One Piece: Killer Method #194

Cedric stood atop a fire cloud, following Gan Fall as they made their way to Hidden Cloud Village. Gan Fall rode on his bird companion, Pierre, who had taken on a comical appearance due to a peculiar devil fruit consumption. 

Pierre resembled a strange mixture of a bird and a horse, with pink fur and purple dots adorning his body. In contrast, Gan Fall exuded the essence of a knight with his steel armor and lance. Along with Cedric on his fiery platform, the odd pair made their way through the skies toward their destination.

A village hidden in the clouds emerged on the horizon as they moved forward. The village's unique architecture stood out, with most of its dwellings resembling Native American tipis. 

The roads were lined with totem poles, and a conspicuous white stone statue dominated the view. The statue depicted a bare-chested figure with long hair flowing down to his knees, adding an air of mystique to the village.

Gan Fall, ever the cautious guide, turned to Cedric and offered a word of warning. "I should warn you," he began, his voice carrying a note of caution, "the people who call this village home are a stubborn bunch..."

As Pierre touched down on the edge of the village, Gan Fall dismounted and continued his counsel. "Convincing them to help won't be easy. Their relationship with my people is strained, to say the least, and they aren't too fond of strangers..."

Cedric remained silent, but his sidelong glance at Gan Fall revealed his awareness of the situation. He knew all too well about the Shandians' stubborn nature and their distrust of outsiders, thanks to his knowledge of the anime. Conflict was bound to happen. 

An inkling of doubt crept into his mind, suspecting that Gan Fall might have brought him here as a test, a challenge to prove his abilities. If he couldn't earn the respect of the Shandians, he would likely stand no chance against the formidable Enel.

Cedric couldn't help but smile inwardly as he considered the situation. 'This old man is really shrewd, pitting me against the Shandians to test me...' The thought flitted through his mind, acknowledging the possibility that Gan Fall had orchestrated this as a trial.

It made sense, he reasoned. Despite Gan Fall's kind and amicable demeanor, he had once been the ruler of Skypeia. Such a position required a pragmatic outlook. However, Cedric didn't dwell on this suspicion for long. Even if it were true, he wouldn't blame Gan Fall.

Enel was a tyrant of the highest order, and blind trust in anyone when dealing with him was a dangerous gamble. If Gan Fall had placed his complete trust in Cedric and openly challenged Enel, only to fail, the repercussions would have been devastating. Enel's retribution would likely extend far beyond Gan Fall; it could encompass all of Skypeia and its people.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Cedric respected Gan Fall's caution and understood the need for subtlety and strategy in their dealings with the self-proclaimed god of Skypiea.

Cedric had little time to mull over the situation as a group of soldiers swiftly approached them. These Shandian warriors bore attire reminiscent of Native Americans, their skin adorned with intricate tattoos that covered extensive portions of their bodies-- Small white wings adorned their backs, akin to the Skypeians. 

Two individuals stood out as leaders in the group. The first was an elderly man sporting a distinctive wolf-head helmet that concealed his hair but didn't cover his features. 

The second figure was a shirtless giant of a man, his towering, muscular frame a testament to his strength. His long, dark brown hair was fashioned into a mohawk that flowed into a segmented braid, extending past his waist. His appearance resembled the traditional hairstyles of real-life Native Americans, and spherical earrings adorned his ears.

Cedric didn't need a second glance to recognize them. The elderly man was the village chief, whose name momentarily eluded him. The other figure was none other than Wyper, a direct descendant of Kalgara, the man whose statue graced the center of the Hidden Cloud Village.

Wyper's face contorted with a scowl as he directed his words toward Gan Fall. "Why have you come here, Gan Fall?" he demanded, his voice tinged with anger. "To put more of our people to the sword and deprive us of this forsaken land as your predecessors deprived us of Shandora?"

The village's chief, a figure of authority and wisdom, quickly intervened. He raised his hand, placing it in front of Wyper, and leveled a calming gaze at him. "Calm down, Wyper," he advised in a measured tone. "Gan Fall has not been unfair to us during his rule, and I'm sure he knows better than to come here unannounced without an important reason..."

Wyper begrudgingly settled, his glare now directed at both Cedric and Gan Fall. Unperturbed by the tension in the air, the village's chief turned his attention to Gan Fall, his voice a mixture of curiosity and caution. "Why have you come here, former god?" he inquired, his gaze shifting to Cedric. "And who is this stranger you've brought along with you?"

In the midst of the tense atmosphere, Gan Fall's voice remained calm and measured as he introduced Cedric to the gathered Shandian warriors. "This young man's name is Cedric. He's a pirate from the Blue Sea," he began, his tone respectful. 

Cedric, in response, offered a friendly smile and waved at the warriors, although his gesture was met with a few hostile glares from some, particularly Wyper.

"He claims he has the means to defeat Enel, and from what I've seen, I'm inclined to believe him..." Gan Fall continued, bowing his head respectfully to the village's chief. He concluded with a plea, "I'm here to humbly ask for your assistance-- for the sake of your people and mine. We must rid ourselves of Enel..."

Before the village's chief could offer a response, Wyper couldn't contain his frustration any longer. His voice rose in anger, and he directed his words at Gan Fall, his skepticism evident. "

And is Enel really so easy to beat that a random Blue Sea dweller can defeat him?" he demanded, his words laced with frustration. He continued, "Even if he was, do you think we would let some—"

Cedric, seemingly undisturbed by Wyper's outburst, interjected abruptly. He pointed toward the statue at the center of the village, his tone filled with genuine curiosity. "Is that Kalgara, the Shandia hero from Mont Blanc Noland's story?" 

Though seemingly innocent, the question was a calculated move aimed to connect with the Shandians on a shared history and legend, potentially easing their apprehension toward his presence.

Wyper's initial anger and skepticism seemed to waver as the conversation took an unexpected turn into familiar territory. His mood shifted into a state of confusion at the mention of his ancestor's friend, Mont Blanc Noland. Despite himself, Wyper nodded slowly and inquired, "Indeed. How do you know of Mont Blanc Noland?"

His demeanor was calm and approachable-- Cedric offered a reassuring smile as he explained. "He's somewhat of a celebrity, especially in North Blue, but not in a good way..." His words carried a hint of understanding as if he knew the weight of Noland's legacy. 

Those words seemed to puzzle Wyper even more, evident by the frown on his face, rapidly deepening. "What do you mean?" He asked, his curiosity overcoming his initial hostility.

Cedric sighed, his expression solemn as he delved into the tale. "Well, when Noland left Shandora, he returned home and told his king about the City of Gold..." He shook his head slowly as if still astounded by the story. "The king was eager to see the City of Gold with his own eyes, but when they made it to Jaya, the city had disappeared..."

Cedric continued his narrative, a thoughtful look in his eyes as he recounted the tale. "Noland swore that the City of Gold was on Jaya, saying that it must have sunk to the bottom of the ocean..." His voice held a tinge of sympathy for the unfortunate explorer. He offered a wry smile, acknowledging the absurdity of the claim. "But the idea of an island seemed so ridiculous that the king had Noland executed..."

The weight of history and injustice hung heavily in the air as Cedric concluded, his voice tinged with regret, "Ever since then, Mont Blanc Noland became known as Noland, the liar, and his adventures became children's stories and tall tales-- the kind parents tell to their children to warn them about the consequences of lying..."

The revelation of this shared history seemed to have a profound impact on Wyper and the gathered Shandian warriors. The skepticism and hostility that had colored their interactions earlier seemed to dissipate, replaced by the growing horror of realization.