Chapter 37: Why isn’t there a god of tits and wine?
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin and Rick joined the rest of the crew to meet Conis. A young and pretty blond woman born and raised on Skypiea. She had shown Luffy how to deal with the fruit he found and that Zoro did cut it in half but made it inedible. The fruit was some kind of coconut and you had to carve a hole in it to drink its juice.
<span style="font-weight:400">They were soon joined by her father, he wasing from the sea on some kind of vehicle he named ‘waver’ and that allowed someone to glide on water or apparently clouds. Luffy wanted to try riding it.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ten Berry he falls off of it.” betted Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Deal.” said Usopp.
<span style="font-weight:400">The strawhat pirate started doing pretty good on the waver, but quickly lost control and was ejected. Rick was ready however and made his captain and the waver float and brought both back on the beach. Nami asked to have a turn too.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Do you want another go Usopp? 100 berry Nami rides it with no problem.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“She will fall too, you know. It takes ten years to properly know how to drive a weaver.” said Conis.
<span style="font-weight:400">Hearing those words Usopp agreed to the second bet, sure that it would be his win. Unfortunately for him Nami proved him wrong. She operated the weaver skillfully as if she had decades of practice, astonishing everyone, including Conis and her father. That made Luffy really jealous and threw a little fit, meanwhile Usopp was crying silently about his loss thinking how he could pay Rick the 110 Berry he owed him. After all he didn’t have any money, when he did, it was because Nami allowed him to have some and she was stingy. If he said it was to pay his debt to Rick there was no way she would agree. The cute navigator asked if she could use the waver for a while to tour the coast a bit. She got permission to do so by Conis’ father who brought everyone else back to his home. Along the way Usopp asked how the waver was working.
<span style="font-weight:400">“How does the waver work? It isn’t using a sail to be pushed forward by the wind, so how can it move?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It uses a breath dial to propel itself forward.” said Pagaya.
<span style="font-weight:400">Wait! Who is Pagaya?
<span style="font-weight:400">(Author’s note: Conis’ dad)
<span style="font-weight:400">And you just drop the name like that, expecting readers to already know about it?
<span style="font-weight:400">(Author’s note: Even *I* the almighty author didn’t know it.)
<span style="font-weight:400">Then how did…
<span style="font-weight:400">(Author’s note: One Piece’s wiki. It wasn’t told in the manga.)
<span style="font-weight:400">If it wasn’t told in the manga why the hell did you use it?
<span style="font-weight:400">(Author’s note: Conis’ dad / father is too long to write and redundant.)
<span style="font-weight:400">… I can’t even begin to …
<span style="font-weight:400">(Author’s note: Back to the story, it won’t narrate itself.)
<span style="font-weight:400">Usopp raised an eyebrow at what <b>Pagaya</b><span style="font-weight:400"> said.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Breath dial?” he asked the older man.
<span style="font-weight:400">“My apologies, I forgot you’re from the blue sea. A dial is a device made from the remains of particr shellfish. There are many different types of dials. The one on the waver is a breath dial. It’s a dial that stores air currents in it and releases it when used. The air current is sent backwards, propelling the waver forward. They are also handy for storing gases, smells or poisons. They are very useful.” exined Pagaya.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Can you tell me more about dials?” said Usopp with fascination.
<span style="font-weight:400">Pagaya simply gave a nod for answer and invited the crew into his home. Conis served tea to everyone while her father was showing Sanji the kitchen and the food found in Skypiea at thetter askance. Usopp kept asking questions about dials, which Conis happily answered by doing some demonstration with the ones she had around, like the tone dial that could record sounds and y it back again or simply amp dial that makes light when activated. The crew’s sniper’s excitement was so strong that when Sanji and Pagaya came back from the kitchen he asked where he could procure some of them.
<span style="font-weight:400">“At the market, but they are rather expensive and some more than others as they are quite rare.” said Conis’ father.
<span style="font-weight:400">Usopp immediately asked if he could show him the way to the market, prompting Sanji to support him as he wanted to buy some sky food. Hearing his chef talk about food got Luffy’s interest in trying it in some establishment. Food establishment also meant alcohol, piquing Zoro’s curiosity. In the end, since more than half the crew wanted to visit the market the father and daughter pair agreed to show them around.
<span style="font-weight:400">They made two groups, the first one was the group ‘food’ led by Conis and made of Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and Chopper. The second group was the group ‘business’ led by Pagaya with Usopp, Robin and Rick. Once at the market the two groups separated to do their own things.
<span style="font-weight:400">Usopp and Pagaya were, without any surprise talking about dials, thetter showing the former the different types on disy and what they could do. Rick had warned Ussop to be moderate in his purchase and to not buy any dials dealing with clouds when Pagaya talked about them, as there is none on the blue sea making them useless once they get back.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I guess it’s just you and me then.” said Rick to Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It seems that way.” was the answer he got.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It looks like there aren’t any pirates to make some kind of offerings, that’s too bad.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin rolled her eyes and shook her head but couldn’t help but have a small smile remembering their ‘little walk’ on Jaya.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, let’s find some information on this ce the old fashioned way.” he said.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Coercing and threatening people?” asked Robin with an eyebrow raised.
<span style="font-weight:400">“A woman after my own heart, aren’t you? But no, I was thinking about finding a library or going to the town hall to see some records but we can do it your way if you want. I''m not really picky.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I... didn’t expect that from you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Because I was raised by the marines or because I’m a pirate?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Neither, well actually more the pirate thing, I mean until now, coercing and threatening is what I’ve seen you do.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fair enough. However, do know that I am a man of culture though, I read like… three or four books.” that was said with fake enthusiasm and pride.
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin caught on his jest and yed along.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Wow, that''s impressive. That you could read, I mean.” she smirked
<span style="font-weight:400">Thateback surprised Rick a bit. Robin wasn’t the joking type, at least not so early in the story. He was about to sass her back but thought it wouldn’t be a good idea and changed what he was about to say.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I know how to write and count to a hundred too!” He looked around as if checking if someone was in hearing range then got close to Robin and whispered in her ear.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I even know that babiese from two people kissing.”
<span style="font-weight:400">That stunned Robin. Of everything he could have said she wasn’t expecting that. It was so ridiculous, so childish. She couldn’t help herself, sheughed. Rick had already distanced himself, a smile on his face, and started walking again. She didn’t quite know what to make of him. Despite his situation he was carefree, without any worry in the world and allowed himself to act like a child. His attitude was effective on her and it made her worried. In less than a month she hadughed more heartilly than she did in twenty years. That he could go past her defenses wasn’t good, as being unguarded is how you got caught and killed. She couldn’t let that happen, she couldn’t be vulnerable. She had to do something about Rick. Murder? That would be the best solution but difficult to pull off, he was an experienced fighter after all. Poison? The crew would know right away, they may have epted her but some like Zoro or Usopp were still a bit suspicious of her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey Robin! You’reing or what ?” Yelled Rick .
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin decided to put on hold her thoughts about how to deal with him and joined him.
<span style="font-weight:400">Soon they arrived at the town hall where an angel led them to the records of the ind. He was quite surprised, almost no one ever came here to look at his people’s history.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick chose to start with the beginning of the ind History and Robin by the end to be knowledgeable about the current state of the ce. They had more than 1000 years to cover and dividing the work would help them do it faster.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick found out that Skypeians were a race that came from the moon. They lived there with two other races but left because of ack of resources. The skypeians settle on sky inds with one of the two other races, the third one settling somewhere on the blue sea. It was all new to him, the origin of the skypeians were never really mentioned in the story, with the exception of some front pages for some chapters that told Ener’s journey and adventure on the moon. He quickly got to the part where the holynd appeared 400 years ago and where the god at the time proimed it a miracle, starting the war against the shandia followed by their defeat and exile from their home.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Rick! I found something interesting.” said Robin to him across the room.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Me too but Ladies first.”
<span style="font-weight:400">He joined her at her table and she showed him a book about the ruler of the inds.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It says here that Skypiea is ruled by a god, overlooking all the area from a ce called “upper-yard”. Apparently it’s the highest ind and it’s made of both clouds andnd. How could there bend in the sky?” she stated.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I know the answer to that one. Around 400 years ago a massive spot of vreath, that’s what the skypiea call earth,nded on the highest ind. The god at the time proimed it was a miracle and appropriated thend but...”
<span style="font-weight:400">“But it was already inhabited by people called shandia.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, they lost and were exiled from their home.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It says here that the fight has been going on since then. The previous god tried to negotiate peace but was reced by the current one who is, by reading between the lines, a tyrant.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hugh. This is not gonna go well.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What do you mean?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“A four centuries war still going on, a tyrant in power, and Luffy in the mix? It’s almost basta all over again.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Do you think we’ll end up in the middle of it?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, I don’t think, I know.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What makes you so sure?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Too many coincidences. The vreath that appeared? It’s highly likely that it is the missing part of Jaya.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re kidding right?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Nope. I think it arrived here the same way we did.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“The upstream?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes. Now look at the dates, around 400 years ago Nond the liar discovered Shandora the gold city, when he came back to pay a visit the city was gone. Now at the same time still 400 years ago a massive amount of vreathnded on this ind. Jaya was not far from the upstream that brought us here so…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“So an even bigger upstream could have elevated part of the ind.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes. Furthermore when the vreathnded a very beautiful and distinct sound was heard all over Skypiea.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You think it was the golden bell ringing?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t see how anything else would fit the bill. Andst but not least; <b>shand</b><span style="font-weight:400">ia, <b>Shand</b><span style="font-weight:400">ora? See the resemnce?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin took a moment to digest the new information Rick provided her to finallye to a conclusion.
<span style="font-weight:400">“If the bell is there, there is no way Luffy won’t want to ring it, meaning…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“We’re going to fight god, his people and the people of shandia.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Wait, I agree everything seems to fit perfectly but we don’t know for sure if it’s true.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re right, but I got a feeling it is and when I got a feeling, it’s never wrong.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin had a dubious look on her face.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s true, I''ve never been wrong when I get a feeling.” stated Rick
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, really? Then if I ask you who was the former god that tried to negotiate peace? Have any ‘feeling’ about that?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Actually yes. I got the feeling it’s Gan Fall.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin was dumbfounded, she didn’t expect him to have the right answer.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What… How did you…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“So I was right? Told you so.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“There is no way! You must have learned about it in one of the books you research.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Nope, feel free to check though.”
<span style="font-weight:400">And she did and as Rick’s books didn’t cover their current time period she found nothing.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I can’t believe it. You were just lucky.”
<span style="font-weight:400">He just shrugged his shoulders. Now that they had the information they were looking for, they put back the books in their rightful ce on the shelves. Just before exiting the town hall, Rick asked the angel behind the reception desk where they could find a map of the ind. It turned out that they were selling them from a few extol so he took one.
<span style="font-weight:400">“We already have a map of Skypiea.” said Robin
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, but we don’t know if it’splete or not. Besides, it’s 200 years old. That’s not the main reason I bought one though.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What is it then?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’ll see when we get back on the ship.”
<span style="font-weight:400">They found Pagaya and Usopp where they left them. Thetter had purchased many dials and kept talking about what they could do and what he was going to do with them. They were joined by the food group soon enough, and departed towards the beach to pick up Nami. Once on the beach They saw the navigatoring back, however the appearance of soldiers with white beret crawling on the sand towards them was what caught their attention. Once close enough they stood up and what seemed to be their leader spoke.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You! You’re a pirate of the blue sea! You’re an illegal trespasser!” he said, pointing at Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">Conis and Pagaya were shocked to hear that. If Rick was an illegal trespasser and a pirate, since he was with the rest of the crew were they too?
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s a serious usation you’re making here. Do you have any proof of what you’re iming?” stated Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘Damnit, I had hoped to avoid confronting those guys which originally led to a separation of the crew. That old hag must have reported me beforeing to my cell. At least I got rid of her.’
<span style="font-weight:400">The leader of the squad produced a picture from his breast pocket. It showed Rick and his wanted poster.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘Well shit’
<span style="font-weight:400">“There is no point denying it. We received this picture from the keeper at heaven’s gate.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well congrattions you got me! Now what are you going to do about it?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“ording to heaven’s judgment illegal trespassing is only a ss-11 crime. After serving the punishment, you will be a regr tourist.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“And what is the punishment?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“For a ss-11? Ten times the entrance fee.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“10 Billions? No problem then.”
<span style="font-weight:400">When Rick heard a ‘cough’ sounding from behind him he turned to look at the rest of the crew.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Between Luffy’s food and Zoro’s alcohol we’re almost broke.” said Chopper, prompting Rick to look at Usopp.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The dials are expensive, you know.” was all the sniper could say as an excuse.
<span style="font-weight:400">The vice-captain let out a single but short ‘great’ dripping of sarcasm. Before he could say anything else the leader spoke again.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s for being an illegal trespasser, but since you’re a pirate it’s a ss-3 crime and the punishment for that is public execution.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“n B it is then,” said Rick before using his gravity to tten the soldiers violently on the ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">“n B?” asked Zoro.
<span style="font-weight:400">“B for beating the shit out of them.” answered Rick with a smirk.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hahaha. You fool. It would have been fine if you had surrendered. We, the withe berets, are the nicestw enforcers in godnd. They, on the other hand... won’t be so forgiving! With this you have be a ss-2 criminal. No matter how much you cry or scream… the priests of ‘upper-yard’ will personally judge you! It’s a fate worse than death!” warned the white berets leader before following his men in unconsciousness.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well shit.”
<span style="font-weight:400">At that moment Nami came back on the shore, seeing the unconscious men on the sand she had to ask.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What did I miss?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well Rick’s escape reached the authorities.” began Luffy pointing at the white berets.
<span style="font-weight:400">“They came to arrest him, apparently not paying the entrance fee is a crime and you’re fined 10 times the price, so Rick was right about insisting to pay.” followed Zoro.
<span style="font-weight:400">“There is no way we’re paying 10 billion extol!” yelled Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">“We can’t pay anyway, Luffy, Zoro and Usopp used all the money.” said Chopper
<span style="font-weight:400">“WHAT?!” Nami was now furious.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s irrelevant because since Rick is a pirate the punishment is death. And well Rick beat their ass.” said Sanji, continuing the story.
<span style="font-weight:400">“All is good then.” dered Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Not really. Beating the authorities is an even more serious crime than being a pirate. Rick will be judged by some priests and it appears the punishment is worse than death.” added Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Who cares?! If theye, we''ll beat them!” announced Luffy.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Actually we may have to go to them…” said Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Why would you want to go to people who will give you a fate worse than death?” yelled Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">The Vice-captain gave a look to Robin who nodded. The two of them rted to the rest of the crew what they found in the town hall. From the appearance of vreath 400 years ago to the rise of power of the new god.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Wait, wait, wait. You can’t say for certain that the gold city that was on Jaya is now on skypiea. I mean, yes, plenty of things fit but you can’t be sure that whatnded on skypiea 400 years ago is the missing part of Jaya.” said Usopp.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I can. Nami, do you have the map of Jaya?” asked Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sure, here.”
<span style="font-weight:400">He took the map of skypiea that he bought in the town hall with the one he received from Nami and put them both together.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Do you see what I see?” asked the former marine.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s a skull!” yelled luffy.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The two inds perfectly fit together.” said Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">“And that’s not all. The city of gold is called Shandora, it means…” began Rick
<span style="font-weight:400">“The skull’s right eye.” cut Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“And what is depicted on the right eye on the map?” added the ex-marine.
<span style="font-weight:400">“A city.” answered Sanji.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So Shandora really ended up in Skypiea.” said Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">Nami was ecstatic, she had a berry sign on her eyes. Luffy, Usopp and Chopper had stars in their own eyes. The prospect of finding a lost city full of gold was the dream adventure for pirates after all. Each one was already talking about what they were going to do with all this gold.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Guys! I know you’re excited about the gold but there is a big problem. The guy pretending to be a god, his priests and the shandia are in the way.” said Rick, reminding them of the situation.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, we were already going to kick the priest''s asses, what’s a few more guys?” announced Zoro.
<span style="font-weight:400">Hearing the swordsman both Conis and Pagaya gasped loudly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t say that out loud or you''re going to summon God''s wrath upon you!” said Pagaya.
<span style="font-weight:400">“And you’re talking about God! God can’t be defeated!”added Conis
<span style="font-weight:400">“Conis. He is no god. A powerful guy acting as god maybe but God with a big capital ‘G’? It’s not possible.” announced Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Stop saying things like that!” implored Conis.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Now a goddess? I may believe but a God? Prespopetrous. If there really was a God the world would be full of food, alcohol, tits and ass everywhere.” dered the Vice-captain.
<span style="font-weight:400">His deration brought silence to the group. Everyone looked at him with his own expression. Finally the silence was broken by Pagaya. Tilting his head on the side he said.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That makes sense.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“FATHER!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Nami started beating Rick with her fist of love. The poor guy ended up looking like an ostrich with his head firmly nted in the sand.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I get the food and alcohol, but why asses? And what are tits?” asked Luffy.
<span style="font-weight:400">The reaction was immediate among the crew. All of them thought the same thing.
<span style="font-weight:400">“““““““How can this guy be our captain?””””””””
<span style="font-weight:400">“Anyway, I’m still hungry so I’m gonna get some food, you guys go ahead and prepare for our adventure!!” was all he said before running towards Conis and Pagaya’s house followed by Usopp, Sanji and the owners.
<span style="font-weight:400">The rest of the crew made of Zoro, Nami, Chopper, Rick and Robin embarked on the merry and began following Luffy’s order when the navigator yelled.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh my god I forgot!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What?” asked Zoro.
<span style="font-weight:400">“When I was touring with the waver I got close to the forest and I saw some guys fighting! Then suddenly an enormous column of light came from the sky and pulverised the guys and thend around. Their enemies were aware of your trespassing Rick!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“An enormous column of light that pulverizes everything? If I didn’t know any better I’d say it’s god’s doing but I do know better, so I’m going to guess and say devil fruit user.” said Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Another ‘feeling’?” asked Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Not this time. Anything unusual happened before, during or after the attack, Nami?” answered Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, not really… Oh wait! Before the column appeared there was a very loud rumbling sound.”
<span style="font-weight:400">He just nodded in a way that let the others think that he knew something. Zoro intended to ask what answer Rick came too when the Merry Shook violently.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What’s happening?!” screamed Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">Two red ws took hold on each of her sides, raising her in the air. They belonged to a giant red crab with the word ‘GOD’ carved on its forehead.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It seems we received an invitation.”