Several days later — waters near Long Ring Long Land
A merchant ship larger than the Arrowfish slowly approached the island.
Its figurehead was shaped like a grinning gold coin.
It was none other than the vessel of the middleman Gillian—the Gilded Dice.
The two ships drew alongside each other.
Although the Arrowfish was a three-masted vessel capable of long voyages, compared to the cargo-heavy merchant ship designed for storage capacity, it looked noticeably smaller.
"Hahaha! Captain Sami, punctuality is the greatest virtue—and you never fail to delight!"
Gillian appeared at the rail of his ship, his exaggerated pompadour gleaming in the sun. Two towering bodyguards stood behind him.
"Let's skip the pleasantries. Let me see how my esteemed guests are doing!"
"Bring them up!"
The transaction proceeded swiftly.
The tightly bound prisoners—Roz, Hawk, and Vera—were escorted forward by Isaac personally and handed over.
As they passed Gillian, he barely spared them a glance.
Moments later, several heavy wooden chests were carried onto the Arrowfish.
Inside were neatly stacked bundles of brand-new Berries, still smelling faintly of fresh ink.
"The usual rule—count it."
The process of verifying the enormous sum finished quickly.
Both sides displayed practiced efficiency.
But everyone present understood—
The real trade was only beginning now.
"Information."
"Of course, my dear partner. This is the main course."
Gillian's smile faded slightly.
He signaled a subordinate, who handed him a sealed waterproof copper tube.
From it, Gillian removed a rolled sea chart and carefully spread it across the large table inside the Arrowfish's captain's cabin.
"This is a perfect one-to-one copy. The original stays with me—far too valuable."
The chart showed a route drawn in red ink.
It deviated from all seven standard Grand Line routes, winding deep into a blank area of ocean.
At the end of the route, an ornate label had been written.
"High West…"
Sami read the name aloud.
"That's right."
Gillian tapped the spot firmly.
"The junction between the sea and the Sky Islands—the Summit of the Western Sky, High West."
"At first the island had no official name. It lies between two major routes, in a forgotten patch of sea."
"'High West' is what sailors who once encountered the Sky Islands began calling it. Eventually, even the Sky Islanders accepted the name."
His finger moved along a dashed route toward the western side of the island.
There, a cliff symbol marked with violent wind spirals stood prominently.
"The key is here."
"The island's western shore is dominated by a vertical cliff hundreds of meters high."
"Below it lies a deep ocean trench."
"And in that place, a massive upward air current constantly rises along the cliff face."
"The force is powerful enough to lift small to medium-sized ships into the sky."
"Only small or medium ships?"
Sami frowned slightly.
Compared to Gillian's vessel, the Arrowfish was smaller—but it was still a large ocean-going three-masted ship capable of housing over a hundred sailors and months of supplies.
"Well… yes."
Gillian looked a bit embarrassed.
"The current is powerful, but it has limits."
"A large hull means too much weight and wind resistance. The success rate drops dramatically."
"But don't worry!"
"According to the information I have, there's a village on High West."
"They have shipwrights there."
"Descendants of survivors from a failed sky ascent long ago."
"One of their craftsmen still preserves the technique of building something called a…"
"Sky Ascension Vessel."
"A Sky Ascension Vessel?"
"Yes."
"A specially designed lightweight sailing ship."
"The materials are unusual, and the sails are built specifically for vertical air currents."
"It sacrifices cargo capacity and comfort in exchange for extreme lightness and structural strength."
"It exists for one purpose—charging upward into the sky."
At this point, Ardo, who had been standing nearby with his arms crossed, couldn't help interrupting.
"What? We have to switch ships?"
"What about all our people and supplies? Are we supposed to cram into a tiny boat and live on air?"
"It's only temporary," Gillian replied.
"Your Arrowfish can remain safely docked in High West's harbor."
"You'll switch back after returning from the Sky Island…"
He paused.
"…if you manage to return."
Kahailuo immediately caught the implication.
"You said if we return. That doesn't sound like good odds."
Gillian rubbed his hands.
"I warned you earlier—this route is extremely dangerous."
"First, reaching High West itself is difficult. Leaving the main route means unpredictable seas and a higher risk of Sea Kings."
"Second, riding the upward current is essentially gambling against the Grand Line's extreme climate."
"There are no maps in the sky. No reference points."
"You rely entirely on the navigator's skill, the captain's judgment, and a bit of luck."
"As far as I know…"
"Out of a hundred ships that attempt this path…"
"…one might successfully reach a Sky Island."
The officers listening nearby all grew solemn.
"One in a hundred…"
"And we're still doing this?" someone muttered.
Sami remained silent for a moment.
Then he asked calmly:
"I understand the risks."
"How do we reach High West?"
"Knew you'd ask."
Gillian seemed relieved.
He produced a Log Pose and pushed it across the table along with the chart.
"From Long Ring Long Land, your next recorded island is Fluffy Island—a Spring Island."
"Once the Log Pose finishes recording there, it will point to the next island."
"From that point onward, you'll leave the normal route and follow this chart toward High West."
"From here to Fluffy Island, at the Arrowfish's speed, it should take about fifteen days."
"Those fifteen days are your final preparation window."
"I'll take the chart and the Log Pose," Sami said, picking them up.
"As for the Dials, we'll talk when I return."
"Then good luck, Captain Sami!"
"I look forward to the treasures you'll bring back."
Gillian gave a polite farewell gesture and returned to his ship, slightly regretful that he might lose such a valuable trading partner.
After the two ships separated, Sami immediately summoned all officers to the captain's cabin.
The chart was spread across the table.
Hans leaned over it, comparing coordinates rapidly with his navigation logs and instruments.
"Hans. What's your assessment?"
Hans adjusted his glasses.
"Captain, the coordinates for the known islands match the navigation data I have. That part is reliable."
"As for the section leading to High West…"
"There are no reference points to verify it directly."
"But judging by the drawing style and notation, it's likely authentic."
"The new Log Pose points toward Fluffy Island, and the magnetic field is stable."
He paused before adding:
"With the current sea currents and prevailing winds, the estimate of fifteen days to reach Fluffy Island seems accurate."
"That means we should prepare enough supplies before arrival."
"Long Ring Long Land's wildlife is abundant—this is a perfect opportunity."
Sami nodded.
Then his gaze swept across each officer.
Some faces showed concern.
Some showed doubt.
But most burned with excitement at the challenge.
"You've all heard it."
"We've found the road to the Sky Islands."
"The first step is reaching Fluffy Island and completing the Log Pose recording."
"Until then, we'll make full use of Long Ring Long Land."
He smiled slightly.
"Brothers—before we set sail for the sky…"
"…let's have a proper hunt on these grasslands."
"We'll stock up on meat for the voyage ahead!"
"OOOOOOHHHH!!!"
Ardo roared first, hoisting his spiked club onto his shoulder.
"Finally time to stretch my muscles! Leave it to me—I'll fill the hold with game!"
Sami immediately began assigning tasks.
"Ardo, take a team to the eastern grasslands."
"Marcus, lead a team west."
"Kahailuo and Fetch—scout the north and south. Look for water sources and large herds."
"Isaac—have the non-combat crew inspect the Arrowfish: hull, rigging, cargo holds. Everything must be perfect."
"Leon—you know hunting and fishing. Take some men to the coast and river mouths. We'll need fish and fresh water too."
"Yes, Captain!"
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