With the chief's approval, Wiper set off under the escort of the three Priests, heading toward the sacred land of Apayado.
Meanwhile, guided by Enel, Buggy and his crew arrived at Skypiea's holy ground. The moment they stepped into Apayado, everyone was left in awe by the sight before them.
The trees here were truly colossal—so massive that even twenty or thirty men linking arms couldn't encircle their trunks. Pristine and untouched, the forest bore no trace of human destruction, its wild beauty intact.
While the crew admired the towering trees, Montblanc Cricket stood apart, his eyes brimming with tears. The moment he saw these trees, he knew—they had reached Shandora, the Golden Land described by his ancestor Noland. The logs had recorded these very trees, so similar to the Shandians' sacred tree.
The crew noticed Cricket's strange reaction but quickly understood—these were tears of joy, not sorrow.
"Lord Buggy… is this truly Shandora?"
Though Cricket had already recognized the signs, he still sought Buggy's confirmation.
Buggy didn't answer him directly. Instead, he turned to Enel.
"Enel, take us to the city of gold."
There was no point in words. Once Cricket saw the Golden City with his own eyes, all doubt would vanish.
Cricket caught Buggy's intent immediately. Indeed, nothing could prove Shandora's existence more clearly than its golden ruins.
"Captain… how do you know there's a golden city here? Have you been to Apayado before?"
Enel asked in genuine surprise. Even among Skypieans, few knew of the Golden City. Could Buggy have been here before?
"Mm. I came once, back when I sailed with my captain."
Buggy's officers, like Shiryu, didn't bat an eye. They knew full well who Buggy's captain was. That he had once come here was hardly shocking.
But Cricket's and Enel's eyes lit up with wonder. If Buggy was this powerful, just how terrifying must his former captain have been?
Seeing their curious stares, Buggy smiled faintly.
"My captain was Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King. When I was a boy, he brought me here."
Cricket froze, eyes blazing with excitement, his face trembling with joy. He hadn't expected that Buggy's captain was none other than the Pirate King himself.
Enel, however, only looked confused. Raised on Skypiea, he had never heard of pirates, let alone Roger. Buggy didn't bother explaining—once Enel reached the Grand Line, he would learn soon enough who Roger was.
"Come. Let's see the Golden City."
The island itself wasn't vast. Moving swiftly, they reached a valley in short order. From afar, golden light gleamed within.
Cricket couldn't contain himself. He broke into a run, sprinting straight toward the valley.
When the crew followed, their eyes widened.
Before them stretched a city of gold—houses and buildings gleaming, and at its heart, towering above all, the legendary Golden Bell.
At this time, the city remained largely intact. Enel had not yet looted or destroyed it. Much of its grandeur still stood as it had centuries ago.
Every eye sparkled. Even Buggy's.
This fortune was beyond imagining—worth trillions of Berries at least. Enough to make even Buggy's heart stir. With this wealth, he could fund countless ventures, purchase whatever he desired, and rapidly expand his power. Backed by such gold, the Yanhuang Pirates could rise into a force rivaling the Four Emperors.
For the others, the sight was overwhelming. None of them had ever seen such riches, let alone fathomed their value. All they knew was simple: they had struck it rich.
Buggy turned to Cricket, who had fallen to his knees before the golden ruins. Tears streamed as he laughed and sobbed at once, overwhelmed by the sight. After generations of ridicule and struggle, here it was—the proof his ancestor Noland had not lied.
Then—
A massive shadow moved.
A colossal serpent surged from the trees, charging toward Cricket.
Buggy's eyes narrowed, but he didn't move at once. In the snake's eyes, he caught not malice, but joy. Its movements were not hostile, but almost childlike—like a child running to meet a parent. Its tail even wagged like a happy dog. Buggy realized at once: this must be Nola, the giant snake tied to Montblanc Noland. It likely mistook Cricket for his ancestor.
The others, however, were ready to leap in. Shiryu and the rest prepared to cut down the serpent, but Buggy raised a hand, stopping them.
Though shaken, Cricket noticed the serpent's approach. Its massive form dwarfed him, and instinct told him to retreat. But then memory struck him—the logs, the records of Nola. He froze in place, steadying himself.
This was the serpent his ancestor had written of. A creature bound deeply to Noland. Cricket felt no malice from it—only recognition. And with Buggy and his crew at his side, he trusted no harm would come to him.
The giant serpent loomed over him, but instead of striking, it circled, sniffing at him.
At first, its eyes shone with fevered excitement. But after a moment, they softened, filled with quiet joy. Slowly, almost tenderly, its massive tongue flicked out and licked the top of Cricket's head.
Then, without another sound, Nola turned away. It glanced once at the Golden Bell, as if recalling old memories, then slithered off into the forest, leaving the crew stunned.