"Just being cautious."
Ian shrugged. "After all, the World Government probably already knows, and those guys aren't going to just watch us get the Pure Gold."
"That's true. Although I don't know if the legend is true, the World Government won't just let us succeed in any case."
Hearing Ian's words, Zephyr nodded, and his expression became serious. "Should we call a few more people over?"
"... No need."
Ian looked speechlessly at Zephyr, who had become even more cautious than he was, and then sighed helplessly. "Once we get it, we'll go back. If the World Government dares to make a move again this time, it'll probably be more than just the Five Elders coming. Although it sounds harsh, that kind of battlefield isn't something just anyone can participate in."
"Sigh…"
Zephyr sighed deeply, shook his head with a wry smile, and said, "Let's do as you say!"
"Oh, right."
As he spoke, his expression turned serious again, "Besides the CP0, it seems there's another force vying for it!"
"Another force?"
Upon hearing Zephyr's words, Ian also fell into thought.
He had some idea about the other force, but given how things had unfolded, he didn't know if it might be someone from the Golden Emperor's side.
"I understand. Ignore them. If they dare to reach out, just chop their hands off!"
"Alright, let's set off then!"
Zephyr nodded and didn't say anything more. He turned around, looked at the little girl being pulled by Binz behind him, and said with a smile, "Olga, don't worry, we're different from the World Government. We'll definitely keep our promise to you. Can you take us there now?"
"Kukukuku, of course, but if you die there, then it's not my fault!"
The blonde girl named Olga let out a sinister laugh, then looked at the group in front of her while holding up her ring and saying with a smile, "Actually, there's no destination at all. Just throw this into the sea, and your destination will appear."
Just as she was about to throw the ring into the sea…
"Wait a moment!"
Ian suddenly stopped them, then, ignoring the confused little girl, said directly to the confused Zephyr, "Let's find a more spacious and secluded area."
"A spacious, secluded area of the sea?"
Upon hearing Ian's words, Zephyr was taken aback. Although he didn't know why Ian said that, he nodded and directly called out to Binz, "Go and make the arrangements!"
"Yes, Zephyr-sensei!"
Upon receiving the order, Binz immediately went down and instructed the navigator to select a sea area.
Finding a spacious, secluded sea area is not difficult for this ocean; one can simply avoid the fixed shipping routes.
They quickly found a suitable place.
Immediately afterwards, Ian still didn't let Olga throw the ring into the sea. Instead, he had Zephyr use his powers to pull everyone else into his body. After changing to a sturdy but smaller boat, he took the ring from Olga under her confused and bewildered gaze.
Then, without waiting for her to say anything, he threw the ring into the sea.
In less than a second, the entire sea surged, as if some enormous creature were approaching.
Before Zephyr and Kuma could react…
"Splash splash splash…"
Giant waves surged, and a giant fish carrying a lantern emitting golden light appeared before them, opening its huge mouth wide.
...
Meanwhile, just as the anglerfish appeared.
The New World, on the giant ship that appears to be made of gold.
Inside the luxurious swimming pool, a figure surrounded by beautiful women held a Den Den Mushi, and a sharp smile appeared on his lips.
"Ian, the king of the West Blue, even a big shot like him has come?"
…
The acquisition of Pure Gold proceeded without any unexpected incidents. With Ian's prior preparations, the process of entering the anglerfish's belly went quite smoothly. Everyone remained together, and even the boat did not capsize.
Then, they successfully found Olga's father, Myskina Acier, inside the anglerfish's belly. Without any hesitation, Ian cleared up the misunderstanding between father and daughter. Afterwards, to express his gratitude, Myskina Acier agreed to give Ian the Pure Gold.
Meanwhile, after Ian, in the name of the leader of the Umbrella Corporation, promised to cure his daughter's illness and provide a place for the father and daughter who had been separated from the world for too long, Olga and Myskina Acier also agreed to go to the West Blue with them.
As for the other force that Zephyr mentioned, they still didn't appear even after they left the anglerfish's belly and killed it.
Not even the World Government sent anyone over.
It was so smooth that both Ian and Zephyr could hardly believe it.
Let's not even talk about the Golden Emperor. He probably thinks it's just a legend and doesn't really believe in immortality. Therefore, it's normal that he doesn't dare to provoke the Umbrella Corporation.
But the World Government... That made no sense at all.
Others may not know, but surely Ian does.
Besides power, immortality is also the reason why the World Government rules this ocean. As long as they possessed immortality, even if they encountered the most powerful enemies, they could outlast them!
Therefore, it is impossible for the World Government not to intervene.
To be honest, the fact that he didn't see the World Government made him uneasy, and he wondered if the World Government was plotting something.
But after thinking about it, he figured he already had the Pure Gold, so why should he care what kind of conspiracy the World Government had?
As long as the Five Elders dared to come to Ohara again, he wouldn't mind killing another one.
However, just after leaving the anglerfish's belly and taking a short rest, when they were about to depart…
A fleet slowly approached, making Ian and Zephyr wonder if the World Government had finally sent someone.
However, that is not the case.
When they saw that familiar flag, both Ian and Zephyr were taken aback.
"Gu ra ra ra ra!"
A familiar yet unique laugh rang out, and a colossal figure stood atop the enormous and distinctive ship, none other than Whitebeard, who had recently escaped unscathed from a public execution.
Ian and Zephyr: "...?"
So, the third-party force isn't the Golden Emperor, but Whitebeard?
Before the two could figure out what was going on…
"So it really is you, Ian?"