The entire Hell Pirates crew mobilized, going through all that trouble to hunt down the massive Lantern Fish in the waters around Alchemi Island. This stirred up memories of the old pure gold legend among some veteran powers.

Could the Hell Pirates have already gotten their hands on the legendary pure gold that grants immortality?

While these groups were still speculating, the Hell Pirates had already hauled the Lantern Fish back to the seas near Elan Island.

Brook had cut off the giant lantern from the fish and shipped it back to Baron Island, handing it over to Vegapunk to extract the pure gold and see how much they could purify. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Who knows—maybe there’d be a pleasant surprise!

Vegapunk was also studying the pure gold ring Brook had provided, examining all its functions and flaws. He’d even brought Myskina Acier under his wing.

No telling if they could crack the method for making pure gold!

As word of the Lantern Fish incident spread like wildfire, it was impossible to keep it hidden from so many eyes. The Hell Pirates’ flying fleet was always in the spotlight, constantly scouted by various forces.

Especially this time, when Brook rushed to intercept the Lantern Fish off Alchemi Island without even trying to hide his tracks. Even half the residents of Alchemi Island witnessed the fleet’s massive operation to take down the creature.

Now, a flood of organizations were sending intel agents into Elan Island to sniff out whether the Lantern Fish held any pure gold!

The World Government and Celestial Dragons, in particular, got wind of the slightest hint and grew even more excited. They dispatched a sizable number of CP spies to infiltrate Elan Island—and even the sky-high Baron Island!

...

Holy Land Mary Geoise.

Inside a lavish, towering hall, more than a dozen figures dressed in opulent attire gathered. Their hair was piled high atop their heads, and here in the Holy Land, they didn’t need those astronaut-like transparent helmets.

"You’ve all heard the legends of pure gold, right?"

The head of the Celestial Dragon Family spoke with excitement. These world nobles lacked for nothing—money, power—but their ultimate pursuit was endless pleasure.

Yet, in the face of mortality, everyone was equal!

Immortality had become their greatest dream!

For all these years, Lord Imu had only granted extended lifespans to the Five Elders. Even they, the Celestial Dragon family heads, were bound by the iron laws of birth, aging, sickness, and death, passing down their legacies generation after generation!

"Heh heh, the Hell Pirates are enemies of the Rosward Family. One of their heirs had his precious life snatched away by those filthy commoners!"

One Celestial Dragon family head chimed in suddenly, his tone dripping with mockery. Losing an heir to mere peasants? What a disgrace to the family.

"So, does that mean buying pure gold from Brook at a high price is off the table?"

The head of the Figarland Family asked. If it could be solved with money, it was no big deal. But the Hell Pirates’ power made outright seizure impossible!

Even Navy Headquarters had taken heavy losses against them—they were a tough nut to crack!

"Hmph! We don’t even know if pure gold really exists yet, and you’re all daydreaming. Better to figure out how to take down Brook and his crew. Then everything would be ours!"

The Rosward Family head’s face darkened with rage. His family’s sworn enemies might hold the pure gold that every Celestial Dragon coveted—it gnawed at him!

In the old days, they could get their hands on anything, even from pirate overlords!

These Celestial Dragons had planted plenty of pawns in the underground dark world’s forces. If pure gold surfaced, they could scheme to snatch it!

"Ho ho, for pure gold, I won’t be giving you any favors, old man. If Brook won’t sell to you, maybe he’ll sell to us! Worst case, this saint will trade him two top-tier Devil Fruits. I bet he’d jump at the chance!"

One Celestial Dragon family head laughed. Swapping Devil Fruits for pure gold? Totally worth it!

His words sparked interest in several other Celestial Dragon families. In the face of eternal life, what were a few Devil Fruits?

"Or we could deploy the ’national treasure’ to wipe out the Hell Pirates!!"

The Rosward Family head shot to his feet, shouting. Hatred for Brook burned in his eyes. If he couldn’t have the pure gold, better to destroy it all—no one gets it!

"You want to destroy the pure gold too?"

"Will your family foot the bill for activating the ’national treasure’? Kee kee~"

"Don’t you dare mess this up! If pure gold really exists, I will have your head!!!"

An ancient, frail Celestial Dragon family head barked loudly. His days were numbered, and now, with even a glimmer of hope for extending his life, how could he let it slip away?

The Op-Op Fruit hadn’t shown up in decades, maybe centuries—he couldn’t wait that long!

Suddenly, most of the Celestial Dragon families started warning the Rosward Family. Whether the pure gold rumor was true or not, they needed to confirm it first!

If Brook really had it, they wouldn’t care about ties to the Rosward Family. They’d do whatever it took to get it from him—high-price buys or trades with rare treasures...

"You... you all... hmph!"

The Rosward Family head stormed out of the meeting hall in a huff.

"Hmph, old man dares to give us attitude? His own spies got turned—total incompetence!!!"

"Yeah, I had my eye on that CP0 Stussy candidate too. He wouldn’t even trade her with me, and now she’s wasted on the Hell Pirates. What a squander!"

A lecherous-looking Celestial Dragon family head grumbled bitterly. Such a prime CP0 Stussy, gone just like that—and now a key officer in the Hell Pirates? Absurd!

"Let’s wrap up today’s meeting. First priority: Confirm if Brook really has pure gold. Then, everyone, do what you must to get it!"

The elderly Celestial Dragon family head declared, then hurried off himself, scheming ways to secure this life-extending prize.

The other Celestial Dragons dispersed, reaching out to their spies embedded in the New World—especially those in underground dark forces friendly with the Hell Pirates!

As for other powers, any family or organization with a bit of history had records of the Alchemi Island legends. Those upstarts less than a century old might not even know what pure gold was!

News from around the world filtered back to Brook through Mortomas.

"The pure gold intel might have leaked?"

The message left Brook quiet for a moment. He’d hoped to keep it under wraps and strike it rich quietly. Now, he needed a way to cool down the hype around pure gold!

This just showed how obsessed the old-guard powers were with something that could grant immortality!

"The best way to shift attention and stir up conflict is to start a war. Rocks, that guy—has he prepped to hit the Navy and God Valley yet?"

Brook muttered to himself. Rocks’ pace was too slow. Maybe he should fan the flames himself?

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Fanfic is finished 955 Chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg