Chapter 198: God Valley Information, Next Destination!
Just as Ryuunosuke hung up the Den Den Mushi, Najenda approached, a focused expression on her face.
"Captain," she said, placing an eternal pose on the table in front of him.
Ryuunosuke raised an eyebrow. "What’s with this?"
The eternal pose looked familiar—it was the one they’d acquired in Loguetown, long before the chaos truly began.
It pointed straight to the Valley of the Gods.
Ryuunosuke had studied it for a while back then, but he eventually gave up. Navigational tools weren’t exactly his strength.
Too many vectors. Too many unknowns. Too many headaches.
Maybe navigation was his one true weakness?
"We’re close," Najenda said plainly. "Or rather, the magnetic field in this area is the strongest—it’s centered on the Valley of the Gods."
She pulled out a set of log poses, including a three-way pose.
All of them now pointed to the same direction as the eternal pose in her hand.
"The Valley of the Gods...?"
Ryuunosuke leaned forward, interest piqued. "So it’s nearby."
Originally, his plan had been to track down Big Mom first. He’d promised Conrad to investigate the Sulong Form incident, after all. And now that they were in the area, paying Doflamingo a visit sounded like a good time too.
"What’s the next island on this route?"
Najenda spread a map across the table, tapping a spot with her gloved finger.
"Hara Wells. Small town called Hara Town. Not very developed, but strategically placed. It’s the only passage to Navy Branch G5."
Ryuunosuke smirked. Now that brought back memories—and troublemakers.
"Alright," he said. "Head in that direction for now. As for Big Mom, let’s give her time to stew."
Najenda nodded and walked off to prepare the next route.
"Enel. Yahiko. Come here."
The two appeared before him instantly, their faces serious.
"You’ve both gained plenty of experience as Shichibukai, right?" Ryuunosuke said. "Now, I’ve got a mission for you."
"Go recruit someone."
Yahiko furrowed his brow. "The String-String Fruit user, former Celestial Dragon... current boss of Dressrosa and the underworld’s joker?"
"As a former Tenryuubito, he’s bound to be hiding all kinds of secrets," Ryuunosuke said. "Secrets that’ll be useful to us. Try to negotiate first. If he refuses—beat him senseless."
"With both of you working together, he shouldn’t be a problem."
Meanwhile, far away in Dressrosa...
Doflamingo sneezed. The warlord’s brow furrowed. It was rare for someone of his constitution to catch even a mild chill.
He rubbed the back of his neck, sensing something dark creeping toward him.
Elsewhere, back on Whole Cake Island...
Perospero stepped forward, visibly trembling as he tried to calm Charlotte Linlin.
"This wasn’t Pekoms fault! The Dragon Hunter Pirates were just too strong. Even I didn’t dare to fight them!"
His words only deepened Big Mom’s scowl.
Still, Pekoms—groveling on the ground—seized his one chance.
"Captain Ryuunosuke of the Dragon Hunter Pirates... left a message."
"He said—he’s coming for you."
A hush fell over the hall.
Charlotte Linlin’s eyes narrowed.
The name sent ripples across the seas these days. She knew it well.
As the captain of an Emperor-class crew, she kept up with the rising powers of the New World. But what had she done to provoke him?
Was he after her territory?
If so, why hadn’t he gone for Whitebeard or Red-Haired when he crossed paths with them?
"Pekoms," she said coldly. "Tell me everything. From the beginning."
"How did you end up on Fishman Island? How did things escalate?"
Beside her, Perospero looked increasingly uncomfortable. He hadn’t technically provoked the Dragon Hunter Pirates... But Pekoms had lingered. Could that have been the trigger?
"There were Mink Tribe members among Ryuunosuke’s crew. They... saw me take the Sulong activation pill."
Charlotte Linlin’s brow twitched.
"That’s it? That’s the reason!?"
Her voice thundered through the hall.
"They think they can pick a fight over something so small!?"
But despite her outburst, she didn’t act recklessly. Charlotte Linlin hadn’t built an Emperor-class crew by losing her temper.
Behind her fury churned cold calculation.
The Four Emperors ruled the sea only on paper.
Behind them, invisible hands moved the world.
And Charlotte Linlin knew—
Ryuunosuke might be one of those hands now.
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