Riberra Sami and the others returned to the Skylark from the dock, carrying several bulging bundles.
Aldo, who had been waiting on the deck, immediately came forward.
"Boss! You're finally back! Everything go smoothly?"
"Yeah." Riberra Sami nodded, glancing around the ship. "Nothing happened here, right?"
"Nothing major." Aldo scratched his head. "That God's Army captain—Gan·Fall—came by once. Said he had urgent business with you. Hiriluk and I followed your instructions and told him you'd already gone to rest and that he should come back in the morning. He looked pretty anxious, but he still left."
"I see."
Riberra Sami nodded thoughtfully, then tapped the bundle in his hands.
"Come take a look at what we got."
He motioned for Aldo to follow him. They went inside the cabin and opened the bundles.
In an instant, golden light burst out, dazzling their eyes.
"My… my god!"
Aldo's eyes went wide. He grabbed a gold bar, bit down lightly, and left a clear tooth mark.
"It's real gold! And so much of it! Boss—where did you get this?!"
"The sacred land—Upper Yard."
Riberra Sami smiled faintly as he weighed a golden goblet in his hand.
"These Sky Islanders are sitting on a mountain of treasure without even realizing it. I doubt they even understand what gold really is. Lucky for us."
"Hahaha! We hit the jackpot! This time we really struck it rich!"
"Put it away. Keep it quiet."
Riberra Sami waved his hand.
The crew carefully stored the gold, then quickly took the chance to rest. Riberra Sami himself soon drifted into deep sleep.
But he had barely closed his eyes when someone gently woke him.
"Captain… Captain… wake up!"
Half-asleep, Riberra Sami felt someone nudging him. He forced his eyes open to see Hiriluk beside the bed.
"Mm… what is it?"
"That God's Army captain is back! He's waiting at the dock and wants to see you."
Riberra Sami struggled upright and glanced out the window.
The sky was only just beginning to brighten.
"How long did I sleep?"
"About three hours."
"…Sigh."
Riberra Sami rubbed his aching temples and sighed.
"Alright. Bring him to the deck. I'll be there in a moment."
Riberra Sami forced himself awake and stepped out of the cabin.
The chilly morning air cleared his head somewhat.
Gan·Fall was already standing on the deck with his back to him, gazing at the slowly brightening sea of clouds.
"Good morning, Captain Gan·Fall," Riberra Sami greeted as he approached, trying to sound energetic. "You came this early—something urgent?"
Gan·Fall turned around, concern on his face.
"Mr. Riberra Sami, you don't look well. Did you not rest properly last night?"
"Huh? Oh… a little."
Riberra Sami yawned exaggeratedly and rubbed his eyes.
"Maybe it's just the altitude. I couldn't sleep well—felt like I was floating the whole night."
Gan·Fall nodded understandingly.
"That's normal for someone visiting the White-White Sea for the first time. Those of us who live here are used to it."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Gan·Fall's expression grew serious again.
He hesitated before speaking.
"Mr. Riberra Sami… the things you said in the plaza yesterday… I've been thinking about them all night. The more I think about it, the more confused I become. So I came to ask your advice again. How can we convey the intention of ending the war to the people above… and perhaps even to the Shandians?"
Riberra Sami scratched his head and gestured for Gan·Fall to sit down on the deck.
He had a crew member bring two bottles of alcohol and some simple food.
The two men sat facing the morning breeze and faint dawn light.
Riberra Sami took a sip of alcohol, letting the sharp taste wake him further.
After organizing his thoughts, he spoke slowly.
"Captain Gan·Fall, this kind of thing can't be rushed. Let's think through it step by step."
"You said you want to convey the idea to those above—meaning your God. So tell me honestly: based on what you know about him, is there any chance he would voluntarily propose ending the conflict with the Shandians? And on the Shandian side, is there any chance they would abandon the fight?"
Gan·Fall's eyes dimmed.
After a moment of silence, he shook his head bitterly.
"…Very unlikely."
"Our God's only child died during a Shandian raid. His sole bloodline was lost there. Asking him to seek peace… is nearly impossible."
"As for the Shandians…" he sighed, "I don't know them well. But in most conflicts they are the ones who initiate attacks, while we defend. Their hatred toward us is probably even deeper. For their leaders to abandon the fight would be even more difficult."
Says the people who occupied someone else's homeland, Riberra Sami thought silently.
But outwardly he only nodded thoughtfully.
"If both leaders are bound by blood hatred and position, and neither can take the first step…"
Riberra Sami tapped lightly on the bottle with his finger before changing the direction of the conversation.
"Then we should think long-term."
"You said your God lost his only child?"
"Yes."
"So he has no direct heir left. According to your traditions, who would become the next God?"
Gan·Fall paused, surprised by the question.
"If the God has no heir, the next God is usually chosen from the God's Army—the most capable and respected member."
"Oooh…"
Riberra Sami drew out the sound meaningfully and looked straight at him.
"The captain of the God's Army… young and capable. If nothing unexpected happens, the next God would probably be you, wouldn't it?"
Gan·Fall's body trembled slightly.
He had clearly never seriously considered his position from this perspective.
His mouth opened, but no immediate denial came.
Riberra Sami continued, pressing the advantage.
"Think about it. If ending the war isn't possible with the current God, then the key might lie with the next one. If you truly desire peace—and if you eventually become God—then half the obstacle disappears."
"The rest is how to convey that intention to the Shandians."
"You could also try learning about their next generation of leaders. Who are they? What kind of people are they? Perhaps among them there are young individuals who aren't obsessed with endless revenge—people willing to look toward the future."
Gan·Fall's eyes gradually brightened.
Riberra Sami's words opened an entirely new perspective.
Instead of being trapped in a deadlock with stubborn current leaders, he now saw the possibility brought by generational change.
But reality soon crept back.
Sky Islanders and Shandians hated each other deeply.
There was no channel for normal contact between them.
As captain of the God's Army, if he attempted to approach them directly, it would almost certainly be seen as provocation—likely triggering another battle.
As he pondered this dilemma, Gan·Fall's gaze unconsciously drifted toward Riberra Sami, who was yawning beside him.
A bold idea began to grow rapidly in his mind.
These Blue Sea people…
They were neither Sky Islanders nor Shandians.
They had no connection to the centuries of bloodshed.
They might be the only possible third party capable of building even the most fragile bridge.
The next moment—
To Riberra Sami's shock, Gan·Fall suddenly stood up.
Then he dropped to his knees and bowed deeply.
"Mr. Riberra Sami! I, Gan·Fall, sincerely beg you!"
"Please help us—help the Kingdom of God and the Shandians!"
"I have thought about it again and again. Only you and your companions might serve as messengers to carry this voice between us! I beg you!"
Riberra Sami was genuinely startled by the sudden gesture.
He quickly stood and pulled Gan·Fall up with both hands.
"Captain Gan·Fall, please stand! What are you doing?"
"Please consider my request!"
Gan·Fall stood, but his eyes still burned with determination.
"I know it is unreasonable—and dangerous. But this may be the only chance to break a three-hundred-year stalemate."
"Please… try to make contact with the Shandians. At least help us understand the thoughts of their next generation!"
"Any assistance or reward you require—as long as it is within my power—I will do without hesitation!"
Silence settled over the deck.
Only the soft sound of wind brushing against the sails remained.
Riberra Sami looked at the young captain before him.
In Gan·Fall's eyes, he saw something that went beyond rank or duty—
A genuine longing for peace.
The cool morning air on the deck suddenly felt heavier with the weight of this unexpected request.
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