After barely managing to collect their things, the going merry shook and shot up into the sky.
With Nami's shout to unfurl the sails, the going merry broke free from the ocean current, floated in the air, and ascended with the flow.
Orochimaru, using chakra to stick to the soles of his feet, watched the flying going merry and marveled, "How amazing! So the going merry, disguised as a chicken, really can fly."
Then he shook his head, "No, this is science; it should be fluid mechanics... The greater the flow rate, the lower the pressure... One must believe in science."
"How could it fly just by being disguised as a chicken? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
Luffy excitedly looked up at the sky, his eyes sparkling with anticipation and curiosity. He shouted loudly, "Hey! Nami, are we almost at Sky Island?" His voice revealed an uncontrollable excitement.
Nami also nodded expectantly, her gaze fixed on the distant clouds, an indescribable feeling in her heart. "If Sky Island truly exists, then it should be on the other side of that cloud."
Orochimaru stood at the bow, feeling the breeze on his cheeks, gazing at the endless sea of clouds before him. "A dream island I've never seen before."
Luffy's face was beaming with a smile. "I wonder what's behind that cloud. It's truly exciting!"
The going merry flew higher and higher, the air gradually thinning with the increase in altitude, until it pierced through the clouds. The going merry stopped above the clouds, and the group collapsed on the deck, gasping for breath.
"So uncomfortable... What's going on?" Sanji and Zoro also struggled to stand.
Orochimaru drank a bottle of special nutrient solution and gave one to each of them.
"This is altitude sickness. We are in the sky, and our bodies aren't adapted. Replenish your energy, and with your physical fitness, you'll be fine soon."
Only Luffy was jumping up and down like a monkey.
Orochimaru's mouth twitched. He was also fine... Should he say, "Thank you, Garp"?
The nutrient solution worked very well, and soon everyone recovered.
Usopp looked at the White Sea with excitement, took off his jacket, and jumped down, shouting, "The sea is the sea!"
Then Orochimaru swung him back with his tail, and he splatted onto the mast.
"Hey!! Orochimaru, what are you doing?!" Usopp roared with a furious shark-like face.
Orochimaru's mouth twitched.
Robin's gentle voice came, "Where do you think the bottom of this cloud sea is?"
The air suddenly went silent... The others also suddenly remembered where they came from and scratched their heads awkwardly.
Suddenly, several giant sea fish, many times larger than the going merry, emerged from the seabed. Zoro, with his sword, and Sanji jumped over together. The fish, when hit, burst open like balloons.
Robin stroked her chin, watching the fish, her voice calm. "If Usopp had jumped down just now, he would probably be fish poop by now."
Usopp, full of lingering fear, tearfully hugged Orochimaru's leg.
"thank you... Orochimaru."
Orochimaru pushed Usopp's face away in disgust. "Snot... Let go of me quickly."
Luffy excitedly grabbed a small one and threw it to Sanji, instantly getting a fish fillet. "Delicious!!!!!"
Orochimaru forked a piece... (￣～￣) Chew!
Chopper sat cutely on Merry's broken wing, looking into the distance with a telescope. Orochimaru fed the remaining half to Chopper.
"Wow... So delicious (• ؎ •)," Chopper chewed on the fish and looked into the distance, suddenly spotting a ship.
"Hey!! Everyone, come look! There's a ship! And people! No! They're coming! Four-horned bull-headed men!"
As Chopper's startled cry rang out, the others also turned their heads, only to see a strange figure rushing towards them. The figure looked like a person, but something was off.
Luffy and the others were startled and quickly took defensive stances. Fortunately, the nutrient solution provided by Orochimaru had worked, allowing their bodies to recover to some extent. Despite this, they were still knocked back by the Sky Island residents.
Just then, an old man, a Sky Knight, riding a flying horse and wearing armor, suddenly appeared before them. He held a weapon and unhesitatingly attacked the strange figure, easily repelling it.
Chopper ran over with quick steps and bowed very politely.
"Thank you for saving us... thank you."
The Sky Knight looked at the well-behaved Chopper with a doting expression. "Good boy... This time it's free."
The group took a few deep breaths, adjusting their condition.
Orochimaru checked them. "Hmm... They've recovered one-third. They'll adapt quickly."
The Sky Knight looked at them, his questioning voice carrying certainty. "You are from the Blue Sea, aren't you? I am the Sky Knight. 'Blue Sea people' is what we call those who live below the clouds."
Luffy lay on the deck, looking at the Sky Knight. "Yes, we flew up from below."
"That's no wonder then. This place is the White Sea, seven thousand meters above the Blue Sea. The White-White Sea, the layer above, is even ten thousand meters high. Most Blue Sea people are immobilized when they reach here. You all seem pretty good now; you must be powerful warriors."
The group scratched their heads and chuckled foolishly. "Hehehe~ We're not that outstanding."
The Sky Knight blinked at these people... What's wrong with them?
"But... never mind... Let's talk business."
"Business??" Nami immediately became wary.
"To be honest with you, I'm a professional mercenary. In this dangerous White Sea, your bodies haven't fully recovered. How about hiring me? One whistle costs 5 million Extol, and I'll come to save you."
"Huh??? What are you saying? What language are you speaking?" Luffy and the others all tilted their heads in unison.
"I'm already very cheap... I have to make a living too," the Sky Knight said, somewhat flustered.
Orochimaru sighed. "They want to know what Extol is, if it's Sky Island's currency, how it converts to the Blue Sea's Berries, and what you mean by 'one whistle.'"
The old man was shocked. "Didn't you come via the High-Speed Sky Road?? Didn't you pass any other islands??"
"Wait! Are you saying there's another way, and other islands? There isn't just one Sky Island??" Nami asked anxiously.
"Yes... There are many Sky Islands, and there are official entrances, but they are quite dangerous, and there are always crew casualties. Generally, those who come up on the Monster Current either perish completely or all arrive safely.
It's either zero or a hundred, but few people would be so reckless. From this, it seems you are all navigators with both courage and strength.
A 'whistle' means blowing this whistle once. No matter when or where, I will come to save you.
One whistle is five million Extol, which is the currency of Sky Island. 5 million Extol is approximately equal to 500 Berries.
Since this is our first meeting, I'll give you one whistle for free."
Nami blinked... It was so cheap that she couldn't bear to haggle, and her expression towards the Sky Knight, who needed to make a living, was somewhat subtle.
Orochimaru had saved someone but swindled them out of 11 billion Berries... and he only wanted 500. What a good person. Nami covered her mouth, silently shedding wide, noodle-like tears, and put 1000 Berries into his hand.
"Thank you very much. This is an advance payment."
The Sky Knight scratched his head, a little embarrassed.
"What a generous and kind young lady."
Luffy and the others waved their hands in unison, silently muttering, "Not at all, old man... You're just too cheap."
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