**Chapter 422: Suspicion Towards Enma and the Temptation of Pure Gold!**
The matter concerning Vinsmoke Judge didn't actually cause much of a stir.
Firstly, the Germa Kingdom's application to participate in the Otherworld War was rejected.
If they wanted to participate, their troops would first have to join the Army's establishment and then proceed under the name of the World Government.
This was something that wouldn't change, in the past, present, or future.
Alternatively, they could send people to participate in next year's 'Myriad Worlds Top 100 Competition'.
If they had the ability to secure a spot, they could also travel to Other Worlds, but that wouldn't be considered a war.
To be honest, Judge thought a little too highly of himself.
However, Im did agree to the request to redeem the previously confiscated territory for two hundred billion Berry.
Compared to the constantly moving Germa Kingdom, a Germa Kingdom with a fixed island was clearly easier to control.
For Im and the Five Elders at this time, their main concern was the matters regarding Aokiji and Kureha.
Especially the latter.
When they heard there was a high possibility of finding Pure Gold, they completely lost their composure.
The World Government, or rather, the successive Five Elders, had always had CP0 search the Whole World for Pure Gold, but they had struggled to make any actual progress.
Who would have thought that Lord Imu would tell them that Kureha might have a small piece of Pure Gold in her possession?
They could even use it to attract the 'Island-Eating Lantern Fish' that possessed more Pure Gold.
To be honest, the Five Elders' first thought at the time was to immediately dispatch CP0 to apprehend Kureha.
But Im had already anticipated this.
In the order, he specifically added instructions that Kureha was not to be harmed and that they must ensure she was willing to continue serving as the Medical Academy Dean.
Because in Im's view, Kureha and Pure Gold were not in conflict at all; there was no need to give up one.
The key was that he could already achieve immortality, so his Mindset wasn't as urgent.
Three days later.
In the New World, on the Sea Surface less than two Nautical Miles from the Navy G-1 Branch.
Ten Headquarters Warships were positioned strategically as a precaution.
"We can begin."
Aokiji calmly looked at Dean Kureha beside him.
Kureha nodded expressionlessly. Under the gaze of the two CP0 agents behind her, she tossed the Small Gold Ring she had already taken off over the ship's railing.
In the blink of an eye, the Gold Ring sank into the Seawater and disappeared, but Kureha showed no Reaction.
Looking closely, one could see a circle of transparent Strings tied around her finger.
It wasn't hard to imagine that the other end of the String was attached to that Gold Ring.
Originally, Aokiji had suggested that he or another Powerhouse should be responsible for this, considering the Safety issues.
After all, no one could guarantee that some Sea Beasts in the water wouldn't bite the Gold Ring and drag the person holding the String into the Great Sea, which would be too dangerous.
Although Kureha's agility was better than that of the low-level Pirates in the First Half of the Grand Line, in Aokiji's Opinion, she was still within the range of Ordinary People.
But the old woman stubbornly refused, absolutely forbidding anyone else from touching the Gold Ring.
Left with no choice, they could only accept it.
At this moment, Im on Noah's Ark, the Five Elders in the Room of Authority, Fleet Admiral Sengoku at Marine Headquarters, and Aokiji and others at the scene were all watching the Situation on the Sea.
The Atmosphere gradually became heavy. Between Heaven and Earth, only the sound of the surging Sea Waves was incessant.
No one knew how long they would have to wait, but everyone waited in silence.
During this time, Im, however, thought of a question. His Gaze immediately swept towards the 'Enma' placed on the Sword Stand in the distance, thinking to himself.
"That King Yama mentioned this Pure Gold before, and his words seemed quite dissatisfied with it, calling it 'false immortality'."
"If I really Obtain a large amount of Pure Gold this time, he'll probably be even more displeased, right?"
Actually, Im really disliked the Feeling of having to consider other people's Opinions when doing things.
However, he still wasn't sure of King Yama's Strength...
But he did seem much stronger than himself, so he had to think more about it.
However, even if he had enough Pure Gold, he couldn't let it spread. He could only bestow a small portion upon those who needed it.
As for the Medical Academy, if they had a need, they could apply later, and he would consider it then.
Just thinking of King Yama, Im suddenly felt suspicious of that 'Yamato'.
Since the other party could use it to pull his Soul into Hell, could they also monitor his every move through it?
Putting everything else aside, King Yama was 100% interested in the Matter that he could control the Star Gate.
"But I've entered and exited Hell so many times, and I haven't seen him make any moves, and this Star Map hasn't reacted either. It seems he can't do anything to me..."
Thinking of this, Im slightly relaxed.
However, he decided in his Mind that from now on, he would no longer carry the 'Yamato' with him. He would take it out when needed and store it in this Bedroom when not needed.
Or he could have someone make a Black Box made of Seastone specifically for storing the Blade.
Although he didn't know if Seastone could block that 'mysterious sight' that might or might not exist.
Im withdrew his deep Gaze, a thought arising in his Mind that was not for outsiders to know.
Just then, Kuzan's voice came from the Virtual Screen.
"Here it comes!"
Instantly, everyone's Spirit was roused. Although there was no change on the Sea Surface yet, no one doubted that Kuzan was joking.
About four or five minutes later, the Expressions of several Vice Admirals on the various Warships who were skilled in Observation Haki changed.
Because they had already sensed a Colossus approaching the Sea Surface from the deep Seabed.
That thing was very fast, and its Target was very clear: the Warship where Aokiji and Kureha were located.
Or rather, the Pure Gold Ring that was emitting a brilliant Golden Light in the water!
"You can pull it back now."
Kuzan first reminded Dean Kureha.
Immediately after, his entire Body instantly transformed into a White Shadow and leaped into the air outside the Deck. At the same time, surging Frosty Cold Air erupted from his Body.
At this moment, Kureha had already pulled the String on her finger and yanked the Gold Ring up.
But this also made the Colossus in the depths below become agitated.
The next moment, just as it opened its Gaping Maw capable of devouring islands, Kuzan controlled the surging Cold Air to violently rush onto the Sea Surface, letting out a soft cry.
"Ice Age----"
The Wave that had been surging instantly froze.
Kureha on the Deck watched in shock as the entire Great Sea before her turned into Polar Region Frozen Earth in just the blink of an eye. Looking out, she could no longer see any Seawater.
At this point, she completely understood what the concept of a Marine Admiral was!
Although Aokiji wasn't an Admiral yet, but only an Admiral Candidate, in Kureha's Opinion, there was basically no difference.
On the other side, beneath the Sea where she couldn't see, vast white Frost was continuously spreading deeper. Wherever it went, the Seawater turned into Frost.
Until they encountered the 'Island-Eating Lantern Fish' that crashed into them headfirst.
First, it was the 'Huge Lantern' on its head, which was shining with Golden Light, followed by the Fish head and the Fish Body.
It was simply too big, so big that even the freezing Speed of 'Ice Age' couldn't completely freeze it in a short time, causing it to continuously shatter layers of Frost and climb towards the Warship.
To Dean Kureha, the terrifying Commotion sounded like an iceberg collapsing hundreds of meters beneath her feet.
Fortunately, after about one or two minutes, all the sounds died down.
"Whew----"
The half-Element Transformation Aokiji landed on the uneven Ice Surface, which was covered in Wave Ice Sculpture, emitting wisps of Cold Air.
"This Fish is really big, much bigger than a typical Sea Kings..."
After sighing, he once again activated the Ice power within his Body.
This time, the Ice Surface not far in front of him automatically split open, accompanied by a violent shaking like an earthquake.
Many Marine Soldiers on the Deck had to hold onto the railings beside them.
A moment later, a 'Lantern Fish', truly as massive as a mountain, slowly rose from beneath the 'Ice Sea' in the form of an Ice Sculpture, under the dumbfounded gaze of everyone.
But what was most eye-catching wasn't its Body Size, which was comparable to a Marineford.
It was the brilliant Golden Light that even the thick Ice Layer couldn't block!
"Pure Gold..."
The Gaze of the Five Elders far away in Holy Land Mariejois were already turning red.
Since the 'Lantern Fish' had been successfully captured, the rest would be easy.
Two CP0 agents, along with a thousand Marines and a Southbird, entered the giant Fish's Body. Following the spacious throat, they arrived at the 'Acid Sea', which was as vast as a Lake but was yellow-green in color and emitted a strong sour smell.
Fortunately, they had prepared enough Small Iron Boat and Gas Mask beforehand.
Not long after, they discovered a lush green Island!
"According to the Map, this should be the 'Lantern Fish's' First Stomach." The CP0 agent on the left took out a somewhat rough Map from his Coat pocket.
On it, the Situation of the 'Lantern Fish's' three stomachs was roughly drawn.
Well... this was also Im's doing.
Not only that, they had also consulted Creature experts beforehand to understand the Internal Organs structure of a typical Lantern Fish and how three stomachs would connect if it had them.
So, the two of them had a clear idea of how to proceed here.
The other CP0 agent nodded, pointing to the Southeast Sea Direction and said, "If we go in that Direction, we should be able to enter the Second Stomach, but our final Target is the Third Stomach..."
"However, before that, there's another Mission for us to find someone on the Island in this First Stomach."
But just as they were about to set off again, the team was attacked by a group of Prehistoric Dinosaur Attack!
Clearly, this 'Lantern Fish' must have recently swallowed an Island similar to 'Little Garden'. Fortunately, this was a Troops from Marine Headquarters.
Before long, these twenty or so reddish-brown Dinosaur turned into Corpse lying on the Beach.
If they were Ordinary People, they might have dismembered them for Food, but their Mission was to search for Pure Gold, so they could only leave them there for 'nature' to handle.
"How about we split up?"
"Alright, it's just finding someone, no need for everyone to search together."
After a simple discussion, the two CP0 agents decided that one would stay with five hundred people to search for the person, while the other would take five hundred people to the Second Stomach, with the same Mission of finding someone.
About an hour later, Aokiji and Kureha outside on the Deck saw the two people they had found.
One was a middle-aged man who looked very sloppy, disheveled, and obese.
The other was a Little Girl about ten years old with curly blonde hair and a Large Green Lizard she had brought with her.
However, the Little Girl turned her Head away angrily, looking unwilling to look at the former, which made the middle-aged man's face full of helplessness and sadness, but in the depths of his Gaze, there was a look of excitement.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Mischina Assié. I am Vice Admiral 'Aokiji' from Marine Headquarters, and this is Dean Kureha from the Medical Academy. I will be responsible for Escort you and your daughter to the Academy of Science."