Chapter 315: The Pure Gold Ring
After sending Asie and Orga to a nearby island, Eric handed Asie an iron box and a box of Beli: "Inside this box is some pure gold. Although you've said you don't need it, and I'm not sure if this will bring you misfortune, I've decided to leave a little for you."
"Don't rush to reject it," Eric stopped Asie before he could speak. "You can throw it away or keep it; it's entirely up to you."
Eric patted Orga's head and said, "Orga, you need to communicate better with your dad from now on, no more throwing tantrums."
"I know!" Orga swatted Eric 's hand off her head with a dismissive look. "No need to tell me."
"Ha ha..." Eric chuckled lightly and handed Asie a slip of paper. "This is my phone number. If you ever run into any troublesome situations, just give me a call."
"Thank you." Asie, no longer wearing his torn white lab coat, took the slip of paper seriously, tucking it into his jacket pocket. He jokingly added, "I hope I'll never need to use this number."
"Yeah..." Eric turned around to leave, waving his sleeve as he bid farewell. "Well then, goodbye!"
The two stood on the dock, watching the steel warship disappear into the sunrise.
"They're gone."
"Hmph—" Orga turned her head. "It's much quieter without those guys around."
"So... what are your plans now?"
"Whatever comes will come. I've been living alone for 190 years, I've done everything, it's nothing."
"As long as I'm with my beloved daughter, nothing is a problem."
"Oh?" Orga blushed, giving a sly smile. "Hmph, though you're my dad, you've got a 197-year-old old lady for a daughter."
"She's still my daughter." Asie smiled. "Come on, let's bury this box."
"This is pure gold, though. Why?"
"This thing can bring disaster. Since Orga's illness is cured, I don't need it anymore."
"Then I don't need this either." Orga took the ring off her finger and placed it in the iron box. "I don't want to always be treated like a kid."
Asie smiled back. "Is that so? Let's bury it together then."
"Mm!"
Father and daughter's shadows stretched long in the morning light.
◇
That same day, Da Vinci was in the lab, cutting the pure gold into small pieces and setting them into the inner side of various rings she made.
"Next." Eric tossed Kakuzu a ring, which spun in the air and, as the ring covered the light, the flickering golden light fell into Kakuzu's hand.
"Setting the pure gold inside the ring..." Kakuzu glanced at the ring in his hand and habitually put it on his left middle finger.
[Kakuzu's affection level greatly increased, Friendship Level 2 (Close Friend) rose to Friendship Level 4 (Best of Friends), gaining 5 bond points.]
Since the mission to assassinate Hashirama failed, Kakuzu, having escaped back to the village, had been heavily punished by the village. After betting his life on the village and receiving such treatment, Kakuzu, filled with hatred, had taken the hearts of all the high-ranking members in the village. Until today, this was the first time he had trusted someone like this.
'Aside from trusting money, trusting others... doesn't feel bad either.' Kakuzu's green eyes were blocked by his eyelids as he turned and walked back to his room, continuously browsing through wanted posters and newspapers, committing enough information into his mind.
...
When Eric handed Trafalgar Law a few rings inlaid with pure gold, Law widened his eyes in surprise, his usual calm expression replaced by astonishment. He asked with uncertainty in his voice, "This is pure gold, the legendary rare metal that extends life. Are you sure it's okay to give it to us so easily?"
"Huh?" Eric responded, "The legend has become reality. Besides, aren't you my subordinate?"
"..." Law covered his forehead and continued, "The Heart Pirates wouldn't even be worth as much as one of these rings. If you're using pure gold to recruit crew members, I can't imagine how many pirates would rush to join."
Shaki, flustered, struggled to speak, "Y-yeah, this... this..."
Penguin nodded repeatedly from the side.
Bepo stretched his head, his round body turning into a long strip.
"Would you exchange Bepo's life for pure gold?"
Bepo pointed at himself, "Eh? Mine?"
Law answered decisively, "Not willing!"
"Then that's settled." Eric 's eyes showed disdain. "I don't trust people who betray their comrades for personal gain."
"Wait until you grow up and wear this, I don't want to lead a group of minors into battle."
"…I understand." Law carefully put away the ring, looking defeated. "Is this what it means to be a big shot?"
"No, I'm just an ordinary person. Without my comrades, I might be nothing."
Law: "…"
Eric patted Law on the shoulder. "Humans are creatures who urge each other forward, we succeed together, not alone."
Remaining with Shaki, Penguin, and Bepo, Law looked thoughtful.
...
"Is this for me?" In the restaurant, Artoria set down her fried fish and looked at the ring in her palm, which was gleaming, casting a golden hue on her pale hand. She turned her head and glanced at the blackened Holy Sword beside her before saying, "When I draw this 'Golden Sword of Victory,' time itself freezes for me. My body and appearance stopped growing and aging long ago. This thing is of no use to me."
Artoria finished Speaking and was about to return the ring to Eric .
"This is our bond," Eric curved Artoria's finger, making her grip the ring. "You're my comrade, everyone else has one, but you don't. That won't do."
"…Hmph." Artoria's pale face, devoid of color, showed a hint of red as she reluctantly said, "Well, in that case, I'll make an exception and accept it."
[Artoria Pendragon's affection increased, Friendship Level 3 (Trustworthy Friend) rose to Level 4 (Best of Friends), gaining 3 bond points.]
'This guy... is even more tsundere than Kurumi?'
Artoria's intuitive skill activated, and a sharp light shot out from her eyes. She glanced at Eric with suspicion. "Master, are you thinking of something bad?"
"N-no?" Eric shivered and quickly said, "I was thinking of getting you a dozen burgers, how about that?"
"What... a snack?" Artoria's anger immediately melted away. "Mmm... fine, I'll forgive your earlier rude thoughts."
...
"Darling, is this a proposal?" Miku asked happily, clutching Eric 's right hand. "I do!"
"…Ah." Eric , who seemed flustered and at a loss for words on the outside, was secretly very happy but didn't know how to respond.
'Is it 'yes'? Or 'I agree'? Or 'I accept'?'
"Wait for me!" Kurome, who happened to pass by, separated the two and explained, "Miku , every person on the ship got a ring with pure gold. This isn't a proposal!"
"Eh?" Miku tilted her head, confused. "Darling, this isn't a proposal?"
"Mm..." Eric , realizing it would be hard to explain otherwise, nodded. "Although they aren't exactly the same, every comrade has one."
"Really... I thought it was a proposal from you, Darling." Miku showed a disappointed expression, like a child whose favorite toy had been taken away.
"Mei..." Eric was about to comfort the downcast Miku .
Miku lifted her head and, with a cheerful tone, asked, "But this also means you want me to stay by your side forever, right?"
"Yeah," Eric nodded. "I want you to stay by my side forever."
"Ah... I'm so happy!" Miku pounced on Eric , tightly hugging him. Their bodies pressed close together.
"Wait..." Eric was instantly intoxicated by the sweet fragrance of a girl, mixed with the lavender scent of Miku 's perfume.
Kurome, standing nearby, whispered something unintelligible: "Master, does he want me to stay by him forever?"
...
Kurumi, in her room, opened her right hand and stared at the ring on her ring finger, lost in thought. "If only this were an engagement ring..."
"You can't just wait, 'I'," another voice came from the shadow.
Kurumi, irritated, responded, "I didn't call you, come in!"
"Hee hee hee." A figure with a white eye mask and dressed in a gothic lolita style appeared, "Eric gave everyone on the ship a ring with pure gold. 'I' need a unique diamond contract!"
"Exactly." Another voice joined in, "We need Eric to prepare a unique diamond ring for us!"
Another version of Kurumi, Bandaged Kurumi, appeared along with the voices.
"Wait, 'we'?" Kurumi raised an eyebrow, "You still have that unrealistic idea?"
"Your happiness is 'our' happiness, 'our' happiness is your happiness, don't you get it? 'I'?" Wind Kurumi answered in kind.
"Right..." The Kurumi with a white top hat appeared and was immediately pulled into the shadows by Kurumi. Her eyes gleamed with an ominous intent. "It's all because of you four. Last time, you made me embarrass myself in front of Eric and Esdeath—"
"You three get in there too!!"
A black-red shadow enveloped the room, muffling several cries inside.
◇
Eric , while clearing out a pirate crew he encountered, steered the Invincible toward the Whitebeard Pirates' direction.
In the freezer of the ship, there were more bounty hunters' bodies.
In the distance, the massive white ship, the Moby Dick, grew larger in the group's view.
"Dad!" A pirate in the lookout tower
noticed the approaching Invincible. "Eric's coming again!"
"Hmm?" Whitebeard put down his sake barrel, looking displeased. "This guy, just got rid of one of the Seven Warlords and is already here again. He sure knows how to bring trouble."
Marco rubbed his chin. "Eric's not the kind of pirate who's all brawn and no brains. He must have something important to say…"
"Whoosh!"
Just like last time, a cloud-piercing arrow flew toward Whitebeard.
"Always this move..." Whitebeard opened the envelope at the end of the arrow. "Hmm?"
The towering Jozu asked, "Dad, what does Eric want?"
"Hmph." Whitebeard snorted as he tore the letter. "He says he brought a doctor for me. My health is fine!"
"Eh?" Marco was taken aback and immediately advised Whitebeard, "Maybe you should let him try, Dad, your health..."
"My health is perfectly fine!" Whitebeard waved his hand, cutting Marco off. "Does he think I can't lift a sword anymore?!"
"The guy I injured last time had the nerve to mock my body!"
"I didn't mock your body, Whitebeard," Eric appeared on the Moby Dick.
"Ugh!" Eric 's arrival caused a commotion, and a circle immediately cleared around him.
"Eric, stop randomly boarding other people's ships!" Marco said dissatisfied. "Even if we're close, we're two different pirate crews..."
"Oh? So, I should just take my doctor and leave?"
"Uh..."
"Quick, quick!" Whitebeard waved his hand, dismissing them. "If you don't leave now, I'll sink you to the bottom of the sea."
"Don't, don't go..." Marco, trying to act like they were brothers, tightly grabbed Eric 's shoulder. "Eric , please bring your doctor!"
Whitebeard yelled, "Marco!"
Eric retorted, "This is Marco's filial heart, Whitebeard. If you're too stubborn, be careful that your sons all leave you."
"We'll never leave Dad!"
"That's right, Dad, we'll never leave you!"
The surrounding members shouted in unison.
"Ha ha ha... You speak well, lightning boy," Whitebeard said sarcastically. "I'm only agreeing to treatment because of my son."
Eric shrugged off Marco's arm. "...Good intentions met with ingratitude, I'm leaving!"
Marco quickly grabbed him again, "No, no, as long as you can cure Dad's stubborn illness, just say the word, Marco will come immediately!"
Eric shot back, "Whitebeard, listen up, I'm agreeing to treat you because of your son Marco. Don't be ungrateful."
Whitebeard: "…"
The rest of Whitebeard's pirates: "…"
The Invincible approached, and Law boarded the Moby Dick alone, walking to Eric 's side.
Facing the world's strongest, Whitebeard's immense presence pressed down on them. The young Law couldn't help but swallow repeatedly, his nerves showing through his facial expressions.
Eric comforted him. "There's nothing to fear. He's just an old man with no hair, and a bit taller."
Whitebeard grunted, "Kid, ever since we first met, you've been pointing out my hair. You'll get like this when you grow old too."
"That's absolutely impossible."
(END CHAPTER)
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