The faces of the tavern patrons displayed faint traces of mockery, but when they noticed the unfriendly gazes of Harden and the others, those expressions quickly disappeared. Although the corpses in the tavern had been removed, the bloodstains remained. Most pirates were bullies who preyed on the weak. If Harden, Edmond, and Selkirk hadn't demonstrated their ferocity earlier, combined with their background as men from the East Blue, their prior conversation would have likely been met with a storm of ridicule and insults. If they didn't dare fight back, such mockery would only escalate, with even the timid joining in the jeers.
Unfortunately for the tavern's patrons, Edmond, Harden, and Selkirk were quintessentially ruthless pirates. They didn't care for philosophical reasoning or abstract principles. All they knew was that anyone who angered them wouldn't be breathing for long.
Harden, in particular, was notorious for his cruelty and bloodlust. This was true in the East Blue and remained unchanged in the Grand Line.
Although many in the tavern, including the owner, believed the legend of Sky Island to be nonsense, no one dared to openly laugh at them.
The tavern owner coughed, suppressing his amusement, and then, as if offering sage advice, earnestly tried to debunk the "myth" of Sky Island to Selkirk.
Due to the unique geographical conditions around Jaya Island, where Mock Town was located, massive upward currents frequently occurred. These oceanic geysers, driven by immense pressure, formed towering columns of water that reached the sky. Many locals believed that the idea of Sky Island originated from unfortunate sailors whose ships were carried aloft by these currents, only to plummet from great heights.
Selkirk frowned slightly at the explanation but chose not to argue.
After resting briefly in the tavern and obtaining what they needed, the group left. On the way, Selkirk finally spoke to his companions. "Sky Island should exist. During one of my earlier ventures into the Grand Line, I heard stories of pirates who claimed to come from Sky Island."
Edmond's curiosity was piqued. "I think I've heard Dampier mention that place before. Even though he's never been to the Grand Line, he's reviewed a lot of information and believes Sky Island is real. But why do people here insist so adamantly that it doesn't exist?"
Edmond wasn't particularly fond of Dampier, who often flaunted his intelligence and looked down on others. However, he had to admit that Dampier was one of the most knowledgeable and intelligent individuals he had ever met. Edmond had also seen Dampier's extensive and impressive collection of books. If Dampier believed in the existence of Sky Island, Edmond was inclined to think it was probably real.
"The Grand Line isn't immune to having its own frogs in a well," said Krieg, who had been relatively silent due to his unfamiliarity with the group.
The men from the East Blue, who were often mocked and challenged for their origins since arriving in the Grand Line, all burst into laughter.
After the laughter subsided, Edmond waved his hand dismissively. "Whether Sky Island exists or not, we'll find out for ourselves when the time comes. After all, we have a hot air balloon and can go up to take a look whenever we want. But before that, our priority is to get those young shipwrights to Water 7."
While Edmond, Kuro, and the others were fighting their way through the Grand Line, their colleagues far away in the East Blue were enjoying a leisurely gathering.
In a luxurious mansion in Kalmar City, individuals who had once been small-time thugs loitering around rural docks had now risen to become part of the ruling elite of the Navia Kingdom.
Tony, Manny, and Angie, who hadn't seen each other for some time, had reunited. In addition to them, many other officials originally from Maple Leaf Village were also present. However, within this estate, Tony, Manny, and Angie held the highest status.
Over the past two years, Tony had been working in public relations and diplomacy. Thanks to his street-smart background, he had become much more polished and adept at navigating social dynamics. This gathering of old acquaintances was his idea, aimed at maintaining and strengthening personal connections.
Maple Leaf Village was where William's rise had begun. Although William despised factionalism among his subordinates and actively supported other groups to balance power, he couldn't ignore the contributions of Maple Leaf Village. The village had provided significant manpower and resources during his ascent. To disregard this would not only be ungrateful but might also sow resentment among others, even if they didn't voice it openly.
Currently, many officials from Maple Leaf Village held key positions in William's diplomatic department, the Four Seas Trading Company, and the free trade zones. If their influence were consolidated, they would form a considerable force.
"Congratulations, boss," Manny said, holding a glass of wine as he approached Tony, deliberately using the nickname they had called him during their days as street toughs.
Tony smiled modestly. "If I hadn't been transferred from the diplomatic department, I'd be next in line for the position of Foreign Minister. Everyone knows the current minister, an old noble, is just a puppet. My transfer to the National Security Bureau isn't exactly a promotion, so there's no need to celebrate. But getting rid of that mad dog Kuro? Now that's worth raising a glass!"
Kuro's first major contribution as one of William's subordinates was as a spy. He later took charge of intelligence operations, earning his nickname "Hundred Plans" through his cunning and resourcefulness.
The National Security Bureau had been established for years, with an extensive network of informants. When its external duties were stripped away to focus solely on domestic intelligence, it became even more specialized. While it couldn't claim to know every detail of internal affairs, it was adept at detecting even the slightest disturbances.
In theory, officials like Tony should have welcomed this development. But in reality, they harbored resentment toward Kuro, who had driven the bureau's rapid growth.
The reason was simple: the bureau's intelligence-gathering made it nearly impossible for officials to act without oversight. While no one was explicitly monitored, any misconduct was likely to be reported to William.
For instance, Tony's current gathering would have been unthinkable if Kuro were still in charge of the bureau. Even though William was often secluded, focusing on mastering techniques like Rokushiki, Life Return, Fish-Man Karate, and Ittoryu, while compiling a manual he called "Yushin-Ryu," the commotion from such a gathering would never have escaped Kuro's informants.
Kuro had always appeared fiercely loyal to William. However, his loyalty differed from that of Gin. Gin's devotion stemmed from genuine admiration and respect for William, whereas Kuro's loyalty was largely pragmatic.
Kuro was intelligent and cunning but lacked the grand ambitions of someone like Krieg. He was more pragmatic and knew how to adapt to circumstances.
This pragmatism made Kuro an impartial figure during his tenure as head of the National Security Bureau. He remained loyal only to William, fully aware that his position and status were entirely due to William's arrangements.
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This impartiality, however, made other officials uncomfortable, particularly Tony, who harbored significant grievances against him.