Rhett raised an eyebrow. The blood mist formed a little hand that poked Oden's forehead. Lately, Rhett had enjoyed making these strange little things. The kids loved them.
"Hey, hey, you. Wano has only been stable for a few years. Are you really going to just abandon it and run away?"
Oden laughed and swatted the little mist hand away. He turned and dragged three bulging bags out of the back room.
"Kuhahaha! Who said anything about running away? I brought plenty of gifts!" He pulled them out one by one. "This is sake from Kuri. This is lacquerware from the Flower Capital. This is—"
Hiyori stood on her tiptoes and pulled a small wooden sword from one of the bags. "Father! This is my practice sword!"
Hizumi held another one, her eyes sparkling. "Look, Father! This one is mine!"
Toki covered her mouth and laughed softly. "Oden has been preparing since last night. He wouldn't even listen to the Red Scabbards."
Rhett looked at the pile of luggage that was almost as tall as a small mountain. The corner of his mouth twitched. "Are you trying to move all of Wano onto the ship?"
Oden suddenly became serious. He slammed his fist into his palm.
"Because it suddenly occurred to me—" His eyes sparkled. "Captain Roger's wife! A legendary woman who could tame the captain! I must pay my respects!"
"THWACK!!!"
"Using a word like 'tame' for a gentle mother is a little rude, don't you think" Rhett smiled sweetly. "I don't care what you say about Roger. But watch your words when it comes to Rouge, okay Otherwise, you might die~"
Tears shot out of Oden's eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Rhett! I'm so sorry! Lady Roger must be a very gentle person. I was wrong, I was wrong. Please don't kill me."
Rhett's smile grew even sweeter. The corners of his eyes curved into crescent moons. But a dangerous aura vaguely emanated from him. Blood mist flowed slowly around his fingertips. A ferocious blood dragon appeared behind him, as if it had accidentally escaped from the mist.
Even though Uncle Rhett was smiling so sweetly, Hiyori and Hizumi unconsciously took half a step back and hid behind Toki. The two little ones swallowed.
Hizumi muttered quietly, "Father... might be in trouble..."
Toki gently pressed her hands on the two children's shoulders and smiled softly. "Mr. Rhett is only joking." But she also quietly moved half a step back.
Oden's forehead was beaded with sweat. His throat bobbed.
Countless messages floated across Rhett's smiling face. Kill you, kill you, kill you, kill you.
"I'll kill you~"
Oden stiffly raised his hands. "Um... Rhett... I was really complimenting Rouge... Did you just say something very bad?"
"Hm?" Rhett tilted his head. The blood mist suddenly exploded into dozens of little hands waving in the air. "Keep going. I'm listening~"
"K-Kuhahaha..." Oden let out a stiff laugh. Then he suddenly ducked behind Roger. "Captain, save me!"
Roger was eating an apple, watching the show. When Oden grabbed him, he almost choked. "Cough... Oden..."
"Oh dear~" Rhett's voice was sweet enough to make your teeth hurt. "Where do you think you're going, Oden?"
The blood mist instantly turned into chains and tied Oden up tightly.
Hiyori covered her eyes and peeked through her fingers. "Father is so embarrassing..."
Hizumi looked at Rhett with admiration. "Uncle Rhett is so amazing!"
Toki coughed lightly. "Mr. Rhett, Oden is..."
"Don't worry" Rhett cut her off with a smile. "I'm just having a 'heart-to-heart' with him"
Oden's wails came from inside the blood mist. "I was wrong! I was really wrong! Lady Rouge is the gentlest, kindest, most beautiful woman in the world! Ahhh! Not my face!"
Roger finished his last bite of apple and wiped his mouth. "Ah, to be young~"
Perona floated in the air, holding her little pink parasol. "Lord Rhett is having so much fun~"
Laboon tilted his big head. "Woo? (What game are they playing?)"
......
Half an hour later, a bruised and battered Oden sat quietly in the corner. Rhett brushed off his hands, feeling refreshed.
"Alright. Time to go."
Hiyori carefully handed him a handkerchief. "Father... wipe your nosebleed..."
Oden's tears flowed like noodles. "Daughters are so thoughtful..."
Hizumi delivered the final blow. "It's just too embarrassing to watch."
Oden's tears sprayed out. Literally. Like a fountain.
As everyone boarded the ship, Rhett suddenly turned back and gave Oden a bright smile.
"Oh, by the way, when you meet Rouge..."
Oden immediately straightened his back. "I will be careful with my words! I won't say anything stupid!"
Rhett nodded with satisfaction. The blood mist formed a big hand and rubbed his head. "Good boy~"
Toki watched this scene and laughed softly behind her hand. "What a... lively family."
Toki gently tugged on Oden's sleeve. "Dear, if we delay any longer, we'll miss the tide."
"Oh, right!" Oden shouldered all the luggage at once. "Let's go, let's go, let's go!!"
Rhett watched the excited family of four. "Hey, are you really leaving Wano unattended?"
Oden jumped onto the deck and turned back with a bright smile. "Denjiro and the others are there! Besides—" He suddenly lowered his voice and winked at Rhett. "Didn't you just leave a blood mist clone sitting in the shogun's residence?"
Rhett: "..."
......
Roger stood on the dock, looking up at the completely transformed "Oro Jackson." His eyes were wide. His mouth was slightly open.
"Amazing!!!! Amazing!!!!"
"Is this... Rhett's Bruma Jackson?" Roger's voice trembled slightly.
Rhett leaned against the railing, raising an eyebrow proudly. "So, Captain? Not bad, right? Tom's craftsmanship?"
Roger didn't answer. He was like a man possessed. He ran up the gangplank three steps at a time. His fingers gently traced the ship's new alloy armor. An unbelievable light shone in his eyes.
"Amazing! Amazing!" Roger suddenly burst out laughing and jumped up and down on the deck. "This is incredible! This is absolutely incredible!"
He ran to the bow and hugged the roaring dragon head statue. "Old friend, you've become even cooler!"
Perona floated in the air, covering her mouth as she laughed. "Mr. Roger is so cute~"
Rhett walked to Roger's side and pointed at the cannon in the dragon's mouth. "Want to try out the new features?"
Roger's eyes immediately lit up. "Can I shoot it?"
"Not only can you shoot it..." Rhett pressed a button on the control panel. "It can also do this—"
The entire ship was suddenly covered in blue electric light. The hull let out a low hum.
"Wow!" Roger waved his arms and legs excitedly. "Amazing!!"
"Captain, you look like a robot right now!! I know it's cool! Wahahaha!" Rhett proudly introduced, "This is Tom's new power system. Combined with Wind Shells, it can go three times faster than a warship even in the Calm Belt. And then we have our 'Thunder God.'"
Roger couldn't wait to run to the cockpit. "Let me drive! Let me drive!"
Rhett grabbed him by the back of his collar. "Wait, you old bastard! You don't even know the control panel—"
"Who cares!" Roger broke free. "Ships have souls. The Oro Jackson, no, the Bruma Jackson will recognize me!"
As if to prove his point, the entire ship shook slightly. The engine let out a happy roar.
Rhett was also surprised. "Bruma Jackson, set sail!"
The whole ship shook slightly. The engine roared.
Rhett: Did I upgrade the Oro Jackson? Or did Roger upgrade my Bruma Jackson?