Half a day later.
When the Red-Haired Pirates reappeared before Kong Tai, Uta, who was still in a low state, followed Shanks. It was unclear if it was because Shanks and his family appeared the moment she broke down, or for some other reason, that she hadn't truly collapsed.
Kong Tai could see that Uta's state, though lacking the morning's sunshine, had not truly fallen into darkness.
The shadow deep within her heart could only be healed later with the warmth of family.
Without much discussion about Uta, the moment the Red-Haired Pirates appeared, this dilapidated ruin became lively.
A feast, a bonfire, barbecued meat, and a livestream that was not entirely different from yesterday but more interesting, caused the gloom in Uta's eyes to dissipate significantly.
Only when facing the camera and the cheers of her fans would she briefly forget the truth she had just been shrouded in by darkness and almost dragged into.
By the bonfire, Shanks held a wine bottle, his cheeks flushed, and watched Uta sing and dance loudly in front of the camera with a smile.
The little girl he once knew had grown up and was about to achieve her ideals and goals. As family, he was genuinely happy for her.
Of course, it would have been even more perfect if not for the disaster nine years ago.
But he also knew that there were no "if onlys" in this world, especially concerning time and years. No one could reverse established history.
That year, he concealed the truth, taking all the blame for the destruction of Aregia upon himself and his crew, wanting Uta to live safely and happily without being affected.
However, when he saw Uta again, he realized he had underestimated his importance to her. The deep hatred for pirates that Uta harbored for his sake, he felt the moment they met.
And that resentment towards him was also exceptionally strong.
Uta, who grew up with hatred as her companion, clearly did not grow up as happy as he had imagined.
If it weren't for this sudden event, he wouldn't have known what would have become of Uta if she had found the Den Den Mushi herself and learned the truth.
He imagined she would have been in a completely different state than she was now.
"Thank you~"
Raising his wine bottle, Shanks clinked it against Kong Tai's nearby gourd, then tilted his head back and took several large gulps.
Actively controlling and initiating was better than passively enduring alone.
At least with him and his crew by her side, Uta wouldn't truly collapse.
Kong Tai simply smiled and shrugged at Shanks's thanks, unconcerned.
Bathed in the firelight, Kong Tai raised his wine gourd, took a light sip, and then said, "Tomorrow, have Uta release the Demon King. You can talk to her properly about it tonight. My main purpose for coming here is that yet-to-be-formed Demon King."
"Not formed?"
Shanks's drinking paused. He then put down the wine bottle and looked at Kong Tai with a surprised expression. "That guy is so strong, and he's not even formed yet??"
"Yes!" Kong Tai nodded, looking at the firelight before him. A flicker of an inexplicable color flashed across his eyes, and the corners of his mouth turned up. A stern expression appeared on his handsome face as he spoke softly.
"This world is not as simple as what your eyes see and what you imagine. You've traveled the world for so many years; you must have encountered many unbelievable things that exist only in legends."
"And these incomprehensible things, like the Demon King, originate from the fantasies, desires, and beliefs of living beings and humans. The most representative of these is the Devil Fruit."
"Devil Fruit??"
Hearing Kong Tai say this, Shanks became even more confused.
"Do you want to understand the world?"
"Do you want to understand a broader world?"
"Do you want to understand this starry sky?"
Putting down his wine gourd, Kong Tai suddenly turned his head, his azure eyes fixing on Shanks as he asked three questions in a row.
In this world, only the person before him could truly listen to him explain the truth.
He had never met Roger and didn't know how Roger managed to become the world's strongest, relying only on Haki in a world filled with all sorts of miraculous powers.
He had seen Garp and even fought him. Garp was powerful, and his Armament Haki was beyond what Kong Tai considered the peak, reaching a critical point where it was about to break the world's shackles.
But for Garp to break this critical point, given his age, if he were ten years younger, he might have succeeded. Now, however, it was impossible.
But the person before him was different. Shanks was at the peak of his life, and his Haki, although they hadn't fought, Kong Tai could tell had long reached a plateau where advancement was impossible. Especially his Conqueror's Haki, which was the most powerful Kong Tai had ever seen.
Kong Tai didn't know if this was Shanks's innate ability or something he had cultivated, but he was the most likely person Kong Tai had seen in this world to break those shackles.
Of course, this did not include Kuina.
Kong Tai already had plans for Kuina.
When she reached a point where she could no longer advance, Kong Tai would step in to help her break through those shackles.
These shackles might be a barrier that humans in this world could never overcome.
But Kong Tai was not from this world, and when he took Kuina to other planets, he didn't believe Kuina wouldn't be able to break through.
Similarly, without Kong Tai, Shanks would, like Roger and countless other peak powerhouses in this world, have no path or goal and be trapped at this level if he wanted to break these shackles.
A person without a goal is in a completely different state from one with a goal.
When one learns the truth of the world, when one learns of powers beyond the peak, and when one develops stronger desires and goals, humanity's inherent pursuit will compel them to break through these shackles by any means necessary.
Because... human desires are endless.
Everything has its two sides.
Desire is the source of all evil, yet it is also the driving force of human progress.
"The truth of the world??"
Shanks hadn't even figured out the previous question, and now Kong Tai was asking even more, making his head spin.
Shaking his head, he could tell the young man was not joking.
From the tone of the young man's voice, he knew that what he was about to say might be very important, not only to this world but also to him.
This was his intuition's judgment.
Therefore, the confused look in Shanks's eyes cleared instantly, his gaze no longer obscured by the alcohol.
He sat up straight, looked at the young man seriously, and nodded.
"I want to know."