Round Three Is About to Begin! (Continued)

The giant snake was no slouch. Within minutes, it reached the spot where Adrian had left Cricket.

But Cricket was nowhere to be seen.

A red glint flashed through Adrian's eyes. He called in a certain direction, "Mr. Cricket, come on out."

A stunned Cricket crept out of a dark corner. He stared at the giant snake, which could swallow him whole in a single bite, and trembled too badly to speak.

"Mr. White Ghost, is... is this the 'native' you mentioned?"

"Funny enough, this little snake knew your ancestor Mont Blanc Noland."

Adrian lightly tapped the giant snake's head with his foot.

It obediently lowered its head, though its bright yellow eyes stayed on Cricket, who had only just appeared. They were full of curiosity.

Cricket was still frightened, but he mustered the courage to say, "I'm sorry, Mr. White Ghost. I didn't know."

"That's all right. It was centuries ago."

Adrian jumped down from the snake's head.

"This fellow used to be good friends with the warriors of Shandora and Noland. Then a massive Knock Up Stream blasted Shandora into the sky. It came along and grew into what you see now."

Cricket looked bewildered. He had no idea how a Great Pirate with a bounty of over a billion Beli knew so much ancient history, but he couldn't bring himself to doubt Adrian.

After all, the legendary Golden Land of Sky Island lay right before his eyes.

If White Ghost told him he would discover the legendary All Blue later that day, Cricket would probably believe that too.

"But now, let's talk about you, Mr. Cricket," Adrian said calmly. "I still have a few things to do on Sky Island. What are your plans?"

"Me?"

Cricket fell silent. He had spent the first half of his life