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Chapter 127 Farewell
Ganful looked at the harmonious crowd and said softly to Bai Yu, "Mr. Bai Yu, we will protect the history of the Island of God together with the Shandians. We will never allow anyone to damage it at will. The Golden Bell will also hang permanently on the top of the giant vine. On the anniversary of our ancestors' sacrifice, both races will ring the bell together, so that the sound of our agreement will forever resound in the sky ten thousand meters high."
Weber nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with respect: "Thank you, sir, for fulfilling our long-cherished wish. As for the treasure of Shandora, apart from what is needed to protect civilization, you may dispose of the rest as you see fit. We only hope that you will often return to this sea of clouds in the future and hear this golden bell that tolls for our promise."
Bai Yu nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the golden bell atop the giant vine. His companions had already neatly packed the counted gold into boxes. The wealth of one billion Berries was enough to support the long voyage ahead, but the Devil Fruit they had been searching for would ultimately remain out of reach.
The jubilation after the reconciliation continued, and the setting sun gilded the sea of clouds, finally settling the four-hundred-year-old feud.
Ganfort repeatedly extended a warm invitation, insisting that Bai Yu and his group stay overnight on Angel Island. Waver and the elders of Shandia also tried to persuade them to stay. Unable to refuse their hospitality, Bai Yu nodded in agreement and went with them to Ganfort's home in Apayado, above the sea of clouds.
The buildings of the Sky Island people are constructed from soft yet resilient marble. Some houses are scattered along the edge of the White Sea, with the rolling sea of clouds outside the windows. When the wind blows, it ripples out fine waves of clouds, which is completely different from the seascape of Qinghai.
Ganful ordered his men to prepare the unique cloud seafood and fruits of the Sky Island, the light wine brewed from cloud shells, and the roasted meat of the Shandians. The people of the two tribes sat together, and the former battles turned into laughter. Children darted among them, and the rattan ornaments of Shandians and the feather decorations of the Sky Island were arranged in a harmonious manner, creating a scene of unprecedented peace.
After several rounds of drinks, Ganful put down his cloud-shaped cup, looked at Baiyu, and slowly began to speak about the story beyond the ten thousand meters in the sky: "Speaking of which, Mr. Baiyu, perhaps you don't know, the Sky Island is never an isolated island. The White Sea and the White Sea above it, like the vast sea of Qinghai, are air routes that connect the entire sky, linking dozens of floating islands of varying sizes, each with its own unique civilization and people."
Nico Robin's eyes lit up at his words. She leaned closer and whispered, "Lord Ganford, do you mean that besides this place, there are other Sky Islands that bear witness to ancient history? Perhaps traces of the Poneglyphs?"
Ganful nodded solemnly and gestured for the priest to bring out a dusty scroll of cloud map. The map depicted the flow of clouds over the White Sea and the White-White Sea in light ink, with scattered island markings.
He pointed his fingertip to a dense cloud pattern on the northwest side of the sea chart, his voice steady: "Are you very concerned about the contents of that stone tablet? Actually, I don't know if there are similar things elsewhere, but there is a sky island called Bika that is relatively close to our Shandora Sky Island. The people there have inherited items that are even more ancient than ours, but they have closed their shipping routes for many years and rarely communicate with other sky islands. Ancient books only record that it is located in the northwest of the White Sea, and can be reached by passing through three layers of turbulent cloud belts."
"The air currents along the White Sea route are turbulent, making it impossible for ordinary ships to pass through, let alone reach the upper White Sea where they can freely traverse."
Weber added from the side, raising his hand to pat the wind-blown shell at his waist: "Our ships on the Sky Island are all driven by various kinds of shells. The principle of the Waver is the same. If your ship is to sail in the high sky and sea of clouds, you need to install wind shells to stabilize the hull and wind-blown shells to provide power. You also need to avoid cloud vortices and turbulent currents that swallow ships. We can tell you all these sailing tips."
Ganful then pointed to the nautical chart and explained in detail the safe shipping lanes in the White Sea, the cloud currents for avoiding danger, and the approximate location and sailing time of Bika Sky Island. Starting from Shandora Sky Island, sailing at high speed along the main cloud currents of the White Sea for four or five days, avoiding two deadly cloud vortices, one can reach the outer airspace of Bika.
He also specifically mentioned that Bica has no shellfish, but instead produces rare metals, including legendary metals that can store special powers, perhaps hiding unknown secrets.
Bai Yu listened quietly, already having made a plan in his mind: the Poneglyphs of Skypiea were obtained, and the ten billion gold coins were ready to be used. Meanwhile, Birka, as a nearby ancient Skypiea and the location of Enel, was very likely the place where the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was located, and was undoubtedly the best choice for the next leg of the journey.
Bai Yu didn't say much, but nodded slightly, memorizing all the routes and directions that Ganford had mentioned.
That night, the group rested peacefully amidst the calm sounds of the clouds and wind. The companions took stock of the various shells given to them by the Gold and the Sky Island, including Impact Shells, Slash Shells, Cloud Shells, and Wind-Spitting Shells. Under the guidance of the Sky Island people, the puppets crafted enough to allow the ships to travel freely through the high-altitude clouds.
Bai Yu sat alone by the window, gazing at the outline of the golden bell atop the giant vine in the distance. His plain white robe fluttered in the night breeze, yet he remained calm and composed.
Several days later, just as dawn broke, the morning light pierced through layers of clouds, casting down countless rays of light.
The area around the Dawn was already filled with people seeing it off.
The Shandian warriors, dressed in the ancient armor of Apayado, stood on either side, weapons in hand, their expressions solemn yet full of respect.
The people of the Sky Island stood with their heads bowed, and the priests, guards, and the elderly, women, and children were all present, stretching for dozens of feet.
Bai Yu and his party were fully prepared. The chests filled with gold were carefully placed into the cabin. The ship was also equipped with a shell-powered device specially made by Sky Island. The ship was embroidered with a peace pattern jointly made by Shandia and Sky Island. The lettering was very small, indicating that this was both a memorial and a protection.
Weber stepped forward and handed Bai Yu a wooden box engraved with Calgras and Noland's patterns. Inside the box were several top-grade Wind-Spitting Shells and a Cloud Skin Sea Chart marked with all safe routes: "Sir, the journey is long and the Cloud Sea is treacherous. These shells and the sea chart will protect you on your way. This place will always be your support. No matter when you return, the Golden Bell will ring for you."
Ganful led all the priests and citizens of Angel Island in a deep bow, their tone devout and respectful: "Mr. Baiyu, you are the one who ended four hundred years of war, the witness to the reconciliation between the two races. We have engraved your name on the ancestral stone tablet, and above the sea of clouds, we will forever reserve a pure land for you. May you have a smooth journey to Bika and may all your wishes be fulfilled."
The elders of Shandia, holding canes, chanted ancient prayers in unison.
The musicians of the Sky Island played their cloud-shell flutes, the melodious tunes echoing in the air at an altitude of ten thousand meters, accompanied by the gentle chimes of the golden bells.
Children, holding flowers and seafood, crowded to the side of the boat and handed their gifts to Bai Yu.