Vette blended seamlessly into the daily life of Reid's crew. Her presence felt natural, unforced, as if she had always been part of the ship. At the same time, much of the Moon still needed rebuilding, so Reid and his crew decided to remain there for the time being.
At dawn, when the first rays of sunlight fell across the deck, Vette had already brewed a pot of black tea.
Just as Reid reached for the pastries on the table
"Captain, your tea."
She gently set the cup beside his hand.
Reid glanced at it but did not take it, replying coldly, "I don't recall ever saying I liked this."
To be honest, Reid's wariness toward Vette outweighed any other emotion. He deeply resented the feeling of losing control, and that discomfort spilled over onto her. His attitude toward her was far from friendly.
Vette smiled faintly. "But your body needs it." She pointed at the blood mist unconsciously swirling around his fingertips. "It's far too restless. You'll get wrinkles."
"…Thanks." Reid narrowed his eyes, but in the end, he picked up the cup.
Vette gradually became part of every crew member's routine. On the open ground of the Moon, Perona floated in midair, directing her ghost dolls as they launched their attacks.
"Big sister Vette, watch your left!"
Vette shifted lightly to the side. A slender silver sword appeared in her hand, slicing through the air and leaving behind an icy blue arc tinged with a faint scent of roses.
"Wow, that's amazing!" Perona's eyes sparkled. "Did you train in swordsmanship before?"
"A little." Vette sheathed the sword, her smile gentle. "A friend taught me, a long time ago."
From a distance, Reid heard this and frowned slightly.
Lunchtime on the ship was always lively.
Laboon thumped the deck enthusiastically, clearly asking for Vette's special "Moonlight-Style Grilled Fish," a dish she had created using spices from the ancient city's storerooms. To everyone's surprise, it suited their tastes perfectly.
"Here, eat slowly."
Vette cut the fish into small pieces and fed Laboon by hand. The young Laboon was completely won over, nuzzling her affectionately after every bite.
Laboon was extremely sensitive to kindness and malice, so the crew's attitude toward Vette naturally became warmer.
Tesoro sliced his steak and joked, "Captain, shouldn't we be paying Vette a salary? She's acting as cook, doctor, and sword instructor all at once."
Reid snorted. "She chose to do it."
Vette was not offended. She simply smiled and offered Reid a piece of grilled fish. "Captain, try this."
Reid paused. "…Uh, thanks?"
At night, the deck shimmered beneath a sky full of stars.
Vette sat by the railing, humming an ancient melody. Her voice was soft, soothing away exhaustion. Enel, surprisingly, did not complain. Instead, he leaned against the mast, eyes closed, sleeping peacefully.
Reid approached, the blood mist around him thickening under the moonlight. "Where did you learn that song?"
Vette stopped singing and turned to him. "In a dream."
"The same answer every time." Reid frowned impatiently.
Vette chuckled softly. "One day, you'll remember." Her gaze drifted past Reid to the star-filled sky. "When that day comes, don't complain that I'm annoying."
Reid was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What exactly is this 'future' you keep talking about?"
Vette blinked and replied playfully, "A future with you in it is the best one."
"…Nonsense," Reid muttered.
The blood mist surged as Reid extended his hand.
"Welcome to the Crimson Dawn Pirates. I am the captain of the Crimson Dawn Pirates, Reid, the Mist King."
Vette grinned at him. "This morning, I could feel how wary you were of me. How did you suddenly let go in a single day? Should I say that suits your personality?"
"Because I am Reid. It has nothing to do with power or status. I am Reid, that's all."
"That does sound like you."
Vette stood and bowed slightly. "I am Vette, first mate of the Crimson Pirates. I place myself at your service, my captain."
"Doesn't that sound like something rather specific?"
Who knows.
Vette made a face at Reid, wagging her finger from side to side. "I said the Crimson Pirates, not the Crimson Dawn Pirates, you silly captain."
"If you earn my approval in battle, becoming first mate isn't impossible. No one ever said my ship could only have one." Reid stared at Vette intently. She really was devious.
"I think Mr. Tesoro does a fine job, and I…"
Vette tried to refuse politely, smiling.
Suddenly, Tesoro emerged from the shadows, followed by a crowd of eavesdropping crew members. Moria was there, and even Stella, holding little Lati. Everyone had shown up.
"Please, you have to seize this chance," Tesoro rushed forward and bowed deeply to Vette. "You must teach the captain a proper lesson. Everyone likes you. The two of us can manage the captain's business together."
Behind him, the crew nodded in unison.
Vette blinked. "Huh?"
"Do you understand?" Tesoro gritted his teeth. "Do you understand the despair of running a top-tier Emperor crew on the Grand Line? We have three emperor-level officers and the largest allied territories, but when it comes time to expand, we never have enough manpower. Not a single person we can rely on." He shot Reid a fierce glare. "This guy messes everything up and then goes off to sleep. And then goes off to sleep again!"
Perona floated over and added cheerfully, "Last time, the paperwork stack was taller than Lord Moria~"
Moria chuckled. "Fufufu. I saw him stuffing documents into my zombie's mouth."
Enel snorted. "This god has no interest in dealing with those cursed papers. But this guy "
Reid said nothing.
Wasn't he acting cool just a moment ago? How did one sentence turn this into a public trial? The saying was right. Trouble really does come from the mouth.
His blood mist grew restless. He felt it might be time to escape, especially since Tesoro looked on the verge of collapse.
Vette looked at the resentful faces of the crew and suddenly burst out laughing. "I see now." She turned to Reid, a sly glint flashing in her icy blue eyes. "Looks like the captain needs some proper education."
Tesoro seized the moment and shoved forward a stack of papers. "These are three months' worth of backlogged reports."
Then he produced a map. "These are the routes that need confirmation."
Finally, he pulled out a ledger. "And these are the accounts for our underground operations."
Reid stared at the towering piles that instantly formed on the deck and bared his shark-like grin. "Are you rebelling?"
Vette rolled up her sleeves with elegance. "No. This is just the 'three fires of a new official.'"
Her silver sword was already drawn. "Captain, please give me some guidance."
Reid's blood mist erupted in an instant.
"Interesting! Let me see what you're capable of!"