Forget it…"
It sounded like he was talking to himself.
Or maybe to her.
"What am I supposed to do with my future first mate?"
"I guess I'll just have to accept that you're this quiet."
He stayed there like that.
Leaning against the tree.
Holding her.
Watching the tribe in the distance continue arguing over who would take on the dangerous mission.
His crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
Enjoying the rare moment of peace within the chaos.
Reid.
Reid.
What kind of transmigrator rushes into an unknown land and immediately starts killing people?
Still…
At least his future first mate had been saved.
The girl said nothing.
But the way she leaned back, just slightly, into him…
Spoke louder than words.
She might not understand what safety meant yet.
But her body had already found it.
A place to rest.
A harbor.