"As for the Concert Hall," Viola, who was observing the island's condition using her clairvoyance, suddenly said, "It's still intact."
"But the island is completely deserted now, it's turned into a total ruin."
"Seriously," the woman shook her head, "That Red-Haired guy went way too far. Not only did he destroy this country, but he even wiped out everyone on the island?"
"That actually makes it even more suspicious."
Law said, "Even if this country was really destroyed by the Red Hair Pirates, knowing that guy's personality, there's no way he would have killed everyone on the island, right?"
"Why don't we just go ask soone and find out?"
Ian's Observation Haki already covered the entire island, clearly sensing two presences on the island.
One of those presences felt very familiar.
"Alright! We've landed!"
Yamato cheered.
Amid her excitent, the group landed on Elegia.
Walking through the island, almost no intact houses were visible on the outskirts.
The inner area was a bit better, with quite a few buildings still standing.
From this, it seed the Demon King of Songs took advantage of the islanders gathering together to flee, wiping them all out in one strike.
"Hehehe! It's like a brutal war just happened here!"
Solem, the giant war expert from Elegia, laughed heartily.
He was covered in a lot of gold and had even stopped wearing the armor that Ian specially had Wapol make for him.
"The Red Hair Pirates, huh? I really want to face them in battle!"
Ian glanced back at them.
In the original story, the Red Hair Pirates and Elbaf had a pretty good relationship—Dorry and Brogy would help him take down the Kid Pirates.
But now it seed that bond hadn't ford yet.
Ian chuckled lightly.
Facing the Red Hair Pirates? This ti, it looked like there might actually be a chance.
"Let's go."
Ian took a step forward.
Along the guidance of the Observation Haki, they headed straight toward a certain direction on the island.
Yamato grinned, hands clasped behind her back, hopping beside Ian, "Is it that kid?"
Ian nodded gently.
"That makes it even stranger."
Yamato's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Why would Shanks leave that kid here? Isn't he her father?"
"Maybe," Ian chuckled softly, "it's like the father-daughter relationship you have with Kaido-sensei?"
"Eh?"
Yamato froze for a mont, then confidently said, "What are you talking about? Ian, my relationship with Dad is really good!"
Ian couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
You really have no self-awareness, huh.
But—
That twitch slowly turned into a bright smile.
Yamato's relationship with Kaido-sensei is indeed very good; after all, that's the result of many years of effort.
However, the fact that Yamato always stands by my side only ans my relationship with her is even closer.
How embarrassing.
"Ian!!"
Hancock approached with a radiant smile, the most beautiful woman in the world shining brightly, "What's really going on? I also think this doesn't fit Shanks' usual behavior."
Damn white hair, don't think you can chat so casually with Ian alone!
"That's why I said," Ian smiled, "we'll just ask around later and find out."
They continued forward, arriving at the other side of the island.
"Oh! It's the Concert Hall!"
Sandersonia exclaid in surprise.
Ahead was the huge concert hall built on the bay.
But at this mont, the legendary world's greatest concert hall looked sowhat desolate. Although it was mostly intact, even the trash scattered on the ground was left untouched.
"There's singing!"
Marigold tilted her head to listen.
A faint singing voice floated through the wind.
"Oh! It sounds so beautiful!"
Black Maria's eyes lit up.
Solem also leaned in to listen. "Singing coming from the sea... could it be the legendary Sirens?"
According to legend, the Sirens use their enchanting voices to lure sailors, leading them to their doom.
"What nonsense," his old buddy Himir snapped beside him. "If it's Sirens, Hive Island has plenty of them."
The so-called Sirens were basically the rmaids from Fish-Man Island.
And indeed, Hive Island was ho to many rmaids.
"Hehehe," Solem just chuckled softly.
"This voice," Drake frowned. "It sounds familiar. I feel like I've heard it sowhere before."
Ian, however, kept walking forward on his own.
Passing through the backstage, following the winding, long corridor, they finally reached behind the stage.
There, clearly visible, was a small girl who was completely absorbed in singing on the stage.
"That girl!"
Law lowered his voice, "The little girl from the Red-Haired Pirates' ship!"
"Isn't she Red-Haired Shanks' daughter?"
Hancock looked puzzled, "Why is she here now?"
"Has Shanks abandoned her?"
Black Maria's face showed compassion, "Her singing is full of sorrow."
Indeed, although she was lost in her own song, the girl's expression was far from joyful. On the contrary, her brows were furrowed tightly, and tears welled up at the corners of her eyes.
Her singing was so sorrowful it almost moved people to tears.
The girl, with distinct red and white hair, had her shoulders trembling uncontrollably as her voice grew deeper and more mournful.
Finally, she simply crouched down and began to cry into her hands.
"Why didn't you finish the song?"
Ian lightly jumped onto the stage and calmly spoke from behind her, "It's a really beautiful song. Did you write it yourself?"
The girl's body suddenly trembled. She almost couldn't believe it as she turned around, "Ian? How are you here?"
How could the Pirate Emperor be here?!
"Yo."
Ian nodded coolly at her, "Little Uta, I was just about to ask, why are you here? And what about Shanks?"
"I heard he destroyed this country, so I ca to see what's so special here that even a man like him couldn't control himself."
"..."
Tears uncontrollably slipped down Uta's cheeks. She shouted miserably, "Don't ntion that guy! I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely will never forgive him!!"
"He abandoned . He destroyed this country!!"
Below the stage, their friends whispered among themselves.
"Did Red-Haired really destroy this country?"
"This kid really said that."
"But why? What's so special about this country?"
They were discussing.
"Is that so?"
Ian nodded indifferently, "So, is it for so great treasure?"
"He stole all the treasures of this country! And killed everyone here!!"
Uta almost gritted her teeth.
But Ian said in surprise, "Sothing's off. The Shanks I know wouldn't be so greedy as to destroy an entire country just for so treasure."
"Could there be so untold reason?"
He actually defended Red-Haired Shanks.
Uta was slightly stunned.
Then she instinctively refuted, "No way. I saw those people steal the country's treasure with my own eyes, and they left proudly!"
"Is that so? That makes it even more curious. Could there be so incredible secret hidden among the treasures?"
Ian smiled, "That really makes itch to know more. Let's go ask Shanks directly."
He looked at Uta, "Little sister Uta, do you want to co with ? To ask Shanks and get the truth."
Uta was completely stunned.
Her face stiffened, and after several seconds, she showed an expression that was hard to tell if it was a smile or a cry. She nodded heavily, "I want to go! I want to go with you!"
No matter what, she had to find Shanks and ask why!
Why did he do such a thing?
Why did he abandon her?
Ian's lips curled into a smile, "Then welco aboard the Golden Dragon, Uta."
It was really easy to recruit Uta.
Ian thought, from now on, all he had to do was play dumb.
Shanks would push Uta right to him.
**********
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