Dunn: They're After Me?

The thousand-plus pounds of plump sea fish weren't much of a burden for Dunn.

Keeping his Armament Haki and Observation Haki active, he walked into the Isshin Dojo and ran straight into Dragon's group and Koshiro, who was seeing them off.

Then they saw Dunn, and Dragon, Ivankov, and Koshiro all froze.

Their eyes were fixed on Dunn, taking in his wet hair and clothes before settling on the sea fish he was carrying.

"Dunn, did you buy that in the village? I didn't expect such fresh sea fish to be available this early in the morning."

Koshiro hesitated before speaking.

"Oh, I was grateful for this gentleman's help yesterday, so I thought I'd go fishing this morning and treat him to some sea fish. By the way, are you all leaving?"

Dunn asked cheerfully.

He'd gone into the sea and caught it himself?

Koshiro and Dragon exchanged a glance, their eyes full of confusion.

"You can go into the sea?"

Ivankov was utterly baffled.

As a Devil Fruit User himself, he knew that touching seawater left a person weak all over. Even someone with a strong physique would struggle to resist that debilitating feeling.

But the night before, both Dragon and Koshiro had said Dunn was a Devil Fruit User.

So what on earth was going on?

Dragon was just as confused.

When he'd helped Dunn draw out his Armament Haki the night before, he'd clearly sensed that Dunn had seemed on the verge of turning into an element, but he hadn't succeeded—or perhaps he'd given up.

At the time, Dragon had been almost certain Dunn was a Devil Fruit User, and very likely a Logia.

So the fact that Dunn had gone into the sea and caught a fish left all three of them stunned.

"What a huge fish!"

Zoro's astonished cry came from outside the dojo.

After finishing his morning training, he'd returned and spotted Dunn carrying the giant fish. He couldn't help shouting.

That cry brought Koshiro and the others back to their senses.

Dunn's situation challenged everything they thought they knew.

"Then I'll gladly accept, Dunn. I'm hungry anyway."

Coming to his senses, Dragon waved the others off, then smiled at Dunn.

The others quietly left, unsure what their leader was up to.

Next, Koshiro took charge of the cooking, with Zoro, Kuina, and Dunn helping him. Before long, the whole fish had become a sumptuous feast.

"So you're not a Devil Fruit User?"

As Zoro wolfed down the food and the others quietly enjoyed the feast, Ivankov couldn't hold back any longer. He asked outright.

Dunn turned his gaze to Ivankov and smiled.

"You mean a Devil Fruit? Who told you I was a User?"

Dunn's words brought the others to a halt. Zoro, of course, was unaffected.

"A Devil Fruit? You mean the legendary treasure of the sea?"

Kuina asked in confusion. She actually knew about Devil Fruits.

"Right, a treasure of the sea. Even the cheapest Zoan is worth more than a hundred million Beli."

Dunn answered Kuina.

Kuina's eyes widened.

Dragon had been studying Dunn the whole time. At his words, Dragon recalled what had happened the night before, and his brow furrowed slightly.

Was Dunn from a special race?

A special race with the ability to use fire?

As the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon knew that many unusual races existed in this world.

If there was a race born with the ability to use fire, could it be the Lunarians?

That race of gods from eight hundred years ago?

Dragon wondered.

If Dunn belonged to that race of gods, it would explain his subtle way of looking at others, and his manner toward them.

But that race had been gone for a long time, and the World Government was hunting down its people.

Still, Dunn showed none of the features the legends ascribed to them.

White hair, wings on his back, and flames burning behind him.

He had none of them.

Other than Zoro, who was busy stuffing himself, the remaining four all looked at Dunn.

"I'm not a Devil Fruit User."

As Dunn spoke, he raised his hand. With a bang, his entire right hand turned into blazing fire, like a torch.

He was saying he wasn't... wasn't a Devil Fruit User?

Everyone stopped moving, their eyes nearly popping out of their heads.

"Looks like you've got some secrets, Dunn."

Dragon nodded, then lowered his head and didn't ask any more questions.

"How is that possible? If you're not a User, how can you create fire?"

Ivankov felt his mind trembling.

"Do you have to be a User to create fire? If you travel around the New World more, you might see plenty of people who can use fire even though they aren't Devil Fruit Users."

"The New World?"

Ivankov stared at him.

Of course he knew about it. It was a paradise for pirates.

"Awesome!"

Zoro suddenly spoke.

With his mouth completely full, Zoro struggled to give his verdict.

Kuina's eyes sparkled.

"Speaking of which, Zoan abilities can greatly improve a person's physique."

As Dunn spoke, he looked at Koshiro.

Koshiro was still affected by Dunn's ability to control fire. Hearing this, he looked at his daughter, Kuina.

Sure enough, Kuina looked as if she wanted to say something after hearing Dunn's words.

"That's true, though Devil Fruits really are hard to come by."

Koshiro fell silent for a moment, then agreed with Dunn.

"If I hear anything, I'll keep an eye out for you."

Dragon chimed in, evidently understanding the situation now.

Dragon, Ivankov, and Koshiro were all baffled by Dunn's secret, but none of them pressed him for answers.

The ship slowly pulled away from the dock.

Ivankov watched the group standing on the dock, his gaze lingering on Dunn for a long time. Only when the figures had blurred into the distance did he turn to Dragon.

"Chief, what about that Dunn?"

"I'm puzzled too. His ability is a lot like a Devil Fruit ability, but I don't know why seawater doesn't affect him."

Dragon shook his head.

It couldn't be that Dunn's physique was so powerful that seawater had no effect on him.

If his body really were that strong, Dragon would have sensed it.

When Dragon had helped him draw out his Armament Haki the night before, he'd tested Dunn's physique. It was indeed strong—stronger than Dragon's had been at the same age.

But not strong enough to ignore the effects of seawater.

And Dunn had kept his Armament Haki active the whole time.

That kid was strange.

Dragon looked away and turned back toward the cabin.

"That kid's impossible to read."

Shimotsuki Village.

On the way back to the Isshin Dojo, Dunn lowered his head slightly, thinking over what Dragon had told him privately before leaving.

Marine Vice Admiral Garp had returned to the East Blue earlier. The reason, supposedly, was a Pirate Hunter in the East Blue who was suspected of having an ability related to fire.

Was he after me?