"Sky Island!"
Most people weren't very interested in ancient islands, but sky islands were different.
The moment the words "sky island" were uttered by Dotto,
Ah Hua's drowsy eyes opened.
A Luo put down his hand that was fussing with his flamboyant hairstyle.
A Tao took a hard puff of his cigarette.
Gu Yina tightly gripped the scabbard of Wado Ichimonji.
Robin, on the other hand, sat up straight.
Only Kong Tai and Indigo showed no significant reaction upon hearing about the sky island.
Kong Tai already knew of the sky island's existence and was prepared to go there.
Indigo had already been to a sky island.
Having flown with the flying pirate Shiki for nearly twenty years, how could he not know about sky islands?
As if waking up all at once, they all stared at Dotto with shining eyes and asked loudly, "Do sky islands really exist?"
"Uh!"
Dotto was taken aback.
He thought Kong Tai and the others already knew about sky islands.
The existence of sky islands was no secret on Route 3 of the Grand Line.
At least, the people on Cart Island knew about it clearly.
This was unlike Route 4.
On Route 4, because one could only reach sky islands via an upwelling current, most people there considered sky islands a legend.
However, on Route 3, there was a skyward route that directly led to the "White Sea" at an altitude of ten thousand meters, where the sky island was located.
Of course, to traverse this celestial path required sufficient courage, strength, and luck.
More than half of the pirate crews who attempted to reach the sky island via this path each year met their end at sea, and of the remaining half who reached the White Sea, another half were claimed by the various disasters there, leaving them in the sky.
Therefore, only one or two out of every ten people who attempted the journey each year actually reached a sky island.
It was for this reason that the celestial path had another moniker.
It was known as the "Road to Heaven."
Who would go to heaven?
The dead, of course.
But as he thought of Kong Tai and the others' power, Dotto quickly regained his composure.
He shook his head.
For other pirate crews, this celestial path was the road to heaven, but for Silver Hair's crew, it might be a genuine pleasure trip.
Although he had never actually been to a sky island, from various documents and accounts from pirates who had visited, he knew that these dangers wouldn't stop Kong Tai and his group.
Seeing Dotto's prolonged silence, they urged again, "Mr. Dotto, does the sky island truly exist?"
"Mhm."
Dotto swept his gaze over everyone, then picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Sky islands do exist. Everyone here knows about it."
"Wow!"
Ah Hua grinned excitedly. "I never thought sky islands were real."
As he spoke, he looked up, his eyes shining, and asked Dotto, "Have you been to a sky island, Mr. Dotto?"
"Can you describe what a sky island is like?"
"Are there angels there?"
"I heard that angels live in the sky!"
"Mr. Dotto, Mr. Dotto."
"Mhm."
Dotto put down his teacup and met Ah Hua's expectant gaze, shaking his head and smiling. "I'm afraid I must disappoint you, guests. I'm just a shipwright; I've never been to a sky island!"
"Not been?"
"Mhm."
Dotto nodded, pondered for a moment, and then continued, "Although everyone here knows of the sky island's existence, I've hardly heard of anyone who has actually been there. It's a journey of certain death! So unless one is setting out on an adventure, no one wants to go there, even if they know the way. No one dares to go."
"Haha! No one dares, but we do!"
Ah Hua laughed heartily and turned to Kong Tai, "Kong Tai, am I right?"
"Mhm."
Kong Tai nodded. He knew that besides the upwelling current, there was another way to reach sky islands, and he hadn't expected it to be on Route 3.
He looked at his companions' excited faces, his lips curving into a smile. "Alright, since we know where the sky island is, our next destination is the sky island!"
With that, he turned to Dotto and said, "We'll have to trouble you again, Mr. Dotto, to tell us the specific route and coordinates to the sky island."
"No problem."
Dotto nodded and said, "From here, head east, and in about half a day, you'll see a towering mountain that connects heaven and earth. This mountain is where the celestial path to the sky island is located."
"I've seen it with my own eyes before, but lacking the courage, I didn't dare to challenge this path to the heavens."
"Due to the sea currents, one side of that mountain has formed a river that flows directly to its summit. Just follow the river upwards, and you'll reach the White Sea at an altitude of over ten thousand meters. From there, you can follow the currents to the sky island."
"Oh... how magical!"
Kong Tai nodded and then added, "This is the Grand Line. Even for half a day's voyage, without a Log Pose, we won't be able to get there."
"Don't worry."
Dotto waved his hand and casually said, "Just go to the shops in town and ask, and you can buy a permanent Log Pose to the island with the mountain where the celestial path is."
"Although not many people dare to challenge that path, there are always a few brave pirate crews who go there fearlessly every year. So, the shops in town will have a few permanent Log Poses for that destination, just in case someone asks.
"After all, those things are quite expensive and profitable."
"Oh!"
Kong Tai nodded, then changed the subject, "By the way, Mr. Dotto, what is the cost of a medium-sized sailboat here?"
"Hmm..." Dotto straightened up, his face serious. "The main event has arrived."
After so much talking, they finally got to the important matter.
He lowered his head, stroked his chin with his right hand, thought for a moment, then looked up at Kong Tai and said, "That depends on how large a ship you want. You see, ships between 20 meters and 80 meters are considered medium-sized. Different lengths and heights mean different prices, of course."
"Mhm! I understand that."
Kong Tai nodded and pondered for a moment, then said, "The ship we want will be about 40 meters long. As for the height and width, that's up to your shipbuilding company."
This was based on the data from his spatial domain.
It was also related to their numbers.
40 meters was the diameter of his domain, nearly half the size of a football field. With their current seven members, it would be more than enough even if they recruited more people later.
His recruitment of crewmates was similar to the Straw Hat Pirates; he would only invite someone aboard if they were the right person.
In fact, among his crew, only Indigo had been invited aboard. Ah Hua and the other two had been with him from the start, and Robin had requested to join.