Rhett watched the children interacting and said to Shanks, "Come on, let's go sit in the dojo. Rouge made some tea and snacks. Let me tell you, Rouge's cooking is absolutely top-notch."
Shanks nodded. "Sounds good. I am a little hungry."
After everyone sat down, Shanks got straight to the point. "Big Bro Rhett, I came here to discuss something with you."
Rhett raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What is it?"
Shanks's expression turned serious. "It's about the 'new era.' After I take care of one thing, I plan to stay in the East Blue for a while and look for promising young people. Also..." He glanced at Ace and Ann. "Captain Roger's will needs someone to carry it on."
Rhett chuckled. "You want Ace and the others to follow you? Don't even think about it. I'll raise Ace myself. Besides, you're Red Hair Shanks. Wherever you go, who wouldn't give you face?"
Shanks shook his head. "No, that's not what I meant. They're your family, but they're my family too. I just want them to have the chance to see a wider world."
"THWACK!"
Rhett's fist came down hard on Shanks's head. The sound was crisp and loud.
"What do you mean yours and mine? What, you think your wings are strong enough now that you don't recognize your big brother anymore? You're not treating me like family anymore, is that it?"
The Red Hair Pirates immediately went on alert. Beckman's gun, Lucky Roux's chicken leg (?), Yasopp's rifle — all of them pointed at Rhett in an instant. Even Uta glared at him angrily. "Don't hit Shanks!"
Rhett raised an eyebrow. A playful smile curled at the corner of his mouth. "Oh? Pretty fast reactions. Interesting."
— BOOM!
A wave of terrifying Conqueror's Haki erupted like a tsunami. The air itself seemed to freeze for a moment. The Red Hair Pirates gritted their teeth. Cold sweat formed on their foreheads. But their weapons didn't move an inch. They stayed locked on Rhett.
Shanks held his head and laughed out loud. "Ow, ow, ow... Big Bro Rhett, your punching skills haven't changed at all! That really hurt!!!"
Rhett withdrew his Haki and nodded approvingly. "Not bad. These kids have spine. You found yourself a really good crew."
Beckman slowly lowered his gun. The cigarette nearly fell out of his mouth. "...That Conqueror's Haki is even crazier than the captain's. I thought I was about to die for a second."
Lucky Roux wiped the sweat off his forehead. "I almost lost my chicken leg."
Yasopp wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and smiled wryly. "As expected of the captain's 'big brother'..."
Shanks rubbed the spot where he had been hit and grinned as he leaned closer to Rhett. "Big Brother, my crew is pretty great, aren't they?"
Rhett glanced at him. "They're alright. Better than you, you crybaby. Seriously, little Shanks, don't copy our captain. Learn from me. Be more reliable."
Shanks: "..."
(The crew was struggling not to laugh.)
Rouge came over with tea and snacks. She smiled gently. "Everyone, please don't just stand there. Have something to eat."
Uta was immediately drawn to the snacks. Her eyes sparkled. "It smells so good!"
Ace went up to Shanks, looking excited. "Shanks! Your crew is so strong! Was that an application of Haki just now? Can you teach me?"
Sabo also pushed up his top hat curiously. "That kind of pressure... we can't release it on our own. Big Bro Rhett won't teach us."
Shanks ruffled Ace's hair. "You want to learn? The reason they won't teach you is because your bodies aren't ready yet. Beat your uncle first."
Ace: "..." He turned to look at Rhett.
Rhett gave him a thumbs up, as if to say — Try to surpass me, Ace!!
Ace quietly shrank back. Future him could worry about strength. Current him needed to keep his head attached. He had heard that "THWACK" loud and clear.
Ann silently handed Shanks a handkerchief. "Wipe your sweat."
Shanks was caught off guard for a moment, then smiled even brighter. "Thank you, little Ann!"
Rhett watched this scene, lounging lazily in his chair. "So, Shanks, what's this 'one thing' you mentioned earlier?"
Shanks's expression gradually grew serious. He lowered his voice. "Big Brother, Cipher Pol 9 contacted me. I want you to come with me to Mary Geoise."
"Little one, your name is Uta, right? Shanks is going to talk with Rhett about some things. Why don't we go bake cookies together?"
Uta looked at the kind older sister in front of her. Little stars appeared in her eyes. "Can I? I can really go?"
"Of course. Let's go." Rouge left with the children.
Rhett crossed his legs and tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "So, what did those masked idiots from Cipher Pol 9 want with you? They're not giving you the 'Best Pirate Award,' are they?"
Shanks's expression was unusually grave. "They mentioned... my lineage. They said they want to return 'what belongs to me.' And most importantly, to maintain the balance of the seas until the appointed time arrives."
Rhett narrowed his eyes. He didn't ask what the appointed time was. He knew Shanks wouldn't say. "Oh?"
Rhett narrowed his eyes again. "Oh? Interesting. Did you find out you're a Celestial Dragon?"
Shanks was clearly taken aback. He hadn't expected Rhett to be so direct. "Big Bro Rhett, you already knew."
"Of course. I was the one who carried you back from God Valley. Back then, everyone in God Valley was either a Celestial Dragon or a slave. And you were lying in a very fancy treasure chest. It really wasn't hard to guess."
"Actually, Cipher Pol 9 told me. I want to go and see what kind of tricks they're trying to pull. But then I thought about how Mary Geoise is full of old-timers just like you, Big Bro Rhett. I wasn't confident going alone. So I wanted you to come with me and watch my back."
"THWACK."
"Respect your elders, you hear me? What do you mean 'old-timers'? I'm not some remnant of the old era. I'm in my forties and fifties. That's the prime of life. What do you know, you little brat?" Rhett yelled at Shanks with shark teeth.
Shanks held the new lump on his head and looked at Rhett with pitiful eyes. "Big Brother, I was just worried..."
"What's even stranger," Shanks lowered his voice, "is that they said this was 'a decree from the Five Elders.'"
— CRACK!
A fine crack suddenly appeared on the teacup in Rhett's hand. Tea dripped down the edge of the table and onto the floor.
Beckman's pupils contracted slightly. He noticed something. The "Mist Lord's" presence had made an extremely subtle fluctuation when he heard the words "Five Elders."
"Interesting." Rhett slowly stood up. Blood mist spread silently beneath his feet. "Since when could the Five Elders give orders to my little brother? A 'decree'? Where does that leave my pride?"
Shanks looked up at Rhett. "Big Brother, you..."
"When do we leave?" Rhett interrupted him. "Perfect timing. I want to see what kind of tricks they're trying to pull."