Reed raised an eyebrow. The blood mist immediately formed a tiny hand that poked Oden's forehead. Lately, Reed had been enjoying making these little contraptions the boy was utterly fascinated by them.
"Hey, you! Wano has only been stable for a few years, and you're already thinking of abandoning your post?"
Oden chuckled and swatted away the swirling misty hand, then turned to drag out three bulging packages from the inner room. "Hahaha! Abandon? I brought tons of gifts!" One by one he displayed them. "This is sake from Kuri, this is lacquerware from Hanado, and this "
Hiyori tiptoed and pulled out a delicate wooden practice sword from one package. "Father! This is my training sword!"
Hizumi held another, her eyes sparkling. "Dad, look, this one's mine!"
Tsukihi covered her mouth, giggling softly. "Oden started preparing these last night. He didn't even listen to the junior disciples' advice."
Reed looked at the pile of luggage and twitched at the corner of his mouth. "You're planning to clear out all of Wano?"
Oden suddenly grew serious. He slammed a fist into his palm. "Because I just realized " His eyes gleamed. "Captain Roger's wife! She's a legendary woman who can even tame the captain! I have to pay her a proper visit!"
Bang!
"Calling a gentle mother 'docile' is a bit rude~" Reed said softly, a gentle smile on his face. "I don't care if you call Roger a fool, but when it comes to Sister Rouge, watch your words, or you'll be dead~"
Oden's eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Reed! Sorry~ Mrs. Roger must be an incredibly kind person. I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong, please don't kill me."
Reed's smile became even gentler, his eyes curved like crescent moons, but a faintly dangerous aura quietly seeped from him. The blood mist trickled from his fingertips, forming a fierce blood dragon behind him, as if it had accidentally escaped from the mist itself.
Despite Uncle Reed's gentle expression, Hiyori and Hizumi instinctively stepped back, hiding behind Tsukihi. Swallowing hard, Hizumi whispered, "Dad… it looks like something's about to happen…"
Tsukihi gently pressed on the children's shoulders and smiled softly. "Reed is just joking." But she, too, stepped back slightly.
Tiny beads of sweat formed on Oden's forehead. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed nervously.
In Reed's smile, countless malicious thoughts flickered: Kill you, kill you, kill you, kill you.
"Kill you~"
Oden stiffly raised his hands. "Uh… Reed… I was really praising Sister Rouge just now… what you said was… unbelievable, right?"
"Huh?" Reed tilted his head. The blood mist surged suddenly, transforming into dozens of little hands dancing in the air. "Go on, I'm listening~"
"Kuh… kuhahaha…" Oden forced a laugh, then suddenly bolted behind Roger. "Captain, save me!"
Roger munched on an apple while watching the scene. Oden grabbed him abruptly, almost choking him. "Cough, cough… Oden…"
"Oh my~" Reed's voice dripped with mock sweetness. "Oden, where do you think you're going?"
The blood mist instantly transformed into chains, tightly binding Oden. Hiyori covered her eyes, peeking through her fingers. "Father is so embarrassing…"
Yet Hizumi looked on with admiration. "Uncle Reed is amazing!"
Tsukihi cleared her throat. "Reed, Oden he…"
"Don't worry~" Reed interrupted with a playful smile. "I just want to have a little… 'deep conversation' with him~"
From within the blood mist, Oden's wails echoed. "I was wrong! I really was wrong! Sister Rouge is the kindest, gentlest, most beautiful woman in the world! Ahhh, don't hit my face!"
Roger finished the last bite of his apple, wiped his mouth, and murmured, "Youth is wonderful~"
Perona floated in midair, shading herself with a pink parasol. "Lord Reed is having so much fun~"
Laboon tilted his big head. "Woof? (What game are they playing?)"
Half an hour later, Oden, battered and bruised, sat obediently in the corner. Reed clapped his hands, looking refreshed. "Alright, time to go."
Hiyori carefully handed him a handkerchief. "Dad… to wipe your nosebleed…"
Oden immediately began crying, tears streaming like noodles. "Only my daughter is this considerate…"
Hizumi added, "Because it's too embarrassing to watch otherwise."
Oden's tears began gushing, quite literally.
Once everyone boarded the ship, Reed suddenly turned to Oden, beaming. "By the way, when you meet Sister Rouge…"
Oden straightened his back immediately. "I'll be careful with every word and deed from now on! I'll never speak recklessly again!"
Reed nodded in satisfaction. The blood mist formed a giant hand that ruffled Oden's head. "Good boy~"
Tsukihi watched this scene, covering her mouth as she giggled softly. "What a lively family…"
She tugged on Oden's sleeve. "Husband, if we delay any longer, the tide will recede."
"Oh, right!" Oden hoisted all the luggage. "Let's go, let's go!!"
Reed looked at the excited, lively family of four. "Hey, you guys really don't care about Wano anymore?"
Oden leapt onto the deck, turning with a brilliant smile. "Tsunjiro and the others are there! And " He suddenly lowered his voice and winked at Reed. "You didn't leave a blood mist clone to guard the Shogun's palace, did you?"
Reed: "..."
Roger stood at the pier, gazing at the newly renovated Oro Jackson, his eyes wide and mouth slightly open.
"Sugoi!!! Sugoi!!"
"This… is Reed's Bruma Jackson?" Roger's voice trembled slightly.
Leaning on the ship's railing, Reed proudly raised his eyebrow. "How's that, Captain? Tom's craftsmanship isn't bad, right?"
Roger didn't respond. He seemed enchanted, bounding up the gangway in three steps. His fingers traced the newly installed alloy plating on the ship, eyes glittering with disbelief.
"This is amazing! Amazing!" Roger laughed and leapt onto the deck. "This is incredible! It's truly incredible!"
He rushed to the bow, hugging the roaring dragon figurehead. "Old friend, you look even cooler!"
Perona floated in midair, covering her mouth, giggling. "Mr. Roger is so cute~"
Reed approached Roger, pointing at the cannon opening in the dragon's mouth. "Want to try the new feature?"
Roger's eyes lit up instantly. "It can fire?"
"It doesn't just fire…" Reed pressed a button on the control panel. "It can also do this "
The entire ship was suddenly bathed in blue electrical light. A low hum resonated through the hull.
"Wow!" Roger waved his arms excitedly, dancing around. "So powerful!!"
"Captain, you look like an NPC now! This is so cool! Wahaha!" Reed proudly introduced. "This is Tom's newly developed propulsion system. Combined with the wind shell, it can reach three times the speed of a warship in windless zones, plus our 'Raijin' system."
Roger impatiently dashed to the helm. "Let me steer! Let me steer!"
Reed grabbed his collar. "Wait, you old rascal! You can't even recognize the control panel "
"Who cares!" Roger wriggled free. "Ships have souls. Oro Jackson… no, Bruma Jackson will recognize me!"
As if to confirm his words, the entire ship shuddered slightly, the engines roaring joyfully.
Reed, equally amazed, muttered, "Bruma Jackson, step aside!"
The ship trembled again, engines rumbling.
Reed thought to himself: Did I make Oro Jackson amazing, or did Roger make my Bruma Jackson amazing?