We came to Skypiea thinking, We paid the entry fee, so we can finally relax and enjoy some safe sightseeing…
And yet, after a ridiculous chain of events, we still ended up—successfully, somehow—classified as criminals.
Sure, you could say it "followed the original story," but that doesn't make it any less infuriating. Our sightseeing time got forcibly cut short, and on top of that, the 1.3 million berries we paid at the Gate of Heaven became a complete waste.
That isn't pocket change.
So yes. I was genuinely angry.
And after that, things continued more or less along the original tracks.
We decided we couldn't stay on Angel Island—Conis and Pagaya-san would get dragged into trouble—so we should leave immediately.
Of course, that sparked the usual fight: Luffy wanted to go to God's Island (Upper Yard), and Nami wanted absolutely nothing to do with it.
We were in the middle of preparing to depart—
When, while Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji were at Pagaya-san's house (picking up takeout of the sky-bounty dishes Sanji made, and grabbing some "souvenirs" like Dials and other gifts)—
The Going Merry was suddenly hauled away by a Super Express Shrimp.
On board at the time were four people—Zoro, Nami, Chopper, and Robin—
And just like that, they were taken.
Afterward, Pagaya-san explained the outline of "Judgment," like he'd done it a hundred times before.
The Merry group had been taken to the "Altar of Sacrifice" within God's Island. Luffy and the rest of us had to go there to reclaim both ship and crew.
And on the way, we'd be forced to face "Trials" prepared by the priests.
That was the content of "Divine Judgment."
So yes—we were going to God's Island to take on the Trials.
But this time, there was one difference from the original.
The "sacrifices"—the hostages—weren't just the Straw Hats.
Sapphire was in there too.
She'd brought some of the fish and seafood we'd caught earlier (which the White Berets called "poaching") to share with the Straw Hats—
And at the worst possible timing, the ship got snatched along with her on board.
Which meant the Merveille group had no choice but to head to God's Island as well.
…Though honestly, even if Sapphire hadn't been taken, I was already planning to go somehow.
After receiving Pagaya-san's weirdly detailed explanation (the kind that felt… loaded), we packed up and followed Conis toward the docks.
And that's where everything finally spilled out—starting with one of Luffy's rare, razor-sharp observations.
Conis had called the Super Express Shrimp.
Guiding "criminals" toward Judgment was considered a duty for Skypiea residents.
And if they refused that duty…
They would be killed.
Almost everything came out in the open.
Then "Judgment" came flying down—
And the Sky Knight arrived like a storm, saving Luffy and Conis.
"You now know this country's true nature… and the power of 'God.' From here… how will you move?"
"We don't care about your country!" Luffy snapped. "Our friends are on God's Island! We're going to save them!"
"…I see. Then… may fortune favor you."
…Alright, then.
Everyone was already in "go-go-go" mode—
So I raised a hand.
"Hey, Luffy. Wait a second."
"Huh? What is it, Sue? Did you forget something? If you did, I'll stay and help you get it—"
"Don't even try it, Usopp."
"Then what is it?" Nami asked, suspicious but focused. "What's up, Sue-chan?"
"Just a little thing."
I tilted my thumb toward a corner of town.
"Lupus."
"Yessir!"
The next instant, Lupus vanished.
Not literally—she just moved so fast most people couldn't even see it happen.
The bystanders' eyes bulged. They actually gasped.
My people all tracked her easily.
Luffy and Sanji managed to follow it.
Usopp… was useless, spinning his head like a confused owl.
"Ng—gwaah?!"
A distant groan. A blunt thunk of impact.
Then Lupus was back—dragging someone.
The White Berets' captain.
The guy who'd been lurking and watching us this whole time.
He had a fresh bump on his head, so Lupus clearly "adjusted" him into compliance without knocking him out cold.
"Wha—?!" Usopp yelped. "That guy—when did—?!"
"Those jerks from earlier!"
"Ah… the ones who harassed us at the beach," Sanji said, eyes narrowing. "So they really were tailing us."
Lupus tossed the captain onto the ground like a sack.
"Ghh…! You bastards! What do you think you're doing?! Don't pile on more crimes—!"
Before he could finish, Lupus stomped down next to his head with a heavy THUD.
The cloud-ground shuddered.
If that stomp had landed an inch to the side, his skull would've popped like a fruit.
The captain understood immediately.
His life was in our hands.
So he shut up.
Good.
That meant we could get to business.
"Relax," I told him lightly. "We didn't bring you here for stress relief."
Then I crouched a little and smiled.
"Captain. I've been thinking since earlier—this 'Trial' slash 'Divine Judgment' system… isn't it kind of unfriendly?"
"…What do you mean?"
"I get that you make locals like Conis guide us and explain things. But that's not enough. Before we go, I want specifics. What exactly are we supposed to do? What counts as 'clearing' it? Are there forbidden actions?"
He glared, but his throat bobbed.
"…Everything criminals need to know is what Skypiea citizens already know and can tell them. Thinking, hesitating, suffering—those are also part of Judgment. There is nothing more to say."
"'Criminals,' huh," Ruby murmured coldly. "I wonder how many of the people you labeled as criminals were truly guilty… and how many were simply framed. How suspicious."
Nami clicked her tongue.
"Arguing now won't change anything… but I hate going in blind and letting them control the narrative."
Then Honey spoke, as if she'd just had a fun idea.
"Well… why don't we just take him with us?"
The captain and the onlookers froze.
"Tie him up, of course," Honey continued sweetly. "He can act as our guide. Explain what things are, where we are, what's going on."
Her smile widened.
"And if the priests attack us during the Trials… well. He's part of their organization, isn't he? They'll be careful not to harm him, right? Maybe they'll even rescue him properly first—move him somewhere safe—before continuing the Trial."
Lupus leaned in, delighted.
"That's genius, Honey. Absolutely. They're comrades, so there's no way they'd throw out an attack that would kill their own captain as collateral damage, right? We're enemies, so we won't protect him or carry him away—so there's definitely no chance he gets left behind and dies in the crossfire. That would be terrifying."
They were doing it on purpose.
Honey was sadistic.
Lupus was even worse.
The captain's face turned blue. Sweat poured off him.
And the two of them looked like they were having the time of their lives.
Sanji and Usopp both had that oh wow… look.
But Luffy walked over, expression totally calm.
"Don't need to do that," he said. "Too much hassle."
"Huh?" Nami blinked.
Pagaya-san said the priests would attack, right?" Luffy continued. "Then we just beat them up. We'll figure out the rest later."
For a second, everyone stared.
Because it sounded like he'd put zero thought into it—
But it also sounded painfully honest.
That's why it landed.
…Damn protagonist. Just casually says the "right" thing without trying.
I sighed and straightened.
"You heard him."
Then to the captain:
"You can go."
"Huh? Really, Miss?"
"Yeah. It's not like you're required. Luffy's right—worst case, we just brute-force our way through. Besides… guys who set up game-like systems like this always leave clues. They can't help themselves."
Then I added, still smiling:
"But I'll confirm one thing first."
I tilted my head.
"Do we have to stay together as one group the whole time?"
"…What?"
"There are four priests, right? So it sounds like there are four Trials. If the whole island is the field, it doesn't make sense for all four to attack at once."
The captain hesitated, then answered—because he didn't want Lupus's foot to 'accidentally' drift an inch.
"…Yes. Each of the four priests prepared their own Trial and waits for sinners to come to them. You will advance by your own feet."
"So there are four."
I nodded slowly.
"Then clearing all four probably gets us our people back. Don't know if the clear condition is 'defeat the priest' or something else, but—"
I pointed toward the docks.
Two ships.
Conis's loaned Dial-ship, Karasumaru—
And my own ship, already there.
Usopp's eyes bugged out.
"Wait—what?! That's your ship! When did it get here?!"
"Just now," I said. "I had it moved."
He looked like his brain tried to catch up and tripped over itself.
Anyway.
Back to the point.
"We have two ships," I told the captain. "So we could split into two teams, take two Trials each, clear faster. Is that against the rules?"
"…There's no rule forbidding it. It shouldn't be a violation. Do as you like."
"Perfect."
I waved casually.
"That's all I needed. You can go."
We released him.
And this time, we finally departed for real.
"Sorry for the delay, Luffy."
"It's fine," he said. Then he looked at me. "Sue—are you guys splitting up from us?"
"Depends on the route," I replied. "If it branches clearly—'Trial 1 this way, Trial 2 that way'—splitting might be efficient. But if it's one continuous route where you face them in sequence, we'll stick together."
"I'd prefer that," Luffy admitted. "More people feels safer."
"Same," Sanji said immediately. "Letting ladies split off alone in dangerous territory goes against my principles. Even if there's a branch, isn't it safer to move together, Sue-chan?"
"We'll decide when we see it," I said, turning toward the sea of clouds.
"Alright. Let's go."
☆☆☆
Meanwhile—
Elsewhere, back in a certain room within the Merveille residential area—
A tatami room.
Suzu and Alice were lounging comfortably.
"A report came in through Den Den Mushi," Suzu said. "Apparently Mother's gotten caught up in trouble. She might come back later than planned."
"A Sky Island we've never been to… and some weird 'Trials,' huh," Alice mused. "What a bizarre place. But if it's that strange, maybe there are Dials we've never seen."
Suzu nodded.
"She said she'll search thoroughly—partly to blow off steam. Still… whoever this 'God' is, picking a fight with Mother while she's sightseeing or doing research… they might not even leave a shape behind."
"Hopefully she won't wipe out the whole island," Alice said lightly. "If it sounds that fun, I'd like to visit later, once everything settles."
As the two chatted—
Leona had gone strangely quiet.
Suzu noticed and turned.
Leona was staring into empty space, unmoving, like she'd fallen into a trance.
Her lips were moving, muttering words under her breath.
"Skypiea… 'God'… priests… God's Island—Upper Yard… Angel Island…"
Suzu frowned.
"…Leona? What's wrong?"
"Guerrillas… Gan Fall… the Golden City… Shandians… Enel… that's right, I…"
Her eyes sharpened—suddenly, violently present.
"…I remember…!!"
To be continued...