Watching the young girl.
Kouta could feel the girl's innocence.
Uta's ideal of a peaceful and stable world where everyone is happy and equal is good, but whether it can be achieved is not up to her, but up to humanity itself.
Does a new era exist?
Perhaps it exists.
It exists in people's fantasies.
And it can only be in fantasy.
Because this world simply does not have true peace or equality.
Humans are the most complex beings on this planet, and even this universe. They have gathered all the emotions of all living things in this world, and of course, they have also gathered all the negative emotions.
Just like this world, to achieve balance, there must be light and darkness. This is the basic law of the universe's operation and the world's continued existence.
Humans are no exception.
For every person who yearns for light, there will be someone who yearns for darkness.
If you look through history, you will find that human history is actually a history of internal conflict, of humanity fighting against itself.
It was like this in the past, and it will be like this in the future, cycling and revolving.
Even if this world evolves to be like Kouta's previous life, countless evils will still occur.
This is reality.
"Mhm!"
After hearing Kouta's words, Uta raised her head, met Kouta's azure pupils, and nodded seriously, "Mr. Kouta, I know what you're saying. I'm not a child. Although you might see me as a bit naive, don't forget that I've been wandering the seas for many years. I don't naively think that a new era will truly come. But at least, after people hear my song, they can find even a little bit of happiness, and I'll be content."
"Is that so?"
Looking at the girl whose eyes were no longer dulled but filled with confidence, Kouta's lips curled upwards, a smile appearing on his face.
Kouta didn't know why Uta would later become corrupted. It could be due to learning the truth about Elegia, or it could be corruption by the so-called "Devil of Song." But at least the girl standing before him now was a new era's model youth, full of confidence, ideals, and goals to strive for.
As time passed, the beach became more lively. With Uta's addition, Brook's live broadcast popularity grew exponentially.
Everyone was captivated by this cute-looking girl with a unique and penetrating voice. After a few songs, they all became her fans.
...
At the same time.
Above a remote, unknown sea on the other side of the world.
There was a small sky island.
On this sky island, countless black and white messenger birds, with satchels around their necks, flew back and forth, a spectacular sight.
While Elegia was entering nighttime on one side of the planet, it was exactly noon here.
The scorching sun did not disturb the diligent messenger birds, nor did it bother the busy reporters in the newspaper office.
Zooming in.
Among the countless busy reporters, by a window, a firebird, wearing a pink cape and sporting a pompadour hairstyle, was listlessly gazing out the window.
After the excitement of the Grand Line, returning to the peaceful newspaper office made Firebird feel a sense of discomfort.
However, thinking of his family back home and his newborn daughter, he, who had already achieved fame, had to set aside his unease.
Front-line reporters could indeed witness and experience many exciting events beyond the imagination of ordinary people, but the constant, heart-stopping danger, like walking on the edge of a knife, was also unimaginable for ordinary people.
"Lord Vance, look at this quickly."
Just then, a thin reporter wearing glasses, holding a Den Den Mushi, hurried excitedly to Firebird's desk.
"What is it?"
"It seems to be a performance, a unique live broadcast."
The reporter placed the Den Den Mushi on the desk, pointed its head towards a whitewashed wall, and then, while speaking, pressed the button on the Den Den Mushi.
"Didn't a new star called the King of Souls, a skeleton, emerge a while ago?"
"And this star seems to be 'Music Swordsman' Brook, from the Red-Haired Pirates, with a bounty of 79 million Berries."
Upon hearing Brook's name, Firebird's lethargy vanished.
What was the greatest turning point in his life?
It must have been meeting Kouta and his crew in Bass.
Therefore, he had always regarded Kouta and the others as his benefactors and saviors.
If not for Kouta, he might still be on some starting island of a trade route, waiting year after year for the possible emergence of a Supernova, taking the risk of being eliminated at any moment to capture news that could slightly increase his notoriety.
Although he missed the grandeur of the Grand Line, when he put everything aside and sat in this storm-proof office, who would truly want to experience that life-or-death danger again!
"The last news I saw about Kouta-bro and the others was more than half a month ago. I wonder where they are now?"
"Based on the guidance of the map Kouta-bro received from the President in Dressrosa, they should have reached Egghead Island by now. Perhaps they have already reached the legendary Elbaf!"
Thinking of Elbaf, a hint of regret appeared in Firebird's eyes.
Although it was safe here, he would never be able to experience various adventures with Kouta-bro and the others again.
However, gains and losses always come in pairs.
By choosing comfort, he naturally gave up the thrilling adventures.
For safety reasons during this period, the President had once again relocated the newspaper office. This time, in preparation for directly broadcasting the upcoming direct confrontation between Kouta-bro and the World Government, Morgans decided to move the newspaper office to this small sky island after much consideration.
And he, being the only person in the newspaper office who could directly contact the Red-Haired Pirates, and having been present from their entry into the Grand Line to their ascent to kill an Emperor, had naturally been promoted to one of the Vice Presidents of the newspaper.
There were two Vice Presidents in the newspaper office. Besides him, the other was the renowned "King of Photography" in the news industry.
That guy's nickname was "Flame Photographer," and he was currently the head of the photography department. He had joined the World Economic News after being dismissed by the Marines, becoming one of Morgans' subordinates.
However, neither Firebird nor Morgans knew that the King of Photography was actually the biggest mole in the newspaper office, a spy sent by the World Government to the World Economic News.
It was this guy who relayed the information, allowing the Five Elders to be so well-informed about the newspaper's location every time.
But the King of Photography had always hidden his tracks extremely well. As a high-ranking official in the newspaper, it was difficult to find him unless he actively revealed himself.