Silence lingered on the deck for several seconds.
Only the morning wind whistled softly through the ship's rigging.
In the distance, the outline of Angel Island gradually emerged beneath the indigo sky of dawn. Everything looked peaceful and tranquil—completely at odds with the heavy atmosphere on the deck.
Riberra Sami looked at Gan·Fall, whose burning gaze and desperate kneeling plea showed how serious he was.
After a moment, Riberra Sami sighed softly and stepped forward, pulling him to his feet.
"Captain Gan·Fall, please stand. I understand how you feel. Witnessing the frenzy of the crowd, sensing the absurdity of war, and wishing to break the chains that have lasted for centuries… Even as an outsider, I can see a bit of that burden."
Gan·Fall stiffened slightly. Once he was upright, he stepped forward urgently.
"Mr. Riberra Sami, if you understand, then you must also know that if no one acts, nothing will ever change! I—"
Riberra Sami raised a hand and gently stopped him.
"But understanding is one thing. Reality is another."
"Captain Gan·Fall, we are merely a merchant group from the Blue Sea. We risked the journey through the heavens mainly to do business and explore trade routes. Mediating a three-hundred-year blood feud between two races… the risks and entanglements involved are enormous. It far exceeds what a normal merchant group can handle."
"Please forgive my bluntness. We have neither the reason nor the obligation to involve ourselves in such a deep local conflict."
Riberra Sami's words fell like cold water.
Gan·Fall froze.
He realized he had been completely swept away by his yearning for peace.
He had only thought of Riberra Sami's group as a possible bridge—but ignored the fact that they had no ties to this land and would face enormous danger if they intervened.
Suspicion.
Hostility.
Possibly becoming targets for both sides.
For merchants seeking profit, the risks and rewards simply didn't match.
Forcing them with the power of the God's Army?
The thought flashed briefly through his mind—then he immediately rejected it.
That was not the kind of man he was.
Gan·Fall took a deep breath. When he looked up again, his expression had regained some calm and sincerity.
"Mr. Riberra Sami… you're right. I was too impulsive. I was thinking only of my own hopes and didn't consider the burden this would place on you. My apologies."
He paused, then his gaze became firm again.
"But… what if this is not a request without compensation?"
"What if I can offer an appropriate reward?"
Riberra Sami raised an eyebrow.
He casually poured himself a small drink from the bottle beside him and lifted it slightly toward Gan·Fall in invitation. Gan·Fall declined with a gentle shake of his head.
Riberra Sami took a slow sip before replying.
"Oh? Captain Gan·Fall, as you heard just now, the risks here are extremely high."
"What kind of reward could possibly match the danger we'd be taking?"
"If it's just Beli or Extol, that probably wouldn't be enough."
Gan·Fall inhaled slowly and lowered his voice.
"While I cannot openly violate the kingdom's laws as captain of the God's Army… within my authority, I can provide you and your crew with a batch of combat-type Dials as payment."
"What do you think of that?"
"I only ask that you attempt to make contact with the Shandians, learn the thoughts of their next generation, and deliver my message—that I seek a peaceful solution."
"No matter the outcome, as long as you genuinely try and bring back information, I will pay the agreed reward."
"Combat Dials…"
Riberra Sami's eyes flickered slightly.
It was indeed a tempting offer.
For his crew, the officers' strength was steadily growing—but many ordinary sailors might not keep up with the brutal pace of the Grand Line in the future.
Equipping them with tools that could instantly enhance combat power or provide special abilities would greatly improve their survival and tactical flexibility.
Even relatively common combat Dials—Flame Dials, Impact Dials, Slash Dials—could give his crew additional ways to defend themselves.
And even if they didn't use them…
These heavily regulated strategic resources would sell for enormous prices on the Blue Sea black market.
At the same time, Riberra Sami quickly weighed the risks.
From his knowledge of the original story, he knew the conflict in the Sky Islands would eventually be resolved somehow. The Shandians were not entirely unreasonable either.
If handled carefully, contact might not cause serious trouble.
And if trouble did arise…
Riberra Sami was confident in both his own strength and his crew's ability to adapt.
His decision formed quickly.
"A batch of combat Dials… that's certainly a sincere offer."
"Enough to make us reconsider the value of this commission."
He looked directly at Gan·Fall.
"If we truly receive them, then I can represent my merchant group and make a trip to the Shandians. We'll see the situation and try to gather information."
Gan·Fall's eyes instantly lit up with uncontrollable joy.
"Thank you! Mr. Riberra Sami, I—"
"But—"
Riberra Sami raised a finger, cutting him off.
"We also have a small technical issue that needs solving."
"Please tell me."
"This time we purchased some Jet Dials. We'd like to install a temporary propulsion system on our ship. It needs to be efficient—and preferably removable, since this isn't our permanent vessel."
"Would it be possible for you to provide some technical support for that?"
The moment Riberra Sami showed willingness, hope surged again in Gan·Fall's eyes.
He nodded without hesitation.
"No problem! Leave it to me!"
"There are craftsmen on Angel Island who specialize in Waver modifications. I'll arrange the most reliable ones to install a removable Jet Dial propulsion system on your ship as quickly as possible."
"As for the combat Dials…"
He lowered his voice.
"I will prepare them as soon as possible and deliver part of them before you depart to contact the Shandians—as a deposit."
"Then," Riberra Sami said, extending his hand, "we have a deal, Captain Gan·Fall."
"We can discuss the details later."
"For now, what we need most is information—Shandian activity areas, known bases, and… potential individuals we might contact."
"The more detailed the intelligence, the higher our chances of success."
"I'll prepare it immediately!"
Gan·Fall grasped Riberra Sami's hand firmly.
For the first time in many days, the gloom on his face seemed to fade beneath the rising morning light.
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