The sea breeze carried a salty, humid scent across the harbor. A gate of light opened. Rhett and Lady Toki stepped through and onto the sandy beach. Rhett stood on an unfamiliar street, his gaze sweeping over the buildings around him. Even though a long time had passed since he had been on this island, certain corners still felt familiar.
Rhett asked Lady Toki, "How do you feel at this point in time?"
"I don't feel anything special. The rate of consumption is even less than the life force you're providing," Lady Toki said, closing her eyes to feel.
"It's been too long since I've been here... I don't know if I can remember it clearly." Rhett murmured softly, his fingers gently rubbing the edge of his cloak. "If I remember correctly, there should be a tavern at the end of this street."
Lady Toki turned her head slightly and looked at him. "You still remember?"
"Yes." Rhett nodded. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "We stopped here for over a year. Roger always said that the alcohol on this island was the strongest in the entire Grand Line. Clearly, Roger had never tasted good alcohol."
He walked forward, his pace unconsciously quickening, as if pulled by some long-lost nostalgia.
The shops on either side of the street were both similar to and very different from the ones in Rhett's memory.
Finally, they stopped in front of a tavern with a wooden sign. The paint on the sign had peeled, but the words "The Old Whale" could still be made out. Rhett stared at the sign, his gaze slightly distant.
"This is the place," he said softly.
Outside the tavern, the night wind carried flower petals across the roof. Lady Toki, wearing a dark cloak, gently held down her hair as it was blown by the wind. She turned to look at the silent Rhett beside him — the man who had returned from the future, weathered by time.
Rhett didn't go into the tavern right away. Instead, he listened at the entrance. Through the window, he could see inside.
The tavern was brightly lit. The noise almost lifted the roof. Roger was holding a sake barrel with one hand, while with the other he fought with a young Rhett over the last piece of golden, glistening roast meat. The two of them struggled like children, causing the crew to burst into laughter.
"You little brat! That meat is mine!" Roger grinned, his straw hat tilted to the side, but his foot was already quietly sneaking under young Rhett's leg.
Let's take a look at little Rhett. He was no slouch either.
"Captain, don't you know to respect your elders?" Sixteen-year-old Rhett gripped the bone tightly. Blood mist quietly wrapped around Roger's wrist. He was clearly about to play dirty too.
Both idiots pushed at the same time and both fell. The meat flew into the air and was caught by Rayleigh. Rayleigh took a bite and watched the two of them still wrestling on the ground. Roger pulled Rhett's long hair. Rhett pulled Roger's long nose hairs. For a moment, they were evenly matched.
Rayleigh put a hand to his forehead. "Two idiots..."
Rhett's gaze passed through the gap in the wooden window and landed on the young man fighting Roger over the meat. The young man laughed freely and wildly. The Black Tide Greatsword leaned casually against the table.
"Is that... the past you?" Lady Toki asked softly.
Rhett nodded. "Why do I look so unreliable from here? I thought I was pretty calm and thoughtful back then." As he spoke, his fingers unconsciously traced the scars hidden beneath his cloak. Scars from countless future battles.
"You bastard captain, if I pull your hair out, it will grow back. But if I pull your nose hairs out, they won't be even. Nose hairs are hard to maintain, aren't they?"
"You little bastard, are you really threatening me like that?"
"Hehehe, Roger, you wouldn't want anything to happen to your mustache, would you? I am a future great pirate, 'Crimson Mist'."
From inside the tavern came young Rhett's triumphant shout, "I won!" Followed by Roger's exaggerated wailing and Jabba's cheering laughter.
Rhett watched with a dark look on his face. How could he proudly shout such a cringey title? What was he thinking back then? It was very strange. It was like going back and looking at your social media posts from ten years ago. With the hit songs of that era playing in the background.
Lady Toki saw Rhett's throat bob.
"Are you going to see them?" she asked.
The blood mist in Rhett's palm surged and then settled. Finally, he shook his head. "Wait a little longer."
The tavern door suddenly burst open. Young Rhett ran out with his stolen meat and nearly bumped into the two of them. He skidded to a stop and looked at the cloaked strangers with confusion. "Who are you...?"
The older Rhett quickly pulled his hood down. A wolf mask covered his face.
Lady Toki also stepped forward half a step, wearing a different ghost mask. Her voice was altered by the mist — still gentle, but completely different from Toki's real voice. "Just travelers passing through. What are you celebrating, young man?"
"We're celebrating escaping from that old Marine Garp!" The young man puffed out his chest. Then he narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Wait, your voice sounds familiar..."
"Rhett! The meat is getting cold!" Roger's shout came from inside the tavern.
The young man hesitated for a second, but the temptation of the food was too great. He turned and ran back into the light.
Rhett complained to himself. "Hey! You should have asked more questions! This just makes you look really unreliable! Hey!"
Just before he went through the door, the young man turned and shouted, "If you haven't eaten, come in! We're having a banquet! Hurry, hurry! What kind of pirate banquet would it be without people?"
As the wooden door closed, Lady Toki heard a very soft sigh beside her. A sigh that seemed to come from the deepest part of time.
---
The wooden door gently opened. The noise from the tavern rushed out like a wave. Under the warm light, young Rhett was holding the roasted meat high, excitedly shouting to everyone, "Hey! New friends are joining the banquet!"
Roger was the first to jump up from his seat. His straw hat almost fell off. "Kuhahaha! Welcome, welcome! The more people at a pirate banquet, the merrier!" He walked over and enthusiastically put his arm around the older Rhett's shoulder. "Come, come, have a drink first!"
Rayleigh pushed up his glasses. His gaze lingered on the two cloaked strangers for a moment. Jabba had already poured two cups of rum and was handing them over with a grin. "Try this. We just 'borrowed' it from the Navy."
The older Rhett's fingers trembled slightly. He took the cup. The corners of his mouth beneath the mask curled up without him realizing it. Thirteen years of time seemed to overlap in that moment. He remembered this taste. He remembered this scene. He remembered every smiling face.
"Hey, why are you still wearing masks?" Young Rhett came over curiously. Blood mist danced at his fingertips. "You're not some great pirate traveling incognito, are you? Don't worry, I'm the future great pirate 'Crimson Mist' Rhett!"
"Brat, don't be so rude." Rayleigh gently scolded, but there was a smile in his eyes.