"That's right." Rhett withdrew the blood mist and lounged lazily against the ship's railing. "You're staying here."
Reiju's shoulders slumped. Her eyes reddened slightly. But before she could feel too disappointed, Rhett added.
"Live happily every day — that's an order." His crimson eyes were unusually gentle in the setting sun. "I'll have Judge build you a real garden. Fill it with daisies. If you like something, little girl, you have to say so."
Judge: "???"
Reiju blinked. Suddenly, she let out a small laugh. She nodded firmly. "Mm!"
Rhett crouched down and tugged at the little one's cheeks. "When you laugh, laugh out loud. That smile of yours has no feeling at all!"
Reiju just let Rhett pull at her cheeks. "I'm thorry... I'm thorry... Unca!"
The Blood Dawn ship slowly sailed away. Reiju stood on the dock until the ship's silhouette disappeared over the horizon. She touched her ear. A small wild daisy was tucked there. Rhett had put it there before he left.
"Miss." A clone soldier walked up respectfully. "Lord Judge asks if you—"
"Tell him I want the empty plot on the east side." Reiju turned around. Her skirt swished in a light arc. "Also, starting today, I want strawberry cake every day at tea time."
"Miss, that is..."
"He'll agree."
Her voice no longer trembled. Her steps were light as she walked toward the castle. The setting sun stretched her shadow long behind her. Nothing seemed to have changed. But everything had changed.
Rhett: What about the unbreakable commands? Judge changed them himself. Was it a自愿 awakening? Or was he just trying to please Rhett? Who knows? The result was good. That was all that mattered.
---
The Bruma Jackson slowly sailed into the harbor of Drum Kingdom. It did so openly, without any concealment. Rhett wanted everyone to know that the "Mist Lord" was on this island.
The crimson pirate flag on the sail stood out sharply against the wind and snow. The dragon figurehead's blood-red eyes coldly scanned the entire sea.
The harbor fell into dead silence.
The busy dock was like someone had hit the mute button. Fishermen stood frozen. No one even noticed their overturned baskets.
A few pirate ships that had been about to dock abruptly turned around. A new crew member pointed at the sail in terror. "Captain, th-that is—"
"Shut up!" The captain slapped the back of his head. His voice was barely a whisper. "If you want to die, don't drag me with you! Turn around! Now!"
On the second floor of a tavern in the distance, an old pirate with an eyepatch spat out his drink. "Damn it... Why is the 'Mist Lord' back?" He grabbed his companion. "Quick! Take down our pirate flag! Hang up... hang up fishing nets! Tell everyone we're fishermen!"
The snow on the dock was pushed aside by the ship's hull, creaking as it went. When the anchor chain sank into the sea, the entire island seemed to tremble.
Rhett stood at the bow. His blood-red cloak billowed in the cold wind. He lazily watched the pirates scattering in all directions and let out a scoff. "Tch, Tesoro must be losing his mind from work. You know, they say pregnancy makes a woman forgetful for three years. But why is Tesoro, who's just accompanying his pregnant wife, still so stupid? Letting just anyone onto the island."
Moria asked Rhett, "Kishishishi... Captain, should we..." He made a throat-slitting gesture.
Rhett shook his head. "I'll do it."
His voice, wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, echoed across the entire island. "I don't care what you have going on. Every single wanted pirate on this island, get out now. Otherwise... death. You have five minutes."
Rhett's voice was like the proclamation of the Grim Reaper, echoing over Drum Island. Waves of Conqueror's Haki swept through the harbor. The air itself seemed to tremble.
Rhett stood at the bow and waited five minutes. There were still some who hadn't left. They were testing Rhett's limits. Gambling that Rhett wouldn't care about small fry like them.
"There really are some who don't value their lives."
The pirates who hadn't managed to flee froze in place. Their pupils contracted. Cold sweat soaked their backs.
"Three seconds." Rhett held up three fingers. Blood mist surged behind him. "Three—"
"RUN!!!"
The dock exploded into chaos. The pirates who had been clinging to hope threw away their weapons and gear. Some, annoyed that the pirates in front of them were blocking the way, started a riot. A silent war broke out on the dock.
Rhett watched the spectacle and shook his head. Two words: idiots.
"Two—"
Rhett bent another finger. The blood mist began to spread. It crept across the dock. Wherever it passed, the snow melted, revealing blackened earth.
A pirate captain with a skull tattoo on his arm saw how far he still was from the harbor entrance. His legs gave out. He dropped to his knees. "M-Mist Lord! We were just about to—"
"One."
The last finger bent.
The blood mist suddenly exploded. It surged like a giant wave and swallowed the pirates who were still on the island. No screams. No struggle. Only the bone-chilling sizzle.
Three seconds later, the blood mist cleared.
The dock was empty. Not a trace of blood remained. Only a few pirate hats lay alone in the snow. They were quickly covered by fresh snow.
Rhett withdrew the blood mist with satisfaction. He turned to Moria, who was staring in shock, and shrugged. "See? Isn't it peaceful now?"
Moria's mouth twitched. "Kishishishi... Captain, you scared the civilians."
Indeed, the entire dock was silent. Fishermen huddled together, trembling. An old fish seller had fainted.
"Ah, sorry, sorry~" Rhett waved his hand without a trace of sincerity. The blood mist gently lifted the old woman and tucked a gold bar into her hand. The effect was remarkable.
"Everyone, go back to what you were doing. I'm just here to be with my pregnant family member."
"Lena, I'll leave it to you. Put our ship in the most visible spot."
"Got it, Captain. Little ones, weigh anchor. Let's reposition."
"ROAR" x?
"Is that all you've got?"
"ROAR!!!!!" x?
"Enel, I'll leave it to you. For the time being, seal off the entire island. This island is now off limits to pirates."
"Got it, Captain. Leave it to this god." Enel nodded.
Wapol and his ministers lined up to greet them, trembling. They had just seen this man arrive on the island and make all the pirates disappear. "W-Welcome, Lord Mist Lord, to—"
"Take a count of how much the villagers lost because their business was affected. I'll compensate them double. And you — keep your head down. Otherwise, I'll kill you."
The blood mist lifted the group and carried them straight up the mountain to Kureha's cottage.
Rhett didn't wait for them.
"Captain, this god will keep watch." Enel said to Rhett. Don't forget how he had once ruled Skypiea.
"No need. Just watch the pirates." Rhett waved his hand. "They're just trash."
They wouldn't dare steal. Steal from the "Mist Lord"? Rhett would make their lives a living hell. To risk their lives for a few thousand berries?
Rhett turned toward the castle. His crimson eyes narrowed slightly. "Let's go. Let's see how our Boss Tesoro has been doing."
Rhett stood at the castle gate, looking at the warm scene before him.