Uta's life over these years had been truly miserable.
When that vivid splash of pink that was Cain entered her gray world, his place in her heart had already surpassed that of Shanks, the one who had abandoned her back then.
After observing her over the past few days, Cain naturally understood this as well—but how could he accept it?
If one person's entire world could only be sustained by another person, then how was that any different from being a puppet?
It was just like Obito in Naruto: when Rin, the center of his world, was destroyed, what remained of him was nothing more than an empty walking corpse.
There was no way Cain would allow Uta to become like that.
"DO YOUR JOB AS A FATHER PROPERLY, YOU BASTARD!"
Conqueror's Haki exploded outward.
Cain swung his staff again as he transformed into his human-dragon form, his thick tail lashing violently toward Shanks.
Shanks gripped Gryphon and blocked.
His Observation Haki had already foreseen the path of the attack, and he swiftly retreated, stepping onto the tail end of the boat to avoid the heavy blow.
The force of the wind alone overturned the little boat, leaving Shanks standing steadily atop its upturned hull.
Facing Cain's violent Conqueror's Haki, Shanks spoke.
"Sorry, Cain. I came this time to investigate the Demon King of Song. This is supposed to be a secret trip—I don't want to make a big scene."
Before his words had even fully fallen, he was already in front of Cain.
Gryphon came out of its sheath and wrapped in simple Armament Haki.
The moment he swung, Cain's Observation Haki was completely suppressed, leaving him no time to react.
In an instant, a long white line cut across the sea—the spray thrown up as Cain was blasted backward and smashed hard into the surface.
Shanks did not even look at the trail of water.
Instead, he raised Gryphon again to block—Cain had already broken free from the spray and crashed back into him with lightning speed.
Towering waves surged up across the sea. Shanks casually righted the overturned boat and stood firmly atop it, a trace of surprise in his voice.
"How did you do that?"
He truly could not imagine how a Devil Fruit user, with most of his back in contact with seawater, could reverse direction in an instant and come diving back at such astonishing speed—especially considering that Cain was only seventeen.
"I've been growing stronger the whole time, Shanks. I've already got dozens of battles' worth of experience fighting opponents on the sea who are on your level."
Now that he understood why Shanks had come, Cain's anger gradually subsided.
He pulled back, returned to human form, and stood atop flame clouds, staring at him.
He thought of all the dream training he had gone through recently, being sent flying by Big Mom again and again.
His techniques for fighting at sea had already become more and more refined through countless repetitions.
"I see."
Shanks's first thought went to Garp, he did not jump straight to the idea of one of the Four Emperors.
Then he quietly asked, "So, Cain… has Uta been doing all right?"
Hearing what sounded like concern, Cain almost released Conqueror's Haki again, but forcibly held it back.
He fixed Shanks with a fierce glare and leveled his staff at him once more.
"Uta… hasn't been all right at all! Do you have any idea what kind of life she's been living here all these years? All this time, you've refused to see her and refused to explain the truth to her."
"And now, for the sake of a single sheet of music, you come to this island all alone—Shanks, you've failed as a father."
"Yeah. Maybe you're right. Maybe I really have failed."
Shanks sheathed his sword, his tone heavy.
"But this concerns Uta's safety and the safety of the whole world. I had no choice but to come. After all, I'm her father."
Sitting cross-legged on his flame clouds, Cain answered impatiently.
"Gordon was the one who told you, wasn't he? I was the one who forced him to destroy that score. And on this island, the only person who knew about that and could still contact you was him."
"That's right. It was him."
Shanks smiled faintly, his gaze probing.
"Gordon does have a way to contact me, though I've forbidden him from doing so unless necessary. But this time, it involved that matter… so I assume you already know the truth."
"The seal on that island has always been there. A little investigation is enough to uncover things. Add in Uta's fruit ability, and even if Gordon hadn't said anything, I could've guessed the outline of it."
Cain hid behind an explanation he had made up.
At the same time, flame clouds rose underfoot and slowly carried both him and Shanks toward one of Elegia's side harbors.
"In the end, the real problem is that you people weren't careful enough. As long as that score is destroyed, the so-called demon won't appear, and Uta won't be dragged into any of this again. I honestly didn't expect that old man Gordon to be so obsessed with music that he secretly kept the score anyway. It's ridiculous."
Shanks did not seem to mind that Cain was carrying him through the air.
After listening, he answered slowly.
"You don't understand, Cain. There are many beings in this world we know nothing about, and some things can't be explained by Devil Fruits. Destroying the score alone won't make that thing disappear…"
"Isn't it just something used for summoning? If the summoning medium is gone, then it's like sealing off its front door with a wall—it won't be able to come out anymore. And Uta hasn't been affected at all… I really don't know what you're so worried about."
Cain waved his hand helplessly.
After all, the score had simply been written by someone.
The paper, the ink, even the notation itself had nothing special about them, nor were there any strange markings.
What truly mattered was the song written on the score.
Only when sung aloud did it have any effect. In Luffy's hands, for example, the sheet music would be nothing more than useless paper.
Shanks sighed softly, his words carrying great weight.
"Because this concerns the safety of the ent—"
"Stop. Don't speak any more!"
Cain cut him off directly.
Because he had suddenly remembered something very important.
If one talked about demons, magic, and fantasy creatures, there actually was someone in One Piece proper connected to those ideas—the owner of the Empty Throne, the hidden ruler behind the World Government: Imu.
There was a saying that the more you knew, the faster you died and Cain had no desire to learn too much from Shanks.
He abruptly changed the subject, fixing Shanks with a sharp stare.
"So let's go back to the original point. Other than investigating the score, do you really not intend to see her?"
"It's still not the right time, Cain…"
Shanks was about to say that he could only watch from afar for now, when he saw Cain staring at him with a face so twisted in frustration it looked grotesque.
"What kind of expression is that?"
"YOU'VE GOT SOME NERVE ASKING ME THAT!"
Cain grabbed Shanks by the collar, his tone both angry and flustered.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 'IT'S STILL NOT THE RIGHT TIME'?! EVERY TIME YOU SEE SOMEONE, IT'S ALWAYS 'LONG TIME NO SEE'!"
He deliberately imitated Shanks's usual tone as he said it.
"YOU SPEND ALL YOUR TIME TRYING TO LOOK COOL AND SERIOUS, BUT HAVE YOU EVER ACTUALLY THOUGHT ABOUT UTA'S UPBRINGING?! DON'T JUST LET HER BURY HERSELF IN MUSIC ALL DAY!"
The more he talked, the more worked up he became.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THESE PAST FEW NIGHTS HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR ME?! UTA'S BEEN MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO SLEEP! YOU KNOW I'M A HOT-BLOODED YOUNG MAN, RIGHT?!"
"AH!"
Shanks's expression instantly cleared.
All the imposing dignity of one of the Four Emperors vanished, replaced entirely by the panic of a worried father.
"WHAT EXACTLY DID YOU DO TO UTA?!"
"YOU'VE GOT THE NERVE TO ASK ME?! WHY DON'T YOU GO SEE FOR YOURSELF TONIGHT!"
"YOU'RE TELLING ME TO SEE IT FOR MYSELF?! ARE YOU EVEN HUMAN?! I DIDN'T THINK YOU COULD BE THIS CRUEL, CAIN!"
"HUH?! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT?!"
Faced with Shanks's words, the bewildered Cain could only stare in complete bewilderment.