One Piece's Vice Captain 2

Chapter 397 Requiem for the New Century

In the gradually dissipating music world, Uta looked at the people who gradually left after falling asleep, and turned to look at Luffy who was still standing there, "I said, why didn't you hit me?"

"I've always said that my fists are more powerful than bullets." Luffy's voice was a little hoarse. He was not yet used to the separation of never seeing each other again.

"Haven't we fought before? It was just that soft fist." Uta was in a good mood and waved his fist.

"I wasn't serious at that time." Luffy sat cross-legged on the ground, lowered his head and stopped talking.

"Here we go again, the sour loser~" Uta made a face like before, and when he found out that he was in a low mood, he just looked at him quietly, and said softly with some emotion, "I didn't realize you've grown taller than me, Luffy."

Luffy didn't say anything. He knew this would be a farewell forever, but he didn't know what to say.

"When you wake up, thank An Ke for me. Thank her for staying with me when I was scared." Uta took out the straw hat she had taken away before and walked towards him. She put the hat back on his head seriously and solemnly. "This hat is also very important to me. One day, you will definitely become a person who is more suitable for this hat."

Take care, Luffy, goodbye...

..................................................................

Why is there that smile that never changes
Why is it blocked by the raging waves?
*When I sing the same song

*I guess it brings back memories of you

*Try to believeTry to believe
*You who waved to me at the end of the road

*Try to believe, try to believe
*That song and my song

*It will eventually merge with your calling
*Do you believe it? Do you believe it?
*The starlight and the vastness of the sea

*Try to believe that you can firmly believe
*See you again in the continuation of that dream
…………

Sitting on the ground with legs bent, Anke looked up at the world singer surrounded by countless golden stars, and listened quietly to the soft and beautiful song that seemed to not belong to this world.

As time went by, her singing began to become weak and ethereal.

The curling mist spread across the entire island along with the singing.

Time began to go backwards.

The cracks and moss on the ground faded away, making it clean and tidy.

The forest and vines that had grown over the past 12 years began to move, changing into the green cover that was on the island 12 years ago.

The dilapidated buildings disappeared, and tall and short residential buildings, shopping malls and castles rose from the ground.

The sounds of footsteps, conversations and laughter began to be heard, and men, women, old and young, who lived and worked in peace and contentment, walked down the road with smiles on their faces.

The appearance of the entire island has been restored to the peace and glory it had 12 years ago before Elegia was destroyed.

The visual space began to move, rotate, and change, and the scene shifted to the interior of the castle. The spacious and bright hall was decorated exquisitely and elegantly, with music scores and precious musical instruments decorating the walls.

A dining table with food appeared on the red carpeted floor. On the stage in front of the hall was a 20-member symphony orchestra, each playing a different instrument and playing brisk and melodious music.

Famous musicians dressed in gorgeous clothes chatted in twos and threes, and the atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.

"!!", the Red Hair Pirates, whose appearance has returned to that of 12 years ago, seemed to have suddenly woken up, looking at the surrounding scenery in disbelief, which was exactly the same as in their memory.

Shanks looked down at his left hand in surprise, and after moving his fingers he was not surprised that he could feel it.

The people who were talking and chatting around began to disappear, and the floor-to-ceiling window not far away suddenly opened, and the breeze rushing in with the morning light made the red curtains rustle.

When the curtains were lowered, the little girl in a short skirt ran happily into the room in the morning light, "Shanks, everyone, we're about to leave, why haven't you left yet~"

Looking at the innocent, bright-eyed little girl, even though everyone knew that all this was fake, they were still subconsciously stunned.

Shanks was the first to come back to his senses, his facial muscles trembling slightly due to complex emotions, and then he just tried his best to smile naturally and gently, stretched out his right hand and held her small hand, "Well, let's go."

"Yeah!" Little Uta nodded happily, holding his broad and warm right hand and happily sharing various things with him, "Mr. Gordon and his friends gave me a lot of sheet music, and many books about songs~"

The others followed behind in silence, looking at Uta's happy back with quiet but heavy expressions.

After a while, Beckman reminded the others in a low, hoarse voice, "Cheer up, we...are going to take Uta on another adventure."

The bunch of grown men had never felt so miserable before, but they still raised their mouth corners as if they weighed a thousand pounds and started talking about all kinds of topics.

The warm and cheerful scene seemed as if everything was still intact.

Hearing that Uta was leaving Elegia with Shanks and the others, everyone came out to line the streets to see them off, reluctantly saying goodbye:
"Uta, take care of yourself!"

"Remember to come back to Elegia if you have time. Everyone likes to listen to your singing."

"I'm already missing your singing voice, it's like the singing of an angel~"

"You must become a world-class singer and let more people hear your singing~"

"Yes, your voice is a treasure. You should bring happiness to more people~"

…………

Uta nodded vigorously in agreement, waving to them reluctantly.

The Red Hair Pirates' pirate ship was parked at the dock. Uta looked up at the black pirate flag fluttering in the wind, then stretched out his hands towards Shanks with shining eyes.

Shanks looked down at her, bent down, picked her up with his right hand and jumped onto the pirate ship. The other members also returned to the ship.

When Shanks put her down, Uta stepped on the familiar yet strange deck with some confusion, and then looked around at the familiar yet seemingly long-missed hull, "It's so strange, I feel like I haven't been back on the ship for a long, long time."

Shanks just reached out and rubbed her little head, and said softly, "What nonsense are you talking about? We have only been in Elegia for a few days."

"Oh, I might have been sleepy~", Uta smiled brightly, throwing away her doubts, and ran to the side of the ship to wave to the people who were seeing her off. The pirate ship began to leave the dock, and she happily jumped onto her exclusive stage on the pirate ship - a small wooden box, "Everyone, I will continue to sing for you~"

"Okay," Shanks and the others either sat on the ground or leaned against the side of the boat, looking at her tenderly and dotingly.

Uta cleared her throat in a formal manner, and sang the song that everyone liked in her childish voice, but the lyrics she started with were almost finished:

*Do you believe it? Do you believe it?
*The starlight and the vastness of the sea

*Try to believe that you can firmly believe
*See you again in the continuation of that dream
* Today the morning sun still shines
*Do you believe it? Do you believe it?
*The starlight and the vastness of the sea

*That can be believed, that can be firmly believed
*Let’s live together in the continuation of that dream

* Today the morning sun still shines
...............

As the song becomes increasingly distant, the pirate ship gradually moves away towards the slowly rising sun in the distance, as if it is heading towards a future with infinite possibilities.

..........................................

After singing the last line of the lyrics, Uta fell down softly and was caught by Shanks who jumped up.

The girl with her eyes closed has a serene and relaxed expression on her face, with the corners of her lips slightly raised, as if she is immersed in an extremely beautiful dream.

Shanks held her tightly, and finally just whispered to his sleeping daughter, "Goodnight, Uta."

The illusion of the entire island began to dissipate. The exquisite buildings and the chatting and laughing people began to turn into mist and dissipate. Everything returned to the dilapidated and decadent reality.

The sun in the distance has completely sunk into the horizon, leaving only dazzling clouds covering the entire sky.

Shanks jumped down from the crystal stage holding Uta in one hand, not surprised to find Encore waiting for them.

Perhaps because she had consumed too much energy, the frail girl looked even worse than before, but she still seemed to be able to move freely.

Shanks knew that it was her doing in the end, and all his words finally turned into two words, "Thank you."

An Ke curled the corners of her lips and said softly, "Everyone is back, you can take Master Uta away first."

Shanks nodded, then turned and left, holding Uta who was trapped in an eternal dream.

Beckman and the others nodded gratefully to Anke, then quietly followed their captain away.

An Ke stood there and watched them leave, then turned to look at the empty stage:

You have done enough for your fans, Master Uta. Next, please continue your own adventure...

....................................

When the sky was filled with stars, the audience gradually woke up.

After experiencing the magical things in Thailand in just a few hours, when they opened their eyes and saw the real world, they subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, but soon they all became depressed.

Although they were frightened by Uta's out-of-control performance at the end of the concert, after they gradually calmed down, they also understood why Uta wanted to create a new era of happiness and peace.

Because they wanted to stay away from pirates, Uta even dared to hunt down the Four Emperors Pirates.

Because they wanted a life without worries about food and clothing, Uta produced endless food.

Because they wanted peace and happiness, Uta created an ideal world like Ubuntu for them.

…………

In response to their love, their favorite singer created a new era.

In the distance, the stage in the darkness was silent and empty. There should have been a girl who loved music singing for them. Her voice was one of the few salvations in their difficult lives.

The audience didn't know where Uta went in the end, but from their last memory, after using her last effort to bring them back from the music world, she left.

The last warm and peaceful song was their salvation and her requiem.

In the dull atmosphere, tiny fireflies flew out from the grass, making everything as beautiful as a fairyland.

Fireflies are flying around everyone, and the fragmented starlight is transforming into a red hyacinth around everyone.

(Red Hyacinth: Thank you for your love that touched me (your love fills my heart))

"Flowers...?" Many viewers hesitantly picked up the bright hyacinths beside them and looked at each other in confusion.

Not long after, a few audience members stood up and walked towards the empty stage with flowers in their hands.

Afterwards, the audience members stood up one after another, and finally all of them stood up and walked towards the stage silently but tacitly.

Occasionally, faint cries could be heard from the crowd, but everyone maintained a smile, placed the flowers in their hands on the empty huge stage and said goodbye quietly.

The hyacinths were carefully placed, conveying every fan's thoughts to the world diva who has entered a new era.

Sitting on a stone pillar high above the venue, Tiger Shark smiled as he watched the unique and quiet farewell ceremony below, then stretched out his hand and snapped his fingers.

A blue daisy appeared in the void and floated down into the red hyacinths on the stage with the wind.

(Blue Daisy: Purity, Innocence, Peace, Hope)
There was no peace and fairness in the world, but she created a new era full of peace and hope for those who loved her.

Although that flawless happiness and peace lasted only a few hours, for those who loved her, these memories are precious and unforgettable treasures that will last a lifetime.

....................................

(End of this chapter)