"Join… big brother's pirate crew?"
Otama timidly raised her head. The tears in her eyes had yet to fully disappear, making her little face look especially pitiful and delicate.
Faced with Red's sudden invitation, her mind practically shut down on the spot, and she instinctively turned to seek help from Tengu Grandpa behind her.
Yet when confronted with Otama's pleading gaze, the old tengu found himself in an awkward dilemma.
Now that everything in Wano Country was flourishing, of course he did not wish for Otama to rashly set sail and become some pirate galloping across the seas.
Not to mention a pirate of the Straw Hat Pirates at that!
Everyone in the world knew that a great war between the Straw Hat Pirates and the World Government was inevitable.
And that war would affect the world's final direction.
From the current situation, the Straw Hat Pirates clearly held the upper hand.
But the World Government was still a mighty organization that had ruled the world for eight hundred years. Who knew what hidden cards they still had left to play?
But if he did not let Otama join the Straw Hat Pirates...
The old tengu lifted his head, his gaze landing on the man whose expression seemed calm, yet was somehow impossible to meet directly.
After a long while, his slightly hoarse throat finally let out a quiet response:
"Otama, you've already grown up. You can decide your own future."
"Don't worry. No matter what choice you make, Tengu Grandpa will always support you!"
Phew...
Seeing the obvious flicker of "at least you know what's good for you" pass through Red's eyes, the old tengu finally let out a long breath of relief inside.
Although he had not interfered with Otama's choice, he knew that ever since she was little, Otama had always yearned for the outside world, and she had also been on very good terms with Ace, the 2nd Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
If she ever had the chance, there was no way this little one would pass up the opportunity to go to sea.
And if it was the Straw Hat Pirates, if they truly treated Otama sincerely, then perhaps this really was the best possible choice in the world.
It was just that he could not understand why they would choose Otama.
"So, Otama, what do you think?"
Red continued to ask with a grin.
In truth, he had long since planned to invite Otama to join the Straw Hat crew—or rather, to invite the user of the Dumpling-Dumpling Fruit to join the crew.
After all, the Dumpling-Dumpling Fruit's ability could practically be considered rule-level. A power that could make all animals obey would be of tremendous help to their future plans to create true Pokémon in the world of pirates.
And besides...
Though he did not know whether the manga cover story counted as official canon, Red had never forgotten the Space Pirates who had once appeared there.
Those Space Pirates all seemed to possess half-human, half-beast Mink-like appearances.
If they could also be controlled by the Dumpling-Dumpling Fruit's power, then Otama's value would be far greater than ordinary.
"I..." Otama nervously fiddled with her fingers.
She could already tell that the big brother in front of her did not seem to mean her any harm.
But suddenly asking her to join a pirate crew and all... it was just too strange.
"Oh, right~"
As if he had seen through her hesitation, Red suddenly spoke up at that moment:
"Although we're not from the same pirate crew, our relationship with Ace is pretty good, you know~"
"That guy comes over to our place for drinks all the time!"
"Ace... Big Brother Ace?!"
"You mean Big Brother Ace!?"
The Otama who had still been hesitating just a moment ago instantly became excited the moment she heard Ace's name. Her lovely, watery eyes sparkled brightly.
"That's right, the very same Ace you know!"
Red smiled and nodded.
"He's mentioned you to me before, which is why I wanted to invite you to join our pirate crew."
"And by the way, our captain and Ace are sworn brothers—closer than real brothers."
"So you should know by now, right? We're definitely good people!"
"Mhm, mhm!"
Because she adored Ace, she trusted those close to him as well.
Upon hearing that the Straw Hat Pirates had such a close relationship with Ace, the already deeply admiring Otama nodded so hard her head practically turned into an afterimage, fully believing that the Straw Hat Pirates were truly very good people.
"So... are you willing to join?" Red pressed again.
And this time, Otama did not hesitate much. She merely pressed her lips together, then nodded directly.
"I-I'm willing!"
"But big brother, there isn't much Otama knows how to do. Otama is willing to learn, but if I join your pirate crew, what can I do?"
"Haha, you don't need to do anything at all!"
The moment he heard Otama agree, Red burst into laughter. He affectionately wiped away the tear tracks at the corners of her eyes, then turned directly to the komainu behind her—Otama's pet and bodyguard, Komachiyo—and said:
"So you're Komachiyo. Since Otama has decided to join us, you should come along too."
"When we get back, I'll help you take a look and see whether there's some Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit that suits you."
Utterly familiar as though he had known them forever, Red scooped Otama up and placed her onto Komachiyo's back.
"Come on, Otama. Let's go take a stroll around the Flower Capital with us."
"It's been a while since I last came here. This place really has changed a lot."
"And as for you~"
Only after settling Otama properly did Red finally shift his gaze toward the old tengu.
In truth, he had recognized the old tengu's identity long ago.
After all, in all of Wano Country, there was only one person who wore such a strange mask, walked on stilts, and cared for Otama so deeply!
That person was the man who was supposed to have died in history, yet was actually still alive—the former former former Shogun of Wano Country, Kozuki Sukiyaki!
In other words, Kozuki Oden's father and Kozuki Hiyori's grandfather.
"Sukiyaki."
At that moment, Red suddenly called out Kozuki Sukiyaki's true name, causing the old man—who had originally intended to say a few more words to Otama—to shudder violently.
Red's gaze also gradually sharpened, as though it had substance, pressing down onto him.
Influenced by Kozuki Oden, Red truly could not bring himself to feel any fondness for the Kozuki family.
But compared to a complete idiot like Kozuki Oden, Kozuki Sukiyaki had at least ended up like this because he had genuinely been powerless to change things.
The fact that he still refused to remove his mask even now showed that he, too, could not forgive his past self.
Still, he was the former shogun of Wano Country, and he carried the legendary bloodline of the Kozuki family. For him to simply continue fading into obscurity would be too much of a waste.
After staring at Kozuki Sukiyaki for a moment, Red spoke again:
"You don't need to worry about Otama. Whether or not I invited her into the Straw Hats because I want to make use of her ability, now that she has become my companion, her future will definitely shine with boundless brilliance."
"And if you want to visit Otama—or even follow her and join the Straw Hat Grand Fleet to protect her—I have no objections at all."
"However... leaving all of vast Wano Country for Kozuki Hiyori to manage alone is simply too much for her."
"If you still haven't completely let go of the past, then I suggest you go help Hiyori."
"After all, everything you were supposed to protect—and even what you were never supposed to protect—has already slipped from your grasp. The second half of your life should be spent doing something tangible... to repay the debt you owe to Wano Country."
"Lord Red..."
Under Red's words, Kozuki Sukiyaki slowly lowered his head.
The reason he had hidden behind that mask all this time was because he did not want to face his own past.
But now, awakened by Red's words, he suddenly realized...
Whether it was Pluton or Otama, both had now already found new places to belong. Neither of them needed his protection anymore.
And he himself... perhaps it really was time to remove his mask and face his tragic, pitiable life head-on.
Thinking of this, Kozuki Sukiyaki immediately lowered his head toward Red in respect and said:
"I have been enlightened."
Red waved his hand indifferently.
"Peace has already arrived. Go do what you want to do."
"Once you've repaid Wano Country's debt, come find me."
"When that time comes, you can still choose to remain by Otama's side."
As he spoke, Red led the reluctant Otama toward the interior of the Flower Capital.
"Tengu Grandpa..."
Otama turned her head back, looking at Kozuki Sukiyaki, who had taken care of her for so long, her face full of reluctance.
Although she had chosen to join the Straw Hat Pirates, and she understood that this meant she would part from Tengu Grandpa, she had never imagined that the separation would come so quickly and so suddenly.
At that moment, Red placed a hand directly atop Otama's head. As he gently smoothed her hair, he comforted her:
"Don't be sad, Otama. Your Tengu Grandpa has things of his own that he needs to do."
"Don't worry. Once he's finished with his business, he'll definitely come to see you."
"After all, you're the Otama he treasures so much!"
(End of Chapter)