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Chapter 62 - Chapter 062: Abort Mission!

"Are you sure you're alright?" Usopp's voice cut through the ringing in my ears, concern evident in his tone.

I looked at myself, taking inventory of my various injuries. Burns all over my body, cuts and bumps in many places, my clothes were torn to shreds, and I was pretty sure I had at least five broken ribs.

"I am…Fine," I replied, my voice hoarser than I'd expected. "Don't worry about that."

'Fine. Battered, burned, emotionally drained, and running on empty... but fine.'

I looked down at the two swords in my hands. The Sword of Gryffindor gleamed with its familiar ruby-embedded hilt, still looking pristine and untainted despite the carnage we'd just endured.

But it was the other sword that held my attention—the Barbossa sword that had been stolen from me two years ago. The blade that had cost me so much pain to retrieve.

'Two years. Two goddamn years since this thing was stolen from me.'

I sheathed the Gryffindor sword and held up the Barbossa blade, examining it more closely. The Barbossa sword looked exactly as I remembered it—ornate, deadly, and with that distinctive broken-tip design that made it look like someone had snapped the blade at the wrong moment.

Usopp leaned in, squinting at the weapon. "I can understand why someone would call it broken," he said, pointing at the jagged design of the tip. "Looks like it got snapped at the top or something."

Roronoa stepped closer, his eyes studying the blade with professional interest.

"Now that you have the sword back, can you do the same thing as that guy?" He gestured toward Gyaro's motionless form.

I shifted the sword in my grip, getting familiar with its weight again. "No," I said simply.

"That was mainly his own skill. He was just using the sword to amplify his Fishman Karate and Fishman Jujutsu techniques."

Which is totally bizarre. Even though most of what Gyaro said was his own wrong speculations, after seeing it with my own eyes, I can't deny that this sword was really suited for fishmen. Which sounded like something beyond coincidence when you think about it.

'Sword of Poseidon, huh…Yeah, no way.'

I reached into my Dimensional Bag and pulled out the sheath I'd been carrying for two years, waiting for that moment again. I fastened it to my belt, which had somehow survived the battle intact.

'Funny how some things endure while others fall apart. My belt survived a magical, supernatural fight with a fishman pirate, but my faith in human society died on a blackboard in a middle school classroom.'

Life's priorities are fascinating.

Usopp glanced over at Gyaro and immediately looked away, his face going pale. "Man, you really had a tough fight with that guy."

I followed his gaze and had to admit he had a point.

Gyaro looked like he'd been put through a meat grinder—both arms gone, the right side of his skull caved in, burns and cuts covering every visible inch of skin. Blood pooled beneath him in an ever-expanding crimson lake.

'It's funny how people react to violence when they see the aftermath. During the fight, everything seems justified, necessary even. But once the adrenaline fades and you're looking at what you've done...'

"He's alive," I said, noting the shocked expressions on both Usopp and Roronoa's faces.

'Yeah, I know how that sounds. Looking at him, you'd think death would be a mercy at this point. But fishmen are tough bastards, and Gyaro was a bastard tougher than most.'

The guy's tenacious, I'll give him that. But he's got minutes at most.

Usopp's expression shifted to something that might have been guilt. "Is it... Okay to just leave him like that? He's going to die if we don't do something."

'And there it is—the predictable human response to suffering, even when that suffering belongs to someone who just tried to kill us. We're such wonderfully contradictory creatures.'

I nodded and walked over to Gyaro, placing my boot on his leg. I let a small amount of Hamon flow through the contact—not enough to heal him properly, just enough to stabilize his larger wounds and make them more manageable.

'This is the extent of mercy I can afford to someone like him. Whether he lives or dies after this is his own problem.'

"That's all I can do for him," I said, stepping back. "The rest is up to his fate."

'It's not because I'm being soft-hearted—I learned to abandon that luxury two years ago. I've got enough blood on my hands to paint a small house.'

'But somewhere deep down, there's still a part of me that wants to believe I can be the naive kid who worried about verbal sparring matches with his girlfriend, instead of actual sword fights. Even though I know it's impossible.'

"Have either of you seen my pistol?" I changed the subject before anyone could comment on my moment of uncharacteristic mercy.

Usopp perked up, apparently grateful for the distraction. "Yeah, I saw it over that way." He pointed toward a pile of rubble and immediately jogged off to retrieve it.

I pulled out a fresh shirt, cloak, and hat—pants will have to wait—from my Dimensional Bag, feeling the bangs of pain as I was putting them on. The familiar weight of the wizard's ensemble felt comforting after the battle.

"You sure you don't need one of those magical beans?" Roronoa asked, eyeing my injuries. "Like the one you gave me? You look pretty beat up."

'I can sense his worry, but…'

"Depends on the news of the fight," I replied, fixing the hat over my head. "Though seeing you two here is hopeful."

Roronoa's expression brightened slightly. "All the fishmen are down except Arlong. Luffy's fighting him now."

'Good. That means we actually pulled this off. Against all odds and common sense, we managed to take down an entire crew of superhuman fish-people with what amounts to a ragtag group of misfits, idealists, and a shit ton of guns.'

"Then I won't need the Beans. I'll heal after some rest."

Roronoa watched as golden energy began to flow around my wounds from my face to all over my body, accelerating the healing process.

"That's sure a convenient thing. Is it because of that shiny aura thing you do? I thought it was just useful in battle."

"It can be useful for many things," I said, adjusting my new cloak. "It all depends on how you apply it."

'Like most tools, its effectiveness is limited only by the creativity and knowledge of its user.'

Though I suppose that's true of most things in life—social manipulation, combat techniques, even something as simple as making coffee.

Roronoa went quiet for a moment, and I could practically see the gears turning in his head. Finally, he spoke up. "So... you planning to have a spar soon? Test out your new toy?"

'And there it is. He's concerned about my health and the aftermath of the battle, yes—but he is just as interested in testing himself against me.'

I have to admire his single-minded dedication to improvement, even if his subtlety needs work.

"You're really bad at hiding your intentions," I said with a dry look.

Roronoa clicked his tongue and looked away, embarrassed. "I wasn't trying to hide anything."

'Huh? What is that? Why are you acting tsundere? It is disgusting on your macho face, so can you stop it? Please don't do it again.' I gave him my best 'are you kidding me' look.

"Right…Maybe later—there's a lot of work that needs to be done after this."

Like dealing with the aftermath of a major pirate crew's defeat, handling the inevitable Marine response, and making sure the locals don't get themselves killed before the celebration.

'The fun never ends.'

Usopp returned a few moments later, holding my custom flintlock carefully. "Found it!"

"Thanks," I said, taking the pistol and holstering it. The familiar weight on my hip was reassuring. "Let's go check on your captain."

They both nodded, and we started walking toward the sounds of combat. Each step reminded me just how badly I'd been hurt—my ribs protested with every movement, and my legs felt like they were made of lead.

'Even with Hamon healing my wounds and easing the pain, I am really that wrecked, aren't I?'

As we approached the demolished tower where Luffy and Arlong were fighting, debris continued to rain down from above. Pieces of furniture, chunks of stone, and what looked like part of a desk flew out of the building in rapid succession.

CRASH!BOOM!SMASH!

'Nothing quite says "epic final battle" like the complete destruction of a building. Though I suppose subtlety was never Luffy's strong suit.'

When we emerged in front of the crowd that had gathered to watch, the reaction was... unexpected.

"He's okay!" someone shouted.

"The Sorcerer made it!"

"Thank god he's alive!"

Utter bewilderment. That's the only way to describe what I'm feeling right now.

'Since when do people care about whether I live or die? This is not how the world is supposed to work.'

"DEAD-EYES-ANIKI!!"

Yusako and Johnny pushed through the crowd toward us. "Everyone was worried about you fighting that freak Gyaro," Yusako said. "When things went quiet on your end, we thought..."

"We thought the worst," Johnny finished.

I stared at the crowd, unsure how to respond to this display of genuine concern. In the back, I spotted Nami standing apart from the others, her expression unreadable.

'This is why I prefer operating alone. People caring about your welfare complicates everything. It creates expectations, obligations, and emotional baggage that I'm not equipped to handle.'

Suddenly, a rubber leg stretched impossibly high into the air above the tower.

GOMU GOMU NO...

The leg came down with tremendous force.

AXE!

The impact sent up a massive cloud of dust and debris, obscuring our view of the battlefield. For a moment, nobody moved—we all just stood there, waiting to see who would emerge victorious.

Before I could activate my Mantra to check on the situation, a familiar voice rang out from the wreckage.

"NAMI!" Luffy shouted, his voice carrying clearly over the settling dust. "YOU'RE MY FRIEND!"

Nami's response was immediate and emotional. "Yes!" she cried, tears streaming down her face.

When Luffy appeared from the ruins of the building, still standing while Arlong remained buried in the rubble, the crowd erupted in celebration.

"YEAH!""WE'RE FREE!""HE DID IT!"

This is it—the moment when hope triumphs over despair, when the underdog defeats the seemingly invincible enemy.

'It's almost enough to make a cynic believe in happy endings. Almost.'

I released a long breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Relief washed over me, followed immediately by exhaustion.

We actually did it. Against all odds, common sense, and basic survival instincts, we took down the Arlong Pirates.

'The plan worked at least, even with some hiccups. But I suppose there's something to be said for the power of friendship and determination after all.'

The villagers began celebrating their freedom, dancing and cheering with an enthusiasm that would have been infectious if I hadn't been running on fumes. However, their joy was quickly threatened when Nezumi and his Marines tried to claim Arlong's treasure for themselves.

"By Marine authority, all pirate treasure is forfeit to the World Government!" Nezumi declared, his rat-like features twisted in greed.

'Ah, yes, the inevitable arrival of corrupt authority figures looking to profit from others' suffering. Some things are universal, regardless of which world you find yourself in.'

What followed was a swift and satisfying beating courtesy of Nami and the rest of the Straw Hats. I decided to conserve my energy for the work ahead, though I had to admit I enjoyed watching them pound the corrupt Marines into the ground.

I pulled out a couple of energy bars from my Dimensional Bag and settled in to enjoy the show.

WHACK! Nami's staff connected with Nezumi's skull.

THUD! Sanji's kick sent one Marine flying.

CRASH! Roronoa's sword hilt knocked another unconscious.

'I think this is what it feels like to enjoy watching those MMA fights. It's probably not healthy to enjoy it this much, but I've given up pretending to be a good person long before waking up in this world.'

Kowalski, the petty officer who took so much money from me and now wanted to profiteer from my literal sweat and blood, caught my eye as he was being pummeled.

He actually had the audacity to call out to me for help.

"Hey! Ow! Hiki-Hikigaya! It-It's Mee! OWW!!! Help Meee! Ow!"

I looked him directly in the face, took another bite of my energy bar, and continued chewing slowly while maintaining eye contact.

'No matter how rotten you are, there is a limit to how petty and shameless you can be—Talking from experience as a rotten person myself—Because when you reach that point, you will deserve to be the guy who is getting beaten in the Movie or Anime, while we watch them as we eat snacks.'

After what felt like an appropriate amount of suffering, Nezumi and his subordinates retreated, with the rat-faced captain swearing revenge against Luffy.

'Empty threats from a defeated enemy. How very appropriate for a petty criminal.'

Once the corrupt Marines were gone, it was time to get to work. I stood up, brushing crumbs from my new cloak.

"Alright, everyone," I called out, my voice carrying over the celebrating crowd. "Time to clean up."

The celebration died down as people turned their attention to me. I reached into my Dimensional Bag and pulled out a large pile of shackles and handcuffs.

'Nothing says "party's over" quite like the sight of restraints. But someone has to think about the practical matters while everyone else is caught up in the euphoria of victory.'

"I need the villagers to cuff every single fishman," I announced, gesturing to the pile of restraints. "Make sure they're secure—these guys are a lot stronger than humans, even when unconscious."

Several villagers stepped forward to collect the shackles, their expressions serious now that they had a job to do.

"Next group," I continued, "head to the village and use the Den Den Mushi to call the Marines. Contact anyone except the 16th branch—we need clean Marines to come collect these prisoners."

Because the last thing we need is more corrupt officials showing up to 'handle' the situation. Better to deal with incompetent but honest Marines than competent but crooked ones.

A group of older villagers nodded and headed off toward Cocoyasi Village.

"Third group, check on the ambush team we left on the other side of Arlong Park. Make sure no fishmen tried to escape in that direction during the chaos, and bring our people back here."

More volunteers stepped forward and jogged off to complete the task.

"Last group, spread the word to the other villages. Let them know Arlong and his crew are finished."

The remaining villagers cheered and dispersed to carry out their assignments.

I turned to the Straw Hats and the two bounty hunters. "Yusako, Johnny, help the villagers in case any of the fishmen are playing dead or trying to make a break for it."

"You got it, Aniki," Yusako said with a grin.

"What about us?" Sanji asked, gesturing to himself and the other Straw Hats.

"Same thing," I replied. "Keep an eye out for trouble. These fishmen are tough, and desperate enemies do stupid things."

'Plus, it'll keep you busy while I handle the more delicate matters that require finesse rather than brute force.'

Even though they grumbled about being given guard duty, everyone moved off cheerfully to complete their tasks. There's something to be said for the satisfaction of productive work after a hard-fought victory.

With the immediate security concerns handled, I made my way to the waterside of Arlong Park. The area was still burning from the incendiary rounds we'd used at the start of the battle—the water itself was on fire, creating an almost surreal scene.

I got as close as I safely could to the flames and activated my Stand. Slowly, carefully, I began exchanging the burning water for ice, bit by bit.

HISS! Steam rose as the flames met the ice.

CRACK! The temperature differential created stress fractures in the frozen water.

SPLASH! Chunks of melting ice fell back into the regular water below.

Behind me, I could hear the villagers working and occasionally commenting on my actions.

"What is he doing over there?" someone whispered.

"He is using his magical abilities," another person replied with certainty. "Look, he's turning the fire into ice!"

"The fire's getting smaller bit by bit!"

'Magical abilities. If only it were that simple. Though I suppose from their perspective, the distinction between Stand and magic is largely on semantics.'

While I worked, I pulled out the Sparrow Compass and began checking on a few things. Most importantly, I wanted to locate Arlong's vault. The compass disk spun wildly for a moment before pointing steadily downward when I held it at an angle.

'As expected, huh. Why have a vault in a normal, accessible location when you can dig a bunker that only you can reach?'

While I am sure I don't remember anything like that in the Manga. I know better than to trust my Manga knowledge blindly—I don't remember much from it anyway—and this is a real world, not a Manga, and I shouldn't treat it as such.

By the time I finished dealing with the burning water, people were beginning to report back on their completed tasks. The efficiency was actually impressive—these villagers had been living under oppression for years, and they clearly knew how to work together when motivated.

One of the villagers approached me, slightly out of breath from running. "We found what looks like a big safe with a lot of money inside it."

'Too easy. Arlong's smarter than that, and fishmen are naturally associated with underwater environments. The obvious vault is probably a decoy.'

"That's not the real vault," I said simply.

The villager blinked in confusion. "But... It's full of money."

"Trust me," I replied. "Arlong's a fishman, water for them is like air for us, so if he were to hide something valuable in the middle of a human population, it would be under water."

I pulled out my Hamon Pendulum and began sending Hamon to it, the energy Ripple spread in sonar-like waves to map the area beneath Arlong Park.

A large hollow space registered a bit further below the surface.

'There we go. A bunker system deep underground, just as I suspected. The question now is how to access it.'

I used the compass again to find the entrance, and the needle pointed directly toward the water.

'Yep, the only entrance is underwater. Because why would make anything convenient for filthy air-breathing humans?'

"The entrance is underwater," I announced to the gathered crowd. "I'm going down to check it out."

Sanji stepped forward immediately. "Want us to come with you?"

"No need," I replied. "I didn't pick up any signs of life down there, and it's better if most of the striking force stays here until the Marines arrive. Just in case any of the fishmen wake up and cause trouble."

"I'm going with you." Genzo, the village sheriff, stepped forward with determination written across his scarred face.

"Me too." Nojiko pushed through the crowd.

'The protective instincts of people who've been fighting this battle far longer than I have. I can respect that, even if it complicates things.'

About a dozen other villagers volunteered, each giving their own reasons for wanting to help. They all sounded noble and selfless, but I could read the real motivations behind their words.

'Genzo wants to see justice done personally. Nojiko needs closure after years of watching her sister suffer. The others are curious about what treasures might be hidden down there, and some are not trusting me or the others enough to leave it to us alone, though they'd never admit it. Everyone has their reasons, and they're all perfectly human.'

"I am going too!" Nami stepped forward as well. "I've been working with these fishmen for a long time. There might be something I can help with."

'And there's the most complex motivation of all. Guilt, curiosity, disappointment, a need to face the demons of her past—Nami's psychology is a fascinating maze of trauma and resilience.'

I considered the group that had assembled. Having more people along would complicate things, but it would also provide witnesses to whatever we found.

'Though I will have to work around this, I already have a decision on what the next move is with what we are going to find. And I won't take any objections, even if I had to act like the villain.'

"Alright," I said finally. "But stay close and follow my lead. We don't know what kind of security measures might still be active down there."

With everyone ready, we moved toward the water as I put my cloak and hat into the Dimensional Bag. I opened the compass to confirm the direction, then activated my Hamon Pendulum to survey our surroundings as we prepared to dive.

'Finally, a treasure hunt after so long. Well, it was not that long, but with how much I had to go through in the past few days, made me think I had been at it for months.'

I pulled out a small oxygen inhaler and activated my Hamon, the golden energy crackling around my body like controlled lightning.

'Okay, we are on. While I feel bad that I didn't give them one, it will delay us. For I will need to explain what it is and give them a crash course on how to use it.'

The water was surprisingly clear now that the fires had been extinguished, and I could see the rocky bottom of the artificial harbor, somewhere down there, hidden beneath layers of stone and coral.

We dove into the crystal-clear water. I kept the Sparrow Compass steady in one hand while using my Hamon Pendulum to survey our underwater surroundings.

The golden energy rippled outward through the water like liquid sunlight, mapping the terrain ahead.

As we approached what should have been the entrance, my Mantra suddenly detected something massive moving toward us from the side.

'Oh, you've got to be kidding me.'

The approaching creature was the cow sea monster we'd encountered when we first arrived at this godforsaken island—the same one we had beaten into submission for our dramatic and ultimately disastrous entrance.

'Of course, Arlong would use it as a guard dog. Nothing says 'underwater security system' quite like a huge sea cow with abandonment issues.'

The massive creature was clearly approaching with hostile intent, its huge bulk cutting through the water with surprising speed. I immediately swam forward to intercept it, putting myself between the beast and the civilians.

'Because apparently, my role in this group has evolved from "mysterious treasure hunter" to "designated monster interceptor." The things I do for people I barely know.'

I unsheathed the Gryffindor sword and charged it with concentrated Hamon energy. The blade gleamed with silver power as I prepared to strike.

'Hamon—Crushing Wave!'

WHOOOM!

The technique worked even better underwater than I'd expected. The Hamon energy traveled through the water like a massive invisible fist, conducting freely through the liquid medium. The wave of the—now blue—sun-powered energy slammed into the sea cow's head with tremendous force.

SPLASH!BOOM!

'This feels remarkably similar to Fishman Karate. Interesting.'

I made a mental note to explore this connection later, as I now have a more important matter to think about.

The creature's enormous frame was hurled backward through the water, creating a powerful current that nearly knocked the villagers off balance.

'And there's the delayed reaction from my audience. Right on schedule.'

The villagers finally registered what had happened, their eyes wide with shock and awe as they watched the massive sea king struggle to regain its bearings.

The sea cow's eyes went wide with recognition and fear. It remembered me, alright—and clearly didn't want a repeat of our previous encounter.

"MOOOOO!"

The creature's call echoed through the water as it heard something calling from far away.

Without hesitation, it turned tail and swam away at maximum speed, disappearing into the murky depths.

I watched it retreat until I was certain it was completely gone, though my body was already protesting from the exertion.

'My injuries are still far from healed. I've got maybe two or three more techniques like that before I'm completely useless. Better make them count.'

Turning back to the others, I gestured that the danger had passed. The relief on their faces was palpable, and I could see them starting to relax as the immediate threat disappeared.

Nothing like a little underwater monster wrestling to build confidence in your leadership abilities. Though I suppose 'fake it till you make it' has been my motto since day one in this world.

I pulled out the compass again and used my Hamon Pendulum to relocate the entrance to the underwater bunker. The energy waves bounced back, revealing the hidden structure beneath the rocky outcropping.

At first glance, it looked like any other piece of underwater rock formation. But on closer inspection, there was a well-concealed door shape cut into the stone.

Rather than waste time searching for an opening mechanism, I unsheathed the Barbossa sword and activated its object-controlling power.

The blade hummed as I directed it toward the door.

RUMBLE!

The hidden entrance shifted and opened, revealing the passage beyond.

The villagers' eyes widened with awe as they witnessed what they probably considered another display of my "magical abilities." I ignored their stares and swam inside.

The interior was surprisingly simple—an empty room with what appeared to be a glass ceiling and metal stairs leading upward.

My Hamon Pendulum revealed that the "glass" was actually some kind of specialized resin.

'Ingenious, actually. A permeable barrier that keeps the water out while allowing access somehow. Whoever designed this understood both engineering and the limitations of their materials.'

I touched the barrier experimentally, applying gentle pressure. My hand passed through the resin-like material, confirming my hypothesis. The other side was full of air that should be breathable.

'A pocket of atmosphere beneath the ocean floor. The engineering required for this is actually impressive, even if the architects were homicidal fish-people.'

I climbed the metal stairs and passed through the barrier, emerging into what appeared to be a well-lit hallway. Lights lined the ceiling, and aquariums lined both walls.

'Air-filled corridors beneath the ocean, complete with lighting and climate control. Either the Arlong Pirates were more sophisticated than they appeared, or this is some kind of common technology from Fishman Island. I will need to check it later with Zeff's Log Book.'

What caught my attention weren't the impressive engineering features, but the contents of the aquariums.

Instead of fish or other sea life, they were filled with broken pieces of what looked like coral, all sized to fit in a human hand.

'Coral collection? That's either the most mundane hobby for a pirate crew, or there's something more to these pieces.'

I removed one of the pieces from an aquarium and examined it closely. The texture was wrong for coral—too uniform, too artificial.

The top section felt softer than the rest, almost like a button or trigger.

Curious, I pressed down on the softer area.

POP!

A small bubble emerged from a hole in the bottom, made of the same resin material as the barrier below.

'Ah. So this is how they create those barriers. Ingenious, actually. A portable barrier generation system. I wonder what other tricks they had up their scaled sleeves.'

The rest of the diving party began emerging from the water barrier, their expressions ranging from amazement to confusion.

"What was that barrier made of?" one of them asked.

"I didn't expect to find a place like this under Arlong Park," another commented.

'The universal human response to discovering something beyond their understanding—endless questions and commentary.'

Though I suppose I can't blame them for being curious, as I myself find this very interesting, especially that…Bubble-Coral? thing.

Several villagers turned to Nami for answers, but she looked just as surprised as everyone else.

"I had no idea this place existed," she said, shaking her head. "Even after working with them for all these years."

Nojiko's expression darkened. "Those bastards never trusted you at all in the end, did they?"

'And there's the painful realization that often comes with liberation—understanding just how thoroughly you were manipulated and controlled. Nami's relationship with the Arlong Pirates was never a partnership; it was elaborate pet ownership.'

I could feel the mood shifting toward something darker, so I decided to redirect their attention before anyone could dwell too deeply on past humiliations.

"We should explore quickly and get back to the surface," I said, demonstrating the coral-like device. "The others will worry if we're gone too long."

'Plus, the longer we stay down here, the more time people have to think about the implications of what we might find. Treasure has a way of bringing out the worst in people, and I'd prefer to avoid that particular complication.'

The villagers agreed, and we began exploring the facility room by room.

The layout was more extensive than I'd initially expected—this wasn't just a vault, it was an entire underground complex.

The first room we encountered was a massive arsenal, stacked floor to ceiling with every conceivable type of weapon.

'Holy—'

Swords, guns, explosives, and several items I couldn't immediately identify filled the space.

'Good thing I sealed off the water with fire barrier at the start of the battle. If any of the fishmen had escaped and accessed this armory, we'd all be dead right now.'

"This room needs to be examined and sorted very carefully," I told Genzo. "Some of these weapons look extremely dangerous."

"Understood. We'll need to catalog everything." The village sheriff nodded grimly, understanding the implications. Weapons this advanced in the hands of desperate criminals could threaten the entire East Blue.

The next room we explored was even more interesting—a massive records office filled with account books, correspondence, and detailed surveys of islands throughout the East Blue.

I found detailed records of bribes paid to Marine officers in both the 16th and, surprisingly, the 12th branches, along with strategic assessments of dozens of islands.

But what really caught my attention was a large collection of scrolls containing detailed instructions for Fishman Karate and Fishman Jujutsu techniques, including several secret techniques.

'This is... incredible.' A complete martial arts library. After experiencing their techniques firsthand—painfully so—having access to the actual instruction manuals is like striking gold.

'This was a treasure trove beyond anything I could have hoped for. The combat applications alone were staggering, considering the potential connections to what Hamon can do.'

Without hesitation, I began transferring the scrolls into my Dimensional Bag. This knowledge was far too valuable to leave behind or risk being destroyed.

"I'll make copies of these for the villagers once we return to the surface," I told Genzo.

He looked at me and shook his head firmly. "We have no need for such things. No one here would want to learn the ways of those monsters, even their fighting techniques."

'Predictable human response to trauma—rejecting anything associated with the source of pain, even when it might be beneficial. Though I suppose I can understand the sentiment.'

"You should have copies regardless," I insisted. "Even if no one chooses to study them, it's your right to possess this knowledge."

'Knowledge is power, and power should belong to those who've earned it through suffering. These people have more than paid for the right to defend themselves.'

Finally, we reached the main vault. The massive, heavily fortified door stood at the end of the central corridor like a monument to paranoia and greed.

"Everyone back up," I ordered, raising my hand. "In case there are traps or security measures I missed with my detection."

'My paranoid nature has kept me alive this long. No point in abandoning caution now just because we're close to the prize.'

I used the Barbossa sword's power again and directed it toward the vault mechanism. The complex locking system responded to my control, tumblers falling into place with mechanical precision.

CLANK!WHIRR!THUNK!

The massive door swung open with appropriate grandeur, revealing the contents within.

'Holy...'

The amount of wealth inside was beyond anything I'd imagined. Gold, jewels, currency, and precious artifacts filled the space from floor to ceiling.

My rough estimate put the total value in the tens of billions of berries.

'This isn't just treasure. This is the accumulated wealth of an entire region, stolen over years of systematic oppression.'

The villagers stood in stunned silence, their minds clearly struggling to process the sheer magnitude of what they were seeing.

"Is…Is this…a dream…?"

"By the heavens…"

"I can't believe it," another whispered.

"It's more money…than I've ever imagined…in my entire life," another added.

'It's time…'

And here comes the moment I've been dreading. Nothing reveals human nature quite like the sight of more money than anyone could spend in several lifetimes.

Before any unfortunate ideas could take root in anyone's mind, I spoke up in a clear, authoritative voice.

"All of this money will go to the Bellmère Foundation."

The effect was immediate and dramatic. Every person in the room stopped what they were doing and turned to stare at me, their expressions ranging from confusion to shock.

'There it is—the moment when idealism collides with reality. Let's see how they handle it.'

Nami and Nojiko stared at me with expressions I couldn't quite read, while Genzo's scarred face showed something like thoughtfulness.

"What is…the Bellmère Foundation?" one of the villagers asked.

'Here we go.'

"The Bellmère Foundation is a charity organization that will be built using this money," I explained.

"Its purpose will be to improve the lives of everyone in the Conomi Archipelago—infrastructure, facilities, services for all the villages that suffered under Arlong's tyranny. And of course, helping the struggling families and orphans who lost loved ones to those bastards."

'Practical, and charitable. It keeps the money from driving everyone insane with greed, and transforms the one-time windfall into an asset that could last them for generations.'

The logical solution to an illogical problem. You can't just distribute this much wealth randomly without creating new conflicts. But you can use it systematically to repair the damage that was done.

"It sounds grand, but do you have the knowledge and experience to create something like that?" another villager asked skeptically.

"No," I admitted, noting their bewildered expressions.

"That's why we'll need outside help. I know an accountant who has helped me with similar projects. I'll give you his Den Den Mushi number when we get back to the surface, and we will call him here directly."

'Honesty about limitations. It seems to confuse them, but it's better than pretending I can handle something beyond my expertise. That and he owes me a favor anyway. This should square us up nicely.'

"It sounds like a good idea," one of the older villagers said slowly. "But is it really necessary? We could just divide the money among all the villages."

I immediately shook my head. "Absolutely not."

'Here comes the uncomfortable truth about human nature and money.'

"The moment there's money involved, questions arise: 'Who paid more than whom? Who deserves more than whom?' I will not allow the victory and liberation of more than twenty villages to become a curse. Establishing the Bellmère Foundation is non-negotiable."

And that's not even considering the security implications. News that the Conomi Archipelago had suddenly become wealthy would attract every pirate crew in the East Blue. We'd be trading one tyrant for dozens of potential replacements.

Genzo stepped forward, his expression thoughtful. "I have no objection to this idea."

The other villagers looked puzzled by their sheriff's quick agreement, but Genzo wasn't finished speaking.

"I do have one question, though. Why the 'Bellmère' Foundation specifically?"

'And there's the question I was hoping to avoid.'

But if he's asking it directly, I suppose there's no point in trying to dance around the answer.

The other villagers caught on immediately, their gazes shifting to Nami and Nojiko. The two sisters were already covering their mouths, tears beginning to form in their eyes.

'Great. Now I have to explain something like that in front of a crowd of people.'

But the question had been asked, and there was no backing down from it now.

"Bellmère was the woman who first stood up to Arlong and his pirates," I said, keeping my voice steady despite the weight of the words.

"She paid with her life to protect her daughters and gave hope to this village, and everyone else who suffered under the tyranny."

As I spoke, I could see the villagers' expressions softening as they looked at Nami and Nojiko, who were struggling to control their emotions.

This is why I wanted to avoid this conversation. Emotional reactions are complicated, unpredictable, and generally make me want to flee to the nearest exit.

And honestly, I was actually embarrassed about voicing my thoughts like that.

'Come on, Hachiman. Finish this properly.'

"As…an homage to that woman's memory," I continued, "an organization designed to help the Conomi Islands for decades to come—no one deserves that honor more than—ARRGG!!"

I didn't get to finish my explanation because suddenly I found myself being hugged by someone, sending sharp flares of pain from my still-healing injuries throughout my entire body.

'It Hurts!! Who is…' It was Nami, she was crying as she held onto me with surprising strength.

My mind immediately went into panic mode, coupled with sensations of pain and things I am sure it is not appropriate to feel!!!

'Oh no. Oh no no no! This is not happening! I do not do hugs! I especially do not do emotional hugs from crying women in front of audiences!'

This is exactly the kind of situation I'm terrible at handling!

What am I supposed to do??

Pat her head?! No, too patronizing!!

Hug her back?!?! No, will send the wrong messages!!!

Say Something Comforting?!?! No, I'm Not Equipped For This Level Of Emotional Expression!!!

Abort! Abort! Abort! This level of reaction was not part of my calculations!

Before I could figure out an appropriate response, Nojiko appeared on my other side, wrapping her arms around both of us while crying and smiling simultaneously.

"So, you were listening. You were pretending to be disinterested, but you were actually listening all along. Thank you. Really, thank you very much," she said through her tears.

'PANIC! PANIC! ABORT MISSION!!! ABORT THE GOD DAMN MISSION!!!!!'

I looked desperately at Genzo and the other villagers, hoping for some kind of rescue from this emotional…Ambush!

Instead, I found them all smiling at each other with expressions of warmth and approval.

"If you put it like that," one of them said, "we don't have any choice but to cooperate."

Genzo was giving me what could only be described as a very small but distinctly murderous look while saying, "For Bellmère's legacy, and for the sake of this village and the whole Conomi Archipelago, we'll have to see this Bellmère Foundation through to completion, no matter what it takes."

"Yeah, let's do it!"

"For Bellmère's and Nachan's legacy and sacrifice!"

"Like this, Bellmère and everyone else will rest in heaven…"

The other villagers responded with enthusiastic agreement, their voices echoing through the vault.

'…Can someone tell me what the hell is going on…?'

This is not what I was expecting. I prepared for greed, resistance, and complex negotiations about resource distribution. I did not prepare for emotional gratitude and unanimous support.

And there I stood, trapped in the middle of what felt like the world's most awkward group hug, surrounded by treasure that would reshape the entire region, while a crowd of people I barely knew committed themselves to a project that had started as a practical solution and somehow become a memorial to heroism and sacrifice.

'I really need to work on my communication skills...Somehow, I've managed to accidentally create the most emotionally resonant speech of my life without me knowing.'

A/N: Another Giga Chapter!

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