บท 274: Chapter 274: Baltigo - Trouble Again!
Takumi followed Dragon to his office. Dragon sat at his desk, casually motioning towards the chair beside it. "Have a seat, no need to be formal."
Takumi didn't plan on being formal anyway. As soon as he sat down, Dragon got straight to the point. "You killed a Celestial Dragon, and the World Government has ordered the Marine Headquarters to send an admiral after you."
Takumi remained silent.
Dragon continued, "According to my information, Admiral Kizaru is the one coming after you. He's a troublesome opponent. How do you plan to evade the World Government's pursuit?"
Takumi replied indifferently, "One step at a time."
"So, you haven't really thought it through, then." Dragon went on, "Baltigo is a hidden place. You've stayed here for five months without the Marines finding you, which proves its security. Why not reconsider joining the Revolutionary Army? As I mentioned before, we exist to overthrow the World Government. In some sense, we're already on the same side."
"I've no intention of joining any faction," Takumi said flatly. "I told you that a long time ago."
Dragon smiled faintly. "Back then, I couldn't argue with you—you were traveling alone, without anything to hold you back. But now you have crewmates, which means you can't only think about yourself anymore. Don't underestimate the World Government. If you push them too far, how long can just the three of you keep running? Even if you can escape, can you guarantee your companions' safety? There are only three of you, so don't be reckless. Join us, and I can protect you all."
Dragon had been trying to recruit Takumi for a long time, and he wasn't going to miss this opportunity.
However, no matter what Dragon said, Takumi's stance was firm. "I refuse."
Dragon frowned slightly. "Are you sure you won't reconsider? Joining the Revolutionary Army is the best choice for you and your crew right now."
"I appreciate your offer," Takumi shook his head, "but as I said, even with crewmates now, I have no intention of joining any faction. Let them come after me—if Kizaru has what it takes to kill me, then he can try."
Dragon was surprised. "If you never planned on joining the Revolutionary Army, why did you come to Baltigo to find me? If you're not afraid of the World Government, then you didn't need to stay here this long."
"I already told you the reason," Takumi said casually. "I came to mooch off your supplies."
Dragon was speechless. "Do you really expect me to believe that?"
"Believe it or not, it's up to you."
Unwilling to give up, Dragon asked once more, "Are you really unwilling to join us?"
Takumi nodded. "Yes."
Dragon sighed. "Alright... So how much longer do you plan to mooch off us?"
Just as Dragon finished speaking, Takumi's mind was filled with the sound of the system's notification, which had been silent for over five months. As expected, it had reactivated.
[Ding! Mission update: Refuse the invitation from the Revolutionary Army Leader Dragon. Progress +30%. Current total progress: 40%. Reward: One Stabilizing Wind Pearl. It has been placed in the system storage.]
Information about the Stabilizing Wind Pearl appeared in Takumi's mind.
Takumi didn't know what expression to wear at that moment.
This system really could gift anything…
The Stabilizing Wind Pearl was a bead capable of stopping or calming wind, but it had no offensive capability.
Sure, Dragon could summon and control storms, and this pearl could potentially neutralize that ability, but otherwise, it wasn't particularly useful.
Maybe this pearl was meant to help him face Dragon?
Perhaps there was even a mission involving a fight with Dragon!
As Takumi pondered how to provoke Dragon into using his powers, the commotion outside drew both of their attention.
Dragon's expression changed suddenly. He stood and hurried outside.
Using his Observation Haki, Takumi sensed what was happening outside, particularly noticing that Enel had beaten Crow until he was near death. Takumi's eyes lit up as he thought, "This is my chance!"
Without hesitation, Takumi followed Dragon outside.
Crow had passed out after being pierced by the lightning dragon.
Koala and the others surrounded him anxiously, with all the Revolutionary Army doctors present treating Crow urgently, their faces grave.
Enel and Kaku stood a little farther away, both looking awkward.
"You've really messed up this time," Kaku sighed helplessly. "We've freeloaded here for so long, and our captain knows Dragon. They seem to be on good terms. If you kill a member of the Revolutionary Army, the relationship between our captain and Dragon could go sour."
"Uh?" Enel blinked, then muttered, "How is this guy so weak? It was just a lightning dragon, and he was already on death's door... His voice is getting weaker... Wait, is he dying?"
"Just a lightning dragon? Do you even know how many volts that was?" Kaku said, exasperated. "Sixty million volts. An ordinary person would've been fried. The fact that Crow is still holding on shows he's pretty tough."
As they spoke, Dragon and Takumi arrived.
Kaku managed to keep his composure, but Enel glanced at Takumi, then immediately looked away, guilt written all over his face.
Dragon frowned as he approached the tightly packed group gathered around Crow. "What happened?" he asked coldly.
"Leader, you're here. He did it!" One Revolutionary soldier pointed at Enel, furious. "He provoked Karasu until Karasu got angry. Then he used some trick to disable Karasu's ability and sent a lightning dragon through him, leaving him like this."
"Leader, you must get justice for Karasu!"
"Damn it, after all the time they've been freeloading here, we treated them well enough, didn't we? And yet, he went this far against Karasu. If Karasu dies, Leader, you have to make him pay with his life!"
"Leader, don't let them off easily!"
The Revolutionary soldiers were all shouting angrily.
Karasu was Crow's name.
Dragon gave Enel a cold glare before looking at the doctors treating Crow. "How is he?" he asked.
One of the more experienced doctors shook his head gravely. "It's not looking good... With the island's medical equipment alone, we can't save him. Even if we head to the nearest island hospital now, it would be too late."
Dragon's voice was tense. "What are you saying?"
The doctor replied, "Karasu... There's a high probability he won't make it."
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