After a series of introductions, Axie finally understood the current situation.
He hadn't expected that a gifted scientist, driven by a legend, would have searched for him for twenty years.
And even invented a detector capable of sensing pure gold radiation.
In fact, if it were only the pure gold Axie had created, Dr. Fran's detector might not have worked.
After all, he hadn't made much pure gold back then, as he was focused on curing his daughter's illness.
But this giant Anglerfish had lived for an unknown number of years.
Its mission was to devour pure gold, and the amount it had accumulated over so many years was enough to form a massive lantern on its head.
Only then could it be detected by Dr. Fran's device.
One could say it was a combination of luck and skill.
Seeing that the conversation between the others had come to an end, Blake stepped forward:
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Axie."
"My name is Hilbert Blake; you can call me Saint Blake."
"Blake… Saint?"
Axie's expression, which had relaxed slightly due to Dr. Fran's reverence, froze the moment he heard that title.
His pupils suddenly constricted, and he subtly moved a few steps towards Olga, his voice dropping a few octaves, carrying an instinctive wariness:
"A World Nobles… are you also here for the pure gold?"
"Yes."
Blake nodded frankly, a smile still on his face:
"However, compared to the pure gold that can be obtained at any time, what I'm more interested in is you, the doctor who can create pure gold."
"You want me to help you create pure gold? That's impossible! I will never make such a harmful thing again!"
Hearing Blake's words, Axie subconsciously glanced in his daughter's direction.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to look directly at this World Nobles, repeating in a firm tone:
"I will never create pure gold again."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear, and his fingers were clenched tightly into fists.
"It's alright, Doctor."
Blake's smile didn't falter, and his tone even carried a hint of reassurance:
"Compared to the pure gold that can be used at any time, I'm more curious about the person who can create it."
He looked up in the direction of the light source:
"The light source on the Anglerfish's head is already massive enough."
"For an ability like immortality, it's even a bit wasteful."
Blake shrugged:
"After all, this world doesn't need too many people with extraordinarily long lifespans."
He took a step forward, looking down at Axie, as if discussing an established fact:
"But I am indeed a greedy person!"
"All precious things should be in my hands!"
"Even if they are of no use to me personally."
Blake reached out and placed his hand on Axie's shoulder:
"What I want now is the ability 'to produce pure gold'."
"Items always run out or wear out one day."
"But the person who has mastered the manufacturing method can continuously create miracles."
As Blake's palm fell, Axie's body visibly trembled.
Every word the other party spoke echoed clearly in his mind, and he finally understood.
The person before him claimed to be greedy, but what he displayed at this moment was something deeper, more fundamental—arrogance!
That unquestionable arrogance that viewed everything as a given!
He didn't allow any refusal, not out of anger, but from a deeper understanding—
The moment he declared, "This is what I need," its ownership was already determined.
Axie looked at the young, polite, yet undeniable face before him.
There was only a calm, self-evident certainty in the other party's eyes.
"Of course…"
Blake released his hand from Axie's shoulder, his voice light and cheerful:
"I don't need you to create pure gold for me just yet."
"And we'll deal with this fish when we leave."
"If it chased us all over the world, then everyone would probably know the pure gold is in my hands."
"You're even going to… Lord Anglerfish?"
Axie and Olga simultaneously showed expressions of disbelief.
It was clear that after spending over two hundred years in the Anglerfish's belly, they seemed to have come to regard the fish as some kind of deity.
Blake, however, waved his hand, indicating that it wasn't an important matter.
Then, he lifted Olga and placed her in front of Axie:
"You two, father and daughter, haven't seen each other for over two hundred years. You must have a lot to say, so take this opportunity to have a good chat."
"And see if there's anything you need to pack."
"I've already delayed too long here."
"Huh? Does that mean I can secretly escape?"
Blake had just set Olga down when he heard this truly heartfelt thought, and his eye twitched involuntarily.
Axie hastily stepped forward and covered his daughter's mouth, giving Blake an embarrassed smile before leading his daughter deep into the dense forest.
Hancock stepped forward and wrapped her arm around Blake's:
"Lord Saint Blake, does this concubine need to keep an eye on them?"
Blake shook his head:
"No need. If they're truly foolish enough to think they can escape in this situation, that would be too disappointing."
"Don't worry about them; you all go explore this island!"
"I wonder when this island was swallowed by the Anglerfish, but it still seems to retain its primitive appearance."
"Oh yeah!"
Perona jumped up, waved her fist, and dragged Koala and Rami towards the depths of the forest.
Blake glanced over, realizing that the little girl wasn't as foolish as he'd imagined.
At least she knew to bring Koala, who possessed considerable strength, as a bodyguard.
The others also formed groups and entered the dense forest, beginning their free exploration.
Only Stella remained, helping Blake set up a table and chairs and begin brewing tea.
Dr. Fran looked in the direction Axie and his daughter had left, but ultimately didn't follow.
Though he could be a bit silly, he understood social etiquette.
What kind of person would he be if he intruded on a father and daughter preparing to reminisce and share secrets?
It was impossible to tell the exact time inside the Anglerfish's body, but after about two hours, just as Blake was starting to get a little impatient, Axie finally returned with Olga.
It was unclear where they had changed clothes, but Axie was finally no longer in his cartoon dinosaur suit.
Both of their eyes were red, clearly having cried more than once.
Blake knew all about the misunderstanding between the two of them, and even without using Observation Haki to observe, he could roughly guess what they had talked about.
Seeing them now, back to their normal selves, Blake knew their misunderstanding had been resolved:
"So, Doctor, have you considered it?"
Dr. Axie looked up at Blake, his expression a mix of helplessness and resignation.
He threw his hands up, saying in a self-deprecating tone:
"You're going to kill Lord Anglerfish and tear down our home. If we don't go with you, are we supposed to stay here and be buried with it?"
He patted the snake-lizard that had, at some point, run back to his side, and sighed:
"Although I've lived here for over two hundred years, it's a bit hard to leave…"
"But eventually, we have to go."
Olga, though her eyes were still red, also nodded vigorously.
She clung tightly to her father's arm, as if afraid he would change his mind and run back to "roar, roar, roar" with the dinosaurs again.
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