The banquet lasted from sunset until dawn.
In the following days, Kong Tai and his companions stayed in Elegia, holding banquets or live broadcasts.
Within these short few days, through the live broadcasts and the push from the World Economic News Agency, Uta’s fame spread rapidly across the globe.
With the emergence of "New Era," she definitively became a world-renowned songstress, known to everyone.
Furthermore, thanks to Kong Tai’s piercing of the spatial barrier, the gap between reality and dreams was no longer insurmountable, thus fulfilling the happiness many only experienced in their dreams.
Although the happiness within Uta’s world was fleeting, and people ultimately had to return to reality to continue playing their destined roles.
Yet, fleeting happiness is still happiness, and it brings a light of hope to the downtrodden masses already dwelling in darkness, giving them the will to live.
Sometimes, this sliver of hope is enough to change a person's life, or even save it.
In Uta’s world.
On either side of a massive river channel, resembling a sternum, unlike anything in reality, people surged like a tide. All guided by Uta’s singing, they held up various colored glow sticks, their gazes fervent as they watched the girl singing her heart out on the dazzling stage at the end of the river channel.
Among the crowd were nobles, commoners, pirates, and even marines.
Despite their different identities and social classes, here and now, they all shared one common identity: "Uta's fan."
On the reefs in the middle of the river channel, Kong Tai and his group, dressed in various colored attire, sat with Shanks and his crew, enjoying barbecued meat while appreciating this rare concert.
Yes, a concert.
With the assistance of the World Economic News Agency, Uta had become a bona fide global songstress. Although her debut was only a few days ago, with the incredible power of the Uta Uta no Mi (Song-Song Fruit), holding a concert was a natural progression.
"Have you decided?"
Raising his sake gourd and clinking it with Shanks's wine bottle, Kong Tai took a sip and glanced at the girl center stage, "Are you really not letting her join you?"
"You know, you've only reunited with her for a short while. If you leave now, she might be sad for a long time."
"I know."
Shanks put down his wine bottle, his gaze fixed on the stage, a flicker of pride in his eyes. "My daughter has grown up and is gradually finding her own path. She belongs to the whole world, not just our crew."
"That's not a conflict."
Kong Tai shifted his gaze from the stage to Shanks, "During the pursuit of one's dreams, happiness is amplified with the support and companionship of family. I don't believe she will find the happiness she desires by leaving you."
"But..."
Hearing Kong Tai’s words, Shanks hesitated. "The sea is too harsh, and my future pursuits are destined to be very dangerous. I don't want to..."
"You think she's afraid of danger?" Kong Tai interrupted Shanks directly.
From Shanks's departure to Uta's complete hatred for pirates, one could gauge the immense importance of Shanks in Uta's heart.
While it is true that young birds eventually grow and take flight on their own, this does not preclude the possibility of soaring through the skies with family by their side.
As a friend, Kong Tai simply did not want to see Uta hurt again.
Shanks had his considerations, Kong Tai knew that, but the world of the future was no longer the world without Kong Tai.
Once Im was dealt with, the World Government overthrown, and slavery abolished, the concept of adventuring groups would surely become a huge hit.
The division and reduction of pirates would make the Marines' job easier and the world more peaceful, rather than the current state of chaos wherever the eye could see.
In that world, the Red-Haired Pirates could also transition indirectly into an adventuring group.
Being part of an adventuring group meant not being a wanted criminal, naturally eliminating much trouble and danger.
Of course, this was just Kong Tai's own idea; the final decision still rested with Shanks.
"Let's talk about it after the incident at Mary Geoise!"
Shanks pondered for a moment and decided against letting Uta join the ship for now.
Even Kong Tai was unsure of Im’s true strength. If he brought Uta to Mary Geoise, many unforeseen circumstances might arise.
After all, while the girl's Devil Fruit ability was formidable, her physical body in reality was quite frail.
"Never mind about me," Shanks shook his head, unwilling to discuss the matter further with Kong Tai.
He raised his wine bottle, took a long swig, and looked at Kong Tai, "Are you really going to see Whitebeard next?"
"You know, that old man isn't someone easy to deal with!"
In his eyes, Whitebeard was a legendary senior on par with Roger, deserving of respect, but also incredibly stubborn. His tendency to casually adopt people as sons made even Shanks keep his distance.
Perhaps for this reason, although Shanks was an old acquaintance of Whitebeard and the members of his crew, he rarely visited Whitebeard's territory.
"I know."
Mentioning Whitebeard, a strange glint appeared in Kong Tai's eyes. He put down his sake gourd and, looking at the scratch marks on Shanks's face, chuckled. "The man who could leave scars on your face might possess something I desire. It compels me to visit the Whitebeard Pirates."
"Oh~"
Shanks lowered his wine bottle, touched the scar over his left eye, and a hint of recollection appeared in his eyes. "How did you know the scar on my face came from the Whitebeard Pirates?"
Kong Tai didn't answer directly but chuckled and retorted, "Is there anything in this world that I don't know?"
Gazing deeply at the young man before him, Shanks lowered his hand, gripped his wine bottle, and took another long drink, abandoning the topic. He then asked, "I've always felt that Teach, lurking within the Whitebeard Pirates, must have some unspeakable secret. That guy's strength isn't as superficial as it appears."
"Forget it," Shanks shook his head at this point, recalling the strength of the young man beside him, and didn't elaborate on Teach.
After all, no matter how strong Teach was, it depended on who he was being compared to. If compared to the young man beside him, Teach would be like an ant crawling on the ground, utterly incomparable.
"By the way," as if remembering something, Shanks put down his wine bottle and looked at the young man, "You still haven't said why you're looking for Teach."
"This."
Kong Tai didn't hide it from Shanks. He pulled out three sheets of paper from his dimensional bag and tossed them to Shanks.
"Hmm..."
Taking the papers and examining the patterns and writing, Shanks immediately knew what they were.
When he was on Roger's ship, he had personally seen Road Poneglyphs, so he was no stranger to the text on the papers.