...
On the God Valley side, because of Uta's connection to Shanks, the atmosphere had become somewhat delicate—even taking on a faintly absurd "family drama" flavor.
"Good, good, good! This little girl is pretty too! And she sings so well!"
Roger held little Shanks, growing fonder the more he looked, as if he had automatically slipped into some role. He grinned cheerfully at Shanks: "Little guy, see that? Your daughter in the future is so accomplished! Holding global concerts! Way better than just fighting! Hahahaha!"
His "family recognition" remarks and affectionate actions made Saint Garling, not far away, grind his back teeth audibly, his face turning livid!
"Roger!! You damn pirate!!"
Saint Garling finally could not hold back and roared again, his voice distorting somewhat from extreme rage: "That's my son! If Uta really is Shanks' daughter, then she's also my Figarland Garling's granddaughter!
She has absolutely nothing to do with a sinful pirate like you! Give me back my son right now! Give both of them back!!"
He trembled with fury, feeling as though his dignity, his bloodline, and even his authority as a father were being trampled and rubbed underfoot repeatedly by this pirate Roger.
However, Roger turned a deaf ear to his roar and continued playing with little Shanks, who was giggling in his arms. He even deliberately lifted Shanks high, making the little one laugh even harder.
Scopper Gaban, seeing this, refused to be outdone. He grinned widely, carefully took little Shamrock from Shakky's arms, and likewise lifted him high, teasing him while muttering: "Can't play favorites—gotta spoil both big brother and little brother!
Better build good relations from a young age! Haha!"
Watching his two sons laughing so happily in the arms of his archenemy, Saint Garling felt his vision darken, his blood pressure soaring. He desperately wanted to charge forward and fight to the death right then.
But the last shred of his reason told him that charging in would only bring humiliation upon himself…
"Damn… bastard…"
Saint Garling squeezed the words out through gritted teeth, his fists clenched deathly tight. His children stolen, his wife taken, his reputation in ruins…
In this moment, Saint Garling felt his world had darkened to its absolute lowest point.
The Five Elders watching this scene had equally ugly expressions.
Roger's behavior was not only a personal insult to Saint Garling but a blatant provocation against the dignity of the entire God's Knights—and even the Celestial Dragons as a whole.
But right now, with Dorry and Brogy the two giants glaring at them alongside the top combat powers of the pirate alliance, and the light curtain hanging overhead, they could not act out…
They could only forcibly swallow this rage, their eyes coldly noting down the debt.
The carefree laughter of little Shanks and little Shamrock rang out like crisp bells, echoing through the murderous, heavy atmosphere of God Valley and unexpectedly lightening some of the tension.
Many onlooker pirates and Marines, seeing this highly dramatic scene, wore strange expressions—wanting to laugh but not daring to, forced to hold it in.
The one truly suffering was probably only Saint Garling. He felt like a complete and utter failure.
The view returned to the concert venue on the light curtain.
Thanks to Luffy's carefree "identification," the news that Uta was "the daughter of the Yonko Red-Haired Shanks" spread rapidly among the on-site audience and countless viewers watching the live broadcast.
"Red-Haired Shanks' daughter?!"
"That Yonko who rules the New World?!"
"Oh my god… Uta is actually a pirate's daughter…"
This revelation hit like a massive stone dropped into a calm lake, sending up thousand-foot waves.
Some fans felt shocked and incredulous; others began to feel uneasy or even afraid.
After all, the title of "Yonko" represented ultimate danger and chaos. The pure "diva" halo around Uta seemed suddenly shrouded in the shadow of the pirate world.
From some low murmurs in the crowd and the brief exchange between Uta and Luffy, the people in God Valley also caught an even more shocking fragment of information.
It seemed that in the future, Red-Haired Shanks had once attacked a country called "Elegia"!
Moreover, this country apparently had some kind of "legend" related to music?
"You really haven't changed at all, Luffy~"
Uta looked at the utterly matter-of-fact Luffy in front of her, sighed helplessly, and rubbed her temples: "Just blurting out my 'secret' like that… I never planned to make this identity public."
Her tone carried a hint of complaint, but far more was her understanding and indulgence toward Luffy's personality.
"I heard the final stop of the concert was set in Elegia, and I felt a little worried even back then…"
Standing a short distance away, Nico Robin spoke softly to Brook beside her, brows slightly furrowed.
"Yohohohoho, are you referring to that ancient legend about the 'Music Kingdom' and the 'Demon King who destroyed the nation'?"
Brook shook his skull head: "If Miss Uta really is Mr. Shanks' daughter, and Mr. Shanks truly has something to do with Elegia's tragedy… then choosing this location for the concert carries very deep meaning. It's impossible not to pay attention to it."
Though Robin and Brook's conversation was quiet, it revealed even more unsettling clues.
Elegia seemed to hide secrets tied to music and destruction, while Uta had chosen to hold her final concert there, and Red-Haired Shanks was suspected to be connected to the country's tragedy…
All these coincidences appeared to be weaving together into an increasingly complex and dangerous web.
However, before people could think too deeply about it—
"Bang!"
A piercing gunshot rang out—like a sharp blade tearing through luxurious silk—abruptly shattering the subtle atmosphere and whispers caused by the identity reveal!
Everyone looked over in shock to see seven or eight ferocious-looking pirates, armed with blades and guns, who had somehow broken through the outer chaos and boldly charged onto the stage!
Greed and madness flashed in their eyes; gun barrels and blades pointed straight at Uta!
"Hehehe! I never would've guessed! The Yonko Red-Haired Shanks actually has such a gorgeous daughter!"
The scar-faced pirate leading them grinned viciously, licking his cracked lips: "This is huge news! And a huge 'commodity'!"
"Once we grab you, we'll have the biggest weakness of that monster Red-Hair in our hands!"
Another pirate excitedly chimed in: "Then, whether we sell you to other big pirates who want trouble with Red-Hair or hand you over to the World Government for the bounty… us brothers are gonna strike it rich! Hahahaha!!"
These desperadoes were clearly driven even more insane by the "Yonko's daughter" identity, completely disregarding the terrifying consequences they might trigger!
In their eyes, only the easily obtainable massive profit and the temptation of overnight fame remained.
"Hot Wind Fist!"
Just as this group of pirates was about to make their move, at the critical moment, a fierce shout came from the sky!
Immediately after, a tall orange figure burning with high-temperature steam crashed down onto the stage like a meteor, positioning himself between Uta and the pirates!
His fist wrapped in scorching airflow swung out, directly blasting the two leading pirates—along with their weapons—flying off the stage with miserable screams, landing among the crowd below!
The newcomer was burly and muscular, with an unusual hairstyle and a face showing both resolve and a hint of irritability.
At the same time, on the other side of the stage, a massive mirror appeared out of thin air, its surface rippling. A somewhat comical-looking woman stepped out from it—it was Charlotte Brûlée!
"Heeheehee~ Looks like we arrived just in time!"
Brûlée let out a strange laugh, her gaze sweeping over Uta and Luffy beside her. "This little girl—we're taking her for the BIG MOM Pirates!"
Luffy looked at the suddenly appearing Brûlée, scratched his head, and said blankly: "Ah? You're… Branch-head?"
"Br-Branch-head?!!!" Brûlée instantly exploded, jumping in fury.
"I'm Brûlée! Charlotte Brûlée! Brûlée of the BIG MOM Pirates! Remember that, you rude Straw Hat!!"
The tall orange figure also turned toward Luffy and Uta, introducing himself in a booming voice: "I'm Charlotte Oven, fourth son of the Charlotte family, Hot-Hot Fruit user, of the BIG MOM Pirates!"
Brûlée and Oven announced themselves clearly; their voices carried throughout the venue, through the live Den Den Mushi to the world, and into the ears of every viewer in God Valley!
In an instant, countless gazes in God Valley snapped in unison—filled with incredulous shock—toward Charlotte Linlin, who at that moment also wore a stunned expression!
"Oven… he… he's Oven?! My fourth son, Oven?!"
"And Brûlée too!!"
Big Mom's voice rarely carried a tremor and immense shock. Her enormous eyes stared fixedly at the tall, imposing, awe-inspiring orange figure on the light curtain!
Her expression was complex to the extreme—shock, realization, pride, and a trace of disorientation from the dislocation of time.
Her future son… had grown so burly and powerful, and had become an important officer in her pirate crew!
An indescribable emotion—mixed with pride and a strange emotion—surged in Big Mom's heart.
The sudden intervention of the BIG MOM Pirates turned the already chaotic concert venue into an even more unpredictable situation!
Yonko's daughter, Straw Hat Luffy, Big Mom's children… multiple forces had unexpectedly converged on this stage called "Elegia" because of Uta!
A larger storm surrounding the "Red-Haired Diva" seemed to be brewing into shape!
Meanwhile, the sunglassed man hidden in the ancient castle, witnessing it all, saw the twitching at the corners of his mouth cease—replaced by an almost frozen, ice-cold silence.
...