Unifying the Sky Island

Brook couldn't move the enormous Golden Bell Tower either, so he returned to the Golden Palace in Upper Yard.

"Captain Brook, these Island Clouds are so light and buoyant, yet so sturdy. Wouldn't they be perfect for building a Sea Train?"

Fish-Man Tom spoke excitedly, as if he'd already found the perfect material!

"Don't get too excited yet. These Island Clouds might not work in the Blue Sea. You can take some and test them."

"Is that so? If they can't last on the sea, then they won't be much use."

Brook's words poured cold water on Fish-Man Tom's excitement, but he still intended to put the clouds to the test.

Brook knew that Iron Clouds, Ball Clouds, and Marsh Clouds produced by Cloud Dials couldn't exist in the Blue Sea, but he didn't know whether naturally formed Island Clouds could.

The Island Clouds here could also be specially processed into Processed Cloud, which could be used to make furniture or as building material. They could even be used to construct canals.

Perhaps they could exist in the Blue Sea. Fish-Man Tom would have to find out for himself.

"Captain, these Breath Dials would be perfect if we installed them on our pirate ship. Then our ship could cross the Calm Belt too!"

Fish-Man Tom thought all the Dials with their various functions were amazing.

"We can do that. I have a feeling we'll completely refit the Yomi on the Sky Island, or build a new warship from scratch."

If there really were blueprints for the Ark Maxim on Birka, Brook would definitely have Tom use the Pluton Blueprints to modify or build a new ship!

Crocus carried a lot of Dials back to the Yomi. He thought they could all be put to good use.

The many God's Soldiers carried bag after bag of gold back to the palace. They couldn't understand why these powerful outsiders had kidnapped their god to steal useless yellow rocks. You couldn't even grow green plants in them!

"Captain Brook, there's a huge, huge gold pillar!!!"

Shakky and Antonio were both thrilled. They'd found a giant gold pillar bigger than a house. It had to weigh dozens of tons, if not hundreds. They couldn't even begin to estimate its weight.

But they knew they'd be rich for the rest of their lives. They'd never have to worry about money again, and they couldn't spend it all even over several lifetimes!

"I know. I'll use sword energy to cut it up when I have time. Oh, and there's a giant snake with a lot more gold in its belly. Go find it!"

Shakky and Antonio were beside themselves with excitement, but Brook remained calm. Wealth was ultimately just an external thing; strength was what he could rely on.

"Captain, take this seriously! That gold pillar will make us rich. We'll never have to worry about food or clothes again!"

Shakky was unhappy with Brook's attitude. She'd nearly risked her life rushing back to bring him the good news.

"If we don't have the strength to protect it, won't it hurt even more when someone else takes it? We'd be better off never getting it in the first place!"

Brook poured cold water on Shakky's excitement again. She stamped her foot, glared at him, then ran off to look for the giant snake he'd mentioned!

Before long, Redfield came in with several Priests, escorting a few dark-skinned Shandians.

"Captain Brook, I've captured the strongest warrior and the chief of the Shandia."

The Priests behind him gazed at the mighty Redfield with admiration. His body was so tough that the Shandian warrior's Reject Dials couldn't hurt him, and his movements were so swift that he surpassed even God's Mantra.

They all thought this man was far stronger than God!

Brook looked at the two Shandians, their bodies covered in sword wounds. If he hadn't specifically told Redfield not to kill them, the pair would likely have bled to death beneath Redfield's swift sword.

"Submit, and from now on the Shandia and the Angel Race can live together on this island. Otherwise, I'll consider you a source of trouble and wipe out your entire people!"

The two Shandians' pupils shrank in fear.

"I'll let you ring the Golden Bell and fulfill your ancestors' promise. Think carefully about what you say next!"

Brook only wanted to establish a stable territory. If they refused to submit, he would have to eliminate the threat at its source. But if they did submit, they could provide Brook with a steady stream of powerful warriors.

"If you let us ring the Golden Bell, we're willing to submit!"

For hundreds of years, the Angel Race hadn't even known the Golden Bell existed. They'd always believed the Shandians were trying to take their land. Meanwhile, the Shandians had always thought the Angel Race had seized the Golden Bell, as well as their land. That was why the two peoples had been at war for so long.

"Good. From now on, you're all my subordinates. Also, 'God's Kingdom' and the title of 'God' are too pretentious. From now on, this will be the Sky Kingdom, and I'll be its king! Upper Yard will also return to its old name: the Golden City of Shandora!"

Brook spoke to Gan Fumo, and they could only nod in agreement.

"From now on, Gan Fumo, chief of the Angel Race, will be the civil minister, responsible for managing the affairs of the Sky Kingdom. Wadica, chief of the Shandia, will be the military minister, responsible for defending against foreign enemies and forming a patrol force!"

The two men bowed their heads and accepted their orders. They exchanged a glance. Could the centuries-long feud between their peoples really end under this new king's rule?

Brook then led the key members of both peoples, along with his crew, to the enormous Golden Bell Tower in Shandora and rang the Golden Bell.

The sound of the bell seemed to cleanse their souls. The hatred between the two peoples seemed to be redeemed, and they found it much easier to look at one another.

Brook had the God's Soldiers carry all the gold up there. Then Brook, Fish-Man Tom, and Redfield set the Golden Bell Tower upright together and began building another Golden Palace there to serve as the royal residence!

Brook and Redfield also used the enormous gold pillar to practice their swordsmanship, cutting it into pieces and carrying them up to Shandora.

While Gan Fumo searched for news of Birka and Redfield went looking for the giant snake, Sky Lord, Brook had already arranged for Moore Thomas to start moving the Seagull News Bird's nest up to the Sky Island.

He sent a number of Express Shrimp to bring them over. Later, they also moved the World Economic News Agency's headquarters up and set it up on Shandora.

Moore Thomas's entire family came up too. The thin air on the Sky Island left them uncomfortable for a while, but soon they and the news agency staff were marveling at the Golden Palace.

The Golden City above, built among the vines of Shandora Island, was Brook's royal palace—the real Golden Palace.

The building below, which Brook called the Golden Reception Hall, was enough to leave the news agency staff awestruck too! From now on, they'd be working at the agency's headquarters beside the Golden Reception Hall.

It was like living in paradise! How wonderful to have such a beautiful view to enjoy during their breaks!

The Seagull Nest was also set up in the forest below, where the birds could live and breed!