Chapter 260: Saturn's Recognition
It was obvious—Kirito couldn't have missed. With his level of swordsmanship, striking Yuu's heart would have been effortless.
But this wasn't about killing.
"The Dragon Hunters killed our respected Guard Captain!" Kirito roared. "Everyone, fight with me! Take down the Dragon Hunter Pirates in front of us!"
He pointed his sword toward the battlefield. "Forget the other Celestial Dragon Guards. They're not worth your time!"
Those who had been planning to challenge the Celestial Guards suddenly changed direction. Compared to defeating a bunch of cowards, crushing the infamous Dragon Hunter Pirates would prove their strength far more effectively.
Without hesitation, the crowd of trainees surged forward, engaging the Dragon Hunters with renewed vigor.
Naturally, the strongest among them clashed with Uvogin and Ban—two of the fiercest warriors under Ryuunosuke's flag. If left unchecked, those two alone could lay waste to half an army. That meant Kirito had to face them personally. And with the whole battle unfolding around him, it was time to put his acting skills to the test.
---
Meanwhile, at the Celestial Guard base…
"The Guard Captain was killed?"
"Impossible!"
"He's the chief—his strength is top-tier!"
"Don't forget… they're fighting the Dragon Hunter Pirates."
Panic set in. Some guards gripped their weapons tighter, while others exchanged anxious glances.
"Should we go out there?"
"Are you crazy? We'll be next!"
"Why don't we just evacuate… let those idiots do the dying?"
That thought spread like wildfire.
And so, in the dead of night, the so-called elite Celestial Guards abandoned their post like rats from a sinking ship. They made a beeline for the harbor where their fast ships waited—faster, they believed, than anything the Dragon Hunters had brought. After all, this wasn't even the main fleet.
"As long as we can get away," one of them muttered, "we'll be fine."
Whatever happened next, they figured, wasn't their problem anymore.
---
A few hours later, deep in the heart of Mary Geoise…
"Perururu Peruru…"
The Den Den Mushi rang as Saturn sat back in his office.
When he saw the caller ID, his face twisted in fury. "Morgans?! You've got some nerve calling me!"
He slammed a fist on the desk. "Do you realize how much damage your last broadcast did to the World Government? One ally falling to the Dragon Hunters is bad enough—but live-streaming it? You made us a global laughingstock!"
Morgans, ever calm, replied, "We were threatened by the Dragon Hunter Pirates. If I hadn't complied, I probably wouldn't even be alive to make this call."
"I get that you're angry, and I know forgiveness is a stretch… but I still want to do the right thing."
He paused, then added, "Turn on your video snail. There's something you need to see."
Despite his rising blood pressure, Saturn tapped the visual feed on.
What he saw made his stomach churn.
The official Celestial Guards—the ones under his command—were fleeing toward the sea in full retreat.
Meanwhile, the new Celestial Guards were fighting bravely, holding the line alongside the other squad members.
The image was humiliating.
Those cowards had been trained under his watch. Once a symbol of power, they had become nothing more than parasites—useless and disgraceful. And if this footage were to spread… the other Five Elders would never let him live it down.
His jaw clenched. "Morgans," he asked coldly, "did you show this video to anyone else?"
"No," the newsbird replied. "You're the only one who's seen it."
"Good. Keep it that way." Saturn took a deep breath. "I'll accept your apology—for now. Just don't leak any more of this. Not a single frame."
And with that, he ended the call, face dark as storm clouds.
Morgans chuckled. "Even the Five Elders still care about their image. Well then… this next act is going to be very entertaining."
He turned back to his notes, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
From the moment Ryuunosuke formed the Dragon Hunter Pirates, Morgans had tracked every step—every recruitment, every battle. Only the very beginning remained a mystery (when Ryuunosuke famously roasted a News Coo for fun). Everything else had been documented.
No one in the world had a clearer picture of the threat Ryuunosuke posed.
"This world's about to get a whole lot more exciting," Morgans whispered.
---
Back at the harbor, just as the deserters' ships prepared to launch…
"Perururu peruru…"
The Den Den Mushi buzzed again.
"Lord Saturn!" came the panicked voice on the other end. "The fleeing Celestial Dragon Guards… were ambushed at sea by the Dragon Hunter Pirates."
"They're all gone."
"The remaining forces are still fighting the Dragon Hunters' division members… but it looks bad."
Saturn listened silently.
"…Understood. Thank you, Morgans."
He stood, eyes cold and resolute.
"If you handle things well this time," he said quietly, "I'll make sure the World Government protects you."
Then, without another word, he marched out—with his personal guard in tow—heading straight for the battlefield.
---
Late that night, the battlefield was silent.
The fight was over.
The ground was littered with bodies—some belonging to the Celestial Dragon Guards, others to the Dragon Hunter Pirates.
Kirito stood tall, bloodied but composed. He faced the surviving recruits and offered words not of sorrow, but strength.
"Collect our fallen comrades and bury them with honor," he ordered. "They died for their beliefs. We won't mourn—we'll grow stronger."
"We must become stronger. We will make the Dragon Hunters pay for this in blood!"
The troops saluted, many of them clearly shaken but inspired by his resolve.
Unbeknownst to Kirito, someone had been watching.
Saturn had arrived—silently—sometime during the speech.
And Kirito only sensed him after it was too late.
A cold sweat broke across his back. The pressure from this man… it was suffocating. Kirito knew—if this turned into a fight, he'd be dead before he could blink.
"Kirigaya Kazuto," Saturn said evenly. "Trainee Captain of the Celestial Guard."
"You've done well."
He paused, then gave his verdict.
"From this moment on, you are an official Celestial Dragon Guard. And your entire unit will be promoted with you."
"I'll bring the rest of the Guards here. You'll train with them. How far you rise… will depend on your own strength."
Kirito froze in place. He hadn't expected this.
This wasn't a punishment.
It was recognition.
Saturn, one of the most powerful men in the world, was acknowledging him.
Because today—for the first time—the Dragon Hunter Pirates had left survivors behind.
Because today, someone fought back and didn't die.
And Saturn was watching.
He was impressed.
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