The three parties fell silent for a long moment. Finally, Gan Fall, proud and self-assured as the ruler of Sky Island, could not hold back any longer.
"This…" he began, his voice wavering.
"Wait a moment!" Ash Thalos interrupted sharply. "Time is tight, and the task at hand is heavy. Listen to me first. If you have objections after, you may speak."
He raised his hands, one crackling with lightning, the other wreathed in flames.
"First, according to ancient Skypiean rules, when the Skypiea Lamp is lit and the golden bell resounds across the skies, all disputes must cease. I have already rung the bell. Now I demand that past conflicts be set aside. Never again shall there be trouble among you. Should anyone object, they may face me personally."
With a casual flick of his hands, the lightning and fire surged outward. Two massive sections of mountain wall and forest vanished instantly, leaving Gan Fall and Wyper staring in shock.
"What are you doing? We did not oppose you!" Gan Fall exclaimed.
"This is intimidation!" Wyper added. "Everyone can see, he's making a statement!"
Ash nodded slightly, satisfied by their reaction, and continued.
"Soon, I will bring a group of ordinary people to settle on Sky Island. Don't worry; I understand Sky Island has limited land. That is why I brought three small islands myself."
Gan Fall and Wyper were dumbfounded. Three islands… brought here? By one person?
"You could have mentioned this earlier! Why let tension escalate?" Gan Fall muttered under his breath.
Ash noticed the flicker of shock on their faces and pressed on.
"At the same time, I am willing to cede two of these islands for you to live on. But in exchange, I require all of you to withdraw from God Island—more specifically, from the Golden City of Skypiea."
"That's impossible!" Wyper shouted, his pride flaring. "Skypiea is the homeland our Shandians have protected for generations! We will never relinquish it!"
Ash's lips curled into a faint sneer. "Generations of protection? If I had not arrived, you would still be clashing with the Sky Islanders. Four hundred years of guarding without even seeing Skypiea—does that impress you?"
Wyper's eyes widened in fury.
A sudden bolt of lightning streaked down mere meters in front of him, carving a bottomless pit in the ground.
"I think it's necessary to remind you," Ash said coldly, "to show proper respect to those you cannot defeat. Do you think I am someone to negotiate with lightly?"
The display sobered Wyper and his warriors immediately. This was no ordinary negotiation; the stranger before them was making his power unmistakably clear. Moreover, the golden bell had already been rung. Wyper, not yet the impulsive "Battle Ghost" he would become years later, understood the wisdom of restraint.
Ash's calm gaze swept over them as he continued.
"I am not unreasonable. The Shandians' desire to return to Skypiea has always been about the golden bell. I have already rung it for you. If necessary, I will ring it again during festivals or special occasions."
"But the city itself must belong to me. There is no negotiation there. If you need time, return to your chief and discuss it. I will give you until my next visit to Skypiea. By then, give me your answer. Either willingly settle on the islands and benefit mutually, or I will ensure you are removed."
Wyper's jaw tightened. "Removed? Explain yourself—where would you send us, you bastard?"
Ash smiled faintly. "It seems no one objects. Then I will move the three islands close to God Island. If you are curious, you may follow and see for yourselves."
He added lightly, "When you report back to your chief, tell him that the great warrior Calgara's companion, the adventurer Noland, is long gone. But his descendants have always pursued the legendary Golden City, Skypiea. And if all goes as expected, that chestnut-haired man should currently be living far below, ten thousand meters down, on the remaining half of Jaya Island in the Blue Sea."
"You know Jaya Island, correct? The half that remains of the original God Island."
Seeing their nods, Ash no longer lingered. He turned and flew toward the three islands he had brought. Gan Fall, Wyper, and their followers, having never seen portable islands before, quickly followed to investigate.
Meanwhile, at Marineford, Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat in his office, eyes scanning a thick stack of reports. His fingers drummed against the desk.
"Clang, clang, clang…"
"Crunch, crunch, crunch…"
His irritation grew. That Garp—always making noise and eating senbei during serious business!
"After watching for so long," Sengoku muttered, flipping through reports.
Vice Admiral Tsuru intervened. "Can you confirm if the target is that young man?"
Sengoku focused. "October 7th, a masked individual delivered the heads of Red Ogre Brogy and Blue Ogre Dorry, captains of the Giant Soldier Pirates, to a Marine branch for bounties. October 9th, World Government intelligence from Drum Kingdom reported a disturbance; the suspect acquired a log pose for Alabasta and disappeared. October 13th, in Alabasta, a youth allegedly stole a treasure chest, ate forty servings at a restaurant, spent one million Berries to buy the recipe, and then acquired a log pose for Jaya Island. October 14th, Mock Town on Jaya was engulfed in flames, ninety percent of pirates perished. The ground had cooled by the time Marines arrived; no ruins remained, only scorched earth."
He sipped his tea and concluded, "Both the direction of travel and the abilities align perfectly with that young man. His actions—paying fairly, sparing civilians, punishing only pirates—match our suspect. Ninety-nine percent certain, this is Ash Thalos."
Garp laughed heartily. "A passionate youth! Such talent! We should invite him to join the Marines!"
"Seven days," Tsuru analyzed, "after Loguetown, he reached Jaya Island. His speed and mastery of flames indicate a highly developed Devil Fruit Ability. Only Borsalino at full power could match him. And his complete eradication of pirate targets suggests an ideology akin to Sakazuki's."
Sengoku sighed. "Unfortunately, we lost the perfect chance to recruit him. The best we can do now is attempt to contact him for a potential Shichibukai position. With the destruction of Mock Town and defeating the Giant Soldier Pirates' captains, increasing his bounty is no longer necessary. Yet he clearly dislikes pirate status, and a rash bounty increase might backfire."
Tsuru set down her teacup. "Regardless, we must attempt contact."
Sengoku nodded. "Agreed."
Garp suddenly exclaimed, "Sengoku, let me go! I must return to East Blue to see my grandson!"
Sengoku slammed the desk in frustration. "No, Garp! You cannot leave! Red Hair Pirates are causing havoc in the New World, Sakazuki is overwhelmed, and the G1 Fleet requires support. No vacations!"
"I'll go see the young man myself," Tsuru volunteered.
Sengoku agreed. "Very well, Tsuru. Then the trip is yours."
Tsuru confirmed, "Currently on Jaya Island. Following this route, the next stop is near Long Ring Long Land, where Vice Admiral Jonathan of G8 Branch is stationed."
Sengoku groaned. "You two, stop arguing. I am leaving first."
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Just finished a Presentation, and I low-keyinely think I flopped it 😭