Marvel: Trading with Worlds

Cloud Village

Cloud Village was a remote settlement on Sky Island. After the Shandia were driven from their homeland on Gaya Island, the remaining tribesmen had settled in this distant cloud village. Yet, they had never given up hope of reclaiming their homeland.

"Chief, there are guards outside requesting an audience. But Wappa wants to kill them outright," Laki reported as she ran into the chief's tent.

She found it strange—these guards didn't seem to be here to attack them. Even when Wappa and the others captured them, they didn't resist. Instead, they kept shouting that they had an important message for the chief.

"The God's Guard? Enel's personal enforcers? What could they be planning?"

The old chief furrowed his brows in confusion. If Enel knew their location, why hadn't he simply sent his forces to wipe them out?

"Go and see, Laki."

Sensing that something was off, the chief decided to hear out the God's Guard. As much as he hated to admit it, the Shandians were no match for the Sky Islanders—neither centuries ago nor now.

It wasn't just the Shandians who had been found; even the reclusive Gan Fall had been contacted. Some residents of Angel Island still had his whistle, making it easy for the guards to reach him.

"God Enel has been killed. The one calling you now is the new god."

The news sent shockwaves through both Chief Shandia and Gan Fall. Gan Fall, who knew Enel's power all too well, was especially stunned. 

However, when he heard Kain's message relayed by the guards, he realized he had no choice but to go to God's Domain.

Both parties made their decisions almost simultaneously, but the Shandians were the more spirited of the two. Their elite warriors gathered, weapons at the ready—they had been preparing for this moment for a long time.

By coincidence, the Shandians and Gan Fall's group ran into each other near Gaya Island once again.

As soon as he spotted the former enemy, Wappa immediately raised his incendiary cannon.

Seeing this, the members of the God's Guard quickly intervened.

"Wait a minute, everyone! Mr. Kain invited you here to discuss matters. Please don't act rashly!"

"What kind of Pent—"

"Wappa, stop. At the very least, listen before deciding what to do," the Shandian chief interjected before Wappa could act.

Unlike Wappa, the chief saw a glimmer of hope in the guards' message—perhaps this was finally their chance to reclaim Gaya Island.

Gan Fall, for his part, didn't take offense at Wappa's hostility. He had known for years that the Shandian warrior had a fiery temper.

Following the river of clouds, the two groups made their way to the shrine, one after the other. But before they even entered, they saw the four former high priests standing at the entrance, their bodies still covered in bandages.

This was Kain's doing. The wounds were a result of his "lessons"—newly adopted hounds needed to be trained. After Kain's harsh instruction, the four priests had finally learned to follow orders properly.

Inside the shrine, the traces of battle still remained. However, the first thing that caught the eyes of the Shandians and Gan Fall was the young man seated on the high platform.

At that moment, Kain was reclining comfortably, enjoying the exotic fruits of Sky Island as a shrine maiden fed him. 

Meanwhile, Nico Robin stood beside him, using her Flower-Flower Fruit ability to manifest four extra hands to give him a massage.

Though Robin had exchanged her hard-earned efforts with Kain for the location of the historical text, it was still hidden on the highest cloud of Sky Island. Without Kain's assistance, even with the knowledge of its location, reaching it would still be difficult.

Noticing the newcomers, Robin raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Boss, they've arrived."

"Thank you, Robin. I'll take you there later," Kain replied before sitting up from his recliner.

Then, with a smile, he addressed the newcomers:

"Chief of the Shandians, former god of Sky Island—welcome. I am Kain, a merchant from Alabasta in the Blue Sea. I've come to do business with you."

Afterward, Kain briefly explained his intentions and actions.

Now that most of his goals had been achieved, he hoped that the remaining Shandians and Sky Islanders could coexist peacefully and begin producing special Sky Island goods for him. This would allow the Kain Chamber of Commerce to establish its own unique trade products.

He had no desire to become a god or rule Sky Island, and the Shandians were not a group that could be easily subdued. Even in the original timeline, Gan Fall was only chosen as their leader after a brutal life-and-death struggle that nearly destroyed Sky Island.

However, Gan Fall was one of the few Sky Islanders who truly understood the Shandians. While most Sky Islanders believed Gaya Island belonged to them by right, Gan Fall was one of the few who reflected on the past and acknowledged the complexities of right and wrong.

The negotiations proceeded smoothly, with both the Shandians and Gan Fall agreeing to Kain's terms.

Kain not only had no intention of occupying Gaya Island, but he also informed the Shandians of the Lamp of Shangri-La—the golden bell located on the highest cloud island. Even Wappa, known for his fiery and impulsive nature, was overwhelmed with excitement.

Had the Shandian chief not been present, Wappa might have immediately offered Kain the highest form of gratitude their people could give.

For the Shandians, who had struggled for over four centuries to achieve this dream, Kain's actions were seen as the greatest kindness.

With the agreement in place, Gan Fall's captured guards were released, and a burden that had long weighed on him was finally lifted. As a result, he had little reason to refuse Kain's requests.

For the Sky Islanders, establishing a regular trade route for their unique goods was a beneficial opportunity. 

When Kain specified the quantities he needed, Gan Fall readily agreed—after all, many Sky Islanders were eager to trade with the Blue Sea. He even planned to recruit members of the Beret Force to handle collection and logistics.

As for the agreement to cease hostilities, both the Shandian chief and Gan Fall accepted without hesitation.

At this point, their ongoing conflict was no longer driven by deep-seated hatred but by the question of Gaya Island's rightful ownership. However, for Kain's sake, they were willing to resolve their disputes through peaceful negotiations.

If the situation had been different—if Enel or one of the gods from 400 years ago were still in power—the Shandians would have chosen death over surrender.

Ultimately, both the Sky Islanders and the Shandians were small in number. Even if they combined forces, their total population would not match Alabasta's standing army. A prolonged conflict would only weaken them further.

Given these circumstances, focusing on peaceful trade was the best course of action. The real profits of war still lay in the Grand Line.

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