Chapter 422: Honest Ryuunosuke, the Romance of a Pirate!
Ryuunosuke finally understood.
Brook had been preparing this for a long time. Why he would attack his own comrade was another matter—but to Ryuunosuke, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
"This is a matter between the two of you," Ryuunosuke said evenly. "I won't interfere. But don't attack on my ship."
As he spoke, a powerful aura surged from his body. He strode toward Brook, making his position clear.
Brook's hollow eyes flickered. "Captain Ryuunosuke, you're putting me in a difficult spot. I've restrained her. Give me one minute, and I'll end this. The real Keshia will remain. I'm not killing her—only removing the soul inside her body. Surely that doesn't count as killing?"
His tone was almost pleading. But Ryuunosuke didn't withdraw his aura. His will pressed harder.
If Keshia broke free now, she'd lash out at Brook instantly. He could handle it—but the chaos would stain the deck of the God's Ship. Brook's best option was to finish her here and now. Yet Ryuunosuke…
"Tch. Never mind!" Brook decided, cold resolve settling in his bones. If he missed this chance, dragging out Keshia's inner soul later would be nearly impossible. She couldn't beat him, but if she escaped, he'd lose the initiative. If she exposed his secret, it could ruin him.
Brook's staff blade flashed, wreathed in cold. The strike was so swift that most of the crew saw only a blur.
"Ding!"
The blow stopped short—met by the Yellow Springs Pact in Ryuunosuke's hand. Waves of chilling energy spread outward, frosting the deck itself.
"Brook," Ryuunosuke said coldly, "get off my ship before I lose my temper. Next time, I'll cut you down."
The soul power within his weapon surged, a tide of the Underworld itself. Even Brook—the Soul King—staggered back beneath the pressure.
"Yohohohoho…" Brook chuckled lightly, masking the strain in his bones. "Very well. If Captain Ryuunosuke wishes to protect her, I won't press further. But… if you ever do kill this woman, at least let me take one last peek at her panties. Yohohohoho!"
With that grotesque laugh, his skeletal frame dissolved into cold mist. The arms pinning Keshia to the deck vanished along with him.
Keshia sprang to her feet, rage twisting her features. "Out of my way! I'll kill him myself!" Her aura flared, unstable and furious.
But Ryuunosuke stepped into her path, voice steady. "You helped me earlier, and for that, I'll thank you. But if you raise your hand against me while chasing him, I won't hesitate to cut you down."
Keshia's breathing grew ragged. She wanted nothing more than to tear Brook apart—but his words struck like hammer blows.
"Think about it. If he dared strike at you here, it means he's already prepared. Even if you chased him down now, you'd fail. You know his strength. If you still want to go, I won't stop you… but don't expect an easy victory."
Ryuunosuke turned away, settling himself on the steps with a pouch of seeds and nuts. He cracked one open lazily. "Perfect chance to sit back and watch the show, don't you think?"
The casualness of it made Keshia falter. Slowly, her aura dimmed. He was right. Brook wouldn't have attacked unless he was certain. And as much as she hated to admit it… Brook was stronger than her.
She clenched her fists. "Ryuunosuke… why did you stop him just now?"
Her voice was quiet now. She knew his excuse about "keeping the ship clean" was only half the truth. He had intervened to save her.
Ryuunosuke answered without hesitation. "Why? Because I want information. If I can drive a wedge between you and Brook, you might slip and tell me something about the Guardians. Even if you don't, maybe you'll drop your hostility toward me. That alone is worth the effort."
The honesty in his tone left her speechless. She couldn't decide whether to curse him for manipulation or… laugh at his bluntness.
"No need to answer now," he said, waving the thought aside. "For now—let's continue the banquet. If you want to fight, spar with Ban or Meliodas. But on this ship, the feast comes first."
He raised his hand, and the seeds and nuts in his palm shifted into a glass of wine. "The banquet continues!"
The crew roared with approval.
"Captain, the duel isn't over yet. Let's keep drinking!"
"Ban, stop brooding and finish half your glass!"
"Oi, eat something too—this roast is amazing. Rem and Akame outdid themselves this time."
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Moments ago, Keshia had been ready to massacre them. Now, the pirates feasted as though nothing had happened.
It wasn't disrespect. It was simply their way. Carefree, reckless, utterly unshaken.
Keshia stood frozen, glass in hand, staring at their laughter.
"Come on," Ryuunosuke said, raising his drink toward her. "Let's drink together."
Her pride wavered. "I am the noble Lady Keshia. I won't… be defeated by something like this."
Yet she took the glass. She clinked it against his, then drank, cheeks flushed.
Perona blinked in surprise. Clearly, she hadn't known anything about Keshia's secret. That dazed innocence only confirmed her distance from the matter.
But the feeling of the moment—the warmth, the chaos, the simple bond of shared cups—sank into Keshia's heart. She finally began to understand the strange thing Perona had spoken of.
This reckless joy. This unshakable bond.
The romance of pirates.
…
The banquet lasted three full days.
Three days later, the Dragon Hunter Pirates arrived at the shattered island where the Phantom Troupe had clashed with Dazra and his forces.
"Captain," Nojiko reported quickly, "two more days until we reach the destination. And Morgans just sent word—the World Government is moving as well. And… they've deployed the Uranus."
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