Up to the sky

Soon, Mont Blanc brought Shoujou and Masira over and explained to Luffy a possible way to reach Sky Island.

"There should be other ways to get to Sky Island, right?" Robin looked at Li Ziming. Habits formed over many years made her reluctant to take the risk.

"There are, but we'd have to go to another sea." Li Ziming looked at Robin. "Why aren't you out there partying with the others?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Robin looked at Li Ziming in puzzlement. "As far as I know, you're not the sort to miss out on something like this."

"There are a few things bothering me, so I'd rather stay on guard." Li Ziming had dealt with Bellamy, so there would certainly be no nighttime raid to steal the gold. But Blackbeard was what worried him most. If Blackbeard really came, their current strength would leave them with no chance of escaping death.

"Is there something special about this island?" Robin frowned. "Should we tell the others?"

"No need." Li Ziming shook his head. "At the end of the day, it's just a guess. Whether it'll actually happen is another matter, so let's not worry them."

"Then I'd better hurry them along." Robin went into the house as she spoke. Everyone then headed out to search for a South Bird, while Li Ziming stayed behind to keep watch.

"So this is a South Bird?" Li Ziming asked doubtfully, studying the bird before him. "I've seen plenty of strange things already, but I still have to say, this bird is really weird. Can we really find that Knock Up Stream with this thing?"

"If you've chosen to trust me, then do as I say," Mont Blanc said casually. "I don't mind if you decide not to go, either. Masira and Shoujou will finish modifying your ship tomorrow. Whether you go then is up to you."

"Don't worry, we're definitely going, old man!" Luffy was already brimming with excitement.

After a night of work, the modifications to the Going Merry were finally complete.

"I'm suddenly starting to think going to Sky Island was a mistake. Can I back out?" Li Ziming stared at the ship before him. A ridiculous rooster's comb had been mounted on its sheep's head, and two wings had been added to its sides. It hadn't seemed like much when he read the manga, but now that he actually had to board a ship like this, he felt seriously uneasy.

"What are you talking about? One look at this ship tells you it can fly!" Luffy's eyes were already sparkling.

"How can you possibly tell that?!" At that moment, Li Ziming seemed to have taken over Usopp's role as the one calling out the absurdity.

"Why are you suddenly acting so strangely?" Robin asked curiously. "Are you afraid of something?"

"I never thought even you would have something to be scared of." Nami looked as though she had heard something extraordinary, a devilish gleam appearing in her eyes.

"All right, if you're going, hurry up and set sail. Masira and Shoujou will lead the way." Mont Blanc interrupted their conversation. "Saruyama Alliance! We absolutely cannot botch this mission! Whatever happens, escort these people all the way!"

"Roar!" Masira and Shoujou let out a thunderous cry.

"Kid." Mont Blanc walked up beside the Going Merry and addressed Luffy, who had just boarded. "Kid, this is where we say goodbye. But there's one thing that's absolutely certain: no one has ever proved that Shandora and Sky Island don't exist. Some people might laugh and call that twisted logic, but who cares? It's having dreams that makes it romantic!"

"Romantic, huh?" Luffy smiled.

"Kid." Mont Blanc smiled too. "Don't fall out of the sky."

"See you, old man!"

"Mr. Mont Blanc, thank you for your help!"

"Old man, make sure you take care of yourself!"

Several hours later, a mass of pitch-black clouds appeared before them.

"It's cumulonimbus! Send the diving team out to locate the current, now!" Masira swiftly gave his orders, using his voice to probe the surrounding waters.

Before long, the echoes of his voice revealed the nearby currents and the Sea Kings lurking beneath the water.

"That way! Turn the helm toward ten o'clock! Don't be afraid of that whirlpool. It's the sign that the current is about to erupt!" Shoujou issued his orders just as quickly.

"The waves are getting bigger!"

"Navigator! How's the Log Pose?" Robin asked.

"It's been pointing straight up!" Nami stared fixedly at the Log Pose on her wrist.

"We have a tailwind now! The cumulonimbus is moving toward the center of the whirlpool!" Shoujou's men delivered a detailed report.

"Looks like we hit the jackpot this time, brother!" Shoujou said excitedly.

"Yeah, this is going to be a perfect eruption!" Masira looked equally excited.

"Can we make it?!" Luffy shouted.

"Of course! Don't turn the helm now. Follow the whirlpool straight into its center!" Shoujou said.

"We're going into a whirlpool that huge?" Usopp felt his legs trembling.

"Nobody said anything about going into a whirlpool!" Nami was caught just as off guard by the news.

"Here we come, Sky Island!" Luffy shouted excitedly.

Li Ziming took out a bottle of liquor and gulped down a mouthful, forcing down the discomfort in his chest.

"This is as far as we take you!" Masira and Shoujou sailed away in their own ships.

"This is a scam! We want to go back!" Tears streamed down Nami's face.

"Don't say that. If we miss an adventure on the most fantastical island of all, we'll regret it for the rest of our lives." Luffy looked thoroughly excited.

"That's right. You might as well give up," Zoro said. "The giant whirlpool's already about to swallow us."

"Wait, what happened? Why did such a huge whirlpool disappear?" Luffy seemed to be having a great time and sounded rather unhappy that the whirlpool had vanished.

"It didn't disappear. It all sank to the bottom of the sea," Nami said fearfully.

"Hold on to whatever's within reach. If you get thrown off, you're dead." Li Ziming's eyes had never been so clear. "Get ready. We're going up."

"Ahahaha!" A ship resembling a raft appeared. "We finally caught up with you, Straw Hat!"

"It's that old guy!" Luffy recognized him at once.

"That hundred-million bounty on your head is mine!" Blackbeard said excitedly. "Stay right there and die!"

"A hundred million?" Luffy looked confused.

"Yes, you. You and Zoro both have bounties now. Yours is a hundred million, and Zoro's is sixty million." Li Ziming knew these guys paid no attention whatsoever to their own wanted status.

"What about me? Do I have a wanted poster?" Sanji hurriedly asked Li Ziming.

"Sorry, no." Li Ziming went to the side of the ship. "Something unexpected might happen, but Captain, do you mind if I trigger this current early?"

"No problem. I want to get to Sky Island sooner anyway!" Luffy wasn't concerned in the slightest.

But Robin could clearly see that Li Ziming was afraid. The people aboard the approaching ship plainly made him feel threatened, or he would never have taken such a risk. He couldn't possibly be unaware of the danger of the Knock Up Stream. Triggering it early introduced far too many unknowns, yet he had still decided to do it. That meant these newcomers were more dangerous to him than the current. Robin was now intensely curious about who they were.

"Boys!" Blackbeard ordered his subordinates. "Hurry up! We can't let those guys get away!"

"Captain, someone on that ship appears to be preparing to do something," Van Augur said evenly.

"Then just shoot him," Blackbeard said as though it were obvious.

"Yes." Van Augur's gun was already aimed at Li Ziming.

At that very moment, Li Ziming felt his life was in danger. Even so, he activated his ability, then used the last of his strength to shift his body. But a bullet still sent a blossom of blood bursting from the left side of his chest. Before he lost consciousness, he only vaguely heard everyone's cries of alarm.