"Shanks?" Uta's voice was barely a whisper as her eyes slowly opened in the red-haired captain's embrace.
"I'm here, Uta," Shanks replied gently, his voice thick with emotion.
"Shanks, I'm so sorry," she sobbed, tears flowing freely as the weight of everything crashed down upon her.
Without saying a word, Shanks held her tightly, one hand gently patting her back as she released months of suppressed guilt, fear, and sorrow. He let her cry until every tear had been shed and every emotion had been purged.
"Everyone," Uta finally managed, her eyes red and swollen, "I'm so sorry for making you all worry about me."
"Uta, none of this was your fault," Shanks said softly, accepting tissues from Gustave to dry her tears. "I'm the one who failed you by running away."
"If anyone should apologize, it's me," King Gordon interjected, stepping forward with visible anguish. "I was the one who greedily refused to destroy that cursed music sheet. I was the one who used amplifiers to broadcast your singing throughout the entire kingdom that night. My decisions allowed Tot Musica to break free."
"Grandfather Gordon..." Uta looked at him with surprise and growing understanding.
"Everyone played a part in what happened," Gustave said firmly, surveying the group of people taking blame upon themselves. "But the real culprit was Tot Musica itself. The demon destroyed Elegia, not any of us."
He paused, then continued with practical determination. "If we want to prevent this tragedy from ever happening again, we need to learn from our mistakes. Since Tot Musica's music sheet was the source of this disaster, we must destroy it completely—right now."
"You're absolutely right!" Gordon exclaimed, immediately producing the ancient sheet music. "We have to destroy this cursed thing!"
He began tearing at the parchment with desperate intensity, but despite his best efforts, the music sheet remained completely intact—as if protected by supernatural forces.
"This is impossible..." Gordon frowned, staring at the indestructible document.
"Tom!" Gustave called out, following his established protocol for impossible problems.
The cat stepped forward with confident nonchalance, gesturing that he would handle this trivial matter.
Gordon looked skeptical—this seemingly lazy cat hardly appeared capable of destroying something that had resisted his own efforts. Nevertheless, after a moment's hesitation, he handed over the cursed sheet music.
Tom accepted the parchment, snapped his fingers with theatrical flair, and a match materialized in his hand as if by magic. He struck it against the sole of his shoe, producing a small but remarkably bright flame.
The instant the fire touched the music sheet, an agonized scream echoed across Elegia's ruins, and the ancient parchment burst into flames that consumed it completely within seconds, leaving only harmless ash.
Gordon stared in absolute amazement. The supposedly indestructible artifact containing the Demon King had been effortlessly destroyed by a cat with a simple match!
Serves you right, you arrogant demon, Gustave thought with satisfaction. You picked the wrong opponent when you encountered Tom.
With Tot Musica permanently eliminated, Uta still struggled with guilt over Elegia's destruction. However, through everyone's encouragement and support, she decided to rejoin the Red Hair Pirates and use her singing to bring joy to people suffering around the world.
They invited Gordon to join their voyage, but the old king declined with quiet dignity. He would spend his remaining years protecting Elegia's ruins—his final act of penance to the citizens who had died under his rule.
Unlike their urgent journey to Elegia, the return voyage proceeded at a leisurely pace. At Gustave's specific request, the Red Hair Pirates allowed their ship to drift slowly across the Grand Line's waters.
"Gustave, why won't you let us sail at full speed?" Shanks asked, approaching where the chef stood at the bow with a spyglass, scanning the horizon with obvious purpose.
"I've finally reached the Grand Line—the pirates' paradise!" Gustave replied with entrepreneurial enthusiasm. "How could I possibly return empty-handed?"
After several years in the One Piece world, Gustave had systematically eliminated most pirates from East Blue while building a successful restaurant business. His accumulated wealth now exceeded 300 million Berries—more than enough to commission a custom ship from Water 7's finest shipwrights.
But Gustave had grander ambitions for his future ship. The Grand Line's pirates carried bounties worth hundreds of millions—far more lucrative than East Blue's small-time criminals!
Moreover, traveling with the Red Hair Pirates provided unprecedented security. Even encounters with other Yonko crews would be manageable with Shanks as backup. Any trouble caused by their pirate hunting could be conveniently blamed on the Red Hair Pirates.
Such a perfect opportunity demanded exploitation.
Shanks shook his head at Gustave's mercenary daydreaming and started to walk away, but was stopped by an excited shout.
"MONEY AHOY!" Gustave bellowed. "Shanks, bring us around to nine o'clock—fast!"
Intrigued despite himself, Shanks raised his own spyglass toward the indicated direction. A pirate ship was approaching their position, flying a distinctive flag bearing a horned skull.
"Gustave," Shanks said carefully, "that appears to be a Beast Pirates ship. Are you certain you want to engage them?"
"The Beast Pirates?!" Gustave's excitement reached fever pitch. "Even better! Get us over there immediately! What's wrong, Shanks—don't tell me you're afraid of Kaido?"
Despite recognizing the obvious provocation, Shanks couldn't resist taking the bait. "Afraid of Kaido? Hardly!"
Pride wounded, he began steering toward the enemy ship.
Aboard the Beast Pirates ship, a subordinate nervously addressed his captain: "Boss Jack, that's the Red Hair Pirates ahead—the ones who supposedly destroyed Elegia recently. Should we avoid them?"
The captain was indeed Drought Jack, one of Kaido's rising star, All-Stars candidate and a fearsome combatant even by New World standards.
"Coward!" Jack snarled at his underling. "You think I'd run from some washed-up pirates? Bring us alongside them—now!"
Under Jack's aggressive commands, both ships closed distance rapidly. Once within range, Jack immediately opened fire, sending cannonballs screaming toward the Red Force.
Seeing that Gustave's group made no move to defend themselves, Shanks cursed internally and drew Gryphon. A single sword slash detonated all incoming projectiles harmlessly in midair, though Jack's ship continued its aggressive approach.
As the ships drew closer, Gustave finally got a clear view of their opponent.
"Wait, wait!" he shouted urgently. "Shanks, whatever you do, don't sink my ship!"
"What?" Shanks looked confused by this sudden concern.
"Tom! Po! Let's go!" Gustave declared with predatory glee. "After this payday, we can finally build our dream ship!"
Without further explanation, he transformed into lightning and streaked toward the enemy ship, with Po following close behind while carrying Tom.
Jack watched their approach with contemptuous rage. These fools dared assault one of the Beast Pirates directly!
Before he could retaliate, however, Gustave's lightning struck him with paralyzing force. As Jack's body convulsed helplessly, Po's Conqueror's Haki-infused fist crashed into his face with devastating impact.
The mighty Drought Jack, terror of the seas, collapsed unconscious without landing a single blow.
Seeing their captain fall so easily, Jack's crew erupted into panicked chaos—until Po released his Conqueror's Haki across the entire ship. Every subordinate pirate immediately fainted, leaving only the main combatants standing.
"Hahaha! Ship-building money acquired!" Gustave laughed with pure joy, surveying their defeated opponents.
Tom hopped down from Po's shoulders and produced an endless supply of rope from his cartoon arsenal, efficiently tying up every unconscious pirate with professional thoroughness.
Within minutes, an entire Beast Pirates ship had been captured, its crew secured, and their bounties guaranteed. It was, Gustave reflected with satisfaction, an excellent day for business.