Translator: PapaSmurf0700
If the crew wants to ascend to Sky Island using the powerful updraft currents, they need to prepare thoroughly. The first essential element is to predict the time when the updraft will occur. Cricket has this knowledge, and he shared that the next surge is expected around noon the following day, to the south of the island.
Additionally, the ship must be modified to navigate the upward currents effectively. This might include adding features like wings to the ship to assist in aerial navigation. Since they won't be traveling to a conventional island, their standard navigation tools like the Log Pose will be ineffective once they are caught in the updraft. Luckily, there's a local creature known as the South Bird on Jaya Island that could potentially guide them.
Thus, that night, Usopp and Merry stayed by the shore with Cricket, working hard to retrofit the Golden Merry for its unusual journey. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew ventured into the forest in search of the South Bird. During this quest, everyone discovered Nami and Sanji's comical fear of insects.
In the meantime, Bellamy, driven by his earlier humiliation at Luffy's hands, decided to raid Cricket's camp for the gold. However, his plan backfired spectacularly as he and his crew were effortlessly defeated by just Merry and Usopp. This confrontation altered the path that Cricket and the two orangutans faced in their original story, sparing them from further humiliation.
As dawn approached the following day, Cricket received a healing pill from Bai Ye, crafted in collaboration with Chopper. The pill was exceptionally effective, healing the lingering injuries Cricket had from his long-term diving activities. This successful medical intervention bolstered Chopper and Bai Ye's confidence in their pharmaceutical skills, inspiring them to further refine their medicinal creations like the Rumble Ball.
Grateful for their help, Cricket thanked them, and Chopper, concerned for his new friend's well-being, advised him against further deep-sea dives. This gesture of care marked a new level of trust and friendship among them.
As the Straw Hats prepared to set sail, they gathered on the deck of the Golden Merry. On the shore, Mont Blanc Cricket stood tall, calling out to Luffy with a voice full of emotion and conviction.
"Even though everything Bai Ye has theorized might just be speculation," Cricket shouted across the water, his voice carrying the weight of his belief, "I still must say this—no one has ever been able to prove that Sky Island and the City of Gold do not exist."
Cricket spread his arms wide, as if trying to embrace the vastness of the ocean and sky before him. His voice grew louder, filled with a passionate fervor as he proclaimed, "Some might scoff at such ideas, but really, what does their laughter matter? To dream is to pursue the true romance of life!"
Onboard the Merry, the Straw Hats felt the power of Cricket's words. They waved back enthusiastically, their voices carrying their own blend of hope and determination across the breeze.
"Goodbye, Uncle Cricket!" they called out in unison.
"Take care of yourself!"
"We'll prove that the Golden City is real!"
As the Golden Merry and orangutan's ships began to pull away, catching the wind that would carry them toward their next great adventure, Cricket couldn't help but smile broadly, his eyes twinkling with a mix of pride and hope.
"Don't die out there, you guys!" he shouted one last time, his voice tinged with a seriousness, fully aware of the dangers they were about to face but confident in their spirits.
-----
On the deck of the Golden Merry, Luffy's eyes widened in amazement as he pointed at the enormous whirlpool swirling like a monstrous black hole before them. "Wow! What a big whirlpool!!" he exclaimed with a thrill evident in his voice.
Usopp, however, was the picture of fear. His face drained of color, he staggered slightly, clutching at the rail: "Wow! If we go in there, we're definitely going to die!!" he yelled, imagining the worst.
Next to him, Nami looked equally terrified. She called out in panic to the two larger ships manned by orangutans leading their formation: "Is this some kind of joke?!" Her voice was sharp with fear. "You never said anything about us diving into that monster whirlpool!"
One of the orangutans responded firmly, understanding the gravity of the moment: "Hey, remember, once you enter the vortex, do not try to turn back. Head straight for the center." With these last instructions, the orangutans moved their ships away from the edge of the swirling waters, leaving the path clear for the Merry.
Luffy, undeterred by the daunting challenge, rallied his crew with infectious enthusiasm: "Then, let's go! To Sky Island!!" His voice rang out clear and determined over the roar of the sea.
With Luffy's call, the Merry surged forward, bravely plunging into the whirlpool. Moments later, the waters erupted as a mighty upwelling current blasted upwards toward the sky.
Above the furious surge, the Golden Merry was catapulted upwards, riding the powerful jet of water.
On their own ships, the orangutans stood at the bow, watching the Merry ascend. They shouted blessings, hoping for the crew's successful journey: "It must be successful, Straw Hats!" Their voices carried over the water, laden with hopes and wishes for a safe ascent.
Not far from the dramatic ascent of the Straw Hat crew, a humble raft floated quietly on the ocean's surface. On it, Van Augur, the sniper, turned to his captain with a question, his voice carrying over the gentle lapping of the waves: "Captain, are you really not going to do anything?"
Teach, known more infamously as Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach, laughed heartily, his voice booming over the sea as he took a swig of rum. "Ha ha ha ha, although my target are the 100 million Belly pirates..." His laughter trailed off as he waved a sheaf of papers in the air — the latest bounty orders from Mock Town, showcasing the Straw Hat Pirates' worth.
"But the Straw Hats really exceeded my expectations." Teach continued, a twinkle of intrigue in his eyes as he scanned the bounty numbers. The total figure, a staggering 475 million, made him chuckle again, his laughter echoing around the sparse horizon. "I've always known they were an unusual bunch, but this bounty... it's too exaggerated, hahahahaha!"
His crew, arrayed around him, had mixed feelings. Burgess stared intently at Luffy's picture, the memory of the small yet formidable pirate making him clench his fists in anticipation of a future confrontation. Van Augur, meanwhile, pondered over Usopp's modest 30 million bounty, a smirk playing on his lips. Doc Q, ever the somber one, perked up only briefly when he spotted Chopper's bounty order, a spark of interest in his otherwise lethargic eyes.
Watching the Golden Merry soar upwards with the powerful upwelling current, Blackbeard turned to his crew with a decisive nod. "Okay, let's head back," he commanded, his gaze shifting back towards the distant shores of the small town. "We've got to wait for Laffitte to join us."
With a final, lingering look in the direction of the rising ship, Blackbeard settled back against his seat on the raft, the pieces of his next plan slowly forming in his mind as the ocean carried them back to their next destination.
-----
In the grand halls of the World Government headquarters, a crucial meeting was underway, one that held the balance of world order in its grasp. Amid the solemn atmosphere, a bizarre scuffle broke out.
"Hey, what are you doing!" shouted one vice admiral, his face a mask of confusion.
"It's not me, it's my hand—it moved on its own!" protested the other, equally bewildered as his limbs flailed uncontrollably.
Across the room, in Mariejois' ornate conference space, these two vice admirals were inexplicably at odds, much to the amusement of some and the concern of others.
"Doflamingo, you're playing tricks," accused a seasoned vice admiral, a woman of age whose voice carried the weight of authority despite her gentle tone. "Leave them be; they are good boys."
At this, the flamboyant Doflamingo couldn't contain his laughter. Dressed in an extravagant pink coat and sporting curved, thin white sunglasses, his sinister smile seemed to stretch even wider. "Fufurfurfurfurfurfurfur! Good boys, you say? I can hardly agree!"
His fingers began to clench, revealing nearly invisible strings attached to them—the workings of his String-String Fruit powers. It was these threads that allowed him to puppeteer the two vice admirals into their unintended melee.
"I'll just let it end sooner," Doflamingo declared, his intent clear: he was about to make the two vice admirals kill each other.
But before he could enact his plan, a commanding voice boomed from the doorway. "Stop! How decent is this? Are you here to fight or have a meeting?"
Admiral Sengoku, a respected figure in the Navy, entered with an air of authority that immediately quelled the chaos. His eyes swept over the room, landing on Doflamingo, Bartholomew Kuma, and Mihawk—the only Warlords of the Sea who had bothered to show up.
"I didn't expect three Shichibukai to come; it's beyond my expectation," he noted dryly.
Just then, a mysterious voice drifted in from the window, carrying with it an air of intrigue. "So, for this meeting, can I join as an observer?"
All eyes turned to the window where a tall man stood, elegance embodied in his top hat and walking stick. With a serious tone, he introduced himself, "My name is Laffitte."