Chapter 425: Find Pluton, Lord Elephant Appears!
Within a single day, every major power on the seas had converged toward one location.
And now, on a barren island…
"Captain," Najenda reported with a sly smile, "the World Government, the Navy, the Four Emperors, several Supernovas, and even the remnants of the Seven Warlords have gathered in this area. Do we strike now?"
"Not yet," Ryuunosuke replied calmly. "Let them clash among themselves first. We'll move once we've found Pluton's wreckage. With Buggy here, we can make use of his… treasure-hunting talents."
It was almost ironic. For all his clownish behavior, Buggy's absurd luck had a way of uncovering things others never could.
Najenda's smile faltered as she glanced at the red-nosed pirate pacing in circles. "Captain… this Buggy seems unreliable. He's been wandering for hours without a clue."
"That's fine. Let him wander a bit more," Ryuunosuke said, amusement flickering in his eyes as he approached Buggy.
Najenda, watching from the sidelines, was puzzled. With Ryuunosuke's Observation Haki—and that of his entire crew—scouring the island would be effortless. Yet since arriving, he hadn't bothered using it. Not once.
Even Najenda herself had swept the area several times, only to come up empty-handed. All she could do now was wait and see what Buggy might stumble upon that the rest of them could not.
…
"Captain Buggy," Ryuunosuke said lightly, "can you manage this? It's been half a day. If you can't find it soon, the World Government and Navy will arrive. And then the treasure I promised you may slip through your fingers."
Buggy scowled. He'd already been frustrated at finding nothing, but Ryuunosuke's words stoked his temper further.
"Don't underestimate me! I'll find it! If not Pluton, then treasure at least!" Buggy barked, puffing up with false bravado.
He pressed forward, digging, blasting, pacing again and again. Hours passed. Still nothing.
Ryuunosuke simply watched, arms folded, while the other factions edged closer to the island. If he waited until they landed, the search would turn into a battlefield free-for-all. He needed results now.
"Damn it! Where is it?!" Buggy cursed, hurling one of his signature Buggy Bombs at the ground.
The explosion shook the air and shrouded the clearing in dust.
When the smoke cleared, Ryuunosuke narrowed his eyes. "Strange…"
There was no crater. Just a faint mark in the dirt, as though the blast had been absorbed.
Buggy's bombs were no joke—comparable to heavy cannon fire. There should've been devastation.
Which meant the problem wasn't Buggy. It was the ground itself.
Ryuunosuke's grip tightened on his blade.
His slash cleaved across the earth, carving a gash deep into the island. Yet, just like the bomb, it left only a shallow gouge.
But within that shallow mark, faint glimmers of black metal gleamed.
"Gaino," Ryuunosuke called.
The ship spirit's voice rang out. "Captain, the island floats upon the sea with no natural foundation. Beneath it, my scans detect enormous metallic structures. Black in color… Captain, this island itself may be Pluton."
Ryuunosuke's lips curved into a grin. "As I suspected."
He turned to Buggy. "Well done. Here—two treasure chests, as promised."
He tossed the boxes at Buggy's feet, plunder from previous raids. The Dragon Hunters had wealth to spare, and Buggy's blind luck had served its purpose.
Buggy didn't question it. He knew when to take the prize and run. Gathering his crew, he hurried off the island. For all his foolish bluster, survival was Buggy's true talent. Staying here would only see him crushed between the Navy, the Government, and the Dragon Hunters.
…
"Ahhh!"
A sudden, thunderous cry shook the skies. Even ships still far out at sea heard it.
Conrad froze. His eyes widened in recognition. "That… that's the Lord of the Elephants!"
But how? The great beast was bound to its endless march across the seas of Zou. It shouldn't be here.
Conrad raced to Ryuunosuke's side. "Captain! It's impossible. Even from here, we're too far from Zou for its voice to reach us!"
Ryuunosuke's expression darkened. The Elephant Lord—like the Sea Kings—was one of the world's great mysteries. Ancient orders had bound such titans to their roles. If the Elephant Lord had come here, then something monumental was at play.
Could Pluton and the Elephant Lord truly be connected?
"Joyboy…"
The voice boomed again, vast and primal, like the very earth roaring. To most it sounded like a terrifying howl, weighted with authority.
But to Ryuunosuke, the name was unmistakable.
"Are you… calling me?" he muttered, gazing up at the heavens.
"Joyboy!"
The roar came again, echoing across the seas.
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