131. The Surrender
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For the Shandians, who originally numbered only one or two hundred, leadership was always decided based on strength.
As long as someone was strong enough, they could become the chief.
Abona and his group continued to watch quietly. In no time, a new chief had been chosen.
Abona wasn't surprised he had little interest in the internal affairs of the Shandians.
"Now that you've become the chief, will you choose to come with us next?" Abona asked in a calm voice.
"I will," Wyper replied. "But I need to settle my people here first. After that, I'll come to your place on my own."
Abona smiled slightly and replied, "It's in the current shrine."
After speaking, Abona turned and began walking back in the direction he had come. As he walked, he added, "As a friendly reminder, His Majesty has only given half a month. If the Shandian chief does not come within that time, it will be considered a voluntary forfeiture. Any future disputes in the Skypiea region will not be resolved diplomatically we'll handle them by force."
Wyper clenched his fists as he watched Abona leave. Though he felt disgusted toward the "Blue Sea people" who had suddenly appeared and declared themselves rulers, there was little he could do.
Their strength was undeniable, and their initial show of power had left the Shandians in shock.
If they weren't opponents, they weren't opponents. It was as simple as that, and Wyper knew he had to recognize their position.
The Shandian tribespeople, unaware of the full truth, expressed their anger openly.
The Shandians had lived on Skypiea for centuries how could they tolerate such humiliation? Their warlike nature only fueled their frustration.
Yet Abona, now far away, was indifferent to their resentment.
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Elsewhere on Skypiea
"Captain Daiki, what kind of plant is this? It grows so tall!"
Daiki stood before a massive vine, surrounded by his team. The enormous plant stretched far into the sky, disappearing beyond their view.
At an altitude of 10,000 meters, the vine's size was almost incomprehensible.
"It's incredible," Daiki remarked. "Make sure to mark it clearly on the map."
The area around them was littered with ancient ruins, the remnants of an unknown civilization.
Though the exact era was unclear, the structures had clearly existed for centuries.
This was their third day on Skypiea, and they didn't have much time left to complete their exploration.
Driven by curiosity, ten guards began climbing the giant vine, eager to see how high it went and if it led to anything interesting.
Daiki, meanwhile, focused on the ruins, holding a map of Skypiea in his hands.
Though it wasn't particularly detailed, it helped navigate the island's terrain. Watching his team climb higher and higher, Daiki didn't stop them.
Their task was nearly complete, and a little curiosity wouldn't hurt.
"Captain Daiki, come up and take a look! The view here is amazing!" one of the guards called out from high above. He stood on one of the vine's massive leaves, almost invisible from the ground.
The vine's leaves were so large and sturdy that they could easily support the weight of several people.
Such a plant was a rare phenomenon in the world of pirates, and it piqued everyone's curiosity.
Daiki, however, remained focused on the ruins. While his guards were distracted, his mind lingered on what His Majesty the King had mentioned gold.
The promise of treasure was always at the forefront of his thoughts.
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High Above the Clouds
"Tabaru, guess what I see!" one of the guards shouted excitedly from the top of the vine.
By now, they had climbed above the clouds, completely out of sight of their companions below.
Standing atop the vine, the guard stared in awe at a massive golden clock hanging from one of the branches. The enormous relic was made entirely of gold, its weight and craftsmanship beyond comprehension.
The other guards quickly climbed up to join him, all of them equally stunned by the sight.
One even rubbed his eyes in disbelief. For them, this was the largest and most valuable piece of gold they had ever seen.
The golden clock was nothing short of a miracle, a relic of the Shandian's ancient city of Shandora.
Though they had heard rumours of Skypiea's gold before their journey, this was the first tangible proof they had encountered.
Overwhelmed by the discovery, the guards refrained from touching the clock. Instead, they quickly descended the vine to report their find to Daiki.
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Back on the ground, Daiki was still exploring the ruins, kicking aside stones in search of anything valuable.
As his guards returned, their excitement was evident, and Daiki prepared himself for what might be their most significant find yet.
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