Chapter 372: Chapter 372: Festa’s Purpose Is Being Spied On!
Chapter 372: Festa’s Purpose Is Being Spied On!
Three days later—just two days left until the grand opening of the Pirate Expo.
The Wallos Islands were growing louder, denser, and more chaotic by the hour. With new arrivals docking one after another, the air was thick with tension and ambition.
Ryuunosuke sat alone by the window of a high-rise inn, watching the scene unfold below.
"Buena Festa... so this is the surprise you’ve prepared?" he murmured.
"If this really gets out... the ocean will plunge into even deeper chaos."
He took a bite of a fruit, though his gaze never left the docks.
His focus wasn’t on Festa—but on the fleets that just kept coming.
The island had long exceeded its limit for holding pirates. Yet crews kept flooding in, drawn by two things: the supposed appearance of the Eternal Pointer to Raftel, and the confirmed presence of the Dragon Hunter Pirates.
It was clever.
Too clever.
Ryuunosuke didn’t like being used. And if someone was going to exploit the Dragon Hunter name for attention, the least they could do was tell him what was going on.
So he went to see Buena Festa himself.
—
"Captain Ryuunosuke, the truth should belong to everyone," Festa said nervously, sweat beading along his temples. "Besides... you’re close with the Revolutionary Army, right? Wouldn’t this help you too?"
He tried to smile, but his voice shook.
Ryuunosuke hadn’t raised a hand—but his aura was terrifying.
Even during the height of the old era, when emperors clashed and monsters roamed freely, Festa had never met someone with this kind of presence.
If Ryuunosuke so much as blinked the wrong way, Festa was certain he’d be vaporized where he stood.
"True. It doesn’t affect me," Ryuunosuke said flatly. "But what do you gain from it?"
"You’re not the type to do anything without benefit."
People lived for profit—especially schemers like Buena Festa. There was no way this wasn’t part of something bigger.
Festa’s expression changed.
"Because... one of the countries destroyed by the World Government was my home."
His eyes darkened. Fury flickered across his face.
"I don’t care how long it’s been. Their lives can’t just be forgotten. They can’t be erased."
"Revenge," Ryuunosuke said quietly, nodding.
"I understand."
And with that, he vanished.
Festa exhaled sharply, collapsing into his chair. Only then did he realize how stiff his shoulders were.
He could manipulate the sea’s biggest egos and legends—but not that man.
Even announcing Ryuunosuke’s presence felt like inviting death.
---
Outside, Ryuunosuke stepped into the street and immediately felt it.
A faint presence.
Observation Haki.
"Hm?"
His eyes narrowed.
That aura—he recognized it.
He’d sensed it before... on the ship... and again in Alabasta.
It was always subtle. Strange. Hidden.
But this time, he caught it.
In a flash, he vanished from sight.
Whoever it was tried to cut the connection, shutting off their perception entirely—but it was too late.
Ryuunosuke followed the trail like a hunter tracking prey.
Moments later, he landed quietly on the deck of a familiar ship.
"...Luffy?"
The Straw Hat ship bobbed gently in the harbor. And sure enough, the entire crew was there.
Had he sensed wrong?
"Ah?! Hahaha! Big bro, you’re here too?" Luffy shouted, running up to him excitedly. "I figured you weren’t around. Your whole First Division’s here, but I couldn’t find you!"
Ryuunosuke chuckled.
"I had something to take care of. I won’t be participating in the Expo, though. You all can fight for the Eternal Pointer on your own."
"Wait, really?!" Nami jumped up, instantly alert.
"The Eternal Pointer to Raftel?!" Her eyes sparkled.
"I thought that was just a rumor!"
"For once, it’s not," Ryuunosuke confirmed.
"Also, expect the truth behind the disappearances... and the World Government’s sins to be revealed here."
He glanced over at Robin, who gave him a nod.
"Captain Ryuunosuke," she said softly in greeting.
Just then—
Shing!
Zoro unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Ryuunosuke.
"Fight me."
BAM!
Before the words finished leaving his mouth, Ryuunosuke appeared in front of him and punched him square in the gut.
Zoro folded like a house of cards, collapsing to his knees and shaking violently.
Idiot, Ryuunosuke thought. Doesn’t even think before challenging someone.
He blinked, taking in the rest of the crew.
This ship really was full of lunatics. Except maybe Robin... and Nami, to a degree.
But that Observation Haki earlier—he was certain. It hadn’t been from Zoro.
Someone else was hiding something.
"Yohohoho~!"
Brook stepped forward.
"Captain Ryuunosuke, may I join your crew instead—"
CRACK!
One punch. Skull shattered.
Ryuunosuke dusted his fist off calmly.
Luffy, scratching his head, walked over.
"Hey, bro, are you... looking for something?"
For someone who played dumb, Luffy could be surprisingly sharp at times.
Ryuunosuke gave him a smile. "It’s nothing."
"I saw your crew and figured I’d say hello."
He turned to Zoro, still groaning on the deck.
"If you’re itching for a fight, go challenge Kuina or Akame. And train Krillin while you’re at it."
Then he looked at Nami.
"I need to talk to you."
"Huh? Me?" she asked, blinking.
Nami wasn’t sure what he wanted, but she was a little excited. The last time Ryuunosuke visited, he’d given her a ridiculous amount of money.
...Which Luffy had nearly spent in its entirety.
Still, she respected him. Nojiko had joined his crew, after all. And since she was his younger sister, Nami had taken to calling him Big Brother Ryuunosuke.
"What’s going on?" she asked.
"Just something we need to discuss. Alone."
"Luffy," Ryuunosuke said. "I’m borrowing your Nami for a bit."
"Huh?" Luffy blinked. "Okay..."
And just like that, Ryuunosuke scooped Nami into his arms and vanished.
Luffy stood there, staring.
"...What just happened?"
He scratched his head.
From the moment Ryuunosuke arrived to the second he left... what exactly did he do?
Luffy squinted.
This was why talking to Ryuunosuke always made his head hurt.
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