Ron gently patted the backs of the two emotional women, a warm, comforting smile on his face.
"There, there," he said softly. "I'm back now. Everything's alright."
They both nodded, wiping tears from their eyes before pulling back, their expressions shifting from relief to a beaming, shared pride.
"Ron-sama, look!" Conis exclaimed, gesturing to the adoring crowd.
"The residents of Sky Island really love you! You're even more popular than you were before!"
Whitey Bay smirked, a familiar, mischievous glint in her eyes.
She walked up to Ron and whispered, her voice a low, teasing drawl.
"Ron, aren't you going to thank us? Conis and I have been very busy in your name. Without us, a scene like this wouldn't have just happened."
Only then did Ron truly understand.
All of this… the heightened fervor, the heroic reputation, the absolute adoration… it was their
doing.No wonder the Sky Island residents were so enthusiastic.
These two women had been quietly working behind the scenes, protecting his interests, helping the Skypieans rebuild, and attributing every good deed to their absent hero.
They had safeguarded his reputation and status, transforming him into the most beloved figure in the sky.
"Thank you, both of you," he said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.
"But I'm afraid I have to put you back to work. We'll have our hands full again soon." He then turned to Conis.
"Could you please arrange accommodations for Doflamingo and his crew? They'll be our guests for a while."
"Of course, Ron-sama!"
Doflamingo, overhearing this, stepped forward with a theatrical flourish.
"Vice-Captain Ron, we won't disturb you any further. We'll rest first and eagerly await your good news."
After a final, sharp-toothed grin, he and his group followed the gentle Conis away from the plaza.
Along the way, Diamante, Trebol, Pica, Bellamy, and the others were like children in a candy store.
They were utterly fascinated by everything on Sky Island, their heads swiveling constantly as they gawked at all the novel sights, as if they had stepped into an entirely new world.
The various Dials, in particular, were like mysterious treasures that captured their full attention.
"Doffy, look at this!" Diamante exclaimed, his voice booming with childish excitement.
He held a small, reddish shell in his hand.
"This shell can actually spit fire!"
The Dial trembled slightly in his hand before suddenly spewing out a fierce, controlled blaze, dazzling everyone around him.
"I say, I say! And these!" Trebol pointed excitedly at a set of shells that looked like fans, which were emitting powerful gusts of wind.
"Behehe, a portable hurricane!"
"Look at that furniture," Pica cried out in his surprisingly high-pitched voice, pointing at a nearby open-air lounge.
"It's actually made of clouds! How is that structurally sound?!"
The furniture appeared soft and pristine white, as if crafted from clouds that had drifted down from the heavens, giving off an ethereal and dreamlike quality.
With the guests taken care of, Ron turned his gaze to Whitey Bay.
"Whitey, could you help find Shiki a suitable residence? A large one. From now on, he will be a crucial security officer for our Sky Island." Ron's plan was to make the Golden Lion the de facto steward of their sky-faring territory, responsible for its overall security and the upcoming, ambitious reconstruction of the Upper Yard of Jaya.
"Who? The Golden Lion?" Whitey Bay exclaimed, the name snapping her out of her happy mood.
Her previously calm face instantly revealed a look of pure astonishment.
Only then did she shift her gaze from Ron and follow his pointing finger.
There, standing awkwardly to the side, was the legendary pirate himself, his wild, golden hair shimmering brilliantly under the sun, making him particularly striking.
Whitey Bay narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the old man, her expression gradually souring into one of deep displeasure.
"So it really is you," she spat, her voice dripping with disdain.
"You annoying old man."
Shiki, however, wasn't angered by her words.
Instead, he burst into a familiar, booming laugh
. "Gyahahaha! Well, if it isn't the little Ice Witch girl! You've certainly grown."
From their immediate, hostile exchange, it was clear they had a long and storied history.
Whitey Bay, in particular, held very little fondness for the Golden Lion.
She tilted her head, her eyes betraying a hint of genuine anger.
"Hmph! If it weren't for you, always challenging Pops to drinking contests and picking fights, his health wouldn't have deteriorated so much!" she accused, her voice sharp.
The Golden Lion froze at the accusation, his laughter dying in his throat.
He opened his mouth as if to retort, his eyes filled with confusion and disbelief.
"No, how can you say that, little girl?" he protested loudly, waving his hands defensively.
"It was Newgate who insisted on drinking with me! He started it! He'd never let me out-drink him!"
Whitey Bay obviously had no intention of listening.
Her stubborn expression seemed etched onto her face as she turned her head away, resolute.
The Golden Lion stood to the side, his face a picture of helpless grievance.
He opened his mouth again to explain, but the words died on his lips.
He then shot a pleading look at Ron, his gaze full of an almost comical innocence, as if he had been truly and greatly wronged.
Ron just smiled faintly and shook his head, stepping between them.
"Alright, you two. He's a legendary pirate, and you're one of Captain most trusted allies. Stop acting like children. What's done is done. The captain's health has improved now, hasn't it? That's what matters."
Hearing Ron's words, Whitey Bay's expression softened slightly, though she still glared fiercely at Shiki.
"Hmph. If it weren't for Ron speaking up for you, I wouldn't have let you off so easily."
Golden Lion just grumbled, "..."
With that little episode finally coming to an end, Ron sighed softly and turned to Izo, who had been watching with quiet amusement.
"Izo, please take Shiki and find him a place to stay. Let him rest for now."
Izo nodded gracefully and led the still-grumbling Golden Lion away.
Meanwhile, Ron hurriedly took Whitey Bay back to his laboratory.
The lab was a vast, cavernous space, neatly arranged with a bizarre mix of futuristic machinery, bubbling alchemical beakers, and racks of glowing reagents.
As soon as Ron entered, he immediately immersed himself in his work, the relaxed air from outside replaced by one of intense focus.
After all, he still owed Doflamingo a massive, world-altering order.
He skillfully began calibrating equipment, his gaze sharp and determined.
Whitey Bay watched quietly from the side, occasionally handing him a tool or a vial, her presence a silent, steady support.
Aside from Doflamingo's order, another matter weighed heavily on Ron's mind—the Enchantment of the Golden Lion's Float-Float Fruit.
This task had to be prioritized.
Only by restoring Shiki to his full, legendary combat strength could his new base truly be secure.
He glanced at a large, reinforced chest in the corner of the lab.
Inside was the 40 billion Berry down payment from Doflamingo.
Ron sighed. "The money barely had time to warm my hands before it's all going to be gone again."
The cost of enchanting a Devil Fruit ability of that magnitude was astronomical.
Easy come, easy go.
At the same time, an almost invisible, holographic notification hovered in the corner of his vision, a detail only he could see.
[System Notification: progress at 9/10.]
He was just one step away.
Holding a vial of fresh, potent blood in his hand—a sample he'd been saving—Ron decided to complete the milestone before diving into the larger projects.
This next fusion would create an item that would soon be in very high demand.
He placed the vial of blood and another, stranger object into the central fusion chamber, his eyes glinting with excitement.
"You're up next."