127. Shandora

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Everything proceeded smoothly without any obstacles. For Skypiea, even with a change in rulers, the inhabitants remained largely unaffected.

Life continued as it always had, and the island retained its peaceful charm.

Daiki and his team began to survey the entirety of Skypiea, paying particular attention to the soil beneath their feet.

He had brought ten people with him, while the rest had been assigned to Abona.

Dealing with the Shandians didn't require a large force. Abona could handle them alone if needed. It was unnecessary to deploy too many people.

However, exploring an entire island was no simple task, as the team quickly realized.

Even so, the group remained optimistic about their mission.

"Captain Daiki, is it true what His Majesty said? That there's a place here with a massive amount of gold where even the buildings are made of gold?" one of the younger guards asked eagerly, his curiosity breaking the monotony of their measurements.

The others, overhearing the question, couldn't hide their excitement. The thought of such a treasure fueled their enthusiasm, though each reacted differently to the possibility.

Daiki grinned. Looking at his team, he said confidently, "His Majesty wouldn't lie to us. It seems the place is called Shandora a legendary city from 800 years ago, built entirely of gold. Not just the buildings, but many other things too. If we find it, the gold could make the Tru Kingdom wealthier than ever!"

"Really? Where exactly is this Shandora?" the same guard asked eagerly.

"Well, how would I know?" Daiki replied with a chuckle. "That's why we're surveying the island. If we keep exploring, we're bound to find it!"

The excitement was infectious. Everyone, who moments ago had been dully trudging through measurements, suddenly felt energized, as if they'd been given a surge of adrenaline.

They began working tirelessly, determined to finish this area and move on to new, unexplored regions.

"Captain, we can't waste time! His Majesty only gave us three days, and we need to use them wisely. Let's start preparing immediately!" one of the guards urged.

With a total of 11 people, they believed the timeframe was adequate to cover the current area before moving on.

While most of them lacked mastery of Observation Haki, a few could use it to sense their surroundings within a hundred meters, which significantly eased their task.

The group worked relentlessly, even continuing after dark. The thought of discovering mountains of gold spurred them on, their imaginations running wild with visions of unimaginable wealth.

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On the other side of Skypiea, Abona's approach was vastly different. His proficiency with Observation Haki far surpassed Daiki's, allowing him to scan nearly the entire island effortlessly.

While Daiki focused on exploration, Abona's mission centred on locating the Shandians' stronghold.

Accompanied by five guards, Abona moved deliberately, showing no signs of urgency.

After all, Anos had given him two weeks to complete his task, and Abona had no intention of rushing.

"Lord Abona, if we face resistance, can we fight back?" one of the guards asked cautiously.

"Indeed," another guard chimed in. "The priests warned us the Shandians are hostile and might attack without warning. But His Majesty instructed us to avoid unnecessary conflict."

Abona, walking ahead, listened but did not immediately respond. Finally, he said calmly, "We're here to negotiate, not cause trouble. However, if they prove stubborn and attack, you have my permission to defend yourselves. If we kill a few, His Majesty will likely understand."

"That's reassuring!" a guard said with a grin.

Abona continued his measured pace, using Observation Haki to survey the terrain and locate the Shandians.

Though their numbers were small, likely around 200, he remained cautious. Skypiea, with its unique environment and history, could harbour unexpected dangers.

After two hours, they reached the outskirts of the Shandian territory.

The area was impoverished, with rudimentary houses reminiscent of a bygone era.

As they approached, several Shandians armed with weapons appeared and blocked their path.

"Blue Sea dwellers? What is your purpose here?" asked a wary Shandian, Weibo, who appeared to be their leader.

"I need to speak with your chief," Abona replied calmly.

The outskirts of the Shandian territory were dense with towering trees and thick vines, making navigation difficult without Observation Haki.

In the past, Skypiea's priests and enforcers had struggled to locate this hidden settlement due to their lack of Haki. But for Abona, it was a trivial task.

Despite the Shandians' hostility, Abona radiated confidence. Unlike the others before him, this time they faced an entirely different opponent.

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