Chapter 434: Recruiting the Dead!
After returning to the Eternal Ship, the Dragon Hunter Pirates gathered together.
"Captain, was that kind of attack normal… or was it the ship's strongest move?" Nadezhda asked directly.
Everyone knew the God's Ship had evolved into the Eternal Ship, but its true abilities were still a mystery.
Ryuunosuke glanced at Nojiko. "You explain."
Nojiko stepped forward confidently. "Gaino's combat ability is far greater than what you just saw. The ship has multiple functions, including automatic navigation, so Conrad won't need to shoulder as much responsibility in the future. And there are… other systems."
She was the first besides Ryuunosuke to connect with Gaino, so she understood more clearly than anyone else. Most of what Ryuunosuke knew came from reading the system's panels, but Nojiko had the knack for putting it into words.
By the time she finished explaining, the crew understood just how terrifying their new ship was. From her descriptions alone, the potential was staggering. The real measure, though, would come in battle.
"Nojiko, resume your duties. Najenda and Meliodas, stay with me. The rest of you, get some rest," Ryuunosuke ordered.
The crew, still weary from the earlier fight, quickly dispersed.
"Captain, what's going on?" Meliodas asked. His sharp eyes caught the hint of unease in Ryuunosuke's expression.
Given their current power, the Dragon Hunter Pirates had few rivals left on the seas. Yet their captain looked as though a new burden weighed on him.
"I can recruit new crew members now," Ryuunosuke said plainly. "The Seven Deadly Sins should be within reach. But I want to discuss who to bring in."
Both Meliodas and Najenda went quiet. Ryuunosuke had never asked for advice before—every past recruitment had been his choice alone.
"Captain," Meliodas said carefully, "whatever you decide, we'll follow. If you have specific intelligence, we can give suggestions. Otherwise… the decision is yours."
Ryuunosuke nodded. "Our next destination is Raftel. At the same time, we must gather the Hearts of Infinity. They're essential to opening the Eternal Gate—and through it, to return you all to your worlds."
He pulled out the glowing Eternal Heart he had recently obtained.
Both Meliodas and Najenda froze. Ryuunosuke had promised to return them one day, but this was the first time he'd revealed a concrete path.
"If it's combat power you need," Meliodas said, "then Diana and King would be strong candidates. Both have special abilities that could prove invaluable. Still, if others from different division have unique talents, we should consider them too."
Najenda, however, hesitated before speaking. "Captain… does this mean we could recruit anyone from Night Raid?"
Her voice carried a trace of hope.
"You're thinking of Brand… and Hill," Ryuunosuke said softly.
Najenda trembled. He had seen right through her.
When Tatsumi was recruited, he had already been consumed by a spirit. Brand, however, had fallen in battle. Yet both their names appeared on Ryuunosuke's recruitment panel. It was possible.
But reviving the dead came at a steep price. Where it normally cost fifty thousand reputation points to recruit someone, Brand and Hill required one hundred fifty thousand each.
Ryuunosuke had enough—over four hundred thousand points—but it would burn through most of his reserves. The logical choice was to recruit heavy hitters from the Seven Deadly Sins or Phantom Troupe.
Logic, however, wasn't everything.
Najenda had given everything for the Dragon Hunters. She managed the ship's affairs with unwavering dedication. She was their de facto vice-captain. If anyone deserved to have their wish honored, it was her.
"I'll choose King, Brand, and Hill," Ryuunosuke said firmly.
Najenda's eyes welled up. She opened her mouth but no words came. Instead, her gratitude condensed into a single word, choked and trembling.
"Captain…"
Even she, known for her composure, couldn't hold back tears at the thought of her fallen comrades returning.
"Alright," Ryuunosuke continued. "I'll summon them so they can begin adjusting. King's powers over plants will be useful. Meliodas, help him adapt to this world."
He activated the recruitment panel. Three glowing magic circles appeared across the deck. A hum filled the air, then the figures of King, Brand, and Hill materialized before them.
Even though the crew had seen this process before—some had even experienced it firsthand—they still couldn't hide their awe. To witness people from other worlds summoned onto their ship… it was nothing short of miraculous.
"Captain!?"
King's sharp voice rang out the instant he saw Meliodas. His face twisted with disbelief. Only moments ago he'd been back in his world, comforting Diana, massaging her leg, trying to soothe the ache of Meliodas' disappearance. And now—here he was again, alive and well.
But then King's eyes flicked to Ryuunosuke. The system's bond pulsed inside him, demanding recognition. Despite his pride as the Elf King, an inexplicable sense of respect welled up toward this man.
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