Raleigh could sense that the surrounding people's attitude toward him wasn't particularly friendly, though he personally didn't care.
With his right foot stepping lightly forward, followed by his left, Raleigh was now taking a traditional step across the threshold of the Shandia People's village.
On both sides of the path stood villagers holding long spears, with Burn Bazookas and bombs strapped to their backs.
Having just arrived, Raleigh was already under the scrutiny of the entire village.
Raleigh and Enel came to a deliberate halt, waiting for someone in authority among the Shandia People to appear.
From the back of the crowd of warriors, the man earlier referred to as the Chief slowly stepped forward.
He was the Chief of the Shandia People, dressed in their ancient attire and adorned with various bone ornaments, exuding a peculiar kind of primitive beauty. Judging by age alone, Raleigh felt this Shandia Chief might not be much younger than Gan Fall.
As the Chief stepped forward, the crowd shifted their attention entirely to him.
"Outsiders, what is your purpose here?" the Chief asked calmly and confidently.
Raleigh and Enel slowly approached the Chief, speaking as they walked.
"We're acting on someone's behalf. A prominent figure from Skypiea wishes to communicate with you through us."
"But rest assured, I've only agreed to relay messages. I won't be involved in anything else."
Watching the two approach step by step, the villagers grew tense.
Though this was their own village, surrounded by clansmen they saw day in and day out, and though there were only two outsiders—one of them barely more than a child—the atmosphere felt strangely as if the two outsiders were the ones surrounding the entire village.
Perhaps it was the overwhelming pressure and Haki emanating from the young man walking in the center.
"I know you might not believe me, but I truly have no ill intentions toward you. Otherwise, you'd likely have been defeated by now."
Though Raleigh's words sounded somewhat impolite, surprisingly, no one present attempted to refute him.
"Friends from afar, I apologize, but we have a sworn enemy, so all visitors to our village must undergo investigation."
Seeing that Raleigh and his companion showed no intention of fighting, the Chief relaxed his posture slightly.
Raleigh shrugged slightly and then asked, "Do you know the story of Noland?"
The moment the name "Noland" left Raleigh's lips, everyone present gaped in shock.
"How could you know—what exactly did Gan Fall tell you?" The Chief seemed genuinely startled, inadvertently revealing that he knew exactly who Raleigh was referring to.
"How does he know about Noland?"
"Does Gan Fall actually know about our connection with Noland?"
"Now we can't let these two leave. We must keep them here."
Upon hearing Raleigh mention Noland's name, the crowd erupted into frantic discussion, like fish leaping in a boiling pot.
However, the Chief, being a seasoned leader, showed no further negative reaction after realizing his slip-up. Instead, he turned back and asked bluntly.
"Since you already know, let me ask you: what do you want from us?"
The Chief's words were straightforward, their meaning clear, and the surrounding threat from the warriors was unmistakable.
If Raleigh's answer seemed even slightly off, the villagers would raise their firearms and engage him in battle immediately.
Raleigh took a cigar from his breast pocket, placed it in his mouth, lit it, took a deep drag, and said:
"This matter didn't originally concern Gan Fall of Skypiea. It began during my time in the Grand Line—what you call the Blue Sea."
"For centuries, the Golden City of Shandora was located in those waters. Yet after Mont Blanc Noland brought the information back to the North Blue, four hundred years have passed without anyone rediscovering Shandora. When you think about it, how incredible is that?"
"Near Mock Town on the island of Jaya below, I met a man who is a descendant of the Noland family—a lineage that has dedicated generations to searching for the Shandora that Noland spoke of."
"Through research, we concluded that four hundred years ago, an enormous Knock Up Stream likely erupted beneath Mock Town, carrying part of the island up to the White Sea."
"That portion was the island where Shandora stood. If my speculation is correct, then present-day God's Island, Upper Yard, should be Shandora, and you, the Shandia People, are the descendants of those who were carried up to the White Sea."
"If you still don't believe me, I can take you to meet Noland's descendant aboard my ship to verify this."
After listening, the Chief gently shook his head and said.
"According to ancient records, our ancestors once lived in the Blue Sea long ago. But one day, the earth shook violently, and the environment underwent drastic changes."
"When everything settled, our ancestors found themselves in an unfamiliar environment—the White Sea."
"Moreover, our ancestors' land was so vast and fertile that the Skypieans grew envious. Led by their 'God,' they drove our ancestors away."
"We, the Shandia People, dream of returning to live in Shandora once more."
Raleigh listened attentively and nodded, then pulled out a very old notebook from his breast pocket.
Its worn appearance showed it had been carefully preserved by generations of owners; otherwise, it would have crumbled long ago.
"This is Noland's journal, documenting his travels around the world."
"If I'm not mistaken, you must be descendants of the Great Warrior Kalgara."
The Chief nodded solemnly and said, "Yes, our ancestor was Kalgara—the Great Warrior who once sparred with Noland and was the mightiest among the Shandia People."
He carefully accepted the notebook Raleigh handed him, holding it as if it were fragile crystal.
At the same time, the Chief instructed those around him.
"Those with nothing urgent to do may disperse. Others, attend to your duties or prepare our finest offerings to welcome our guests."
After the misunderstanding was resolved and they learned Raleigh hadn't come as an enemy, the Shandia People displayed immense hospitality.
At the banquet, many Shandians approached Raleigh to propose toasts, claiming they'd never met anyone from the Blue Sea and wanted to honor the guest from afar.
Raleigh raised his full glass and drank it all in one go.
"Excellent! Mr. Raleigh is truly a magnanimous man!"
"Mr. Raleigh's drinking prowess is truly masterful!"
"Mr. Raleigh, you've already drunk with him. Now it's my turn!"
The atmosphere gradually reached its peak amid the toasts exchanged back and forth.
The versatile Shandia People sang their folk songs and started a bonfire dance.
Raleigh watched the expressions of the Shandia People in the venue with a grin, staying up until late at night!
By two o'clock in the morning, Raleigh still hadn't rested, but now two figures stood before him.
One was the leader of the Shandia People from the daytime, named Keronin Gim—generally called Uncle Gim by everyone.
The other was someone Raleigh hadn't seen during the day, but he claimed to be the most powerful warrior among the Shandia People and a pure-blooded descendant of the Great Warrior Kalgara.
The leader, Chief Gim, spoke first.
"Mr. Raleigh, I don't think the purpose of your trip is solely to verify the matters of Noland and Shandora."
"I know Gan Fall has approached you. I wonder if you could share the details with us as well."
Raleigh nodded and replied straightforwardly.
"Gan Fall did indeed approach me. His intention was to ask if it's possible to reach a reconciliation and end the four-hundred-year war between the two races."
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