Chapter 472: Storm in the East Blue!
Ryuunosuke lay sprawled across his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"…Tired."
It wasn't the exhaustion of battle—it was mental fatigue.
Trading wits with old monsters like Fengyue was far more draining than clashing swords or unleashing Haki.
Fengyue might look straightforward, even honest, but Ryuunosuke knew better.
One slip—one hint of hesitation—and that man would have seen through everything.
Fortunately, their first confrontation had ended in his favor.
Still, Ryuunosuke knew that next time, he'd need to tread even more carefully.
"What are these people really after?" he muttered. "If I hadn't entered this world, they'd be the top powers ruling it by now. Whatever they're plotting should've been easy to achieve long ago."
He sifted through all the information he'd gathered—the World Government, the Guardians, the Evictors.
Each wielded overwhelming power, the kind that could shape nations or destroy them.
They weren't simple enemies; they were pillars of balance.
It was clear now—neither side could move freely, locked in a delicate stalemate.
And his arrival… had shattered that balance.
The thought lingered as his eyes grew heavy.
Before he realized it, Ryuunosuke had drifted into a deep sleep.
---
Meanwhile, far away in the East Blue...
"Brother, what do we do?!"
"These guys don't look easy to deal with!"
Sturt's voice trembled slightly as he glanced toward the horizon.
The crew had gathered on a deserted island near Loguetown. The mission had sounded simple enough at first—until they learned who they'd be facing.
Special forces of the World Government.
Rumored monsters in human form.
"Calm down," Mondo said with a grin. "The captain gave us this mission, didn't he? Time to show the world that even us 'minor members' of the Dragon Hunter Pirates aren't to be underestimated!"
His excitement was infectious; his hands were practically shaking with adrenaline.
He'd been with the crew long enough to witness their power from the sidelines—but now, he finally had a chance to prove himself.
Sturt sighed. "I think you misunderstood the orders. We're backup. We only move after the Navy fails, remember? We're not supposed to take point!"
"Relax." Mondo waved him off. "The Navy's on its way. Just stay sharp. If things go bad, we'll clean up the mess."
A cold voice suddenly cut through the wind. "Confident as ever, Mondo."
They turned—and immediately straightened.
"Shino-sama!"
The silver-haired sniper walked toward them, her rifle slung casually over her shoulder, eyes calm and focused.
"W-Why are you here?" Mondo stammered.
"The situation here's… unusual," Shino said, scanning the horizon. "So I came to see for myself."
She adjusted the scope of her rifle slightly. "Have the World Government's operatives shown themselves yet?"
"No movement so far," Mondo replied. "We've been monitoring the area closely. If they land anywhere in the East Blue, we'll know."
Shino frowned. "Strange. The intel shouldn't be wrong. Unless…"
She paused, thinking aloud. "Unless they caught wind of Chikas' exposure and changed plans."
Before anyone could respond, a lookout came sprinting over. "Mondo! We've spotted three pirate ships entering our surveillance range!"
"Pirates?"
"Yeah! And I recognize some of their flags, but there are lots of new faces among them!"
Mondo's expression hardened. "New faces, huh…? Fine. Keep tracking them, but don't get too close. Pass the info to the Navy immediately. If they notice you, just exchange pleasantries and pull back."
He glanced at Shino. "Any other orders, ma'am?"
Shino smiled faintly. "No. I'm just here to assist. If a battle starts, I'll provide long-range support. But honestly… I doubt I'll need to pull the trigger."
Her form shimmered, and she vanished from sight.
In the next heartbeat, she was gone—headed straight for Loguetown.
---
"Buru-buru-buru…"
The Den Den Mushi in Shino's coat began to ring.
She picked it up instantly. "Captain."
Ryuunosuke's voice came through, calm as ever. "How's the situation?"
"No major movements yet," Shino replied. "But according to our intel, the World Government's special unit should be heading for the East Blue. Their exact objective remains unknown. It doesn't seem like Roy's operation, though—it's not his style."
"I see," Ryuunosuke said thoughtfully. "If possible, capture a few of them alive. We'll interrogate them later."
"Understood. The Navy's already assembled nearby, and the Mondo crew has identified a few suspicious pirate groups. I'm en route to Loguetown now—should be there in half a day."
She hesitated for a moment. "Captain, do you think this might be targeting Garp and his people?"
"…What makes you say that?" Ryuunosuke asked.
"Think about it," Shino said, voice steady. "Chikas' betrayal was exposed—his last known location was the East Blue. If the World Government can't reach him, they'll assume the worst. Yet they still sent forces here. That can only mean one thing—they're after someone else."
She paused, then added, "And the only one in the East Blue with that level of significance… is Garp."
Ryuunosuke fell silent for a long moment.
It was possible. Too possible.
Garp was no ordinary Marine hero—he carried the bloodline of the D. clan. And if the World Government had learned something…
Ryuunosuke's eyes darkened. "The D. Clan… or perhaps something older."
He rose from his bed, resolve setting in. "All right. Continue as planned. Support the old man if he's targeted, but stay in the shadows. If anything feels off, contact me immediately."
"Understood."
As the call ended, Shino holstered her rifle and moved swiftly through the forest toward Loguetown.
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