The Red Hair Pirates' departure from Windmill Village came all too soon. As the Red Force prepared to set sail, Uta clung desperately to Po's massive frame, tears threatening to spill from her wide eyes.
"I don't want to go!" she wailed, burying her face deeper into Po's soft fur. "Can't I stay just a little longer?"
Gustave found himself genuinely fond of the musical young girl—her beautiful singing voice and adorable demeanor had charmed everyone during her brief stay. When he gently suggested she could remain with them for a while, Uta's face lit up momentarily before dimming with conflict.
Despite her obvious affection for Po and Tom, she couldn't bear the thought of being separated from Shanks. The red-haired pirate had been her world for so long that choosing between them felt impossible.
"I... I have to go with Shanks," she finally whispered, though her grip on Po never loosened.
Relief flooded Shanks' features, though he tried to hide his smile. These past few days had been torture, watching his adopted daughter lavish all her attention on the panda and cat while barely acknowledging him. For a moment, he'd genuinely feared he was losing her.
The old man still matters most, he thought with satisfaction, though his paternal heart ached seeing Uta's distress.
"Don't be sad, little songbird," Shanks said softly, kneeling beside her and stroking her hair. "This isn't goodbye forever. We'll return to Windmill Village before you know it, and then you can play with Po and Tom all you want."
"Really, Shanks? You promise?" Uta looked up at him with hope flickering in her tear-filled eyes.
"When have I ever broken a promise to you?" Shanks smiled warmly, and Uta's faith in him won out over her sadness.
Gustave watched the touching scene with knowing eyes. His understanding of this world's timeline told him that Shanks would indeed return to Windmill Village regularly over the next year or two—at least until that fateful encounter with the mountain bandit Higuma.
As the Red Hair Pirates' ship became a distant speck on the horizon, Gustave noticed Luffy's wistful expression and decided it was time for their own adventure.
"You know," he said thoughtfully, "it's been quite a while since we've ventured out to hunt pirates. What do you say we take a little voyage ourselves?"
Luffy's eyes immediately blazed with excitement. "Really?! We can go fight bad guys again?!"
"I remember we kept that nautical chart from the last pirate ship we captured," Gustave continued. "It marked the location of some island. It would be interesting to investigate."
The suggestion hit Luffy like a bolt of lightning. Not only would they get to go on an adventure, but if they encountered pirates terrorizing innocent people, he could play the hero again! That rush of satisfaction from protecting the weak had become addictive.
The pirate ship Gustave referenced had been their prize from a previous anti-piracy expedition. Rather than selling it immediately, he'd decided to keep it for future coastal expeditions, saving them from constantly borrowing the village's boats.
He'd briefly considered installing his Gate of All Worlds aboard the captured ship, but ultimately decided it was neither large enough nor elegant enough for his interdimensional sea restaurant. When the time came, he wanted to commission something truly spectacular from the shipwrights of Water 7.
The captured ship bore the name "Luffy"—a designation with a rather amusing origin story.
When they'd first brought the ship back to Windmill Village, Makino had suggested naming it after one of the crew members. Both Tom and Luffy had immediately demanded the honor, leading to an increasingly heated argument that threatened to turn violent.
Gustave had proposed settling the matter with a simple game of rock-paper-scissors. Whether due to protagonist luck or sheer chance, Luffy had emerged victorious, earning the naming rights to their first proper ship.
However, victory had come at a cost. In the days following his triumph, Luffy had suffered an unprecedented streak of bad luck, culminating in such severe tooth pain that he'd been forced to abstain from meat for nearly a week—a fate worse than death for the young glutton.
The next morning found them at the village dock, making final preparations for departure. The Luffy bobbed gently in the harbor, her modest size belying the adventures that awaited.
"Makino!" Gustave called from the bow. "We're counting on you to watch over the Bamboo Staff Bistro while we're gone!"
"Don't worry about a thing!" the kind bartender replied with a warm smile. "I'll keep everything clean until you return!"
This arrangement had become routine whenever they ventured out—Makino's reliable nature made her the perfect caretaker for their floating restaurant.
"YAHOO! Let's go!" Luffy bounded onto the bow, striking a dramatic pose as he faced the open sea. "The great hero Luffy will lead you all to victory!"
"Get down from there, you idiot!" Ace's patience snapped, and he delivered a solid knock to Luffy's skull, dragging his protesting brother back to the deck.
"Ow! Ace, this is all your fault!" Luffy rubbed his head indignantly. "If you and Gramps didn't keep hitting me, I wouldn't have lost to Tom in the captain competition!"
This complaint referred to the ship's rather unusual command structure. While Luffy had won the right to name the ship, determining its captain had required a different contest entirely. The position would go to whoever could both read nautical charts and actually sail the ship.
Luffy's enthusiasm had quickly crumbled when faced with the incomprehensible symbols and markings on maritime maps. Navigation proved utterly beyond his capabilities, eliminating him from consideration almost immediately.
Gustave possessed the theoretical knowledge to read charts and determine direction, but his experience with traditional sailing ships was limited. He could cook for an army and manage a restaurant, but managing wind and rigging was another matter entirely.
Tom, however, had proven surprisingly versatile. Not only could he decipher the most complex navigational charts, but he demonstrated an almost supernatural ability to sail their captured ship with expert precision. The captaincy had fallen to him by default—and by merit.
Captain Tom had immediately exercised his authority, designing a new flag featuring his distinctive feline profile—the same emblem that adorned the Bamboo Staff Bistro. He'd then established the crew hierarchy: Gustave as first mate, head chef, and navigator; Po as ship's fighter; Ace as general sailor and lookout; and Luffy as apprentice sailor and deck cleaner.
Luffy had protested vehemently, but when Tom threatened to leave him behind entirely, he'd grudgingly accepted his lowly position.
Before departure, Gustave had prepared a special send-off feast to boost morale and ensure they wouldn't go hungry during their voyage. The Luffy's small galley had been transformed into a miniature version of his restaurant kitchen.
"Attention, crew!" Gustave announced, wiping his hands on his apron. "Before we set sail properly, we need fuel for our bodies and spirits!"
He unveiled his maritime breakfast masterpiece: Pain Perdu à la Mer—French toast made with thick slices of brioche, soaked in vanilla-scented custard and pan-fried to golden perfection. But Gustave's version incorporated dried seaweed flakes for a subtle oceanic flavor, topped with caramelized bananas and a drizzle of rum-infused syrup.
Alongside this, he'd prepared Café du Marin—strong coffee blended with condensed milk and a hint of sea salt, served in metal mugs that wouldn't slide around in rough weather.
"Whoa! This is incredible!" Luffy devoured his portion with characteristic enthusiasm, syrup dripping down his chin. "this food is so fancy!"
Po savored each bite thoughtfully, his discipline extending to his appreciation of fine cuisine. "The balance of sweet and salty is masterful, Gustave. The seaweed adds depth without overwhelming the traditional flavors."
Tom, ever the character, somehow managed to consume his entire plate in a single impossible bite, then produced a chef's hat from nowhere and tipped it respectfully to Gustave.
"Excellent work," Ace admitted, though he tried to maintain his usual cool demeanor. "This is way better than the slop most pirates eat at sea."
With bellies full and spirits high, they were ready for whatever adventure awaited.
"Now that's what I call proper preparation," Gustave said with satisfaction. "A crew that eats well fights well!"
"You said it wrong!" Luffy accused, pointing dramatically. "A crew that eats well... eats well!"
"That doesn't make any sense," Ace retorted, delivering another educational knock to his brother's head.
"Stop hitting me! That's why I can't be captain!" Luffy wailed, launching himself at Ace in retaliation.
As the two brothers began their familiar chase around the deck, Captain Tom calmly took his position at the helm. With a theatrical flourish, he adjusted his captain's hat and spun the wheel.
The Luffy caught the morning wind in her sails and began gliding away from Windmill Village, carrying her chaotic but determined crew toward whatever adventures the East Blue had in store for them.