Chapter 452: The Real Plan!
After hearing Ryuunosuke's words, Najenda could only give him a wry smile that seemed to say, "Of course. That's just like you."
He had waited two days after Kshia's departure before revealing the truth, and even then, Gaynor had already scanned the entire ship for any surveillance traces before Ryuunosuke said a word.
It was a small detail, but it spoke volumes about how cautious he truly was.
And rightly so. The enemies they now faced were powerful, unpredictable, and shrouded in mystery. One careless move could plunge them into an abyss from which there was no return.
Najenda exhaled slowly. "Captain… what are we going to do next? The more I learn, the more uncertain I feel about the future."
Her voice carried a quiet heaviness. In her original world, things had been simpler—Night Raid had a clear mission: assassinate the minister's corrupt forces and help the Revolutionary Army rebuild the kingdom. Success or failure, it had always been straightforward.
But here, aboard the Dragon Hunter Pirates' ship, clarity didn't bring comfort. Their goal was defined—but the path ahead was buried under endless uncertainty.
Ryuunosuke leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "Next, it depends on how quickly Gaban and the others can finish their research."
His gaze turned toward the control room. It had been over a week since Gaban and Nijoko began their work. They hadn't stopped once. Sheets of sketches, charts, and calculations were piled so high they almost reached the ceiling.
Nijoko had taken to studying navigation and chart-making directly under Gaban's guidance. And before long, she'd surpassed even him. Her spatial sense and precision were extraordinary—she was a natural-born navigator.
"Captain," Gaynor's voice echoed suddenly, accompanied by the flicker of a projection. "They've completed the fourth version of the analysis. The data points to four separate locations, each matching the description of Raftel."
"Four?" Ryuunosuke frowned, approaching the holographic map. "Where are they located? Do they share any connection?"
The map was intricate and sprawling, an ocean of data and routes that twisted through the New World. Four red markers glowed like stars.
"There is a connection," Gaynor explained. "If we connect these four locations, they form a perfect circle. The true Raftel lies at the intersection point. The other four are misdirections—decoys."
"So the island Roger reached back then…" Ryuunosuke murmured, eyes narrowing, "wasn't the real Raftel at all."
"Exactly," said Gaban, stepping into the room with a tired grin, though his face was bright with accomplishment. "We've been chasing a shadow all this time."
Despite the exhaustion carved into his features, his eyes burned with life. If it weren't for Ryuunosuke's life essence keeping him alive, Gaban probably would've collapsed from overwork long ago. Age had slowed his body, but not his will.
"Where is this intersection located?" Ryuunosuke asked, his voice low and steady.
"Based on current sea divisions," Gaban replied, pointing at the map, "it's somewhere deep within the New World. But before we rush in, we should investigate the four surrounding points. They must serve a purpose beyond simple misdirection."
He crossed his arms thoughtfully. "The order of the historical texts was never meant to be random. Each one corresponds to a specific route. Take any single one as the first reference, and you'll end up with a completely different conclusion. Only by finding the true starting point can you reach the real island."
It was a realization Gaban admitted he'd missed in his youth. But now, with Gaynor's calculations, Nijoko's mapping, and his own experience, they had finally cracked the puzzle.
Ryuunosuke studied the glowing map for a long moment. "Then we'll head for the first point indicated by Bullet.'s Eternal Pointer. If we retrace Roger's steps, we might uncover what really happened back then."
Kshia's claim that Roger had died because he failed to receive Raftel's "blessing"—or curse—was still fresh in his mind. But Ryuunosuke wasn't one to take anyone's word for truth. He preferred to see it for himself.
Gaban nodded, his smile widening. "That's the best call. It's a location we know well, and honestly, I've been waiting for this moment. I never thought I'd live long enough to set foot on the final island again."
His hands trembled slightly as he clenched them. "Back then, the captain didn't let us go with him. He faced the end alone. This time, I'll see with my own eyes what truly claimed his life."
The emotion in his voice was raw and honest. Every man who once sailed under the Pirate King carried that same ghost in his heart. For decades, they'd lived with unanswered questions. Now, after years of silence, they finally had a chance to uncover the truth.
Ryuunosuke watched him quietly before speaking again. "Mr. Gaban, I know this might not be the best time, but there's something else I want to ask you."
Gaban looked up immediately. "Anything, Captain. If I know it, I'll tell you."
He didn't hesitate. Once, Roger had forbidden them from speaking of Raftel, but Ryuunosuke was no ordinary pirate. The man was already sailing the same course—and broadcasting it to the world. At this point, secrets served no purpose.
Ryuunosuke reached into his coat and drew out a familiar gem—the Infinite Orange Stone.
"This came from you, didn't it?" he asked.
Gaban's eyes widened. "That's… yes. I gave that to Charlotte Linlin years ago. How on earth do you have it?"
"She gave it to me," Ryuunosuke replied simply. "And she said she got it from you. So I need to know—where did you find it?"
He didn't bother hiding the urgency in his tone. The Heart of Eternity mattered to him far more than Raftel or the so-called treasure. If there was a way to escape this world—or bridge it—it would begin with this stone.
Gaban rubbed his chin thoughtfully before answering. "I found it on Raftel, back when we first landed. I didn't know what it was at the time, just that it carried an odd energy. It felt alive, almost… soulful. Later, when Big Mom mentioned her hunger for power that could preserve souls, I traded it to her."
He chuckled awkwardly. "Got a year's worth of supplies out of it, too."
Ryuunosuke blinked, caught between disbelief and amusement. "You traded something like that for food money?"
Gaban grinned, scratching the back of his head. "What can I say? Even legends get hungry."
Ryuunosuke sighed, shaking his head, but a faint smile crept onto his lips. For all his wisdom, the former right hand of the Pirate King hadn't changed one bit.
[TL: Check out my new fanfic, Soul Land: Thunder Dragon God (Douluo Dalu).
Join Yu Tianlin of the Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan on his rise to the top no system, no shortcuts, just pure talent and hard earned power.
If you want classic Douluo energy with thunder dragon might, give it a read.]
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