Shanks said solemnly: "Uta...she is in China!"
"What!?" All the officers of the red-haired pirate group gathered around.
"Isn't she in Elegia? How could she end up in the New World?"
"I don't know..." Shanks plucked out the folds of the newspaper. The girl in the photo had red and light pink hair, wearing headphones, with an intoxicated look on her face, as if she was immersed in her own world.
Even though he hadn't seen her for nearly ten years, he could still recognize the girl who once aspired to become the singer of the red-haired pirates.
Ben Beckman carefully identified the photo and suddenly said: "Gordon is with her."
Everyone quickly looked at the corner of the photo and found Gordon standing behind her, and they breathed a sigh of relief.
"Judging from Uta's appearance and expression...she seems to be singing on the street?"
"That seems to be the case..."
"But why..."
The members of the red-haired pirate group were discussing in a flurry. Shanks felt a little uneasy. He stood up and paced back and forth.
"Shanks, what's wrong with you?" Ben Beckman asked with a frown, afraid that he would make some irrational decision.
Shanks said with some difficulty: "I want to go to China..."
"..." The members of the red-haired pirate group who were discussing immediately stopped, and the scene fell into silence.
"No!" Ben Beckman immediately rejected the red-haired proposal.
"But, I'm a little worried about Uta..." Shanks also felt that his thoughts were a bit naive.
"This newspaper..." Ben Beckman picked up the newspaper and shook it in front of Shanks. The newspaper made a "squeaking" sound and said, "Maybe it is the trap set by Kui Long for us. "
"He somehow learned about the relationship between Uta and us, so he wanted to use this news to test our attitude."
"If we go, we will definitely be wiped out this time, and we may even implicate Uta!"
"If we pretend nothing happened, Kui Long won't be a madman who kills people casually, and Uta will be in peace!"
"..." After some analysis by Ben Beckman, the others nodded in agreement.
After standing there for a while, Shanks raised his head and looked up at the blue sky. Everyone was worried that Shanks would make some outrageous decision. The disastrous defeat they suffered last time against the Dawn Pirates was still fresh in their minds.
After hesitating for about a quarter of an hour, Shanks finally made a decision: "We will not go to China for the time being."
"Huh..." Everyone else breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the expressions of his companions, Shanks understood that after successive defeats in the past, many members had doubts in their hearts. The side effect of this thought was a decrease in domineering power. .
Shanks and Ben Beckman looked at each other: 'We must lead them to regain their confidence! '
Ben Beckman blew out a puff of smoke and asked aloud: "Shanks, what do you think about the next voyage?"
"Recruit some more members."
"One year later, we will enter the new world again!"
"Oh!" Others echoed in unison.
"However, before that..." Ben Beckman said: "We are going to do several big things in the near future."
Shanks showed a knowing expression and replied: "I understand."
…
"Strange..." Eric crossed his shoulders and read the news in the newspaper: "The red-haired pirates killed everyone in the paradise and defeated several naval warships that came to attack."
After two months of waiting, Eric did not wait for the red-haired pirates to arrive, but saw traces of the red-haired pirates in the newspaper. They were still wandering in the first half of the Grand Route, with no intention of rushing over.
"The redhead should have seen the news, right? But, he is indifferent?" Eric was a little unconvinced: "Or is the guy who said he would never forgive anyone who hurt his companions just talking?"
"Eric, what do you want to do?" Kuang San pursed his lips and showed a charming and terrifying smile: "Do you want to put Uta -"
Seeing Kuang San prolonging his voice but not saying anything clearly, Eric asked curiously: "What do you want to do?"
"Give the redheads one of Uta's fingers to stimulate them."
"Forget it, Uta is just a girl who likes to sing." Eric shook his head and said, "Besides, she also had a misunderstanding with the red-haired pirates."
As for why Eric knew so clearly, it was thanks to Brynn's memory fruit.
Brynn's memory fruit is a powerful tool for searching for intelligence. Gordon and Uta, who were powerless, had their memories read by Brynn in their sleep.
After summarizing the memories of the two, Eric knew clearly how Elegia of Elegia was destroyed, how the red-haired pirates were blamed, and Uta's misunderstanding.
Uta is a superhuman-type person with the song fruit ability. She once followed the red-haired pirates to Elegia, which is famous for music. Her excellent singing talent made her more and more popular in Elegia.
However, the demon hidden under the island also focused on Uta's ability, and a note releasing the devil's key appeared in front of Uta. Without knowing the contents of the note, Uta sang the music above and released the demon. Despite the efforts of the red-haired pirates to stop it, the demon still destroyed the island and massacred the residents. The demon did not disappear until Uta was exhausted.
In order to save Uta from the guilt of destroying the island, Shanks publicly revealed that he had committed the crime. In order to hide the truth, they even deliberately took away the island's treasures.
Uta, who had just regained consciousness, saw Juejue's leaving figure and felt betrayed, so he felt resentful towards everyone in the red-haired pirate group.
"You can destroy the world with just one fruit. This is too..."
Eric curled his lips. Brynn still saw Uta's plan in the memory tape:
Uta wants to use Mijiu's concert so that it can attract people from all over the world. Her songs are also streamed live, and she ensures that people who can't attend her concerts in person can hear her.
Uta can lead others into the virtual space "Uta World" through singing. If Uta falls asleep, this ability will fail. However, she can eat "sleepless mushrooms" that can prevent people from sleeping, and plans to permanently close the Uta world through "sleepless death".
In this way, once Uta starts singing, every listener can be brought into the Uta world she created. After Uta dies in a conscious state, she can live forever in Uta's world with her fans.
"What do you think is more important, the mind or the body?"
"Everything is important." Kuang San sighed: "In order to achieve her goal, this girl is not even afraid of death."
"Creating a virtual world is just her wishful thinking." Eric shook his head and said, "No one wants to live in a virtual world."
"However, you also deliberately tampered with Gordon's memory, fabricating the fact that the red-haired pirates attacked Elegia and confirming the fact that Shanks abandoned Utta."
"Anyway, this will not have any impact on Uta, and it also avoids a series of problems such as the father and daughter resolving misunderstandings."
"What should we do next? The red-haired pirates didn't take the bait and even deliberately delayed revealing their whereabouts for more than a month."
"This is probably Ben Beckman's strategy. Unfortunately, they don't know that we have the memory fruit."
Eric grinned: "I will give them a big gift in the future."
Kuang San pursed his lips and smiled: "You are bad enough."
"Uta's fans have increased a lot recently, and some fans have formed a support group, so she has to dress up and go out."
"In this way..." Eric thought for a while and said: "Let Mijiu continue to contact her, it is best to become friends in a subtle way."
"Let her see clearly that the real world is just as beautiful. Don't let her think that way."
Different living environments will lead to different ways of thinking. Let's not talk about how the two of them can survive on an island. Just the lonely environment can drive people crazy.
And Uta's mental state is unstable, Gordon has an unshirkable responsibility.
"Are you sure?" Kuang San glanced at Eric suspiciously: "There is no ulterior purpose?"
"ha?"
"It's not like you don't know Miku's hobbies." Kuang San showed a dangerous smile.
"You are watching Miku from the side, the ice-snow and smart Miss Kuangsan. To you, stalking is just a trivial matter, right?"
Not getting the answer he wanted, Kuang San curled his lips.
"That's right." Kurumi suddenly remembered and said, "That 'Fire Fist' Ace and Sabo from the Revolutionary Army performed well in prison and had their sentences reduced by a few months. It's almost time for them to be released from prison. ”
"Let them get out of here." Eric held his forehead and said, "We must not let them stay in China!"
Eric was afraid of what trouble the troublemakers might cause again.
"I know, but Yamato should be sad."
"What does this have to do with Yamato?" Eric was stunned.
"Yamato came back from Beihai specially for Ace."
"..." Eric was a little speechless, but that's the kind of character Yamato has.
"Forget it, let her do it."
…
Ace, Sabo, and the members of the Spade Pirates walked out of the Rabbit Bowl Quarry, breathed the free air, and exclaimed: "More than eight months... finally out!"
"Ace, Sabo!" From a distance, Yamato waved his arms to greet him.
"Hey, Yamato!" Ace greeted back and asked, "Didn't you go to Beihai?"
"I knew you would be released from prison early, so I rushed back from Beihai."
"Congratulations on your release from prison." Yamato said happily: "Let's go have a drink together, I'll treat you!"
"Thank you also, Yamato. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be able to get out of prison so early."
"Huh?" Yamato was stunned for a moment, then waved his hand: "Reducing the sentence is the decision of the prison director and has nothing to do with me."
"Huh?" Hearing this, the others were stunned.
Someone asked in confusion: "Then why did we reduce the sentence by more than three months?"
"That's because you behaved well in prison." Yamato put his hands on his hips and said, "I can't use my power to help you cheat."
Yamato put his arm around Ace's shoulders: "Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's go drink together!"
"Okay!" There were free drinks, and the others happily agreed.
"Yamato, that guy Kisame..." Ace took the time to ask.
"He is not in China." Yamato replied immediately.
"Oh." Ace sighed.
"Do you want revenge so much?"
"Of course!" Ace clenched his fists, and the muscles on his arms looked stronger.
"After we finish drinking, we'll go to the training ground to play." Yamato patted Ace on the shoulder.
"Okay, don't be surprised!"
"I have not wasted any time in these eight months!"
"Me too!" Yamato puffed up his chest.
…
When everyone had eaten and drank enough and walked into the training ground, someone exclaimed: "What a big training ground!"
Yamato said casually: "This is where Esdeath usually trains, so the area is larger."
"Uh..." Ace shrank his shoulders, the horrific memories from his childhood left a deep impression on him.
"Destroy whatever you want, it doesn't matter."
"The training ground is meant for destruction. These are Esdeath's exact words."
Yamato walked to the side of the training ground and stood still: "Ace, this time, I'm going to use my full strength!"
"me too!"
The large and neat teeth became sharp, the smooth skin grew white down, the ears became wide, and a long, supple tail extended from behind.
"...So she is an esper!?" The members of the Spade Pirates who had watched Yamato fight Ace last time were shocked.
"Besides, it doesn't seem to be an ordinary animal type!"
"Hey~" Ace grinned: "Yamato, you finally got serious."
Yamato took off the mace from behind: "Ace, if you want to become the Pirate King, strength is essential."
"I understand, so I will become stronger and stronger!"
Ace raised his flaming fist: "Yamato, I'm going to do it!"
Yamato raised the mace wrapped around Zi Lei: "Come on, Ace!"
"fire punch!"
Ace punched Yamato from the air, and the hot flames formed a pillar of fire, blasting straight towards Yamato.
"ha!"
Seeing the raging fire approaching, Yamato's expression remained unchanged as he kicked off his clogs and hit the pillar of fire with his horizontal mace.
"boom"
The raging flames exploded immediately, and countless flames spattered around.
And Yamato had turned into a snow-white afterimage, crossing the rain of fire falling from the sky, and rushed straight towards Ace.
"clang"
The fists and sticks collided, making a deafening crisp sound. Ace frowned, and a bone-breaking pain came from his fist bones. But he endured the pain, covered his armed haki with his fist, and continued to attack Yamato.
"Dang Dang Dang"
Every time there was a fierce exchange, there would be stinging pain in the bones of his fists. Ace gritted his teeth and held on with all his strength.
"Ace..." Sabo looked worriedly at Ace, who was gradually losing ground.
"There are many powerful guys in this sea." Yamato waved his bat and asked, "Ace, what should you do if you meet them!?"
"...I will drag the enemy and let my companions escape!" Ace gritted his teeth and punched, and the surging flames turned into a sea of fire, threatening to engulf Yamato who was just one step away.
"Sure enough, it's your style - Horse Phantom Blade!" Yamato swung the mace wrapped in freezing air, and the two attacks collided in an instant.
"boom!"
Ice and flames intertwined, and majestic energy clashed fiercely. After a moment, two completely opposite energies exploded.
Turbulent air waves mixed with water vapor swept around.
"Ace, what you did is wrong!"
Some people died, but not completely...
