Shanks leaned forward and poked the cradle with great curiosity.
"Big bro, your Blood Mist can do this too?"
"Nonsense," Reed snapped his fingers with smug delight. The swirling blood vapor reshaped itself into a pile of baby toys. "I am the Lord of Mist. Making baby products is trivial compared to what I usually do. Where do you think I store my greatsword?"
Hearing the commotion, Olga rushed in holding the windchime she had crafted from cloud shells.
"Stella, we already knew you were having a baby! I'm going to be a big sister!"
Moria's shadow rose from the floor and twisted into a heart shape.
"Fufufufu… I have remodeled my entire Thriller Bark into a nursery. The baby might like it. Hahaha."
Perona floated in midair and retorted, "Lord Gecko Moria, your ship is too spooky! It will terrify the baby!"
Moria shot back indignantly, "What do you mean? Doesn't your entire room look like a pink ghost fortress? How is that not scary?"
Enel huffed with his arms crossed.
"Foolish mortals. This god has already declared that I will gift the child thunderclouds as toys."
Tesoro looked overwhelmed as he held Stella's hand.
"Everyone, the child hasn't even been born yet…"
But Reed simply waved his hand with theatrical grandeur.
"I hereby declare a holiday! The entire Sky Island gets three days off. All casinos in Gold City will serve free drinks. We will celebrate with a grand feast!"
Blood Mist shot upward and exploded among the clouds, forming a massive glowing word: "Congratulations."
Stella covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"Lord Reed, you are far too extravagant."
"Extravagant?" Reed grinned. "This is only the beginning. Once this little one is born, every island in the New World will raise a celebratory flag."
Lina suddenly remembered something and her eyes brightened.
"Brother, why don't we prepare a gift for the baby?"
Reed rubbed his chin.
"Good idea. Tesoro, what do you want? An expansion for Gold City? Or should I get a Devil Fruit for the baby? No… I should visit Mary Geoise."
Tesoro tightened his grip on Stella's hand and shook his head.
"Captain, you becoming the child's godfather is more than enough."
The Blood Mist froze for a moment.
Reed stood there motionless, his crimson eyes widening slightly.
After a long pause, he rubbed his nose and spoke with rare softness.
"You little brat… you really know when to say the right thing."
The Blood Mist spread out gently, wrapping the room in a soft, protective glow.
In the distance, golden bells chimed on their own. A fresh breeze swept across Sky Island, carrying the joy far and wide.
Reed turned to Shanks.
"What are you planning next?"
"I'll continue sailing. Maybe I'll find an island to rest on for a while," Shanks said as he scratched his head.
"What about you, big bro Reed? What's your plan?"
Reed smiled as he thought about what he needed to do next.
After all, he had just been granted the status of an allied nation. The World Government had sent several Devil Fruits and plenty of Berry treasures. Everyone praised him as if they had offered him a grand palanquin. Naturally, Reed had to make an official statement.
What? You guessed it?
Yes, his relationship with those two Emperors was never good. Reed intended to make that clear. Even though he had already killed plenty of people in Wano, it apparently wasn't obvious enough. This time, Reed wanted to see how much Kaido had grown since then.
Reed counted on his fingers.
God Valley.
Whole Cake Island.
Wano.
And now Onigashima.
He couldn't help but laugh.
Kaido: ???
Reed: Reed! Kaido's overly strict godfather.
As for choosing crew members, Enel had to come. Tesoro could not leave since he needed to take care of his wife. Then there was Gecko Moria… well… Reed considered it. Laboon, Perona, and Lina were still missing a first mate and a doctor.
Reed wondered whether there was something he was forgetting. Although he was raised by Roger, Reed had one thing Roger lacked: a strategic mind.
Roger's thinking was delicate, but he relied more on reading people's emotions. Reed, though outgoing, tended to analyze everything deeply because he knew that even if he acted recklessly, it wouldn't harm him or his family.
At first, he followed Tesoro's suggestion and considered raising the child peacefully on Sky Island. But Reed soon realized that the island lacked proper medical facilities. Cloud healers could not treat all illnesses. And judging by Stella's uneasiness, Reed knew it was no good. A worried mother would not be able to care for a newborn properly.
The first place he thought of was Drum Island's Drum Kingdom, the medical capital of the world.
(This was back when Drum Kingdom was still prosperous. Wapol had not yet seized the throne. Doctor Hiriluk had already been treating citizens for decades.)
Wapol's foolishness had not yet driven the doctors away. That meant Wapol's father was still maintaining the country with genuine effort.
Aside from the island being a medical haven, there was another legendary doctor: Dr. Kureha.
But why did Reed suddenly think of this?
Let us rewind the scene.
Morning sunlight pierced through the clouds above Sky Island and streamed into the palace of Gold City. Reed sat cross-legged on the throne, Blood Mist swirling between his fingers. His expression was unusually serious.
Tesoro and Stella sat across from him, nervously flipping through a book titled "Pregnancy Guide."
Tesoro frowned.
"The book says pregnant women shouldn't eat anything raw or cold. Wasn't the fruit yesterday too chilled?"
Stella stroked her belly and asked with concern,
"Lord Reed, do you think the baby will feel uncomfortable because Sky Island is too high? Will the air pressure affect it?"
Reed: "…"
Gecko Moria struggled to hold back laughter. His face turned bright red. Reed glared at him and he quickly pretended to examine his own shadow.
"You two…" Reed rubbed his temples.
"Stella, you are perfectly healthy. Tesoro, if you stay this nervous, the baby won't even be born yet and you will go insane."
Tesoro scratched his hair in distress.
"But Captain, every guide says the last four months are the most important. What if…"
At that moment, a chibi version of Reed popped up above his head, accompanied by a chibi Tesoro and a chibi Stella.
Mini Tesoro: Lord Reed, should we wear light-colored clothes? The book says lighter colors reduce stress.
Reed turned away in disbelief.
Mini Stella: Lord Reed, please use your Blood Mist to check once more if the baby is strong and healthy. Is the baby's life force thriving?
Reed smiled gently at her.
"Don't worry. I have already infused extra life force into it many times. It is stored inside you. If anything happens, it will immediately protect the baby."
Mini Tesoro and Mini Stella: Lord Reed! Lord Reed! Lord Reed!
"Stop!" Reed slammed his hand on the table, then quickly remembered something and tapped the table lightly instead. His voice dropped several octaves. Blood Mist formed a giant hand that covered Tesoro's mouth.
"I hereby announce that both of you are now forcibly on vacation. You are coming with me on the ship."
The banquet hall fell silent at once. Everyone stared at him.
Mouth full of meat, Gecko Moria mumbled,
"Captain, what have you decided?"
Reed grinned. Behind him, the Blood Mist condensed into a massive nautical chart.
"We set sail tomorrow for the Drum Kingdom."