The JOJOLands - Chapter 23
Dolphin Bank's Debt Collection, Part 2 (ドルフィン銀行の取り立て その②, Dorufin Ginkō no Toritate Sono 2) is the 23rd chapter of The JOJOLands and the 980th chapter of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga.
Summary
The Howler family's home is located on the north slope of Hualalai in Hawaii, where they have a storage room with a treasure chest passed down across generations. The treasures include various items like a Tintoretto painting, jewels, precious metals, Etruscan vases, and Murano antique glassware. These items were eventually sold due to financial hardship. The Howler family's fortune originally came from Latrato, who discovered a water source on the barren volcanic land. This allowed his descendants to operate a successful farm. However, in 1967, a wildfire destroyed their farmland, leaving them on the brink of bankruptcy.
At that time, Monte Brutto, a Hawaii state representative, sought to claim HOWLER Farm's water source, arguing it was state property. Latrato had been granted the land by the royal family in 1898 before Hawaii had been annexed, so the land only legally belonged to the Howler family through a verbal agreement. While appearing to act in the public's interest, Monte Brutto was secretly affiliated with the Hawaiian mafia, aiming to seize the land for developing a resort hotel and villas. Moreover, his associates in the mafia had been the ones who set the wildfire to HOWLER Farm in the first place, though this fact was never officially recorded in history.
While sitting inside a car, Monte Brutto complained about a slow-moving truck in front of him and asked his driver to overtake it. As the car was about to pass the truck, the truck driver suddenly pointed a gun at Monte Brutto and shot him through the cheek. Their car flipped upside down, and the truck driver is revealed to be Acca Howler's grandfather. He apologized to the driver since he wasn't involved with Monte Brutto's schemes, but saving his ancestor's land took precedence for him over the man's life. The driver screamed not to kill him, but Acca's grandfather grabbed a rock and finished him off.
Later, he told a young Acca to come sit beside him and watch TV. He explained the importance of keeping the family's land deed legally documented on paper, ensuring that Hualalai's north slope will always belong to the Howler family. He also stressed the significance of the box in their room by telling Acca to keep precious things inside it, as that was Latrato's will. If Acca were to ever get in trouble and had to take something out of the box, it would eventually make its way back. For example, the Tintoretto painting made its way back to the box and saved the Howler family when they were nearly bankrupt from the wildfire. Meanwhile, the TV was playing a news report revealing that an art dealer was part of an underworld organization and a Tintoretto painting was one of the works of art seized in the arrest, which was sold at an auction for 70 million dollars. When a young Acca started touching certain sand-like crumbs inside the box, his grandpa explained that it was not trash, but a Lava Rock that he should treat with respect. It was found by Latrato somewhere in the mountains. However, it deteriorated and nearly all of it had crumbled away.
Back in the present, Charming Man, disguised as Yokohama, introduces himself as Dolphin Bank's general manager of sales. He introduces Dragona as his subordinate "Pink," and Jodio as his assistant and bag carrier, "Noir." Dragona is hesitant about boarding Acca's ship now because of Meryl Mei Qi's two pursuers. Jodio reassures Dragona that they are only investigating whoever shot and killed the agent at the hospital, not the bank employee. He believes that the Lava Rock is their ally and insists they must move forward.
As they board the ship, Acca greets them and introduces Key West as a lawyer who will be joining them. Dragona introduces themself as "Pink Nagasaki" and awkwardly acts overly excited about everything inside the ship, wanting to ride a merry-go-round inside. Key West praises Dragona's skin and then asks what university Dragona attended. Dragona awkwardly claims to have attended Harvard University, shocking Jodio and Charming Man. Key West reveals that they're an actual Harvard alumni, and quickly questions Dragona, asking how Professor Herzberg is doing. Dragona hesitates in responding, but both of them notice Acca holding a gun while walking downstairs. They interrupt their conversation to follow the group.
Charming Man questions whether it's necessary for Acca to have a gun, but Acca shrugs it off and tells Dragona and Jodio to sit down at the table instead of spacing out. Two sailors then bring several suitcases into the room. Acca reveals that each case holds two million dollars and states that there are 20 cases, offering them a total of 40 million dollars each. He urges "Yokohama" to use his position at the bank to cover his debts, promising a long-term business relationship in return if they take this money from him. Jodio narrates that if they were real bank employees, they likely would've taken the deal, but their goal is to take everything Howler owns. Charming Man accuses Acca of running an illegal munitions factory on Hualalai's north slope, which is a matter of national security. He warns that the state government will seize the land within 72 hours.
Acca denies the accusation, but Key West intervenes, claiming the rumors are false and will be handled separately, so the bank doesn't need to worry about it. Jodio then whispers things to Charming Man. Charming Man mentions that this is one of the "absurd" things happening in the world and offers a deal, proposing that they do a land exchange to settle his debt. He suggests that they exchange the north slope of Hualalai for a piece of land owned by Dolphin Bank on O'ahu, specifically near Mount Ka'ala, which would be a good spot for a farm. He explains that although the land market prices are different, the land contract would record that they have equal value. He presents documents for the deal, urging Acca to sign. While Acca hesitates, Jodio narrates that the document is fake, and all it would do is bring Howler's land into their possession.
Key West questions Yokohama's authority since he is only a general manager of sales. However, Charming Man claims that he received the authority from the bank's upper management. Meanwhile, Jodio receives a text from Usagi who informs him that he and Paco have just arrived at the school gate and they're heading to Meryl Mei's office. Key West refuses the deal on Acca's part, but Charming Man tries convincing him. Suddenly, Acca notices strange grains of sand scattered across the table and cash, and pauses their conversation. Recognizing the phenomenon, he recalls his grandfather's warning about the Lava Rock's properties. Dragona is shocked to realize that the Lava Rock is deteriorating, with pieces falling from their pendant. Acca then points his gun at Dragona, ordering Dragona to stand up.
Appearances
Author's Comment
Author's CommentGallery
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Ultra Jump March 2025 Cover
Trivia
- The land deed that Acca's grandfather shows him is a copy of a German individual's "Hamburg Citizen Oath" (Hamburger Bürgereid) from 1904, which appears on Google Images by searching "土地登記証 Deed".[2]
