As the blood mist dispersed, the atmosphere in the grand council hall of Mary Geoise unexpectedly softened. The Five Elders, Reid, and Shanks stood together in a strange moment of calm.
Servants trembled as they carefully rearranged the tea set, as if trying to convince themselves that the earlier confrontation had been nothing more than a shared hallucination.
"I am pleased to work with you," Saint Peter said with a politician's smile as he lifted his teacup.
Reid grinned, the crimson light in his eyes flickering with amusement. "Working with you old men isn't half bad either."
He tilted his head back, drained the tea in one gulp, and slammed the cup onto the table. "Now then, it's about time you released them, don't you think?"
Saint Saturn nodded slightly and tapped his staff on the floor.
Reid and Shanks walked side by side.
The Five Elders' attendant hurried ahead of them, walking so quickly it seemed he feared the demon behind him might change his mind at any moment.
It was unavoidable. No one with comrades in captivity could remain in a good mood.
On the negotiating table, everyone laughed together. Yet behind those smiles, everyone understood exactly what methods had been used.
"Big brother," Shanks whispered, "they agreed too easily."
"Of course they did," Reid said with a cold chuckle. "Those old foxes make concessions on the surface, but behind closed doors they're already plotting how to slowly chain me down with their so-called 'allied nation' status."
He patted Shanks' shoulder. "But it's fine. They're playing an open-ended game. I have my own way of handling things."
Free benefits are always worth taking.
There was no need to worry. Everything was already within his grasp.
Shanks nodded quietly.
The white room door slowly opened.
The previously boisterous Roger Pirates fell instantly silent.
Eyedrake, Marcus, Jackson Banner... Men who once conquered the Grand Line with Gol D. Roger now stood frozen in place.
Eyedrake stared at the floor with clenched fists. Marcus even stepped back slightly, as if ashamed to face the newcomers.
"What's wrong?" Reid raised an eyebrow. "Has it been so many years that you've forgotten how to drink?"
Eyedrake suddenly raised his head, eyes bloodshot. "Reid... we should have taken our own lives! Those bastards used us as bargaining chips to threaten you and Shanks."
"Shut up," Reid interrupted sharply. The blood mist lashed out, forming a hand that smacked the back of Eyedrake's head. "I risked my life to pull you out of there, and you greet me with depressing nonsense?"
Eyedrake forced a bitter smile and stepped forward. "But we dragged you down with us."
If we had known the Government would target us after Roger's death, we should have...
"That's enough!" Reid grabbed Eyedrake by the collar. "Listen up, you old fools. You were Roger's crew. You are my comrades."
If any of you stood in my place today, you would have made the same choice.
He let go and grinned. "Besides, it was just a few Celestial Dragons. It's not like I haven't done it before."
At that moment, Shanks lifted a bottle he seemed to pull out of thin air. "Have a drink."
The room's tension melted.
Marcus burst out laughing, grabbed the bottle, and took a huge swig. "Damn it. Getting lectured by a youngster!"
Eyedrake wiped his face, then punched Reid in the chest. "Come on! Let's drink! I want to hear how you made the Five Elders jump out of their chairs!"
This wasn't the place to chat.
"Let's go to my place," Eyedrake added.
Reid turned to a servant. "Tell the Five Elders to contact Tesoro. I'm busy."
They skipped the unnecessary detour and headed straight back to Skypiea.
Why not go to Twin Moon Village?
Because Reid had become the center of attention. People's eyes followed him everywhere he went.
And then...
The cloaked spaceship drifted down through the White Sea and landed gently at the cloud harbor of the sky city.
When the former Roger Pirates stepped onto the misty island, the sight left them stunned.
A towering golden bell gleamed beneath sunlight. Buildings made of cloud-shell lined the pathways. In the distance, a colossal vine spiraled upward toward an even higher level of the sky island.
"Good lord!" Eyedrake gasped. "Reid, you've done well for yourself."
Reid grinned. The blood mist in his palm condensed into a miniature sky shark that swam around them. "Well, I am the Mist Lord now. I have to look the part."
Shanks laughed. "Even the Five Elders envy his sky island these days."
Suddenly, a chorus of cheers erupted.
"Lord Reid is back!"
Olga, Perona, and Little Laboon dashed toward him like a whirlwind, throwing themselves into Reid's arms.
Reid brightened instantly. Kids were just too adorable.
Wait.
Laboon?
Reid panicked. "Laboon, Laboon, control yourself!"
Laboon: Too late. I thought it was just a speed bump.
Laboon: Fly, Reid!
Reid could have dodged, but seeing how genuinely excited Laboon was, dodging would have sent the kid tumbling onto the clouds.
And Reid adored his kids far too much.
There was a loud crash.
Reid hugged all three tightly. Laboon immediately realized something was wrong.
"Uuu..."
"It's all right, Laboon. Nothing happened. Just be careful next time."
Laboon nodded, pulled out a tiny dried fish from her pouch, and shoved it into Reid's mouth as compensation.
Reid laughed and patted all three on the head.
(No, you cannot touch them. 0.o)
Behind them, Tesoro, Enel, Moria and the others gradually appeared, all wearing relaxed smiles.
"Welcome home, Captain."
Tesoro snapped his fingers. Golden light rose from the ground, forming a magnificent banquet table. "Perfect. Freshly delivered Skypiea brew."
"Yo!" Marcus whistled. "Isn't this that dependable kid from Roger's ship? Look at you now. Quite the big shot."
Reid raised a brow. "And you haven't changed at all. Still as... carefree as ever."
Laughter filled the sky.
The banquet began immediately.
Grilled sky-fish cooked with dial heat, fruits served in golden dishes, fizzy cloud-wine... The delicacies of Skypiea left the former Roger Pirates dazzled.
Eyedrake gnawed on a fish and asked through stuffed cheeks, "Reid, just how big is your territory?"
Reid lounged lazily on his golden chair, blood mist curling around his fingers. "Not too big, not too small. Just right."
Enel huffed. "Mortals, this is but a corner of God's kingdom."
"God?" Jackson Banner burst into hearty laughter. "You're even more boastful than Rayleigh ever was!"
Moria's shadow stretched across the ground in a bizarre shape. "Hehehe... Want to see my Thriller Bark? It's bigger than this!"
Perona floated midair, holding a small Kuma plush. "Master Moria, your ship is practically growing mushrooms..."
The laughter grew louder, the atmosphere warmer.
"Ahahaha! I never thought we old men would gather like this again!"
Suddenly, Reid stood up. Blood mist surged behind him, forming the outline of a throne.
He raised his cup high, his crimson gaze sweeping across everyone.