With a light leap, Ryuuto landed on the deck of The Soaring Dragon.
Moo~ Sensing the movement, Mohmoo burst from the sea and lowered its head, bellowing a greeting at Ryuuto.
"Mohmoo, we're back!" Nami called out, waving at the sea cow.
Moo! Mohmoo replied happily.
Only after Ryuuto set Nami down did he notice a man sitting at a small table on the deck. He wore a cloak, and his face was marked with a tattoo. The man's expression was grim and detached. Just by sitting there, he gave off an aura that kept others at a distance.
It was none other than Monkey D. Dragon.
Unsure of the revolutionary leader's purpose, Ryuuto decided to play it by ear.
"Hello, Mr. Dragon."
Ryuuto shot a look at Nami before walking toward their unexpected guest. Nami immediately caught his meaning, grabbing her things and quickly retreating into the cabin. Even Mohmoo seemed to sense the tense atmosphere, turning and diving back into the sea.
"Ryuuto, hello," Dragon said, looking up at him.
"Thank you for saving Luffy," Dragon said, suddenly standing. His voice was slightly raspy as he expressed his gratitude. He had been about to intervene himself, but Smoker's sudden appearance had made him abandon the idea of acting in public. Fortunately, Ryuuto had stepped in and rescued Luffy. Dragon had watched everything from a distance, and now, he was here simply as a father, sincerely thanking Ryuuto for his help.
"Luffy and I are good friends. It was only natural that I'd help him," Ryuuto said, waving his hand dismissively. So, Dragon was just here to thank him. He'd been worried for nothing.
But before Ryuuto could say another word, Dragon spoke again. "Mr. Ryuuto, there is one other thing. I'd like to ask for your help with a matter."
Perhaps because he was asking for a favor, Dragon used a respectful title and even tried to force a smile onto his stern face.
"Mr. Dragon, why don't you tell me what it is first? I'm not sure I'll be able to help." Ryuuto was uncertain of Dragon's intentions and decided to test the waters.
"Alabasta. I assume you know of it."
"I would like you to go there and stay for half a year."
Seeing that Ryuuto hadn't refused outright, Dragon slowly revealed his plan. He had been on his way from the East Blue to the Grand Line, with Alabasta as his next destination. The conflict between the Revolutionary Army and the rebel forces there was escalating, and Dragon had originally intended to go himself.
However, an unexpected development had arisen, forcing him to attend to a more urgent matter. He could have sent one of his Commanders, but they were all occupied with important tasks of their own; pulling one away would risk disrupting their existing operations.
Just as Dragon was about to give up on the idea, Ryuuto's performance in Loguetown had caught his eye. Using his own intelligence network, Dragon had investigated Ryuuto and found him to be a promising talent. Not only was he well-suited to handle the task in his stead, but his actions on Drum Island and in Cocoyasi Village revealed an ideology perfectly aligned with that of the Revolutionary Army.
After careful consideration, Dragon had decided to come to The Soaring Dragon and wait for him.
"Alabasta?" Ryuuto hesitated. "And what if I say no?" This would disrupt his own travel plans. More importantly, his strength was still lacking. Getting involved with the Revolutionary Army so early could lead to countless unforeseen complications.
"Hm?" Upon hearing Ryuuto's response, Dragon's expression hardened, and he unleashed his power.
A sharp hum echoed in Ryuuto's mind, and an overwhelming terror gripped his thoughts, as if he were facing a natural disaster or a ferocious beast. His eardrums rang, his heart hammered in his chest, and his vision began to blur. The air seemed to vanish, making it hard to breathe.
So this is Conqueror's Haki?
That was the only thought in his head as his body struggled to endure the onslaught. Fortunately, his training in the Six Powers had greatly strengthened his physical constitution. Resisting the immense pressure, Ryuuto felt every second pass like an eternity.
The feeling soon dissipated. Ryuuto gasped for air, feeling as if he had just survived a major battle. His entire body was drenched in sweat.
Inside the cabin, Nami hadn't fared as well. The moment the Conqueror's Haki was released, she had fainted. The same had happened to Mohmoo, whose unconscious body was now floating on the surface of the sea.
"Not bad," Dragon said with an appreciative look once Ryuuto had caught his breath.
You bastard! Conqueror's Haki is too damn strong! For the first time, Ryuuto felt utterly powerless, and the desire to grow stronger burned fiercely within him.
"Is this your way of showing gratitude?" Ryuuto asked, his face grim.
Dragon gave an awkward smile, acknowledging that he had gone too far. Of course, his true intention had been to test Ryuuto's strength and his resolve in the face of a powerful opponent. And Ryuuto's performance had left him thoroughly satisfied.
"My apologies. Please, take this Devil Fruit as a peace offering." As he spoke, Dragon tossed a Devil Fruit shaped like a sugar apple with spiral patterns toward Ryuuto.
Ryuuto caught it cleanly as it traced a graceful arc through the air.
"This is a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, the Luck-Luck Fruit. Its user can alter their own luck and the luck of those around them," Dragon explained. As the leader of the Revolutionary Army, he had likely seen the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia and recognized its powers from its appearance.
The Luck-Luck Fruit. A conceptual Paramecia, mainly for support. It sounded quite good. Dragon may seem cold, but he was certainly generous.
"Ryuuto, I sincerely ask for your help in this matter," Dragon said, seizing the opportunity while Ryuuto was still holding the fruit.
Is Dragon trying to invest in me? Ryuuto wondered, looking down at the Devil Fruit in his hand.
In that case, I have to help him with this Alabasta business.
After a moment of thought, Ryuuto smiled. "Alright."
"Excellent. Take this Log Pose. Someone will contact you when you reach Alabasta," Dragon said, a smile finally gracing his own lips. "They will tell you what needs to be done."