After a satisfying meal, the Going Merry continued its voyage.
With old Mr. Gan Fall leading the way, their journey was evidently much faster.
Before long, they had passed through the gaps of countless island clouds and stood at the true entrance of God's Land.
Gazing at the massive waterfall behind the arched gateway and the spiraling cloud path behind it, clearly man-made, everyone marveled once more.
Kong Tai looked at the English letters above the arched gateway, a strange light flashing in his pupils.
"Heaven's Gate."
"The Gate of Heaven, huh?"
It truly was a path to paradise!
Just then, from a small, open door in the passage behind the arched gateway, a familiar voice and flash suddenly emanated.
Click!
Click!
Click!
It was the sound of a camera shutter.
Everyone looked down.
They saw a short old woman with a face full of wrinkles, resembling a dried plum, her light purple hair tied into two small buns on either side, wearing a pink t-shirt and the characteristic small wings of an Skypiean on her back. She held a peculiar camera and was rapidly snapping photos of them.
"Alright, Amazon, it's me."
At that moment, Gan Fall stepped forward a few paces, stood by the ship's railing at the bow, and shouted to the old woman below.
"Oh..."
Amazon froze, slowly lowered her camera, her gaze swept over the faces of everyone on the ship's bow, and finally settled on Gan Fall's face. She then chuckled lightly, "So... it's you, you old fellow!"
"Heh heh!! Have we run into another flock of sheep to fleece?"
Amazon's gaze swept over Kong Tai's group again, a strange gleam in her eyes.
"Enough."
The smile vanished from Amazon's face, replaced by a business-like expression. She looked at Gan Fall again, "No need for further pleasantries. Even if you want to pass through here, you'll have to pay a certain fee. This is God's command, something you should be well aware of!"
"Mm!"
Gan Fall nodded, about to speak, when Kong Tai cut him off.
Kong Tai leaned over the railing, looking down at Amazon, and asked, "Grandma, how much is this toll fee?"
"And what will happen if we don't pay?"
Amazon turned her head, her gaze fixed on Kong Tai, her aged voice ringing out, "To go to the Upper World, each of you needs to pay an entry fee of one billion 'Elist' – that's the law, the law set by God."
"One billion?"
Upon hearing such a colossal sum, Hua and the other two immediately protested. Although they had no idea what an 'Elist' was or its exchange rate with Berries, the sheer figure of one billion was unbearable.
They leaned over the railing, looking down at Amazon, and shouted.
"One billion, one billion! Why don't you just rob us?"
"Yeah, yeah! You're faster at robbing than anyone else!"
"Entry fee, you call it? I'd say it's a highway robbery fee!"
Kong Tai, however, was not surprised by this amount.
One billion seemed like a lot, but it was only equivalent to 100,000 Berries.
If it were a genuine tourist attraction, this admission fee would be quite reasonable.
After all, this was the entire Pirate King world's sole, largest Skyland, Angel Island!
And there was also a landmass, and the Golden City of Shandora from 400 years ago.
If it were all open for exploration, the ticket price would surely be worth it!
But then again!
Although they were here for a visit, they had no intention of paying this money to the so-called God.
Because that fellow probably wouldn't welcome them.
So, Kong Tai said sarcastically.
"What if we don't pay?"
"Not pay?"
Amazon looked at Kong Tai, a cunning glint flashing in her aged pupils. Her voice remained calm, "Actually, it's fine if you don't pay. You can still go up."
"Uh..."
Hua and the other two's anger instantly subsided. They stared at Amazon, utterly bewildered, "You mean we can still go up without paying? Why didn't you say so earlier!"
With that, they all sighed in relief and then smiled at Amazon, "Then please, Grandma, tell us how to get up!"
This spiral-shaped river, obviously not an ordinary waterway, must require some special means of transport.
Amazon's gaze swept over the faces of the people on the ship's bow one last time, a strange light appearing in her eyes. She then reached into her pocket and pulled out a whistle.
She placed it to her lips and blew gently.
Whee—!
The sound was not small, clear and loud.
Immediately, the sea of clouds below the Going Merry seemed to churn as if something was about to emerge.
They didn't have to wait long.
Suddenly, two massive claws emerged from the sea of clouds on either side of the Going Merry.
The claws were orange-yellow with black spots.
As the claws rose to the same height as the Going Merry, they opened wide and clamped onto the sides of the ship.
Then, the Going Merry was lifted, and a giant lobster appeared beneath the ship.
The people on the ship's bow showed no panic at the sudden appearance of the lobster. Instead, they leaned over the railing, sticking their heads out, and watched with great interest.
With Kong Tai around, these giant beasts wouldn't dare approach the Going Merry. The fact that these beasts were allowed to get close proved they were harmless.
Gan Fall's words also confirmed their suspicions.
Gan Fall glanced down at Amazon, then shifted his gaze to the backs of the crew, explaining to himself.
"This is a specialty of the White Sea, a gentle lobster that moves exceptionally fast, called a 'Express Shrimp.' It's the exclusive transport for this artificial cloud path. We can ride it to quickly ascend to the White White Sea above."
"Haha!! Very interesting."
Ao Tao took a deep puff of his cigarette and turned to Gan Fall, smiling, "I thought all the sky fish on Skypiea were mindless monsters! I didn't expect there to be such gentle creatures."
"Heh heh!!"
Gan Fall stroked his beard and chuckled at Ao Tao, "Once we get to Angel Island, you'll see many things that don't exist in the Blue Sea. I believe you'll all feel that this trip was well worth it."
"Mm! I believe it."
Ao Tao turned his head, staring at the waterfall ahead, a look of longing in his eyes.
For the past few days, they had barely stopped at any Skypiea they encountered and hadn't truly experienced the marvels of Skypiea.
Now, seeing the seemingly extraordinary God's Land, they planned to have a few days of fun!
Just then, the Express Shrimp beneath the Going Merry seemed ready. It suddenly propelled forward, its tail leading and its head trailing, like a bullet, rapidly charging towards the waterfall behind the giant arched gate.
This speed was almost comparable to their speed on the Sky Road.
"Goodbye, Grandma."
As they departed, everyone on the ship, except Kong Tai and Gan Fall, waved goodbye to Amazon.
From the beginning, they had assumed this old woman was Gan Fall's friend.
They thought that it was because of Gan Fall that this grandmother allowed them to pass.
However, the reality was quite the opposite.
As soon as the Going Merry departed and before they truly entered the artificial cloud path, Amazon watched the stern of the Going Merry, a cunning glint in her eyes.
She clasped her hands together as if in prayer and shouted loudly into the sky, "This is Amazon, the Gate of Heaven Inspector, reporting to the Almighty God and all the Divine Officials. Seven illegal immigrants have entered God's Land, including Gan Fall. Please bestow upon them the punishment of heaven."
"Please bestow upon them the punishment of heaven..."
That aged voice echoed within the Gate of Heaven for a long time, as if it could truly reach the God she spoke of.