Among the many iconic figures from Fishman Island, Mio was certain—it was Tiger.
But how could Fisher Tiger be on Sky Island?
This surprised Mio at first, but after some thought, he understood. Before being enslaved by the Celestial Dragons, Tiger had been an adventurer—one who traveled across the seas, exploring the world's wonders. It made sense that Sky Island wouldn't be an exception. Judging by the current timeline, Tiger likely hadn't yet become a slave of the Celestial Dragons.
At this moment, Tiger was fighting with Ganfor. Yet, it was clear that Ganfor was no match for him. Within minutes, Tiger landed a solid punch to Ganfor's abdomen, knocking the Sky Knight to the ground and rendering him unable to fight further.
"I have no hostility," Tiger said in a deep, steady voice as he stood over Ganfor. "I came to Sky Island by accident, just to explore its wonders. But if you want to continue fighting, I will accompany you." He assumed a Fishman Karate stance, showing he was ready but not eager for more combat.
Ganfor gritted his teeth and struggled to his feet. "I believe you, man from the Blue Sea. Someone who could defeat me and still spare my life… that kind of man doesn't lie."
From the distance, Mio watched the battle's end. Seeing the two settle things, he stepped out from his hiding place and approached them with calm, steady steps.
The sound of his approach caused both Tiger and Ganfor to turn and look.
Upon seeing Mio and his group, Ganfor's eyes narrowed. "Another group from the Blue Sea," he said warily. "This is the territory of Sky Island. You're not welcome here. Leave at once."
Tiger, on the other hand, looked at Mio with curiosity. Unlike most fishmen, he didn't carry an instinctive hatred for humans. He remained calm but observant. There was something oddly familiar about Mio.
Suddenly, Tiger's eyes lit up with recognition. "It's you… the Black Crow Pirates!"
Now on alert, Tiger's expression turned serious. "I didn't expect to meet you here."
"Huh? I must be more famous than I thought," Mio replied, scratching his head in slight surprise. "I mean, I only have a 100 million bounty. Is that enough to be this well-known already? Or is it because my bounty's been rising too fast?"
"Since you're a pirate, that makes you even less welcome here," Ganfor said coldly. His voice held a tone of warning. He had seen his share of pirates from the Blue Sea. While a few may have chased dreams rather than destruction, most were known for burning, killing, and looting. He had no reason to trust any of them.
"That's not for you to decide," Mio said calmly, his eyes narrowing as his tone grew colder.
Sensing the shift in Mio's demeanor, Warwick's gaze turned icy. Without warning, the towering werewolf vanished from sight. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared in front of Ganfor, grabbing him by the neck and lifting him off the ground with ease.
"Master, shall I kill him?" Warwick asked coldly.
Ganfor struggled, face turning red as he gasped for air. No matter how hard he fought, Warwick's grip remained unmoved, like a steel vice.
Tiger stood frozen. He could feel it—an intense and deadly aura had locked onto him. One wrong move and he'd be attacked immediately.
Though confident in his own strength, Tiger could also sense the power emanating from the Black Crow Pirates. They weren't ordinary enemies.
Still, Tiger was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see Ganfor die like this. He stepped forward slightly and spoke with sincerity. "Sir, he meant no harm. As the god of Sky Island, he's simply trying to protect his people. If possible, I hope you can spare his life."
Mio gave a small shrug and smiled. "Don't worry. I won't kill him."
With a simple wink from Mio, Warwick immediately understood. He released Ganfor, tossing him to the ground like a ragdoll. Ganfor coughed violently, gasping for breath, his eyes wide with lingering fear.
That grip… it had been like nothing he'd ever experienced. No matter how hard he fought, he couldn't budge it at all. He looked at Warwick with a mixture of awe and terror.
Warwick calmly returned to Mio's side, resuming his usual obedient stance.
Mio turned to Tiger and smiled. "I know you. You're Fisher Tiger, the adventurer from Fishman Island."
"I didn't think I was that famous," Tiger replied, a little surprised. Then, glancing at Ganfor—who was still recovering—he asked on his behalf, "So, what brings you to Sky Island?"
"I came up through the Knock-Up Stream," Mio said casually, then grinned. "I'm here for the Golden City… and the poneglyph."
As soon as those words left his mouth, Ganfor's eyes widened. He hadn't expected that. But now that Mio had revealed his true intentions, he let out a subtle sigh of relief.
For Ganfor, his mission was to protect Sky Island and its people. As long as Mio didn't harm anyone, Ganfor didn't care what he wanted to find.
"If all you seek is the Golden City and the poneglyph, I can take you to it," Ganfor said seriously. "But once you've gotten what you came for, I hope you'll leave. Your presence is far too dangerous for Sky Island."
"No problem," Mio replied with a soft smile. "Aside from the Golden City and the poneglyph, there's nothing else I'm interested in up here."
Sky Island was beautiful. The special dials and shells it possessed were interesting, but for Mio, it was just a nice vacation spot. Nothing more.
"As for leading the way," Mio continued, "you don't need to. Just tell me where the poneglyph is."
Ganfor hesitated. He wanted to keep an eye on this group to prevent any damage or betrayal. But he also knew picking a fight with them would be a death sentence.
After a moment of silence, Ganfor nodded and gave Mio the location of the poneglyph.
With the information in hand, Mio looked around. They were standing amidst the ruins of Shandora—the legendary Golden City.
He turned his gaze back to Tiger with a thoughtful smile. "Mr. Tiger, I have a few questions for you. Do you mind?"
Tiger didn't hesitate like Ganfor. He nodded. "Sure, go ahead."
"Have you ever seen a Celestial Dragon before?"
Tiger paused, then slowly answered, "I've seen one from a distance. I didn't get too close—just caught a glimpse and left right away. I didn't want any trouble, considering their reputation."
"I see." Mio nodded lightly.
Now it was clear—Tiger hadn't yet been enslaved by the Celestial Dragons. That explained his calm demeanor.
But… it wouldn't be long.
When the time comes…
A glint flashed in Mio's eyes.
He was well aware of the future events in Mary Geoise. Now that he'd encountered Tiger, he might just start planning ahead.