The next day, Sakazuki took Enel to the town. This time, instead of searching aimlessly, they decided to subtly question some elders to learn about the island’s history and its differences.
However, after half a day, they found little of substance. The passage of time had erased most of the history, leaving only a single phrase passed down through generations.
"Bika is the Light of the Beginning, the start of all things, the origin of everything."
Walking through the town, Sakazuki felt a headache coming on. There were no leads, and his Observation Haki had scanned the area repeatedly, yet there were no ruins or hidden chambers to be found.
"Hmm?"
Sakazuki and Enel both sensed several children fighting behind the town. One of them was Enel from yesterday. The two of them immediately headed over.
Bika Town, an open space behind the town.
Enel, panting, cautiously watched the approaching group. He had been careless. Today, he had once again played a trick on that idiot who always bullied him.
But he hadn't expected to run into that idiot's older brother while trying to escape. Even though he had turned back from two or three hundred meters away, he was still caught. The gap between a three-year-old and a twelve or thirteen-year-old was simply too vast.
The group of ruffians chasing him gradually surrounded Enel. With his older brother backing him up, the five-year-old child pushed Enel hard, knocking him to the ground. He looked at Enel triumphantly:
"Hmph, Enel, you're quite good at running, aren't you?"
"Run then."
"Let's see how you run today!"
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Are you scared?"
"You still dare to steal my apples, let me teach you a lesson."
Enel remained silent, knowing he couldn't escape this beating. He looked down at his new clothes, a hint of heartache flashing in his eyes. Damn it, this was the first time he had worn new clothes...
The five-year-old leader waved his hand, addressing the several three and four-year-olds around him:
"Beat him up!!!"
With that, he raised his fist, intending to deliver the first blow!
At that moment, Sakazuki's emotionless voice rang out:
"Kid."
"Do you want to die?"
A giant shadow then enveloped the children. The five-year-old leader turned his head and saw a man standing behind him, who was countless times taller than him.
His muscular physique and cold expression were terrifying, and his eyes were incredibly fierce. The child leader froze, completely petrified:
"I..."
"I..."
The child leader's older brother, however, pulled him back, trying to remain calm as he looked at Sakazuki and Enel:
"Who are you people!"
Sakazuki glanced at the oldest child but said nothing. His aura seemed to grow even colder. The child leader's older brother finally lost his composure and looked down at Enel:
"We'll let you go this time!"
Then, grabbing his cronies, he turned and fled, not daring to look back.
Enel pulled Enel up with a smile and said to Sakazuki:
"I hope these kids haven't developed a psychological trauma from you, Vice Admiral Sakazuki."
Sakazuki raised an eyebrow, recalling his words. Although he had been trying to scare them, he had used a gentle tone. Why were these children acting as if they had seen a ghost?
He dismissed the thought and looked at Enel:
"Why did you get caught?"
Enel turned his head away and said reluctantly:
"Tch, he was just bigger than me. Otherwise, those idiots wouldn't have been able to catch me."
Sakazuki exchanged a look with Enel and asked:
"What was that about stealing apples just now? You should have your X-dials in your pocket, didn't you find them?"
Enel looked down and drew circles on the ground with his foot:
"I found them. I hid them."
"The apples were from before."
Sakazuki gestured to Enel, and Enel, holding Enel's hand, followed Sakazuki out of town. Enel was momentarily stunned before following, asking:
"Where are we going?"
Sakazuki's indifferent voice came from ahead:
"Home, to eat."
Hearing this, Enel's mind went blank. He was led a long way before he finally came to his senses.
"Home..."
***
On the warship, it was mealtime again.
The head chef was busy in the kitchen, while Enel sat in the dining hall outside, surrounded by many soldiers who were giving him all sorts of small gifts.
They were treating him like a three-year-old. Enel, whose mind was far more mature than his peers, comparable to a "six-year-old," felt a little embarrassed, but more than that... this feeling was truly wonderful...
In the office, Sakazuki was chatting with Enel. Enel was curious about what Sakazuki was looking for, and Sakazuki replied directly:
"I'm looking for a ruin that contains a blueprint."
Enel pondered:
"A blueprint..."
Sakazuki rubbed his temples with his hands, trying to relieve his headache. After all, he had been using his Observation Haki at full power for most of the day, which was a considerable mental drain.
*Knock, knock, knock!*
A knock on the door. Sakazuki lowered his hands and said:
"Come in."
Enel slightly pushed the door open, peeking inside before entering with a pile of snacks and toys.
Enel found this sight amusing and asked:
"What is it, Enel?"
Enel placed the snacks and toys he was holding on the sofa, turned, and said uncertainly:
"About that ruin you were talking about, I might know where it is."
Sakazuki was surprised and then asked:
"Tell us."
Enel said a little sheepishly:
"When I was hungry before, I often went to the altar in the town center to steal offerings. The ground under that altar should be hollow."
Sakazuki and Enel frowned. That wasn't right. Altars were important points of interest, and their Observation Haki had scanned them countless times without detecting anything unusual.
Seeing their frowns, Enel hesitated and then quickly added:
"You can't sense anything there with that kind of perception. Once, when I was stealing food, I was hiding from someone and accidentally fell down."
"I fell with a 'dong' sound, as if the bottom was hollow."
"I went back a few times at night, and it was indeed hollow under that stone slab, but I couldn't lift it."
"That stone slab is quite heavy."
The two of them's eyes narrowed. A technique that could completely block Observation Haki... Then Sakazuki said:
"Can you take us to see it?"
Enel nodded:
"Sure, but it has to be at night. The altar is in the town center, and people would see us during the day."
Sakazuki said:
"No problem, follow us."
Then, Sakazuki beckoned Enel to carry Enel. The two of them jumped off the warship and disappeared with a few steps. In Bika Town, in a corner not far from the altar.
Sakazuki and Enel, carrying Enel, appeared. There was no one nearby. Sakazuki lifted the cloud board from the ground, activated his ability, and magma surged out, rapidly destroying the island's clouds.
Soon, a passage made of magma appeared, quickly cooled, and led directly to the altar. Enel, wide-eyed with astonishment, was carried down by Enel.
Then, Sakazuki picked up the cloud board and jumped down as well. The cloud board was placed back in its original position.
At the end of the passage, looking at the stone wall before them, Sakazuki and Enel were solemn. It was true that it could block Observation Haki. This kind of technique...
As Sakazuki's hand touched it, a feeling of weakness surged from his body, but it wasn't severe. There was a trace of seastone involved...
Armament Haki flowed and surged towards the stone wall.
*Buzzzz!*
With a slight vibration, the stone wall where Sakazuki was touching began to shed gravel and dust over a large area. Soon, a hole the size of a passage appeared, leading directly into the underground ruins.
Looking at the pile of gravel and dust on the ground, Enel collected some. This seemed to be a stone wall made of special materials mixed with powdered seastone.
That's why it could block Observation Haki. They could find someone to research it later.
Entering the ruins, Sakazuki activated his Observation Haki and used his ability, with a ball of magma floating in his palm for light. He followed the perception of his Observation Haki towards the depths.
Enel also released Enel, letting him follow them.
*Creak!*
Sakazuki pushed open the wooden door of a stone chamber at the end. The ancient wooden door let out a sharp sound as it was about to collapse, hanging precariously.
The room was empty, with only three large murals, seemingly depicting the history of the past.
The first mural showed a bustling city with many machines. Angels of different types with wings worked cooperatively.
The first type of angel was mining something and transporting it to the upper levels.
The second type of angel used these materials to assemble small figures.
The third type of angel placed their hands on the heads of the small figures.
Finally, the fourth type of angel led these small figures in some kind of work.
The second mural depicted a deserted underground city. Small figures stood on a giant battleship, bidding farewell to the angels flying towards the sky.
The angels were flying towards a giant blue planet.
The third mural showed the four types of angels arriving above the blue planet. The angels with snail-like tentacles on their heads and those with slightly larger wings remained in the sky.
The angels wearing wolf-head hats and another type of angel with wings as tall as a person flew towards the ground.
The three giant murals told the origin of the angel race and displayed the advanced technology they once possessed.
The entire mechanical city, the animated figures, and the giant battleships all demonstrated their former glory, inspiring awe.
*Creak!*
Sakazuki opened the door to another stone chamber next to it. There was a huge bookshelf and a set of table and chairs. He walked to the bookshelf and picked up a book. Before he could open it, countless pieces of paper scattered to the ground.
The passage of time had caused the books here to decay, turning into dust...