Chapter 134: An Invitation from the Dragon Hunter Pirates
Ryuunosuke stood at the bow of the ship, gazing out at the endless sea with a puzzled expression on his face.
Based on the current timeline, the Sabaody Archipelago should be in the midst of preparations for the upcoming auction.
And for an event like that, you need more than just auction items—you need buyers. Some were already sailing in from faraway lands just to purchase slaves here. Why? Because the auction house on the Sabaody Archipelago operated under the protection of the world's aristocracy. That meant the slaves bought here were recognized as legal property—worldwide.
Even though many nations publicly opposed slavery, this auction provided a convenient loophole. If you wanted to own a slave but your country forbade it, the solution was simple:
Over time, this led to a bizarre phenomenon—nobles competing over the quality and quantity of their slaves. It became a twisted status symbol, and the slave trade exploded in popularity. Of course, this whole setup was just another trap laid by the world's nobles. A method to line their pockets with obscene profits.
"Najenda," Ryuunosuke called, eyes still scanning the horizon. "Check the sea. Where are the noble ships?"
Najenda responded immediately. "I've been monitoring the sea ever since you mentioned Sabaody, Captain. According to intel from our squads and Morgans' network, the nobles' ships are already en route."
"But after last time," she added with a slight smirk, "they've gotten a lot more cautious. You won't see any of them strutting down the streets like before."
Ryuunosuke smiled faintly, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
Looked like he'd accidentally made things a little easier for the locals.
Of course, his actions had also stirred up quite a bit of chaos.
"Good. We're heading straight to the Sabaody Archipelago. These bastards can't avoid it forever."
"Understood, Captain," Najenda nodded and returned to her post.
Meanwhile, a fleet of massive ships was spotted not far from them. These weren't just regular vessels—they were outfitted with high-end weaponry, manned by seasoned combatants, and operating on full alert.
"Captain!" A lookout rushed to the helm in a panic. "We've spotted a pirate ship ahead. Looks like it's the Dragon Hunter Pirates!"
Captain Yakos paled. Just hearing that name was enough to drain the color from his face.
"Full speed ahead! Avoid contact at all costs!"
His ship was packed with slaves—many of whom had already been purchased by nobles. Money had already exchanged hands. The rest were to be auctioned at Sabaody. If the Dragon Hunter Pirates got wind of them, they'd be done for.
And if not by the Dragon Hunters, then by the Celestial Dragons.
Yakos shuddered at the thought. He knew how terrifying those monsters could be.
Before the lookout could finish, another crew member burst onto the deck, breathless.
"Captain! The Dragon Hunters—they're headed straight for us!"
Yakos clenched his fists. Unlike many pirate crews, they weren't just mindless brutes. Working under the Celestial Dragons meant they had to be cunning. You didn't survive long by being an idiot.
The Dragon Hunter Pirates weren't your typical gang of looters. No, they were something far worse.
Their crew was infamous for its hatred of the World Government. And if they caught his ship—with all these slaves on board—they'd slaughter everyone without a second thought.
"Move it! Full speed! We can't let them catch us!"
But even as the order left his lips, it was already too late.
A shadow loomed overhead.
A giant figure appeared from the sky—it was Susanoo, Najenda's imperial weapon. The massive being descended silently, and sitting atop its shoulder was Najenda herself, legs crossed, calm and collected.
"Planning to run?" she asked with a smile. "I'm Najenda, captain of the Night Raid under the Dragon Hunter Pirates. Our captain has invited you aboard for a little... chat."
Yakos froze. His gut screamed trap.
"A chat? Don't mess with me! We're backing off. We've shown we don't want conflict. Don't push your luck!"
Najenda tilted her head, resting her chin on her hand. "That makes things... difficult. I didn't come here looking to kill anyone today. But the captain was clear—if the invitation is refused, then we kill everyone."
Her voice was soft, but the threat behind it was ice cold.
He looked around at his crew. Most had already dropped their weapons. Their eyes were filled with fear. No one wanted to fight the Dragon Hunter Pirates.
After all, they'd seen what happened last time.
The Dragon Hunters' handyman division and the Phantom Troupe's Second Division had cleaned up the region like a damn storm. Pirates who didn't have cash were forced to pay with their lives. Whole crews were wiped out.
It had gotten so bad that other pirate groups had started forming alliances just to survive. But even then, no one thought they could win. Strength like the Dragon Hunter Pirates' couldn't be matched by numbers alone.
No one even dared to talk compensation now.
That ship had sailed.
And now Yakos was in their crosshairs.
"I'll go," Yakos said, voice tense. "But I have conditions—don't touch my crew or my goods. If you do—"
"You're in no position to bargain," Najenda cut in flatly.
They can obliterated their Pirate crew in just over ten minutes. And Yakos, while strong, was nothing compared to them.
He clenched his jaw, said nothing more, and followed Najenda back to the Dragon Hunter Pirates' ship.
On deck, Ryuunosuke was in the middle of his training session.
With each punch he threw, the surrounding air exploded with sound. The space around his fists rippled. His muscles weren't oversized or bulky—but they were tight, lean, and explosive.
Every strike was a showcase of raw, refined power.
That wasn't just the sound of fists hitting air—it was the sound of air itself bursting under the force of his punches.
Yakos stepped onto the deck and froze.
He wasn't staring at a pirate captain.
He was staring at a monster.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Check my Pâtreon for (40) advanced Chapters
Pâtreon .com/Fanficlord03
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>