Uta's Choice

"Was she just asleep? Thank goodness... she's still alive, that's wonderful..."

Cifer wasn't really going all out this time, Luffy quickly stood up again, sporting his signature sunny smile.

He had thought that his good friend would die because of this.

"What about Tot Musica? It suddenly disappeared! And there were two huge, terrifying-looking monsters inside!"

Luffy abruptly changed the subject, his head constantly scanning the Western Zhou region, trying to find those monsters.

"Luffy, your reaction time is way too long! They've already been taken care of!"

Red-Haired patted his forehead, his face showing helplessness, yet also the doting affection of an elder for a younger generation.

"Eh~ Shanks solved it? That's amazing~"

Luffy naturally assumed that it was his old friend who had handled it, after all, he was one of the famous Sea Emperor, just like Cifer.

"This..."

Just as Red-Haired was about to explain, another voice interrupted him.

"Uta ~ Uta!"

A middle-aged man wearing a suit and sunglasses, with a tall, long head and a stitched scar on it, ran towards her as she lay unconscious.

"It's Gordon. You've worked so hard all these years."

Shanks recognized him; he was the one who had entrusted young Uta to him years ago, asking him to train her to become the world's greatest singer.

"It's not hard at all. Uta is excellent, and it's my pride to be able to mentor her."

Gordon knelt on the ground, and after confirming that she was alright, two lines of tears streamed down his face behind his sunglasses.

Over the past twelve years, he has come to regard Uta as the most important part of his life, like a daughter.

Watching her gradually go astray, even wanting to sacrifice herself to complete a plan that was fundamentally flawed, he felt more heartbroken than anyone else.

"I knew it! She's the best musician in the world! Her voice is a treasure!"

Shanks wanted to pinch Uta's smooth, tender cheeks like he used to, but he stopped in mid-air, afraid that he might accidentally wake her up.

"So? What are your plans for her next?"

Cifer's gaze shifted between Gordon and Shanks as he raised a question.

"That depends on Uta's opinion. If she wants to stay in Elegia, that's fine. If she wants to go to sea, I'll take her with me."

"However, it's probably unlikely that I can stay here any longer; Ailehaya is no longer safe."

Red-Haired shared his thoughts.

She was like the daughter of the Red Hair Pirates, always by their side when they were young.

But the twelve years of separation made it difficult for him to talk about it. No matter what, he was the one who abandoned her, and he didn't know if she would be willing to return to the Red Hair Pirates.

"Why not give her to me? My ship happens to be lacking an excellent musician."

Cifer thought that her companions liked her very much, and that she was also quite capable, so she spoke to Shanks.

The moment he finished speaking, the faces of the entire Red Hair Pirates darkened.

"That's right! Miss Uta really hates pirates, joining our Las Noches is the best choice for her!"

Nolan stepped forward, and the others stood behind her, supporting her view.

"She is my daughter!"

Red-Haired only uttered six words, but the powerful Conqueror's Haki emanating from him had already begun to erupt, causing many viewers who had just woken up from their coma to collapse again.

But the next moment, his momentum vanished, all because of Cifer's second sentence:

"I'm the one who saved her."

"Uta's life is her own, and no one can decide for her!"

Luffy stepped between the two, puffing out his chest and looking at them.

"Indeed, I'm just letting you know in advance. She can do whatever she wants."

Cifer turned around, casually found a rock to sit on, and waited for the girl to wake up.

The Red Hair Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates also found places to sit down and wait quietly. Unexpectedly, most of the audience members who came to see the concert also stayed.

They didn't hate Uta for trying to keep them in the Uta's World, and they wanted to see what choice their idol would make.

I want to know what became of the girl who so desperately wanted to save this corrupt world.

Time passed slowly, and as dusk fell, the girl slowly awoke, her face still showing signs of exhaustion, and her complexion was terribly pale.

"Hey~ What are you all still doing here? It's getting late..."

Uta's first concern was for the fans who were already dozing off in their seats. She forced herself to stand up and asked them what was wrong.

"We promised to spend the whole day with Miss Uta!"

"That's right!"

No one told the truth; everyone just said they wanted to stay by her side.

"Really... thank you all! And... I'm sorry!"

Uta covered half her face, and tears streamed down her face once again.

Only then did she realize how wonderful it felt to be alive, and that her beloved fans, whom she wanted to give happiness to, loved her just as much.

"Uta, don't push yourself. Bongo said your body needs a long time to recover!"

Red-Haired rushed forward to help her up, his face showing no trace of tyranny, only the sincere concern of a father for his daughter.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't trust Shanks, I couldn't trust everyone..."

Uta did not resist any longer, but simply let him help her to sit down to the side, then looked at Cifer:

"Your name is Cifer, right? Thank you so much for saving everyone, including me."

"It's no big deal. By the way, how about coming aboard my ship? Come with me and we'll completely overturn this cannibalistic world."

Cifer stood up and walked step by step to her. Nolan and the others stood behind him, looking at her with expectant eyes.

"Damn it! They beat me to it!"

Shanks acted a bit like a child, then told Uta his thoughts and let her make her own choice.

At this moment, everyone in the room was waiting for her answer.

"Won't my current sickly body hold you back if I follow behind you?"

Uta's gaze swept among the group before finally settling on Cifer, as if he had already given his answer.

She is no Isshin the little girl who only wanted to be the musician of the Red Hair Pirates; she has seen many different things.

At the same time, she also longs to create her ideal world where everyone can be happy.

"There are many ways to solve this."

Cifer smiled and bent down slightly, extending his right hand towards her.

Uta's slender little hand reached out and connected with Cifer's large hand:

"Well then, nice to meet you, Captain~"