Chapter 454: Go Find Luffy!
After exchanging a few brief words with Ace, Ryuunosuke leaned back as the line went quiet. Ace had gone to contact Luffy directly.
"Captain Ryuunosuke," Keshia began, watching him with a puzzled expression, "with the intelligence network you've built, you're probably one of the best-informed pirates on the sea. But I've always been curious—what are you really after?"
Her voice carried genuine confusion. To her, Ryuunosuke seemed almost too normal for someone commanding a crew as infamous as the Dragon Hunters. He was calm, polite, occasionally playful with women, and admittedly handsome—but aside from his absurd strength, he never acted like someone carrying grand ambitions.
Even when he was looking for Luffy just now, he seemed almost… casual.
What kind of man could build a fleet filled with monsters and still act so indifferent?
Keshia thought back to everything she'd learned about the Dragon Hunter Pirates. They opposed the Navy, despised the World Government, crushed the slave trade, hunted treasures, and pursued strength relentlessly.
Individually, each goal was understandable. Many people spent their lives chasing only one of those dreams. But when all of them came together—woven into a single pirate crew—it became something far stranger.
It was as if this crew wasn't formed by pirates at all, but by forces of nature bound together for some greater, unknown reason.
"Our goal?" Ryuunosuke smiled faintly. "It's simple, really. We want to become the strongest pirate crew in the world—to stand at the very top. Everything we do, every battle, every adventure… it's all to make our name known."
He gestured toward the Den Den Mushi nearby. "Even this voyage to Raftel—we're streaming it live to the world. Fame spreads faster than any ship."
Keshia stared at him, slack-jawed. "…You're kidding."
She frowned, folding her arms. "If you don't want to tell me the truth, fine. But at least come up with a better excuse. Who in their right mind forms a crew like this just to be famous?"
Ryuunosuke chuckled softly. "These days, no one believes the truth."
He wasn't lying. His true goal really was fame—reputation. Every heroic act, every fight, every world-shaking event earned him points to strengthen himself and his crew. It was absurd, maybe even unbelievable, but it worked.
Training and battles helped him control that power, but reputation was the true fuel behind his growth. Still, he couldn't blame others for not believing it.
"Brother Ryuunosuke," Akame said suddenly, tilting her head, "I just realized… I don't actually know what our real goal is."
If Keshia hadn't brought it up, Akame probably never would have asked. She'd always followed orders without question. Missions came, missions went. She fought, protected her crew, and moved on. The purpose behind it all never really mattered to her.
Keshia leaned closer, curious to hear how Ryuunosuke would answer.
"As pirates," he began, "our goal is freedom. But on the path to freedom, there are always obstacles—enemies, storms, gods, and men. We get stronger so that none of those things can stop us."
Akame nodded slowly, seemingly satisfied. Keshia, however, snorted.
"Freedom, huh? Sounds like you just make things up as you go," she teased. "No long-term plan. Just power through whatever stands in your way."
Ryuunosuke smiled knowingly. "Maybe that's what freedom really is."
Before Keshia could reply, the Den Den Mushi on the table began to ring again.
"Beru beru beru…"
Ryuunosuke picked it up immediately. "Ace, what's the situation? Did you find him?"
"Yeah," Ace's voice came through clearly. "Luffy's in the Bibithia Islands—just north of Dressrosa. If you head there now, how long will it take you?"
Ryuunosuke spread a map across the table. Since Dressrosa now belonged to the Dragon Hunter Pirates, the surrounding islands were all marked in detail. It didn't take long for him to find Bibithia.
"Keshia, how long would it take your ship to reach this island?"
Keshia leaned over, tracing the route with her finger. "If we go full speed, less than five days."
Ryuunosuke nodded. "Ace, you hear that? Five days. Tell Luffy to stay put—and tell him I'm coming with a shipload of meat. We'll feast when I arrive."
"Got it!" Ace replied, amused. "But you know Luffy—he might eat everything before you even get there."
"It's fine," Ryuunosuke said, grinning. "If you tell him there's more meat waiting, he'll stay."
He paused, then added, "If that doesn't work, tell Zoro I want a spar when I arrive. That'll keep him grounded. And tell Sanji… that Shirahoshi's with me."
Keshia blinked. "You're manipulating them with food, sword fights, and women?"
Ryuunosuke smirked. "You use whatever works."
Ace laughed on the other end. "Understood. I'll let them know."
As the line disconnected, Ryuunosuke leaned back in satisfaction.
Those three simple triggers—meat, swords, and beauty—were enough to anchor the Straw Hats where they stood. As for Nami, that one was easy too. Just mention money, and she'd never leave.
…
Hours later, Keshia steered her ship toward the Bibithia Islands, sails catching the wind.
But to Ryuunosuke, the speed felt painfully slow. After sailing the Eternal Ship, anything less felt like crawling.
"Keshia," he said finally, "why don't we take my ship instead?"
She looked at him, puzzled. "Your ship? You didn't bring it with you, did you? Besides, your main vessel's back with your crew."
He smiled. "Who said I only have one?"
"Kuun!" he called.
The sea below them rumbled. A massive shadow emerged beneath Keshia's ship, rising from the depths like a living island.
With a thunderous splash, a colossal sea beast surfaced—the legendary deep-sea creature Kun, its scales glistening like black crystal.
Its roar echoed across the waves, shaking the sky.
"Hold your head high!" Ryuunosuke commanded.
The monstrous creature obeyed, letting the smaller ship rest upon its back.
Keshia stared in stunned silence, her mouth falling open. "You're kidding me… This is a Sea King?!"
She had seen many strange beings in her time with the Guardians, but nothing like this. They had once attempted to capture such a beast, yet even their combined power hadn't been enough.
And now, this towering creature—one of the ocean's apex predators—obeyed Ryuunosuke like a trained pet.
"This… this is insane…" she whispered.
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