Upon seeing that smile on Acier's face… a smile that could even be called 'ugly' but was genuinely filled with paternal love… Olga screamed like a startled kitten.
"What's the use of saying these things now! If it weren't for you… if it weren't for you! Mom…"
Olga grew more and more agitated, tears welling up uncontrollably. For two hundred years, she hadn't cried when she was chased around by dinosaurs alone… she hadn't cried when hiding in her shack, enduring two centuries of loneliness… she hadn't cried after escaping Lord Lantern's belly and arriving in a strange, unfamiliar world… she hadn't even cried when tossed around like cargo by World Government agents and treasure hunters.
Yet now, in front of the father she 'hated' so much, this little girl who had lived two hundred and six years cried. Perhaps her life had never truly moved on from Alchemi two hundred years ago.
The little girl grew more and more emotional, on the verge of rushing forward to fight her father, but Karin stopped her at the critical moment.
"Ah… I really can't stand scenes like this."
Karin covered her eyes with her hand, sighing in what seemed like helplessness.
"Even I, an outsider, can clearly see the love in your eyes. Why be so stingy with just one or two explanations? I hate these separation scenes caused by unwillingness to explain hardships the most!"
Finally, Karin simply grabbed Olga with one hand and the chubby man with the other, forcing them to sit side by side.
"Speak up. Don't make me resort to force!"
A pair of golden wings that looked very familiar to Acier grew from Karin's back. The feathers of the wings were like sharp swords, emitting a keen edge, directly aimed at Acier's forehead. Just a slight forward move could blow this man's head apart.
"Don't!"
Olga almost instinctively stepped between Acier and Karin. Seeing this, Karin's eyes smiled slightly.
"See? Your daughter doesn't hate you as much as she says… So you should also be straightforward. Don't be so hesitant and reserved."
Karin's tone was very firm as she said this. Because her Observation Haki and Mind's Eye of the Kagura could clearly sense the selfless love for his daughter emanating from this chubby man, Acier. It was a fatherly love she had never had.
-Well, perhaps Naruto and Jiraiya had compensated for that part?
And seeing Olga's instinctive action, something hidden in Acier's heart seemed to loosen. He gently pulled his daughter, who was shielding him, into his arms. Olga instinctively tried to break free but was held firmly by her father's large hands.
Acier paid no attention to the diamond-hard feathers that could pierce his skull. Heaving a long sigh, he slowly revealed the truth of that year.
"My name is Myskina Acier, the scientist who created [Pure Gold] two hundred years ago, and also the father of Myskina Olga…"
From Acier's account, everyone learned the story Olga hadn't fully told about two hundred years ago.
[Pure Gold] was an artificially synthesized special metal whose emitted waves could greatly slow down the aging of life within its radiation range. Simply put, it could indeed be seen as a means to 'immortality'. Acier had an intelligent mind, but the wisdom in that mind couldn't help him cure the then-terminal [South Blue Emperor Fever]. The good news was Acier himself wasn't sick… the bad news was his daughter, Olga, was.
To slow the progression of his daughter's illness, he used his expertise and, through relentless research, finally created [Pure Gold].
It could be said that based on this alone, Acier's research level in special alloys was no less than Vegapunk's in biology. The appearance of Pure Gold indeed greatly slowed the deterioration of the illness, but it also trapped Olga and those around her within its radiation in a state of non-aging.
Soon, news of Pure Gold leaked. The small island of Alchemi was attacked by pirates. In the chaos, Olga's mother was killed by pirates; Acier and Olga survived. However, Olga, unaware of her terminal illness, couldn't understand the significance of her father creating Pure Gold. Blaming him for her mother's death, she hated her father along with the pirates.
'Just as I thought…'
Karin looked as if she had expected this, nodding in satisfaction, 'This was right. They were family… why couldn't they speak clearly? Why resort to cryptic hints and half-words?'
Thanks to Naruto's teachings, Karin's attitude towards such things was always to cut the Gordian knot quickly.
Meanwhile, Olga covered her mouth, tears streaming down.
"That can't be… impossible…"
Though verbally denying it, the little girl still looked back at her father, hoping for another affirming answer. Clearly, in her heart, she already believed Acier's explanation. And after spilling the secret buried in his heart for so many years, Acier finally let go of the heavy burden, looking much more relaxed.
"Olga's mother did die because of the Pure Gold I invented. That is my sin. But I truly couldn't bear to watch my daughter die before my eyes. Her mother felt the same. Even after hearing news that pirates were about to attack, her mother still urged me to continue researching Pure Gold to see if it could completely cure Olga's illness."
Hearing this, Karin frowned and interrupted directly.
"Don't take all the blame on yourself. Those who killed Olga's mother were the greedy pirates, human nature. And you, from beginning to end, were just a father trying to save his daughter."
Hearing this, Acier could no longer control his emotions and burst into tears. The little girl cried along with him, and father and daughter hugged each other. Karin watched the finally reconciled pair, nodding contentedly.
'This was right.'
But then, as if remembering something, she suddenly interrupted them.
"But if that's the case, doesn't that mean Olga will forever remain a little girl?"
Hearing this, their crying stopped, their emotions somewhat disrupted.
"This… I'm afraid so."
Acier smiled bitterly, then nodded in acknowledgment.
"But I believe, given enough time, I can definitely find a way to completely cure Olga."
"Dad…"
Olga, seeing her father's determined look, felt the last trace of resentment in her heart dissolve.
At that moment, Naomi timidly raised her hand.
"Um…"
"Hmm?" x3
The three, immersed in the atmosphere of father-daughter reconciliation, turned to look.
"Actually… a cure for [South Blue Emperor Fever] was developed long ago. It can be cured on any island."
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
"?"
Father and daughter looked at each other, while Karin tilted her head.
…
The misunderstanding that had lasted two hundred years between father and daughter was finally resolved. Acier sincerely thanked Karin, not only for her actions in easing their father-daughter relationship but also for saving his daughter. However, regarding Karin's desire to obtain Pure Gold, he still advised against it.
"Captain Karin, [Pure Gold] only brings endless disaster. Not just from Lord Lantern, but it will also make you the target of countless people's greed."
On the moving Shark Emeralda, Acier earnestly advised Karin. But Karin's attitude was very relaxed.
"If you're worried that me taking Pure Gold will attract this big fish… In fact, even without Pure Gold, it wouldn't give up on me."
Saying this, Karin recounted the earlier scene of Lord Lantern's appearance. Acier looked at his daughter in confusion and received Olga's confirming nod.
"It's… actually like that? So Lord Lantern is just chasing that dazzling light?" After all these years, Acier thought the anglerfish instinctively pursued the life-extending effect of Pure Gold. It seemed he had overestimated the beast.
"As for those who would target me… let them come. It's not yet clear who will be chasing whom then."
Hearing Karin's confident words, Acier wanted to say more but then remembered the giant bird she had transformed into earlier. Instantly, he chose to remain silent. Indeed, for people like them, obtaining Pure Gold would be a disaster. But if held by a strong individual, perhaps the meaning would be different?
Besides… he really had no way to stop her. Not to mention she was his benefactor… just looking at her combat power, Karin could do as she pleased.
In this atmosphere, the ship bypassed the second island, heading towards the main island of Alchemi in the third stomach. Seeing their hometown after so many years, both Acier and Olga felt a wave of nostalgia. Not much on this island had changed… the plants were just more lush. With Acier leading the way, the traps he had set to kill pirates were useless… everyone progressed smoothly.
After passing the last trap and entering what was once Acier's laboratory, the large piece of Pure Gold placed in a glass jar on the table quickly attracted everyone's attention. It was the size of a human head, far larger than the tiny piece hidden in the ring Olga wore.
That small piece of Pure Gold had also now been removed. Since [South Blue Emperor Fever] could be cured, Olga should celebrate her seventh birthday.
Unlike Karin and Naomi, whose gazes were fixed on the Pure Gold, Olga's attention was on a research notebook. "I have decided to create this 'forbidden fruit' of Pure Gold. I know, as a scientist, this is wrong. But to cure my daughter's incurable illness, I am willing to sell my soul to the devil."
Word by word, it recorded a father's determination, making Olga, who had just calmed down, teary-eyed again. Seeing his daughter's expression, Acier just smiled and hugged her.
"It's alright. It's all in the past."
Just as father and daughter hugged and cried again, suddenly a burst of golden light erupted nearby. Their attention immediately shifted. It was Karin, who had opened the jar and was holding the large lump of Pure Gold with her hands. The lump melted like liquid, merging into Karin's body.
"What? What's happening?"
Karin looked over her body. At this moment, her entire person emitted a faint golden glow, like Pure Gold itself.
"This is… what's going on?"
Even Acier, the creator, couldn't understand this scene. But Karin's expression changed.
"Not good! Be careful!"
Saying this, she soared upwards, shattering the ceiling. Only after flying far enough did Karin relax her control over herself.
Just moments ago, after the Pure Gold merged into her body, she felt an intense instinct to transform. This instinct was so strong she had almost lost control.
The three below looked up through the shattered ceiling at the sky.
Screech-
Instantly, golden light erupted. A giant golden bird, like a sun, circled in the mid-air.