...
The contrast between inside and outside the light curtain was intriguing.
In God Valley, the true top-tier powerhouses in terms of strength and experience—Roger, Rocks, Whitebeard, Rayleigh, Scopper Gaban, Garp… even the Five Elders themselves.
After the initial amazement and brief immersion, they quickly regained their composure and vigilance.
In fact, with their experience and intuition as precise as the most advanced radar, they had long detected the subtle, unnatural "static" hidden beneath that beautiful melody.
Uta's singing was undeniably captivating and could stir emotions, but for beings like them—who had survived countless life-and-death situations and witnessed all kinds of bizarre abilities—the more seemingly flawless something appeared, the more likely it was to conceal unknown risks behind it.
Especially after confirming that Uta was very likely a Devil Fruit user and suspected of consuming the "Sleepless Mushroom," their wariness was raised to the absolute maximum.
The light curtain's footage began switching rapidly, flashing back; the perspective was no longer confined to the concert venue.
Familiar scenes flashed by one after another: Windmill Village in the East Blue, Syrup Village, Cocoyasi Village, Drum Island, Alabasta, Water 7, Sabaody Archipelago…
Countless people gathered in plazas, taverns, and homes, watching this grand concert in sync through images projected by live Den Den Mushi!
All over the world—east, west, north, south, regardless of race or nation—it seemed that at this moment, everyone was connected by Uta's singing.
Smiles bloomed on people's faces as they swayed to the rhythm, cheered, shed tears, and immersed themselves in this global synchronized celebration.
Even more astonishing was that, as Uta's song continued, the visible colorful musical notes drifting from her mouth underwent wondrous changes in the air!
They danced and combined as if alive, ultimately transforming into all kinds of food—
such as cakes, grilled meat, fruit platters, and crystal-clear fine wine, scattering down toward the audience like heavenly maidens showering flowers!
"Wow! It's real food!"
"So magical! Long live Uta!"
"Is this the miracle of the 'New Era'?!"
The on-site audience joyfully caught the real food and drinks that had materialized from the notes, fragrant and tempting. After tasting them, they erupted in even more fervent cheers.
This undoubtedly confirmed Uta's identity as a Devil Fruit user, and her ability was not limited to influencing emotions—it could also perform a certain degree of "material creation" or "energy conversion"!
The finesse and power of it left one in awe.
As the song concluded, the lingering notes hung in the air. At center stage, Uta breathed lightly, her face flushed from the performance, wearing a brilliant, heartfelt smile.
She picked up the microphone, her voice transmitted clearly throughout the venue via the amplification system: "Hello, everyone! I'm Uta! Thank you so much for coming here today, and to all the fans watching through Den Den Mushi elsewhere!
I've waited for this moment… far too long!"
Uta's voice carried some excitement, even a faint, barely noticeable choke, but above all, it was filled with the joy of a dream realized and genuine sincerity toward her countless fans.
She bowed in all directions, her posture humble, showing none of the airs of a top superstar.
"Uta!!!"
"Uta, we love you—!!!"
"Long live the New Era!!!"
What answered her was an earth-shaking, even more frenzied roar.
The enthusiasm of the live audience reached a new peak; countless people shed tears as if witnessing some sacred moment.
However, keen observers—such as the top powerhouses in God Valley—could notice that deep within Uta's radiant smile and excited eyes, something else seemed to be hidden.
Perhaps extreme fatigue, a side effect of the "Sleepless Mushroom"?
Perhaps an unspeakable resolve, or perhaps a fleeting… confusion?
Behind the lively concert, the camera quietly shifted to a distant, ancient castle tower that seemed isolated from the world.
A man dressed in an elegant black suit, wearing a top hat and dark sunglasses, stood alone by the window, silently overlooking the ocean below submerged in lights and cheers.
Due to the sunglasses, no one could see his eyes or expression at that moment.
But his tightly pursed lips, twitching slightly at the corners, were clearly captured and magnified by the light curtain, transmitted to every viewer in God Valley.
That twitch was not one of joy; it resembled extreme suppressed tension, anxiety, or even… pain?
"Looks like… it won't go that smoothly."
Rayleigh had somehow already walked over to Roger's side. His sharp gaze fixed on the sunglassed man on the light curtain. "That man, and Uta on the stage… there's definitely a connection between them, and they're plotting something.
The look in that girl's eyes, and the twitch at that man's mouth, both indicate things aren't so simple."
As the vice-captain of the Roger Pirates, Rayleigh's insight and intuition were equally keen.
Though he lacked Roger's direct perception of "sound" energy, by observing details, analyzing expressions, and reasoning through events, his conclusion aligned perfectly with Roger's!
This global celebration of a concert was far from as purely wonderful as it appeared on the surface.
"If I hadn't seen her eat that 'Sleepless Mushroom,' I might have just thought this was a spectacular performance, at most feeling a bit curious about that man's reaction."
Rayleigh's tone was grave; his eyes were razor-sharp: "But now… a singer who knows she's taking poison, using what could be an extremely dangerous Devil Fruit ability, holding a live global broadcast performance…
What lies behind this is probably far more complicated and dangerous than we imagine."
Rayleigh paused, glancing at the ordinary pirates and some Marine soldiers around them who were still immersed in the song's afterglow with infatuated expressions. His brows furrowed tightly: "What's most unsettling is that her ability can indirectly affect even us 'bystanders from the past.'
If her power isn't just about 'creating food' and 'rousing emotions'… if she's hidden other commands or effects within her singing… the consequences would be simply unimaginable."
Rayleigh's concerns were exactly what Roger, Rocks, Whitebeard, Scopper Gaban, and even the Five Elders were thinking.
Faced with an unknown Devil Fruit ability with potentially extremely broad effects, no amount of caution was excessive.
They no longer viewed this merely as "future entertainment"; they began examining it with a strategic eye, assessing possible threats and variables.
While the powerhouses in God Valley harbored their various thoughts and quietly raised their guard, a small but explosive "interlude" occurred at the concert venue on the light curtain.
Several clearly pirate-dressed, vicious-looking men mingled in the frenzied crowd, their greedy eyes fixed on Uta at center stage.
They exchanged glances, quietly gripping their weapons, seemingly planning to take advantage of the chaotic atmosphere and Uta's immersion in the joy of a successful performance to kidnap her!
They intended to extort a massive ransom and make a name for themselves in the pirate world with one bold move.
"Move!" one of the pirates growled lowly.
However, just one second before they could act, a figure moved faster than them!
Luffy—who had been sitting in the front row of the audience seats, heartily devouring a huge chunk of meat—suddenly stuffed the remaining piece into his mouth.
Then his arm stretched out dramatically, like a rubber slingshot, grabbing onto a lighting rig at the edge of the stage!
Using the elasticity of rubber, his whole body shot forward like a human cannonball—"whoosh"—cutting through the air and landing steadily on the stage not far in front of Uta, beating all the pirates to it!
"Ah?!" The would-be kidnappers were instantly dumbfounded, their movements frozen mid-air.
"Straw Hat Luffy?! How is he here too?!"
"Damn it! Does he want to steal the spotlight too?! This is trouble!"
Luffy's name was now thunderous in the pirate world; his sudden intervention instantly put immense pressure on these small-fry pirates, leaving them unable to advance or retreat.
And Luffy's abrupt appearance exploded the emotions of the on-site audience in an instant!
"That's… a pirate?!"
"Straw Hat Luffy! What is he going to do?!"
"Damn it! What does he want with Uta?! Don't touch our Uta!"
"Filthy pirate! Too arrogant! This is Uta's concert!"
"Protect Uta! Drive out the pirate!"
Though inwardly intimidated by Luffy's reputation and strength, seeing their beloved idol potentially threatened caused the tens of thousands of audience members to erupt in astonishing courage and shared outrage after a brief moment of shock!
They were no longer just fans; they became an enraged army defending their sacred ground, unitedly cursing and condemning Luffy—their voices even drowning out the earlier cheers!
Even the other members of the Straw Hat crew, seeing Luffy's inexplicable action, were completely baffled.
"What is Luffy trying to do now?!" Zoro's hand rested on his sword hilt. Though confused, he was already prepared to provide support or clean up afterward; he had also spotted the pirates nearby.
"Who knows what this guy is thinking…" Nami sighed, holding her forehead.
"Luffy…" Chopper and Usopp watched worriedly as Luffy became the target of everyone's hostility.
Luffy stood on the stage, seemingly oblivious to the tidal wave of curses and hostile stares from below.
He scratched his head, his gaze sweeping over Uta in front of him—who looked somewhat surprised by his sudden appearance but showed no great fear. Then he grinned, flashing his signature, purely goofy smile.
No one knew what he intended to do.
But one thing was certain: Luffy's intervention was like dropping a massive stone into the already turbulent lake of the concert.
...