Super Card System - Chapter 478

Chapter 478: Six Years

After arriving at the location of the Ark Maxim once again, Ian placed the gold on the deck of the ship and began to inspect its damages.

Previously, in order to prevent Enel from taking off, Ian had attacked the Ark Maxim without hesitation. But now, when it was time to retrieve it, he felt a bit conflicted about his actions.

Though Ian wasn’t too knowledgeable about the ship’s internal technology, he knew for sure that the Ark Maxim’s power system was definitely damaged. Fortunately, during his inspection, he discovered numerous shells embedded in the hull.

These should be Jet dials, right? With these Jet Shells, even if the power system is damaged, it seems like the ship can still take off?

Ian couldn’t help but glance at Enel and notice that he pretended not to care, allowing Ian to examine the ship. However, his eyes secretly revealed some nervousness as he kept an eye on Ian.

Ian sneered in his heart. Enel wasn’t being honest; he probably wanted to gamble that Ian wouldn’t recognize these Jet Shells.

But, not only did Ian recognize them, even Usopp did. Usopp had already encountered some unique shell culture on this island and was very interested in it. Upon seeing the shells on the ship’s bottom, he immediately began to study them. After tinkering for a while, he also discovered the shells’ wonderful function.

“Ian, big brother!” Usopp now called Ian the same way Nami and the others did, excitedly running up to him, gesturing with enthusiasm. “These shells seem to produce powerful wind force. With these shells, it’s possible that this ship can take off again!”

Ian smiled, and glanced at Enel who had turned pale. This guy probably hadn’t anticipated it at all. Even if Ian hadn’t pointed out these shells, with Usopp, the little inventor around, he couldn’t hide the Jet Dials’ existence.

These subtle actions indicated that Enel still cared about his Ark Maxim.

Ian knew very well about Enel’s dilemma. He had grown up in his homeland, Birka. Although he was a half-breed, influenced by his surroundings, his longing for the vast land was the same as any other Skypiean. To reach the endless land, he needed the Ark Maxim.

After being soundly beaten by Ian, Enel was indeed afraid. He obediently followed Ian’s orders, doing whatever Ian said. However, assuming he would resign himself to this fate was wishful thinking.

Enel was acutely aware that as long as he remained in Ian’s sight, there was no escaping. If he wished to flee, he had to transform into lightning. But Ian’s uncanny power had a firm grip on him, akin to a natural predator holding its prey. Enel realized that the only chance of escape lay in putting a considerable distance between him and Ian.

The problem was that Ian had ordered him to stick close, leaving Enel no opportunity to flee.

Although he had toyed with the idea of capturing Ian’s companions to blackmail him, he quickly realized the futility of such a plan. The moment he captured Ian’s friends, Ian could just as effortlessly control him!

In a bind, the only hope for Enel lay in Ian’s negligence, a moment when he would let his guard down. At that crucial juncture, Enel could seize the chance to escape, commandeer the Ark Maxim, and depart swiftly.

This was precisely why Enel hadn’t activated the Jet Shells after the ship’s propulsion system was damaged. He kept a contingency plan, hoping to make Ian believe that the Ark Maxim was utterly inoperable.

In a nutshell, Enel’s mindset was that, as long as the Ark Maxim was intact, he still held the hope of reaching the infinite land.

For this reason, he was willing to accept even the loss of all the gold on the ship if it meant preserving the Ark Maxim.

Unfortunately, Ian proved to be even more devious than he had anticipated. Ian wasn’t planning to let the damaged Ark Maxim go to waste; he wanted to bring it back into service!

This revelation struck at Enel’s very core, exposing his vulnerability.

This was going too far! Enel trembled with fury. After Usopp exposed the secret of the Jet Shells, Enel contemplated whether he should make one final desperate struggle, facing Ian head-on, no matter the cost.

However, Ian saw through his intentions and immediately placed his hand on his blade, coldly sneering at him. “What’s the matter, Enel? Do you want to see me heartlessly cut you down?”

“You…!” Enel tightened his grip on the golden staff in his hand, hesitating.

Deep down, he knew the bitter truth—he stood no chance against Ian. Any notion of a desperate escape was but a foolish delusion. Even if the fish fought fiercely, the net would never break.

Surveying his surroundings, Enel noticed not only Ian but also Zoro, Sanji, Luffy, and the others, all vigilantly eyeing him, prepared for a battle at a moment’s notice.

Observing Enel’s hesitation, Ian spoke thoughtfully, “I know you want to return to your homeland, the Moon! I have no intention of stopping you. However, now that you’ve fallen into my hands, you must pay a price. Here’s the deal—you must serve under me for six years. After that, whether you want to stay or leave, I won’t stop you!”

Previously, Ian had shown no mercy in brutally pummeling Enel. But now, offering him a condition, Enel saw a glimmer of hope.

Enel was well aware that Ian coveted his power. However, if he stubbornly resisted, Ian might indeed kill him.

This was precisely Ian’s thinking. He knew Enel’s obstinate nature, and if negotiation failed, he intended to take a ruthless approach. After all, upon a Devil Fruit user’s death, their power would be reborn in a new fruit. If it came to that, Ian could invest time and effort into finding another Goro Goro no Mi user—the rare and formidable Logia-type Devil Fruit. He couldn’t afford to relinquish such power. If Enel proved useless, Ian would create another Goro Goro no Mi wielder to serve his purpose!

In fact, he had considered granting the reborn fruit to his sworn brother, Sabo, or even to Zoro…

Having shared the bond of brotherhood over the ritual of sake, Sabo had become one of Ian’s most trusted allies. Naturally, Ian intended to offer such a gift to those he deemed worthy of his trust.

Lost in these thoughts, a hint of killing intent inadvertently escaped Ian, which Enel keenly sensed. Alarm bells rang in Enel’s mind. While arrogant, he wasn’t foolish enough to confront an enemy who could end his life at any moment. Defying Ian would be a reckless disregard for his own existence. Yet, he found the six-year agreement a bit too demanding, prompting him to negotiate, “Six years is too long!”

Hearing Enel’s plea, Ian understood that Enel had indeed submitted. He loosened his grip on the sword and said, “If you can spend six years creating an Ark, surely you can wait another six years. Rest assured, after six years, your Ark will be returned to you intact. Besides, you need my assistance to repair the Ark now, don’t you?”

“Fine… fine then!” Enel begrudgingly replied, “You better keep your word!”

The agreement was sealed, and Ian felt a sense of relief. He knew that despite his ability to overpower Enel, it was impractical to keep a constant watch on him. He couldn’t treat Enel like a hound, perpetually leashed with Seastone cuffs. Such humiliation wasn’t Ian’s style, nor would he stoop to that level. The best approach was to have Enel cooperate willingly.

The Dragon Hunters Pirates, Ian’s crew, had never forced anyone to join their ranks. Enel was an exception. Ian could have used Soul Ripper—a threat he had employed against Crocodile—but considering Enel, being the lunatic he is, probably wouldn’t care about losing a tenth of his lifespan anyway.

With the Ark in hand and the agreement set, Ian ensured Enel temporarily abandoned his escape plans. It made things much easier for Ian in the long run.

Zoro felt a bit disappointed as he put away his sword. He actually wanted to test his skills against Enel. Because of Ian’s intervention, they couldn’t fight Enel, so they had no idea how strong he really was, which made them curious.

“How long can these Jet Dials support the Ark’s flight?” Ian asked Enel.

“Only two hours!” Enel shook his head and said, “Once the Jet Dials run out of stored energy, we’ll have to land! Besides, we won’t find any other Jet Dials. Even on my home island, Birka, they are already extinct.”

Ian nodded, understanding the situation. He then asked Enel, “Since you built the Ark based on the design, can you repair the propulsion system?”

“I don’t know,” Enel explained, “I had the slaves I captured build it according to the design. I’m familiar with the propulsion system, but it doesn’t mean I can build or repair them.”

Reiju understood Ian’s meaning and spoke up, “Then, is it possible to bring back those builders to help us fix it?”

“It’s probably difficult,” Robin glanced at Enel and said, “Even if the ship has changed owners, it still represents a painful memory for them.”

“Forget it, let’s do it ourselves! We’ll repair as much as we can!” Ian sighed.