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Night fell.
Under the pale white glow of the moonlight, Red and the others steered their ship away from the port of Orange Town.
Luffy, having eaten his fill, patted his round belly with a satisfied grin.
The Buggy Pirates' chefs weren't exactly top-tier, but their cooking was at least on par with a decent restaurant.
After enduring Nami's questionable culinary skills, not just Luffy, but even Red and Zoro had significantly lowered their expectations for food…
So this meal? Pretty satisfying.
It was getting late.
Luffy, feeling the drowsiness creeping in after eating so much, let out a yawn.
Just as he greeted everyone and was about to head off to sleep, Red, the last to board, suddenly spoke up.
"Everyone, wait a moment."
Zoro and Nami paused, as if they had expected this.
Only Luffy, already at the ship's hatch, turned back with a puzzled look.
"Huh? What's up, Red?"
"Didn't you agree to take me to the game world tonight!? Don't back out now!"
Assuming Red was about to change his mind, Luffy immediately pouted in protest.
However, Red simply smiled softly.
"Relax. I promised to take you, and I keep my promises."
"But…"
His smile faded as he sighed, his voice carrying a rare hint of apology.
"I think I owe you an apology for what happened today."
"Sorry, Luffy."
"Without the captain's permission, I went ahead and made the Buggy Pirates a subordinate crew under our flag."
"Oh, that?"
Luffy scratched the back of his head, looking unconcerned.
"That sounds kinda annoying, but if you decided it, then it's probably the right call."
"What's there to apologize for?"
After over two and a half years together, Red's place in Luffy's heart was already on par with Ace and Sabo.
Besides, Red was his vice-captain and trainer.
Luffy's trust in him was absolute.
Even so, Red shook his head.
"This is different."
He met Luffy's gaze.
"Even if you're an idiot who can't make decent plans, you're still the captain of this ship—our captain."
"This time, I made a decision on my own and let others sail under our name without your approval."
"That oversteps my bounds."
Luffy blinked, his playful demeanor fading as he sensed Red's seriousness.
For a moment, the two stood still, the cool sea breeze rustling their clothes.
The atmosphere grew tense.
"I see."
Luffy's voice dropped, taking on a rare solemn tone.
"It sounds like you made a serious mistake, Red."
"Making decisions without the captain's approval is a big no for pirates."
"Luffy…" Nami stepped forward, about to say something.
But Zoro stopped her.
Luffy adjusted his straw hat, his expression unusually firm.
"In that case…"
"As punishment…"
"No breakfast for you tomorrow!!!"
"..."
"..."
The cool sea breeze continued to blow, ruffling their clothes, yet the weight of the moment suddenly dissolved into something almost comical because of Luffy's words.
Still, Red responded with complete seriousness.
"I understand, Captain. I'll accept the punishment."
Under the moonlight, the deck fell into silence once more.
Then, after a while, Luffy spoke again, this time with genuine sincerity.
"Thank you, Red."
Red smiled calmly. "You're welcome~"
Nami, who had been bracing for a serious confrontation, stood there in stunned silence.
Their conversation made no sense.
She quickly turned to Zoro, silently asking for an explanation.
Zoro, not one for riddles, thought for a few seconds before whispering back to her.
"I think… Red didn't actually forget to inform Luffy. He left him out on purpose."
"For that apology just now."
"Huh? Why would he do that?" Nami frowned, struggling to follow the logic.
Fortunately, Zoro had already figured it out.
"Maybe… Red wants Luffy to realize that he's the captain of this ship."
Nami was still confused. "What do you mean? Luffy is our captain."
Zoro chuckled, then asked,
"Tell me, Nami, have you ever truly seen Luffy as the one leading us forward?"
"Do you think this crew follows Luffy's orders… or Red's?"
"...What?"
Nami blinked. The question echoed in her mind, and for a moment, she didn't know how to answer.
If Zoro had asked whether she considered Luffy a friend, she would've answered without hesitation.
But captain?
When she thought about it… it was always Red who made the big decisions, handled the important matters, and took the lead when things got serious.
Compared to a captain who steered the crew's course, Luffy often felt more like a carefree powerhouse—a fighter who led with strength rather than strategy.
In that instant, Nami suddenly understood Red's intentions.
"I see…" she murmured.
Zoro's guess had been entirely correct.
Which wasn't surprising.
After all, he had been the inspiration for Red's actions.
Just as Nami realized, Luffy—still new to the sea—saw his journey as an adventure, a chance to explore the world with his friends.
Rather than commanding his crew, he simply wanted to sail alongside them, free and equal.
It was a wonderful way to live, but in the long run, it wouldn't be enough.
In the original timeline, Usopp had nearly left the crew due to his own weakness and the conflict over the Going Merry.
It wasn't until after the Enies Lobby incident that Zoro, the true vice-captain of the crew, stepped up and made Luffy understand what it meant to be a captain.
But now, Red had taken on that role.
The tragedies of the original timeline wouldn't happen.
So, to help Luffy grow, he had staged this entire situation.
It wasn't as intense as the original events, but its impact would last.
Over time, under Red's subtle guidance, Luffy would truly embrace his position as captain—and understand the weight of responsibility it carried.
With Luffy's issue settled, Red shifted his gaze to Zoro and Nami.
"So," he said, "I'm guessing you two have a lot of questions as well. Go ahead and ask."
Nami hesitated, but Zoro stepped forward without hesitation.
"There is something I want to ask."
"Red, what you said to Buggy last night—was it true?"
"You claimed… that you can see both the past and the future!?"