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Inside the Bonbori's belly, specifically its first stomach, was a vast space.
The "sky" was a dome-shaped wall of flesh with a lid-shaped structure that emitted a bright yellow light through thin membranes of tissue. What should have been a dark, gloomy stomach was instead illuminated as brightly as daylight.
In the distance stood a tropical rainforest that had been swallowed who-knows-when. Its roots anchored in a golden liquid illuminated by the glowing light, thriving as if it were a real, thriving island.
---
''Whoosh... Boom!!''
A massive warship weighing tens of thousands of tons fell from above, crashing into the acidic ocean in the middle of the stomach. A fountain-like spray of liquid shot into the air.
"Hiss... that hurt!"
"Be careful! That's stomach acid - don't get too close!"
The impact of the fall hadn't even subsided before the soldiers were quickly "educated" about the dangers of stomach acid.
As drops fell from above, the disoriented soldiers scrambled to avoid them, rolling and crawling away.
"Somebody, come here! There's a hole - plug it with something!"
"Idiot, that's acid! Don't use wood!"
"Quick, medic! Someone's hurt!"
On the chaotic battleship, the noise of shouting and confusion continued for quite some time. Some soldiers were busy rescuing others or repairing the ship, while others stared blankly at the surreal scene before them, rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
''Why... why is there an island here?!''
---
"Hahaha! What a thrill!"
Suddenly, Rowen's hearty laugh echoed.
The soldiers turned to see him standing tall in his Admiral's Cloak, the Thunder Dragon Crescent Halberd slung across his back. Like a victorious general returning from battle, his figure exuded confidence and elegance as he stood on the raised deck of the ship.
The glass of the command bridge had been shattered by the impact, and Rowen stood amidst the debris. His calm yet curious gaze scanned the distant landscape, a stark contrast to the panicked soldiers below.
It was a breathtaking sight.
But...
Was this really the time for admiration?!
A thrill?
''People could die! Of course it's exciting!''
Feeling the resentful glances of the soldiers, Rowen snapped out of his excitement and shouted an order.
"Stop standing there looking dumb! All teams, check your personnel. Medics and repair crews, move! First-grade alert status!"
Then he turned to the navigator, who groggily climbed out of his seat.
"Navigation team, can the battleship still operate?"
"Yes!"
The navigation team commander instinctively checked the instruments before responding quickly.
"Good!"
Rowen waved decisively.
"Forget the holes for now; as long as the ship doesn't sink, we'll be fine! Get closer to the shore and get everyone off!"
"Understood!"
A leader's composure was the best way to calm the hearts of his subordinates. Especially when faced with an absurd situation - being swallowed by a giant fish and finding an island inside - a strong leader could rally scattered troops and quickly unite them.
Rowen was certainly a capable leader. Seeing his imposing figure standing tall, the soldiers began to relax.
''Yes, no matter what happens, we're still alive, aren't we?''
''Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon) is with us.''
---
''Thud!''
The battered Qilin docked at a golden, dry beach eroded by stomach acid. Not far away was a lush tropical rainforest.
The black soil and the dry sand, though seemingly unrelated, coexisted in perfect harmony thanks to the effects of the acid.
---
''Splash...''
The anchor dropped, but with a sharp collision, it sank less than a meter into the soft sand before bouncing to the side.
"You..."
Rowen glanced over, his expression exasperated, causing the soldiers handling the anchor to tense up.
"Yes, sir!"
"Have you forgotten that we are in the stomach of a giant fish? Are you planning to anchor it into its flesh? Let me warn you - I have no idea what might happen if you do."
"..."
Feeling the threatening looks of their comrades, the soldiers looked ready to cry, but quickly reeled in the anchor.
If their actions made the Bonbori vomit and throw them back outside, Rowen might actually kill them.
Rolling his eyes and ignoring a few soldiers who had almost caused trouble, Rowen subtly nodded to a Colonel behind him and said,
"Alva, immediately organize the soldiers to set up a defensive perimeter over there. There are... many large creatures on this island."
The colonel named Alva had no doubts about Rowen's "Heavenly Network" and quickly nodded, starting to gather forces to set up the defense.
"Combat teams 1 to 7, follow me!"
At Rowen's command, the Marines on shore quickly took control. The repairmen went about their business, while those charged with driving off the wild animals did so efficiently. From chaos to coordination, they were just a single order away from perfect synchronization.
Once everything was in place, Rowen stood on the beach, puffing on a cigar as he flipped through his well-worn notebook.
"What is this?"
"A famous adventurer's notebook from four hundred years ago - we found it in the forest over there."
The soldier who answered quickly added, "And that's not all; there are many other shipwrecks scattered around the island. There's a lot of valuable stuff there. The repair crew says that with these materials, they can repair the Qilin ship in no time.
The Qilin ship was made entirely of metal, which Rowen could easily bend. The real challenge, however, was the many non-metallic parts that required painstaking repairs.
"Well then, let's go. Also, bring back anything valuable on those shipwrecks… I'm not into losing money on this venture today. Everyone's been scared out of their wits— gotta give out some mental distress fees too."
"Mental distress fees!"
The soldier, after hearing Rowen's command, hesitated for a moment. He wanted to remind Rowen that Marine regulations required confiscated valuables to be handed over uniformly.
But then he thought about it— what confiscation was this?
This was their find!
Excitedly, he ran back to tell the news to everyone, and the camp was soon abuzz.
''Treasure hunting was the dream of every child of the sea,''
''Even the strict Marine discipline couldn't erase that longing.''
---
"Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon)!"
Alva, having just finished setting up the defense line, walked over, saluted, and reported,
"The perimeter is complete. Apart from the passage we came through, there's only one other route— at the tail."
"The Qilin ship's size can pass through there, but we don't know what's on the other side."
Naturally, it wasn't going to be intestines— given the structure of a fish's body, even a quick glimpse confirmed that they were far from the exit. They were much closer to the gills than the tail, meaning there was still a long, dark stretch ahead, with no idea what awaited them.
"Well, if I'm not mistaken, it should be another stomach-like area just like this one."
"A disproportionately large digestive sac wouldn't support a body this massive."
Rowen took a drag on his cigar, wearing a faint smile.
"So, what do you say? Fancy a thrilling treasure hunt adventure?"
"I'll pass, thank you!"
Alva really wanted to say this, but the esophagus was just overhead— height unknown, but at least a thousand meters up, and the Qilin ship couldn't go there.
Their only direction was forward, deeper inside.
"Understood!"
"Well then, let's go. Bring the most experienced guys with you, and also bring someone to prepare a Den Den Mushi for audio and video recording. I want to document this treasure hunt and send it to the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars)."
"Mm?"
Alva was momentarily stunned by the request. Send it to the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars)?
"Why?"
"Wait… did I miss something?"
He thought hard and then suddenly realized.
"Could it be… really here?"
"That legendary island?"
(End of Chapter)