Momousagi's interruption triggered Rowen's memory.
"Pure Gold!!"
"Exactly!"
Akainu nodded and began to explain to the stunned Vice Admirals in the room.
"Pure Gold is a legendary metal that has been passed down since ancient times. It's said that whoever possesses it gains incredible power. Its value is said to be enough to buy the entire world..."
The room remained silent.
'Buy the whole world? That sounded grandiose, but it was clearly an exaggeration to fool the gullible.'
The value of any commodity is determined by supply and demand. No matter how coveted Pure Gold might be, at most it was an incredibly valuable item.
"However, it's also said that those who acquire this metal will inevitably meet with disaster. The island mentioned in the lullaby, Alchemi Island, is said to have disappeared for this very reason," Akainu added with a shake of his head.
"So... it's just a myth?" Chaton asked, finally understanding.
No wonder none of them had heard of it before. As Marines, they certainly knew more about the world than most pirates, but their focus was never on chasing tales of lost treasure.
Still, Akainu shook his head.
"I wish I could say, yeah, it's just a story. But..."
The mood in the room changed.
Could it be...?!
"Myskina Acier..."
At that moment, Vice Admiral Tsuru spoke up:
"A true scientist and expert in metal refining who lived 200 years ago. It's said that he successfully extracted this glowing gold that sparkles even in the dark. It was the talk of the seas at that time!"
"And then what happened?" Chaton asked nervously.
"The news spread over the seas. What do you think happened?"
Momousagi rolled his eyes. "Pirates invaded in droves. Myskina Acier's wife was killed by pirates. But despite their efforts, the pirates never found the so-called Pure Gold. Everything became a mystery."
"So... is it real or not?!" Chaton was completely confused.
This whole story was turning his brain to mush.
"We don't know... We can only confirm that this story is part of actual history. But whether Pure Gold itself is real or not remains unverified."
Akainu resumed the conversation in a grave tone.
"When the government personnel arrived on the Alchemi Island under orders, half of the island had vanished into thin air."
"The trees, the buildings, even the population - all vanished without a trace."
"The remaining part of the island collapsed in an earthquake shortly thereafter, turning it into the legendary Lost Island we know today."
"Colkla Island is the closest island to Alchemi. Some of the fishermen who were at sea during the disaster survived and passed on the story. This is the origin of the lullaby we've just heard."
Ancient mysterious metals, unimaginable power, catastrophic consequences.
As the pieces of the story fell into place, a collective gasp echoed through the office.
The eerie atmosphere made everyone's skin crawl.
"That's why Orrick's appearance on Colkla Island has drawn the intense attention of the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars)! Whether Pure Gold exists or not, regardless of its purpose or Orrick's true intentions, we cannot let him succeed!"
Akainu suddenly stood up, his commanding presence filling the room.
"Soryu (Azure Dragon)!"
"Why is it me?!" Rowen exclaimed, taken by surprise.
Rowen's eyes widened in surprise as he stood up sharply.
"Present!"
"This mission is under your full command. Any objections?!"
'Objections? Of course, there were none!'
Frankly, Orrick was probably long gone. Any investigation would be little more than a formality, especially with CP0 already stationed there. Sending an Admiral at this stage seemed a bit redundant.
But when he noticed Akainu's subtle, knowing glance in his direction, Rowen suddenly understood.
"None!"
Rowen remembered his earlier suspicion that Orrick might be targeting the Celestial Dragons. This was the perfect opportunity to dig deeper and uncover any possible clues.
"Good! Remember to bring the Buster Call. If necessary... you know what I mean."
Akainu nodded in satisfaction and gave a pointed reminder.
If the matter was only about Pure Gold, it was inconsequential. However, should there be any evidence that Orrick was acting against the Celestial Dragons, Akainu would not tolerate any leaks of information.
Rowen immediately understood the gravity of the situation.
"Understood!"
Aokiji, unaware of the secret exchange between the two, frowned at the scene.
"Aren't you going too far, Akainu?" He said. "The inhabitants of Colkla Island may not even know anything. Resorting to the Buster Call so easily could severely damage the reputation of both the Marines and the government."
The historical events of Ohara and the Judicial Island incidents had left deep scars, and both instances of the Buster Call had caused widespread outcry across the seas.
This extreme, extermination-level command held a terrifying sway over the people, far beyond the fear inspired by the presence of an Admiral.
"You should address me as Fleet Admiral!" Akainu glared at Aokiji and exhaled sharply. "My decision is final. If there are any consequences, I'll bear them alone. For now, follow the order!"
Here it came: the classic "lovers' quarrel".
Rowen watched the tense exchange with a strange expression, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly in amusement.
---
The calm seas around Marineford were soon disturbed by the departure of a steel-clad fleet. Leading the charge was Rowen aboard the 'Qilin', spearheading a mighty formation of battleships that sliced through the waves toward the depths of the New World.
This sudden large-scale operation shocked numerous factions. The underground world, which had just begun stirring, erupted into a frenzy, its murky currents churning violently beneath the surface.
However, when they learned that the fleet's destination was the island of Colkla in the New World - and heard tales of the lullaby and the legend - they were left in utter confusion.
'Pure Gold?'
'What the hell?!
Since when did the Marines believe in such fantastic myths?
To the underground elite, any legend that had remained elusive for over 200 years was just that - a legend, hardly worth taking seriously.
"It seems there's more to this Marine operation than meets the eye," became the prevailing thought among the various powers.
They began sending additional personnel to converge on the New World.
Whether they could change events or gain any advantage was uncertain, but they had to uncover the truth.
In an era of unprecedented Marine dominance, every action taken by the organization demanded their utmost vigilance.
To make matters even more intriguing, this mission was being led by none other than the Marines' infamous Soryu (Azure Dragon!).
As his first major mission as Admiral, extra caution was certainly warranted.
---
"Pure Gold? I've heard of that old story."
Tesoro held his Den Den Mushi, speaking in a leisurely tone.
"I asked the Celestial Dragons about it once. Even they weren't sure if it really existed, so I didn't bother looking for it myself."
"But now that it's drawn out 'that' Azure Dragon… What should we do? Should I send extra manpower to investigate?"
In the original story, Tesoro initially dismissed the legend of Pure Gold as nonsense. It wasn't until he got wind of CP0's activities through internal channels that he sent Tanaka to invite Ogari Shun...
'Bah!
A treasure hunter, to help him recover the treasure.
"There's no need for that right now..."
Rowen shook his head and replied, "Instead of chasing Pure Gold, I'd rather you focus on tracking Orrick's movements."
"Akainu suspects that Orrick may have done something to the Celestial Dragons. I think the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) probably have the same suspicion. Let them clash head-on, and we can reap the benefits from the sidelines."
The government's entrenched power is overwhelming, so it's better to let someone like Orrick, who dares to confront them directly, take the heat.
"Sounds... quite troublesome."
Tesoro didn't immediately agree. He was already tied up dealing with issues in Wano Country and Kaido, not to mention searching for those three Devil Fruits.
The more tasks he took on, the more valuable he became to the League, but it also left him overworked and unsure if he could complete the mission.
"I understand. Just do your best," Rowen assured him.
"By the way, the main reason I called was to ask... can you make gold that glows in the dark? The kind that's really bright and, you know, 'bling bling'?"
'What the hell is 'bling bling'?!'
'(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻'
Tesoro's mouth twitched at the absurd request. After a moment of thought, he replied hesitantly,
"It should... be possible? As long as I mix in some luminescent minerals... I can give it a try. It shouldn't be too difficult."
"Perfect. Make me one!"
'(°°)'
---
'(End of Chapter)'
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