Thoroughly conquering Sky Island and defeating the God and Divine Squad was actually just the beginning.
After all, what York wanted was a Sky Island that could serve as a logistical base, not merely a territory for extracting wealth.
So, after successfully dealing with the God and Divine Squad, York set up an arena on Sky Island.
Anyone who refused to accept his rule could come up and challenge him.
No limit on numbers, no limit on weapons or equipment; York would face them alone.
As long as the Sky Islanders could defeat York, he would leave Sky Island immediately.
Result...
A week passed. The Sky Islanders exhausted all their skills, yet not a single person could last one move against York.
York didn't even use Conqueror's Haki, just purely Taijutsu and conventional two-color Haki, knocking down all challengers.
Just like that, after the arena matches ended, all Sky Islanders were convinced of York's combat power.
Plus, York didn't kill indiscriminately; he didn't kill even after defeating challengers in the arena, showing considerable magnanimity and breadth of mind.
Under the persuasion of the former Sky Island God, the Sky Islanders submitted to York temporarily.
Afterward.
The Sky Island God held a traditional "God's Seat" handover ceremony, and York officially became the new Sky Island God.
However, shortly after York became the new God, the Sky Islanders' arch-enemies, the Shandia people, suddenly launched a raid.
These pitiful Shandia people had no idea what kind of terrifying existence their opponent had changed into.
They probably thought the power transition between old and new gods would cause internal instability in Sky Island, making it a good opportunity for a sneak attack.
Result...
York didn't even make a move. This group who came knocking was beaten down and tied up one by one by Kaido with his club.
Seeing the Shandia people, York pretended to ask about the enmity between them and Sky Island.
"I think I know how to end this war that has lasted over 300 years!"
York casually took out the fairy tale book "Noland the Liar" he swiped from Ohara.
Based on this fairy tale book, combined with the accounts of Sky Islanders and Shandians, he deduced that the Golden City (Shandora) was real, the Golden Bell was also real, only hidden due to coincidence.
Then York took the captured Shandians and some Sky Islanders represented by the former God.
Together in Upper Yard (the part of Jaya Island lifted into the sky by the Knock Up Stream), under a piece of "land" covered by Island Clouds at the island's left eye, they found the legendary Golden City.
The current Golden City hadn't been ravaged by Enel yet. All building surfaces were covered with a thick layer of gold, making the entire city look splendid and magnificent.
"The legendary Golden City... actually exists..."
Kaido, Gloriosa, Stussy, Shakky, Dragon, and the little ones like Ivankov stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed at the Golden City before them, finding it hard to describe their shock in words.
Although York expected this, seeing an ancient city made entirely of gold still shocked his mind involuntarily.
"Golden Bell! Why isn't the legendary Golden Bell here?!"
The Shandians, whose hands were tied but feet released for free movement, went to the center of the Golden City faster than York and the others.
They collapsed kneeling at a place resembling a heavy object base pit.
"Where did the legendary Golden Bell go?!"
The Shandians lost rationality due to emotional breakdown, angrily accusing the accompanying former Sky Island God and others.
"Did you hide it?!"
"Calm down!"
York raised his hand to suppress the Shandians' emotions, walking to the giant beanstalk beside the base pit, reaching out to pat it.
"If I'm not mistaken, the Golden Bell is likely hanging at the very top of this beanstalk!"
York's guess restored some rationality to the Shandians.
"We want to go to the top of the beanstalk to check!"
"Audacious! Above the beanstalk is God's residence! How can filthy existences like you defile that place!!"
Shandians made a request. Before York spoke, a Divine Squad member scolded preemptively.
York frowned slightly upon hearing this. He spoke to the former Sky Island God: "Expel this person from the Divine Squad!"
"I spare his life this time! If I hear him say such things again next time, I will kill!!"
As he spoke, a genuine killing intent was released from York.
He indeed wanted to be gentle, but that didn't mean he dared not kill.
Only by applying both kindness and authority could he truly win people's hearts!
Feeling the killing intent released from York, cold sweat instantly seeped from the former Sky Island God's forehead.
"Thank you for God's leniency!!"
After throwing this talkative Divine Squad member out of the Golden City, York and his group began climbing up the beanstalk.
Finally, on a small piece of Island Cloud surrounded by the beanstalk top, they really found the moss-covered Golden Bell.
"Wuwuwu..."
Shandians wept with joy instantly upon seeing the Golden Bell.
"Ancestor's promise, we can finally fulfill it... Wuwuwu, ancestors have spirits!!"
After the Shandians' emotions stabilized, York spoke solemnly:
"Now I am the ruler of Sky Island! Theoretically, everything on Sky Island belongs to me!"
"However, considering you Shandians were originally natives of the Golden City, and the Golden Bell was indeed once your possession, I specially permit you to move back to the Golden City and manage the Golden Bell for me!"
"In the future, you must ring the Golden Bell punctually at 8 am, 12 pm, and 4 pm every day!"
"This is both fulfilling your ancestors' long-cherished wish! And also completing the task I assign you!"
"Aside from this! All gold in the entire Golden City belongs to me! You have no right to take any!"
Hearing this, several Shandians proactively walked to York and knelt on one knee.
"Thank you for God's grace! We are willing to obey God's orders!"
...
Just like that.
Guided by these few Shandians, York and the others successfully found the Hidden Cloud Village where Shandians gathered and subdued the entire Shandia clan.
Of course, like with Sky Island, York also displayed a wave of martial force before them.
Indicating he allied with them not out of fear of their martial force, but purely out of pity, helping them fulfill their ancestors' wish.
Under both kindness and authority, the Shandians submitted completely; their loyalty even higher than the Sky Islanders.
After subduing the Shandians, York also carried out drastic reforms on the active Divine Squad.
First, removing those with discriminatory mindsets.
Then holding a martial arts tournament to select the Divine Squad.
Aside from not killing opponents, there were no rule restrictions.
The capable rise, the mediocre fall. The new Divine Squad would be composed of both Shandians and Sky Islanders.
The result of this selection was brutal. Sky Islanders only won a meager one-third of seats; the remaining two-thirds were all taken by Shandians.
To maintain balance and also to soothe the Sky Islanders' injured hearts, York further expanded the Divine Squad, re-inducting some failed Sky Islander candidates into the squad, making their numbers consistent with the Shandians joining the new squad.
Then.
Based on this newly formed Divine Squad, York started a new round of reforms on Sky Island.
For example, rebuilding laws, abolishing old rules, teaching new farming methods, etc.
These development aspects won't be elaborated on here.
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