Mont Blanc Cricket

Perhaps Cifer's fearsome reputation had spread far and wide, leaving every pirate in Paradise on edge and afraid to cause trouble at sea.

After all, getting caught by the Marines meant prison, but running into Cifer meant certain death. As a result, Cifer and his group arrived at Jaya Island without the slightest mishap along the way.

After sailing once around Jaya's coast, Cifer finally found the lavish, imposing house on the eastern shore.

"Bring the ship over!"

Hina and Wright looked at the mansion by the shore in confusion. Would anyone really build such a luxurious house in a place like this?

The three disembarked and headed toward the house. Cifer's senses detected no one inside, so its owner had presumably gone diving. He simply sat down on the ground and waited quietly.

"The owner of this house really is..."

Hina had clearly discovered the truth about the house.

"You people, what are you trying to do to my house?!"

At that moment, a bare-chested man with a diamond-shaped face and a chestnut growing from his head leaped out of the sea. He assumed a fighting stance and shouted.

"Hina is very curious. Is this the companion you were looking for, Cifer? He doesn't seem very strong."

She took a deep drag on her cigarette. This Chestnut Head man did not meet any of her expectations for the companion Cifer had sought.

"May I ask your name?"

Ignoring Hina's question, Cifer rose to his feet and walked toward Chestnut Head.

Though KureKke was also a pirate, recalling the story, he seemed more like King Luffy—someone who had gone to sea to adventure and hunt for treasure.

The Monkey's Union Army, on the other hand, needed to be put in its place.

"Mont Blanc Cricket!"

KureKke backed away as Cifer approached. Though there was no warship in sight, this tall man wore a Justice Cape, and he himself was a Bounty Criminal. He could not afford to lower his guard.

"KureKke! That's right, it's you. I've heard the story of your ancestor, Mont Blanc Noland!"

"That great liar Noland?" Hina and Wright had clearly heard that fairy tale as well. "Don't tell me you believe the story of the Golden City?"

The moment KureKke heard them mention Noland, he relaxed his guard.

"What a pity. My ancestor was a great liar, and to this day, I still haven't found the Golden City he spoke of."

He walked to the side and began coughing, yet still remembered to take a cigarette from his house, put it in his mouth, and light it with trembling hands.

"I'm going to Sky Island!"

Cifer raised his index finger toward the sky. The words "Sky Island" instantly drew everyone's attention.

"How do you know Sky Island exists?!"

KureKke had once guessed that the Golden City his ancestor saw might not have sunk into the sea at all, but instead drifted into the sky. Still, this was the first time he had heard someone else say it.

"Cifer! Do you really believe Sky Island exists?!"

As a minor know-it-all from Marineford, Hina had heard the rumors of Sky Island as well, but no one had ever proven it existed.

"Not only do I know Sky Island exists, I also know there's an Upward Current that can carry ships up to it. That's why I came looking for you."

"You want me to risk my life with you?"

KureKke hesitated. He knew how to find that current, and this man clearly wanted him to lead the way.

Leaving aside whether Cifer was trustworthy, riding that current into the sky was already an unimaginable prospect. But it was also the perfect chance to prove his own theory!

"Don't you want to see the Golden City Noland spoke of with your own eyes?" Cifer continued tempting him. "Besides, I can guarantee your safety!"

"In the name of the Black Winged Great Demon!"

Cifer handed him his Wanted Poster.

KureKke rubbed his eyes, counted the digits on the Wanted Poster again, then looked up at Cifer's face and the Justice Cape draped over him.

It looked strange, but there was no doubt about it—the man before him was a terrifyingly evil figure! Before someone like him, KureKke had no right to refuse.

Though Cifer seemed amiable enough, many powerful figures hid knives behind their smiles. There was no telling what he was thinking.

"I agree!"

KureKke made up his mind. Rather than wonder whether he would be killed for refusing, he might as well go all out and see that legendary island in the sky!

"One day, you'll be glad you made this decision."

Afterward, at KureKke's enthusiastic invitation, everyone headed into town. They planned to feast there while waiting for the Monkey's Union Army to return, then discuss the matter of going into the sky.

As for the Little Ul, anyone who had sailed the seas recently would rather take a detour than see its distinctive flag.

Mock Town.

A place filled entirely with scoundrels, one the Marines had never bothered to govern. Every day saw countless fights, thefts, kidnappings, robberies, and scams.

"Get out, Marines!"

A drunken middle-aged man cursed the moment he saw Cifer's Justice Cape, and the surrounding thugs immediately began jeering along.

Quite a few lecherous men also whistled at Hina and made obscene remarks.

"Hina is very angry!"

With nothing more than a sweep of her outstretched hands, she bound everyone around her with her ability, leaving them struggling on the ground.

"What is this? A Devil Fruit user?!"

Those on the ground continued groaning, while even more of them shouted threats of revenge.

Cifer had no interest in dealing with such small fry. He released his Spiritual Pressure, and everyone lying on the ground immediately lost consciousness.

"Conqueror's Haki really is useful!"

Under KureKke's astonished gaze, Hina could not help but sigh. Unlike herself, he did not even need to lift a hand to clear out such trash.

"Eating here is ruining my appetite. Let's buy the food and eat back by the shore!"

While KureKke was speaking with the restaurant owner, a fearful gaze fixed itself tightly on Cifer.

"You know me?"

Such an intense gaze naturally could not escape Cifer's senses. He turned toward the man sitting by the window, wearing dreadlocks and a headscarf.

"N-No... I don't..."

The man hurriedly looked away, unable even to speak clearly.

The people nearby also sensed that something was wrong, because that man was "Executioner" Rosso, whose Bounty reached forty-two million Belly!

Normally, he was an arrogant madman who loved gambling in Mock Town and killed anyone who dared win his money!

Yet now, he shrank into his seat like a quail, too terrified to even look directly at the man in the Marine Robe.

"What a shame. I don't have the time or interest to take you in for the Bounty right now. What do you think we should do?"

Judging by his reaction, Cifer knew without asking that he was a wanted pirate. The moment Cifer finished speaking, Rosso smashed through the window and leaped outside.

Run!

That was the only word in Rosso's mind.

On these seas, the size of one's Bounty often represented just how powerful and dangerous that person was.

He did not know how strong a Marine Admiral was, but with a Bounty over thirty times greater than his own, he could not muster even the slightest thought of resisting.

"If I let you escape, where would my prestige be?"

He casually drew the sword from a pirate beside him and gave it a light swing. Dozens of meters away, Rosso felt a cool breeze brush past him before his head and body separated.

"Run for it!!!"

The huge restaurant was instantly deserted.

"Th-This gentleman, your..."

The restaurant owner carefully stood to one side, holding a bulging package filled with all the dishes Cifer's group had ordered.

"Keep the change."

Cifer casually took it, then tossed a large bag of Belly onto the table.

The group turned and left. Rosso's head lay on the ground facing the direction they were departing, his eyes filled with confusion.