Chapter 562: Defection
Even though Joy Boy was the one narrating everything, Ryuunosuke still managed to piece together a lot from it.
Adam and Lilith appearing, the methods they used that looked like they could threaten the whole world, even the way the battle twisted into something far bigger than a simple clash.
And of course, Ryuunosuke was most curious about what would happen to Joy Boy next.
Because there was a very high chance Joy Boy had lost his body in that incident.
And now that both Adam and Lilith had lost their original power, the question became even sharper.
What kind of bargain did Joy Boy make using his own body?
"Next, I'll take…"
"Mm. Looks like I have to leave now."
Before he could finish his sentence, Joy Boy turned into a blur and vanished.
He moved so fast that even Ryuunosuke, standing right in front of him, could not sense where he went.
"Lord Ryuunosuke!"
A voice called out.
"The entire area has been checked. There's nothing unusual."
Shirahoshi appeared in front of him, sitting on Kun's back.
The moment Ryuunosuke saw her, he more or less understood why Joy Boy had fled earlier.
As the current Sea King, Shirahoshi might do something special after meeting him.
Of course, that was only Ryuunosuke's guess.
"It's good you're alright," Ryuunosuke said gently.
"Shirahoshi, you should rest too."
"Captain, was there someone special here just now?"
Geno appeared as well.
As if he had sensed some unusual aura lingering in the air, he asked with a puzzled look.
Geno was the ship spirit born from the fusion of Hades and Ryuunosuke's own ship.
Even if it could no longer be considered a complete Hades, it still carried Hades's legacy.
So Shirahoshi and Geno arriving just now was likely the reason Joy Boy left.
Especially now, with the matter of Gainau, Ryuunosuke was even more certain.
"The First Generation just came," Ryuunosuke said.
"And then he took Jin's body away."
He briefly told the two of them what had just happened.
"The First Generation…"
"I understand."
"Captain, I'll go study this first."
After saying that, Geno's form broke into specks of light and disappeared.
As for Jin's body, after Gainau fused with the fifth Heart of Eternity, it was basically only used as transportation.
So once Ryuunosuke handed it to someone else, it was gone.
"Lord Ryuunosuke… I just… felt like crying," Shirahoshi said suddenly.
Her eyes filled with tears as she asked in confusion.
"Why… why?"
The sadness felt like it came from the deepest part of her heart.
Most importantly, nothing seemed to have happened just now.
"It's nothing," Ryuunosuke said with a soft smile.
"I'm probably just in a bad mood."
"Go rest."
"The tasks we've been taking on lately have been overwhelming."
Ryuunosuke knew what it really was.
Shirahoshi had sensed what happened just now, the aura the First Generation carried, and the shadow of what Joy Boy represented.
That special emotion, carved into their blood, was what made Shirahoshi feel that sorrow.
But in Ryuunosuke's heart, Shirahoshi was Shirahoshi.
As for the so called Sea King identity, she was no longer the Lan'er from the original story.
The two could exist as separate individuals.
"Yes… I understand, Lord Ryuunosuke."
After she spoke, Shirahoshi returned directly into Kun's mouth.
By now, she had grown used to resting inside the bodies of Sea Kings.
And the space inside the mouths of those dominant Sea Kings was like an island, so it was not cramped at all.
…
After dealing with everything here, Geno continued his own attempts elsewhere.
Ryuunosuke, meanwhile, walked over to Krul Busurud and Keshia.
"Are you two feeling unwell?"
"Or did you sense my ship spirit plotting against you?"
Krul Busurud and Keshia had already awakened.
But right now, both of them looked like they were examining the changes in their bodies, checking what had become different.
So Ryuunosuke asked directly.
"No!"
"Thank you, Captain Ryuunosuke!"
Krul Busurud finished speaking and immediately knelt in front of him.
"Thank you, Captain Ryuunosuke."
Seeing that, Keshia also knelt down.
For a moment, Ryuunosuke was completely stunned.
What was this supposed to mean?
"The blessing has been lifted," Krul Busurud said.
"All the taboos on us have been removed."
"Even though our bodies have undergone changes we can't undo, at least… we got our memories back."
"I see."
"Congratulations," Ryuunosuke said, genuinely.
Then he looked at them both.
"But what are your plans next?"
He had no reason to doubt them.
The cost of acting was too high.
If Krul Busurud tried to turn on him again, Ryuunosuke could kill him easily.
And combined with what Geno had just confirmed, it was natural for Ryuunosuke to believe him.
"Next… we might find some secluded place," Krul Busurud said, his eyes full of anticipation.
"And grow old together with Keshia."
"As for those matters, I don't want to get involved anymore."
Krul Busurud had not lived for himself in a very long time.
Now he had finally regained his memories.
And he had brought Keshia back with him.
To him, that alone felt like the completion of his ultimate goal.
"It won't be that simple," Keshia said, her voice heavy with worry.
It was not that she did not want that kind of life with Krul Busurud.
But for the two of them, a quiet life was probably a luxury.
They had once received Lilith's favor.
There was no way to completely escape that path.
And there was a high chance that…
Lilith could find them easily.
If that happened, the two of them alone could not contend with her.
There was an even higher chance they would be altered again.
Turned into fighting machines stripped of self awareness.
"With our strength," Krul Busurud argued, "we're not inferior to them. If we want to leave, no one should be able to stop us, right?"
"And…"
"What do you know?" Keshia cut him off before he could finish.
"It was your choice that led us here."
"This time, you listen to me."
Keshia had forgiven him.
But that did not mean she had forgotten what he had done before.
"Alright," Krul Busurud said, looking sheepish.
"I'll do as you say."
Keshia then turned her gaze to Ryuunosuke, who had been watching the whole exchange.
"Captain Ryuunosuke… can we stay on your ship?"
"Don't worry. We're not begging for protection for nothing."
"The two of us are strong, at least."
"And our understanding of the Guardians can be useful in battle."
In Keshia's mind, other than Ryuunosuke, they probably could not find anyone else to rely on now.
Most importantly, they already had contact with him.
Ryuunosuke was capable, and his character was solid.
"Ah?"
Ryuunosuke blinked, caught off guard.
"You want to join my Dragon Hunter Pirates?"
"If Sevien can join the Dragon Hunter Pirates," Keshia said, "then I think we should be able to as well."
"I just don't know whether Captain Ryuunosuke would be willing…"
She did not finish the sentence.
She simply looked at him, calm and clear.
Keshia knew exactly where she stood.
Right now, the initiative was in Ryuunosuke's hands.
So she did not need to say any more.
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