One Piece : Start As Celestial Dragon And Take Down Hancock-Chapter 121: Doing good deeds.

Lakeman shifted his attention from the binding progress and gazed at the so-called oasis before him.

The sight was disheartening. The once-vibrant oasis was on the verge of drying up. Only a small puddle of water clung desperately to the bottom, while the surrounding grass had long since withered. A few scraggly trees remained, their leaves brittle and fading, struggling to survive in the unrelenting heat.

"Is this supposed to be an oasis?" Lakeman questioned, his tone carrying a note of disbelief. His words mirrored the thoughts of Kuzan and Titi, who stood silently beside him, their faces reflecting a similar sense of shock.

"Didn't the report claim this oasis could sustain itself for at least another year?" Titi added, her voice tinged with frustration. As queen, she had spent most of her time in the comfort of the palace and had little firsthand knowledge of the harsh realities outside. The stark contrast left her uneasy.

The village chief, his shoulders hunched as though burdened by despair, stepped forward to explain. "That's true... in theory," he began, his voice heavy with sorrow. "This oasis could have lasted a year if we had dug a well once it dried up. But it's a tragedy. This used to be a magnificent oasis—a medium-sized lake surrounded by lush trees. It was teeming with life, a sanctuary in this barren land. But under this merciless sun and the absence of rain, it has withered into this."

Lakeman stood silent for a moment, his blood-red eyes narrowing as he processed the chief's words. Then, with calm resolve, he stated, "Since we're here, let's fix it." His voice, though soft, carried an undeniable authority.

He turned to the group and raised his hand slightly. "Everyone, step back," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.

The villagers and Titi's entourage obeyed quickly, retreating to a safe distance. With a fluid motion, Lakeman gestured toward the sky. In an instant, a shimmering channel materialized above him, linking the heavens to his personal storage space.

Moments later, a torrent of water erupted from the channel, cascading down like a waterfall from the gods. The pillar of water, nearly ten meters thick, thundered into the parched oasis. The once-dry earth greedily absorbed the life-giving liquid as it filled the basin below. The flow showed no signs of stopping, and the oasis rapidly began to resemble its former glory.

The villagers who had accompanied them stood frozen in awe. Then, as the magnitude of the miracle sank in, they fell to their knees, tears streaming down their faces as they clasped their hands in prayer.

"It's a miracle! Only a god could command nature like this," one villager whispered, his voice trembling with emotion as he gazed at the colossal column of water.

"We'll never go to sleep thirsty again," another cried, his hands clutching his chest as tears of joy streamed down his weathered face.

"I've always dismissed the idea of Celestial Dragons being descendants of gods," a middle-aged man murmured, shaking his head in disbelief. "But now... now I believe it."

"You're wrong!" an elderly villager interjected, his voice choked with emotion. "Saint Lakeman isn't a descendant of a god. He is a god—a benevolent one, who has come to save us." His weathered hands trembled as he turned toward Titi. "We owe this miracle to Queen Titi for bringing such a divine being to us."

"All hail God Lakeman!" a young man shouted, his voice rising above the growing murmurs.

The villagers echoed the cry, their cheers swelling into a fervent chant.

"Hail Queen Titi!" others added, their gratitude spilling over as they praised the queen alongside Lakeman.

Meanwhile, back in the village, the spectacle of a towering pillar of water descending from the sky drew more onlookers. Work was abandoned as villagers rushed to the oasis, their curiosity and hope driving them forward.

At the oasis, the village chief and those who had arrived earlier remained kneeling, their voices hoarse from chanting Lakeman's name.

Kuzan and Pelle, watching the heartfelt gratitude and awe of the villagers, felt a surge of emotion. Even their usually stoic faces softened in the face of such profound faith and relief.

Titi, too, was deeply moved. Hearing her name celebrated alongside Lakeman's filled her with pride and validation. The decision to replace Kobra now felt unquestionably correct. She glanced at Lakeman, gratitude and admiration shining in her eyes.

Titi's gaze lingered on Lakeman's figure as a sly smile curved her lips. Her eyes slowly traveled downward, resting briefly at his waist, and she licked her lips seductively. 'It seems that when we return to the palace, I'll have to properly reward my future son-in-law,' she thought. However, her musings were abruptly interrupted by a voice.

"Saint Lakeman, the water inside your storage space... won't run out, will it?" Kuzan asked, his tone betraying a hint of unease.

The villagers nearby turned their gazes toward Kuzan, their eyes brimming with concealed hatred, as if he had uttered a blasphemy. To them, questioning Saint Lakeman was akin to questioning divinity itself.

Kuzan, feeling the weight of their animosity, shifted uncomfortably. Embarrassed, he regretted asking the question, but he had no choice. Sengoku had personally instructed him to gather intelligence about Lakeman's Devil Fruit. Kizaru had reported it to be a storage-based ability, but Sengoku refused to believe that someone as brilliant as Saint Lakeman would choose a seemingly mundane fruit.

Lakeman's lips curved into a small smile, sensing Kuzan's predicament. "Don't worry," he said lightly, "I have enough water stored to flood the entire kingdom of Alabasta if needed." His jest carried an air of reassurance, defusing the tension and sparing Kuzan further discomfort.

Then, turning to the kneeling villagers, Lakeman waved a hand and said, "You don't have to kneel. Stand up."

Despite his words, the villagers seemed ready to kneel again in reverence. Sensing their hesitation, Lakeman continued, "You may not know this, but the Alabasta royal family was one of the twenty founding kings of the World Government. Unlike the others, they chose not to become Celestial Dragons and remain in Mary Geoise. Instead, they returned to Alabasta to care for their kingdom. Moreover, Alabasta is a member of the World Government. It's only natural for me to help."

Still unconvinced, the villagers began to bow again. Lakeman glanced at Titi and signaled her with his eyes. Understanding his cue, Titi stepped forward gracefully.

"Your princess, my daughter Vivi, is engaged to Saint Lakeman," she announced, her voice carrying authority. "When Vivi comes of age, she will marry him. Consider this a gift from the future son-in-law of Alabasta to its people."

At last, her words reassured the villagers, though their gazes remained filled with reverence. They looked at Lakeman with fanaticism, their chants of his name growing louder.

The village chief approached Lakeman with cautious steps and bowed deeply. "Saint Lakeman," he said, his tone overflowing with gratitude, "the water has already risen to the level of the oasis at its peak."

Lakeman tilted his head slightly, a playful glint in his eyes. "Don't you want it to be even bigger? Grander?" Without waiting for a reply, he allowed the water to continue pouring, further transforming the oasis.

Soon, villagers from the nearby settlement arrived, their eyes wide with awe as they beheld the majestic sight. After a few inquiries, they learned of Lakeman's deeds and joined the others in chanting his name, treating him as a divine being, and showering him with endless thanks.

Nearly half an hour later, Lakeman raised his hand, stopping the flow of water. The channel closed, leaving behind a massive lake that extended far beyond the original oasis. Nearby vegetation, once withered, was submerged, and the surrounding area seemed poised for rebirth.

"This will be your new oasis," Lakeman declared, gesturing toward the magnificent lake. "Soon, fresh vegetation will thrive around it, turning this place into a paradise once again. It will provide enough water for several years, even under the scorching sun. I'll create similar water sources for other nearby villages. Use the water freely, but don't waste it."

"Hail Saint Lakeman!"

"Hail God Lakeman!"

"Hail Queen Titi!"

The air filled with cheers as the villagers praised their saviors.

Despite their pleas for Lakeman and his group to stay longer, he declined with a warm smile. "There are still many villages waiting for help. People are suffering and dying of thirst. If you wish to thank me, send a letter of gratitude to Queen Titi at the royal palace. That's enough for me."

His selfless words deepened the villagers' admiration for him, and their cheers echoed long after the group departed.

As they traveled on their Supper-Billed Ducks, Kuzan rode beside Lakeman, a hint of helplessness in his expression. "Saint Lakeman," he began, "you've already solved the problem here without needing my help. What exactly is my role in all of this?"

Lakeman chuckled, his tone light. "Don't worry, Kuzan. I handled it alone because there was already an oasis here, even if it was dried up. But in the villages ahead, where there are no water sources, I'll need your assistance. Your strength will be invaluable."

Encouraged by Lakeman's words, Kuzan nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips as they continued their journey toward the next village, leaving the rising sands in their wake.

Soon, they arrived at a new village. The village chief stepped forward, his eyes lighting up with recognition when he saw Queen Titi and Pell, Alabasta's strongest warrior and the king's personal guard. He greeted them politely, followed by the villagers behind him, who murmured curiously among themselves.

Titi introduced Saint Lakeman and Vice Admiral Kuzan, explaining the purpose of their visit. Noticing some lingering suspicion among the villagers, she added, "The oasis you rely on may be far from here, but surely you must have seen the massive water column descending from the sky."

"Water column?" The village chief's eyes widened in astonishment. "I thought these old eyes of mine were playing tricks on me—a mirage in the desert. I never imagined such an absurdly magnificent sight could be real." He bowed deeply before continuing, "Your Highness, Queen Titi, Saint Lakeman, Vice Admiral Kuzan, whatever you need, I am at your service."

"Come outside," Lakeman said with a smirk. "You'll see for yourself."

He turned and began walking toward the outskirts of the village, the others following closely behind. Despite their doubts, the villagers trailed after them, whispering in hushed tones.

They soon arrived at a clearing, roughly a hundred meters from the village. Lakeman surveyed the area and nodded approvingly. "This spot will do," he said.

Turning to Kuzan, Lakeman explained his idea for a water tank made of ice, detailing its structure based on designs from his previous life on Earth. "Can you do it?" he asked.

Kuzan chuckled confidently. "Don't worry, Saint Lakeman. Creating this is far simpler than crafting living birds of ice to fight enemies. My Devil Fruit ability allows me to create, shape and manipulate ice as I wish."

Under the villagers' amazed gazes, Kuzan raised towering pillars of ice that extended deep into the desert sands. Atop these pillars, he formed a massive water tank with a capacity of nearly five hundred thousand liters, constructed precisely according to Lakeman's design.

"It's done," Kuzan declared proudly. "As long as it's not attacked by someone strong, it should last nearly five years."

Lakeman smiled. Without delay, he opened the channel to his storage space. Once again, under astonished gazes, a powerful torrent of water poured into the tank. The sturdy ice construction held firm against the tremendous pressure of tons of water cascading into it every second. In under five minutes, the tank was filled to the brim.

Kuzan then created an ice lid for the tank and, following Lakeman's instructions, formed a wide spiral staircase of ice leading to the top.

Lakeman gathered the villagers and demonstrated how to use the tank. Pointing to an ice pipe connected to the tank, he explained, "Simply unplug this to let the water flow out. When you're done, plug it back in. The water will stay cold, clean, and safe to drink directly. This supply will last you two to three years, even in this harsh desert."

"Saint Lakeman is truly a genius to have designed this," Kuzan remarked, his voice filled with genuine admiration.

"Hail Saint Lakeman!"

"Hail Queen Titi!"

"Hail Vice Admiral Kuzan!"

The villagers were overwhelmed with joy, their voices echoing with cheers and heartfelt thanks. Many wept openly, overcome by the miracle before them.

Despite their gratitude and pleas for the group to stay longer, Titi stepped forward and tactfully revealed Lakeman's status. "Saint Lakeman is the future son-in-law of Alabasta. He will visit frequently, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to thank him."

This eased their reluctance, and the group departed amid waves of cheers and blessings.

As they traveled, Lakeman teased Kuzan, "So, how does it feel to be praised by so many people?" Without waiting for a reply, he sped up his pace, leaving Kuzan smirking behind him.

They continued their journey, stopping in each village to construct water tanks. By the end of the day, they had built tanks in seven villages, all too far from oases to rely on them without trekking miles through the desert. In every village, they left behind cheers, worship, and profound gratitude.

By the time they returned to the palace, it was already night. Despite their exhaustion, most wore happy smiles, satisfied with the good they had done.

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