The sound of the Golden Bell, silent for so many years, once again echoed through the heavens.
The resounding toll pierced through the sea of clouds, reverberating over Loguetown.
Cricket had bet with the gorilla that the pirates wouldn't mock his ideals. Cricket lost his last pair of supreme underpants, as usual.
He furiously hammered the ground, venting his frustration. He was about to borrow an emergency banana-patterned pair from his companions when—
"Boss! Did you hear that—" The gorilla jumped around excitedly in front of Cricket.
Cricket froze. His eyes widened. "That sound... that sound is..."
"Dong—"
The second toll seemed to confirm the answer in Cricket's heart.
Rhett had waved at him that day, telling him to listen for the echo.
"You really did it!!! You bastard, that's so cool!!!"
Cricket dove headfirst into the sea, causing the gorillas to scream in panic.
Three seconds later, he burst out of the water, laughing maniacally while holding up a dripping measuring device: "It's not a hallucination! It's not a hallucination! Hahahaha!"
Standing atop the mountain, Cricket shouted towards Loguetown: "You bastards! Did you hear it? Hahaha! It's not a lie! My ancestors weren't liars! Hahahahaha!!!! You bastards! Listen!!!"
He dashed off toward the town.
In the tavern, the ruffians playing cards were startled by the sudden appearance of the soaked, golden-haired man.
Cricket, dripping wet, grabbed the bartender by the collar: "Did you hear it? That was the echo of the Golden Bell. Tell me loudly, is it real?"
"What are you on about..."
The third toll silenced the entire tavern. Cricket released his grip and suddenly crouched on the floor, wailing: "Four hundred years... Noland... I finally..."
When the gorillas arrived, they saw their boss crying. Without hesitation, they too started weeping.
"Stop crying! Stop crying!" Cricket wiped his face and jumped up. "Prepare my ship right now!"
As he ran, he tore off his shirt. "I'm going to Skypiea! Now! Immediately! Skypiea really exists."
"But boss, your underpants..."
"Who cares about underpants! El Dorado is calling!"
Meanwhile, the residents of Loguetown all tilted their heads back to gaze at the sky.
"Mom..." A little girl tugged at her mother's skirt. "Is it thundering up there?"
The mother looked at the white expanse in the clouds and covered her daughter's eyes. "No, sweetie... Mommy thinks she's been very foolish...
Mommy mocked a true man of the sea, but remember, anyone running naked in the street is definitely a pervert."
The bartender straightened his disheveled clothes and silently wiped a glass, seemingly lost in thought. "Hey, old drunks, about that Montblanc lunatic... Yeah, the one who always said Skypiea exists... Uh, he might... possibly... actually be right?"
Higher up in the clouds, Perona watched the tolling Golden Bell. "Rhett-sama~ That golden-haired uncle must be so happy now!"
Rhett glanced at Perona. "Who knows..."
Enel snorted coldly. "Stupid Blue Sea people."
"Fosfosfos..." Moria asked Rhett, "Are we leaving now?"
"Not necessary." Rhett turned and walked toward the cabin, a slight smile on his lips. "Let him go crazy... After waiting four hundred years for a dream to come true, anyone would go crazy. We still have some arrangements to make in Skypiea."
Time returned to normal, and it was time for the Crimson Dawn Pirates to depart.
Enel stood at the stern. "Is this enough?"
Rhett didn't look back. "Hatred takes time to resolve. History tells us that as long as people have food and warmth, they don't care who rules them."
Perona added with a giggle, "That would be us~"
Rhett patted Perona's head. "Little Perona, when they get used to this safe and comfortable life, they'll naturally support me."
Moria laughed, "Fosfosfos... What an interesting development."
Returning to the Blue Sea, they drifted aimlessly once more. Rhett had pretty much explored everything he wanted to see, and now he was simply going with the flow.
"Damn captain, are you done yet?" Enel shouted at Rhett.
Perona and Laboon looked at Enel, the two little ones enjoying the drama.
Rhett's Blood Mist had strong corrosive properties, and the visual effects weren't bad either. But why was Thunder God called that? Because he could charge the ship with lightning. The Crimson Dawn Charger was unanimously praised.
Mainly because Rhett was the captain, and doing it himself would be beneath his dignity.
Rhett felt he had become more carefree than before. Whether it was Tesoro or Enel, if this were Roger's ship, Rhett would have acted more composed, like a younger brother trying to appear more serious and mature in front of his elder brother to prove he was a reliable adult.
Now? Rhett had truly begun to do as he pleased, acting on whims. If he thought something was interesting, he would do it.
Rhett was just immersing himself in the experience. Maybe one day, when he got tired of it, "Cold-Blooded Rhett" would be retired.
No time to mourn Cold-Blooded Rhett, for the next incarnation might be Emperor Rhett. With power, one should have fun.
Recently, Rhett had been having Enel fire off shots frequently. The roar of a steel beast, more captivating than shoeing horses or cleaning carpets.
Initially, Rhett had left Enel traumatized, and Enel had been too afraid to speak up.
But he found that the captain's daily behavior didn't match his image, and today, he finally snapped.
Rhett pressed his index fingers together: "But doesn't it look super cool though~"
Perona and Laboon turned her head toward Rhett.
"You're trying to drain me dry, Captain!"
"Aw c'mon, what's the big deal? Just sleep it off. How else would you earn your title as our ship's Thunder God?"
Moria couldn't take it anymore. Shadows extended several hands to quietly cover Perona and Laboon's ears.
Moria's forehead veins +1
The two kept arguing, escalating to hair-pulling and face-grabbing. Rhett yanked Enel's earlobe while Enel bit Rhett's hair.
When Moria's forehead veins were about to cover his entire head—
Complete madness! Aaaaaah!
Bam! Bam!
Moria punched each of them once. "You two, watch your language! Are you trying to corrupt Perona?"
"Sumimasen, Moria-san," the two said while holding their heads (because it hurt) and kneeling sincerely before Moria to apologize.