Chapter 256: Treasure!
After hearing what Buggy said, Ryuunosuke simply nodded.
He wasn't the least bit curious about the so-called treasure.
After all, if the Dragon Hunter Pirates truly wanted treasure or riches, getting them would be a breeze.
Their reason for heading to the Valley of the Gods was far more intriguing—it wasn't about gold or gems, but the secrets buried there. Something about that place might explain why such a monumental battle happened there in the first place.
Two of the strongest pirate crews in the world—the Rocks Pirates and the Roger Pirates—had clashed in that very location. That kind of confrontation couldn't possibly have been over something as simple as attacking the Celestial Dragons.
And ever since that legendary battle, Rocks D. Xebec vanished without a trace. Dead or alive? No one could say.
But that moment marked the start of the Valley of the Gods becoming a complete mystery. It had disappeared from maps, logs, and every navigational chart ever since. To Ryuunosuke, that alone was worth investigating.
"Alright," Ryuunosuke said, cracking a grin. "Deal's done."
"It'll take about a week to reach the Valley of the Gods. Your ship's too slow, though."
He looked at Buggy's vessel, unimpressed.
"Tie it to my Ship of the Gods—we'll get there faster."
Despite Buggy's recent upgrades to his ship, thanks to the wealth and privileges that came with being one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, it was still far behind in both speed and craftsmanship compared to Ryuunosuke's ship.
"Good!" Buggy nodded eagerly. "But I'm still curious—why are you going to the Valley of the Gods if not for treasure?"
His voice held genuine confusion. Like most pirates, he had assumed the Dragon Hunter Pirates were after gold.
Ryuunosuke gave him a casual glance and smirked.
"What I want is information," he said coolly. "I want to know what really happened there."
He pointed to the map between them. "The treasure of the Rocks Pirates is one thing. But I believe they left more than just valuables behind. There's a message buried there… and I intend to find it."
The Rocks Pirates were once the most powerful pirate crew in the world. Whatever they considered valuable wasn't just shiny—it had meaning.
Wealth wasn't hard to find for Ryuunosuke. But truth? That was priceless.
He'd already asked Whitebeard about the Valley of the Gods, but the old man refused to say a word. Garp was the same—tight-lipped and evasive. That kind of silence only fueled Ryuunosuke's curiosity.
"The treasure of the Rocks Pirates…" Buggy repeated slowly. His eyes widened, practically bulging out of his head. "Wait a minute… I think I've seen something about that before."
"In the East Blue, maybe…"
Before Ryuunosuke could ask, a gentle voice chimed in behind them.
"Yeah… I think I saw something like that once."
It was Nojiko, quietly approaching as she looked over the map in front of them.
"Nojiko?" Ryuunosuke raised an eyebrow. "You know something about the Rocks Pirates?"
He was genuinely surprised. She was too young to have been alive during the time of the legendary battle. If anything, she might have picked up a rumor or two.
"I'm not sure," Nojiko said, tilting her head thoughtfully. "But I remember seeing a symbol. The same one on your treasure maps. I saw it in Aunt Belle-Mère's room when I was a kid."
Her brow furrowed. "I don't remember exactly where, though… It was just once, a long time ago."
Ryuunosuke didn't press further. A symbol wasn't enough to draw conclusions. Still, the mention of the East Blue being possibly connected to Rocks was… interesting.
He tucked that thought away for later.
For now, they would focus on reaching the Valley of the Gods.
Whatever secrets the Celestial Dragons were hiding—secrets so dangerous even Whitebeard and Garp refused to speak of them—he intended to uncover them.
A mischievous grin crept onto Ryuunosuke's face.
Maybe this will be the key to taking down the World Government itself.
As they sailed, Ryuunosuke and Buggy began discussing their plans for when they arrived. Buggy shared what little intelligence he had gathered, though it wasn't much.
Due to Buggy's ship being dragged behind, their travel time stretched from a week to eight days.
Meanwhile, the news bird wasted no time.
Within hours, the world learned of the alliance between Buggy the Clown and Ryuunosuke, captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates.
The World Government exploded in fury.
Yet another Warlord had thrown in their lot with the Dragon Hunters.
First it was Doflamingo, now Buggy. It was a slap in the face—a public embarrassment to their control and reputation.
At the same time, in a remote part of the New World, St. Saturn landed on a quiet island.
Standing at the edge of the dock was a short, hunched woman with sharp eyes—Miss Bakkin.
Saturn's tone was grave. "Miss Bakkin, I have a task for you."
He tossed a folder onto the table. "Take your son… and destroy the Buggy Pirates."
"They dared to ally themselves with the Dragon Hunters. Unforgivable."
Miss Bakkin raised a brow, unfazed by Saburo's anger.
"The Buggy Pirates?" she repeated with a snort. "That crew's a joke."
"Weevil and I could flatten them in our sleep."
She crossed her arms with a smug grin. "But if you want me to take action, the World Government better have something in it for me."
Saturn didn't hesitate.
"Compensation?" he said coldly. "You'll get 500 million Berries upfront. Plus, I'll assign you a special combat unit—300 elite soldiers. If the mission's a success, they'll be yours permanently."
He stepped closer.
"Finish the job, and I'll give you another 500 million Berries and a noble title. You'll even be allowed to claim an allied nation for yourself."
Miss Bakkin's eyes glittered with greed. "Now that's more like it."
"I'll take the mission. Just give me the target's exact location."
Saint handed her a sealed compass—an Eternal Pose pointing directly to Buggy's current location.
"Take it," he said. "Leave now. We can't afford to waste time."
Behind her, a group of warriors emerged—clad in special armor, their expressions cold, their presence heavy.
A deadly force, armed and ready.
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