Smoker approached Yuuto.
"That was a good speech."
"Hahaha, it was just a quote I borrowed from someone," Yuuto said.
"But still, it was very good, Yuuto-san," Tashigi said.
Yuuto stared at the campfire.
Suddenly, Miku appeared in front of everyone.
"Since this is a celebration party, it wouldn't be complete without singing, right?"
A device appeared beside her.
"Oh, are you going to sing, Miku?" Kuroneko asked.
"Yeah, what else would I do?"
Yuuto looked at her when suddenly Irene sat down beside him.
"You want to listen too, right, Miku?" Yuuto asked.
"Yes."
Irene looked at Yuuto.
"…It seems you've already proven it," Irene murmured.
Yuuto didn't hear her.
"Hm? What did you say just now?"
"Nothing."
Yuuto was confused, but he didn't ask further.
He lowered his gaze and noticed that Irene's hand was empty.
Then he moved his hand and held Irene's.
Irene flinched, trying to pull her hand away, but Yuuto's grip was firm.
The music began to play.
Miku started to move and dance.
Kuroneko twitched.
"Ah, this again."
"You know this song?" Lady Avalon asked.
Kuroneko nodded.
Lady Avalon grabbed Kuroneko's hand and pulled her along.
"Eh—wait! I can't sing!"
"It's fine. Miku and I will guide you. Just follow your heart."
"Oh, they're going to sing," Yamato said.
Belfast was standing behind Yamato.
Yamato stood up and grabbed Belfast's hand.
"Belfast, let's join too."
"Wait, Lady Yamato. I don't know what song this is."
"It's fine. Miku and Lady Avalon will guide us."
---
Then a voice came from Miku.
Omoidoori ni ikanai koto darake
Dou shiyou mo naku jiko ken'o
Yaoyorozu no itami ya kanashimi kara
Nigekomeru basho o
Sagashiteru
"Eh, what song is this?"
"I don't know, but it sounds good."
The villagers joined in.
Isso iwa no sukima ni hikikomotte
Tsuki mo taiyou mo mushi shite nemurou
Umarete kita koto no imi nante
Shiranai wakannai yo
The Marines joined as well.
Tashigi pulled Smoker's hand.
"Captain, let's join too!"
"No."
Suddenly, roots lifted them into the center.
"Eh—what is this?!" Tashigi panicked, looking around.
"This power…" Smoker stared at Yuuto, who was guiding Irene as they danced.
Then he saw Yuuto smiling at him.
"Damn it!"
Smoker tried to use his Devil Fruit power.
"What is this? Haki?" He looked at his hands.
"Wait—this is Seastone?!"
He collapsed to the ground, powerless.
"Hehehe~ I'll leave the rest to you," Yuuto said from beneath his hood.
Tashigi and the Marines dragged Smoker into the crowd.
That night was filled with singing, laughter, and the glow of the campfire.
---
Morning broke over the village.
The thin mist slowly faded, replaced by sunlight gently falling on the rooftops.
Yuuto's group stood in front of the village gate, preparing to leave.
"Are you sure you want to give us that gold? That's 700 million," Miku said, staring at the neatly stacked chests.
"Yes, we're sure," said a young man who now stood as the village leader.
"Please consider the gold a gift for saving our village."
"B-but that's a lot," Kuroneko said.
"It's fine," the young man continued.
"You didn't just deal with the monster problem—you also helped us with our farming."
He looked at Yuuto with deep respect.
"Well, it wasn't a big deal," Yuuto said casually.
"I just restored the soil's fertility."
"But still, we are truly grateful," the young man said sincerely.
Yuuto then turned to Smoker.
"Smoker, is it true that Marine Headquarters will build a branch near here?" Yuuto asked.
"Yes," Smoker replied.
"I've already submitted my report. Since this place is close to Jaya Island—where many pirates gather—it's a suitable location for a Marine branch."
"In that case," Yuuto said quietly,
"I can safely leave this place."
Smoker glanced at Tashigi beside him.
Her face clearly showed frustration—or maybe irritation.
"That's enough, Tashigi," Smoker said.
"Give up. You won't be able to lift that sword. Even I can't."
"But Captain Smoker," Tashigi said quickly,
"I want to see Yuuto-san's sword. I want to know if it's really a cursed sword like Kuroneko said. I've never even seen its shape—not even in books."
Kuroneko turned around and smiled slyly.
"Hehehe~," she said.
"Get stronger, Tashigi, if you want to know about that sword. You're not worthy of holding it yet."
"I won't give up!" Tashigi said firmly.
"I'll become strong enough to lift that sword someday!"
"Do whatever you want," Smoker said flatly.
Then he looked at Yuuto again.
"Are you sure you don't need an escort to the shore?" Smoker asked.
"Yes," Yuuto replied.
"One of my members has a special ability to take us directly to the ship from here."
"Is that a Devil Fruit ability?" Smoker asked, narrowing his eyes.
Yuuto only smiled.
"Secret."
"Tch—you really have too many secrets," Smoker muttered.
"Hahahaha," Yuuto laughed lightly.
"If you want to know, just wait and see. Everything will be revealed little by little."
Suddenly, shouts erupted from behind Smoker.
"Goodbye, Irene-chan!"
"Belfast-chan!"
"Yamato-chan!"
"Avalon-chan!"
The Marines were going completely wild.
Smoker pressed his palm to his forehead.
"Those idiots…" he muttered.
"I'll make sure you don't sleep tonight," he said sharply.
The Marines immediately fell silent.
Irene simply looked at them coldly.
Yamato flexed her muscles.
"Train harder," she said casually.
Belfast bowed slightly.
"Thank you for your hospitality," she said gently.
Lady Avalon smiled mischievously.
"See you next time~"
"Tch—they didn't even say goodbye to me," Kuroneko complained.
"Meh, it's fine," Miku said cheerfully.
"They didn't say goodbye to me either."
Kuroneko turned around—and saw Miku's hands full of flowers from the village children.
"Even you too…" Kuroneko said, on the verge of tears.
Suddenly, a small girl placed a flower crown on Kuroneko's head.
"Thank you, Kuroneko-san," the girl said innocently.
"I really love your stories."
Kuroneko froze.
Her tears stopped.
She smiled widely, holding the flower crown.
Yuuto watched the scene with a small smile beneath the hood covering part of his face.
Then he turned back to Smoker once more.
Yamato grabbed Yuuto's shoulder.
The others followed, placing their hands on Yamato's shoulders, forming a small circle.
"Smoker," Yuuto said calmly but firmly.
"Don't doubt your path of justice.
If you believe it's right, then do it. Don't hesitate."
"Everyone's justice is different."
"Just make sure you don't end up being hanged because of your justice," Yuuto said as his final words.
Whoooosh.
In an instant, Yuuto vanished.
So did the entire Tree of Life.
Only the morning wind remained.
Smoker stood still.
"What the hell was that…" he muttered.
He looked up at the morning sky.
"Even until the end, he kept hiding his face."
Tashigi stood beside him.
"Captain Smoker, do you think we'll meet them again?" Tashigi asked.
"Definitely," Smoker answered without hesitation.
"They're a strange group."
---
Time passed.
Smoker had returned to his ship.
He entered his room while smoking when a knock sounded.
"Come in."
A soldier entered and saluted.
"Captain Smoker, there's news from Marine Headquarters," he said.
"And today's newspaper along with new bounty posters."
"Why did it take so long?" Smoker asked as he opened the newspaper.
"Is there trouble at Headquarters?"
Smoker's expression hardened.
"Headquarters is in panic," the soldier said, sweating.
"Someone has killed a Vice Admiral using overwhelming power. It took a long time to verify the information."
"And Headquarters has issued a bounty for that person," he continued.
"Their name is unknown, but Headquarters gave them the title 'The Knight' based on their clothing and appearance."
A bounty poster slipped out of the newspaper in Smoker's hand.
Smoker froze.
To think that the person who had been singing, dancing, and laughing with them last night…
Smoker picked up the poster.
80,000,000 Berries.
"For someone who just started their journey and immediately got a bounty this high," Smoker muttered,
"he's going to be heavily hunted by the Marines."
He stared at the face on the poster.
"So this is what you look like…
No wonder you hid your face.
If people saw you directly, it would definitely be dangerous."
Smoker exhaled a long stream of smoke.
"Looks like Headquarters is going to be very busy."
He looked at the poster once more.
"Yeah… Yuuto Kido."
The wanted poster read:
DEAD OR ALIVE — 80,000,000 BERRY