Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Dig out the Gold
"New ruler?!" The leader of the group exclaimed in shock.
"That's correct!" Arashi replied with a calm smile. "As the new ruler of Upper Yard, I've decided to present you with a gift."
The Shandian squad exchanged uncertain glances, unable to discern what this sudden figure's intentions were or what he might be planning.
"What kind of gift?" asked the tall, slender man at the front, his tone cautious.
"Go back and inform your people!" Arashi said. "From this moment onward, you Shandians can return to your homeland!"
Arashi's body was enveloped in a burst of blinding lightning as he finished speaking. The brilliant glow forced the Shandian squad to shut their eyes.
When they opened them again, Arashi's figure had vanished.
"Who is he, exactly?" one of the Shandians muttered, their expressions a mix of wonder and disbelief.
For 400 years, the war between the Shandians and the native Sky Islanders had raged on, with the Shandians often at a disadvantage.
Ultimately, they were forced to retreat and hide in the Cloud Village.
"That guy… could he be telling the truth?" one of them whispered hesitantly.
"Whether it's true or not, we'll find out soon enough," the tall leader replied firmly.
Not long after, while moving through the jungle, they encountered a group of Enforcers from the God's Shrine.
Both sides tensed up, cautiously observing each other. However, neither side made an immediate move to attack.
"Shandians," the Enforcer captain finally spoke in a deep voice. "Our war has come to an end."
The Shandian squad was stunned, staring in disbelief as they waited for an explanation.
"You must have noticed those Blue Sea dwellers who recently arrived in Upper Yard," the Enforcer captain continued.
"Their leader is incredibly powerful. He has already defeated and subdued Gan Fall."
"The new god of this land is him now," the captain said with a sigh, his voice heavy with regret and resignation.
"He has instructed us to notify you: from this moment onward, you are free to return to Upper Yard."
After a brief pause, the captain added with a complex expression, "The 400-year conflict between us… has finally ended."
The Shandians were momentarily frozen, their bodies trembling faintly as they processed the declaration. Disbelief and shock filled their hearts.
For 400 years—an unfathomably long period—the war had claimed countless ancestors on both sides. And now, on this day, it was suddenly over.
"Upper Yard… the ruler of the Sky Island!" one of them muttered in amazement.
"Who is that guy?"
At that moment, an immense curiosity about the mysterious figure—Arashi—began to take root in the hearts of the Shandians.
Meanwhile, Arashi descended from the massive vine-covered tree carrying the enormous Golden Bell.
The giant bell, entirely forged from gold, was pristine and flawless, preserved so perfectly that it could easily be considered a masterpiece.
"Boss, I've never seen such an incredible amount of gold!" exclaimed Capone Bege.
"This place feels steeped in history, almost like one of those fairy tales whispered across the seas."
After exploring the ruins, Bege was completely overwhelmed.
Buried beneath the dust and rubble lay a treasure trove of gold—artefacts, ornaments, and countless other treasures—so abundant it was impossible to estimate.
He even spotted immense golden pillars that appeared to have once supported a grand palace.
But what kind of unimaginable wealth would it take to construct an entire palace out of gold?
As the mafia don of the West Blue, even Bege had never seen such a vast hoard of gold before.
"The City of Gold?" Arashi said with a faint smile.
"Yes! The City of Gold!" Bege replied. "Everything here seems like it was made of gold at one point. But with time, it was all buried underground."
"It'll take some time for me to unearth all the gold still hidden beneath the surface," Bege continued.
Beside him, Eveya nodded, equally amazed at the sheer quantity of gold. With just a fraction of it, anyone could live a life of luxury forever.
"Take your time," Arashi said with a calm smile. "We have plenty of time to get this done.
Besides, I want you to gather a team of craftsmen. You can also contact the native Sky Islanders." He paused for a moment.
"We're going to build a base here—one that belongs to us."
Bege immediately straightened up. "Understood, boss. I'll arrange it right away."
Under Arashi's watchful eye, 600 elite Marines and 600 members of Bege's mafia began transporting Shandora's gold onto the ships.
Arashi scanned the island's depths using his electromagnetic powers, quickly identifying more underground chambers filled with hidden gold.
With a mere thought, blue arcs of electricity flashed across the entire island. The air crackled with power as the ground began to rumble violently.
Moments later, Bege and the others watched in shock as countless golden treasures emerged from the ground, floating effortlessly through the air to form a massive mountain of gold.
"The boss dug up all the gold at once!" Bege shouted. "What are you all waiting for? Start loading it up!"
Shaken yet excited, everyone immediately sprang into action.
By that afternoon, the Shandians cautiously ventured into Upper Yard's outskirts.
There, they encountered the Enforcers of the God's Shrine. At the forefront stood Gan Fall.
The Shandian chief hesitated briefly before stepping forward. "Is the news true?" he asked.
"Yes," Gan Fall said with a complex expression. "The great one has decided to open Upper Yard to you Shandians."
The chief trembled, his eyes welling with emotion. "Where is he? No, where is that great one now?"
Gan Fall sighed. "In Shandora. If you head to the center of the ruins, you'll find him. He's currently… moving the gold."
"Gold?" The chief was briefly stunned, but he quickly dismissed the thought.
For generations, the Shandians had longed for one thing above all: reclaiming their homeland.
Half an hour later, the elderly chief arrived at Arashi's location, flanked by several strong Shandian warriors.
"Thank you, great one!" the chief said, kneeling with tears in his eyes.
"It's a blessing that we Shandians can once again live on this land. Truly, thank you!"
The warriors behind him also bowed deeply, their expressions filled with gratitude and emotion.
"This was your homeland to begin with, wasn't it?" Arashi said with a gentle smile.
"Chief, you may rebuild your home atop the ruins of Shandora. This time, no one will stand in your way."
The chief trembled with emotion. "Thank you, thank you! The Shandians will never forget your kindness!"
That evening, the Shandians began pouring into Upper Yard.
However, instead of immediately constructing their homes, they voluntarily assisted Bege and the others in loading gold onto the ships.
"This is their way of repaying your kindness," the chief explained gratefully.
Arashi gazed into the distance at the bustling figures and couldn't help but feel sentimental.
"Four hundred years," he murmured. "Your Golden Bell is over there."
He gestured toward the towering bell, which stood silently atop Shandora's ruins, still intact despite the passage of time.
"I need this gold," Arashi said, "so I can only leave you the Golden Bell. It was once the symbol of Shandora."
The chief stared at the bell, glowing in the golden light of the setting sun.
A deep sense of sorrow and joy overwhelmed him for reasons he couldn't explain. As he stood there in silence, tears blurred his vision.
Four centuries. What a long and arduous journey it had been for the Shandians.
How many stories and tragedies had unfolded in this ruined city of gold? Time had weathered it all, leaving behind only legends and memories.
The next day, as the first rays of sunlight illuminated the City of Gold, the serene and melodious sound of the Golden Bell echoed across the island.
Its resonant chimes travelled far, reaching the distant seas over 10,000 meters below.
In Mock Town, on the other side of Jaya Island, a tall man stood before a simple wooden house.
Tears streamed down his face as he murmured, "It's true. The Legend of the City of Gold… it's all true."
Twelve ships, each capable of carrying 30 tons of gold, were fully loaded.
In total, 360 tons of gold were hauled away—yet this was still only a fraction of the riches hidden within the City of Gold.
"This is more than enough to establish my divine kingdom!" Arashi exclaimed with satisfaction. "Load that as well!"
He pointed to an ancient Poneglyph inscribed with dense, mysterious characters.
While he understood its significance, he couldn't decipher it. However, he planned to leave it to the scholars of Ohara for study.
On the third day, with the ships loaded to capacity, Arashi and his fleet departed.
"I've secured a massive warehouse with heavy security," Bege reported.
Arashi nodded, saying nothing further. With his growing power, many of his subordinates already handled matters efficiently.
Upon returning to the G-18 Marine base, Arashi resumed his leisurely lifestyle.
Capone Bege, as meticulous as ever, planned to carefully appraise the total value of the gold and compile a detailed report for Arashi.
These riches would be a substantial fund for developing the organization and training Marines, ensuring their growth for years.
Arashi's fleet expanded remarkably as more ships were constructed and funds became abundant.
It was as if he was building an unstoppable force before the eyes of the world.
Even Capone Bege, after receiving Arashi's authorization, established two additional shipyards.
Warships began production and were equipped with electric engines and Sea Prism Stone systems.
Compared to the Marines' main fleet ships, these new warships were faster and superior in performance.
"At this rate, it won't be long before I command a fleet of a hundred ships!" Arashi thought to himself.
With sufficient funds, he decisively issued an order to expand recruitment efforts.
Originally, the total Marine forces in the West Blue numbered around 280,000, but Arashi considered this inadequate.
A massive pool of recruits was essential to cultivate an elite force of soldiers and officers.
The Marine Headquarters' long-standing dominance and endless stream of strong individuals were largely due to its massive recruitment base.
As some would say, this was the advantage of a population surplus.
Arashi even entertained establishing a Marine Academy in West Blue to train promising recruits.
A month later, Capone Bege said the gold transfer was nearly complete. Additionally, the number of ships had reached 28.
Though the ships were relatively small, with a capacity of only 45 tons each, this fleet already constituted a significant force.
Bege also reported that workers had been recruited to travel to Skypiea to establish a base on Upper Yard.
"The Shandians have been helpful, and after we paid them wages, even the native Sky People joined in," Capone Bege reported.
"These days, they've been getting along well. We've acted as mediators between them."
Arashi chuckled at this and inquired further. "How about the items I listed for procurement?"
Bege lowered his voice. "We've secured most of them through auctions, smuggling, and other means."
"However, some items are extremely rare and hard to acquire."
Arashi nodded. "Do your best to obtain them. These materials are crucial for the organization."
"Yes, sir!" Bege replied.
....
Five months had passed since Arashi's initial journey to Skypiea.
News came that Gan Fall and the Shandian Elder had established amicable relations.
Together, they had constructed a hidden base in the northwest area of Shandora.
The blueprints for the base were designed by Vegapunk, ensuring it was discreet and secure.
As for the skilled personnel Vegapunk had requested, recruitment efforts in West Blue yielded only five suitable candidates in nearly six months.
Time flew by, and the Great Age of Pirates was now in its fourth year.
The research based on Skypiea had been completed, and with Arashi's approval, Eveya even began recruiting soldiers on Upper Yard.
One day, Arashi accompanied Vegapunk aboard a ship headed for the Skypiea base.
"It's been two years, Arashi, and you've only now managed to complete my base. Time is life, you know," Vegapunk sighed.
"It may have taken a while, but you'll find it worth the wait," Arashi smiled.
"I hope you're right," Vegapunk muttered, though he chuckled.
"In the meantime, I've made some progress in my research on lineage factors over the past two years."
"Oh? What kind of progress?" Arashi asked.
"My research on your lineage factor is still in its infancy, but I've made significant strides with the Lunarian lineage factor," Vegapunk said excitedly.
"I have an idea. Perhaps I can use the Lunarian lineage factor to create a clone of myself."
Vegapunk's eyes sparkled with anticipation. Hearing this, Arashi felt a jolt of unease.
He was well aware that in the original storyline, Vegapunk created six clones of himself, each based on the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and their combined strength was formidable.
"That's an incredible idea!" Arashi exclaimed, concealing his thoughts. "I look forward to your success."
The ship ascended high into the sky, heading toward Skypiea.
Not long after the fleet departed, a massive floating island emerged thousands of meters above the West Blue.
At its highest point stood a figure with flowing golden hair, wild like a lion's mane, and fierce eyes that glared into the distance.
"Arashi!" the man growled. "The Golden Lion has arrived!"