"This is where we keep our sharpening stones," Kuina said, introducing the area to everyone.
Rhett looked at the staircase. He looked at it very carefully.
In the world of One Piece, there were three legendary treasures:
The Supreme Grade Sandals. The Supreme Grade Straw Hat. The Supreme Grade Staircase.
These three were the greatest treasures in all of One Piece.
"Thank you for your help, little Kuina." He patted the girl's head. A thin layer of blood mist covered Kuina's body and then disappeared. Such a bright, cheerful girl, taken by a staircase. Among the tragic deaths in One Piece, hers was one of the most frustrating — right up there with Kuma and T-Bone.
After getting everyone settled, a few days passed. A Den Den Mushi call came from Tesoro.
Tesoro rubbed his forehead. "Captain, where are you right now?"
"In the East Blue. Why? What's up, Boss Tesoro?" Rhett was eating fruit, watching the four little ones play. He answered casually, "What, did you miss me?"
Tesoro's face on the Den Den Mushi went dark. "Captain, you better stay hidden. Garp is searching the entire ocean for you right now. He nearly tore apart our auction house in Sabaody. Our weapons depots too. Fortunately, he was just blowing off steam. We only lost a little bit."
Rhett nodded. "Yeah."
Tesoro shouted at the Den Den Mushi, "Are you even listening?! Captain, when you have time, go to the North Blue. I found the Germa Kingdom you asked me to look for."
Rhett's Den Den Mushi shook its head carelessly. "Got it, got it. Anything else? No? Then I'll hang up."
Just as Tesoro's Den Den Mushi was about to return to normal, poof — a little tuft of red hair sprouted on its head.
"Moshi moshi, Big Bro Rhett, can you hear me? Moshi moshi — did Beckman forget to feed it? Is it starving to death or something?"
"You idiot captain, I feed this Den Den Mushi every single day. How could it starve? Use your brain for once, would you?"
"Why isn't there any sound on the other end? Maybe we should feed it a little more."
Rhett sat up. Shanks was calling him. This was the first time Shanks had contacted him in all these years. "What is it, little Shanks? Are you looking for your handsome big brother? Did the Navy catch you? Are you asking for help?"
Shanks' Den Den Mushi let out a snort. "Pfft. Little Shanks. So that's what the captain was called when he was little!"
"Shut up, all of you!" Shanks' Den Den Mushi showed shark teeth as it turned its head and shouted at the empty air beside it. Then it cleared its throat. "Ahem. Anyway... Big Bro Rhett, where are you right now? Let's meet up. There's something I need to tell you in person."
"Sure. Where are you now? I'm in the East Blue. Shimotsuki Village. Come here."
Shanks asked, "That's perfect. We're in the East Blue too. Shimotsuki Village? Beckman, do you know where that is?"
"I know where it is, Captain."
"Big Bro Rhett, we'll see you in a few days then! Let's go, everyone!"
"You idiot captain, remember to hang up the Den Den Mushi."
"Ahahaha, sorry, sorry. See you soon, Big Bro Rhett." The Den Den Mushi hung up.
Rhett thought about it for a moment. He couldn't remember anything major happening around this time. Oh well. He'd cross that bridge when he came to it.
Whoosh!! Splash!!
A few days later, the Red Force slowly docked at the harbor of Shimotsuki Village. Shanks stood at the bow, his red coat billowing in the sea breeze. He tipped his straw hat.
"Captain, that's Shimotsuki Village," Beckman said, a cigarette hanging from his mouth as he squinted toward the shore. "Looks peaceful enough."
Shanks jumped off the ship. "Let's go. I'll introduce you to Big Bro Rhett, the one I'm always telling you about."
Rhett was sitting with his legs crossed, soaking up the sun. The three little ones and Kuina were practicing swordsmanship in the distance. Suddenly, his ear twitched. The blood mist sensed several familiar presences approaching.
"Oh, this is a rare visit." Rhett sat up lazily. "Kids, we have guests."
Ace stopped swinging his sword and wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Who is it?"
Before the words left his mouth, the dojo gate opened. A man with a straw hat and red hair walked in, followed by Koushirou. It was Shanks. Behind him were Beckman, Lucky Roux, Yasopp, and a lively little girl — Uta.
His eyes immediately locked onto Ace and Ann. His pupils contracted slightly, but quickly returned to normal.
Koushirou said to Rhett, "Mr. Rhett, these men say they are your friends. I will take my leave now."
Rhett nodded to Koushirou. "Thank you, Mr. Koushirou."
"Big Bro Rhett!" Shanks grinned and spread his arms wide. "Long time no see!"
Rhett walked up to him, and the two embraced. Shanks lowered his voice. "Captain Roger's children?"
Rhett patted his back. "Yes. Don't say anything."
"Ann and Ace. The one with the hat is Sabo."
"They really have the captain's spirit."
Shanks turned to the three little ones. He crouched down to their eye level. "So you're Ace, Ann, and Sabo? I'm Shanks. I'm your uncle's... hmm, what should you call me? I guess... call me big brother!"
Ann quietly moved behind Rhett, her little hand tugging at his clothes. She sensed that this man was paying a lot of attention to them. There was something complicated in his eyes. It made her a little uneasy.
"It's okay, Ann. If you ever go out to sea and can't find me, you can look for Shanks."
Rouge walked up to them. "Hello. My husband used to mention you. Your name is Shanks, right? I'm Rouge. I'm the mother of these three. Would you like some tea or snacks? I just made some cookies."
Shanks put away his playful expression. He walked up to Rouge and gave her a respectful bow. "Miss Rouge, this is my first time meeting you. Please treat me well."
Rouge smiled gently. "Shanks, you're a very handsome young man."
Ace looked at Shanks curiously. "So you're Red Hair Shanks? I heard you're really strong!"
Shanks crouched down to look Ace in the eye. He smiled. "You're Ace, aren't you? You've got a lot of energy!"
Ace was taken aback for a moment. Then he clenched his fist. "Did you know my father?"
Shanks nodded. There was a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "Of course I did. He was the captain I respected most."
Sabo stood to the side and politely took off his top hat. "Hello, Mr. Shanks."
Ann just looked at Shanks silently. She didn't say anything, but there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
Shanks stood up and patted Ann's head. "All three of you are wonderful."
Just then, Uta peeked out from behind Shanks. She blinked her big eyes. "Shanks, who are they?"
Shanks smiled and introduced them. "Uta, this is Uncle Rhett, Aunt Rouge, and these are Ace, Sabo, and Ann. Uta is our musician."
Uta greeted them warmly. "Nice to meet you!"
Ace's eyes lit up. "Can you sing?"
Uta nodded proudly. "Of course! I'm going to be the greatest singer in the world!"
Sabo smiled. "That sounds amazing."
Ann silently handed her a piece of candy. "Here. For energy. Keep going."
Uta took the candy happily. "Thank you!"