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  "I'll bring your daughter back—in exchange for your services. I'll give you two years to consider my offer."

  Arthur pnned to witness the dawn of the Great Pirate Era, the crowning of the Pirate King, and the fall of the old guard—all firsthand. Recruiting a full crew and ciming territory would have to wait.

  "If you bring back my daughter, I'd do anything! Even die for you!" Acier's voice trembled with excitement at the prospect of seeing Olga again. "But I won't create more Pure Gold. It's the devil's work—a miracle born from chance, impossible to replicate!"

  Arthur chuckled. "I'm not interested in the Pure Gold." The gold on Alchemi Isnd in the third stomach was more than enough to create multiple bracelets.

  "I'll go get your daughter. Wait for me here."

  Lightning crackled, and he vanished from the cave.

  <><><><><><>

  Arthur's [Observation Hak monitored Olga in the second stomach, Tsuru tailing her, and Akainu and Garp in the first, still searching for an exit, their [Hak no match for his own.

  He wasn't worried.

  He could reach Olga easily. His priority was to replenish his stamina.

  The sheer size of the anglerfish's stomach was mind-boggling. What kind of energy could sustain such a massive creature?

  And this was just one of countless Sea Kings roaming the depths. The ones guarding Fish-Man Isnd were even rger—truly colossal.

  But Arthur didn't care about their size. To him, they were either edible or not.

  He flew to a nearby isnd, dense with forest, hunted some game, started a fire with his lightning, and ate his fill.

  <><><><><><>

  "Hee hee hee! I hope those idiots left—" Olga, covering her mouth, giggled, her voice filled with a sinister glee.

  Tsuru, having shadowed her for days, finally emerged, her voice weary. "Why not just search for the Pure Gold, child? Give it to the World Government, or to us Marines. It's better than it remaining hidden here forever, isn't it?"

  She was tired of waiting. Who knew where this anglerfish was taking them? They might never escape.

  "And there's a dangerous pirate who followed you in here. If he finds out about the Gold, he'll kill you and take it for himself." Tsuru painted a grim picture of Arthur's viliny, hoping to sway Olga towards the "righteous" Marines.

  "Oops! Busted!"

  Olga's eyes widened in mock surprise as she scrambled onto Elizabeth's back, ready to flee.

  "Heh...Vice Admiral Tsuru, talking trash behind someone's back? Is that standard Marine procedure now? Look at Roger, Shiki, Whitebeard—all victims of your propaganda." A mocking voice came from behind Tsuru.

  Actually, aside from Shiki—both Roger and Whitebeard had only retaliated against the Marines after being provoked. If the Marines had left them alone, they wouldn't have bothered. Roger, perhaps, had his own agenda. But Whitebeard? He only cared about his crew—his family.

  Roger, seeking the truth hidden by the World Government, had become a target.

  Sengoku's orders were to monitor Whitebeard.

  Garp's—to capture Roger.

  <><><><><><>

  The sudden voice startled Tsuru. She whirled around, her eyes widening as she recognized the figure standing before her.

  "Arthur! What are you doing here?" Her voice was sharp, ced with disbelief.

  He looked refreshed, as if he hadn't just fought a grueling battle. But the tremors that had shaken the anglerfish's stomach just a day ago—

  It clicked...

  Garp hadn't captured him. She adopted a fighting stance, her expression grim. "Tell me—what do you want?"

  "Vice Admiral Tsuru, don't look at me like that. As for what I want—Surely, with your intelligence, you can figure it out. I'm here for the Pure Gold." Arthur's smile was cold, indifferent.

  Olga, watching their confrontation, giggled.

  "Hee hee! They're going to fight! I can escape!" She cackled, her inability to hide her thoughts almost comical.

  Tsuru's face hardened. Arthur's intentions were clear.

  The Pure Gold granted extended life. If he acquired it, he would remain at his peak for centuries. A threat not just to the Marines—but to the entire world. She wouldn't let that happen.

  "I won't let you have it, Arthur! Not a vilin like you!" Her voice was filled with conviction. She would stop him—even if it cost her life.

  Arthur ughed. "Vice Admiral Tsuru, no offense—but you're not on Garp's level. He might be able to stop me. But you? You're not even close." His tone dripped with disdain.

  "Stopping vilins like you is a Marine's duty! I'll do whatever it takes—"

  "Enough!" Arthur roared, cutting her off. He was getting impatient. "Tell Garp to come and stop me. As for you—it's nap time."

  He vanished in a fsh of lightning, his fist rocketing towards her.

  "Too...fast—" That was Tsuru's only thought as Arthur's lightning-fast attack closed the distance.

  Even with her [Observation Hak—she couldn't react in time.

  The impact sent her flying backwards, her small body crashing into a rock formation.

  Rumble!

  The rocks colpsed, burying her beneath them.

  Tsuru, stronger than most Vice Admirals, was still no match for Arthur. Only Admiral-level opponents were worthy of his attention.

  Ignoring her, he turned to Olga, a small, sinister smile pying on his lips. He towered over her, his voice gentle but firm.

  "Come with me, little girl. Someone wants to see you."

  He looked like a creepy stranger offering candy to a child...

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