“Holy Land?”
“What you call the Holy Land is the land that our ancestors have been protecting for generations.”
“Four hundred years ago, the monstrous sea currents washed our ancestors and this land to a sky island. It was also your intrusion that massacred our ancestors and occupied our territory.”
“If it weren't for the fact that some of our ancestors survived by a fluke, the land our ancestors protected would truly have become your Holy Land.”
In response to Gan Fall's questioning, one of the assembled Shandians flew out and immediately retorted.
Benedict glanced at the opponent, and then combat information about this person appeared.
Name: Unknown.
Level: c+
Weapon: Reject Dial
Skills: None.
Combat Potential: A-class.
This was a very strong Shandian warrior, a descendant of the great warrior Calgara, named Wiper, known as the Battle Demon.
With just a glance, Benedict determined that the opponent possessed combat strength close to that of a Vice Admiral.
If trained according to the Marine training system, they could easily achieve Vice Admiral-level strength, and with intense combat and training, they might even have a chance to contend for Admiral-level strength.
With his help, Wiper's strength still had the potential to reach Admiral-level.
Behind Wiper, there were four other people. They seemed to be a group, and their expressions at this moment were very serious.
“Marshal Benedict, I am the current chieftain of the Shandians. I request that you uphold justice and help us reclaim our homeland.”
“We Shandians have been fighting the Skypieans for four hundred years, and we are already exhausted.”
“A sky island without soil greatly limits our development and survival.”
“If we continue to fight like this, we will disappear, but similarly, as desperate wolves in our final struggle, we will become reckless.”
“Gan Fall, if you can bear the losses, then we can only fight to the death.”
The Shandian chieftain initially spoke to Benedict, but the latter part of his words was a warning and threat to Gan Fall.
Facing the threat from the Shandian chieftain, Gan Fall's gaze was very sharp.
The current Gan Fall was not the Gan Fall of twenty years later. The current Gan Fall was only middle-aged, in his prime, and at his most sharp and ambitious.
“Nonsense.”
“Distorting the facts.”
“The Holy Land is where God resides.”
“It is the land that we have been protecting for generations.”
Gan Fall naturally could not compromise at this time.
Furthermore, as the God of Skypiea, what he knew and inherited were passed down through generations.
He was also clear about the origin of the Holy Land.
However, there was one thing Gan Fall was also very clear about: as a ruler,
To solidify and make his reign more permanent, external threats must not be few.
Of course, he also needed sufficient strength to ensure that external threats could not endanger his rule.
This was also why the Shandians could hide on a sky island for 400 years and still emerge from time to time to create threats and engage in various battles.
Nicole Robin watched the Shandians for a while, then watched Gan Fall and the other priests and warriors. At this moment, she didn't know how to handle the situation between the two sides.
Therefore, Nicole Robin tugged at Benedict’s clothes and asked softly, “Brother Marshal, what should we do?”
Benedict heard this and smiled, “Let’s improvise.”
“Improvise?” Nicole Robin did not understand what it meant.
Benedict did not explain anything to Nicole Robin, but seeing the standoff and the situation that could erupt into battle at any moment, he still said a few words.
“There is no land on this sky island,” Benedict said to Gan Fall, his voice calm.
When the Shandian chieftain heard Benedict’s words, his face revealed joy. Benedict was going to show favoritism to them.
Gan Fall’s expression, however, darkened slightly. He had a bad feeling that Benedict was going to help the Shandians.
“Apaya, originally part of the Blue Sea island of Jaya, was brought to the White Sea by a giant upward sea current 400 years ago.”
“The ancestors of the sky island, seeing the land that appeared, regarded it as a miracle and occupied it.”
Gan Fall’s face was very dark.
He knew that he could no longer rely on the Xuanwu Navy to eliminate the Shandians.
Now, he hoped that Benedict would leave with the Xuanwu Navy, and then he would find a way to eliminate all the Shandians; they could not be allowed to remain any longer.
“Please Marshal Benedict uphold justice and help us Shandians reclaim our homeland. The Shandian people will also be friendly allies of the Xuanwu Navy,” the Shandian chieftain said again.
Benedict glanced at the Shandian chieftain, then his gaze fell on Wiper, and then he said, “I can help, but there is one thing I need to clarify.”
Upon hearing this, the Shandian chieftain immediately replied joyfully, “Please tell us, Marshal Benedict. Whatever we can do, we will do our best to accomplish.”
Benedict chuckled and then said, “You don’t need to do anything. I just need to inform you that I will be taking the gold and Poneglyphs in the Golden City.”
“After all, it is something that your ancestors protected. Although you have lost it, out of respect, while helping you reclaim your homeland, this notification is the least I can do.”
The Shandian chieftain’s expression changed instantly.
As the Shandian chieftain, he was very aware of the secrets hidden within the homeland they were trying so hard to reclaim.
Now, to hand it over willingly, he felt a sense of reluctance.
“If Marshal Benedict needs that gold and giant stones, he can take them freely. We will not obstruct him, but we also hope that Marshal Benedict will not interfere in our affairs.”
After knowing Benedict’s intentions, Gan Fall also recalled that several years ago, a pirate named Roger had also visited that place with his pirate crew.
However, he did not take the gold, nor did he take that giant stone.
He was also very aware of that Golden City.
However, there was a giant snake that had lived for thousands of years.
That giant snake was too powerful, and it was impossible for him to defeat it with the forces he could muster.
Because he had tried before, but failed.
After paying the price several times, they directly abandoned that place and regarded it as a forbidden area. m..oΓg
The Shandian chieftain became a little nervous for a moment.
He didn't know what choice Benedict would make.
In fact, for Benedict, it didn't matter which side he helped, as neither side had any disadvantages for him.
Even helping either side was an easy task.
“Gan Fall, endless fighting cannot solve the problem.”
“If you insist on using combat to resolve the issue, I can casually eliminate both of you.”
“And then let the sky island choose a new administrator, or become an uninhabited island.”
Benedict’s voice was calm, but his words made Gan Fall and the Shandian chieftain shiver.
This was not a joke.
It was the domineering assertion and command of an absolute powerhouse.
Seeing that both sides looked somewhat displeased, Benedict added, “A detachment of the Xuanwu Navy will be stationed on the sky island to maintain local stability and combat pirates.”
“Therefore, from now on, the sky island has been flagged by the Xuanwu Navy.”
“And rest assured, our soldiers are not soldiers of the World Government; they will abide by the rules.”
“By the way, my soldiers are more adapted to the land, so it should be okay to demarcate a small area on this island as a base, right, Chieftain.”
The Shandian chieftain’s expression suddenly became even more joyful.
The implications of these words were more than enough.
Their Shandian people could return to their homeland.