Dunn: Coming for me?

A thousand-jin fat sea fish was not much of a burden for Dunn.

Maintaining his Armament Haki and Observation Haki, he walked into the Isshin Dojo, only to run straight into Dragon and his party, who were being seen off by Koushiro.

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

Their gazes were fixed directly on Dunn, sweeping over his dripping hair and clothes before finally resting 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 so early in the morning."

Koushiro hesitated before speaking.

"Oh, this gentleman did me a favor yesterday, so I thought I'd head out to sea this morning to catch a fish to treat him. But, are you all leaving?"

Dunn said with a cheerful laugh upon hearing this.

He caught it himself by going into the sea?

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

"You can go into the sea?"

Ivankov was dumbfounded.

As a Devil Fruit user himself, he knew clearly that ability users would become weak upon touching seawater; even those with powerful physiques found it difficult to resist this sense of powerlessness.

But last night, both Dragon and Koushiro had said that Dunn was an ability user.

So, what the hell was going on now?

Dragon was also puzzled.

When he helped Dunn guide his Armament Haki last night, he clearly felt that Dunn seemed to want to elementalize, but failed—or rather, gave up on it.

At the time, he was basically certain that Dunn was a Devil Fruit user, and most likely a Logia type.

Therefore, the sight of Dunn catching a fish in the sea left all three of them stunned on the spot.

"What a huge fish."

Zoro's exclamation rang out from outside the dojo.

Having finished his morning training, he returned to see Dunn carrying the massive fish and couldn't help but cry out in surprise.

It was this exclamation that brought Koushiro and the others back to their senses.

The situation with Dunn simply challenged their traditional understanding.

"Then many thanks, young man Dunn. As it happens, I am hungry."

After regaining his composure, Dragon waved his hand at the others and smiled at Dunn.

The others left silently, unsure of what game their leader was playing.

Following that, Koushiro took up the knife himself, with Zoro, Kuina, and Dunn helping on the side. Soon, the entire large fish was transformed into a sumptuous full-fish feast.

"So, you aren't a Devil Fruit user?"

Just as Zoro was stuffing his face and the others were silently savoring the grand meal, Ivankov couldn't help but ask directly.

Dunn's gaze fell on Ivankov, and he smiled.

"Are you talking about Devil Fruits? Who told you I was an ability user?"

Dunn's words made the others stop their movements—though, of course, Zoro remained unaffected.

"Devil Fruit? Is that the legendary treasure of the sea?"

Kuina asked in confusion; she actually knew about Devil Fruits.

"Yes, the treasure of the sea. Even the lowest-valued Zoan type costs over one hundred million Belly."

Dunn said to Kuina.

Kuina's eyes widened.

Dragon had been observing Dunn the whole time. Upon hearing Dunn's words, he thought back to the situation last night, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Is he a special race?

A special race with fire-wielding abilities?

As the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon knew that many special races did indeed exist in this world.

If it were a race born with the ability to control fire, could it be the Lunarian tribe?

That race of gods from eight hundred years ago?

Dragon speculated in his heart.

If he were of that divine race, the subtle look or attitude Dunn held toward others would make sense.

However, that race had disappeared long ago, and the World Government was hunting them down.

But Dunn lacked any of the legendary characteristics of that group.

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

He had none of them.

Except for Zoro, who was busy stuffing his face, the other four pairs of eyes were fixed on Dunn.

"I am not a Devil Fruit user."

After saying this, Dunn raised his hand with a bang, and his entire right hand transformed into burning flames, resembling a torch.

You still claim you aren't... not a fruit user?

Everyone froze, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

"It seems you have secrets of your own, young Dunn."

Dragon nodded, then lowered his head and asked no further questions.

"How is this possible? If you aren't a fruit user, why can you create fire?"

Ivankov felt his brain trembling.

"Does creating fire require being a fruit user? If you travel more in the New World later on, you might see many people who can use fire abilities even without being fruit users."

"The New World?"

Ivankov stared wide-eyed.

He certainly knew of it; that was the paradise for pirates.

"So cool!"

Zoro's voice suddenly rang out.

With his mouth stuffed full, Zoro struggled to voice his assessment.

Kuina's eyes were sparkling.

"Come to think of it, Zoan-type Devil Fruits can significantly enhance one's physique."

Dunn said, looking toward Koushiro.

Koushiro, still affected by Dunn's ability to manipulate fire, turned his gaze toward his daughter, Kuina, upon hearing this.

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

"That is true, though Devil Fruits are indeed hard to find."

Koushiro remained silent for a moment, affirming Dunn's statement.

"If I hear any news, I will keep an eye out for you."

Dragon interjected, clearly understanding the situation now.

As for the secrets Dunn held, Dragon, Ivankov, and Koushiro were all baffled, yet none of them pressed for further details.

The ship slowly pulled away from the dock.

Ivankov watched the group standing on the pier, his gaze lingering on Dunn for a long time until the figures became blurred, before he finally turned to look at Dragon.

"Leader, that Dunn?"

"I am also puzzled. His ability is very similar to that of a Devil Fruit, yet I do not know—seawater has no effect on him."

Dragon shook his head.

It was impossible to say that Dunn's physique was so powerful that even seawater could not affect him.

If he truly possessed such a powerful physique, Dragon would have sensed it.

When he helped guide Dunn's Armament Haki last night, he had tested him; his physique was indeed strong—even he, at that same age, would not have been as strong as Dunn.

But it was not strong enough to ignore the effects of seawater.

Moreover, he had been maintaining his Armament Haki the entire time.

This kid was truly bizarre.

Dragon withdrew his gaze and turned to head back into the cabin.

"This kid... I can't see through him."

Shimotsuki Village.

On the way back to the Isshin Dojo, Dunn lowered his head slightly in thought, pondering the words Dragon had said to him privately before leaving.

Vice Admiral Garp had returned to the East Blue recently, and the reason for his return, it was said, was because of a pirate hunter in the East Blue suspected of having fire-related abilities.

Is this aimed at me?