Shanks' single arm hung limply, a thousand words caught in his throat. He saw the records filling Uta's room, the concert posters on the wall, and in the corner, the faded doll he had given her years ago...
"Uta, I..."
"I'm not listening!" Uta slammed the window shut, making the glass hum.
Immediately after, there was a dull thud of something heavy hitting the door, followed by the click of the lock.
Gordon sighed, "You should leave for now. That child... needs time."
Seagulls circled overhead, emitting harsh cries.
Shanks stood rooted to the spot, feeling so powerless for the first time. As he slowly turned, he caught a glimpse of a figure flashing behind the music hall's curtains; Uta was secretly watching them leave.
"Let's go," Shanks' voice was low and firm, "But we won't give up. This time... I will definitely make up for all my mistakes."
Facing Uta as she was now, they could only leave and settle on the island, slowly choosing the right time to make amends.
.....
The next day at noon,
The scorching sun baked the surface of Elegia's sea. Three dark Marine warships cut through the calm waves, speeding towards the island without a care.
The CP0 agents had no intention of hiding their tracks—this remote island of music was rarely visited, with no fishing villages or islands for hundreds of miles around, making secrecy unnecessary.
"Hey! Captain!" Yasopp stood on the lookout, the lens of his monocular telescope reflecting the blinding sunlight, "Warships approaching! Three of them! By their appearance... they're special units directly under the World Government!"
Shanks was already standing at the bow, his red coat unmoving in the hot wind.
His deep gaze penetrated the heat haze on the sea, clearly seeing the white-masked figures on the warships' decks.
"Ah, I see them," his voice was terrifyingly calm, "CP0 appearing in a place like this... it can't be good."
Benn Beckman exhaled a smoke ring, his sharp gaze sweeping over the distant warships: "Should we intercept them in advance?"
Shanks was about to answer when suddenly, his Observation Haki saw a corner of the future.
The future flashed into his mind like lightning: masked agents threatening Uta to leave with them... explosive flames engulfing the music hall... old man Gordon falling in a pool of blood... the entire island sinking into the sea under cannon fire...
"These... bastards!"
Shanks' Haoshoku burst forth, and the surrounding sea instantly caved into a massive vortex. The Red Force's mast groaned under the strain, and the crew on deck broke out in cold sweat from the sudden oppressive aura.
Yasopp had never seen the Captain so enraged: "Captain? What did you see?"
Beckman guessed, aiming his gun, "You saw something incredible again, didn't you?"
Shanks' hand was already on gryphon's hilt, the famous sword trembling slightly from its master's killing intent: "They want to capture Uta..." His voice sounded as if from hell, "If they can't... they'll sink the entire island."
Lucky Roux's chicken leg dropped onto the deck, "It seems they're truly looking for death!"
"What's there to talk about? Just eliminate these rats!"
"Why would the World Government be interested in Uta? Could they be after her ability?"
"No matter the reason, our little princess will not be allowed to suffer even the slightest harm!"
....
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