Chapter 447: Huge Consumption!
After listening for a while, Ryuunosuke still hadn't heard anything valuable.
To him, Keshia sounded like nothing more than a spoiled young lady. Even as part of the Guardian team, she behaved like a pampered princess. Her so-called "plans" lacked focus and direction—so much so that even Perona looked down on them.
How did someone like her even end up in the Guardians? Ryuunosuke wondered. Was it just because she's cute?
He shook his head at the absurdity. After all, every Guardian he had encountered so far was powerful, sharp, and dangerous. Yet somehow Keshia had survived among them. That alone meant she wasn't as simple as she seemed. Even Kruel Busulud had taken an interest in her, which suggested there was more beneath the surface.
…
"Captain, we need some life essence."
The voice came from the Dragon Hunting Order—Nojiko.
"What's wrong?" Ryuunosuke asked, making his way toward the control room. This was the heart of the Eternal Ship, where Gaino could project and display everything. Outside, such projections required burning Infinity Stones for energy. Inside, at least, they could conserve power.
"Captain, this is getting complicated," Nojiko admitted. "Mr. Gaban says the Raftel he once located—even the one they actually reached—wasn't the real Raftel at all."
She sounded as if she were reciting a tongue-twister.
"Not real?" Ryuunosuke frowned. "You two should take a rest fir—"
"No! I can't rest now!" Gaino cut him off sharply.
Unlike Nojiko or Gaban, Gaino didn't tire in body or mind. As the ship spirit, he only required energy. With Infinity Stones to feed on, he could run indefinitely. But Nojiko and Gaban were human. The intensity of their work demanded food, rest, and recovery. And yet, neither had left their stations in days.
That was why Gaino had called Ryuunosuke.
"I see."
Ryuunosuke placed several vials of pure life essence on the table. Undiluted, they would restore not just physical strength but also mental clarity.
"Captain, you should go. Your presence will distract them," Gaino insisted.
Ryuunosuke gave a helpless nod. This wasn't his expertise anyway, and hovering over them would only make things worse. "Fine," he muttered, turning away.
As he left, he tossed the Infinity Stones Chrollo had recently delivered into the ship's core. Gaino would handle the absorption and convert them into energy for the ship and its systems.
…
Three days later.
"Captain, are they going to be alright?" Kuina asked anxiously, glancing at the sealed control room. Neither Gaban nor Nojiko had emerged in three days. They only stirred when Ryuunosuke entered briefly to deliver more life essence. Otherwise, they scribbled calculations and argued over data with near-fanatical focus.
"No problem," Bullet answered bluntly. "Gaban used to be the same when he studied the Poneglyph coordinates. Back then, I had to deliver his food every day. If I hadn't, he would've starved."
Kuina blinked. "How long did it last?"
"More than three months," Bullet said. "The old man would have wasted away if not for me. I'll never understand how they endure it."
Ryuunosuke exhaled. "Then I'll stop worrying. Bullet, here—take these." He handed over more vials of life essence. "You know how to look after him. Make sure they use it when they need it."
Bullet wanted to refuse, but deep down, he too was uneasy. Gaban was no longer young. His body and mind weren't what they once were. If life essence could help, then refusing it would be foolish.
Ryuunosuke and Kuina headed to the deck.
…
"Brother Ryuunosuke, are Sister Nojiko and the others alright?" Akame called as soon as she saw them.
"They're fine," Ryuunosuke reassured her. "They just can't step away right now." He tilted his head, noticing her serious expression. "What's wrong? You look troubled."
"Morgans just sent a message. Take a look." She handed him a folded slip of paper.
Ryuunosuke unfolded it, brows knitting. A moment later, he pulled out the Den Den Mushi.
"Beru beru…"
"Captain Ryuunosuke, you—" Morgans' voice crackled on the line.
"Who leaked this?" Ryuunosuke cut him off, his voice low.
"I don't know," Morgans admitted quickly. "The information's everywhere. By the time I caught wind of it, it had already spread through the pirate networks. And now—" his voice dropped into a helpless growl—"pirates across the seas are on the move, sailing straight for your location."
Ryuunosuke's frown deepened. Whoever spread this had done it deliberately, and at frightening speed.
It seemed the journey to Raftel was about to get far more complicated.
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