"Where should we go next?" Gion asked curiously as they left God's Island, Upper Yard.
"Let's go to Angel Island first. We can stroll around and then try some local specialty dishes," Raleigh said, rubbing his stomach. He was feeling somewhat hungry.
"The war between the Skypieans and the Shandians has lasted 400 years. Another hour or two won't make much difference."
He chuckled. "Besides, I don't think this 'God' of Skypiea has placed all his hopes on us. If he truly believed we were his only salvation, he definitely would have treated us to a grand feast before sending us off!"
"Hahahahaha!" Raleigh let out a hearty laugh.
Raleigh didn't take the lack of a reward to heart. Comparatively, he was far more interested in finding Enel.
As for his original plan to find the gold of Shandora, that had actually already been accomplished.
Upon arriving at Upper Yard, he had used his Observation Haki to scan the area and had easily detected the massive amount of gold buried underground.
Everything in Shandora was still there; it wouldn't disappear without reason under normal circumstances.
The real variable was that kid, Enel.
Ever since Raleigh had gotten involved in major events surrounding the Pirate King, it was unclear whether he had affected the historical progression of other timelines.
Just as a butterfly flapping its wings could trigger a tornado thousands of kilometers away, Raleigh couldn't be sure if his actions would impact the lives of those in the original storyline.
Although Skypiea appeared no different from the original timeline so far, if Enel were to leave Skypiea early, finding him again would be extremely troublesome.
What if he discovered the Ark Maxim ahead of schedule and found a way to reach "Fairy Vearth" (the Moon)? He would essentially leave the planet.
Raleigh and Gion spent the entire afternoon wandering around the cloud streets of Angel Island.
Finally, they found a dining establishment with a unique atmosphere.
This was Skypiea's most famous establishment—Restaurant Marcelus.
Restaurants named after their owners were typically run by those with great confidence in their culinary skills.
The interior style was simple yet carried an artistic flair.
From the arrangement of tables and chairs to the murals on the walls, it was evident that the owner was a man with a deep appreciation for art.
Waiters in crisp formal attire moved gracefully among the tables, striving to provide every guest with high-quality service.
Almost the moment Raleigh and Gion stepped into the restaurant, a waiter approached them.
"Good evening, sir. Do you have a reservation?" The waiter smiled warmly at Raleigh.
"No, we don't."
"Very well. Where would you like to sit? We'll do our best to accommodate your preferences."
The waiter's expression remained unchanged, as if "the customer is always right" was the restaurant's ironclad rule.
"Raleigh, I'd like to sit by the window," Gion said, glancing toward the view of the White Sea.
"Of course, ma'am. That spot isn't reserved. If you prefer it, you may take a seat there," the waiter replied with the same warm smile.
Raleigh had no particular preference for seating. In his eyes, the only criterion for a restaurant was whether the food was good.
As for service, it was merely an added bonus—nice to have, but not essential.
Gion took the initiative to link arms with Raleigh as they walked toward the window-side table.
On their way through the dining hall, they passed by patrons who appeared to be merchants and others who seemed like government officials.
Before Raleigh arrived, they had been whispering and discussing the changes in Skypiea and the situation in the Blue Sea below.
Through their casual conversations, trade deals involving Skypiea's unique dials and resources were being finalized.
However, when Raleigh walked by, they instinctively stopped their conversations and actions, looking up at the couple with their arms intertwined.
The restaurant, which had been lively just moments before, instantly fell into a cold, tense silence.
It wasn't until Raleigh and Gion sat down that the mood gradually began to thaw.
A fat merchant leaned in and whispered to the sharp-eyed, middle-aged man sitting across from him.
"Brian, who were that young man and woman who just passed by? Why does it feel like everyone in the restaurant is wary of them?"
The middle-aged man named Brian glanced discreetly at Raleigh and Gion's figures without showing any expression.
Then, lowering his voice, he muttered, "Those two are high-ranking Marine officers from the Blue Sea. I heard the man was the Commander of the North Blue Branch and is returning to Headquarters to receive the rank of Vice Admiral."
"That female officer is no ordinary figure either. Rumor has it she has deep connections with the Great Staff Officer Tsuru."
In truth, Raleigh wasn't wearing his conspicuous Marine uniform or his Justice cloak today.
However, as a significant figure, the moment his warship docked at the port, various intelligence organizations had begun distributing his portrait.
Long-established organizations were well aware of whom they could provoke and whom they couldn't.
Thus, when faced with the unknown, they always prioritized gathering information.
Having his identity exposed wasn't entirely without benefits for Raleigh.
It meant fewer mindless thugs causing trouble.
Gion's beauty was simply too captivating—in the short time they had walked through the room, at least three or four men had looked at her with lustful intent.
However, before they could even stand up, their companions had pulled them back, whispering urgently into their ears.
Their faces turned pale, and they patted their chests in relief, grateful to have narrowly avoided disaster.
"Raleigh, do you think they're pirates?" Gion asked softly as soon as they sat down, having noticed a few oddly dressed individuals in the corner.
A waiter arrived immediately to pour them water.
Raleigh picked up the glass, took a sip, and then glanced over casually.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Hmm? Why is he here?"