The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

The golden lion was taken aback at first, then his eyes lit up!

These words... are exactly what he wanted to hear! They're practically tailor-made for him!

For a moment, I almost wanted to raise my head and accept this pretentious statement as my declaration of returning to the sea!

However, reality is harsh.

He's not like Kaido, who can carry an island with his bare hands (or rather, even Kaido has never carried one this big).

Controlling the massive floating island of Vermeu requires him to concentrate on maintaining it, and he also has to travel a long distance to the distant Sabaody Archipelago.

It's simply impossible to fly over with the island; the energy consumption and the resulting disturbance would be too great.

So, the Golden Lion forcibly suppressed the urge to immediately show off, and his face returned to its usual calm.

But his eyes were fixed intently on Gern, and he spoke in a tone that said, "I want it."

"Hmph! From now on, I'll be the one to use that phrase!"

He first assertively declared ownership of this "famous quote" before getting down to business: "As for Vermeer's side..."

The golden lion waved its hand, "I will have it land in a secluded corner of the East China Sea first."

Dr. Indigo, that guy, he's been with me for twenty years. He'll handle this."

His tone conveyed both trust in his old subordinates and a complete farewell to the reclusive life he had led for the past twenty years.

From the moment he decided to go with Guern, he had no intention of going back to those days of numbing himself with false plans.

Seeing how quickly the Golden Lion got into character, and even started "registering" his own offhand lines of bravado, Gern couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.

This old guy, although his strength is not what it used to be, his ambition and drive to cause trouble have not diminished at all.

"Alright, then I'll take those words." Guern shrugged indifferently. "So, are you ready? The Sabaody Archipelago is going to be quite lively."

"Let's go, you navy brat!"

Lao Tzu has already... can't wait to take those things off his head and feet!

Chapter 423 80/20 Split, Praising the Golden Lion

Meanwhile, in the skies above the East China Sea, the floating island of Vermeeryu.

Dr. Indigo paced anxiously through the palace ruins (the dome, shattered by the golden lion, had not yet been repaired).

Captain Shiki has been gone for some time and has not yet returned.

Now, considering that the reason Shiki went out might be due to the unique aura of a powerful being; he sensed a threat and that's why he went out on his own...

Indigo was filled with a sense of foreboding.

"Captain Skeeter... please don't let anything happen to you..."

Just as he kept comforting himself, trying to convince himself that the once-powerful captain would not be easily defeated...

"Boom! B ...

The entire island of Wilmeyou suddenly began to shake violently without warning.

It was as if the source of power supporting its levitation was rapidly diminishing!

"What's going on?! Whoosh?!" Indigo steadied himself in a panic and screamed.

Then, through the shattered dome, he witnessed a scene that made his heart stop.

All the enormous islands that were originally steadily suspended above the clouds began to tilt.

And with an irreversible force, it slowly yet resolutely... plummeted into the azure sea below!

"No... Impossible! Whoosh!!!" Indigo's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief and horror.

What does the landing of the island signify?

In his twenty years of following the Golden Lion, and in the countless times the Golden Lion emphasized and instilled in him, he gained a deep understanding of the world.

Vermeer's levitation ability relies entirely on Captain Shiki's unparalleled Float-Float Fruit power!

As long as Captain Skeeter is alive and conscious, the island will never fall!

Conversely...

The island's fall at this moment signifies only one thing.

"Captain Shiki... his... his powers have failed!"

The most likely reason why a legendary pirate's abilities could be completely rendered ineffective in a short period of time is... death!!!

This conclusion, like the coldest arrow, pierced Indigo's heart in an instant!

In an instant, the image of Captain Skeeter, who, despite his occasional irritability and silliness, had always supported his research on "IQ" over the past twenty years, flashed through his mind.

He recalled that although the captain occasionally showed signs of melancholy, he mostly shared his grand ambitions of conquering the world with enhanced creatures...

The man he had followed for twenty years, a master and a friend... could it really be...?

"Captain Shiki... Captain Shiki!!!!"

Dr. Indigo could no longer control his emotions. He rushed to the edge of the palace, watching the island plummeting closer and closer to the sea.

It let out a heart-wrenching cry, a mixture of endless grief and despair!

The sound was shrill, like the mournful howl of a lone wolf that had lost its alpha, echoing for a long time over the falling island, a lament that never ceased!

Tears blurred his vision, which had become strange due to long-term exposure to chemicals.

He firmly believes that the legend of the "Golden Lion" has completely vanished today, right here in the sky above the East China Sea.

The "IQ" project, for which twenty years of effort were devoted...

His ambition to revive the Flying Pirates also vanished along with the crashed island, sinking into the cold seabed and turning into nothingness.

..............

Several days later, on a small ship sailing in mid-air, Gern seemed to remember something, and with a hint of curiosity...

But more than anything, he seemed to be enjoying the spectacle and said to the golden lion floating beside him, "Hey, Shiki, aren't you going to go back and talk to your Dr. Indigo?"

"Aren't you afraid that if you just let Vermeer surrender like this... your men will think you're dead, build you a cenotaph, and then scatter like leaves in the wind?"

"Hehehehehe!!!" Upon hearing this, the Golden Lion let out a confident laugh, stroked its long golden mane, and said with unwavering certainty.

"Impossible?! Absolutely impossible!"

"That guy Indigo, although his research has made him a bit odd, how could someone who's followed me all this time be an idiot?!"

As he spoke, he pointed a finger at the sky, giving off an expression that said, "You underestimate my subordinates and my skills."

"I just wanted Wilmès to 'slowly! Slowly! Descend!', to land smoothly and safely on the sea!"

It's not like it's going to collapse and disintegrate or crash down like a meteorite.

Such a big difference, anyone with a brain can see it at a glance.

This is clearly the result of Lao Tzu's active control!

The more the Golden Lion talked, the more he felt his plan was flawless and his logic perfect.

"This can only mean that I have a new plan, or that I don't need that island floating in the sky for the time being!"

Indigo has been with me for twenty years, so he has some judgment!

He'll definitely be able to stabilize the situation and wait for me to get back!

He had absolute, blind confidence in the intelligence and loyalty of his old subordinates, as well as in the "clear" messages he conveyed through his actions.

Looking at the Golden Lion's absolutely confident demeanor, as if he were saying, "I'm in charge of everything, and my subordinates understand perfectly," Gern's lips twitched slightly, and he wisely chose to remain silent.

"Okay, whatever makes you happy."

I hope your Dr. Indigo is really, as you think, a 'brainy' guy..."

Several days later, at the landing site on Wilméiu Island in a remote part of the sea...

Dr. Indigo, tears streaming down his face, directed his surviving, equally grieving subordinates to expedite the clearing in the center of the island, in the open space that had once been in front of the palace.

Using the finest wood and Shiki's usual clothing, a solemn yet incredibly sorrowful cenotaph was built.

In front of the tomb stands a rough wooden plaque, with crooked yet deeply affectionate handwriting engraved on it.

The Flying Pirates Admiral, the legendary pirate, Captain Shiki the Golden Lion, live forever!

— Respectfully presented by your loyal subordinate, Dr. Indigo and all the crew.

That's right, the Flying Pirates are completely immersed in...

In the poignant atmosphere of "The captain is dead, but his legacy endures"

The “obvious” signal of the islands “gradually descending” has been perfectly, thoroughly… misinterpreted.

Indigo, wiping away tears, bowed deeply to the cenotaph, choking back sobs as he swore, "Captain Shiki... rest in peace... whoosh..."

You did everything you could to protect us even in your dying moments, so... we understand.

I will certainly carry on your long-held plan, take the treasure, and carefully conceal my identity before leaving the sea...

Waaah... Although the 'IQ' project might be... but your spirit... whoosh... we'll never forget it~~~

"Indigo, stop crying. Is the treasure to be split 30/70?"

"Don't you have any conscience? How long has Captain Skeeter been gone?!" Dr. Indigo roared.

"That......."

"Split it 80/20, I'll take 80, you guys take 20. Don't ask why, just know that I, Dr. Indigo, am Captain Skeeter's most beloved person!"

Chapter 424 The Palace of Charlemagne

Meanwhile, in the Sabaody Archipelago, Area 43, a specialty and tourism area.

The bustling crowds, colorful bubbles, and unique goods from all over the world create a lively and extraordinary scene.

But amidst this hustle and bustle, two figures stood out as particularly out of place.

Bartholomew Bear, his enormous body almost completely occupying the specially made bench, sat quietly holding a Bible, a stark contrast to the joyful crowd flowing around him.

Enel, meanwhile, sat next to him with a disgruntled expression, legs crossed, Golden Staff casually resting on his shoulder.

He idly glanced around at the "inferior" and "noisy" mortals in his eyes.

"Hey, big guy." Enel finally couldn't resist and poked the bear's arm with his golden cudgel.

"Are we really going to just sit here and wait? My time is very precious!"

Hearing Enel's words, Kuma slowly turned his gaze away from a shop in the distance that was filled with all kinds of plush toys (especially bear-shaped ones).

She turned her head slightly and looked down at the short-tempered "god" beside her.

When Enel saw him looking over, he instinctively transformed into his elemental form and dodged. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the bear didn't make any further moves, and then teleported back.

"Don't be so nervous, we've already arrived in Chambord."

Hearing this from the bear, Enel became even more enraged, abruptly raising his eyes to question it.

"I'm nervous?? Don't you know why I'm so nervous? Don't you have any conscience?"

Damn it, you tried to slap my head with your lousy hand a full 120 times along the way!

If it weren't for my quick reflexes and ability to use my Observation Haki to transform into an element and escape, wouldn't you have succeeded?!

You must explain yourself to me today! What do you want?!

Faced with Enel's furious questioning, Kuma's usually expressionless face...

Maintaining his gentle demeanor (which Enel perceived as pretentious), he earnestly explained...

"I just saw mosquitoes."

Enel: "…………"

He felt his blood pressure spike to its peak!

A feeling of suffocation welled up in my chest, and I almost unleashed a "Thor's Roar" on the spot!

"Mosquito...mosquito???"