Following Nami's sharp orders, Kuma, acting as the ship's designated helmsman, immediately sprang into action.
He didn't know where this mad journey would take them, but if it meant curing Bonney's illness, he wouldn't hesitate, no matter how dangerous it was.
Meanwhile, Ace sat at the bow of the ship, feeling not fear but excitement.
Staring up at the sky, he laughed loudly. "Hahaha! So we're really going up there? This is amazing! If only Luffy could see this, Mr. Ian, how did you—"
Before he could finish speaking…
Smack!
Ian's hand landed on the back of Ace's head, and he said irritably, "What are you getting excited about? Go help them, the son of the King of the Pirates!"
"Okay, fine, as long as you don't mention that when you introduce me to someone else in the future."
Ace, who had been excited, lost much of his excitement when he heard Ian bring it up again.
Then, without any further hesitation, he rushed to help.
Under Nami's guidance, the ship charges into the powerful current, riding the violent Knock Up Stream toward the sky.
As the ship climbed higher and higher, everyone began to smile, even Nami, who had been on the verge of breaking down; she now wore a faint, confident grin.
They looked up expectantly at the clouds drawing closer and closer.
Soon, white clouds filled their vision.
"Sky Island, it's really the Sky Island!"
Ace shouted excitedly. "It's right beneath those clouds! There's really an island in the sky!"
Nami, however, frowned in confusion. "That's strange... The ship is sailing above the clouds? How is that possible? I thought we would crash straight through!"
"Sky Island?"
Crocodile's eyes flashed with light, and after a moment of contemplation, as if he understood something, he removed the cigar from his lips and muttered to himself, "Could the City of Gold have been swept up to the sky by the Knock Up Stream!?"
After the initial shock, the atmosphere gradually calmed down.
Apart from still looking around with curiosity, no one was surprised anymore, and the ship slowly moved forward with the sea current that resembled white clouds.
"Hey, someone's coming over there!"
Ace shouted again, then added in a puzzled tone, "That horse is so strange! Why does it look like a bird?"
As soon as Ace finished speaking, everyone else looked up in the direction he indicated, and sure enough, a unique horse with pink feathers and a short beak appeared before them.
At its back, the rider wore a distinct suit of armor, like a knight.
Crocodile and Kuma immediately became alert, eyeing the old man cautiously.
Before they could speak, the old man in knight armor addressed them first.
"Hello, visitors from afar."
The old man in knight armor looked at the crowd in front of him and said warmly,
"Please don't be nervous. I am a professional mercenary, and the White Sea is a dangerous place. People who are not familiar with the situation here can easily run into danger. If you hire me, I can guarantee your safety."
As he spoke, he glanced at the five people in front of him: two kids and three adults...
"Of course, I also offer one-time services."
He pulled a whistle from his pocket. "If you encounter danger, just whistle, and I'll come to your rescue. You only need to pay 5 million Extol afterward. Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Gan Fall, and I'm a mercenary on the White Sea!"
However, faced with the old man in knight armor's enthusiastic sales pitch, aside from Ace and Nami, who were filled with curiosity, Crocodile curled his lip in disdain, as if he had heard something amusing.
He picked at his ear and looked at Gan Fall with a mocking expression, "Old man, you said you would protect us?"
"Young man, don't be so stubborn. It's a great deal to get the protection of the Knight of the Sky for just a little bit of money."
The old man in knight armor was not angry when he heard Crocodile's sarcasm.
He still smiled and said, "Do you think five million Extol is too expensive? This is already a very cheap price. Don't try to bargain with me. I have to make a living too."
Who bargained with you?
Upon hearing Gan Fall's reply, Crocodile's face darkened, but before he could speak...
"We don't need protection,"
Ian stopped Crocodile and said, "But we need a guide!"
"A guide? As a mercenary, I can also work as a guide."
Gan Fall nodded without hesitation and asked enthusiastically, "Where do you need to go? Or do I make the arrangement? Don't worry, I know this place very well and will definitely introduce you to some great sights."
"Upper Yard!"
Gan Fall: "...?!"
As soon as Ian revealed their destination, Gan Fall, who had been all smiles, suddenly had a drastic change of expression and asked seriously, "The Island of Gods? What are you going to the Island of Gods for?"
"It's not the Upper Yard, it should be the City of Gold!"
Ian stroked his chin while pondering for a moment with a frown, and then said, "Can you take us there?"
"The City of Gold?"
Upon hearing Ian's words, Gan Fall paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Both Upper Yard and City of Gold belong to the realm of the gods. No one is allowed to enter without permission; otherwise, they will be punished by the god!"
As he spoke, he looked at the crowd in front of him and said, "I'm sorry, I can't accept this request. I also advise you not to go there and leave this place as soon as possible. When you mentioned those two places, the god had already sensed it."
After saying that, he turned his horse around, seemingly ready to leave.
Meanwhile, facing rejection, Ian frowned again, thinking about whether to enter Angel Island to gather some information.
Suddenly, a unique laugh rang out, "Kuahahahaha."
It was Crocodile's laughter.
Before Ian could react, a sandstorm swept by, and just as Gan Fall turned around, Crocodile appeared beside him, before turning into sand and binding Gan Fall, with an arrogant laugh, "Old man, go and lead the way."
His laughter carried a hint of disdain, and he even had time to light a cigar and take a puff. "I'm quite interested in the god you're talking about now!"
Gan Fall: "..."