As the Wind Rider continued forward, Caelan and the others arrived at a massive passage formed from white clouds.
Beside the passage stood a golden gate, with a plaque reading "Heaven's Gate."
"The Log Pose is still pointing upward. Are we supposed to go through this passage?"
"But it goes straight up, and the Wind Rider can't fly."
Nami looked at the Log Pose on her wrist, a bit puzzled.
"This 'Heaven's Gate'... if we pass through it, does that mean we reach heaven?"
Robin was drawn to the plaque and studied the inscription thoughtfully.
"Hey, you two, stop guessing. Why not just ask that person?"
Vivi and Tashigi rolled their eyes and pointed to the base of the gate.
Beneath the gate's pillars stood an elderly woman holding a camera, repeatedly snapping photos of Caelan and the group.
Her wrinkled face resembled a dried plum, and her short, thin figure was dressed in lavender. Most notable were the small white wings on her back.
Was this supposed to be an angel? Why did she look as abstract as that Pegasus?
Nami's face twitched as she resisted the urge to complain aloud.
Robin quietly withdrew her earlier assumption that this was heaven. If heaven looked like this, she might prefer hell.
"I am the Heaven's Gate supervisor, Amazon."
"May I ask if you're here for sightseeing or combat? Regardless, we don't turn people away here."
Amazon smiled eerily, but her tone remained oddly polite.
"We just want to enter Sky Island. We'll take a look around first."
Caelan stepped forward and responded calmly.
"Whatever your purpose, if you want to ascend to the next level, you must pay one billion Extol. That's the law here."
Amazon lowered her eyelids and replied emotionlessly.
"One billion Extol?! How much is that in Berries?"
Nami's eyes widened in shock at the massive number.
"It doesn't matter if you don't pay. I'm not a gatekeeper or a guard. I only ask to know your intent."
Amazon squinted her eyes, seemingly indifferent.
But in her heart, she sneered. Another group of outsiders had arrived. She'd soon witness divine punishment again.
"Thank you..."
Nami began to respond, surprised.
"Free is the most expensive, Nami. Don't be fooled."
Caelan raised his hand to stop her, speaking calmly.
Was this old woman hiding something?
Nami immediately caught on and glanced at Amazon suspiciously.
The other women sensed something off as well. They looked at Amazon with cautious eyes.
If it didn't matter whether they paid, then what was the point of this old woman's presence?
And more importantly, she gave off a deeply unpleasant, sly vibe. It was clearly suspicious.
"How much in Berries is needed for five people? A total of five billion Extol?"
Caelan stepped forward, staring down at Amazon, and released a faint wave of Conqueror's Haki.
He could tell this old woman had ulterior motives, and there was no reason to humor her.
Under Caelan's oppressive aura, Amazon's prune-like face went pale, her already hunched back curling even more. Her body trembled involuntarily.
"1 Berry can be exchanged for 10,000 Extol. You need a total of 500,000 Berries."
Amazon looked at Caelan in terror, cold sweat dripping from her forehead.
She had never experienced such overwhelming presence. Caelan stood before her like a beast king, exuding a suffocating majesty.
She had seen the so-called god Enel before, and though he was majestic, he didn't exude the same fearsome presence as this man.
Caelan's Haki was absolute and irresistible.
"Here's 500,000 Berries. Take it."
Caelan pulled out five 100,000-Berry bills and tossed them over.
A mere 500,000 Berries—just a meal's worth. There was no need to fuss over it.
"Very well. Safe travels!"
Amazon's old face lit up like a blooming chrysanthemum as she bowed low.
"Yeah."
Caelan nodded coolly and returned to the Wind Rider with the women.
Soon, two enormous shrimp claws emerged from the sea of clouds and lifted the Wind Rider into the air.
"What the heck is that!?"
Nami stared at the shrimp claws on either side of the ship in shock.
"Those are Speedy Shrimp of the White Sea. They'll take you another 3,000 meters up to the upper White Sea, which is the true Sky Island!"
"Really? That's amazing!"
Vivi and Tashigi exclaimed in awe. They had never seen such a fantastical form of transport.
The Speedy Shrimp quickly picked up speed, carrying the Wind Rider upward.
Watching the Wind Rider disappear into the distance, Amazon slowly straightened her back, and the flattering expression vanished from her face.
"Filthy Blue Sea scum!"
Amazon growled through gritted teeth, her expression twisting with malice.
She had hoped to trap Caelan and the others in the crime of illegally entering Angel Island, but Caelan had seen right through her. Worse, he had humiliated her with his terrifying pressure.
"Almighty God and all holy priests, this is a report from Amazon, Heaven's Gate!"
"Five Blue Sea people have illegally entered the Heaven's Gate and blasphemed against God's followers! Please punish them!"
Amazon looked crazed as she tossed the 500,000 Berries Caelan had given her into the sea of clouds.
That divine judgment would reduce them to ashes. No matter how arrogant they were in front of her, before divine retribution, they would be nothing!
Amazon's face twisted into a look of pure ecstasy as she envisioned Caelan and the others reduced to charcoal by divine thunder, just like the previous fools.
The more she thought about it, the broader her grin became.
Whoosh!
A blade slash shot through the air, slicing with a deafening sonic boom.
"No!"
Amazon's delighted expression froze. In her eyes filled with despair, the slash cleaved her in two.
She collapsed to the ground, trying desperately to press her upper and lower halves together, frantically shoving her spilled organs back into her torso.
But the blood wouldn't stop, and her life continued slipping away.
"Why did I…"
As she lay dying, all that filled Amazon's mind was regret.
They had even paid her. Why couldn't she just let them pass?
Her life drained away bit by bit. At last, Amazon died with deep regret and despair.
…
Lifted by the Speedy Shrimp, on the fast-moving Wind Rider.
"Sigh, what a waste of my 500,000."
Caelan sheathed his greatsword and sighed.
He had seen through Amazon's schemes from the start.
He despised two-faced schemers like her and would never spare them.
People like her wouldn't change unless they were dead.
She had been given a chance but chose to betray it.
(To be continued.)