They reached Apayado to find the Shandian chief already herding would-be returnees into neat ranks. Word had spread that Jaya once belonged to Apayado; half the tribe wanted to see their ancestors' homeland with their own eyes.
"Lord Karl, you're here," the chief greeted. "There are… quite a lot who wish to go. I plan to choose a three-hundred-strong young cohort first, if that works for you."
"Works for me. Men and women both," Karl nodded. "Just make sure they've got some basics in strength."
His gaze swept the crowd—Wyper, Kamakiri, Braham, and Laki were among them. Raw talent, all four. Given time and polish, they'd be pillars.
"It will take a bit to finalize the list."
"No rush. Have them assembled by noon," Karl said. "We'll look around in the meantime."
Gan Fall had been tailing them until Karl handed him a whistle. "If I need you, I'll blow. For now, help the chief."
Freed at last, Karl took Daphne and Hancock cloud-hopping to the Golden City of Shandora. The restored avenues gleamed—golden pylons, reliefs, and sun-stained obelisks catching the sky-light.
"There's so much gold…" Hancock murmured, awed. "How did they gather this much just to build a city?"
Daphne shook her head. "Feels like Shandora wasn't just for show. You don't forge a city of gold without a purpose."
"Agreed," Karl said. "And the Poneglyph here dates back eight hundred years. There's more we still don't know."
They wandered a little longer, then drifted to the Divine Palace—once Enel's seat, now Karl's Skypiea base. Karl filleted an sky-fish and cooked a simple feast. The two women loved the airy, delicate texture.
"Daphne, what do you think about selling basic dials on Jaya?" Karl asked between bites. "Tone Dials, Light Dials, Water Dials, Visual Dials—they'll print money in the Blue Sea."
"Do it," Daphne said instantly. "Combat dials?"
"Off-market," Karl replied. "Keep those for our guard units—and trade packages to Dragon later. The Revolutionary Army will go wild for them."
"Smart," Daphne said.
Hancock hugged a Visual Dial to her chest. "Then this and the Tone Dial are mine. I'll record every day with Karl… when I miss you, I'll watch."
"Silly girl," Karl laughed, pulling her close. "I'll come see you on Amazon Lily. You won't have to miss me long."
"See?" Daphne teased. "Make him commute."
Hancock's eyes grew bright. "You'll really come, won't you?"
Karl tightened his arms around both of them. "I will. You two—and Aili—you're my treasures."
They lingered in the palace until a retainer arrived: the chief had finished selection and farewells. Time to move.
At the mustering field, a sea of bodies awaited—far more than three hundred.
"Chief, this looks… excessive," Karl said, amused.
"The rest are just here to send them off," the chief hurried to explain. "Choosing only three hundred nearly tore the village apart, so we held trials."
Daphne smiled. "We'll need more hands later. Tell them there'll be a second batch—another three hundred once the first wave settles."
The chief exhaled in relief. "You've saved me from another week of headaches."
"Form them up," Karl said. "We move now."
Daphne raised both palms. A single colossal cloud blossomed into being, soft as fleece and wide as a plaza. The Shandians stared, open-mouthed.
"Don't be shocked," Daphne said with an easy smile. "It's my Devil Fruit. Step aboard, please."
One by one, three hundred Shandians filed onto the cloud. Wyper anchored the front line, jaw set; Laki flashed Karl a quick, excited grin.
"Hancock, Daphne and I will shuttle them down first and be right back," Karl said.
"Mm. I'll wait in the palace," Hancock answered, serene.
"Let's go," Karl told Daphne.
The cloud surged like a white tide, arrowing across the sky—then descended toward Jaya.
They set down at the training base without a jolt. Daphne immediately started assigning housing—row after row of small villas already prepared for the influx.
Bare feet touched soil. Sea wind rolled in. The Shandians stood in silence, eyes shining. For the first time in four hundred years, their people were back on Jaya—back on the earth their ancestors once called home.
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