"Looks like you're not quite the same as the former God of Skypiea."
"I just... long for peace, that's all." Gan Fall shook his head, staring straight at Michael as he said,
"For me, the peace of Skypiea outweighs everything else... whatever so-called feuds between peoples, they can all be cast aside."
Michael nodded.
Gan Fall truly was just a simple, kind old man. Otherwise, how could it be that, when every 'God' of Skypiea before him had been feared, his reign had turned him into someone respected, loved by his people?
But then again...
This coincidentally aligned perfectly with Michael's ultimate goal.
This trip to Skypiea wasn't just for Enel and the island's special products...
His true target, naturally, was that legendary City of Gold.
"So, where are the Shandians now? Still entrenched in Shandora?"
"They've left Shandora... but they haven't gone too far."
"Wait—did you just say Shandora? The legendary City of Gold?"
Little Hancock let out a cry of surprise.
Not only Michael—even the children had all heard the name of the City of Gold.
Only...
They'd heard of it from the story of "the great liar Noland."
Most people believed "the Golden City of Shandora" was nothing more than the final delusion of a swindler on his deathbed.
That was exactly what Hancock herself had always thought.
After all, an entire city built out of gold? That sounded far too exaggerated.
But now, up here in the sky, ten thousand meters above the Blue Sea, she was hearing this name again.
And from the sound of it...
It really existed!
Did that mean...
"An entire city made of gold!?"
"We're rich, Michael!"
Little Hancock's excitement didn't spark Gan Fall's displeasure.
After all, to the people of Skypiea, gold held no real value.
At best, it was just a shiny yellow material.
It wasn't even sturdy—far less useful than their various cloud products.
Michael glanced at little Hancock and chuckled.
As expected of a royal heir—the moment she heard about money, her excitement was through the roof.
"Your request... I'll accept it."
As he spoke, Michael picked up the two Devil Fruits resting on the counter.
"I'm not the patient type, so no need to waste time. Let's set out right now."
...
"How much Skypiea produce did you sell this time?"
"Pretty much everything on the market, we bought up." Crocodile turned back toward Michael, glancing at the completely stuffed Seraphim, and said, "These things really are quite extraordinary..."
"Once we're back in Alabasta, sort them out carefully." Michael nodded, then turned and called out,
"Everyone, get on board. We're setting sail!"
"Sailing out? Where to next?" Smoker asked, excitement in his voice. After all, he was only seventeen—still half a boy.
His whole body brimming with boundless energy.
"To the legendary Golden City—Shandora."
Michael said it calmly, then stepped aside to reveal Gan Fall and explained the situation.
Instantly, everyone aboard froze.
Even Hawk Eyes and Crocodile drew in a sharp breath at the thought of an entire city built of gold.
Such wealth...
Even the Celestial Dragons could never claim something like that.
Gan Fall looked at this group of Marines from the Blue Sea, then turned to Michael.
"So how do you plan to resolve this matter?"
"Naturally, in a one-and-done way... by returning everything to its rightful place."
"Return... to its rightful place?" Gan Fall thought for a moment, then snapped his head up. "You mean—"
"Exactly what you're thinking." Michael smiled, without the slightest trace of scheming. "Since both Shandora and the Shandians were lifted here by that massive Knock Up Stream... all I need to do is send them back. Then you Skypieans won't need to worry about coexistence with the Shandians anymore."
Gan Fall opened his mouth to speak, but deep down, he already knew...
Michael's solution truly was the best option.
He had just never expected Michael to have the confidence to send both the entire city and the Shandians back down to the Blue Sea.
"In that case... excellent."
Seeing Gan Fall's nod, Michael knew the matter was settled.
After all, the Shandians were outsiders, and their conflict with the native Skypieans had lasted for four hundred years...
Four hundred years of on-and-off warfare.
For these two peoples to live in peace together? Nearly impossible.
In the original timeline, their reconciliation had only happened because they were both crushed under a third party's tyranny—Enel's reign of terror—sharing in mutual suffering.
But now? Maybe they weren't at the point of absolute hostility...
But certainly, if they crossed paths, within five seconds swords would be drawn.
Historical grudges—sometimes the best solution was to pull the problem out at its root.
Issho, having listened quietly for a while, stepped up beside Michael.
"So in other words... you want me to use my ability to send the entire City of Gold back down?" he said in a low voice. "If the city really is made of gold... your plan won't ever run short on funds again."
As one of the few who knew Michael's secrets, Issho naturally understood how vital such an amount of gold was to him.
The Navy's military budget, now independent, needed money.
The Revolutionary Army's recruitment drive needed money.
Supporting Cross Guild financially required money.
Pushing Doflamingo to accelerate unifying the underworld needed money.
Even training Alabasta's scholars and promoting them worldwide—also money.
And later, once they returned to the Blue Sea, meeting Vegapunk and commissioning his research on military and civilian technologies—that too would need money.
Originally, this was Michael's biggest headache. Even the 20% trade profits from Fishman Island had only covered part of it.
But he hadn't expected this trip to Skypiea...
Would make that problem vanish entirely.
Even he, a habitual gambler, knew that war, at its core, was burning money.
And revolution too could be pushed forward faster—if more funds were poured in.
After all, no one willingly suffered hardship without reward.
"That's right. Exactly."
Michael nodded openly, not hiding a thing.
The only issue left was liquidation.
Would it be better to let the Revolutionary Army handle it, or Cross Guild?
...
"Achoo!"
Rosinante sneezed hard.
Doflamingo frowned, glancing back at him, though faint traces of concern still showed between his brows.
"Are you coming down with something?"
"No, just sneezed for no reason."
Rosinante rubbed his nose, looking puzzled.
"Just now, I suddenly had the feeling... that a job destined to give me a lifetime's worth of headaches has appeared out of thin air."
---
(For each review +1 additional chapter)
read +155 chapters on Patreon tambeerg