As soon as they spotted Rogen's group, the squad of knights headed straight toward them. Their stern expressions and imposing presence quickly caused the surrounding angels to step aside.
"Greetings. I am Garrido, commander of God's Guard under Lord Gan Fall." Placing his right fist over his chest, Garrido introduced himself. Under his leadership, the God's Guards appeared disciplined, composed, and surprisingly courteous.
"Hello, Garrido," Rogen nodded with a smile.
"Our God warmly welcomes your arrival and would like to invite you to visit his palace as honored guests." Garrido removed his helmet, revealing blond hair beneath, and spoke with a friendly smile.
"Please convey our thanks to your God. We'd be happy to visit," Rogen replied.
"Come on, Captain! Not yet! We haven't had enough fun!" Chaporos suddenly interrupted. "There are still plenty of angel girls inviting me places!"
Rogen sighed helplessly. Turning around, he found that not only Chaporos but Jason, Crocodile, and the others all looked unwilling to leave. He could only shrug and turn back to Garrido.
"As you can see, my companions are still enjoying themselves. Would it be possible for us to visit your God a little later?"
Garrido remained as polite as ever, without the slightest sign of impatience. "Of course. It is our honor that you enjoy Angel Island so much. Please, take your time. I'll report your intentions to God. We'll be waiting at the dock connecting Angel Island and Upper Yard for the next three days. Once you've finished sightseeing, please come find us."
Seeing how accommodating the man was, Rogen's expression softened. "Then we'll trouble you with that."
"Not at all. We'll take our leave now. I hope you enjoy your stay." After another respectful salute, Garrido turned and departed with his men.
"The people of Angel Island are really kind and polite," Trens, who had been quietly observing from the side, spoke sincerely.
"Yeah. I think I've fallen in love with this place. Everyone here is so nice!" Chaporos chimed in, his eyes practically shaped like hearts. Around him stood four or five female angels chatting cheerfully, making him feel as if he were floating on air.
"You're all free to do as you like. Enjoy yourselves for three days. After that, we'll visit God Gan Fall," Rogen finally dismissed everyone.
A loud cheer erupted as the crew scattered in all directions. Watching them run off so enthusiastically, Rogen could only shake his head and smile. He himself was quite interested in Skypiea and spent the day wandering leisurely through its streets.
"This is a Wind Dial. It can store wind and release it later," seeing Rogen's interest, a stall owner enthusiastically explained.
Rogen picked it up, blew into it, then released the stored wind under the owner's guidance. "It really is fascinating," he praised honestly.
The owner beamed with pride. "Right? You won't find anything like this in the Blue Sea. It's one of Skypiea's specialties!"
Rogen nodded in agreement and continued examining the other dials, each one possessing its own unique function. After trying many of them, he finally purchased a Sound Dial. The reason was simple, it contained a beautiful melody.
"That's my daughter's singing. Nice, isn't it?" the owner said proudly.
"It really is," Rogen agreed.
The song contained no instruments, only a young girl's humming. Yet listening to it made the body relax completely, as if soaring through the clouds. It carried a uniquely peaceful charm.
---
After purchasing the Sound Dial, Rogen continued exploring Angel Island alone. By the time he reached the border between Angel Island and Upper Yard, dusk had arrived.
"That's Upper Yard ahead." Looking at the familiar landmass and forests in the distance, Rogen was certain.
Upper Yard. The land where God resided. And one of the main objectives of his trip.
Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, Upper Yard possessed a beauty different from anything found on the Blue Sea. Surrounded by layers upon layers of white clouds at such a great altitude, colorful halos encircled the island's edges, creating a breathtaking sight.
Without realizing it, Rogen felt completely at ease. Smiling faintly, he sat down on the ground and activated the Sound Dial he had purchased earlier.
The gentle humming of the girl echoed around him again and again. Gradually, he closed his eyes. In such a peaceful setting, listening to such a unique melody was an exceptionally pleasant experience.
He didn't know how much time had passed when a ragged, weary-looking boy of fifteen or sixteen quietly appeared behind him. The boy's eyes held both caution and curiosity as he looked at Rogen sitting there and the Sound Dial endlessly playing its tune.
"Does it sound good?" Rogen spoke suddenly. His eyes remained closed, yet he had already noticed the boy's arrival.
"It does," after hesitating briefly, the boy answered honestly.
"Come sit beside me and listen together," Rogen said with a smile.
"What did you say?" The boy's entire body shook, his face filled with surprise.
"Come sit beside me and listen together," Rogen patiently repeated himself.
This time the boy heard clearly, and a complicated look appeared in his eyes. After hesitating for nearly ten seconds, he finally chose to sit down beside Rogen.
Neither of them spoke. Both simply closed their eyes and listened to the girl's humming. Three minutes later, the song ended.
The boy opened his eyes and glanced at Rogen. "You don't have wings. You're not a Skypiean?" His tone was both surprised and certain.
"That's right. To you, I would be considered someone from the Blue Sea," Rogen smiled.
"Then where is the Blue Sea?" the boy asked curiously.
"The Blue Sea is an ocean thousands upon thousands of times larger than Skypiea. The people there don't have wings, and there are far more people than here. Compared to Skypiea, that's the real world," Rogen replied.
"It's bigger than Skypiea? And nobody has wings?" The boy was stunned, his face full of disbelief.
"See that island over there?" Rogen suddenly opened his eyes and pointed toward Upper Yard. The boy nodded. "That island came from the Blue Sea. And in the Blue Sea, there are countless islands just like it," Rogen said loudly.
"What?" The shock in the boy's eyes deepened. It was as if his entire worldview had been overturned, and he could hardly believe what he was hearing.
He wanted to ask more questions, but Rogen suddenly stood up and picked up the Sound Dial.
"Want to listen to music again?"
"Huh? Yes!" the boy nodded immediately.
"Then come here again at the same time tomorrow."
After saying that, Rogen turned and walked away. Soon, his figure disappeared from the boy's sight.
(End Of This Chapter)
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