Chapter 217: Katakuri's Fear!
Though Katakuri was a warrior, he hadn't come to Dressrosa to fight.
This time, his mission wasn't assassination.
It was diplomacy.
He approached calmly, handing over a sealed dossier.
"Captain Ryuunosuke, this is intel on the organization we've been tracking," Katakuri said in his usual low tone.
"They're connected to the World Government. That's why Mama made a deal with them."
"She wanted the complete gene set from the giantification experiments."
"That's how the arrangement started."
"As for Pekoms' fur being stolen—that happened during the transaction. We received medicine as compensation."
Ryuunosuke opened the folder and began flipping through the contents.
Katakuri didn't ramble. No posturing. No meaningless fluff. Just facts.
Ryuunosuke liked that.
Efficient. Direct.
"Kna Organization?" Ryuunosuke muttered, scanning the papers. "Never heard of them."
Yet, they'd negotiated with an Emperor-class pirate crew.
That alone made them dangerous.
Either they were a rogue scientific cell—perhaps former Vegapunk staff—or they were operating under the World Government's shadow.
"They're a genetic research organization," Katakuri explained. "According to whispers, they were the ones who helped Vegapunk discover the bloodline factor in the first place."
"As for who backs them…"
He paused.
"…Possibly Celestial Dragons. But no confirmation."
Ryuunosuke's brow twitched slightly.
Even unconfirmed rumors gave him a direction to investigate.
And in the New World, that was often all you needed to find the truth.
"White Ball Island," he said, closing the folder with a smirk.
According to the data, the Kna Organization's suspected base was located there.
Fate truly had a twisted sense of humor.
White Ball Island—famous for its white cloud formations—was already set as their next stop. Najenda had confirmed the route earlier.
"I see," Ryuunosuke said. "Katakuri, before anything else… apologize to my crew."
He stood.
"And then—I want you to understand something."
"Fight me… and you die."
Without warning, a crushing aura erupted from Ryuunosuke's body.
The entire courtyard trembled under its pressure.
Katakuri instinctively activated his Armament Haki, his eyes narrowing.
He peered into the future.
And what he saw made sweat bead down his neck.
Yes.
If he raised a hand—he would die.
"…You'd kill me," Katakuri muttered grimly.
And yet, he withdrew his weapon.
Because he wasn't here to fight.
Because even he could see that Ryuunosuke wasn't bluffing.
And because deep down—he was afraid.
"Good," Ryuunosuke nodded. "You've delivered what I asked. Now go. The Dragon Hunter Pirates still have work to do."
He sat back down, sipping his tea as if nothing had happened.
But the weight of that moment lingered.
"…One more thing, Captain Ryuunosuke," Katakuri said, bowing slightly.
"Our crew member—Baron Tamago—was captured by your men. I've brought ransom."
He presented a small case.
"One unknown Devil Fruit… and one billion Berries."
Ryuunosuke didn't even look up.
"Go find Chrollo, Second Division Captain."
"The Baron is in his hands. If the deal interests him, he'll make the trade."
Katakuri nodded and turned to leave.
A short while later, under Ryuunosuke's blessing, the exchange was made.
Baron Tamago was released.
The two departed quickly.
But even aboard his own ship, Katakuri hadn't relaxed.
He stood at the bow, gripping his trident tightly.
His hands were still trembling.
"Lord Katakuri…?" Baron Tamago asked, confused.
Katakuri didn't respond right away.
Finally, his voice came low and steady.
"…How much do you know about the Dragon Hunter Pirates?"
Baron Tamago hesitated. "Not much."
"That Chrollo guy came alone and just took me."
"Perospero tried to intervene… couldn't stop him."
"I didn't even stand a chance."
Katakuri nodded slowly.
"I see."
"Then listen closely."
"We must not—must not—make an enemy of them."
"Tell Mama what happened. Everything."
"I'm entrusting this task to you, Tamago."
His gaze turned back toward the fading horizon.
Toward Dressrosa.
Where he had stood… next to something inhuman.
Ryuunosuke wasn't just powerful.
He was something else.
A monster hiding in plain sight.
A devil among men.
A presence even Charlotte Linlin herself might hesitate to face.
I need to grow stronger, Katakuri thought.
Much stronger.
Because compared to that man, he was still far too weak.
Back on Dressrosa, the sun was rising.
And Ryuunosuke?
He had just gained a new territory.
A powerful one.
Dressrosa, under Doflamingo's hands, was already a commercial and strategic hub. With it under the Dragon Hunter flag, his influence was expanding rapidly.
The system chimed.
[Ding! You have gained a new territory: Dressrosa. +50,000 Reputation Points earned.]
[Recruitment unlocked: Designated Crew Member Available.]
Ryuunosuke smiled.
A designated recruitment. That was rare.
And more importantly—the reputation gain would be ongoing.
As long as Dressrosa remained under his control, it would provide a steady stream of reputation points.
Territories weren't just about power.
They were investments.
Over the past ten days, they'd gained more than most pirate crews would in a year.
And now…
It was time to move again.
At dawn, the Dragon Hunter Pirates departed.
Leaving behind a unified Dressrosa, and shaking the foundations of the New World.
Because Doflamingo was more than just a fallen warlord.
He was a keystone.
And with him now under Ryuunosuke's banner, the balance of the sea had begun to shift.
Not just the Yonko.
Not just pirate crews.
Even the World Government felt the tremor.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Check my Pâtreon for (40) advanced chapters
Pâtreon .com/Fanficlord03
Change (â) to (a)
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9