One Piece: The Archangel's Guide

Chapter 48: The New Star of Elegia

Elegia, the Music Academy.

In the hallway of the piano recital room, Gordon, the king of Elegia, walked slowly, holding a musical score. As he walked, the faint sound of a piano caught his attention. As the king of this country and the director of this academy, he remembered the melody of every student's performance. But at this moment, he faintly heard a piano melody that was unfamiliar, yet second to none. Curiosity compelled him to follow the sound to its source to investigate.

As he passed a corner, a brightly lit recital room caught his eye. The increasingly clear piano music told him that this was the source of the unfamiliar melody.

"..."

A girl with red and white hair sat before the piano, her slender, pale fingers dancing across the ivory keys. Uta's eyes were closed, a faint, serene smile gracing her lips. Her small, delicate body swayed gently with the beautiful melody of the piano.

The combination of Uta's exceptional musical talent and the expensive, high-quality instrument produced a melody as beautiful as a babbling spring, giving Louis and Yelena, who were beside her, an unprecedented musical experience.

After a long while, the melody in the piano recital room continued, but its moving tone gradually softened.

Louis watched Uta, who looked so serene and graceful during her performance, and asked softly, "Uta, after we meet up with Shanks and the others, we'll be leaving the East Blue for other seas. Do you want to come with us?"

Uta slowly opened her eyes during her performance, revealing purple orbs like amethysts. She turned her head to look at the two people sitting beside her, who were watching her quietly, and a smiling expression appeared on her face.

"I can..."

To Louis and Yelena's surprise, Uta didn't seem to think much about it, or perhaps she had already made up her mind. She quickly gave them her answer, willing to leave with them.

Louis and Yelena exchanged glances, then both smiled.

"Welcome aboard, Uta!"

"Please take care of me, Captain, Vice-Captain!" Uta's eyes curved into crescents, her smile as bright as a flower.

Just then, the door to the piano recital room was pushed open. A tall, middle-aged man with long blond hair and a slightly strange chin ran in, stopping in front of Uta with an excited expression. He looked at Uta as if he were looking at a piece of uncut jade waiting to be polished.

Then, under Uta's confused gaze, he straightened his clothes, cleared his throat, and spoke seriously, "My name is Gordon. I am the king of this country and the director of this academy."

"And then?" Uta's eyes were full of bewilderment; she didn't quite understand.

The next moment, Gordon's serious demeanor vanished, replaced by a rather comical, pleading posture. "Young lady, you seem to have a very high talent for music. Are you interested in learning more here?"

"Eh? Learn more?" Uta's eyes widened.

A flicker of interest crossed her eyes, and she cast an inquisitive glance at Louis. With Louis and Yelena around, she didn't need to worry about this man trying to trick her. The words of this self-proclaimed king had piqued her interest.

Gordon followed Uta's gaze and only then noticed that there were two other people in the recital room. When he saw the wings on Louis's back, his pupils constricted. He had always thought the rumors about an angel appearing in Elegia yesterday were just that—rumors. He never expected it to be true, and right here in the music academy.

Louis met Uta's expectant gaze and nodded gently. "We also have to wait for Shanks and the others, so we'll need to stay here for a while."

"Yay!" Uta was first taken aback, then a bright smile lit up her face.

Some time later.

Uta's talent in music far exceeded the expectations of Gordon and her instructors. She could master any music-related knowledge in a very short time and quickly apply it in various ways. In a very short period, Uta surpassed and conquered many of the instructors who had been immersed in music for years.

For a time, Uta's name spread throughout Elegia. Everyone was talking about the musical genius who had come to their kingdom. Thanks to Elegia's strong musical atmosphere, the discussions among musicians, students, and the general public were mostly positive praise and discussion. Everyone here knew that slander and jealousy would not improve one's own musical artistry. Only by learning with an open mind could one go further.

Another performance ended.

Louis and Yelena sat in the audience of a large concert hall, silently watching Uta, who was surrounded by numerous musicians like the moon surrounded by stars. Amidst the sea of praise and exclamations, Yelena turned to look at Louis's profile and asked softly, "Louis, still no contact from Shanks and the others?"

Louis shook his head without speaking. For Shanks and his crew, with their strength, to be forced into a situation in the East Blue where they didn't even have time to answer a Den Den Mushi... it made Louis think of a very low-probability event. He suspected that Shanks and his crew's "kidnapping" of a certain Marine's third-generation, Revolutionary's second-generation child in Foosha Village had been exposed, and they were now being pursued by Garp.

Yelena's heart sank. She believed that Shanks and his crew had probably encountered an irresistible accident and had no time to respond to Louis.

"Do you think... he'll be able to make it to the rendezvous?" Yelena looked at Uta, who was smiling brightly on stage, and felt a pang of heartache. If Shanks failed to arrive as promised, Uta would be very sad.

Louis thought about Shanks's current strength, then about Garp, who was in his prime, and gave an ambiguous answer. "It's hard to say..."

Yelena sighed at his words. Among the three of them, only Uta firmly believed that Shanks would come to Elegia to meet them.

Brrring~ Brrring~ Brrring~

Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi on Louis's body rang. Yelena was taken aback, her thoughts immediately turning to the Red Hair Pirates.

Click.

Louis quickly answered it. Just as they expected, a voice that was not unfamiliar to either of them came from the Den Den Mushi. The device mimicked Yasopp's appearance, panting as it spoke quickly, "Louis, sorry, we probably can't make it to Elegia!"

"Garp?" Louis said thoughtfully.

After a moment of silence, Yasopp said helplessly, "That's right. We ran into that old geezer Garp. He's really strong. We probably can't make it to Elegia..."

Moreover, they didn't want to bring danger to Uta, Louis, and Yelena.

To this, Louis looked up at Uta and said with a blank expression, his words impossible for the Red Hair crew to ignore.

"During this time, Uta has learned a lot in Elegia. She has become the new star of Elegia."

"Tomorrow night at seven, Uta will hold her first-ever concert here."

"Everyone from the Red Hair Pirates, I'm sure you don't want to see Uta disappointed in Shanks, in all of you, because you didn't show up, right?"

"..."

Meanwhile, aboard the Red Force.

Yasopp, covered in wounds and wrapped in numerous bandages, stood frozen on the spot.

"Uta's first concert?!"

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