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Pure Gold does indeed bring misfortune to its owners. However, the so-called "misfortune" is merely due to the attraction its glow exerts on a massive deep-sea anglerfish.
This monstrous creature, known as the "Bombari," dwarfs even the giant elephant of Zou Island, the home of the Mink tribe. While the Zou Island elephant carries an entire kingdom on its back, the Bonbori's three stomachs hold three entire islands.
The sea turtles that pull the Golden City of Gran Tesoro, each over a kilometer long, are no bigger than the palm of a human hand compared to this behemoth. The Bonbori could swallow them whole in a few bites.
The sheer scale of this creature is staggering— far surpassing even the giant Sea Kings Rowen once encountered in the Calm Belt.
It is this incomprehensible size that has earned the Pure Gold a reputation as a harbinger of disaster and a legend in its own right.
The creature has no intention of harming humans, who are far too small to satisfy its hunger and aren't even on its menu. It doesn't actively devour islands, either, because, unlike the rare goldfish that eat land, an anglerfish cannot digest soil.
But none of this matters in the face of its immense size.
Every Pure Gold owner inevitably takes it out to admire or show off. The moment its glow is revealed, the Bonbori Fish is drawn to it, and the result is always the same: it devours the gold along with everything else in its path.
Thus, the fate of these owners is sealed— a tragedy so inevitable that even ten renditions of the song "Chilling Farewell" would not suffice to mourn them.
---
"I remember it's not just Pure Gold. The Bonbori, when near the surface of the ocean, attacks anything that glitters, leaving behind countless horrific tales."
In the lounge, Rowen tapped the table thoughtfully as he pondered Pure Gold.
The potential of Pure Gold intrigued him deeply, especially its ability to stop growth and grant eternal life.
If he could use it to foil Orrick's plans, he certainly wouldn't pass up the chance.
The only problem was that all known Pure Gold was currently in the Bonbori's stomach, and the colossal beast only lived in the deep sea. Figuring out how to lure it out was the biggest challenge.
"Let's hope Tesoro can deliver," Rowen muttered.
Pure Gold's glow was the source of its cursed reputation, but it was also the only key to unlocking the treasure.
---
New World, Colkla Island
Like most islands in the New World, Colkla Island was once protected by a Yonko.
However, after the death of its protector, Whitebeard, during the Great War, Colkla island sought the protection of the Marines for its survival and severed ties with the Yonko.
Because of this shift, the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) were immediately notified of any activity in the region. Once a blind spot for the government, this sea was now firmly under their control.
At present, a government flag flies high in the main square of Colkla island's central city. Soldiers patrolled the streets, and CP0 agents occasionally darted by, creating an oppressive atmosphere of vigilance.
Orrick had become a thorn in the government's side.
Having finally caught wind of his whereabouts, the Gorōsei had no qualms about mobilizing such a large force.
---
"Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon), welcome to Colkla!"
At the harbor, Rowen was slightly surprised to see the figure greeting him. "Zero didn't come, Lucci?"
Standing before him was none other than an old acquaintance - Rob Lucci, once CP-9's strongest agent.
Lucci had joined CP0 long ago, recruited by Lirisk. Over the years, through his talent, hard work, and some support from Admiral Rowen, he had quickly risen to the core ranks of CP0.
"The Chief is here, but he's exploring the surrounding seas at the moment, so..."
At this, Lucci let out a bitter chuckle from behind his mask but left the explanation unfinished.
After Rowen's earlier insult to Zero, tensions between the two had cooled into an unspoken feud. Neither side cared much for the other, especially given the longstanding historical grievances between CP0 and the Assassination Force.
Though their mission objectives didn't exactly overlap this time, Zero decided not to show up to avoid further aggravation.
"That's fine. Just give me a copy of the information. If there's any part that requires cooperation, I'll find you."
Rowen smiled faintly but said nothing in response.
Relieved, Lucci nodded in agreement. "Understood. This way, please!"
As they walked, Rowen noticed the frightened expressions on the townspeople's faces, causing him to silently frown.
"Have you been killing people here?!"
"Let me warn you, Lucci... If the townspeople hold a grudge and refuse to cooperate, causing the mission to fail, you know what the consequences will be, don't you?"
Lucci felt a chill at the cold undertone in Rowen's otherwise calm voice. But he shook his head and explained, "There have been killings, but not by us."
---
''Thud!''
At that moment, a young girl stumbled out of an alley and accidentally collided with Lucci's leg, falling to the ground.
"Ouch..."
She looked up to see Lucci's Fukuro mask. Her tears were immediately choked back as a look of fear overtook her face.
Seeing this, Lucci didn't get angry; instead, he quietly removed his mask.
Strangely enough, as soon as the mask came off, the girl's fear disappeared and she stopped crying. Looking a bit nervous, she muttered softly, "S-sorry."
"It's okay. Now go home," Lucci replied, helping her to her feet and nodding his head in the distance.
The girl turned to see a woman waving at her. She ran toward her quickly, calling out, "Mama!"
---
Rowen noticed that it wasn't just the girl.
As soon as Lucci removed his mask, the tense and fearful townspeople visibly relaxed.
Then, as if completely unaware of their earlier reactions, they began to look at Rowen and Lucci with suspicious but not frightened expressions - similar to how civilians react to the presence of police officers: nervous but not frightened.
But when Lucci put the mask back on, the terror returned immediately. Their expressions changed so abruptly and unnaturally that even the worst actor couldn't replicate it. Yet the authenticity of their reactions was so convincing that even the finest actor would feel inadequate.
---
"They've been subjected to a powerful psychological suggestion," Lucci explained helplessly. "Whenever they see us in uniform, it automatically triggers a state of quivering fear. They have no memory of their reaction afterward."
He continued, "As you may know, most of us are not allowed to reveal our true identities. In order to gather information, we must avoid people and act like thieves. It's an unfortunate necessity."
Rowen nodded thoughtfully. It explained why CP0 agents, who could walk openly in Dressrosa in the original timeline, now hid in deserted corners. Even when they appeared, it was only for fleeting moments.
Apparently, the psychological suggestion was specific enough to associate the fear with the "uniform" rather than the individual. Otherwise, a simple change of clothing would nullify the effect.
This must have been a frustrating reality for CP0. Because of the nature of their work, most agents equated exposure of their identity with abandonment - whether the exposure was intentional or not.
---
"Was this Orrick's doing, too?"
"Why?" Rowen knitted his brows in confusion.
"We're not sure yet," Lucci replied. "Everyone on the island who spoke to him was killed. The autopsies revealed nothing unusual - just simple knife wounds."
With a resigned look, he added, "If his goal was to torment us, I'd say he succeeded.
In this situation, CP0's investigation was not just arduous - it was excruciating, akin to swallowing bile. Progress was painfully slow, leaving them with no way to determine Pure Gold's whereabouts.
The only concrete clue they had - the corpses - offered no meaningful insight. The disparity in power between the parties was so vast that there weren't any discernible battle traces to analyze.
If it weren't for a fisherman who happened to see Orrick murder someone on a cliff on his way back to port, CP0 wouldn't even know who was responsible.
A pile of clues that kept breaking off at the most critical junctures had left CP0 in utter chaos.
Rowen expressed his deepest sympathy for their plight.
And then he laughed inwardly to his heart's content.
Whatever Orrick's true intentions with this tactic, it was undeniably a wickedly effective move against CP0 - and quite amusing to Rowen.
---
The group soon arrived at the mansion that once belonged to the city's former mayor. Another familiar face, Kalifa, was already there, holding a pile of documents. She had been waiting for some time.
When the two men entered the temporary command room, she nodded and put the documents on the table.
"Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon), these are all the documents we've been able to collect. Please take a look."
"Alright, just leave them there," Rowen replied, taking the main seat without hesitation and lighting a cigar.
"I can smell the stench of conspiracy!"
"Let's see what you're up to, Orrick!"
---
'(End of Chapter)'