A heavy silence hung over the crowd. Ross raised his hand, ready to signal Gion to start the cull.
"The God's messenger is dead," a blonde woman suddenly called out from the throng. "If you're looking for the gods, head to the Upper Yard."
She pointed toward the distant forest path of Upper Yard.
"Conis!" The bald young man beside her grabbed her arm, his voice laced with panic.
Sky Island wasn't a total stranger to outsiders. A few years back, a crew of pirates led by Roger had blown through Skypiea, their power dwarfing anything Gion had shown so far. But even they hadn't stuck around—Blue Sea folk never did.
By speaking up, this woman was painting a target on her back. Once these invaders left, the punishment for treason would be swift.
Ross eyed her with a faint smile. "Your name's Conis?"
Her golden hair caught the sunlight like a halo, framing a tall, graceful figure wrapped in a pink dress that hugged her curves. The outfit strained against her ample chest, shortening the hem to reveal long, toned legs glowing in the light. A pair of pristine white wings fluttered lightly on her back—elegant, not oversized, adding an ethereal touch.
[Conis]
Overall Rating: D-
Even with a middling score, Ross felt a spark of interest. She looked familiar, her features echoing those of Conis—the girl Luffy would meet two decades from now on his first Skypiea adventure. This had to be her.
But her real value hinged on what she offered next.
"Yes, sir. I'm Conis." She stepped forward, ignoring the young man's pleading eyes and the crowd's stunned stares. "Please, spare the others. I'll take you to the Upper Yard myself. I can lead you to our god."
Ross nodded approvingly. "I like your guts."
He beckoned her closer, ignoring the young man's frantic tug on her sleeve.
"Conis, stop! You'll get us all killed!"
"Pagaya, if no one speaks up, it'll just be pointless slaughter," she said firmly, prying her arm free. Her dark eyes locked onto Ross's without flinching. "I can see you're not the type to kill for fun."
Torn between fear and duty, Conis glanced at the bowed heads around her—her neighbors, her friends—and at Pagaya, who couldn't meet her gaze. With a soft sigh, she made her choice. Better to be the shield than watch everyone shatter.
She broke from the crowd and stood by Ross's side. He slid an arm around her shoulders. She stiffened but held still, her wings twitching slightly. For the sake of Skypiea, she'd endure it.
Ross turned back to the mob with a mocking grin. "Look at you lot—bunch of spineless cowards. I ask for a guide, and not one of you steps up. Not even to nominate someone else. A whole island of you, and you're out-braved by one girl... or even those Shandian 'barbarians' you all love to bash."
"My lord!" Pagaya shot to his feet, neck stiff with false bravado. "You can't talk about Skypieans like that! We have principles—way better than those savage Shandians!"
Ross's eyes narrowed, his voice icing over. "And you are?"
Pagaya puffed out his chest, but a quick scan of the silent, quail-like crowd deflated him. No backup. No cheers. His mind blanked, resentment boiling inside.
Conis was his childhood sweetheart, the one he'd planned to marry someday. Now Ross's casual claim on her had wrecked that dream. Even if these outsiders left, she'd be branded a traitor. But challenging Ross? Not with his life on the line. The God's messenger hadn't lasted a minute against that swordswoman—Pagaya was just a tinkerer with dials.
He'd hoped invoking the Shandians would rally the others. Instead, dead air.
Cowards. Idiots, he seethed inwardly. Do you think hiding will save you?
Rage twisted into despair. He dropped to a squat, hands clutching his head as tears welled up. "I-I'm sorry, sir! I got carried away. Please, forgive me!"
Snorts of laughter cut through the tension—Moi and Gion, not bothering to stifle it. Their stares bored into Pagaya like daggers, full of scorn.
They saw his game clear as day. Everyone knew he and Conis were close. She'd risked everything for her home, and now Ross had her under his arm. What did Pagaya do? Yell from the back, then fold at the first sign of heat. Pathetic.
Contempt burned hottest in Moi. For a split second, Pagaya's plain face blurred into someone else's—Dragon, that spineless revolutionary who'd dragged her into this mess. She scowled, shaking off the memory. Men. All bullies or yellow-bellies.
Pagaya kept his head down through the mockery, playing the shrinking violet. But inside, fury churned. Why laugh? At least I tried! If the crowd had backed him, he'd have charged right in. And Conis—damn her for playing hero. If she'd stayed quiet like the rest, he wouldn't be spiraling.
These invaders hadn't spilled blood yet. Probably just bluffing to scare them. Hiding in the crowd's heart meant they'd be last to go, if it came to that.
Wasn't staying silent the smart play?
—
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