Chapter 39: Feasibility of Landing on Sky Island

Aboard the Yellow Springs.

Captain Brook, combatant Redfield, sniper Silva, navigator Shakky, shipwright Tom, intelligence officer Antonio, pet Memory Seahorse and Parrot Assistant, the steed Qirin-Lion, and a towing island whale, Laboon, were all gathered together.

They sat in a circle, celebrating the excitement of setting sail. From now on, they would be bound together as comrades through life and death.

"Captain Brook, are we really setting off for the New World this time? Nearly all of this year's Supernovas have arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago, and powerhouses like Golden Lion have long since ventured into the New World."

Shakky could hardly wait to witness firsthand just how terrifying the legendary New World truly was.

"Without strength, entering the New World is just asking to be prey. That's why everyone needs to master Haki and the Rokushiki techniques. Our first destination is Jaya Island—home to the legendary City of Gold.

"Mortomas has already relocated the headquarters of the World Economy News Paper there. Our goal this time is to conquer Sky Island and establish it as our stronghold."

"Captain, does Sky Island really exist? Could it be that you've been deceived?" Silva questioned skeptically. After all, he had heard plenty of stories about the infamous liar, Noland.

"The other half of Jaya Island—Shandora, the City of Gold—is real. Three to four hundred years ago, it was launched into the sky by an enormous Knock Up Stream. The vast amount of gold there is real as well."

Brook spoke seriously, making it clear.

"Then we're going to be rich! This is the legendary treasure trove of the Golden City!" Shakky exclaimed excitedly, already imagining herself adorned in gold, living as one of the wealthiest people in the world.

"Getting rich is a certainty. I also plan to bring the World Economy News Paper under my control and move it to Sky Island. Additionally, the island might hold the technology needed to build flying ships. The only question is whether that Devil Fruit is still on Sky Island."

Brook wasn't sure if the Rumble-Rumble Fruit had been reborn on Birka. If not, perhaps a combination of Jet Dials and Thunder Dials could provide temporary flight capabilities.

It was also time for Tom to take a look at the blueprints for the ancient weapon, Pluton. Perhaps he could find a way to create a propulsion system similar to the Storm Howl Cannon.

"Captain, what Devil Fruit is so important to you? You've mentioned the Rumble-Rumble Fruit before, right?" Shakky asked, curious.

"That's right—the strongest Logia-type Devil Fruit, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Its lightning could power a ship designed to fly. If we really do find it, who do you think should eat it?"

A moment of silence fell over the group. It was, after all, a legendary Devil Fruit. Who wouldn't want it?

Fishmen like Tom and Crocus had no interest in becoming land-bound, so they immediately ruled themselves out. Silva figured that if he were to eat a Devil Fruit, it should be one that benefited his sniping abilities.

Redfield, confident in his own strength and talent, didn't want the sea's curse to become his weakness. He had never considered eating a Devil Fruit before. But now that Brook had brought up the strongest Logia, he couldn't help but feel a little tempted.

As for Shakky, she was beyond eager. A Devil Fruit like this was the kind she had always dreamed of!

"Hahaha! Who knows if we'll even find it? There are still Zoan-type Devil Fruits that grant flight. We'll all have our chances!"

Hearing this, the crew grew even more excited for what the future had in store. Redfield, however, secretly cursed himself—his resolve still wasn't strong enough!

Even without a Devil Fruit, he would still reach the pinnacle of the world!

"You have a point, Captain~ But we don't even know if we can reach Skypiea."

Shakky pondered for a moment. Even if they were certain the City of Gold was on a sky island, how were they supposed to get there?

Brook had indeed been a bit too optimistic. He didn't actually have a safe way to reach Skypiea. What was he going to do—ride the Knock Up Stream like Roger and Luffy?

Did they really have the same kind of luck protecting them as Roger and Luffy did? One wrong move, and they'd be shipwrecked or worse!

"This is a serious problem we have to face," Brook sighed. "The Knock Up Stream is far too dangerous, and the Float-Float Fruit user, Golden Lion Shiki, isn't on our side!"

Brook let out another sigh, suddenly feeling the weight of the issue. He wondered—could Mortomas's seagulls fly to Skypiea?

From what he remembered from his past life's video compilations, on Earth, only one type of bird could reach altitudes of 11,000 meters—the black-and-white bearded vulture. It possessed a special hemoglobin that allowed it to survive in low-oxygen environments.

Did the people living on sky islands evolve a similar adaptation? Otherwise, how did they survive at such high altitudes? Or maybe Skypiea had a way to generate its own oxygen?

There were several bird species capable of flying up to 7,000 meters, including whooper swans, alpine vultures, bar-headed geese, yellow-billed choughs, and lammergeiers. The White Sea of Skypiea was at an altitude of 7,000 meters, while the White-White Sea reached 10,000 meters.

Oxygen was a key factor limiting a bird's flight altitude. Even if they pushed themselves to fly that high, they could still perish from lack of oxygen. But if the oxygen problem was solved, did that mean seagulls could reach the 7,000-meter-high White Sea?

Would it be possible to equip the seagulls with oxygen masks? After all, the seagulls used by the World Economy News Paper could carry their entire headquarters into the air. Their flying abilities and strength were remarkable—they could travel across all four seas to deliver newspapers.

With that in mind, Brook hurriedly called Mortomas, who was currently on Jaya Island, to inquire about the maximum flight altitude and carrying capacity of the newspaper seagulls.

He also instructed Mortomas to prepare oxygen supplies. After all, oxygen tanks existed in the world of One Piece—salvage teams on Jaya Island used them, and even Whitebeard had relied on oxygen during his illness.

If they could secure a reliable oxygen source, then reaching Skypiea might just be possible.

...

On Jaya Island, Mortomas's World Economy News Paper had relocated its headquarters under the protection of their private security. This move was to escape the oppression of the World Peace Dove News Agency, which operated under the World Government.

Without the constant threat of pirates from Sabaody Archipelago, things were relatively safer. The pirates of Jaya's Pirate Town were weaker, and Brook had promised to arrive soon to seek out the legendary sky island.

"Equip seagulls with oxygen masks?"

Mortomas didn't understand why, but he followed Brook's instructions without question. His entire family's future was now tied to Brook.

His family's secret formula for training seagull news birds had long been the target of envious eyes. Based on his family's experience, it was about time for Morgans to consume a Zoan-type Devil Fruit, one that transformed him into a bird. If he raised him from a young age and built a strong bond, Morgans could become the new king of the seagull news birds.

...

Guided by Jaya Island's Eternal Pose, the Hell Pirates' ship sailed straight toward Jaya without stopping.

-----------

+100 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg