On a floating landmass, there was a large building in the center, partially destroyed. There was a family of Aquax being held at gunpoint by a bandit group, led by a man named Hitoshi. The family’s mother stood up and approached Hitoshi, Unagi Maguro.

“Please… you don’t have to do this…” Unagi said.

“I don’t huh?” Hitoshi said. “Then why not give me the Codex and I’ll be on my way.”

“I keep telling you, I can’t do that!” Unagi said. “Even if I wanted to give it to you, I have no access to the room its held in.”

“Unagi Maguro… you’re the Grand Head of this library, aren’t you?” Hitoshi asked.

“Yes… but…” Unagi was interrupted.

“No buts! I’ll give you one more chance… or I kill you!” Hitoshi said.

“Please no! What about my son! My husband!” Unagi pointed towards another Aquax and a young Doc. “If not for me… for them…”

“Hmm…” Hitoshi looked down at his gun, he had decided to shoot Unagi in the heart, who fell to the ground. Doc and Chirashi, Doc’s father, ran over to Unagi, holding her.

“MOM!” Doc cried out.

“Please… don’t let them get the Codex… ever.” Unagi said, putting her hand onto Doc’s face. “One day, you’ll be protecting it… guard it no matter what it takes.”

“Unagi…” Chirashi said as he kissed his wife, who had slipped away into the afterlife.

“Touching…” Hitoshi said.

“You monster!” Chirashi shouted.

“Tough luck… should’ve given me the Codex when I asked.” Hitoshi said. “Alright boys, let’s get out of here.”

“You’re just gonna kill her and leave!?” Chirashi shouted. “What about the Codex!?”

“Nothing much I can do now… the only person who could get it to me is dead.” Hitoshi said as he looked down at Doc. “I’ll be back for that one… he’ll be able to get me that book someday…you better be ready!”

Hitoshi and the rest of the Flame Bandits left as both Doc and Chirashi began to sob over Unagi.

Years passed by as Doc woke up one morning, going about his typical morning routine. Doc had went out into his family’s living room to find his father cooking breakfast. He sat down at the table after getting a cup of coffee.

“Good Morning, Ryuichi… You sleep well?” Chirashi said as he turned to Doc. “I’m making your favorite!”

“Thanks dad…” Doc looked down at the table as his father walked over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Listen… I know this day is difficult for you… but I feel like its time.” Chirashi said.

“Time for what?” Doc asked. 

“Your mother was guardian of the Codex for a long time… and since her passing, there hasn’t been a proper protector.” Chirashi said.

“Huh?” Doc figured out what Chirashi was trying to say, causing him to stand up and backaway. “No no no! I can’t!”

“Listen… we need you to, it was eventually going to happen…” Chirashi said.

“What if he comes back and… what if he comes to kill me!?” Doc shouted as he hid behind a couch.

“Son, it’s been five years since then… if that bandit was ever going to come back, he would’ve been back by now.” Chirashi said.

“I… I guess you’re right…” Doc said as he came out of his hiding spot, only to duck back down. “But what if that’s what wants us to think!”

“That’s why security was beefed up since then… you’ll have everyone behind you if he ever comes back.” Chirashi said as he walked over to where Doc was hidden. “Can you at least give it one day?”

“Well… one day couldn’t hurt. What could possibly happen in one day?” Doc said as he stood up.

“That’s the spirit! Now come on and eat breakfast and we can go about the day!” Chirashi said. “I made reef eggs!”

“Thanks dad!” Doc said as the duo went back to the table.

Later on, Chirashi was driving Doc to the library. Upon parking next to it, they walked around and stood in front of a statue of Unagi, built after her death. Doc placed down a strange blue flower onto the base of the statue.

“You know… she always wanted you to take care of the library, just like her father before her.” Chirashi said. “Even if you choose to take a different path, I know she would be proud of you.”

“I know dad…” Doc looked down at the ground.

“Chin up… she would be proud of you, she’d want you to do what makes you happy.” Chirashi said.

“ICHI!” Minnow shouted as he ran up behind, and picked up Doc. 

“AH!” Doc shouted before realizing it was Minnow. “Oh, Minnow… it’s just you.”

“I knew you’d come by one day!” Minnow said, happily.

“Can you put me down please?” Doc asked.

“Oh! Right!” Minnow said, setting Doc down as he gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Morning Mr M!”

“Good morning, Minnow. How are you doing today?” Chirashi asked.

“I’m doing great today! You?” Minnow asked.

“I’m doing just fine, thanks for asking!” Chirashi said as a library worker ran out and called out for Chirashi.

“Mr Maguro!” The worker shouted. “Thank god you’re here, I was trying to call you all morning!”

“What? Why? What’s wrong?” Chirashi asked as he looked up at the top of the building, the King’s Comet was right on top of it.

“Who’s is that?” Chirashi asked. “We don’t even have a landing pad on the roof!”

“A group of people calling themselves treasure hunters landed here early this morning.” The worker said. “They’re looking to stock their ship’s library.”

“What? What’s the issue then?” Chirashi asked.

“These people… they’re absolutely nuts!” The worker said. “Just come on!”

The small group ran into the Grand Library quickly, finding Ryuu and the others messing around inside the library’s main atrium. Ryuu was standing on top of a bookcase, Kidd was sleeping on a book pile, Clef was getting angry at a worker, while Flora was quietly reading. Ryuu noticed the new people walk in and jumped down from the bookcase, nearly knocking it over.

“Nova! Some folks who look like they run the place!” Ryuu said. “Say, can we just take anything from here?”

“What?! NO!” Doc shouted at the group. “You can’t just take whatever the hell you want!”

“Says who?” Ryuu asked, not trying to be threatening.

“AH!” Doc hid behind Minnow.

“What’d I say?” Ryuu asked.

“You idiot, saying things like that will make people think you’re threatening them!” Clef said. “Besides, he’s right, this is a library… you can’t just take whatever you want.”

“Say… why’s he all jumpy?” Ryuu asked as a worker was sneaking up behind them to knock them out.

“Little guy is probably scared…” Clef said.

“I’m not a little guy! I’m 23!” Doc shouted as Kidd aimed one of his guns at the sneaking worker.

“Hey, you best put that down…” Kidd said. “We don’t want a mess, now do we?”

“Hey, we don’t need any violence out here!” Chirashi shouted. “Put your weapons away!”

“Just a simple misunderstanding, right?” Minnow asked as Kidd put his gun away.

“Fine… but I won’t hesitate if any of these guys are put in danger in any way.” Kidd said.

“I’m told you all want to stock up your library, yes?” Chirashi asked.

“Yup!” Ryuu said. “So, let’s get to work!”

“Hold it, I can’t just let you take whatever you want…” Chirashi said. “We need to reacquire any books you might take, so we’ll need some form of payment. Depending on what you need, we can calculate that later.”

“Right!” Ryuu looked over to Flora. “Ay! Flora, can you bring us our list!”

“Yeah!” Flora took off her headphones and ran over, taking a holographic tablet out, handing it over to Chirashi. “Let’s see…”

“Not too big a list… engineering books, manuals, medical guides, cookbooks.” Chirashi said. “Basic list for a group of Treasure Hunters… we should have all these books you need.”

“Nova! Let’s get to it!” Ryuu shouted.

“Wait! While I calculate prices and such, my son Ryuichi will help you find your stuff.” Chirashi said.

“What!? Me!?” Doc shouted. “Why me!?”

“I want you to get used to the ropes.” Chirashi said. “I know you can do it!”

“Well…” Doc looked off to the side.

“Come on, we don’t bite!” Ryuu said.

“I might…” Clef said.

“Clef might…” Ryuu said.

“What!?” Doc said.

“Just kidding, fishie…” Clef said.

“Oh… right… well, okay…” Doc said, pointing to Kidd. “But keep the scary guy away from me.” 

“Fine…” Kidd said.

The group was walking between the shelves of the library, picking up the books they needed. Ryuu was trying to strike up a conversation with Doc.

“So you said your name is Ryuichi, huh?” Ryuu asked.

“Yeah, why?” Doc asked.

“Sounds kinda like my name… the name is Ryuu Aka!” Ryuu said. “I’m kinda the big cheese of this crew.”

“Oh great…” Kidd said.

“What? I’m just telling him how it is.” Ryuu said. “Not trying to sound cocky.”

“Then say it some other way.” Clef said.

“Hey, what’s that?” Flora pointed to a strange door.

“Oh, that? That’s where the Codex is kept.” Doc said. “It hasn’t been opened up in forever.”

“What’s the Codex?” Ryuu asked.

“It’s like a book, but it’s more mechanical.” Doc said. “It holds the all knowledge pertaining to the 88 Systems. Whether is be scientific or fantastical, historical or fictional, natural or lore… ical…”

“Sounds amazing… imagine if we had a book like that.” Ryuu said.

“No, you can’t have that book!” Doc said.

“Why not?” Kidd asked.

“It’s too important to put into the hands of people I don’t even know.” Doc said.

“What do you mean you?” Clef asked. “Don’t you mean the library?”

“Well… I’m supposed to be the guardian of the Codex.” Doc said.

“Supposed to?” Flora asked.

“Well… my mother was the guardian before me… she wanted me to become the guardian after her.” Doc said.

“And you aren’t… because…” Kidd got elbowed hard by Clef. “Hey!”

“Because she got killed by bandits trying to steal the Codex.” Doc said. “I’m afraid that if I become the guardian, then they’re gonna come back and kill me…”

“How long ago did this happen?” Flora asked.

“About five years ago today.” Doc said.

“Eesh… can’t let the fear of something that might happen get you.” Kidd said. “You’re not really gonna get anywhere in life.”

“Easy, Kidd!” Clef smacked Kidd in the back of the head again. “Go easy on him.”

“Fine… who were these bandits anyway, if you don’t mind me asking.” Kidd asked.

“Some guy named Hitoshi, he called his crew the Flame Bandits.” Doc said.

“Did you say Hitoshi!?” Kidd shouted as he took out a small stack of bounty posters, showing off one with Hitoshi on it. “Is this him?”

“Yeah? Why?” Doc asked.

“They call him “Anger Management” Hitoshi. He can hold is temper about as well as someone can hold a cloud.” Kidd said. “I’m surprised he hasn’t burned this place to the ground yet.”

“Kidd!” Ryuu shouted.

“What? You guys got lucky! If he hasn’t come back yet, then he isn’t gonna be coming back ever.” Kidd said.

“Really?” Doc asked. “How are you so sure?” 

“Pfft… he’s probably rotting in a ditch somewhere, he was never too notable.” Kidd showed his bounty poster, which showed the Hitoshi was only worth about 300,000 Constells. “He ain’t exactly a big fish.”

“That’s a relief… but what if you’re wrong?” Doc said.

“I’ll eat my hat…” Kidd said.

“Sounds like you don’t have much to worry about then.” Flora said.

“I don’t know…” Doc said.

“Chin up, mate!” Ryuu said as he pat Doc on the back. “If he does come back, we can protect you.”

“Okay… if you say so.” Doc said. “But what about after you leave?”

“Just give us a call, we’ll be a hop away.” Ryuu said.

“Ryuu, I don’t know if we can just drop everything to come help a library.” Clef said.

“I hate to say it, but I agree with Clef.” Kidd said.

“Watch it!” Clef said.

“Well I’m the Captain, so we do as I say!” Ryuu said.

“Come on guys, do we have to do this now?” Flora asked as the building began to rumble. “What’s that?”

“I don’t know…” Ryuu said as Doc ducked behind him. “Hey! What are you doing?”

“It’s them! I just know it!” Doc said.

“Let’s go see what’s happening. Something tells me shaking buildings aren’t normal.” Kidd said as the group ran towards the front of the library.