Endless speculations about the future and past continued, but the voyage pressed on.
Siting Island was far away. Noyer's ship sailed for a long time before finally reaching it. He anchored near the port, and the two disembarked.
In this world, the best way to gather information was still at those down-to-earth taverns. A mixed bag of people came and went in countless numbers, making them perfect places to obtain secret and important intelligence.
Noyer headed straight for the tavern with a clear objective. Standing at the entrance, they could hear the clamor from outside, but when they pushed the door open and walked in, the conversation stopped abruptly.
Inside, everyone who had been drinking fell silent, staring at these two unfamiliar faces with fierce expressions and vigilant eyes.
Both Noyer and Robin had weathered many storms, so they didn't feel awkward. They ordered drinks and found seats.
The crowd sized up their clothing discreetly, trying to judge their origins.
The woman was a delicate, sexy beauty — clearly that man's mistress, probably with no combat ability.
As for the man, he was tall, but judging from his face, he was just a kid. And he was putting on airs with a sword at his waist. Could a brat like him even handle a blade?
After observing for a while, these seasoned veterans felt they had seen through the pair's abilities. Several burly men at the tables behind Noyer exchanged glances. Then a man with a face full of scars stood up, swaggering toward them with his drink.
When he walked past Noyer in the aisle, the man's hand suddenly jerked, and the drink in his cup "accidentally" spilled onto the floor.
The man flew into a "rage", "You little punk! You looking for trouble?! You made me spill my drink!"
He hollered and made a scene. The people at the two tables behind him got the signal and stood up at once.
They surrounded Noyer and Robin menacingly, "Hey kid, you bumped into my brother. How do you plan to compensate?!"
Noyer and Robin sat calmly, looking at them like they were clowns.
"A pack of yapping wild dogs." Noyer said disdainfully.
Robin acted as if she didn't see them. Without any expression, she said, "Do you want to twist their heads off?"
His face twitched. Noyer said with a head full of black lines, "Why can you say such terrifying things with a straight face?"
"You little punk! You…"
The ignored man shouted indignantly, but his face was suddenly covered by a large hand.
Noyer spread his hand over the man's face and said in a low voice, "Desiccation…"
As the word fell, the man's expression twisted in agony. His lips struggled, but no sound escaped. His skin withered and dried before their eyes. In seconds, a living person became a dried corpse.
The troublemakers who had gathered around saw the horrifying scene and collapsed to the ground in terror. These grown men crawled across the floor like frightened animals, trembling as they pointed at Noyer.
The onlookers who hadn't joined in felt relieved they'd stayed out of it.
Looking at the cowards frantically backing away on shaking legs, Noyer said, "I need to ask about something. Can you answer?"
The people sprawled on the ground nodded frantically, "Big brother, ask away! We know everything!"
"Do you know the way to Skypiea?" Noyer asked.
"Skypiea?" Everyone exchanged uncertain glances.
Noyer frowned, "What are you thinking about?! Is there or isn't there?"
The tavern patrons startled and pushed forward someone who looked clever. With a bitter face, he said, "Sir, you don't know — Skypiea is just a legend. Near Siting Island, there's a powerful whirlpool. From time to time, a sky-high current shoots up that can send people to the legendary Summit of High West. They say that's where the sea in the sky is, and you can find Skypiea there."
{T/N: This is one way that Gan Fall said to be possible to reach Skypiea, the other one being island-hopping by the Sea Clouds. Neither of these routes was explored in the anime, just mentioned.}
Noyer raised an eyebrow, "You seem to know quite a bit about it. Why do you say Skypiea is a legend?"
The man explained, "Every year, quite a few pirates come here looking for Skypiea. But those who ride that current — none have come back alive. Nobody knows whether they actually made it to Skypiea, or whether Skypiea even exists."
Noyer nodded and pointed at him, "You. Lead the way to the Summit of High West."
The man's face turned deathly pale. He shouted, trembling, "I won't go! Even if you beat me to death, I won't go. Who knows how many people have died there!"
Noyer impatiently grabbed the man trying to escape and seized him by the collar, "You just need to take me there. You don't have to come along! Don't worry, I'll keep you safe."
The man miserably nodded and had no choice but to agree.
Noyer didn't linger. He turned to leave. Under the mournful expressions of everyone in the tavern, they watched the guide depart…
◇◆◈◆◇
Noyer and Robin stood on the ship's deck while the guide rowed a small boat ahead, leading the way.
After a while, his Climate Hyper-Perception warned him. The guide shouted tremblingly, "Big brother, big sister, I've brought you here. This is it!"
Robin frowned, "This place looks no different from anywhere else."
The guide hurriedly called out, "This whirlpool appears at fixed times. I reckon the current will shoot up soon!"
Noyer nodded and waved, "Alright, you can go back now!"
As if he'd been granted a pardon, the man rowed away with profuse thanks.
But before he could get very far, Noyer's ship suddenly began to shake violently. On the sea surface, a current slowly formed. The calm sea gradually developed an ever-expanding whirlpool. Before long, the whirlpool looked like a deep black hole, growing at an alarming rate.
"Robin! Hold on tight!"
Noyer stood at the bow while Robin grasped the mast, fully prepared. Like the calm before a storm, a terrifying force gathered beneath the ship.
Suddenly, a powerful thrust came from below. The two staggered under the pressure. The ship launched skyward, carried by the massive columnar current.
Beside them, a small boat that hadn't escaped in time was also swept up.
The guide was swept into the air and shouted in grief, "Why did I still get caught up in this?!"
His small boat was torn apart, and he splashed down into the distant sea. It looked like he wouldn't be in any danger.
Though if he wanted to get home, he'd probably have to swim for a day…
◇◆◈◆◇
A massive current shot skyward from the whirlpool. Noyer gripped the helm, struggling to control their direction. The ship climbed higher and higher, but the upward current began to weaken.
Robin gazed toward the distant sky and spotted a striking white sea of clouds, "Noyer! Look over there!" she shouted.
Noyer looked into the distance and saw the enormous mass of clouds flowing like water.
Formed from sea clouds — was this the White Sea?
He maneuvered the ship toward the White Sea, but the vessel had been damaged beyond repair. He gritted his teeth and, to Robin's shock, leaped off the ship into the air.
His body plummeted. As he dropped beneath the ship, he exerted tremendous force with both arms, activating the Mera Mera no Mi's fire propulsion from his elbows to generate massive thrust.
With his powerful physique and Devil Fruit abilities, the ship fell steadily toward the White Sea.
Noyer used his flames to fly through the air for a moment before Robin used her ability to pull him back onto the ship.
He landed on the deck, "Thanks!"
Robin shook her head.
The two had finally landed safely on the White Sea. The altitude here was about 7,000 meters above ground. To find an island, they'd probably need to climb even higher. The battered ship had become a wreck, its hull creaking ominously.
Following the Knock Up Stream, Noyer had entered the route to the Summit of High West. Sailing through the air was a magical experience. The ship spiraled upward along the sea of clouds, continuously climbing.
Flying through the sky struck Noyer as quite marvelous, and even Robin seemed curious about their surroundings.
Guided by the sea of clouds, he gradually left the Summit of High West behind and entered deeper into the cloud sea. All around was an endless white ocean. Beyond that stood a building rising from the sea, with a stairway of clouds leading to even higher elevations behind it.
Noyer shaded his eyes and studied it from afar. This must be the gate leading to the White-White Sea. He recalled that to enter the "Kingdom of God" ruled by Enel, one had to pass through this place.
The ship sailed slowly forward. Through his Observation Haki, Noyer sensed a figure rapidly flying toward them.
A bare-chested man wore a grass skirt and had a pair of small white wings on his back. A bull mask covered his face, and he rode strange jet-propelled shoes, charging directly at them with clear intent.
Shouldering a long-barreled cannon, the man suddenly leaped from the sea cloud, swinging it at Noyer like a club, "Greedy outsider! You won't get through!"
Judging by his outfit — a Shandian from Skypiea?
Noyer frowned and calmly extended his five fingers, swiftly catching the cannon.
The Shandians had fought for generations to ring the Golden Bell and fulfill their ancestors' wishes — a spirit he could respect. But those who came looking for trouble were another matter entirely.
Noyer swung his fist and punched the Shandian square in the nose. The mask shattered under his shocked gaze, revealing an exceptionally young yet fierce face.
He studied the man and found him somewhat familiar. Just as he was about to speak, several voices called out from below the ship.
"Wyper! Time to go — Enel's men have spotted us."
Upon hearing that name, Noyer finally remembered who this character was.
In One Piece, there were many supporting characters with brief appearances but considerable strength.
Like Gin the "Man-Demon" from the East Blue, who once dominated Sanji. Or the "Berserker" Wyper standing before him — with a set of seastone and multiple Reject Dials, he'd nearly sent the great god Enel to meet his maker.
Wyper heard his companions' call and glared viciously at Noyer. After a moment's hesitation, he jumped off the ship and left with his comrades.
This little incident didn't delay Noyer's business. In fact, watching that departing figure, he felt strangely interested. He planned to recruit a few companions to travel with him on Skypiea, and this guy could be worth bringing along!
He'd already started scouting candidates.
Enel was one — if he didn't agree, Noyer would beat him up and drag him aboard. If that didn't work, he'd just kill him and take the complete Goro Goro no Mi ability. Including Wyper, that made two people. It would be best to recruit a gentler girl or something — the whole ship couldn't have Robin as the only woman.
Noyer had already planned everything out — despite not having recruited a single person yet.
After the Shandians retreated, he planned to visit them once they landed.
Before he knew it, the ship had reached Heaven's Gate. The gate was shaped like an arched bridge, with a small room embedded beneath it, apparently guarded.
As they reached the gate, an elderly voice called out from the side.
"You two must pay an entrance fee to enter Skypiea."
An entrance fee again?
Noyer narrowed his eyes and looked over. The door of the house opened, and a tiny old woman emerged. She was extremely short, with small wings on her back.
The wrinkled old woman held up a camera hanging from her neck and blocked their path with an expressionless face.
Noyer asked irritably, "How much?"
"€1,000,000,000 ****per person." The little old lady showed no expression, "That's equivalent to ฿100,000 from the Blue Sea below."
{T/N: I know that € is Euro, but here means Extols.}
Not expensive, but why should the tyrannical Noyer pay? Consider the Bell-mère family — when had they ever paid unnecessary fees to anyone?
He rattled the sword at his waist threateningly, "What happens if I don't pay a single coin?"
The old woman glanced at him, clearly recognizing trouble when she saw it, "If you don't pay, we can still let you through."
Noyer paused, then nodded with satisfaction, "Then we won't pay. Let's go!"
Robin looked at the camera in the old woman's hands and sighed helplessly. It seemed they'd already made enemies just after arriving.
The old woman nodded. Beneath the ship, two red claws clamped onto the hull as a shelled body emerged from the sea. This was a specialty of Skypiea's White Sea — the Speedy Shrimp, or Express Shrimp, used to transport people to the higher seas.
Having already sensed it with his Observation Haki, Noyer remained completely calm. The giant lobster carried the ship and swiftly swam toward the cloud stairway ahead.
After they left, the old woman pulled out a communication shell and reported in a slow voice:
"Amazon, Supervisor of Heaven's Gate, informing the almighty God and all the priests. Two people have illegally entered the Kingdom of God. Please grant them heavenly punishment!"
◈◈◈
T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want 20 chapters ahead of this novel for just $5 or enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations (free or starting at $1.5): MrBlackWing (you know where to search)
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)