Chapter 257: Jaya Island

"How is the situation? Has Fire Fist Ace agreed to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"

"No."

"Then did you capture him?"

"Uh, he ran away..."

Sengoku's tone turned strange: "Ran away? From your hands? You didn't let him go on purpose, did you?"

Discovered? It's fine, no need to panic when things happen.

"Uh, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, well, he is a Logia-type ability user after all, so..."

"Enough, enough, I know. Anyway, this kid hasn't done anything heinous, so letting him go is fine! I wasn't counting on him joining the Seven Warlords of the Sea anyway."

"That's all, I'm hanging up. By the way, what are you doing right now?"

"Well, I'm wandering around the Grand Line. There aren't any urgent missions, are there?"

"Hmm, none for now. If something comes up, I'll have someone notify you!"

After hanging up the phone, Karl looked down at an island on the sea surface below that resembled the character for "dish," and said to Hancock beside him, "This is Jiayadao, and there is a town on it called Mock Town."

Hancock rested her chin on her hand and asked suspiciously: "Are you saying that 10,000 meters above this island is the Sky Island?"

"Hmm... yes and no. Look, if you look at it from above, do you feel like this island is missing something?"

Hancock pouted and shook Karl's arm desperately: "Oh, stop keeping me in suspense! Just tell me directly!"

"Alright, alright, stop shaking!"

"Raven, prepare to land, right there... at that spot!"

"Caw!"

During the descent, Karl began to educate Hancock on some history. The so-called Sky Island is actually Jaya Island. 400 years ago, half of Jaya Island was blasted into the high sky, along with the indigenous people, animals, and ancient ruins.

The Jaya Island of 400 years ago was far more than just this, but the remaining part is also the most barren area.

"By the way, do you know a man named Mont Blanc Noland?"

Hancock shook her head. She grew up on Amazon Lily, and her understanding of the outside world was limited to her occasional voyages and newspapers. How could she possibly know a figure from 400 years ago?

Karl smiled gently and said with a touch of nostalgia: "Do you know? Mont Blanc Noland was an expeditionary Provincial Military Commander and botanist from the North Blue's Lvneel Kingdom over 400 years ago."

"And I was born in the Lvneel Kingdom. I grew up listening to his stories, but his reputation wasn't good. People called him 'Liar Noland'."

"'Liar Noland'? Why?"

Why? Because there was a glorious city on the island named Shandora, where piles of gold and silver treasures were accumulated. It's just that over 400 years ago, an unprecedented Knock-Up Stream sent half of Jaya Island—that is, the part where Shandora existed—into the sky.

"Therefore, Noland, who was ordered by the King to find gold, was executed for the crime of deceiving the monarch. Before he died, he still insisted on the 'lie' that the Land of Gold truly existed. Thus, the story of 'Liar Noland' became a fairy tale known to every household in the North Blue."

After Karl finished speaking, Raven landed steadily. Karl hugged Hancock and jumped off Raven's back, looking at the half-house not far away, revealing a faint smile.

"So, 'Liar Noland' was wronged?"

Karl shrugged: "Who cares? It's been hundreds of years. Anyway, I don't care. It's just that the existence of this story tells me that the Sky Island is very likely real, that's all."

"Oh, then why did we stop? Why not just fly up and take a look?"

Karl pointed at Raven helplessly: "Look at this guy, it's exhausted. Let it rest for a while, eat something, and then we'll go up, how about that?"

Raven, being cued, nodded repeatedly and pointed at its mouth with its wing, signaling that it wanted to eat.

Hancock looked around and found that except for the half-house not far away, there were forests everywhere, and there was absolutely no sign of people.

"But, darling, there doesn't seem to be anyone here? Did we go to the wrong place? I remember there's a town on the other side of the island."

"It doesn't matter. Let's go to that house over there to rest first; people will naturally come."

Then, Karl led Hancock toward the half-house. There was no one there, but there were clear signs of habitation, and the door was locked.

"Let's rest here! Raven, didn't you want to eat? Here, eat this!"

Karl took out a pile of food from his system space, along with a tablecloth, just like taking his girlfriend on a picnic.

Hancock was already used to this, as her clothes and such were all kept with Karl.

In the afternoon, two pirate ships with peculiar shapes docked near Jaya Island, and a man with a chestnut-shaped head jumped off the ship.

"Goodbye, Boss, we'll come to pick you up tomorrow morning!" ===== CHAPTER 259 =====