After being overlooked for some time, Arthur finally caught the attention of the tearful father and daughter.
Olga, regaining her composure, hastily explained Arthur's background to her father. However, judging by his bewildered expression, it seemed the girl's speech was still difficult for him to understand.
Nevertheless, he managed to grasp some key details about Arthur. He knew that Arthur had found him and his daughter, and he understood Arthur's interest in solid gold, given his own expertise as a scientist.
However, the details about Arthur being an angel or the king of a sky island remained unclear to him.
"Hello, I'm Ashiya, Olga's father! Thank you so much for bringing her to me! This is the happiest day I've had in two hundred years!" The chubby man, looking quite amusing in his dinosaur suit, expressed his gratitude with a broad smile.
Despite the seriousness of the moment, Arthur couldn't help finding it amusing. "It's nothing, really. And I admire your talent, so..."
Before he could finish, Ashiya interrupted politely, "I apologize for interrupting you."
"If it's the solid gold you're after, it's over there!" Ashiya pointed in a direction.
"But, as ungrateful as it sounds, I can't continue my research at your place. I... no longer wish to pursue creating solid gold against a scientist's conscience."
"Huh?" Arthur was interrupted, feeling a tad displeased. However, he managed to control his temper before the interruption escalated.
"I believe there's been a misunderstanding. I'm inviting you for your expertise, not just for the solid gold. As for the gold itself, I only require the piece that's already in existence."
These words were not untrue for Arthur. Indeed, that existing piece of solid gold was more than sufficient. Despite its seemingly small appearance, it was the size of a football! Each person only needed a few grams at most, making it suitable for thousands of uses, including Arthur and his descendants.
Moreover, with it in his possession, Arthur had no worries about securing solid gold for a long time.
Arthur understood these facts, but Ashiya did not. He was visibly surprised by Arthur's statement.
"So, I only need to assist you with your research? No need to create solid gold?" Ashiya looked at Arthur in astonishment.
"Yes, an excess of solid gold can be detrimental to the world. So, just the existing piece will suffice," Arthur affirmed.
Ashiya glanced at Arthur and then at his daughter. After contemplation, he nodded and said, "That's acceptable! It will also allow Olga to lead a normal life instead of remaining in Master Enel's belly."
"A wise decision," Arthur smiled lightly, genuinely pleased as the foundation of the Angel Kingdom was indeed in dire straits.
"Now that you've decided, come with me, and I'll guide you to the solid gold!" Ashiya's demeanor shifted, displaying more of a scientist's temperament, relieved by the resolution.
Shortly after, Arthur stood before a glass tube containing the precious solid gold.
Here's the revised version:
Inside the glass tube, a glowing piece of golden metal floated in the bubbling liquid, confirming Arthur's expectations of its size—a bit larger than a football.
"It's exquisite, truly remarkable," Arthur exclaimed, carefully taking hold of the container.
The liquid within the glass container was specially designed to prevent the life-extending properties of solid gold from escaping, although it couldn't dim its brilliant glow.
Aware of the potential delays caused by direct contact with solid gold, Arthur wrapped the glass jar in metal before securing it.
However, before leaving, Arthur waited as the father and daughter attended to other matters. He hadn't fully grasped the situation earlier and wanted to ensure everything was understood.
Half an hour later, the visibly content father and daughter returned.
Back in the creature's first stomach, Arthur guided them back to the boat. He then sealed the metal-wrapped glass jar in the wall as before, using Lei Metallurgy to seamlessly blend it in.
Looking around, the faint light from the lantern fish's glow entered through the walls, revealing the blood vessels within its stomach lining.
"How do we exit?" Ashiya asked with a touch of naivety. He hadn't ventured beyond the third stomach in the past two hundred years.
Arthur contemplated for a moment and decided that penetrating and killing the creature would be the most straightforward way out. He raised his hand, crackling with thunder, ready to unleash a 200 million volt divine judgement.
However, just before he could release the attack, Olga intervened, extending her arms to block Arthur.
"Huh?" Arthur was taken aback.
"We've lived in Master Enel's stomach for two hundred years. Please, let's not kill it!" Olga pleaded, her blond hair swaying with her head shake.
Arthur looked to Ashiya and nodded in understanding.
"In that case," Arthur said with a frown, halting his impending attack. "Let's try to make it surrender."
With a resounding boom, the menacing aura dissipated as it veered away from the father and daughter, leaving them unharmed.
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