Chapter 155 Pre-war meeting, Bai Ye and Robin's late-night talk

Translator: PapaSmurf0700

Enel's declaration, "As a god, I am everywhere!" perfectly encapsulates his boundless arrogance. His rise to power was marked by the destruction of his own homeland, Sky Island Birka, an act of such ruthless might that those who serve him now witnessed firsthand. Their allegiance is driven more by fear than genuine reverence.

As the four priests scrambled to their feet after the unexpected thunderstrike, Enel lounged back, critiquing them with disdain. "You can't predict such attacks? You need more practice; you're too green," he taunted. "You're not fit to accompany me to 'Fairy Vearth.'"

The priests' faces twisted with discomfort at Enel's words. Gedatsu nearly forgot to breathe again in his agitation, quivering as he protested, "What are you talking about!" Ohm, behind his sunglasses, allowed a flash of annoyance to show, "Please, stop teasing us." Shura adjusted his cap, his frown deepening, "Is this why you called us here so late, just to mock us?" Satori tried to play it off with a laugh, "Oh ho ho, the lord is jesting again."

Despite their frustrations, the priests tread lightly, wary of Enel's quick temper. Enel, however, remained visibly unbothered by their subtle displeasure, whether from not noticing or simply not caring. He nonchalantly tossed an apple into the air, dismissing the tension, "Because I'm bored."

"Sit down," he commanded. The priests complied immediately, settling onto the ground. In Enel's presence, even the permission to sit felt like a privilege—no one dared expect a chair when even Enel's throne stood alone as a symbol of his absolute rule.

Enel's voice pierced the silence, catching the four priests off guard: "Those Shandia folks have teamed up with Gan Fall." It was a surprising revelation, but hardly a concern for them.

"If that's all, Lord Enel need not fret," Shura responded confidently. His tone was filled with a dark promise as he grinned, "Just give me the word, and I can make them vanish without any help. My strings will bury them."

Enel listened, his expression unchanging, then added, "There's more. It seems the Shandia and Gan Fall have enlisted additional support." He reflected on the morning's revelations detected through his mantra, a slight smirk curling his lips, intrigued by the challenge.

With a laugh, Enel mused, "They actually believe their new allies can defeat me, ahahahahaha! Such fools who do not understand the extent of the heavens."

Ohm, ever the scornful one, smirked and caressed his sword, pondering aloud, "I wonder if they'd still be as bold if I were to cut off their hands and feet."

Gedatsu, struggling to maintain his breath, chimed in eagerly, "Lord Enel! Please, let me handle this. My trial will be their end."

Beside him, Satori chuckled gleefully, "Oh ho ho, I'd love for them to test their luck against my balls."

For Enel and his priests, the alliance between Shandia and Gan Fall was old news, but the addition of new allies piqued their interest. After all, dealing with the same foes had grown tedious, and new adversaries promised a refreshing change of pace.

Enel straightened up, casually rubbed an apple, and took a bite with a crunch. Chewing thoughtfully, he began outlining the plan, his voice carrying a note of inevitability. "Of course, they will start to move tomorrow. While I'm not privy to their exact plans, there's no doubt—" He swallowed another bite of apple and grinned, "Upper Yard is their ultimate target."

He continued, laying down the rules for his subordinates, "Each of you will guard a different area. I've decided you must not interfere with each other." The four priests tensed, sensing the weight of the moment, their excitement barely contained.

"Tomorrow, the entirety of Upper Yard will be your playground," Enel declared, his eyes scanning the eager faces before him. "You can choose wherever you want to demonstrate your prowess, even break the usual rules and flex your muscles."

Expressions of excitement mixed with surprise crossed the faces of the priests. Excitement at the freedom to unleash their full power without restraint; surprise because Enel, who typically demanded strict adherence to his commands, was now endorsing rule-breaking.

Gedatsu, ever the straightforward one, voiced the confusion swirling among them: "Why this sudden change, Mr. Enel?"

Munching on the apple, Enel replied nonchalantly, "Well, because it's almost done." Those words made everyone's pupils contract—everyone knew what he meant. The Ark Maxim, Enel's massive flying ark, was nearly ready.

His gaze hardened slightly as he looked at his followers. "So, let's wrap things up quickly on this island," he stated, a rare edge of urgency in his tone.

Then, his face relaxed into a more excited smile than usual, eyes twinkling with the thrill of anticipation: "Then, we'll set off on our journey to the world of dreams—"

"To Fairy Vearth!" His words filled the air with a charge of electricity, promising adventures beyond the horizons of the sky itself.

-----

On the balcony of Conis's home on Angel Island, an unusual calm had settled for the night. With limited space inside Conis's modest house, the Straw Hats had made arrangements for Luffy, Usopp, Sanji, and Zoro to sleep on the Golden Merry. Meanwhile, Robin and Bai Ye found themselves under the tranquil blanket of night, gazing up at the sky.

Robin, intrigued by Bai Ye's pensive mood, asked softly, "The moon? It's unusual to see you so contemplative, Bai Ye. What's on your mind?"

Bai Ye, standing beside her on the balcony, responded thoughtfully, "Yes, it's about something I read—a message stating, 'We came from the Fairy Vearth.' Just that phrase alone stirs up so much curiosity."

He paused, his eyes lifting to meet the moon's glow above. "Here we are, suspended 10,000 meters in the sky, yet we're still far from reaching the highest reaches of the heavens, much less approaching the distant moon."

Turning to face Robin, his expression was reflective. "I can't help but think that the 'Fairy Vearth,' is a destination that holds some significance. It might just be worth exploring one day."