Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Indeed, even Gan Fall was unaware that the poneglyph found on Upper Yard was just a small piece of a much larger puzzle. Shandora, an ancient city, lies mostly underground. When a massive current lifted it to the lofty heights of Skypiea, 10,000 meters above the sea, the vast island clouds engulfed the lower portions of Shandora, leaving only fragments visible above the surface.
Tragically, it was the Shandia tribe—who knew the full extent of Shandora's secrets—who were expelled from Upper Yard four hundred years ago. Consequently, for centuries, the Sky Islanders living above remained oblivious to the ancient ruins hidden beneath their feet.
The first outsider to stumble upon these ruins was Enel, who arrived from another sky island, Birka, six years prior. Now, the second group to explore beneath the island clouds includes Robin, Bai Ye, and Merry. As they gaze upon the remnants of what looks like a grand palace filled with echoes of history, both the archaeologist Robin and Bai Ye are deeply moved by the sight.
Merry, now fully awake, clutches Robin's hand, her eyes wide with wonder. She shakes her head slightly, clearly in awe, and exclaims, "So beautiful! Is this the Golden City?"
Robin confirms with a nod, "Yes, this is Shandora, the ancient city lost for four hundred years. The history of this city stretches back thousands of years."
As she surveys the ruins, a sense of the past envelops her. "Just looking at what's before us," she continues, "I can almost feel the prosperity of the great kingdom that once reigned supreme over the seas." Her conviction in Bai Ye's theory about Shandora's significance strengthens—this city was undoubtedly a crucial part of that mighty kingdom.
Bai Ye looked around with a touch of melancholy, lamenting, "It's truly unfortunate that I've never seen the Golden City in its full glory." He glanced at the stripped-down city before them. "Clearly, we're not the first to discover this place."
"All the gold that once filled this city is gone," Bai Ye noted, his voice tinged with regret. "If it wasn't taken by Gan Fall or the former rulers of this sky island, then there's only one other person who could be responsible."
Robin, catching on, suggested, "Enel?"
Bai Ye nodded in agreement, "Exactly. The fact that Enel wielded a golden staff might also hint at where the gold went."
Robin pondered further, "But surely, the gold from an entire ancient city wasn't just used for crafting weapons." Her gaze then drifted towards the deeper parts of the ruins, her mind swirling with curiosity about Enel's motives for accumulating such wealth.
Just as she was about to voice her thoughts, the sky above them churned ominously. Suddenly, a gigantic snake was falling with two familiar figures appeared.
Little Merry quickly recognized them and exclaimed, "It's Luffy and Nami!"
In response, Bai Ye swiftly cast a qimen technique: Wind Trigram - Feather Wind. Like leaves cradled by an autumn breeze, Luffy and Nami were gently lowered to the ground next to their friends.
Meanwhile, the giant snake, lacking any assistance, crashed heavily onto the ground.
Upon landing, Luffy greeted them with a wide grin, surprised and delighted to find them there. "Bai Ye, Robin, and Merry!" he called out cheerfully. Holding tightly to a bundle, he eagerly presented it to the group. The package contained treasures and gold, freshly retrieved from the belly of the giant snake.
Luffy, brimming with excitement, boasted, "Hahaha, I found a lot of treasures!" Unfortunately, among his companions, only Merry showed enthusiasm, exclaiming, "Amazing, Luffy!!" Despite the lackluster response, Luffy's laughter filled the air, his joy undiminished.
However, Nami swiftly brought Luffy's revelry to a halt. "We can talk about the treasure later," she insisted. "First, we need to deal with that giant snake." Nami then shared what had happened earlier. For reasons unknown, upon seeing the treasures from its own belly in Nami's hands, the snake had displayed a mix of sorrow and longing in its eyes, then began attacking her relentlessly, ignoring Luffy's attempts to intervene. Subsequently, they all tumbled below the clouds.
As Nami recounted the tale, Robin interjected, suggesting, "Perhaps, we don't need to get rid of it." Her gaze shifted to the giant snake crying amidst the ruins, its mournful roars touching everyone's hearts.
Bai Ye, familiar with the backstory, speculated, "Perhaps, it once lived here too. After the city was enveloped by clouds, it couldn't find its way back home and has been searching for four hundred years."
Nami and Robin, moved by the scene and Bai Ye's words, looked at the distressed snake with empathy. Bai Ye's theory seemed plausible given the depth of the snake's emotional outburst.
On the other hand, Luffy, deeply affected, was on the verge of tears, ready to join the snake in its sorrow. Thankfully, Merry clung to Luffy's leg, preventing what could have turned into an emotional spectacle.
Handing Luffy a tissue, Bai Ye remarked, "You just fought with him for a long time, and now you want to console him?" He suggested, "Let's have Chopper translate for you instead." Given the complex feelings involved and the history between Luffy and the snake, Bai Ye thought Chopper's mediating skills would be more suitable.
Just then, Bai Ye realized something was amiss. "Chopper... why hasn't he arrived yet?" he wondered aloud, looking around for the missing doctor.
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Sanji emerged from the thick foliage, his eyes scanning the destruction laid out before him. "It was here," he murmured, almost to himself, "the battle must have happened right here."
The sight of the ravaged forest seemed to unsettle Usopp, who nervously clutched his slingshot. "Sanji, you've already taken care of all the enemies, haven't you?" he asked, his voice tinged with apprehension.
"You're too skittish, Usopp," Sanji replied coolly as he lit a cigarette. He took a moment to assess the damage surrounding them. "From what I can see, one of the fighters was definitely Luffy. The other must have been a giant python." His years in the kitchen, dealing with all sorts of ingredients, had honed his analytical skills.
"Let's keep moving, Usopp. They seem to have headed further on," Sanji said, starting to walk.
"Wait for me, Sanji!" Usopp called out, hurrying after him. As he caught up, he couldn't help but voice another concern. "Shouldn't we wait for Zoro?"
He chuckled dryly. "That guy, I swear, I told him to stick close, but he's gotten lost again."
Sanji's voice floated back reassuringly, "It's fine. Zoro can handle himself. Plus, Chopper's with him, right? Chopper knows the way."