The echoing crash of Governor Vane hitting the distant bay gave way to an almost surreal silence inside the citadel.
Dust settled over the broken marble floor, and the remaining enforcers, seeing their tyrant leader dispatched, threw down their weapons and scattered down the mountain path in complete panic.
"Well, that was easy," Zoro said, sheathing Wado Ichimonji with a crisp click.
Before Cael could even wipe the sweat from his forehead, Nami materialized at his side, her eyes gleaming with an terrifying, predatory intensity. "The vault, Goldsmith! Where is Vane's treasury?!"
Cael chuckled, resting his hands in his pockets as he casually stepped over a pile of broken masonry. "Follow me."
He led the crew down into the citadel's subterranean levels, stopping before a massive, ten-ton solid iron vault door. While Nami stared in dismay at the impenetrable lock, Cael simply placed his palm against the iron.
A pulse of liquid gold seeped through the keyhole, expanding and shifting into a heavy wedge that sheared the internal deadbolts apart with a satisfying CLANG.
The doors swung wide, revealing mountains of glittering Berries, gold coins, and rare gems stolen from the island's inhabitants over the years.
Nami let out a joyous shriek and threw herself onto a pile of coins, but Cael walked past her toward the center of the room. With a subtle flex of his Observation Haki, he identified the marked wooden chests containing the stolen mine deeds and local family heirlooms.
He touched the chests, wrapping them in thin Lightweight Gold bands, and tossed them toward Usopp and Chopper. "Take those down to the town elder. That's the townspeople's livelihood."
Nami sat up instantly, horrified. "WHAT?! You're giving money away?!"
"I said everything has value, Nami," Cael replied with a lazy grin, sliding his rose-tinted sunglasses up onto his golden hair. "A mountain of stolen gold in this room is worthless. Restoring an entire island's freedom? That's worth a lot more."
Nami glared at him, though a small, begrudging smile twitched at the corner of her lips. "Fine... but you're going to help me haul the rest of this onto the ship!"
By sunset, the harbor was alive with music, laughter, and the scent of roasting meat as the freed townspeople celebrated their liberty.
On the deck of the Going Merry, Cael stood near the railing, watching the islanders dance around bonfire lights along the shore. For the first time in years, he didn't have a target on his back.
"Hey, Cael!"
Cael turned to see Luffy leaning back against the mainmast, swinging his legs with a half-eaten chicken drumstick in hand.
"You're coming with us," Luffy said plainly.
Cael blinked, taking a second to process the blunt statement. "...Why?"
Luffy shrugged, grinning wide. "You're fun."
Cael stared at the rubber captain, then looked at Zoro sleeping against the gunwale, Sanji serving drinks to Nami, and Usopp showing off Cael's golden slingshot to Chopper.
None of them cared how much gold he could create. To them, he wasn't a living weapon or a portable bank vault he was just a guy who liked sunny beaches and making ridiculous statues.
A genuine smile spread across Cael's face. "Fine," he said, stepping backward over the railing and settling into his favorite spot beneath the shadow of the sail.
Nami immediately marched over, holding a ledger and a quill. "Since you're on board, you're officially our Treasurer. You're responsible for keeping track of emergency funds."
"That's not really how economics works," Cael pointed out smoothly.
"I don't care," Nami snapped. "And don't think you can sneak any off the ship, either!"
Luffy popped up out of nowhere, staring at Cael with wide, hopeful eyes. "Hey, Cael! Can you make gold meat?!"
Cael stared at him blankly. "...No. Gold is a metal, Luffy. Not a food group."
Luffy looked completely devastated, dropping his arms in dramatic defeat. "You need to train harder!"
As the Going Merry caught the evening wind and began to glide out of Oakhaven Bay into the open sea, Cael leaned back against the mast, adjusting his tropical shirt as the warm breeze blew through his hair. He flipped a golden coin into the air, catching it effortlessly between his fingers.
Maybe being a pirate wasn't going to be so bad after all.