Preparations Before Going to the Sky Island?

At this moment.

Shojo and Masira could not help but exchange glances.

Logically speaking, they should have expressed their gratitude after Natsuya saved them.

However, upon realizing Natsuya's identity, they felt somewhat at a loss.

Just then, a large chestnut suddenly emerged from the sea surface nearby.

Immediately after, a shirtless man surfaced from the water.

"Big Brother!"

Seeing this, Shojo and Masira's faces lit up with joy.

The man with a chestnut on his head was none other than Mont Blanc Cricket!

As it turned out, Mont Blanc Cricket had been diving, but the commotion caused by the two halves of the giant ship entering the water was so great that he sensed something was wrong and surfaced to investigate.

"Hmm, who are they!?"

Following that, Cricket also noticed the presence of Natsuya, as well as Nami and Gin on the unfamiliar pirate ship.

Right, and Momoo, whose presence had already become very low.

Shojo and Masira hurriedly crowded over to explain the situation to Cricket, especially regarding Natsuya's presence.

When he heard that Natsuya was a bounty criminal with a reward of 100 million, Cricket was also taken aback.

However, he quickly regained his composure and, representing Shojo and Masira, thanked Natsuya: "Thank you for saving them."

Setting aside whether Natsuya had any malicious intent toward them, even if he did, he had clearly saved them just now, so regardless of anything else, they had to express their gratitude.

"Thank you!"

"We are deeply grateful!"

Shojo and Masira also hurriedly followed suit with their thanks.

Natsuya waved his hand and introduced himself: "My name is Natsuya."

He then added: "You three must be Mont Blanc Cricket, Shojo, and Masira, right?"

Hearing this, the three of them nodded immediately, surprised that Natsuya actually knew who they were.

At the same time, Nami and Gin were also somewhat astonished.

Especially Nami.

During this time, she had come to understand Natsuya very well.

All in all, Natsuya was a completely hands-off captain.

As the captain, he only decided on the destination and left everything else alone.

He ignored all other trivial matters, spending his days either exercising or training.

She hadn't expected that, besides Shojo and Masira, he even knew Mont Blanc Cricket.

You have to realize, she didn't even know who Mont Blanc Cricket was!

Wait, so did Natsuya approach them because he knew Cricket and the others?

What exactly was he planning to do!?

Natsuya didn't waste any words and asked directly: "I wonder how much you three know about the Knock-Up Stream?"

The Knock-Up Stream??

Hearing this, Nami and Gin were momentarily stunned.

Cricket and the others exchanged glances, then replied: "You've come to the right people for that question!"

"That's right, we've been here for a year, and we know the Knock-Up Stream very well!"

"But why are you asking about this? You wouldn't be listening to that legend, would you!?"

When they reached the end, Shojo and Masira seemed to recall something, their faces showing a hint of fear.

As for Cricket, his expression darkened.

Natsuya immediately understood that the legend they were referring to was Sky Island!

However, for the people of Jaya, whether Sky Island actually existed was clearly still an unsolved mystery.

Thinking of this, Natsuya nodded and said: "That's right, I want to use the Knock-Up Stream to reach that island that exists in the sky, Sky Island!"

Yes, this was the reason he had taken the initiative to approach them after discovering Shojo and Masira!

He wanted to ask for their help.

He had thought it might be a bit abrupt, but since he had happened to save Shojo and Masira, he believed there would be no problem in asking for their assistance.

However, upon hearing this, the expressions of Cricket and the others became complicated.

Nami and Gin, meanwhile, were completely bewildered.

They still knew nothing about Sky Island.

However, once Natsuya provided a brief explanation, the two of them quickly understood.

Knock-Up Stream.

Sky Island.

So that was it!

Nami couldn't help but sigh, "So that's how it is. No wonder the Log Pose pointed toward the sky when we arrived here."

By now, she clearly understood the reason for the Log Pose's strange behavior.

But just then, Cricket and his two companions poured cold water on them, saying, "Sky Island isn't so easy to reach!"

"The odds of survival are slim to none!"

"The legend of Sky Island is beautiful, sure, but have you ever thought about what happens to the ships carried up by the Knock-Up Stream once the current stops, if Sky Island doesn't actually exist!?"

"I advise you to give up."

"Because that is the outcome!"

As they finished speaking, Shojo and Masira pointed toward the wreckage of the giant ships scattered around them.

Cricket remained silent, lost in thought, before pulling out a pipe and taking a puff.

Nami and Gin, however, were left dumbfounded.

So, Natsuya was going to Sky Island? And he was going to take such a huge risk!?

What was going on? Wasn't the plan to head to Sabaody?

Natsuya didn't offer further explanations to Nami and Gin, instead continuing to address Cricket and his men, "You don't need to worry about that. Just tell me roughly when the Knock-Up Stream appears."

As far as Natsuya knew, the Knock-Up Stream appeared five times a month. Since Cricket and his crew had been here for quite some time, he believed they would know for sure.

Of course, knowing the approximate time of the current wasn't enough.

With that in mind, Natsuya added, "You said you wanted to thank me earlier. If you're truly grateful, then help me reinforce my pirate ship so I can increase my chances of reaching Sky Island!"

Cricket and his men wore complex expressions.

Helping Natsuya reinforce the ship was no problem, but were they really going to stand by and watch him go to his death?

Cricket took a deep drag from his pipe and suddenly asked, as if to himself, "Does Sky Island really exist?"

Natsuya offered a mysterious smile, "Why don't we go and see for ourselves?"

"Gin, you stay here and help out. Nami and I are going out for a bit."

With that, Natsuya left Gin behind to assist Cricket and his crew, taking Nami with him.

There were many preparations needed to reach Sky Island.

Reinforcing the pirate ship was only one of them.

Capturing a Southbird was another.

But clearly, these were just minor tasks.

The most important preparation for this trip to Sky Island was figuring out how to deal with that arrogant guy who called himself "God."

Although Natsuya considered himself quite powerful, he still had certain shortcomings.

If he were to rashly face that guy, he wasn't guaranteed a hundred percent victory!

Therefore, he had to make some preparations.

And so, Natsuya took Nami, teleported to the forest, easily captured a Southbird, and then headed toward the town on the island.

The things he needed should be there!

After Natsuya and Nami left, Gin naturally returned to the coast with Cricket and his men to begin reinforcing the ship.

This process lasted for two or three days.

During that time, Gin didn't really help much.

In fact, Natsuya hadn't expected Gin, who knew nothing about ship repair, to be of any real assistance.

Leaving him behind actually served another purpose.

That purpose was to keep an eye on Cricket and his men, just in case they tried anything underhanded.

Although Natsuya knew Cricket and his crew well and had even saved their lives, it never hurt to be cautious.

What if these guys, who were portrayed as good-natured in the original story, turned dark because of the 100 million berry bounty?

And then.

Whether it was a coincidence or a confirmation of Natsuya's suspicions, on the third day, Gin spotted a large warship on the distant sea!!

Was that the Navy!?