The sea breeze blew gently as the coated ship slowly sailed away from the Sabaido Archipelago.
The three Kujaku sisters leaned against the ship's railing, watching the mangroves fade into the distance. Their eyes held both reluctance and anticipation.
Rhett was of course on board as well. Enel's cheerful voice appeared in Rhett's mind.
He didn't want to go back right now.
Rhett's mini fantasy:
Gild Tesoro smiled and handed over a stack of documents: "Captain, here is our future organizational structure."
Rhett looked at the mountain of paperwork: "Oh! WTF!?"
Tesoro teleported to Rhett's other side: "Captain, there are some places that don't agree with us. Please go deal with them. Sorry to trouble you, Captain."
Stella: "Sorry to trouble you, Captain."
Enel: "Sorry to trouble you, Captain. This God believes in you."
Lena: "Sorry to trouble you, Captain."
Rhett exploded: "Enel, why don't you go? Aren't these things supposed to be done by you!!"
Enel picked his ear: "Oh, this God has dozens of other places to run. Want to switch with me???"
Rhett: "Aaaaah get out of my head!"
For real, I just watched a horror movie, not kidding.
Phew! I was scaring myself!
After escaping the horrifying fantasy of being an overworked employee,
Rhett leaned against the mast, holding a cup of hot tea. Life without the 9-to-6 grind was truly comfortable.
"Sip, ahh."
He watched the backs of the three little ones, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.
"General Freaky Rhett!" Hancock suddenly turned around, her cheeks rosy from the sea breeze. "There's a huge Sea King in the water!"
Rhett put down his teacup, walked over to them, and gently patted each of the three little ones' heads. "Corporal Kujaku, do you want to see it up close?"
Before they could answer, the blood mist had already turned into transparent bubbles, gently lifting the three sisters and suspending them above the sea surface.
"Don't be afraid," Rhett said softly. "I'm here. It can't hurt you. Go on, go play."
The Sea King's enormous eyes surfaced from underwater and met the gaze of the three sisters.
Hancock mustered her courage and reached out to touch its cold scales, her eyes shimmering with excitement. Kids don't have bad intentions, right? (Don't argue; some things can't be called children.)
Sea King: "???"
Not cool, man. I'm a ferocious Sea King. You're just going to come over here so nonchalantly and touch me without even saying hello? You've crossed the line.
The Sea King was about to get angry when Rhett's presence materialized behind him as a demonic apparition, just staring at the Sea King.
Expressing one thought: "Oi, Sea King, do me a favor."
The Sea King's eyes became clear. It moved its body closer to the three little ones,
as if saying,
"Little princesses, touch here. This part is softer."
After they'd had enough fun with the Sea King, Rhett brought the three little ones back.
Sandersonia and Marigold had turned pale from seasickness.
Rhett pushed open the door, holding a bowl of steaming hot medicinal broth. "Here comes the chicken soup."
"Here, drink this." He crouched down and handed the bowl to Sandersonia. "A secret recipe I developed myself, specially for seasickness. I was just like you, you know. The first time I boarded a ship, I got seasick and was laughed at by my captain..."
Rhett stopped mid-sentence. Yeah, that chance was gone.
The taste of the medicine, even as chicken soup, wasn't very good. Sandersonia wrinkled her face, hesitating to drink.
Rhett sighed and pulled out a small jar of honey. "Add a little. It won't be bitter."
Marigold looked at him longingly: "Brother Rhett, where's mine?"
"Here's yours." Rhett pulled a piece of candy from his pocket. "Medicine first, then candy, okay? Remember?"
The two little ones obediently finished their medicine and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Rhett felt that in the future, his reputation wouldn't be earned through his strength, but through the people he'd raised.
The Legendary Child-Raiser?????
Rhett gently tucked them in. When he turned around, he saw Hancock standing in the doorway, holding a crooked drawing.
"It's for you." She blushed and shoved the drawing into Rhett's hands, then quickly ran off.
The drawing showed Rhett standing at the bow of the ship, with three little girls behind him. (For real! A kid gave this to me! Jealous? Hehehe)
Night fell.
Hancock sat alone at the bow, staring blankly at the distant horizon.
"What are you thinking about?" Rhett's voice came from behind her.
Rhett completely understood why people liked looking at the sea. When he was a child and feeling down, he also liked to look at the sea at night. Then there was Buggy and Shanks training at night, and now Hancock.
Hancock lowered her head: "This one... is a little scared."
"Scared of what?"
"Scared that after returning to Amazon Lily... I'll never see Brother Rhett again." Her voice grew softer and softer.
Rhett chuckled softly: "I'll give you a Den Den Mushi. If you miss me, call me. I'll always be your big brother."
Hancock's eyes lit up: "Really?"
"Have I ever lied to you?" Rhett ruffled her hair.
When the silhouette of Amazon Lily appeared on the horizon, the three sisters hugged Rhett tightly.
"Brother Rhett, you have to come visit us!" Sandersonia sobbed.
Hancock didn't speak. She just buried her face in Rhett's cloak. After a long while, she looked up, her eyes already showing the determination of the future Empress: "This one will become strong. Strong enough to protect the people who matter."
Rhett crouched down to look them in the eyes. "I believe in you."
The waves lapped gently against the hull of the coated ship. The Kuja warriors stood in formation on the shore, led by Elder Nyon, who leaned on her snake staff and watched the approaching ship with complicated emotions.
"Elder Gloriosa!" The three Kujaku sisters were gently delivered to the shore by the blood mist. Sandersonia waved excitedly, "We're back!"
Nyon's gaze swept over the three girls' rosy cheeks and bright eyes — a stark contrast to the traumatized state she had expected.
Her gaze crossed the sea, briefly meeting Rhett's as he stood at the bow. She nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
"Welcome home, children," Nyon's voice was a little hoarse. "And this is... Mr. Rayleigh and..."
"Shakky isn't coming back," Rayleigh said lazily, leaning against the ship's railing. "Her bar business is too good."
Nyon sighed, as if she had expected this.
She turned to Hancock: "From today on, you will undergo the training of Kuja warriors. Hancock, you especially must..."
"This one understands." Hancock suddenly straightened her back, her tone already carrying the dignity of a future emperor. "I will become a warrior worthy of the name Kuja."
Nyon's eyebrows rose in surprise, then she smiled with relief.
"Not going to say hello?" Rayleigh glanced at Rhett, who was using his blood mist to shape little rabbits. "You did save three of their prized seedlings."
Rhett didn't look up: "That old lady's stare is practically drilling holes through me. She probably thinks I kidnapped children. It's all your fault, Rayleigh. You didn't leave a good impression."
Shakky took a drag from her cigarette and chuckled: "She's just wary of men setting foot on the island... However," she glanced meaningfully at Rhett, "it seems someone has become an exception for little Hancock."
Hancock suddenly broke free from Nyon's grasp and ran to the shore: "Brother Rhett!"
Her voice carried across the sea breeze: "By the time this one becomes Emperor, I will abolish the rule that forbids Brother Rhett from setting foot on the island!"
Nyon's snake staff fell to the ground with a "clatter."
"What did you teach them?" Shakky raised an eyebrow. "They look a lot more confident?"
"Something even more important than that." Rhett remembered the three sisters' smiling faces. "How to live outside the shadows."