Pirate: I was just slacking off, do you really think I'm bad?

And so, on the land of the Sky Island.

Two young people, who looked like a perfect couple, strolled hand in hand on the steps of the floating island.

One is Christine Rowley, the youngest vice admiral in the current headquarters, and the other is Gion, the dream goddess of many in the Navy and the flower of the Navy.

Some naval soldiers, who had already changed into civilian clothes and were strolling around the sky island, couldn't help but exclaim in admiration upon seeing this:

Lord Raleigh and Lord Gion look like a perfect match.

"They look so sweet together, I'm totally shipping them."

Hans and Beck happened to spot Raleigh and Gion on the street corner.

"Beck, do you think Lord Raleigh is lacking something right now?"

Beck stared blankly at Hans, not understanding what Hans was saying.

Seeing the bewildered Beck, Hans didn't bother to explain.

He quickly went to the flower shop on the street and bought a bouquet of red roses.

"Red roses represent passionate love and are suitable for men in the throes of new love to give to women. Lord Raleigh is clearly a straight man; we subordinates have to think of these things."

Before anyone noticed, he secretly circled around to Raleigh's back.

As Hans approached Raleigh, Raleigh's Observation Haki had already detected Hans and the roses Hans was holding. Raleigh's expression did not change, but without Gion noticing, he put his other hand behind his back and gave Hans a thumbs up.

After expressing his gratitude to Hans, Rory reached behind his back and grabbed the flowers that Hans offered.

Raleigh turned to look at the beautiful and charming Gion beside him.

Gion noticed Raleigh's gaze and turned her gaze to his face, a hint of confusion in her expression. "Why are you looking at me like that, Raleigh?"

"It's nothing, I think you look very beautiful today."

Raleigh praised the garden sincerely, while taking out the roses behind him.

Just like the roses in my hand, they're the kind of flowers that everyone likes.

Gion looked at the roses, a hint of surprise and joy flashing in her eyes.

No girl dislikes beautiful flowers, unless the person is someone she doesn't like.

To be fair, the roses Raleigh had weren't as precious as the roses Cage always carefully selected.

But sometimes love is just that irrational; Gion, whom Kake gave away, never even glanced at.

Gion carefully held the roses that Raleigh had given her, a happy smile on her face. "Thank you, Raleigh. I really love red roses."

After Gion finished speaking, she bit her lip, which looked extremely unfair to Raleigh!

Now, in Raleigh's eyes, Gion is like a tempting piece of honey. If there weren't so many people, Raleigh probably would have kissed it already.

However, now, holding Gion's hand and strolling along the dreamlike Angel Island, Raleigh was quite satisfied.

Under the sunlight, a tall man and a beautiful woman holding red roses drew praise from everyone on Angel Island who saw them.

Honey, look at that couple, they're so romantic! I want roses too.

The boyfriend, feeling pressured, rested his forehead on top of his girlfriend's head and said gently:

"Okay, I'll go buy you your favorite flowers right now."

"Youth is wonderful; just looking at it brings a sense of beauty. That's my lost love."

On a rooftop somewhere on Angel Island, an old man, pipe in mouth, watched Raleigh and Gion walk by below.

And so, Raleigh and Gion spent half a day wandering around Angel Island.

Just as Raleigh and Gion were tired from walking around and were about to return to the warship to rest, an angel dressed as a warrior suddenly appeared and blocked their way.

Greetings, Your Excellency, I am Squad Douglas, the Guard of God. You may call me Squad.

Looking at the respectful class in front of him, Raleigh looked puzzled.

"The god of the Kingdom of Gods," Raleigh naturally knew what was going on, but he didn't expect this god to find him. "What does your god want with me? If I remember correctly, we don't seem to have ever had any contact with your god."

Without hesitation, Ban blurted out:

"Your Excellency, matters of God are beyond our comprehension, but I can assure you that in the eyes of our God, you are the most honored guest."

"God gave me this command, instructing me to invite you with the utmost courtesy to visit God's abode."

Gion quietly tugged at Raleigh's sleeve. Raleigh didn't say anything, but gave Gion a reassuring look.

To be honest, Raleigh also wanted to meet this god from the Kingdom of Gods and see what he was thinking.

Since your god has sincerely invited me, I cannot refuse him. I will go with you.

Thank you for your trust in us. Please follow me, Navy Commander.

Ben was thrilled to receive Raleigh's affirmative answer, because it meant that God's command to him had been fulfilled.

Raleigh and Gion followed behind the God's Guard and soon left Angel Island.

Their destination is the most mysterious forbidden land in the Kingdom of Gods, a place that ordinary people cannot even set foot on—the Island of Gods (Apayado).

Ban led the way, with Raleigh and Gion following behind.

The three people walked on the road leading to the temple, looking around at the towering trees.

Both Raleigh and the garden showed great interest.

Their original purpose was to travel, and although it deviated slightly from their original intention, they still saw many sights that they could never have seen before in the Four Seas or the Grand Line.

It's quite amazing, actually. I originally thought there wouldn't be any plants in a place like a sky island.

But what I saw before me changed my perspective: the Sky Island not only had enormous trees, but also fertile land.

Looking at the surrounding trees and land, Gion couldn't help but sigh.

Upon hearing what Gion said, Ban turned around and explained;

"Actually, you're right. The Sky Island didn't originally have this much land and trees."

But we have God, who has generously given us these lands.

Ban became more and more excited as he spoke, a devout expression appearing on his face.

"Excuse me for interrupting, but were these lands a gift from the gods to you 400 years ago?"

While listening to Ban and Gion's conversation, Raleigh suddenly interjected.

Ben stared wide-eyed at Raleigh with an incredulous look on his face.

My lord, do you perhaps have a deep understanding of our history? Otherwise, how would you know that God was 400 years old?

Did they bestow this land upon us before the New Year?

Raleigh touched his nose, unsure how to explain.

Because he knew that this island was the part of Jaya Island that had washed ashore, but he couldn't tell Ban directly.

After all, this island is the island of the gods, and the idea that Apayado is the island of gods is already deeply ingrained in the minds of Ban and his guards.

"No, I only overheard some people talking about the Island of Gods on my way here; I only heard a few words."

Raleigh didn't want to reveal that he knew Apayedo was the island of Gaia right now; he wanted to see what this god wanted from him.

The road to the temple was not very long; after about ten minutes, the snow-white palace came into view at the end of the road.

Unlike the dreamlike architecture we just saw on Angel Island.

This all-white building is primarily Gothic in style.

The towering spires surrounding the main hall and the huge, colorful stained-glass windows gave it an exceptionally solemn and dignified appearance.

Before Raleigh and his group even reached the vicinity of the main hall, they spotted a tall figure standing at the entrance, gazing in their direction.

"It's God! God himself came out to greet us."

Ban shouted excitedly that as God's protector, he had served in God's kingdom for over 20 years and had never seen God show such respect to any one person.

This further demonstrates just how extraordinary the man behind them is!

The distance between the two disappeared after Raleigh took a few dozen steps.

Raleigh calmly looked at the god standing at the door. He was wearing a white robe, had a long beard, and was tall and imposing.

Ban lowered his head, about to speak, when Ganford interrupted him.

"Go ahead and get back to work. I'll personally take care of these two distinguished guests."

Ganful's tone was very gentle, and neither Raleigh nor Gion disliked it.

After hearing Ganford's words, Ben did not do anything further, but bowed to Ganford and Rowley and left.

Welcome, distinguished guest. My name is Ganful, and I am the present God of the Kingdom of God.

"The reason I invited you here is that I need your help with something."

Raleigh looked at the gentle god before him and extended his right hand:

"Hello, my name is Christian Rowley, a current Vice Admiral in the Navy."

"Gion is my adjutant, and he is currently a captain in the Navy Headquarters."

Raleigh grasped Ganford's right hand and took the initiative to introduce himself and the Garden to Ganford.

After a brief handshake, Ganford gestured with his right hand.

"Your Excellency Lieutenant General Raleigh and Colonel Gion, please follow me into the hall for tea."

After the three were seated, Ganford personally brewed a cup of tea for Raleigh and Gion before returning to his own seat.

Lord Raleigh from Qinghai, I know you must have a lot of curiosity about Skypiea, the White Sea, or even me.

I can answer all your questions, but you must listen to my story first.

Raleigh nodded, indicating that he understood what to do. Even if Ganford hadn't said anything, Raleigh could roughly guess what it was about.

Ganful's eyes deepened, his large hand tracing across the map of the Sky Island as he drifted into memories of the past:

Around 400 years ago, the Kingdom of God was a very peaceful and stable place.

Back then, we had very few resources, and supplies occasionally washed ashore by upwelling currents became precious items for the inhabitants of the sky island.

"Although we all have little, we are all kind and simple people."

"Many small islands were unintentionally washed ashore by upwelling currents; we call them Bas. All Bas arrived at the Sky Islands through this route, without exception."

In the past, the largest areas of Bath that were washed ashore were only a few tens of square meters, and the largest were no more than a few hundred square meters. It's almost impossible for a Bath area of ​​several hundred thousand square meters to have been washed ashore by upwelling currents.

"But a miracle truly happened before our eyes; Apayado suddenly emerged from the Qinghai Lake below..."

They arrived within the territory of the Sky Island. All the inhabitants believed it to be a gift from God, so they called it the Island of the Gods—Apayado.

However, this small island, which was washed ashore, has its own indigenous people, whom we call the Sandians.

"Since it was the first time the gods and inhabitants of the Sky Island had seen such a large land, they became greedy and thought that Apayado had appeared on the Sky Island specifically for the gods to live in."

The rest is history. The Shandians, the original inhabitants, were driven from Apayado Island by the gods and the people of that time. Since then, they have called themselves guerrillas and have been fighting against the inhabitants of the Sky Island for four hundred years.

As their heir, I naturally feel deeply apologetic for what my ancestors did. For so many years, I have been searching for a way to stop the war between the Sky Island inhabitants and the Shandians, but unfortunately, I have yet to find one.

However, a legend circulates on God's Island: when the sacred Apayado was born, beautiful songs resounded throughout the island; these were the tolling bells of war between the Sky Island inhabitants and the Shandians.

If one day, the sacred Apayado resounds with beautiful songs again, then it will be time for the Sky Island inhabitants and the Shandians to cease hostilities.

At this point, Ganford stood up and bowed deeply to Raleigh, who was still seated.

Lord Raleigh, as residents of the Sky Island, we are not allowed to enter the territory of the Shandians.

"From beginning to end, my calls for peaceful coexistence have failed to reach the ears of the Shandians. Therefore, I implore you to enter their territory and convey my request for peaceful coexistence."

Raleigh calmly finished his drink, and when Ganford wavered, he spoke:

"Dear Mr. Ganfor, I can grant your request and convey your desire for peaceful coexistence to the Shandians, but I cannot guarantee that the Shandians will obey me."

As you know, the long war has forged a deep-seated hatred between the two sides, which is difficult to change with just one or two people.

Ganford straightened his back and said firmly, "I know hatred won't be easily broken, but we have to try before we can draw conclusions."

The war between the Sky Island inhabitants and the Shandians must end; everyone has been deeply wounded by the war.

Raleigh nodded and agreed.

Putting aside overly idealistic views, Ganful, as a god, did a pretty good job. He was kind enough to his people and also worked to ease the conflict between the Sky Island inhabitants and the Shandians.

The only pity was that he lacked strength, and a few years later he was overthrown from his godhood by Enel, who came from Birka.

However, now that Raleigh has arrived, Enel definitely has no chance of becoming a god.