Chapter 453: Moving Fountain!
At the same time, Ryuunosuke learned something crucial. The aura within the Infinite Orange Stone wasn't just strange energy—it was the power of the soul.
By now, he had gathered quite a bit of information about the Infinite Stones:
Infinite Green Stone – Life
Infinite Blue Stone – Talent
Infinite White Stone – Destruction
Infinite Black Stone – Unknown
Infinite Orange Stone – Soul
When arranged like this, it looked less like scattered relics and more like the components of a single existence. The Infinite Black Stone, he suspected, might be the one that created or bestowed the others.
"Captain Ryuunosuke," Gaban said suddenly, breaking the silence. "You seem interested in that stone. I actually remember where I found it. Navigators like me always mark our positions—once we reach Raftel, I can locate the exact spot again."
Ryuunosuke nodded, his expression calm but his eyes glinting. Anything that held soul power wasn't just another relic. "Thank you, Mr. Gaban. When the time comes, I'll count on your help."
…
After a while, their conversation lightened. Gaban leaned back, his voice carrying a note of surprise. "Captain, your ship… it's something else. I've never felt recovery like this before."
He flexed his arms slowly, feeling the renewed energy pulsing through his body. A man of Gaban's caliber could gauge his condition with pinpoint accuracy. When he had left the control room earlier, he'd been nearly spent—his body running on fumes after a week without rest. Yet now, just talking aboard this ship for a few minutes, his strength had nearly returned.
That wasn't normal.
The life essence Ryuunosuke had provided earlier had already been mostly consumed. Whatever was restoring them now wasn't coming from that.
"Recovery?" Ryuunosuke turned toward Nijoko. "What about you?"
Nijoko, who had been resting nearby, looked up. Though she was tougher than Gaban physically, she hadn't fully absorbed the energy of the Dragon Hunter Pirates' life essence either. Her recovery speed shouldn't have been this fast.
"I feel it too," she said thoughtfully. "My stamina's back, and even my mental fatigue has faded."
Ryuunosuke frowned slightly. That confirmed it. This wasn't imagination, nor was it just the lingering effects of life essence. The essence worked by stimulating cell renewal—it didn't heal fatigue or restore spiritual energy. Whatever was happening here was something entirely different.
"Captain!" Gaino raised his hand suddenly, his voice full of excitement.
Ryuunosuke blinked. "Gaino?"
He grinned from ear to ear. "The Infinity Green Stone Heart you gave me earlier—it's fully integrated now!"
"What do you mean?" Ryuunosuke asked, curious.
"I've become… a mobile recovery point!" Gaino declared proudly, puffing out his chest. "When I'm nearby, everyone around me recovers stamina and vitality automatically."
Ryuunosuke's eyes widened slightly. "A mobile fountain…"
It was absurd—but the evidence was right before him. Gaban's exhaustion gone. Nijoko's fatigue erased. Gaino ability was truly functioning like a living wellspring.
Indeed, the Infinite Green Stone represented life itself. Instead of boosting the Eternal Ship's attack power like the White Stone, it enhanced its supportive abilities.
Ryuunosuke opened the Eternal Ship's system panel, scanning the latest updates:
[Eternal Ship: Destruction attack blessing, mobile fountain blessing.]
He exhaled slowly, suppressing a laugh. "This system really has a sense of humor…"
To the untrained eye, the term mobile fountain probably sounded ridiculous. But Ryuunosuke knew better. In combat terms, this wasn't just healing—it was the ultimate support ability. A living source of regeneration, a "violent nanny" that could turn battles around.
"Captain Ryuunosuke," Gaban murmured, already half-asleep, "if there's nothing else… I think I'll rest right here…"
Before he could even finish, the old pirate collapsed onto the deck, snoring loudly.
Ryuunosuke couldn't help but smile. "Gaino, have Mario carry Mr. Gaban to his quarters."
"Yes, Captain!"
As Gaban was gently lifted away, Ryuunosuke looked out over the deck, deep in thought. The information Gaban had provided wasn't just useful—it was invaluable. Not only had it shed light on Raftel's mystery, but it also revealed the true nature of the Infinite Orange Stone.
It seemed the old saying was true—an experienced sailor never forgets the way home.
…
Meanwhile
"Beru beru beru…"
The Den Den Mushi's receiver twitched, its eyes opening.
"Big brother?" Ace's familiar voice came through.
Ryuunosuke spoke first. "Ace, you still have Luffy's Vivre Card, right? Can you locate him now?"
Originally, Ryuunosuke had planned to contact Morgans, but the news tycoon was too busy broadcasting updates about the Dragon Hunter Pirates' journey to Raftel. And besides, Luffy wasn't in any well-known sea region—perhaps somewhere remote, even uncharted.
So Ryuunosuke turned to Ace instead. As brothers, they had exchanged Vivre Cards long ago.
"Yeah, I still have it," Ace replied quickly. "Luffy's heading straight toward your ship, actually."
"What?" Ryuunosuke's brow furrowed. "He's coming here?"
"Pretty much," Ace said. "Though, uh… I gave my Den Den Mushi to Luffy. You'll have to reach him through that."
Ryuunosuke pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. "Of course you did…"
He hadn't planned on searching for Luffy this soon. Originally, he'd intended to let the Straw Hat's story unfold naturally, just as it once had. But his own actions—the chaos, the alliances, the power shifts—had changed the world far too much. Nothing was going according to the old script anymore.
"Fine," Ryuunosuke said after a moment. "Contact him through the Vivre Card. Find his location and tell him to stay put. I'll come to him myself."
"Got it," Ace answered. "You sure you don't need backup?"
There was a pause before he added, his tone softening, "And… you're really going to Raftel, huh?"
Ryuunosuke smiled faintly. "Yeah. But before that, your little brother's managed to get himself into trouble again."
Ace chuckled. "He never changes."
Ryuunosuke's grin widened. "If you want, you can join us. Roger's former crewmates—Gaban and bullet—are both with me now. If you want to know what kind of man your father really was, this is your chance."
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