Roger Pirates

The deck of the Oro Jackson was shrouded beneath enormous red sails.

The terrifying Knock Up Stream sent the ship rocking violently, as if it might fall apart at any moment. But that was not enough to affect some of the people aboard, such as the captain, Gol Roger; the vice-captain, Dark King Rayleigh; the navigator, Scopper Gaban; the demon descendant, Douglas Bullet; and the swordsman, Kozuki Oden.

Some people, however, were so frightened that tears streamed down their faces. Take our little clown Buggy, for example. At that moment, he was clinging tightly to the mast as if it were his very life.

After a while, the force of the Knock Up Stream gradually weakened, and the ship finally steadied somewhat. Only then did everyone have the time to admire the beautiful scenery before them.

Even though the members of the Roger Pirates all had extraordinary backgrounds and had followed Roger around the world, making them well-traveled and knowledgeable, they were still filled with wonder as they gazed at the beautiful Sky Island before them, which looked like heaven.

"I never imagined Sky Island really existed..."

Rayleigh, the vice-captain, looked at Roger, who was standing at the bow with his eyes shining brightly, and spoke.

"Yeah, Rayleigh. This really is a miraculous place."

"But is the thing you want really up here?"

"There's no mistake."

Roger's eyes were filled with confidence and determination, and his voice was full of commanding force.

"I've already heard it. It's calling out to me..."

"Then it looks like we won't have come all this way for nothing..."

At that moment, Gaban, the navigator, walked over with a cigarette between his lips.

"Things aren't looking too good, Roger. The ship's damage is rather serious, and there's not much I can do about it."

Gaban's words made Roger furrow his brows, but he soon relaxed and asked,

"Can she hold out until we reach the Grand Line?"

Gaban thought for a moment, then nodded.

"If I work at it, there shouldn't be a problem."

"That's good. We'll deal with the ship once we reach Water 7. For now..."

As Roger spoke, he turned to face all of his crew.

"Partners, let's go search for the legendary Golden Land, Shandora, and begin our adventure!"

"Yeah!!!!"

Their excited howls rang out across heaven and earth.

The arrival of the Roger Pirates was simply too imposing. As the Oro Jackson slowly came alongside the shore, God's Army on Sky Island noticed them at once, and countless residents of Angel Island were drawn over as well.

"Oh, are those angels?!"

"This place really is heaven..."

"Ah, my heart has already been captured..."

Seeing the graceful Angel Island girls with wings on their backs, countless members of the Roger Pirates let out excited roars. Even the young red-haired Shanks and Buggy, who cared about nothing but treasure, could not stop a faint blush from appearing on their cheeks.

"Greetings... visitors from the Blue Sea. May I ask what brings you here?"

After the ship docked, the captain of God's Army walked over, his tone extremely polite.

It was no wonder he had suddenly become so timid.

Just standing before these people, he could feel their terrifying presence. Speaking to them was even more intimidating.

"Hahaha..."

Seeing this, Roger threw his head back and laughed. He leaped down from the ship, walked up to the army captain, and spoke loudly.

"My name is Gol Roger, and I'm the captain of the Roger Pirates. We came to Sky Island this time just to find something. We won't cause you any trouble..."

"This..."

The army captain hesitated. Strictly speaking, as the captain of God's Army, he should have controlled and monitored anyone who visited Sky Island. But standing before this man, he simply could not bring himself to say so. He could only ask,

"May I ask what you're looking for?"

"Why, the legendary Golden Land, Shandora, of course!"

Roger made no attempt to hide it and answered with impressive boldness.

However, the moment he finished speaking, the army captain's expression turned troubled.

Perhaps no one else knew what place Roger was talking about, but as the captain of God's Army, he naturally knew.

After all, they had taken the Golden Land from the Shandia in the past. Precisely because of that, the place was the most secret and precious location on all of Sky Island. If he let this group of strangers reach it, he would have failed in his duty.

Yet under the pressure of the group's overwhelming presence, he did not know how to refuse them. He could only stand there stammering.

Fortunately, an aged voice rang out at that moment.

"Greetings, distant visitors!"

Upon hearing that voice, the army captain seemed to see a savior. He turned around and respectfully addressed Gan Fall, who was emerging from the crowd in splendid clothing.

"God..."

The surrounding residents of Angel Island also bowed respectfully.

"God..."

The way the army captain and the others addressed him caught the attention of the Roger Pirates.

"Hey, did I hear that right? They called that old man God?"

"He looks so weak..."

"Stop talking. It might be a unique honorific on Sky Island."

A clearly visible trace of embarrassment crossed Gan Fall's face. After all, he knew his own circumstances best. Having lived for so many years, Gan Fall naturally possessed knowledge far beyond that of ordinary Sky Island residents. These commoners might call him God, but before those terrifying people from the Blue Sea below, the title was utterly laughable.

Roger was a rather innocent and guileless man in some respects. Seeing Gan Fall approach, he courteously said,

"Greetings, God of Sky Island. I'm Gol Roger from the Blue Sea. These are my partners. The purpose of our visit is to see the legendary Golden Land, Shandora."

"I understand. Come with me, and I'll take you there."

After Gan Fall finished speaking, he also instructed the army captain,

"Prepare several Wavers!"

A few minutes later, more than twenty Wavers were brought over.

"Come with me. I'll take you there..."

Seeing this, Roger also began issuing orders.

"Leave a few people behind to guard the ship. The rest of you, come with me to see the legendary Golden Land!"

"Yeah!!!"

Within Sky Island's rising cloud currents, more than twenty Wavers sped across the sea of clouds built from vines.

The members of the Roger Pirates were all amazed by this novel means of transportation. Seeing this, Gan Fall explained its principles to them like a tour guide, including the uses of the various Dials, leaving the Roger Pirates astonished again and again.

"It really is an island of miracles!"

Roger stood at the very front of a Waver, feeling the clouds rush past him, and could not help saying this.

Gan Fall hurriedly replied,

"You flatter us. The Blue Sea beneath our feet is the truly boundless place!"

Before long, the Wavers carried everyone to the edge of God's Island, Upper Yard.

Gan Fall pointed at the beautiful island and said,

"This island was brought to Sky Island by the Knock Up Stream four hundred years ago. The Golden Land, Shandora, that you're looking for is at the island's center. Because of certain special circumstances, God's Army patrols this place everywhere. So, to avoid trouble, I'll take you there myself..."

Unexpectedly, Roger suddenly waved his hand and pointed into the distance.

"The God's Army you mentioned doesn't include those two children, does it?"

"Children?"

Gan Fall was stunned. What children?

He followed the direction Roger was pointing and saw that, at some unknown point, two extremely young-looking children had appeared at the edge of the island, in the center of the forest, ahead of everyone else.