That face on the video Den Den Mushi screen… that face!
Old Man Uru's eyes widened, and he almost passed out from shock!
"You, you, you…"
He pointed at the screen, his finger trembling like he had Parkinson's.
"Abyss?!"
"Is that really you?! How come… how come you haven't changed at all?!"
If it weren't for the familiar eyebrows, eyes, and demeanor, he would have absolutely thought that these were top-notch actors hired by his two grandsons!
No, his two grandsons had only found out about their biological grandfather, Abyss, today.
And this wasn't just "looking a bit young"—
This was literally frozen in time!
He looked even more youthful than his two biological grandsons standing next to him!
"Cough."
Abyss awkwardly touched his handsome face.
"It's a long story."
He winked at Tucker.
Tucker immediately understood and gestured to Lady Toki, who was also a bit dazed, making a polite "please" gesture:
"Madam, we have some family matters to discuss, if you don't mind…"
Lady Toki looked at the strange family in front of her, nodded slightly, and followed Tucker to a large tree in the distance to wait.
With no outsiders present, Abyss took a deep breath and began recounting his incredibly bizarre 65 years to the grandfather-grandson trio.
From being swallowed, to despair, to finding that troublesome fruit;enduring fifty years of hardship, establishing the Eternal Kingdom,discovering that Lord Lantern could grow, and then facing a survival crisis…
The hardships, loneliness, and struggles within his tale drew gasps of shock and endless sighs from his three listeners.
Old Man Uru's eyes were filled with complex emotions, which finally turned into a long sigh:
"You… you really are… tenacious."
He had always thought his own life of fighting at sea was legendary enough, but compared to his brother's experience, it was child's play.
Ente and Anka also exchanged glances, their once-unruly expressions softening considerably.
Being trapped in one place for sixty-five years?
Just thinking about it made their wild hearts tingle.
And… their biological grandfather had actually managed to create a country?
But understanding was one thing—accepting it was another.
To ask two Supernovas, who were ambitious, newly famous on the seas, and ready to make their mark, to give it all up…
To follow a suddenly appearing "biological grandfather," who looked even younger than them, and "settle down" inside the belly of a fish?
They couldn't do it!
"So,"
Abyss, having exhausted his arguments, extended an invitation.
"That's the situation."
"Come back with me. It's a peaceful place, and you'll be immortal. We can manage the Eternal Kingdom together."
Uru almost didn't hesitate.
He was ninety-six years old, his body frail, and his former ambitions long worn away by time.
To go somewhere peaceful, spend his twilight years accompanied by his long-lost brother, and even… regain his youth?
Why not?
At ninety-six, if he didn't go now, there wouldn't be many days left to live anyway.
"I'll go!"
The old man answered decisively, even with a hint of eagerness.
Abyss was overjoyed.
Uru was the current user of the Mera Mera no Mi and possessed Conqueror's Haki. Even at ninety-six, he still had considerable combat power!
But the reactions of the two brothers were completely different.
"Are you kidding me?!"
Ente was the first to object, his brows furrowed tightly.
"We're Supernovas now! This is our time to shine! How can we hide in the belly of a fish?!"
"Exactly!" Anka crossed his arms, his tone firm.
"We still need to avenge our father! That bastard who defeated him must be killed by our own hands!"
Abyss looked at his two hot-blooded grandsons and didn't force them.
It was a good thing for young people to have dreams and goals to chase.
If he himself had possessed such determination back then, he might never have jumped into stomach acid.
"Alright," Abyss nodded. "I won't force you. However—"
He changed his tone.
"You only have ten years."
"I'll give you ten years."
"After ten years, no matter what—whether you've achieved your goals or avenged your father—you must come in."
"This is my final ultimatum."
Under the weight of bloodline pressure, the brothers' breathing hitched, and they subconsciously nodded.
Seeing this, Uru suddenly dropped another bombshell:
"Abyss, you don't know yet, do you? Your son—their father—Tas."
Uru paused, his tone proud.
"The overlord of the previous era, 'Phoenix' Tas, whom I personally trained!"
Abyss: "???"
Phoenix? Tas? The overlord of the previous era, according to Tucker?
He's my son?!!!
Is my son that amazing?!
Before he could recover from the shock, Uru had already dialed Tas's phone.
However, the conversation that followed was far from pleasant.
Tas's voice was cold. He clearly held deep resentment toward the "father" he had never met—the man who had indirectly caused his mother's early death.
But Tas himself was now a relic of the old era, his passion long gone. Though his voice was cold, he didn't oppose entering Lord Lantern's stomach.
He finally agreed stiffly:
"I'll go."
"For Old Man Uru, and also to see what kind of person the man my mother once deeply loved really is."
The call ended.
Abyss's mood was complicated. The pride of having such an incredible son was overshadowed by guilt.
He shook his head, putting those thoughts aside for the time being, and looked at his two grandsons.
"What's the deal with that kimono woman?"
At his words, the ears of the two young men—who had just been so full of bravado—instantly turned red. They stammered for a long while, unable to explain clearly.
"Well… Lady Toki, she…"
"We… that…"
Alright, no need to say more.
Abyss understood immediately.
So these two brats were lovesick—and it was unrequited love. Maybe… both of them had fallen for her at the same time?
Truly… young.
The Den Den Mushi call ended, and the family's first remote meeting came to a temporary close.
Abyss stepped out of the makeshift meeting spot as Tucker and Lady Toki walked over.
Just then, Lady Toki looked at Abyss, her eyes soft but filled with hope, and asked a question she had perhaps asked countless times before:
"Excuse me… do you know where Wano Country is? I want to go there."