Several months had passed since Ace officially joined the Marines. After handling a series of affairs, Wright made his way to Skypiea—specifically, Watcher's Island (prev. Watch Island).
"Highlord, this flying vessel designed by Dr. Vegapunk is truly an ingenious creation."
Judge was giving Wright a tour of the warship construction site, which had already taken shape. Here, the lightning-powered flying ship, "Raijin," custom-built for Enel by Vegapunk, had its core framework completed.
"Indeed, we didn't need this much gold after all. The gold from Shandora saved a considerable amount... though the Shandian warriors offered quite a bit as a token of gratitude."
Wright chuckled. The Shandian warriors had returned to the City of Gold, Shandora, and, with the help of the archaeologist Nico Robin, successfully rediscovered the Golden Bell atop the massive vine.
The moment the "Light of Shandora" rang out, all of Skypiea fell into a hushed silence. Both people and animals were enchanted by the melodious chime.
As a gesture of thanks for everything Wright had done, the Shandians promised that the Golden City would be open to him—aside from the Golden Bell Tower, he could take as much gold as he wished!
Of course, Wright didn't take it all. He only used a small portion for the construction of the Raijin and sent some to Tesoro as a token of appreciation for their successful collaboration.
"The tale of 'Noland the Liar' has been circulating in the North Blue for over four hundred years."
Judge sighed. "The story of the search for the Golden City and the adventures on the Grand Line have inspired countless people to set sail in pursuit of their dreams. Even that kid, Sanji... he's read this story too."
At this, Judge fell silent for a moment before forcing a smile. "To think that the Golden City truly existed, and for four centuries, it remained hidden in the sky... it's simply unbelievable."
Wright laughed. "There are countless unbelievable things in this world... mysteries beyond imagination."
"What has Miss Archaeologist been up to lately?"
"Miss Robin has been assisting the Shandians in rebuilding their home. Her extensive knowledge has been of great help to them. At the same time, Princess Vivi has been learning archaeology from Miss Robin through hands-on experience."
"Miss Robin has already completed the translation of Shandora's historical text, but she wants you to see it in person. There are things she believes may interest you."
"Hmm... Understood. Inform her that I will head to Shandora once I finish things here."
"Understood."
"How much longer until the Raijin is complete?"
Judge calculated carefully. "The propulsion system is essentially complete. In fact, if you wanted to take flight now, you could."
"However, the auxiliary control and weapons systems still need some time for fine-tuning—especially the weapons system. It may require Enel himself to conduct testing."
"But testing the weapons system is far too dangerous... Based on the designs of the Ark Maxim, the original weapons system, when paired with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, could unleash an island-annihilating level of destruction!"
Judge appeared concerned. "With that in mind, there is practically no suitable place to test the weapons system. Taking the Raijin down to the Blue Sea for testing would cause an uproar."
"No need to worry. You're referring to the weather control system that generates thunderclouds, right?"
Wright pondered for a moment. "As long as it can generate thunderclouds properly, that's enough. The rest depends on how the Rumble-Rumble Fruit is utilized—it has little to do with the weapons system itself."
"There's no need to test its destructive power. Strictly speaking, it's just an amplifier."
Judge considered Wright's words and nodded. "You make a valid point, Highlord. We'll proceed as planned."
"We've also produced numerous fifth-generation Lightforged Beacons, all configured with secure communication frequencies. They are compatible with Marine systems but can also operate independently."
"The Raijin is equipped with one, as are key locations on Watcher's Island and within Germa."
"Excellent. How is the research on Holy Light energy progressing?"
Wright had recently begun sensing energy fluctuations from the Lightforged Beacons, though they barely affected his core reserves of Holy Light.
"With the insights gained from Dr. Vegapunk's advancements in lightning-based propulsion, research on Holy Light energy has progressed smoothly. The theoretical foundation has been established—what remains is gradual experimentation to increase output."
Judge was clearly pleased with the development of Holy Light energy.
"In two to three years at most, we should be able to construct a floating fortress—a true flagship for you!"
"Two to three years... Very well. Make sure to refine every detail."
"How is Law doing?"
"I was just about to report—Law's Op-Op Fruit abilities are truly remarkable. Many projects that were theoretically possible but near-impossible to manufacture have been successfully completed with his help. Some of these feats are simply irreplicable!"
Wright gave Judge a peculiar look. Every time Law was mentioned, Judge would lavish praise upon him—almost like a father-in-law praising his son-in-law.
"That kid..."
Wright shook his head. "As long as he's helping, that's good. Mastering Germa's medical knowledge will directly enhance his combat capabilities. The Op-Op Fruit requires not just stamina but also extensive knowledge."
"The 'Radiant Gold' battle suit does help mitigate the Op-Op Fruit's stamina drain, but he shouldn't rely on it too much. Make sure he trains his endurance properly!"
"Of course, Highlord."
"Notify Nico Robin—I'm heading to Shandora now."
"Understood."
...
"I have come here to bring this text to the world's end!"
"Heh, seeing it in person... I can truly feel your grandeur, Roger!"
At the center of the Golden Bell's pedestal lay the Poneglyph that Shandora had preserved for centuries.
Wright and Robin stood before the ancient text, its inscriptions clearly visible on the golden base.
"Admiral Wright, this is an ancient inscription left by the Pirate King himself. Could it be that Gol D. Roger reached Laugh Tale because he understood the ancient language?"
Robin was visibly excited. "Does this mean that the Pirate King Roger had some connection to Ohara? Have you... ever heard anything about this?"
"No..."
Wright shook his head, noting Robin's disappointment.
"Roger was able to locate the Poneglyphs because he possessed a unique ability—'the Voice of All Things.'"
"He could hear the 'voices' of the Poneglyphs, making it significantly easier for him to find them. However, this ability didn't allow him to read or write the ancient language."
"Then... these inscriptions were...?"
Robin was even more puzzled. Wright had no reason to deceive her, so if Roger couldn't read or write the ancient language, then who could have done it?
"We have some intelligence—these Poneglyphs were created by the 'Stone Mason' family of Wano, the Kouzuki Clan!"
"!!"
Robin's eyes widened. "The family that created the Poneglyphs? Are they still alive today?"
If they could craft the Poneglyphs, then reading and writing the ancient language would naturally be second nature!
"Regrettably, at this point in time, no one in the Kouzuki Clan retains the knowledge to read or write the ancient language..."
Wright sighed. "The last head of the Kouzuki Clan did not pass it down in time. He journeyed with Roger to Laugh Tale, but a few years after the crew disbanded, he perished."
"Which means... you are still the only known person capable of reading and writing the ancient language!"
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