Training continued.
Over the next two days, Riberra Sami's Heart Net training progressed at astonishing speed.
The images appearing in his mind became more frequent and increasingly clear.
He felt that he was only one thin layer of paper away from truly mastering the ability.
During this time, Aldo led another thorough search of Bika Island, including the more remote forests and cloud cliffs. Yet they still found nothing.
"Boss, looks like there really isn't anything good on this island—just clouds and trees."
Aldo sounded somewhat discouraged as he gave his report.
Riberra Sami fell into thought.
They had already purchased Jet Dials, Observation Haki training was nearly complete, and the island had been thoroughly explored…
There seemed to be little reason to remain here any longer.
Without further clues, perhaps the Rumble-Rumble Fruit had not yet appeared in the world.
"Our gains have already been considerable," Riberra Sami said calmly. "Make preparations. We'll leave Bika tomorrow."
The next day, beside the Skylark.
Riberra Sami gave a solemn farewell to Velandel, who had come to see them off.
"Elder Velandel, we've troubled you these past few days. Thank you for your patient guidance—it benefited us greatly."
Velandel looked at Riberra Sami, then at the Blue Sea sailors behind him—especially Hans. His emotions were complicated.
He nodded, his tone still calm.
"May the Sea of Clouds guide your voyage."
At that moment, Aldo suddenly chimed in. He casually slapped Velandel on the shoulder and grinned.
"Elder Velandel, honestly, you're a pretty good guy. And you seem capable too. So how about this… come aboard with us! The boss would definitely welcome you. I'll take you down to the Blue Sea—you should see it. It's way more lively than this place in the clouds!"
The moment those words came out, the expressions of the surrounding Bika guards changed.
All eyes turned toward Velandel.
Velandel was clearly startled for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure and gently shook his head.
"I appreciate your kindness, Mr. Aldo. But I prefer the environment of the Sky Islands. Bika is my home. I wish you a smooth journey."
Riberra Sami smiled and waved a hand toward Aldo.
"That's enough. Don't put Elder Velandel in a difficult position. It's time for us to depart."
Watching as the Skylark raised its sails and slowly left the dock, eventually disappearing into the vast sea of clouds, Velandel remained standing in place.
Only after staring silently for a while did he finally turn and head toward the Elder Hall in the center of the village.
The atmosphere inside the Elder Hall was completely different from when he had left.
After listening to Velandel's brief report, several elders immediately erupted in an uproar.
"What?! That Blue Sea man named Hans… has already awakened the Heart Net? And that leader, Riberra Sami, has already touched the threshold as well?"
One elder exclaimed in disbelief.
"Velandel!"
The most hot-tempered elder slammed his hand against the armrest of his chair and shouted angrily.
"You've got some nerve! What were our instructions back then? Just teach them the most superficial basics so they would give up! Why did you secretly pour out the entirety of Bika's secret art to them? Do you still respect the clan rules? Do you still respect this council?"
Velandel frowned deeply, suppressing the irritation rising in his chest.
"Elder Kalon, I truly only taught the most basic things. The Blue Sea man named Hans awakened it on his own. As for Mr. Riberra Sami, his learning ability and comprehension far surpass ordinary people. I did not teach anything deeper. He simply…"
"Learned it himself?!" another elder sneered, interrupting him. "Velandel, do you take us for three-year-old children—or do you take yourself for one?"
Looking around the room, he continued coldly.
"Everyone here spent years cultivating the Heart Net before even glimpsing the entrance. Those with slightly worse aptitude might spend ten or twenty years without making progress. And yet these Blue Sea outsiders—who arrived only a few days ago—somehow mastered it so quickly? If you didn't secretly guide them or reveal the core secrets…"
"That's right! He must have seen how powerful those Blue Sea people were and grown disloyal—trying to curry favor with outsiders using our clan's secret techniques!"
"Just teaching a little surface knowledge? If that were true, they wouldn't even reach the threshold! Velandel, stop making excuses!"
At first, Velandel tried to argue rationally.
But faced with a barrage of accusations from elders unwilling to listen, his explanations seemed powerless.
A long-suppressed anger slowly rose within him.
He raised his head and swept his gaze across the room—faces filled with anger, suspicion, indifference, or simple detachment.
Suddenly, he found the scene almost laughable.
Most of these people had spent decades cultivating the Heart Net, yet their mastery remained mediocre.
Originally, he had not intended to speak harshly.
But now, he could no longer hold back.
"Yes, they learned quickly—because they are exceptionally talented. Some people sit at the bottom of a well, spending ten or twenty years making no progress, and assume everyone else must be the same. How could such mediocre aptitude possibly understand true genius? And what right do you have to claim that others cannot achieve in a single day what you struggled with for decades?"
His words struck the hall like a resounding slap across the faces of most of the elders present.
"Outrageous! Velandel, how dare you speak to your elders like that!"
"This is rebellion!"
"Great Elder, you heard him yourself! First he leaked our clan's secret techniques, and now he openly insults his seniors and challenges the council! Please enforce punishment according to our laws!"
The hall instantly fell silent.
All eyes turned toward the Great Elder.
The Great Elder slowly raised his eyelids, his gaze deep and contemplative.
Through the Heart Net, he could clearly feel that Velandel's anger and grievance were genuine.
He also believed that, given Velandel's pride and character, the young man would neither stoop to currying favor with outsiders nor feel the need to reveal deeper secrets to them.
Most likely, those Blue Sea people had truly grasped the ability through their own talent.
But…
His gaze swept across the enraged elders.
Kalon and several others who were shouting the loudest represented powerful family factions deeply rooted in Bika.
Their talents might be mediocre, but their determination to maintain their authority and the existing order was extremely strong.
Velandel's remarks about mediocrity had struck directly at their most sensitive point—ripping away a veil they did not wish to confront.
Public anger was not something easily ignored.
Although the Great Elder was Bika's highest leader, he was still only one part of the council. He did not hold absolute authority.
The fragile peace and stability within Bika depended on the outward unity of the various families and elders.
To forcefully suppress so many powerful elders and their families just to protect Velandel simply was not worth it.
Even if Velandel was a genius—and a junior the Great Elder thought highly of.
Moreover, Velandel's words had been far too blunt.
Too hurtful.
The Great Elder sighed inwardly and finally spoke.
"Velandel, your words were excessive, and you have offended the elders. Go to the Repentance Platform and confess the full course of events."
"Great Elder, I will not confess to something I did not do!"
"You…!"
Several elders trembled with rage.
The Great Elder sighed again internally.
This boy truly understands nothing.
"Very well… Velandel, answer me this. My original instruction was for you to teach only the Blue Sea leader, Mr. Riberra Sami. Is that correct? During your instruction, did you teach only Mr. Riberra Sami?"
Velandel's body stiffened slightly.
"Yes… Great Elder. I did teach several Blue Sea people."
"Good. And during this council meeting, you openly contradicted the elders, causing intense dispute and damaging the harmony of the council. Is that correct?"
"…Yes."
The Great Elder was silent for a moment.
"Velandel, you failed to maintain proper restraint in your teaching, causing unrest and suspicion among our people. Furthermore, your words and conduct during the meeting were inappropriate and offensive toward the elders."
"By the decision of the Elder Council… from this day forth, Velandel is stripped of his position as a council elder and temporarily reassigned to the guard corps. In addition, he will undergo one year of reflection as punishment, to serve as a warning to others. Velandel—do you have any objections?"
Stripped of his elder position.
Deprived of his voice in the council.
Demoted to the guard corps.
And sentenced to a year of enforced reflection.
For the proud Velandel, this was a crushing humiliation.
At last, he slowly inhaled… then exhaled.
There was no argument.
No angry outburst.
He did not even look at the elders again.
Straightening his back, he bowed toward the Great Elder.
Then, under the gaze of countless eyes, he turned and walked out of the Elder Hall alone.
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