Over the next few days, the Crew Members of the swordfish began intense and novel training around that uniquely shaped skylark.
Although Old Barry's back was no longer straight, whenever he spoke about his ship, his eyes glowed with the brilliance found only in the young.
"Watch closely. This red one controls the opening and closing angle of the left wing! This blue one manages the right wing! These two linked bronze rods are responsible for adjusting the left and right swing of the main sail! Remember, the wind blowing up from High West is the channel; the wings and sails are the skylark's rudder and oars!"
Hans and Leon studied the most diligently.
With his experienced control of ship navigation, Hans quickly understood the linkage between the various control mechanisms; Leon, being calm and meticulous, excelled at observation and fine-tuning, perfectly complementing Hans.
With one as the main controller and the other as backup, they repeatedly practiced retracting and extending the wing membranes, swinging the main sail, and using the tail sail to maintain balance under the old man's guidance.
"No! Kid Leon, the sail is swinging too fast!"
"Hans! Adjust the wing angle again! It's catching too much wind right now!"
However, time waits for no one.
While personally demonstrating a linked maneuver for a sharp turn, Old Barry moved a bit too forcefully. With a loud crack, he immediately clutched his lower back and froze in place, unable to move.
"Old man!"
Everyone was startled.
"I... I strained it..."
Old Barry grimaced in pain, cold sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead.
Hiriluk was urgently summoned. After an examination, he wrapped Old Barry's waist in thick bandages and warned him that he must rest in bed and avoid any major movements.
"But the training..."
Old Barry grew anxious.
"We've got the training!" Hans patted his chest. "Old man, you just give orders from the side. We guarantee we'll practice every movement to perfection!"
Thus, the subsequent training sessions turned into Old Barry leaning on a lounge chair, hissing in pain while providing remote guidance through words.
Hans and Leon's coordination became increasingly seamless. From their initial clumsy cooperation, they eventually reached a point where they could smoothly move and turn the skylark within the harbor, and occasionally even drift using the strong sea winds.
A few days later, their operational training was basically proficient, and it was time to decide on the candidates for the trip to the Sky Island.
That evening, the swordfish's dining hall was temporarily used as a meeting room.
Everyone knew that although the skylark's interior was designed to be extremely spacious, it didn't mean they could take over a hundred people. Excessive weight would severely affect takeoff performance and navigational safety.
Sammy sat in the head seat, looking at everyone gathered in the dining hall and spoke directly.
"Everyone knows the situation with the ship. The skylark is not the swordfish. We can't take everyone. This means a large group of people will have to stay behind to guard the ship. Similarly, not all the Executives can go. So we have to make a choice. Who goes, and who stays."
The silence lasted only a second.
"The boss definitely has to go, that goes without saying."
Aldo was the first to shout, then jerked his thumb toward himself.
"Then I definitely have to go! I'll go wherever the boss goes! Besides, how can such a big occasion happen without me?"
Before he could finish, a silent figure had already stood quietly behind his chair.
Aldo grinned and threw a large arm around Sargins' shoulder.
"Look, my apprentice is here too! The two of us are a package deal!"
Marcus crossed his arms and snorted. "The situation on the Sky Island is unknown. As the second-ranked primary combatant on the ship, I naturally must go to ensure the Captain's and the passage's safety."
He pointedly glanced at Aldo. "Compared to some people who only know brute force, someone with brains is needed to keep watch."
"Screw you! Who gave you the title of second?!" Aldo glared.
"That's enough."
Sammy raised his hand to stop the argument from escalating.
"Hans, Leon, you two are the pilots. You must go."
Sammy's gaze turned to the old man on the lounge chair. "According to our prior agreement, Mr. Old Barry must board the ship."
Old Barry was so excited he tried to sit up, but he aggravated his back injury and hissed in pain. "Good... good! Thank you... thank you, Captain!"
"Then Hiriluk must follow as well," Sammy said, looking at the Ship Doctor who was writing and drawing in a notebook.
"Ah? I have to go too?"
Hiriluk was stunned and adjusted his glasses.
"The old man's back injury needs constant care. In high-altitude flight, where air pressure and temperature change suddenly, unknown illnesses might be more troublesome than known enemies. You have to go, just in case."
"Alright, for the safety of the old man and everyone else. I'll go prepare plans for high-altitude sickness and emergency medical care right away."
"Good." Sammy nodded. "Now, we have me, Aldo, Sargins, Marcus, Old Barry, Hiriluk, Hans, and Leon. Eight people."
His gaze turned to the remaining people. "Isaac, what are your thoughts?"
Isaac, who had been silent, looked up. "Captain, I'll stay. The swordfish needs someone to oversee it."
Sammy gave him a deep look and nodded. "Alright. The swordfish and the brothers staying behind are in your hands."
Kailo took over the conversation. "Isaac is right. If we all leave, it'll be too dangerous with only these young ones left on the ship. So I'll stay too."
Alberto nodded silently from the side, pointed at himself, and then at the deck beneath his feet, clearly indicating that he would also stay to watch the home.
Fitch stood up at this moment. "Captain, I want to go to the Sky Island. My marksmanship should be useful in long-range and complex environments. Plus, I'm used to dealing with unexpected situations."
Sammy thought for a moment. "Okay, you're in."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Crew Members in the dining hall, who had been quiet, suddenly erupted into a commotion.
The assignments for the Executives had been decided; all that remained were the precious slots for the Crew Members.
Going to the Sky Island—this might be the only chance in their entire lives!
"Captain! Let me go!"
"Captain, pick me! I have good eyes; I'm great at lookout and reconnaissance!"
"Take me with you, Captain! I've dreamed of flying since I was a kid!"
"And me!"
"Pick me! Pick me!"
For a time, pleas rose one after another, and almost everyone stood up. The dining hall was instantly filled with clamor.
Aldo was a bit overwhelmed by the scene and scratched his ear. "Whoa, everyone's so enthusiastic..."
"Enthusiasm is a good thing, but we can't fit too many people."
After a thorough selection process, the number of people going to the Sky Island was finally set at eighteen.
Sammy stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone who had been chosen and those staying behind.
"Those staying behind, look after our ship. I'll use the den den mushi to call you once we reach the Sky Island. Don't slack off while I'm away. Those going to the Sky Island, get yourselves ready. We depart in three days!"
"Yes!!!"