...
North Side of Upper Yard.
This was the construction site for the Ark Maxim.
A vast stretch of land had already been cleared, with large swaths of trees cut down. Lamp Dials were strung across the clouds, providing ample visibility for the laborers working through the night.
Gust Dials, Jet Dials, and massive Breath Dials worked in tandem to circulate the wind, maintaining a stable temperature in the area to prevent heat exhaustion.
The massive smelting factory glowed with scorching flames.
Flame Dials and Heat Dials were constantly cycled in and out of workstations—new ones being inserted, while depleted ones were replaced.
"Bi~~~~~"
A deafening whistle, like that of a steam locomotive, erupted as pressure built inside a massive steel furnace. The molten river of gold flowed through the pipelines, making its way to the forging chambers.
Inside the forging chambers, specially trained craftsmen wielded Cloud Dials to shape Iron Clouds into various molds and mechanical components. The entire process had an almost magical allure, blending advanced science with mysticism.
But Doflamingo's attention wasn't on any of this.
His eyes were locked onto the massive structure before him.
It wasn't an aerodynamic, streamlined design meant for easy navigation. Instead, the shape leaned toward an elongated oval form.
The side panels and hull were seamlessly fused, a combination of steel and Skypiea's Ironwood, leaving no gaps—almost as if they had grown together naturally.
The ship's framework was crafted from Ironwood, with the main supports provided by colossal vines.
But the most eye-catching feature was the keel: 150 meters long and 10 meters in diameter, radiating a golden glow—crafted entirely from solid gold.
This was the ultimate weapon of his future empire.
...
Outside Angel Island.
Cricket and his fellow laborers, sentenced to hard labor, had just finished their grueling sixteen-hour shift.
Dragging their exhausted bodies, they stepped out of the Cloud processing facility.
As soon as Cricket walked out the gate, he saw a group of gathered Shandians.
Unlike their daytime labor attire, they were now clad in grass skirts, with most of them wearing fangs harvested from their prey around their necks.
At the front of the group stood an elderly leader, his face filled with excitement. He wore a feathered headdress adorned with the skull of a beast.
The resemblance to the friend his ancestors had once described was uncanny.
On the other side, the Shandians stared at the curly-haired man before them with equal intensity.
The chieftain trembled with emotion, his voice slightly shaking as he spoke:
"You... Are you a descendant of the great benefactor Mont Blanc Noland?"
Great benefactor? Great benefactor!
Cricket had already come to terms with the fact that his ancestor wasn't a fraud. Seeing the real Sky Island and the surviving Shandian people had confirmed that truth.
Yet hearing those words still struck something deep within him.
Tears silently welled in his eyes.
"Yes... My ancestor was the adventurer Mont Blanc Noland."
"I'm sorry!"
Thud!
Just like what had happened aboard the ship the day before, the Shandians, led by their chieftain, dropped to their knees before Cricket—this time, even Kagasi, who had just returned from the South Blue, joined them.
"This is the apology from all Shandians, passed down for four hundred years... Please forgive us, Noland!"
Thud!!
They bowed their heads again, tears falling onto the firm Island Cloud beneath them.
"Ah, there's no need for this. Right now, I actually need your help. Doflamingo saved our lives, but we must continue our journey. I hope you—"
"We already know. The gods are merciful, and we still have plenty of the treasures. Please, come with us to the feast."
...
Ark Maxim Construction Site.
As time passed, Doflamingo watched the workers slow down, their exhaustion evident.
His sharp eyes narrowed as he turned to the drowsy-looking Judge beside him.
"How many workers do we have on the Ark Maxim project?"
"Skypieans, Shandians, and family members transported from the Blue Sea—three thousand in total. They rotate in three shifts, keeping operations running without pause."
"That's not enough. Overworking them will reduce efficiency. Increase the workforce to four thousand and limit shifts to six hours. If that's still insufficient, add more. I want Ark Maxim completed as quickly as possible. Understood?"
Judge snapped awake, immediately nodding. "Understood, Boss. I'll pass your directive to Trebol."
'Enel arrived at Upper Yard in 1514 and built Ark Maxim in six years. With this many workers, the original design should be completed in that same timeframe. Six years later... that would be 1503.'
Judge wisely stayed silent as Doflamingo fell into thought.
Bloop, bloop!
Trebol's grotesque face emerged from the Transponder Snail.
"Moshi moshi, Trebol speaking! I hear you, I hear you! I'll arrange another thousand workers for Ark Maxim."
"Good. By the way, Trebol, is the son of the so-called God of Birka still imprisoned?"
"He's still locked up in Birka's prison."
"Fufufufufu... Send Pica to Birka. When he heads to Sabaody, I want him to bring that boy with him. I'll grant him a taste of wealth."
...
The Shandians' settlement.
Surrounded by dense Clouds, it was the perfect hiding spot for them to play cat-and-mouse with the former God's Guard.
As soon as Doflamingo arrived, the Shandians and Trebol placed their right hands over their chests and bowed slightly.
"Welcome, God!"
"Doffy."
Cricket and his crew stood stiffly, their faces shifting between regret and sorrow. They were still struggling to process everything.
Seeing the mingling of the two groups, Doflamingo was curious.
The Shandians, exiled from Angel Island, had been hoarding their treasures for generations. What kind of wealth had they uncovered that even Trebol, who had seen the gold inside Nola's belly, was so shaken?
He waved his hand, motioning for everyone to rise.
"Cricket, looks like you can continue your adventure. Chieftain, take me to see your collection."
As they approached, a massive golden pillar stood in the heart of Yunyin Village.
'Looks familiar... Where have I seen this before?'
After a brief moment of thought, Doflamingo smirked.
It was the missing half of the golden pillar from Upper Yard—originally part of a massive gate.
'It's even bigger than the one in Upper Yard. Not bad... Who's the real richest pirate now?'
A grin spread across his face as he turned to Cricket.
"Fufufufufu... Cricket, you're free. Maybe you should head to the New World and see the land of the dwarves your ancestor spoke of. It's in my homeland, Dressrosa—a kingdom of love and passion."
Free? Free!
Cricket and his crew exchanged glances, reflecting on the past two weeks.
They thought they were going to die in a failed launch. They survived.
They thought they would be forced into ten years of labor. Someone paid their way out.
But the gold was gone!!!
Their faces twisted between laughter and tears.
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+145 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg