Chapter 241: Beautiful!
Only three things were recorded on the ancient stone tablet.
One was the Infinite White Stone.
Another was the Infinite Blue Stone.
The third… was incomplete, its markings too faded to read clearly.
Despite the limited information, the tablet provided some clues about the functions of these so-called Infinity Stones. However, their origins remained a mystery. Being just a fragment, the details were sparse.
To make things more difficult, Ryuunosuke and Enel weren't exactly fluent in this ancient script. The text they read had been translated by someone else—meaning it might not match the original entirely.
Even so, from what they could understand, the stones were immensely powerful. The Infinite Blue Stone that Enel possessed could supposedly create endless prodigies. Meanwhile, the White Stone had terrifying offensive capabilities and could drastically boost someone's strength in a short period of time.
"Enel, you know the route to the Infinite Continent, right?" Ryuunosuke asked directly.
"I do," Enel nodded. "But... my ship, the Ark Maxim, was devoured by the Ship of the Gods."
He looked frustrated. Without the Ark, traveling to the Infinite Continent would require building another one from scratch.
"Knowing the route is enough for now," Ryuunosuke replied calmly. "Don't worry about the ship just yet."
He paused, then added, "Do you still have the original rubbing of the inscription?"
Just earlier, Enel had only shown the translated version. If Ryuunosuke could get the actual rubbing, someone with the Voice of All Things—or perhaps Ryuunosuke himself if he awakened the ability—might be able to extract more information from it.
"The rubbing's still on Skypiea," Enel admitted. "I didn't bring it when I came down, but I can retrieve it whenever we need it."
Ryuunosuke gave him a satisfied nod. "Good. For now, go handle your own matters."
Without another word, Enel turned and left.
To Ryuunosuke's surprise, the most shocked person wasn't Enel—it was Kuina.
So many researchers had studied these stones without ever figuring out what the White Stone truly was. Yet here she was, hearing the answer almost by accident.
Fate really did have a strange sense of humor.
"If I could pass this information on to my father..." Kuina muttered to herself.
Then, gathering her courage, she spoke up. "Captain, I want to tell my father about this."
She was thinking of Koshiro, her father and mentor. If his group could get this information, they could avoid countless dead ends—and focus directly on their goal.
There were now three confirmed Infinity Stones: the Blue, the White, and the incomplete third. Although they didn't know what the last one looked like, chances were, it too would take the form of a stone.
If they could locate the third… it could change everything.
"I don't object," Ryuunosuke replied. "You're my crewmate. That makes your family part of our extended family, too."
His expression turned serious.
"But, Kuina… you have to consider carefully. Can Koshiro and his people truly handle this information?"
Kuina fell silent.
He was right. While this knowledge could save them time, it could also paint a massive target on Koshiro's back.
If word leaked, people would swarm Shimotsuki Village—some of them willing to kill for a chance at an Infinity Stone. And right now, the Dragon Hunter Pirates were spread thin. They had two months left before declaring war on the World Government. Protecting the East Blue wasn't feasible.
Revealing this information could be a huge risk.
"I understand, Captain…" Kuina whispered. Then, a bit awkwardly, she added, "Uhm, can I have my White Stone back?"
She glanced at the stone in Ryuunosuke's hand, her cheeks blushing faintly.
"Oh, sorry! Here," Ryuunosuke said, handing it over casually—completely missing her expression.
Kuina didn't hesitate. She looped the White Stone's chain around her neck, unbuttoned the top of her shirt slightly, and tucked it between her soft curves.
This time, Ryuunosuke did notice.
Kuina, now fully red in the face, turned and bolted from the room.
"…Was she trying to seduce me just now?" Ryuunosuke muttered, scratching his nose with a bewildered look.
But this wasn't the time for distractions. The challenges the Dragon Hunter Pirates were about to face made everything before look like child's play.
He shoved the thought aside.
"Brother Ryuunosuke, it's time for training," Akame called out as she approached.
"…Right. Let's go."
Together, they stepped onto the deck where the rest of the crew was already in motion. A sparring session immediately kicked off.
While these practice sessions weren't massive power-boosters, they helped the crew refine their control and combat instincts. Ryuunosuke's lieutenants improved every time someone in the crew leveled up or a powerful new member joined.
It wasn't just about strength—it was about control. Better to fully master a strength level of 5 and push it to a 6 than to have the raw power of 10 but only use 5 effectively.
---
Two Days Later – New World Waters
A lavish merchant ship sailed across remote waters, weighed down by valuable cargo and noble passengers.
Because of the Dragon Hunter Pirates' growing notoriety, many merchants had altered their sea routes to avoid them. The tales were terrifying: entire fleets robbed, ships sunk, nobles eaten. There were no known survivors of a Dragon Hunter raid.
"It'll take another two days to reach the kingdom," muttered one guard, scanning the horizon with practiced eyes. "When I get back, I'm taking half a year off. The sea's become too damn scary."
His companion laughed. "Finny's agreed to marry me. Once we're home, I'm getting a stable job in the capital. No more risking my life out here."
Though seafaring paid well, the danger was ever-present. Most people only took the risk when they had no other options.
"You lucky bastard…" the first man chuckled.
The two continued chatting and joking. Out at sea, boredom was common—but it was the kind of boredom they prayed for. Some even said it was a blessing from the Sea God himself.
And if they could make it to their destination in peaceful monotony?
They'd thank the gods for that kind of boring any day.
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