To avoid drawing attention, Shanks chose a remote stretch of shore when the Red Hair Pirates arrived at Elegia.
Gordon had already been waiting there alone for quite some time. The moment he saw them disembark, he hurried forward to greet them.
Shanks smiled and waved,
"Gordon, it has been a long time."
Among the Yonko, Shanks was known for treating ordinary people with rare kindness. Even so, Gordon still felt a trace of unease standing before him. The pressure that surrounded Shanks, subtle yet undeniable, was difficult to ignore.
Gordon responded briefly, then looked over Shanks and the crew behind him.
After so many years, the Red Hair Pirates had changed significantly. Each of them carried a far more imposing presence than before.
However, not everyone was familiar to Gordon. He had never met people like Katakuri, or Brulee.
And beyond them stood a man dressed in black, his long robe fitted neatly to his frame, his lower face concealed by a scarf.
When the man lifted his head, Gordon met his gaze for only a moment before instinctively looking away. That single glance felt like staring into something unfathomable.
Seeing this, Shanks placed a hand on Gordon's shoulder and spoke gently,
"Gordon, where is Uta? Take me to her."
Gordon suppressed the unease in his chest, nodded, and began leading the way with Shanks beside him.
As they walked, Gordon could not help but ask,
"Shanks, your crew has gained several new members?"
Shanks gave a faint smile,
"Yes, it is livelier this way. Is that a problem?"
"Not exactly. I only think it might be better if those familiar to Uta accompany you. There are still unresolved misunderstandings between you."
Shanks fell silent for a moment, then replied,
"I understand. But they are also companions I acknowledge. If we are going to meet her, we go together. Besides..."
Before he could finish, the man in the scarf stepped forward.
He looked down at Gordon, his tone indifferent,
"You speak too much. Just lead the way."
Gordon stiffened and instinctively turned toward Shanks.
Shanks only smiled helplessly,
"You heard him. Keep moving. His temper is not the best, and I cannot stop him if he decides otherwise."
Gordon swallowed and said nothing more, continuing forward without another word.
When they reached the royal palace, Gordon led them into the reception hall.
He had intended for them to wait while he called for Uta, but the moment they entered, they saw her already seated on the central sofa.
Her head was lowered, her face hidden in shadow.
Even so, Shanks recognized her instantly.
His gaze softened, filled with both warmth and regret. After a long pause, he finally spoke,
"Uta..."
At the sound of his voice, Uta's body trembled faintly. She slowly raised her head, her purple eyes reflecting Shanks' figure.
She said nothing. She only stared.
The silence stretched, heavy and tense, until a voice broke it from behind Shanks.
"How long will you keep staring? If you have something to say, then say it."
Both Shanks and Uta were startled.
Uta frowned and shifted her gaze to the man behind him, her tone cold,
"Who are you? I have never seen you before."
Under her gaze, the man stepped forward and stopped beside Shanks.
"Call him Father first, then I will tell you who I am."
The room went still.
Shanks, the crew, and even Gordon could not help but react inwardly. The bluntness of those words caught all of them off guard.
Uta's expression darkened, her body trembling with anger.
She lifted her chin and glared at him,
"What nonsense are you talking about? I do not have a father."
The man's brows twitched slightly.
"Is that so? Interesting."
The shift in his tone made Shanks tense immediately.
Without hesitation, he reached out and grabbed the man's sleeve, as if to stop him from acting.
The man paused, glanced at Shanks, then withdrew his hand. He crossed his arms and stepped aside.
Shanks exhaled quietly, the tension easing from his shoulders.
Uta watched this exchange with clear surprise.
In her memory, Shanks could be carefree with his crew, but when it came to serious matters, he always carried himself with authority. Seeing him act so cautiously toward someone he brought along unsettled her.
Shanks refocused on Uta. Right now, nothing mattered more than clearing the misunderstanding between them.
He sighed and began,
"Uta, no matter what, leaving you here back then was my failure as a father. But if I had not done that..."
"Do not continue. I already know the truth."
Shanks froze.
He instinctively looked at Gordon, who shook his head to show he had said nothing.
Uta stood slowly from the sofa, her voice low,
"I saw everything through a visual Den Den Mushi. It was all because of me."
Shanks stepped forward slightly,
"You were unconscious. You are not to blame."
"No. Whether it was intentional or not, a mistake is still a mistake. I will take responsibility for it. I will make amends to those I harmed."
Her voice grew firmer.
"And not only that, I will create a world without pirates."
At first, Shanks felt a trace of relief hearing her resolve. But the latter half left him stunned.
"Uta, what are you saying?"
Her gaze turned cold as she looked at him.
"Most of the suffering in this world is caused by pirates. I hate pirates."
Those words struck deeply.
The members of the Red Hair Pirates fell silent. For Shanks, it was far more painful than anything else she could have said.
Before he could respond, laughter echoed through the room.
It was sharp and cutting.
Uta's anger flared as she turned toward the source,
"You again. What is so funny?"
The man in the scarf continued laughing softly.
"Because it is amusing. I did not expect you to be this self-aware. It is a pity you are not in the Navy."
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