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Chapter 138: To the Sky
"Wake up," Zoro poured cold water on the idea without looking up as he gathered the anchor chain. "We are pirates, people whose existence is 'shouted at and beaten' by everyone. Being heroes doesn't suit us at all."
"Zoro isn't wrong about that," Ganyu echoed softly.
She and Luffy stood on opposite sides of the main mast, each holding a thick halyard. "If we continue to stay here, we will only bring trouble to this country. The Marines have arrived; we can't let Alabasta fall into a dilemma because of us."
"Mmh-hmm! Miss Ganyu is indeed the most rational and sensible one!"
Sanji's voice drifted from the kitchen, accompanied by the clatter of pots and pans. "But still—it's such a pity Miss Vivi didn't board the ship with us! If only such a beautiful, strong, and gentle Princess could become our companion..."
"Sigh..."
At the mention of Vivi, a chorus of sighs instantly erupted on the deck.
Luffy rarely didn't shout or yell, simply pulling the brim of his straw hat down silently.
Chopper sniffled, his little hooves kicking the deck unconsciously.
Even Nami's eyes dimmed for a moment.
After this long and arduous shared adventure in Alabasta, they had long regarded the blue-haired princess as a true partner.
But in the end, Vivi couldn't let go of her country and her people. She chose to stay in Alabasta and fulfill her responsibilities as a princess.
"Forget it. Everyone has a path they must walk."
Ganyu thought for a moment, took several cups of hot tea passed out from the cabin by Robin, and distributed them to everyone.
"Princess Vivi chose her path, and we have our voyage to continue."
Nami took the tea cup, inhaled the aroma deeply, and forced herself to cheer up. "Ganyu is right. Vivi staying behind is the correct choice."
She raised her head, looking worriedly in a certain direction where many dark shadows were moving.
"If we don't set sail soon, the Marines will discover our exact location! Move faster, everyone!"
Under Nami's urging, the final preparations were quickly completed.
The anchor was fully raised, excess cargo was organized into the hold, the helm was checked, and the sails were in position...
Nami walked to the bow, spread out the navigation chart to examine it for a moment, then looked up to observe the wind direction and cloud movement. Finally, she pointed to the Northwest.
"The next island marked on the Log Pose is to our Northwest. Judging by its distance from Alabasta and the climatic zone, that island should be an 'Autumn Island'."
She paused, a look of anticipation rising at the corner of her mouth. "The temperature is moderate, vegetation is abundant, and this season is likely the time when fruits are ripe."
"Autumn Island?!" Luffy's eyes lit up instantly, his drowsiness swept away. "Sounds awesome! Will there be lots of delicious food? That's great! We can go on an adventure again!"
"Prepare to—hoist the sails!"
With Nami's command, Ganyu and Luffy pulled the halyards simultaneously.
The white sails unfurled with a whoosh in the morning breeze, catching the wind fully.
The Going Merry shook gently, the bow slowly turning as it began to sail down the Sandora River toward the estuary.
The sea breeze grew stronger, bringing the salty scent of seawater to their faces.
After finishing his work, Luffy sat in his exclusive spot on the figurehead as usual. He leaned back on his hands against the deck, looking up at the sky gradually turning azure, the string of his straw hat fluttering gently in the wind.
Behind him, the blue-haired girl did not leave.
Ganyu stood quietly by the main mast, her long ice-blue hair lifted by the sea breeze, the tips glowing with a soft luster in the morning light.
Her eyes, clear as autumn water, looked toward the horizon in the Northwest, mixed emotions interlacing in her gaze.
The next island... if her memory served her right, it should be that place.
Jaya.
And, the "Sky Island" located ten thousand meters in the air.
In the plot Ganyu remembered, four hundred years ago, due to a unique and violent climatic phenomenon on the Grand Line, a part of Jaya's land, along with its inhabitants, was forcibly swept up ten thousand meters into the sky by an incredible Knock Up Stream, connecting with "Skypiea," which already floated above the Sea of Clouds, forming the legendary "Land of God."
Before that, the explorer from the North Blue, Mont Blanc Noland, had visited the complete Jaya.
He established a deep friendship with the inhabitants of the island, promising to meet again upon parting.
However, when Noland returned to his country, he excitedly announced to the world that he had discovered the existence of the "City of Gold, Shandora."
The temptation of gold attracted countless greedy gazes, and even the King personally requested him to lead a team back to Jaya.
But when they arrived again, what they saw was an island broken in the middle.
The City of Gold was nowhere to be found, and his former friends had vanished without a trace. Noland was executed for the crime of "deceiving the monarch," but he insisted on the oath of the City of Gold's existence until his death.
Hundreds of years later, Noland's descendants, in order to wash away their ancestor's injustice, dove into the deep sea year after year, searching for evidence of the Golden City's existence...
And the Straw Hat crew, with that person's help, would be able to ascend to that miraculous island in the sky.
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