Chapter 654: Target Set!
Chrollo originally thought Ryuunosuke would know something concrete.
But what Ryuunosuke said was still too vague.
An answer like that was hard to grasp.
At least for now, Jay had been quietly placed onto everyone's mental list of potential targets.
"Captain, have we finalized the details of our next move?" Meliodas asked, calm as ever.
A lot of information was still unclear, but that was exactly why they needed to be even more prepared.
Using vague ideas to guide a battle was not the Dragon Hunter Pirates' style.
"Yeah… it's confirmed," Ryuunosuke said.
"The primary goal stays the same."
"Lilith's Guardians are our first target."
"No matter what their purpose was, what they did is unforgivable."
"And after Lilith is dealt with, I don't think it matters whether it's Jay or Adam."
"They'll all make their move."
Ryuunosuke already had a rough hierarchy in his mind.
Once the next stage started, whoever slipped first would become his next target.
"Captain, I have a question," Kobayashi said, finally speaking.
"Right now we're facing so many terrifying enemies."
"So why did you single out Vegapunk?"
"What is it about him that makes the Dragon Hunter Pirates wary?"
Najenda immediately followed.
"That really is the strange part."
"Compared to the others, Vegapunk being singled out feels off."
"Captain, did you discover something new?"
The others turned their attention to Ryuunosuke as well.
"It's because we all feel like he isn't standing on the same battlefield as us," Ryuunosuke said.
"And yet he showed up in this arena anyway."
"That sense of something not matching is exactly why I brought him up."
"Vegapunk being called the smartest man on the seas isn't just him talking big."
"The seas themselves acknowledged it."
"So the captain means…" Chrollo narrowed his eyes. "They have no reason to get involved at all."
"And their appearance is basically them choosing to step into the play."
"But Vegapunk has a clear motive here, and a clear role."
Chrollo was genuinely puzzled.
Everything about this operation looked straightforward.
And everything was going smoothly.
Under normal circumstances, the Dragon Hunter Pirates would throw their full strength into it, crush everything fast, and be done.
If the target was not too far, it would be over in three to five days.
Yet now, on a road that should have been smooth, they kept tripping over things they could not even see.
That feeling was disgusting.
"The reason Vegapunk could infiltrate the World Government for so long is definitely not just because he was a leader among the Guardians," Ryuunosuke said.
"Roger wasn't stupid."
"And yet the Guardians only realized Vegapunk betrayed them after he freed Lilith and separated her into a single individual."
"So tell me."
"You don't want the Dragon Hunter Pirates to become the next Guardian team, do you?"
Ryuunosuke smiled slightly, like he was recalling an old saying.
Do not go around trying to harm others, but never stop guarding yourself.
It sounded simple, even cliched, but it worked.
Chrollo laughed.
"Then how about I go kill him?"
Ryuunosuke's smile widened.
"Looks like you grabbed the key point."
"Alright. That's enough for now."
"Sleeping too long isn't good."
"For the Dragon Hunter Pirates, being a little more active is normal."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ryuunosuke released the technique.
The Mind Network: Ultimate Realm vanished.
Everyone's consciousness returned to their bodies.
The world snapped back into place.
"Captain Ryuunosuke."
A calm voice sounded beside him.
Jay had appeared near the railing.
"Has a decision been made?"
"Yes," Ryuunosuke replied, amused. "You should be able to see my methods."
"We have our result."
"Want to hear it?"
"No," Jay said immediately.
"Whatever conclusion you reached, I won't be involved."
"So knowing it might interfere with what we do next."
He leaned against the railing, casual and indifferent.
"It doesn't matter anyway."
"This world is meaningless."
"No fun?" Ryuunosuke raised a brow. "You really dare to say that."
"If it was truly that boring, your existence would've faded a long time ago."
He turned his head slightly, voice relaxed.
"Alright. Whatever your purpose is, Mr. Jay, I just don't want us to become enemies."
"That's only my wish."
"It won't affect your decision."
Jay laughed.
"Don't worry."
"What I'm pursuing isn't what you want."
"I don't see those things in you."
With those words, Jay's body blurred into a phantom and disappeared.
Jay was in a soul state right now.
Maintaining that state for long periods was a heavy burden.
So he never stayed for long.
Ryuunosuke looked out at the sea.
With Kun in his possession, the Calm Belt no longer mattered.
Wind or no wind, Sea Kings or no Sea Kings, it made no difference.
He could move forward fast whenever he wanted.
The idea he once had, traveling the entire ocean, was no longer a problem.
But right now, he was too busy for that.
"Big brother!"
Sabo and Luffy walked up behind him.
"Isn't this sea really beautiful?" Luffy asked, grinning.
"Yeah," Ryuunosuke said.
Then he glanced at the two of them.
"You two… do you want to reconsider?"
"If you come with me, it'll be very dangerous."
Compared to ordinary people, both of them were already top tier.
But that was still not enough for the battle Ryuunosuke and his companions were about to face.
"I'm going," Sabo said with a smile.
"Even if I can't do much and even if I become a burden."
"But big brother… haven't we always been burdens to each other?"
"We grew step by step like that."
Luffy's reason was even simpler.
"I want to see the stronger ones."
"Only then can I get stronger too."
"I'm gonna be the Pirate King."
"I can't be too weak!"
It was not even a reason.
It was just Luffy being Luffy.
Ryuunosuke smiled.
.....
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