Hera looked at Kruukas's small hut with some regret. She had wanted to use Observation Haki to probe her depths, but Kruukas noticed her the moment she released it.
"There's really nothing left. Those are my last savings. Do you really have the heart to take away a lonely old woman's entire retirement fund?"
Hera knew when to stop and didn't probe further. "Haha, how could I? How could a beautiful young girl like me do such a thing? Besides, you're no ordinary old woman."
Tch, shameless brat. I really don't know whose child she is, Kruukas thought helplessly.
"Alright, alright, then we'll be off. Remember your promise." Hera waved her hand. With the force of'Soru' beneath her feet, she returned to the ship carrying jars and bottles of medicine.
"Let's go, Nami. It's up to you now. Don't let this old woman laugh at us." Hera called out to Nami after returning to the ship.
After several days of study and understanding the ship, Nami had also gained confidence. "Don't worry, I've completely mastered this ship's performance. Crossing over it will be a piece of cake."
Hera's argo was custom-made by Vegapunk, who had spared a bit of his time for it. It integrated the wisdom of the world's smartest brain and the highest technology of the Marines. Nami felt that if she couldn't cross even with this ship, she might as well go home and plant oranges early.
Soon, the argo climbed the cliff. Under Nami's control, the argo rushed up the ocean current like a nimble fish. Its agility was such that the other three on board didn't even feel any jolts.
Soon, the argo reached the summit. Hera excitedly pressed a button, and wings extended from both sides of the argo. An opening appeared at the back of the ship, revealing the power system inside.
"Ignition!" Following Hera's excited command, the four exposed jet pipes at the back burst into roaring flames. Using the terrain, the ship flew into the air and began to glide slowly downward.
Hera looked at the effect with satisfaction, but the energy consumption made her frown. It was a bit too high. Reluctantly, she turned off the boosters. Once again, Hera missed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. When Nami ate it later, she could charge the ship as a way to practice her devil fruit abilities. The ship slowly glided down to the sea surface by flapping its wings.
Nami, currently excited about the ship flying, had no idea that in Hera's eyes, she had already become a human automatic charger.
Now that they had reached the Grand Line, Hera took out a pre-prepared Eternal Pose for the eastern cape of Jaya and plugged it into the autopilot system in the Captain's quarters, beginning their voyage.
While heading toward Jaya, Hera recalled the plot in her mind. She remembered there was a shipwreck with an Eternal Pose and someone on the island who guided Luffy. Now, that Eternal Pose was a lost cause—who knows where it was flying—but she could find the person first.
After approaching Jaya, the discussion of who would disembark began again. Hera definitely had to go ashore, and Nami also needed to go to learn about Sky Island. Thus, Kuina and Ain stayed on the ship.
Hera originally thought the person who guided Luffy to Sky Island would be hard to find, but to her surprise, everyone she asked after disembarking knew him. "Are you talking about the 'Liar' Mont Blanc Cricket? He's in the tavern up ahead. I'd advise you not to believe a word he says. Claiming there are islands high in the sky—isn't that obviously a lie?"
Hera and Nami arrived at the tavern the passerby had pointed out. Before they even entered, they heard the noise inside: "Sky Island definitely exists! My ancestor, the Explorer Noland, clearly brought back a gold nugget!"
"Tch, didn't your ancestor say there was a Gold City up there? Why did he only bring back one piece? It's clearly a lie."
Cricket could only argue weakly, "It's not! It's not a lie! There's also a golden bell up there. I will ring the golden bell to show you all that Sky Island exists!"
Nearby, "Hyena" Bellamy, the Captain of the Bellamy Pirate Crew, mocked him, "What Sky Island? If you're so capable, why don't you bring out that gold and show us?"
Just then, Hera walked in with Nami. "I heard you talking about Sky Island. Could you tell me about it?"
Hearing that someone finally believed him, Cricket hurriedly looked back. Seeing it was just a young girl, he assumed it was just a child's curiosity, and his spark of hope faded. "Little girl, it's not safe here. If you want to hear stories, go somewhere else."
Hera said, "I believe Sky Island exists, and I'm looking for a way to get there. I hope you can help me. Don't worry, my ship is the best."
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