Seeing Shanks return to them, Benn Beckman and his group were truly at a loss for words.
They can't just say...
Shanks, you wouldn't want your daughter in another man's arms either...
That's what I mean...?
After a moment of silence, Benn Beckman raised his hand and bumped Shanks' shoulder.
"That guy definitely ate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, right?"
"That's right!"
Shanks nodded readily.
"Although I've never seen the Rumble-Rumble Fruit before, the way it uses lightning power and that ridiculously fast speed..."
Shanks gave Gawain a deep look.
"What he ate must have been the legendary Logia Rumble-Rumble Fruit, which hasn't appeared in the past few hundred years."
Therefore, he has become one of the few people in this vast ocean who are impossible to hunt down!
After saying this, Shanks looked at Benn Beckman meaningfully, and then continued.
"Regardless, his territory is almost complete!"
In terms of wealth, he has Water 7 to make money for him, and he has just acquired all the gold on the Sky Island.
In terms of status, he was one of the thirty people with the highest status in the world, the head of a family among the Celestial Dragon, and especially the head of the Gawain Family. He was an important family head who would completely eliminate one of the nineteen Celestial Dragon families if he died before giving birth to his son!
In terms of reputation, he has worked seamlessly with the World Economic Journal, and for nearly a month, he has practically dominated all the pages of the World Economic Journal.
As for strength..."
Shanks let out a heavy sigh.
"In just four months, I haven't focused my attention on the Grand Line!"
But in those four months, he not only Awakening the world's number one Conqueror's Haki, but also recruited monster-level powerhouses such as Rayleigh, Issho, Gion.
At the same time, he has many promising young Shichibukai under his command. Whether it's Kuma, Hancock, Jinbe Shiryu, they are all around my age, or even seven or eight years younger than me. They all have the potential to reach our level!
At the same time, his own strength had not declined. When we read the newspaper, he wasn't wearing that Famous Sword at his waist yet!
He even ate the Rumble- Rumble-Rumble Fruit is almost unmatched in speed...!
Shanks took a deep breath.
"Look, in just four months, his territory has expanded to a point where we alone absolutely cannot easily overthrow him."
I'm really worried about our future!
"Ha ha!"
Hearing this, and seeing Shanks' calm and cautious expression, Beckman laughed indifferently.
"Our future... he's going to be a really happy kid, haha."
We don't need to worry about that little guy; we just need to do our best to maintain the balance between the various forces in the ocean.
As for him, although he has grown powerful, he has not yet formed his own faction. His existence, at present, has only strengthened the power of the Shichibukai.
After all, his subordinates were all Shichibukai, so he joined this sea as the manipulator of the Shichibukai force.
From this perspective, the Navy, pirates, the Revolutionary Army, the Shichibukai, and the sea remain unchanged!
At this point, Beckman gave a nonchalant smile.
"Forget about all that nonsense, let's say hello to Little Uta!"
"Long time no see, that kid must miss you terribly, Shanks!"
Upon hearing this, Shanks nodded heavily, then placed his remaining right hand on Gryphon and walked towards Gawain group in the distance.
Seeing Shanks move, Benn Beckman, Yasopp, Lucky Roux, and the others followed in his footsteps, smiling as they stood about ten meters in front of Gawain.
Looking at the smiles on Red-Haired Shanks' and his crew's faces, Gawain slightly curled his lips. No wonder they are the happiest pirate crew on the entire sea.
Even Luffy's future crew won't all have smiles on their faces like the Red Hair Pirates.
Just as Gawain was pondering, Shanks nodded slightly to Gawain.
"I'm sure you all know us without needing to introduce yourselves, just as we know you all."
So, to make a long story short!
At this point, Shanks' expression turned serious. He pointed to Uta, who had just moved to Gion's arms, and continued.
"I came here for only one purpose: little girls should not have to endure the suffering that the sea brings."
"So, hand over my daughter!"
"Hehe."
Hearing what the Red-Haired Shanks man said, Gawain reached out and rubbed Uta's head.
"Since you want to keep it short, then I'll just say one sentence."
What right does a father who has already abandoned his daughter in his hometown to go to sea alone have to stop her from going to sea?
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain turned to look at Uta, and saw him whisper to Uta.
"Uta, just like I promised you, with me behind you, you can vent all your frustrations about Shanks at him."
Although my abilities are not yet sufficient to subdue this entire sea, with our current strength, suppressing even a single pirate crew is more than enough!
After speaking, Gawain put his hands in his pockets and waited for Uta's decision.
Seeing Gawain's behavior, Shanks sighed softly. Sure enough, the incident of resolutely parting ways back then had indeed left his daughter resentful.
Even so, his daughter will always be his daughter, no matter what happens.
The only truly hateful person is that damned Gawain who dragged Uta onto the ship!
At the same time, Uta keenly noticed Shanks's gaze.
Even though she was filled with resentment, her father remained silent, refusing to offer even a word of explanation or concern!
Even now, his father was not looking at him, but at Gawain!
In an instant, the little wild beast within Uta could no longer be contained. She spoke coldly and slowly to Shanks.
"You weren't like this before!"
As she spoke, Uta tried hard to suppress her tears. She stared intently into Shanks' eyes until Shanks' gaze shifted from Gawain to Uta before Uta continued.
"When we traveled from the Grand Line to the East Blue, you always had a bright smile on your face. Even when we were in that small village of Foosha Village, your face was full of smiles that made me happy."
Back then, although I got seasick, although I couldn't swim, and although I didn't like traveling long distances, I preferred being alone.
But as long as I see your smile, as long as I see you drinking with everyone, I feel relaxed!
But now, seven years have passed!
I can no longer see your smile!
As soon as she finished speaking, Uta decisively extended her hand to Shanks, her little paw stopping in front of her as if to halt.
"I once cried and begged you to take me with you. At that time, you told me that no matter what happened, I would always be your daughter!"
So now, even if you ask me to leave the Dark Bird Ship, I will only tell you that no matter what happens, you will always be my father!
But just as I couldn't keep you back then, you won't take me away today either!
If your purpose in returning is merely to make me leave the Dark Bird Ship, then I'm sorry, I've already embarked on a voyage, and my songs have spread throughout the world!
Just as a sound doesn't silently return to the singer's throat after it's been emitted.
I will never go back to the past!
Father!"
At this point, Uta stubbornly pursed her lips, completely wiping away her tears.
Then, she extended her hands to Gawain.
"Gawain, carry me on your back!"
"Um."
Gawain nodded, then picked up the little girl and let her sit on his shoulders.
At the same time, Uta glanced at Shanks one last time, and for some reason, she felt like she was showing off...
So she gently twisted Gawain's ear.
"I will not leave with my father. Even if he agrees to let me board the Red Force, I will not give up the Dark Bird Ship, the ship that took me to sea for the first time!"
"So, please send me back to the ship, I miss Shirahoshi!"
As she spoke, Uta hugged Gawain's head, covering his eyes with Gawain hands.
At the same time, Uta looked at Shanks defiantly, her defiant gaze seeming to say, "Even if you don't want me anymore, I can find someone better..."
And so at this moment, Gawain was opposite him.
Beneath Shanks's motionless face, his teeth were practically grinding to powder.
Uta was still young; she had no idea that her appearance meant something completely different to her father than she imagined!
Fortunately, Gawain didn't give Shanks any more time to hold his breath. After hearing Uta's words, he asked softly.
"Are you sure you don't want to chat a little longer? After today's parting, it might be a long time before we see each other again."
As for the banquet, this time it probably won't be like the one with Whitebeard; there probably won't be any banquet with them.
After all, they destroyed half of my Golden Town!
"It's our Golden Town!!!"
Little Uta emphasized this very seriously, then patted Gawain's military cap.
"I'm spending all the money you earned, so Golden Town belongs to us together!"
It's been destroyed, huh? They can even destroy their daughter's property so easily!
Besides, he abandoned me back then, leaving me to miss him for a full seven years. Do you know how worried I was about him, how much I missed him, and how much I hated him?
Now it's time for him to worry about and miss me, humph!
As soon as she finished speaking, Uta rubbed Gawain's cheek.
"Hurry up, hurry up! I still need to teach Shirahoshi to sing, Gawain!"
"Good."
Seeing this, Gawain nodded, and then he and Uta on his shoulder vanished instantly.
After the two returned to the ship, Gawain put Uta down and turned to Shirahoshi, who was lying on the side of the ship, and asked her a question.
"By the way, Shirahoshi, have you made contact with your Sea King friends?"
Upon hearing this, Shirahoshi happily extended her hand.
"Of course, every Sea King friend is willing to help and can put out the Magma in Golden Town at any time!"
"Okay, then just tell them to put out the fire one minute from now."
Gawain chuckled and patted Shirahoshi's tail.
Then, Gawain's body gradually disintegrated into lightning and disappeared from the Dark Bird Ship.
Gawain left, Uta's arrogant face fell, and she immediately threw herself into Shirahoshi in sadness.
"Waaah, my dad won't even say a word to comfort me, I'm so pitiful, waaaah!"
"Yes, yes, Father is the most troublesome. He stopped telling his daughter anything once she got a little older."
"Mom's always the best, right, Uta ~~~."
Shirahoshi laughed as she picked up Uta and tossed him into her chest.
"Don't cry, Sister Uta, I'll teach you how to swim on your back~~~."
"Why?!!"
Uta was horrified.
"I'm an ability user! Do you intend to take advantage of Gawain's absence and completely eliminate me, Shirahoshi?!"
Not to mention the two little girls playing on the Dark Bird Ship.
On Jaya, bolts of lightning struck Rayleigh, sending up streaks of electricity that splashed across the Magma as Gawain slowly appeared.
The moment he appeared, Gawain addressed the crowd.
"Let's go talk on the south shore of Jaya. As for Golden Town, I need to put out some fires here."
As he spoke, Gawain waved to the group, and Rayleigh and his companions readily followed Gawain.
Even Akainu was exceptionally obedient, though he kept turning back to look at Red-Haired Shanks and his group as he walked, he still left decisively.
And the group led by Red-Haired Shanks...
Watching Gawain and his group walk away, they looked at each other.
Immediately after a brief silence, they all burst into incredibly loud laughter!
"Hahaha, Shanks, Uta rejected you, huh? Hahaha!"
"Uta looks like he's found a decent ship. We can finally relax!"
"Yes, although we are important figures, our status only brought her danger. But now she has protection!"
"But Shanks is really unlucky. He was actually disliked by his own daughter. If it were my son, even if I were gone for countless years, he would still admire me as his father just like he did back then!"
The last to speak was Yasopp was incredibly proud at that moment.
Hearing his words, even Shanks relaxed a little.
Shanks let out a soft breath, then patted Yasopp on the shoulder.
"That's true. Boys and girls are indeed different. When your son grows up into a real man, he will definitely understand what you did back then."
"How has your son been lately?"
"Sigh, I haven't been home for a while, but Syrup Village has always been a peaceful village, and the East Blue is the safest sea."
So, they should be doing well, right...?
Maybe when I see Usopp again, he'll have become a great man, haha!
Amidst the laughter, Yasopp mischievously patted Shanks on the shoulder.
"Anyway, my son will never scold me the way your daughter scolded you."
"I won this time, Shanks!"
"Just this once~".
Shanks responded with a gentle smile, after experiencing endless slaughter and finally becoming the Emperors of the Sea.
Aside from some old friends, only his companions could still bring a smile to his face.
However, Shanks had only been laughing for a short while when countless Sea King suddenly surfaced in the sea around them.
Although this is not the Calm Belt, nor is it Sea King's lair.
However, among these emerging Sea King, there were quite a few enormous creatures that reached heights of two to three thousand meters!
"Why?"
"What's going on?!"
"Who are these Sea Kings?!"
"Is this the power of Poseidon from Gawain Pirates?!"
The Red-Haired Shanks group was utterly astonished to see the Sea King suddenly appearing all around them.
It wasn't out of fear; how could they possibly fear Sea King!
It's simply because Sea King hold a special place in the Red Hair Pirates!
After their initial surprise, his companions all turned to look at Shanks.
Shanks rolled his eyes at the looks he received from his companions.
"Don't overthink it. I guess this is the fire-extinguishing method Gawain was talking about?"
Using giant Sea King to spray water to extinguish the Magma created by Akainu after his Awakening, huh? That's really convenient..."
As he spoke, Shanks waved to the crowd.
"Although none of us have eaten the Devil Fruit, it would be troublesome if our clothes got wet from the seawater."
So, we need to speed things up.
"We definitely need to speed things up!!!"
At that moment, Lucky Roux shouted while holding the pig's leg.
"Quick, speed up! We have to protect Shanks; he only has one arm left!"
Don't let the Sea King eat the captain's last remaining hand!!!
And Shanks doesn't have any new Straw Hat to give away anymore, ahahahaha!!!
With a burst of laughter, the Red-Haired Shanks group burst into astonishing speed, catching up with Gawain and his group in the blink of an eye.
The average daily order has reached 1,900! Wow, Gawain! Wow, everyone!