📢 Name Update: The protagonist's name has been changed from Dragon Soul to Vale D. Drake (Drake). Thank you for reading and supporting the novel!
"Bell!" Kenshin rushed to Bell's side, quickly checking the boy's injuries.
"How is this possible!?" Drake stared in disbelief. Given the Observation Haki Bell had displayed earlier, how could he be hit so easily by a brute like this?
"Hahaha... Bell, you're as useless as ever. Your Observation Haki can only sense the 'vibe' of the future; it's just a faint feeling. In a real fight, it's completely worthless."
Scheit stepped toward Kenshin and Bell with a look of pure disdain. "To be honest, you're worse than trash. It's been this long and you still haven't learned Armament Haki? Hahaha!"
Sensing the vibe of the future?
Drake paused. He realized that while Bell could predict the "flow," he lacked the combat experience or physical speed to react to a Haki-clad strike.
"Still, it's great that you showed up. Now that we have you, we don't have to worry about your sister refusing to cooperate!" Scheit turned to his crew. "Lads, grab them!"
"You... I will save my sister!" Bell struggled to stand, his voice shaking with resolve.
"Little Bell, just be a good boy and come back with us. Hahahaha!"
As Bell's expression twisted in a struggle between fear and fury, Kenshin shielded him. "You... want to take him?"
"Hmm? Who are you supposed to be?" One of the lackeys sneered. "Some helper Bell found? You really think you can stop the Dark Clan?"
Dark Clan? Drake searched his memory. He had never heard of such a group. It was likely some third-rate underworld organization that thrived in the shadows of the New World.
"Bell," Drake interjected, his voice cool and steady. "Are these the people who imprisoned your sister?"
Scheit and his men turned their attention to Drake, looking him up and down.
"Little Bell, your help isn't much to look at, is it? Did you forget Big Brother Scheit's bounty? It's 200 million Berries!"
The lackeys burst into raucous laughter, looking at the trio as if they were a comedy act. But amidst the noise, the stout little fat man behind Scheit caught a glimpse of the faint, knowing smirk on Drake's face. A cold shiver ran down his spine.
His pupils constricted as a terrifying realization hit him.
"B-B-B-Boss... h-h-he... he's..." Because of his sheer terror, the fat man couldn't get the words out.
SLAP!
"Ow!"
"Shut up! Why are you screaming like a ghost? He's what?" Scheit growled, giving the man a cuff.
"But Boss, he..."
"Another 'he' and I'll give you something to cry about!" Scheit threatened.
The fat man scrambled away, frantically fumbling through his pockets for something. Drake watched the two with amusement; the little guy clearly knew something. Since Drake had been submerged for days, he hadn't seen the latest news.
"Bell, answer me," Drake said, pointing a finger at Scheit. "Are they the ones? If I resolve them, does your problem go away?"
The lackeys froze for a second before howling with laughter again.
Bell looked conflicted. Scheit was a powerful officer of the Dark Clan; a 200 million Berry bounty was no joke. But looking into Drake's indifferent eyes, a surge of courage filled his chest.
"Yes! They are the ones! But they're just the dogs—the one truly holding her is the leader of the Dark Clan!"
"I see." Drake tilted his head and glanced at Kenshin. "I'll handle Scheit. You take the rest."
"Understood," Kenshin replied with a sharp, metallic grin. His blade shifted, the steel catching the underwater light.
"What did you say? Resolve us?" Scheit looked like he had just heard the funniest joke in history. "Hahaha—"
His laughter died in his throat. The moment the lackeys tried to move, Kenshin blurred. His draw-and-sheath was a flash of lightning. By the time Kenshin stood still, Drake was already walking past him toward the leader. Behind them, every single lackey collapsed in a heap.
Scheit's eyes widened, but before he could bark an order, a scream erupted from the fat man.
"AHH! NO! STOP!"
The fat man held up a crumpled piece of paper as if it were a shield, his hands shaking violently.
"What is it now!?" Scheit roared, though even he could see the two newcomers were dangerous.
A yellow sheet of paper drifted to the ground in front of him.
"This... this is impossible!" Scheit stammered, his face turning pale. He looked up at Drake. When he saw that same faint, dangerous smirk, his heart hammered against his ribs. "You... you have a 400 million Berry bounty!?"
"Oh?" Drake raised an eyebrow, looking at the paper.
A bounty poster?
Sure enough, the man on the poster was Drake himself. 400 million? That was an astronomical starting bounty. It seemed the Navy viewed his presence at the war as a catastrophic threat.
"Boss, that's the man who fought in the war at Marineford! We aren't his match, let's run!" the fat man pleaded.
"Shut up!" Scheit shoved him aside, glaring at Drake. "I don't believe it! A bounty that high for a newcomer? It's probably just a fluke because he was at the war! Let's see what you've actually got!"
Vrumm! Scheit's fist turned black with Armament Haki as he lunged.
"Drake-san, watch out!" Bell screamed.
"Brat, let's see you bleed!" Scheit roared arrogantly.
"Boss, STOP! HE—!" The fat man rushed forward with a newspaper, but he was too late.
Drake simply raised a hand. An invisible wall of space manifested in front of him.
BOOM!
Scheit's fist slammed into the spatial barrier. The shockwave was so massive it sent the fat man flying. The newspaper he was holding fell to the ground, fluttering open.
The front page featured a crystal-clear image of Drake clashing head-on with Admiral Akainu.
Scheit has just realized he's picked a fight with a monster. How will Drake deal with the "Dark Clan" now that he has a new mission?
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