Inside the inn, Tesoro was lazily supervising Savi’s basic training.
“Boss, how many more days are we staying here?
My body is starting to rust.”
Roy felt a slight headache listening to Tesoro’s complaints.
Originally, he planned to make contact with Bullet within the town and then find an opportunity to bring him out.
However, Bullet had not left the military camp for three consecutive days.
“No more waiting.
Pack up.
We leave now.”
Roy’s decision instantly lifted Tesoro’s spirits.
He had long grown tired of idling in the inn.
Without hesitation, he lightly kicked Savi, who was doing push ups on the floor, then hurried to gather his belongings.
On the street, Tesoro asked curiously,
“Boss, are we going straight to the military camp to find Bullet?”
“No.”
Roy shook his head.
“If we barge into the military camp, it will draw too much attention and may provoke unnecessary conflict.
We will use another method.”
Under Roy’s lead, the group left the town, circled around a wide path, and arrived at a forest behind the military camp.
Using his ability, Roy quickly cleared a suitable open space for a temporary campsite.
After arranging their resting spots and instructing Tesoro to continue training Savi, Roy alone headed toward the rear of the military camp.
After more than ten minutes of walking, Roy reached the edge of a towering cliff.
From there, he overlooked the military camp below, silently observing its structure and layout.
After committing the necessary details to memory, he turned and headed back toward the forest.
Before leaving, he intentionally left behind a narrow cleared trail that led straight to their campsite.
By evening, a campfire was already burning.
Stella was handling the wild boar Roy had hunted, carefully preparing it over the fire.
Savi eagerly assisted at her side, while Tesoro stood nearby, glaring at him with clear dissatisfaction, earning him several annoyed looks from Stella.
Tesoro placed the prepared meat over the flames and turned toward Roy, who was practicing sword swings nearby.
“Boss, you mentioned using another method this morning.
Does that mean we sneak into the military camp tonight?”
“No.”
Roy stopped his movement.
“If we sneak in, with that man’s temperament, he will attack first without listening to anything.”
Tesoro frowned.
“Then how do we make contact?”
“Just wait.”
Roy’s tone carried a trace of certainty.
“He will come find us himself.”
At the same time, inside the military camp.
Bullet had just finished his intense training session.
His body steamed faintly, muscles tense as he prepared to head to the mess hall to replenish the energy he had consumed.
Just as he took a step forward, a strange fluctuation suddenly entered his mind.
There was no sound.
Yet a clear message formed directly within his consciousness.
Military camp back mountain.
Cliff top.
An interesting opponent is waiting for you.
The information appeared abruptly, like a hallucination.
Bullet immediately stopped.
His sharp eyes narrowed, and a dangerous aura began to rise from his body.
He scanned his surroundings.
No one was nearby, and nothing seemed out of place.
“A strange ability.”
He muttered quietly.
Having experienced countless battles, he already possessed a rudimentary grasp of Observation Haki.
But this method of directly transmitting intent into someone else’s mind was something new.
“The cliff behind the camp…”
He turned his gaze toward the distant cliff, a place not far from his usual training grounds.
Who was it?
Who would use such a method to call him out?
“An interesting opponent…”
A grin slowly spread across his face, filled with anticipation.
“Hmph.
You had better not disappoint me.”
The thought of going to the mess hall vanished instantly.
For Bullet, a worthy opponent was far more appealing than food.
Confident in his strength, he did not inform anyone.
Moving alone, he quickly made his way toward the back mountain and began climbing the cliff.
Soon, he noticed something unusual.
A newly cleared path.
Bullet’s gaze sharpened as he looked toward the depths of the forest.
“So there really is someone.”
At the forest campsite, the aroma of roasted meat gradually filled the air.
Tesoro was still trying to understand Roy’s earlier words.
Wait for him to come find us.
Just as he was about to ask again, Roy slowly lowered his sword and turned his gaze toward the dark forest, as if sensing something approaching.
“Boss?”
Tesoro called out.
Roy’s lips curved slightly.
“The message was sent.
He received it.
And now…
he is coming.”
“Sent?
How did you send it?” Savi asked, leaning forward curiously.
“A small trick.”
Roy answered simply.
“It is a combination of Observation Haki and mental energy.”
He did not elaborate further.
His ability was complex and could not be explained in simple terms of Haki or Devil Fruit power alone.
“Prepare yourselves.”
Roy’s tone shifted slightly.
“Stella, make an extra portion.
This guest has quite the appetite.”
Stella nodded, suppressing her unease, and began cutting more meat.
Not long after, a powerful presence descended upon the campsite.
It felt like a wild beast had entered their territory.
Tesoro and Savi instantly tensed, their instincts screaming danger.
A figure suddenly emerged from the bushes.
A young man in his teens stepped forward.
Short golden hair tied back.
A green military uniform.
Several medals pinned to his chest.
His gaze was sharp and filled with aggression.
“Douglas Bullet.”
He scanned the camp before locking onto Roy.
“Just now…
was that your voice inside my head?”
“It was.”
Roy answered calmly, gesturing lightly toward the fire.
“Sit.
Let’s talk.”
Bullet did not move.
His eyes swept across Tesoro and Savi, then paused briefly on Stella, who stood near the fire, before returning to Roy.
“You used that method to lure me here…
just to eat?”
His tone carried a hint of mockery.
“Or do you think tricks like that will impress me?”
Roy gave a faint smile.
“A trick?
Maybe.
But it brought you here alone instead of with an entire army.”
He met Bullet’s gaze directly.
“That makes it effective.”
Inside, Roy could not help but complain.
Staying locked inside the barracks for days made this unnecessarily difficult.
Bullet narrowed his eyes slightly.
The other man was calm, composed, and direct.
More importantly, he understood his nature.
“You said interesting opponent.”
Bullet stepped forward.
The ground beneath his feet trembled faintly as his fighting spirit surged.
“Show me if you are worthy of those words.”
For him, conversation held little value compared to battle.
“We can fight anytime,” Roy replied, still composed, “but before that, do you not want to know why I came to find you?”
“Not interested.”
Bullet interrupted without hesitation.
“Once I beat you, you will tell me everything anyway.”
Roy clicked his tongue softly.
Just as expected.
“This guy really is a battle maniac.”
Before Roy could say anything else, Bullet moved.
His figure blurred as he dashed forward at high speed.
A fist shot straight toward Roy’s chest, carrying overwhelming force.
He did not hold back at all.
“Boss!”
Tesoro shouted, instinctively stepping forward.