"Chief, I will be leaving soon."
"My wish has already been fulfilled, and I believe our ancestors must have heard the ringing of the bell as well."
"All meetings eventually end in parting. No matter how joyful the moment may be, the time to separate will always come."
After receiving the warm hospitality of the Shandia people, Cricket finally prepared to bid farewell.
Although Sky Island was filled with traces of the past and connected deeply to the legends of his ancestors, he knew he could not remain there forever.
The sea below still awaited him.
Shoujou and Masira were still waiting for his return.
And more importantly…
He was still an adventurer.
"Brother Cricket! May the friendship between our peoples last forever, with this oath as witness!"
The old Shandia Chief raised his cup high. The strong aroma of the island liquor drifted through the air as the elder's weathered eyes shone with sincerity.
Cricket smiled and raised his own cup.
"With this oath as witness!"
Clink!
The sound of the cups colliding echoed softly within the bonfire-lit hall.
After taking a drink, Cricket hesitated briefly before lowering his voice.
"Chief… there is actually something I would like to suggest."
"If my words offend you, then please pretend I never said them."
The old Chief laughed heartily.
"You are a friend of the Shandia. Speak freely."
Cricket glanced around cautiously before leaning closer.
"I think… the gold of Shandora should be handed over to Rear Admiral Saint Roselith Seraphina."
The old Chief froze.
"Why?"
Even the surrounding Shandia warriors looked confused.
To them, gold was the sacred legacy of their ancestors.
Cricket immediately lowered his voice even further.
"Please understand… the Blue Sea is very different from Sky Island."
"In the Blue Sea, gold is enough to drive people insane."
The atmosphere gradually became serious.
"The Marines are an enormous organization beneath the White-White Sea. Their influence spans countless seas."
"And Saint Roselith Seraphina… she is not even among the highest-ranking officers."
"There are Vice Admirals above her."
"Admirals above them."
"And at the summit stands the Fleet Admiral."
The old Chief's expression slowly changed.
He had already witnessed Seraphina's strength personally.
A monster like Eneru, who had plunged all of Skypiea into despair, was defeated effortlessly by her.
Yet such a person was not even at the pinnacle of Marine power.
Just imagining the vastness of the Blue Sea was enough to leave one speechless.
Cricket continued in a solemn voice.
"Sky Island is peaceful because very few people know it exists."
"But now things are different."
"The route to Skypiea has been confirmed."
"And once news of the City of Gold spreads…"
Cricket's expression darkened.
"Pirates."
"Treasure hunters."
"Kingdoms."
"Criminal syndicates."
"Everyone will come."
"They will slaughter for this wealth."
The old Chief fell silent.
The surrounding Shandia warriors also stiffened.
Because they knew…
Cricket was telling the truth.
The City of Gold possessed enough wealth to tempt the entire world.
"In the hands of the Sky Islanders and the Shandia, this gold is not treasure."
"It is a disaster waiting to happen."
Cricket sighed deeply.
"But if the gold is handed over to Saint Roselith Seraphina…"
"Then the meaning changes completely."
The old Chief slowly narrowed his eyes.
"You mean… we seek the protection of the Marines?"
"Exactly."
Cricket nodded firmly.
"Rear Admiral Seraphina is someone with genuine principles."
"She is not corrupt."
"She is not greedy."
"And because of that… once she accepts this responsibility, she absolutely will not abandon Skypiea."
The old Chief lowered his head in thought.
Gold held little value on Sky Island.
There was no economic circulation here.
Food, land, and survival mattered far more than wealth.
However, to the Blue Sea…
Gold was temptation incarnate.
After a long silence, the old Chief finally spoke.
"You are correct."
"The gold cannot protect us."
"But perhaps the Marines can."
That same night, the old Chief personally went to meet Gan Fall.
The two elderly leaders sat beneath the moonlight and discussed the future of Skypiea.
After listening to the proposal, Gan Fall fell into deep contemplation.
Then, slowly, he nodded.
"You are right."
"The Blue Sea is far more dangerous than we imagined."
Gan Fall recalled the pirates who had once ascended to Skypiea years ago.
Those men had brought destruction, looting, and bloodshed.
If not for powerful individuals intervening, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
And now…
The route to Skypiea had become stable.
That meant more outsiders would eventually arrive.
The old Chief sighed heavily.
"The people of Skypiea and the Shandia have only just achieved peace."
"We cannot allow another catastrophe to destroy it."
Gan Fall suddenly smiled.
"In that case… why don't we govern Skypiea together?"
The old Chief looked startled.
"Together?"
"Yes."
Gan Fall nodded sincerely.
"You possess wisdom and foresight worthy of admiration."
"The future of Skypiea should not belong solely to the Skypieans anymore."
"It should belong to both our peoples."
However, the old Chief slowly shook his head.
"No."
"Gan Fall… among everyone on this island, only you truly worked toward peace between our races."
"You are the rightful God of Skypiea."
Gan Fall smiled bitterly at the title.
Yet this time…
He did not refuse it.
The following morning, the Marine warship was fully prepared for departure.
The atmosphere at the harbor was lively, yet heavy with reluctance.
The Skypieans and the Shandia had both gathered to see the Marines off.
"Your Excellency Rear Admiral Saint Roselith Seraphina…"
"Must you truly leave so soon?"
Gan Fall looked genuinely reluctant.
Seraphina stood at the harbor in her pristine white Marine coat, silver-white hair swaying gently in the breeze.
"There are still many duties awaiting us in the Blue Sea."
"We cannot remain in Skypiea forever."
Her tone remained calm as always.
Gan Fall sighed softly.
Then, suddenly
Several enormous carts were pushed forward.
The carts were piled high with dazzling gold.
Even beneath the sunlight, the brilliance was almost blinding.
The surrounding Marines widened their eyes slightly.
Even Bruce's expression twitched.
That amount of wealth was enough to shake entire kingdoms.
Gan Fall and the old Chief stepped forward together.
"Rear Admiral Saint Roselith Seraphina."
"Please accept this as the sincerest gratitude of the people of Skypiea."
"And also…"
The old Chief continued solemnly,
"As support for the justice of the Marines."
Seraphina looked silently at the mountains of gold.
Then she answered immediately.
"I refuse."
The surrounding crowd froze.
Gan Fall clearly anticipated this reaction.
Without hesitation
He knelt.
The old Chief also knelt beside him.
"We implore you to accept it!"
Gan Fall lowered his head deeply.
"This wealth will only bring disaster upon Skypiea."
"We are too weak to protect it."
"But if it is entrusted to someone like you…"
"Then perhaps this island may continue to know peace."
The old Chief spoke heavily as well.
"You are strong enough to protect this place."
"And more importantly…"
"You possess the heart to do so."
The surrounding Skypieans and Shandia warriors also lowered their heads one after another.
Seraphina stood silently before them.
The sea breeze swept across the harbor.
Her silver-white hair fluttered softly behind her Marine coat.
For a long moment, she did not speak.
Then finally
She sighed quietly.
"You people…"
A faint trace of helplessness appeared in her usually cold eyes.
"You truly know how to make things difficult."