Olga glanced back at her deadbeat father, only to see him eagerly leading these strangers ahead without even bothering to come over and comfort her. It made her despise him even more.
Still, she was being carried along by Golden Lion Shiki into the lab—she couldn't escape even if she wanted to!
Myskina Acier disabled all the traps along the way, obediently guiding Brook and the others deep into the laboratory.
The moment he laid eyes on the Pure Gold, Brook couldn't help but hurry forward. He picked up the oval-shaped Pure Gold encased in a transparent glass bottle, where the solution inside effectively suppressed its dazzling glow!
"It's truly captivating. How many Pure Gold rings could this make?"
Brook eyed the chunk about the size of a child's fist, suspended steadily in the center of the bottle. Based on its volume, it could produce over a hundred rings like the one Olga wore!
"Mama~ Brook, does this mean we can stay young forever and live without dying?"
Charlotte Linlin was drawn to the Pure Gold in Brook's hand, her eyes gleaming with desire.
"I trust Brook wouldn't lie to us!"
Stussy's face lit up with obsession too. Sure, she could maintain her youthful looks, but she craved living even longer!
"Shyahaha~ This world will be ours from now on!!"
Golden Lion Shiki wore a manic expression. As long as they could live longer, one day they'd topple the World Government and become the new rulers of the world!
Redfield and Newgate felt a surge of excitement as well—immortality was something everyone yearned for, and they were no exception!
"Yohohoho, Pure Gold can indeed grant eternal youth and immortality, but we should have Vegapunk study it first. Nothing's perfect, after all.
From what Acier said, Pure Gold slows down the body's time through its light to achieve longevity. We don't know if that might hinder our current power growth.
So, let's confirm that first. If it does, we might need to reach our peak strength before wearing it!"
Brook decided to lay out the potential drawbacks of Pure Gold upfront. If it turned out that way, all their hard training would be wasted if their power stayed frozen like their age—that'd be a huge loss.
After all, every crew member was in a phase of explosive growth right now. If Pure Gold's light slowed cellular activity, it was better to hold off on wearing it for now!
"No problem, we're still young—we can wait!!"
The crew members chimed in agreement. They wanted immortality, but strength was even more crucial!
Without power, they couldn't even protect the Pure Gold!
"Alright! Let's head back for today. Shiki, bring this lab back with us! And if possible, haul the Lantern Fish's carcass too!"
Brook figured the Lantern Fish's body could feed Hell's 18 Islands for a long time!
"Shyahaha! Leave it all to me!!"
Golden Lion Shiki was fired up, taking on everything. Anyway, sticking with Brook meant his dream of ruling supreme wasn't far off!
"Crocus, treat this little girl's illness!"
Brook had the ship doctor, Crocus, save Olga from her terminal illness, South Blue Fever. Either the special medicine now or his Heal-Heal Fruit could cure her!
"You won't need this ring anymore. From here on, you can grow up again!"
Brook told Olga. Once Crocus healed the girl, that Pure Gold ring would actually hold her back, keeping her stuck at six years old forever.
"Can I really grow up now? Am I really out of the Lantern Fish's belly?"
After taking the special medicine Crocus provided, Olga said happily, handing the Pure Gold ring to Brook. All she wanted now was to eat the delicacies from the outside seas—she hadn't had anything good in over a hundred years.
"You're free to go. From now on, you'll live on Skypiea, eat whatever you want, and grow up happily!"
Brook took the Pure Gold ring, and its dazzling glow immediately caught the crew's attention. Even a tiny speck in such a small ring could emit such powerful light!
This was the Pure Gold ring that granted immortality!
Brook stowed the Pure Gold ring and also took the one from Myskina Acier. This guy had lived over a hundred years without dying, thanks to wearing a Pure Gold ring.
Until he contributed something worthwhile, his Pure Gold ring would stay in Brook's custody!
Only core members of the Hell Pirates or those who made major contributions would get a chance at a Pure Gold ring and immortality!
Brook led the Pure Gold and the crew out of the Lantern Fish's belly, leaving the rest to Golden Lion Shiki!
...
On Golden Island.
Charlotte Linlin and Stussy took turns fiddling with the Pure Gold, marveling at it. Immortality and eternal youth—their goal had been achieved just like that. It was almost too easy!
Even the Celestial Dragons didn't have something this good, yet they'd gotten it effortlessly!
Truly, only by following Brook could wishes come true—whatever they wanted, they got!
Brook was a god in their eyes!
"Brook, do you think the World Government's Five Elders and that Imu also wear Pure Gold rings?"
Redfield asked. As one of Brook's core members, and with the Hell Pirates' current dominance, they knew plenty of the World Government's secrets!
"I'm not sure. After all, besides Pure Gold, there are other ways to achieve longevity."
Brook thought for a moment before replying. It was possible some Devil Fruit powers could let someone live forever—after all, the Op-Op Fruit could perform immortality surgery. Who knows if there wasn't a Life-Life Fruit or Lifespan-Lifespan Fruit!
"Then Brook, what other ways do you know for immortality?"
Stussy stared at Brook with burning eyes. No one would turn down more methods for longevity!
"Yohohoho, I actually know one for sure, and another that's a legend!" Brook laughed.
"Mm~ Brook, spill it already~"
Stussy sidled up to Brook, hugging his arm and rubbing against it.
"Alright, alright! I'll tell you. The first is the Op-Op Fruit, which can perform immortality surgery. The other legend is that Millennium Dragon bones can let someone live for hundreds or even thousands of years!"
Brook enjoyed the feel of Stussy's balloons pressing against him. Looks like tonight would involve some stormy action—grinding some soy milk and making her drink some milk!
"Then let's go catch Millennium Dragons and find the Op-Op Fruit!!"
Charlotte Linlin shouted immediately. Perfect—her collection of rare animals didn't have Millennium Dragons yet. She had to catch some to raise!
"We'll get them. Millennium Dragons, we'll have them—the Op-Op Fruit too!!"
Brook chuckled. He knew where the Millennium Dragons nested: in the East Blue, on Warship Island. Maybe they could even find some dragon eggs there.
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+400 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg