Chapter 54: Parting Ways with a Smile

Chapter 54: Parting Ways with a Smile

Several thousand meters in the sky, on Avant Heim.

Wisps of clouds and mist were blown by the high-altitude cold wind, drifting over the Island Cloud and concealing everything. As far as the eye could see, it was a world of white, a near whiteout. For a moment, the four people standing on Avant Heim lost all vision, unable to see anything of the distant battlefield. But the terrifying roars, thunder, and the colossal sounds of impact that continuously came from the distance told them that the battle was still raging fiercely.

"They're both so strong! We can hear the commotion from a battle several nautical miles away!" Yelena faced the direction of the sound, her eyes filled with longing for such power.

"Garp is a monster. Not even five people in the depths of the New World can match him!" Not far away, Limejuice took a deep breath.

Uta heard this, tugged on his sleeve, and asked with heartache, "Was he the one who beat you guys up so badly?"

Limejuice looked down and met Uta's teary purple eyes, answering with a smile, "It's okay now. Louis has already healed us!"

"Then what about Shanks and the others?" Uta then thought of her father, Shanks, and the rest of the crew.

"Shanks and the others will be fine. They're very strong, you know!" Limejuice patted Uta's head.

Yelena turned to look at Hongo and asked with a frown, "Why would such a powerful person appear in the East Blue, and why did he clash with you?"

To this, Hongo's face turned very grim. He explained the reason in a heavy tone, "Garp, just like Shanks's captain, is a native of the East Blue. I've heard he often returns to the East Blue for vacation. We just happened to run into him on our way to Elegia. Strictly speaking, you could just say we were unlucky."

Or rather, all the other pirates in the East Blue were unlucky. Among the four seas separated by the Red Line and the Calm Belt, the East Blue was known as the weakest sea. This had always been a joke among many pirates on the Grand Line. And after experiencing this unfortunate event, Hongo had a faint guess as to the real reason why the East Blue had become the weakest sea. Even the Red Hair Pirates were chased like this after accidentally encountering Garp. One could only imagine the fate of other pirates if they were to run into him.

Yelena was taken aback. She had considered many possibilities, such as them being pursued for taking the blame for the destruction of Jacob Kingdom, or being reported by the people of Foosha Village. But she had never imagined that the Red Hair crew had just accidentally run head-on into the Marine Hero. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.

Just then, a series of footsteps sounded behind them, and the faint sound of conversation reached their ears.

"Is this Louis and the others' Island Cloud?"

"It's certainly much more stable than a ship."

Hearing the voices, Uta seemed to sense something. Her amethyst-like eyes brightened, and the pigtails shaped like bunny ears on the back of her head perked up. The next moment, she flashed a bright smile and plunged into the depths of the mist.

"Shanks!"

From behind the swirling mist, several figures slowly emerged. It was Shanks and the others, looking slightly disheveled.

Seeing Uta rushing toward him, Shanks also revealed a doting smile. He knelt down and held Uta's shoulders.

"Uta, I didn't break my promise!"

"Your singing voice has gotten even better, Uta!"

Uta looked up, met Shanks's adoring gaze, and nodded firmly. "Yeah!"

"I always believed you would come!"

Then, she saw the injuries on Shanks and the others, and her heart sank. It was the first time she had ever seen her father so seriously injured. She gently reached out and touched the bandage wrapped around Shanks's head, asking with heartache, "Does it hurt?"

Shanks smiled and shook his head, saying nonchalantly, "What pirate doesn't get injured! From the day we set out to sea, we were prepared to die at any moment. Compared to death, what are these little injuries?"

Then, Shanks looked Uta over carefully, then reached out and stroked her hair, saying with relief, "Louis and Yelena have taken good care of you."

"Uta and we are partners who can entrust our backs to each other. We are all protecting one another," Yelena slowly walked up and said softly.

Hearing this, the corners of Shanks's mouth turned up, revealing a smile that held none of a powerhouse's dignity. "Is that so?"

Just then, Uta also reined in her complicated thoughts. She turned, took Yelena's hand, and with a smile, told Shanks her decision.

"Hey, Shanks."

Shanks was taken aback. He seemed to realize something, and his heart became a little complicated. Although this was what he had hoped for in his heart, now that the day had actually come, Shanks was still a little reluctant.

But in the end, he still smiled and asked, "What is it, Uta?"

"I've decided to go on an adventure with Louis and Yelena."

As her words fell, everyone on the Island Cloud fell silent. Only the sound of the cold wind and the violent roars from the distant battle intertwined. The members of the Red Hair crew who had followed Shanks lowered their heads and said nothing, their faces buried in shadow, making their expressions unreadable. Only Shanks and Beckman still maintained a faint smile.

Yelena took in everyone's appearance. After some thought, she turned and left, once again heading to the edge of the Island Cloud, leaving this space for Uta and Shanks's group.

The high-altitude wind carried wisps of clouds and mist, blowing against her face and lifting the bangs from Uta's forehead, revealing her serious gaze to Shanks.

Shanks was momentarily dazed, but in the next moment, he returned to the familiar figure Uta knew.

"Is that so..."

"Uta, you're going to have your own partners and your own adventure now," Shanks said, gently stroking Uta's red and white hair, trying hard to calm his emotions and make his tone even.

Shanks's seemingly calm words threw the emotions Uta had carefully brewed into chaos. She subconsciously lowered her head, and scene after scene of her time with Shanks and the others flashed before her eyes.

"Shanks..."

The corners of Shanks's mouth turned up. He reached out and held Uta's face, lifting her head to meet her eyes, which were blurred by tears.

"Uta, even if we are apart, no matter where you are, you will always be my daughter."

"Yeah!" Uta heard him and, fighting back tears, nodded firmly.

Shanks smiled with relief. Then, he slowly stood up and patted Uta's head. "A pirate's farewell doesn't need tears."

"So..."

"Let's part ways with a smile!"

Behind Shanks, the entire Red Hair crew raised their heads and, in unison, gave Uta a smile.

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