After a brief rest, Bear and Zack recovered their strength. Ginny and the others returned to their cabin to change into dry clothes, and the ship continued onward.
"Dad, look at these clouds. They're springy, unlike those watery clouds below."
"These are island clouds. Their density is different, so their properties are different too. They may look like clouds, but crops can even be grown on them like soil."
Island clouds and sea clouds were essentially combinations of P-particles and water molecules. On the Sky Islands, the people had long since mastered methods of making artificial clouds for survival.
They could process clouds such as island clouds through special methods, turning them into materials for building houses and bridges. This island cloud processing technology was also something Oran found quite interesting.
The island clouds and sea clouds seemed to form a maze filled with winding paths. When they passed through it, a waterfall made of clouds appeared before them.
"Heaven's Gate? Does that mean heaven lies beyond it?"
A strange gate stood before the waterfall. Bear was religious himself. Though he did not practice often, he was also a part-time priest, so the term carried a peculiar meaning for him.
"Don't misunderstand. It only means exactly what it says. There's nothing strange about calling a nation ten thousand meters above the ground heaven. Anyone there? We're entering the country!"
Oran called out, and before long, a middle-aged woman emerged.
"One hundred million Ike per person to enter."
"One hundred million?! Why don't you just rob us!"
At that number, Ginny bristled and roared at the woman. No matter how one looked at it, an entry fee of one hundred million was absurdly excessive.
"This is Sky Island currency. The exchange rate with Berries is 10,000 to 1. We only need