Due to a series of unexpected events, Alva nearly forgot the reason they had set out on this voyage in the first place.
Wasn't it because they had heard rumors of a giant fish roaming the area and had come to investigate?
Now, the golden-hued giant fish was right before them.
Could it be that the legendary Alchemi Island was here as well?!
"You there! Start gathering metal— we need small boats to cross this ocean of stomach acid!" Alva quickly turned and jogged off to organize the task.
This was exactly why Rowen had brought the fleet along for the treasure hunt. On one hand, it made things more convenient— after all, as the highest-ranking officer, any action he took would attract attention, and going off alone would inevitably raise suspicions.
On the other hand, having the entire crew bear witness ensured that the treasure hunt was open and transparent.
This way, if they did find the "Pure Gold," its authenticity would be beyond question. If anything went wrong, the blame would fall on those who had come before them for deceiving him, not on Rowen himself.
"Next, it's time to deal with another unstable element."
Watching the busy soldiers, Rowen's lips curved into a faint smile as sparks of electricity danced across his body.
Buzz!
A thousand meters away from the battleship's docking site, deep within the forest by a creek, arcs of electricity crackled in the air above a boulder.
The dangerous aura sent a group of crimson-colored terror dragons into a panic. They scrambled to their feet, howling as they fled the area.
In a nearby nest, a small terror dragon, startled awake by the commotion, lifted its head groggily. Its confused gaze swept over the now-empty nest as it scratched its chin in bewilderment.
"Huh? Where'd they all go?"
"Terror dragons aren't the migrating type, are they?"
Zzzt… Zzzt…
Just then, the "small dinosaur" felt a tingling electric current emanating from behind. Its expression froze as it turned stiffly to look back.
"Myskina Acier?"
Standing there was a figure that looked like a humanoid outline scribbled with blue crayon, with glowing orbs for eyes instead of pupils.
"A m-monster!!"
The "small dinosaur" screamed. In a flash, a person leaped out of its mouth— which is none other than Myskina Acier himself.
Acier had used collected hides to craft a dinosaur suit, and with his 200 years of knowledge of their habits, he had successfully infiltrated their ranks, disguising himself as a young dinosaur that the others "raised."
Naturally, due to size constraints, he could only mimic carnivorous dragon hatchlings. Ironically, his greatest dream over the past two centuries had been to eat a proper meal of fruit— a stark contrast to Olga, who had subsisted on nothing but fruit and fish.
"I suggest you stay calm. If you alert anyone else, I'll have to silence you permanently."
Rowen's calm threat made Acier freeze mid-step. However, one word in Rowen's statement caught his attention.
"Anyone else?"
Acier's eyes widened in disbelief. "You mean… humans?"
The deep-sea dwelling "Bonbori" rarely surfaced. Without the lure of Pure Gold's glow, it seldom revealed itself to humans.
Even when it did, the sea of stomach acid outside was a clear indication of what would happen to anyone caught by it.
For two centuries, Acier had not seen a single human being.
"That's right. But explaining further is a hassle— just know that I don't intend to kill you for now."
"Also, take a look at this."
Rowen flipped his hand, tossing a small silver ring toward Acier. As it tumbled through the air, it glinted faintly with a golden light.
Acier's pupils constricted as he instinctively caught it. "Olga!!!"
After being swallowed by the Bonbori, Acier had despaired, believing himself to be the only survivor. Unable to find any trace of Olga, he had contemplated suicide several times.
But because Olga had been wearing the Pure Gold ring, Acier convinced himself that if she was alive, she would live for a long time. This belief had sustained him for 200 long years.
Now, the ring that symbolized Olga's survival was in his hands.
Could it mean…?
"Don't worry," Rowen said calmly. "The South Blue Fever isn't the death sentence it used to be for the world... I've settled Olga on Colkla Island. I haven't disclosed her true identity to anyone, and I hope you'll do the same."
"I-I see..."
Thud!
Acier clutched the ring and dropped to his knees, sobbing. "That's… that's wonderful news!!"
His daughter was still alive. The 200 years of waiting had finally borne fruit.
Overwhelmed by relief, Acier couldn't find the words to express his joy. Only tears could release the emotions he'd been bottling up for so long.
After crying for a while, Acier rose to his feet, carefully storing the ring close to his heart. He then asked, "So… esteemed sir, your goal is the Pure Gold, isn't it?"
Acier was certain Rowen wasn't lying. Only Olga knew how to locate the Bonbori, and to most, she would appear to be nothing more than an ordinary little girl.
Considering Rowen's strength, he had no need to deceive Acier.
Acier thought hard and realized the only leverage he held was the root cause of everything: his knowledge of Pure Gold.
"That's right," Rowen replied with satisfaction at Acier's perceptiveness. He nodded. "But there's no need for you to get involved further. I already know where the Pure Gold is. From here, you'll take on a new name, disguise yourself as a shipwrecked fisherman, and head to the beach to seek help from the Marines."
"Because of certain… sensitivities, the World Government is highly interested in Pure Gold. You know very well what would happen if anyone discovered the truth about you and Olga, don't you?"
The World Government?!
Acier sucked in a sharp breath. As a denizen of the infamous Alchemi Island, known in the New World for its rich mineral deposits, he understood the terrifying power of the World Government. This wasn't a secluded place like Wano; the dangers were real and immediate.
His expression turned solemn as he nodded earnestly. "Understood! Rest assured, I know what to do."
Years ago, to save Olga and prolong her life, Acier had sold his soul to a wicked cause, creating the unnatural Pure Gold.
Compared to that, living under an assumed identity was a small price to pay.
Now, all Acier wanted was to live a quiet life with his daughter. The thought of Olga waiting on Colkla Island filled him with an intense longing to return.
"Head in this direction," Rowen instructed, waving his hand to leave a glowing blue arrow in the air.
"I've already driven away the beasts along the path. The main Marine force is stationed there."
Rowen's tone darkened as he added, "Remember, your knowledge is valuable to me, but not indispensable. If there's any slip-up… heh."
Bang!
Electricity surged, instantly withering all nearby vegetation.
The suffocating killing intent hung heavy in the air, a chilling force that seemed to brush against Acier's neck.
Sweating profusely, Acier nodded repeatedly. "Understood, understood!"
"Remember the promise you made today. Well then… see you later."
With that, Rowen snapped his fingers. His electrified form dissolved into a ring of blue light and disappeared, leaving Acier standing frozen in the now-empty nest. He shuddered.
"Olga!"
Clenching his fists, Acier gritted his teeth and vowed silently, "Don't worry, this time your father will never let anyone harm you again!"
(End Of the Chapter)
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