The crew, still shaken, looked up—
Only to see a giant octopus, its size comparable to a small Sea King, firmly gripping the Skylark with all eight of its massive tentacles.
Its enormous eyes blinked gently as it let out soft huffing sounds.
Under its embrace, the ship's terrifying descent slowed, stabilizing into a steady glide as it passed through layer after layer of the lower cloud sea.
"W-We're… saved?"
"My god… what is that thing? That octopus is huge!"
"Captain Gan·Fall mentioned it—this is a balloon octopus from the Sky Islands!"
"That whistle he gave us really works!"
Relief and amazement spread across the deck.
Aldo, emboldened, reached out and touched one of the thick tentacles.
It was soft yet elastic, drawing amazed murmurs from the crew.
With the balloon octopus aiding them, what had been a terrifying fall turned into a strange and wondrous experience.
They drifted through clouds of all shapes and forms, witnessing the surreal beauty hidden within the White Sea—
Until finally…
The deep blue ocean appeared below, along with the familiar scent of salty sea air.
When the balloon octopus gently set the Skylark onto the calm surface of the Blue Sea, it released its grip, waved its tentacles, and slowly sank beneath the water—vanishing from sight.
"We're back! Back in the Blue Sea!"
"Haha! That was insane!"
After the cheers subsided, a wave of exhaustion and relief washed over the crew.
Riberra Sami turned toward Old Barry, who had been quietly watching from the cabin entrance, and walked over.
"Old Barry," Riberra Sami said gently, "we're back in the Blue Sea. How do you plan to return to Liyashida Island?"
The old shipwright leaned on his cane, gently stroking the hull of the Skylark.
His eyes were filled with mixed emotions—reluctance, satisfaction… and peace.
At Riberra Sami's question, he slowly shook his head.
"No need to go through all that trouble, Captain Riberra Sami."
He smiled, the wrinkles on his face softening.
"Just drop me off at any island with a town. This old man may be getting on in years, but I can still hitch a ride back."
He paused.
His gaze lingered over every inch of the deck, every sail—like he was revisiting a lifetime of memories.
"This ship… the Skylark…"
"I'll give her to you."
"What?" Marcus blinked in surprise.
Old Barry patted the ship's side like an old friend.
"I don't have many years left."
"I've spent half my life guarding this ship… but if she stays with me, she'll just rot away in a dock."
"That would be too cruel."
He looked up, sweeping his gaze across Riberra Sami, Aldo, Marcus, Hans—and every member of the Jellyfish Pirates.
"She's a good ship."
"She longs to sail, to face storms, to see the world."
"With you, she can fulfill her purpose."
"To adventure… to fight… to explore the unknown."
"If one day she sinks at sea… then that will be her best ending."
"Far better than decaying quietly in a shipyard."
Riberra Sami fell silent for a moment.
Then he nodded solemnly.
"In that case, old man… we'll accept this gift."
"We'll take good care of the Skylark—and bring her across the Grand Line to see the world."
He paused, his expression turning serious.
"But there's one thing I need you to promise."
"What is it? Captain Riberra Sami, just say the word."
"You helped me fulfill my lifelong dream—to reach the Sky Island."
"As long as I can do it, I will."
Riberra Sami's gaze swept across his crew before returning to Old Barry.
"I want you to promise… that once you return to the Blue Sea, you won't tell anyone—"
"Not your family, not fellow shipwrights—about Shandora, the Shandians, or anything we saw in the Sky Islands."
"Everything about Upper Yard, and the truth behind Noland's legend…"
"Must remain a secret."
"Huh? Why, boss?"
Aldo immediately protested, confused.
"Didn't we promise the Shandians we'd clear Noland's name? Let the whole world know Shandora is real?"
"Why keep it secret now?"
Riberra Sami looked at him—and at the rest of the equally puzzled crew.
Then he shook his head slowly.
"Aldo… everyone… think about it."
"What does 'City of Gold' mean to the people of the Blue Sea?"
"To pirates. To opportunists. To rulers hungry for power."
"It means unimaginable wealth."
"Enough to drive anyone mad."
"The Sky Islanders and Shandians might be able to fight each other."
"But what if they had to face an endless tide of greedy armies from the Blue Sea?"
"Do you think they could hold them off?"
"What would happen then?"
"The Shandians would lose their homeland forever."
"The Sky Islanders would lose their home as well."
"The peaceful White Sea would turn into a battlefield of blood and fire."
"And the friendship between Noland and Kalgara…"
"The story we witnessed…"
"Would become nothing more than a tragedy buried under greed."
"…Is that what we want?"
Silence fell across the deck.
Only the soft sound of waves lapping against the hull remained.
Aldo opened his mouth—
But said nothing.
For once, even he looked shaken.
Feiqi took a deep breath.
"The boss is right."
"A beautiful adventure… and a meaningful history…"
"Shouldn't be tainted by greed."
"The friendship of the great warrior and Noland… the legend of Shandora…"
"Let it remain a story that inspires people."
"The truth… is better known by as few people as possible."
"We must keep this secret. From everyone."
Hans nodded as well.
As a navigator, he understood better than anyone what chaos a new route and a treasure like that could bring.
Finally, Riberra Sami looked at Old Barry.
"Do you understand?"
"This is about protection."
"Protecting the peace of that sky… and the memory we witnessed."
Old Barry nodded heavily.
Having lived so long, he understood human nature all too well.
He raised one hand solemnly.
"I, Barry, swear on my life and my pride as a craftsman—"
"From this day forward, I will never speak a word about the Sky Islands."
"I'll take those secrets with me to the grave."
Riberra Sami gave a small nod.
"…Thank you, old man."
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