One Piece: The sky is azure, I just time-traveled today.

Page 140

Yasopp's fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the gun.

Ben Beckman's fingers, holding a cigarette, froze in mid-air.

Even Shanks' fingers, which were resting on the hilt of Griffin's sword, twitched almost imperceptibly. For the first time, a hint of genuine surprise and... intense interest appeared on his usually calm face.

His Conqueror's Haki was so easily... "eaten up"?

What kind of monster is lurking on this ship?

Wait… this aura?

It was an old acquaintance?!

Just as the coastline was deathly silent and the Red-Haired Pirates' officers were shaken—

"Hahaha--!!!"

A hearty, unrestrained laugh, tinged with familiarity and delight, suddenly burst from Shanks' mouth, instantly shattering the suffocating silence!

The surprise and solemnity on his face vanished, replaced by a sense of joy and delight, as if he had met an old friend in a foreign land.

He released his hand from the hilt of the Griffin knife, even took two steps forward, put his arm on his hip, and stared intently at the bow of the sailboat that was now almost within reach.

"Old buddy!!"

Shanks' voice boomed, laced with undisguised laughter, "You! You've finally come to see me?! It's been years since we last met in Loguetown, East Blue, hasn't it? I never imagined... I'd see you again under these circumstances!"

His gaze seemed to pierce through the ship's side, precisely locking onto a certain figure.

"Right—"

He drawled out the name, his tone firm yet warm:

These two words resounded like thunder on the coast!

Ben Beckman nearly dropped the cigarette he was holding.

Raki Lu completely forgot how to chew.

The movement of the jeweler wiping the gun barrel completely froze.

The other cadres also all looked incredulous!

That guy who's always described by his captain as a "ghost crew member"—the former Roger Pirates member who only knew how to wipe the floor?!

All eyes instantly turned back to the sailboat that was slowly approaching the shore.

Under the astonished and uncertain gazes of the crowd, a calm figure slowly emerged from the shadows of the cabin and stood at the bow of the ship.

He remained as calm as ever, as if the Conqueror's Haki attack that had been enough to overturn a fleet had never happened. His gaze calmly met Shanks's beaming smile on the shore, and he nodded slightly.

"Shanks."

There were no pleasantries or formalities; they simply called out each other's names in a plain manner.

But this simple response made Shanks' smile even brighter, and stirred up a huge wave in the hearts of the Red-Haired Pirates' officers!

Such an ordinary man... can he really withstand the Conqueror's Haki of his own captain?!

And this happened on the ship of Kuina, the "Purple Sword" of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. What does this departure signify?!

The situation in the new world instantly became incredibly delicate, and also incredibly... interesting.

Shanks looked at Liu Jiu, his eyes sparkling with the joy of a long-awaited reunion and a hint of barely perceptible inquiry.

"Looks like you haven't been idle these past few years, old buddy."

He glanced meaningfully at Guina and the others behind Liu Jiu.

Finally, my gaze settled on Uta, who was bowing her head and trembling slightly.

Shanks then fell into a reverie, memories of his adopted daughter Uta surfacing little by little, until the two were separated by something... before he came back to his senses.

A complex emotion flickered in the depths of his eyes, but it was quickly masked by a smile.

"Come on! Since we're all here, let's not stay on the boat! Let's go ashore! Let's have a good drink! We just saw off an interesting kid, and the fire's still burning!"

"Let's talk about this after the banquet!"

He greeted us warmly.

Chapter 169 The Red-Haired Pirates' Banquet, Ace's Challenge

Under Shanks' warm greeting, Liu Jiu and his group stepped onto the shore one by one.

When Kuina, Sabo, Robin, and Bonney appeared one after another, the Red-Haired Pirates' officers remained vigilant, but more so with a sense of scrutiny and curiosity.

These young people are none other than "Purple Sword" and his companions, who have stirred up the new world in recent years.

Indeed, they all possessed extraordinary bearing.

The younger generation is truly formidable!

However, when the last figure—that slender figure with her head down, trying her best to hide behind Liu Jiu—had no choice but to step ashore—

The atmosphere on the beach froze instantly!

"U...Uta?!"

The meat in Raki Lu's hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

The movement of Jesus cloth wiping the gun barrel completely froze, his eyes wide open.

Ben Beckman's fingers, holding the cigarette, trembled slightly, and ash fell in a flurry.

The other cadres also showed expressions of disbelief, as if they had seen some impossible phantom!

That little girl who used to be like a ray of sunshine on the ship, that Uta whose singing could soothe everyone's soul... how could she be here?! And... with Liu Jiu and "Purple Sword"?

Years ago, Uta unleashed the Song Demon King unintentionally, causing the entire island to be destroyed. That accident forced everyone to silently acknowledge that the Red-Haired Pirates were responsible for that major incident!

It's all because it was our own child who caused this trouble.

At that time, they didn't want Uta, who was in a coma, to wake up and find out that she herself was the culprit who destroyed the island.

The Red-Haired Pirates had no choice but to abandon her in order to protect her from external harm and potential dangers.

But now... Uta is back. Does she know about that incident?

All the veteran crew members who knew the situation were filled with shock and disbelief, and their eyes involuntarily turned to their captain.

Shanks' smile faded slightly as he looked at Uta, who was burying his head in his chest and trembling slightly. A complex and indescribable pain and guilt flashed in the depths of his eyes.

But he quickly put on a hearty smile, as if to dispel the gloom of that moment.

"Hahaha! Isn't this our little Uta?!"

Shanks strode forward, his voice booming, carrying a deliberately feigned surprise.

"You've grown up! I almost didn't recognize you! What? You don't recognize Uncle Beckman, Uncle Yasopp, and all the other uncles?"

He tried to break the awkwardness with this familiar tone.

Uta took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind. She slowly raised her head, forcing herself to look at those faces that were once so familiar, but now evoked complex emotions in her.

She forced a somewhat stiff, yet trying-to-appear bright smile, her voice trembling slightly, but still ringing out clearly:

"Everyone... it's been a long time. I'm back."

There were no questions, no complaints, just a simple "You're back."

But this simple sentence brought tears to the eyes of many veteran sailors. Looking at the beautiful young woman before them, who clearly carried a sense of detachment and pain, they felt a mix of emotions.

Shanks stared intently at Uta, as if trying to discern something beneath her forced smile. Finally, he burst into another hearty laugh and waved his hand forcefully:

"Great! It's good that you're back! Today is truly a double celebration! It's both a reunion with old friends and a family reunion! There's not much to say—"

He surveyed the entire scene, his voice resounding throughout the coast:

"Let's have a banquet!!!"

"oh--!!!"

The oppressive atmosphere was instantly ignited!

Regardless of their doubts and complex emotions, at Shanks' command, the members of the Red-Haired Pirates immediately erupted in a passionate pirate cheer!

The campfire was rekindled and burst into flames!

Fine wine was brought out like spring water!

The aroma of grilled meat filled the air once again!

The sounds of music, laughter, and clinking glasses instantly filled the air!

The coastline, which was tense just moments ago, has transformed into a lively and bustling banquet scene in the blink of an eye!

Sabo was quickly surrounded by Raki Lu and Yasopp and others, who enthusiastically poured him drinks.

Although Guina remained aloof, some people still mustered up the courage to toast her.

Robin smiled and talked with some of the officers, seemingly gathering intelligence.

Bonnie then launched an attack on the table full of delicious food.

Shanks personally pulled Liu Jiu to sit next to the head of the table.

Uta, on the other hand, was surrounded by a group of elderly sailors with reddened eyes, who offered her words of comfort and tried to melt away the barrier between them with their warmth.

The atmosphere seemed to have truly become warm and harmonious.

But beneath this clamor, undercurrents are still surging.

However, this will have to wait until after the banquet.

Meanwhile, in the New World, within the territory of the Whitebeard Pirates.

The Spade Pirates' ships, like lone wolves entering a giant beast's lair, cleaved through the waves, heading straight for the core area guarded by countless massive ships.

"Enemy attack! It's 'Fire Fist' Ace!"

"Stop him!"

"We can't let him get near the Moby Dick!"

Whitebeard's vassal pirate crews, like a swarm of bees startled, rushed forward to intercept him. The sea roared with cannon fire and the shouts of battle shook the heavens!