Renji didn't give them a chance to respond.
His hands slowly rested on the hilt of his blade, his movements as smooth and natural as flowing water.
Suddenly, with a speed almost impossible to follow, he flashed past, the blade's light slicing through the island's silence.
The pirates' heads flew into the air, blood spraying like a fountain.
Their eyes were still filled with the madness of a desperate struggle, but under Renji's strike, they could no longer escape their fate.
For a moment, blood rained down, and debris scattered everywhere.
Renji's figure moved like a gust of wind among the pirates, each swing of his blade a decisive act of death.
His movements were light yet sharp, like a dancer moving freely, yet carrying an inescapable intent to kill.
The father and daughter watched this scene, their hearts filled with shock and disbelief.
They had never witnessed such a ferocious battle, and Renji's strength left them in awe.
It was as if they were witnessing a nightmare, a mix of fear and strange joy rising in their hearts.
Yet Renji's eyes remained calm and resolute. His actions were merciless, for he knew these pirates were stained with countless sins.
In this cruel world, pirates were like weeds after rain—impossible to eradicate completely.
But Renji couldn't prevent all evil. All he could do was this.
"..."
"Well done!" The man jumped up in excitement.
These scum deserved to go to hell long ago. If only he had the strength, he would have personally dealt with these scoundrels who harmed his daughter.
"Let's go," Renji said, looking at the father and daughter.
Olga tilted her head. "Where are we going?"
Renji gave her a strange look, pointing toward the lantern fish's light.
"Of course, we're leaving. The smell here is unbearable."
"You've come all this way, and you're not even curious about the Pure Gold?" Olga was baffled.
They were so close to the Pure Gold, yet Renji seemed indifferent.
"To be honest, I'm interested in Pure Gold, but not that much," Renji said, then added, "But since we're here, we might as well take a look."
"Then let's go!"
Olga had been dreaming of Pure Gold for 200 years. The thought of finally finding it excited her beyond words.
"Let's go! Treasure hunt!"
"..."
Thirty minutes later.
Renji and the two stood before a structure filled with staircases.
"This thing looks a lot like a Mayan pyramid..." Renji murmured.
"Is Maya the name of an island?" Olga asked curiously.
Renji smiled nostalgically. "It's a place very, very far away."
"Anyway, let's not dwell on that. Let's go in."
Olga's father led the way. "There are many traps inside. Make sure to follow me closely."
"The lab where Pure Gold is stored is at the very heart of this structure."
As the creator of this place, the man knew it inside out. With him leading, they could save a lot of effort.
"..."
"By the way, sir, what's your name?" Renji asked, looking at the man walking ahead.
Olga's father paused at the entrance, pointing to the inscription on the stone tablet.
"Myskina Acier."
"After 200 years, I almost forgot my own name."
Acier touched the stone tablet, his face filled with pride and nostalgia.
"Mr. Acier, nice to meet you."
Renji had a good impression of the man. If possible, he'd try to recruit him for Sorbet Kingdom.
"..."
Renji and the father-daughter duo navigated through a series of traps, finally arriving at the room where Pure Gold was stored.
"Peacock harp... Eagle bridge... The final door..."
Each trap was a life-or-death challenge for intruders, but for Acier, who designed them, they were memories.
Renji and the two pushed open the door and entered the lab. The sight before them was dazzling.
Under a glass cover, Pure Gold shone with a radiant golden light, exuding an intoxicating aura.
"So this is Pure Gold..."
Renji's eyes showed a hint of surprise.
He had never seen such a magnificent sight. The light emitted by Pure Gold not only represented wealth but also the potential for an extended lifespan.
Olga was also stunned by the sight. She had never been inside her father's lab before, not even the ring on her finger had been given to her directly by her parents.
They gazed at the Pure Gold under the glass, their eyes sparkling with wonder.
Their hearts were filled with anticipation and longing for the future.
The golden light of Pure Gold made them feel a strange, powerful energy.
"This is Pure Gold. Just being exposed to its light slows down the aging process significantly, and even the progression of diseases is greatly reduced."
Acier took the Pure Gold out of the glass container, his eyes filled with emotion.
This thing had saved his daughter's life but had also cost his wife's life. His feelings toward it were complicated.
"Wow, Dad, there are so many books here..." Olga exclaimed excitedly.
They looked around and saw that the room was filled with research materials and experimental equipment.
These materials recorded countless experiments and research results. Clearly, this lab had once been the site of many important scientific projects.
"What should we do with all this?" Renji asked, glancing at Acier.
"These are all research materials on Pure Gold. There's no need to take them out," Acier said with a sigh. "Let them remain here in the lantern's stomach forever."
Olga, however, stared wide-eyed at the gleaming Pure Gold.
"Are we taking all the Pure Gold with us?"
Acier also turned his gaze to Renji. This decision was up to him.
"Pure Gold represents endless wealth," Renji said softly. "But the price of that wealth is too high."
"It's better to leave Pure Gold here. Let's not take something that could cause endless conflict out into the world."
The temptation of immortality was irresistible to anyone.
If the world were filled with immortals, its future would be set in stone.
The strong would remain strong, and the weak would never rise again...
The father and daughter stood silently, watching Renji's actions with admiration. Someone who could resist greed and desire would undoubtedly achieve great things in the future.
"Clink!"
Acier picked up a knife from the table and gently scraped off a piece of Pure Gold the size of a fingernail.
"You can't leave empty-handed."
Acier handed the piece of Pure Gold to Renji.
"Take this as a memento and a token of my gratitude for saving us."
"..."
"So... how do we get out?"
The three had returned to the spot where Renji had initially passed out, but Olga had no idea how to leave from here.
"Call Elizabeth over. You two can ride her, and I'll take you out."
The water lizards could run on water, and Renji wanted to catch a few more to take with him. Such convenient transportation was hard to come by.
"Alright."
Olga didn't even question it and immediately took action. Now, she trusted Renji's words completely.
"..."
"Wow, flying feels amazing!" Olga exclaimed as she soared through the air, experiencing this wondrous sensation.
"Get ready. We're leaving," Renji said, carrying the father and daughter along with a few water lizards, flying straight to the lantern fish's small tongue.
He grinned, his right fist gathering power, and then he punched.
"Roar!!!"
The lantern fish felt a sharp pain and let out a shrill cry, its mouth opening uncontrollably.
"Let's go!"
Renji surrounded them with flame clouds and flew out of the lantern fish's mouth.
...
... (TL/N): If you are intressted you can read up to 30 chapter on patreon.com/Yanet96 search with this link.