Rimuru and Ultima Goes To One Piece (Rimuru and Ultima x One Piece)

Chapter 16: Silent Shadows

The sprawling capital of Veldoria Island was a fortress of stone and steel, its buildings rising high against the backdrop of the dense jungle. As Ultima and Rimuru carefully made their way through the busy streets, they kept their faces hidden beneath hooded cloaks. The last thing they wanted was to draw attention to themselves too soon. The nation was more fortified than they had anticipated, but that only added to the thrill of the challenge.

Rimuru's eyes darted from one corner of the street to the next, his Observation Haki sensing the subtle shifts in movement around them. Ultima, for once, wasn't her usual cocky, energetic self. She was fully focused, her playful nature tempered by the seriousness of their infiltration. They had a goal: to gather as much information about the ruling powers on this island before making their move.

The city was bustling with life, markets overflowing with vendors selling exotic goods, and soldiers patrolled the streets in pairs, their weapons glinting under the bright sunlight. Ultima glanced at a group of soldiers passing by, her sharp eyes narrowing as she noticed the disciplined way they moved.

"These guys aren't pushovers," she muttered under her breath, keeping her voice low so only Rimuru could hear. "Their presence is way too strong for ordinary grunts. They're trained."

"Yeah," Rimuru replied quietly. "I can sense it too. Some of them even have Haki—though none of them are at an advanced level, from what I can tell."

"Still, we should be careful. No need to blow our cover before we reach the palace." Ultima sighed, though her fingers twitched as if itching for a fight. "As much as I'd love to knock a few heads together."

Rimuru chuckled softly. "Patience. We'll get our chance soon enough."

It took them a few hours to navigate the maze-like streets and alleys of the capital. They moved with precision, never staying in one place too long, blending seamlessly with the locals. Rimuru's Observation Haki guided them, allowing them to avoid any unnecessary encounters with soldiers or curious onlookers.

At one point, they paused in front of a grand library that overlooked a plaza. Ultima tilted her head, staring at the towering structure with mild interest. "That place looks like it might hold some valuable information. We could break in, you know, just for fun."

Rimuru smiled under his hood. "Later. First, we need to figure out the political structure of this island. The king is our main target, but we need to know who's backing him and how strong his inner circle is."

Ultima gave a playful pout but didn't argue. "Fine. Lead the way, boss."

They continued their search, slowly inching closer to the heart of the city—the Royal Palace. After hours of silently weaving through the capital, they finally found themselves standing at the edge of the royal district. Massive walls surrounded the palace, which stood tall and imposing in the distance.

"That's where he is," Rimuru said, his voice a mere whisper. His eyes flickered as he extended his Observation Haki, probing the palace grounds. "The king, along with a strong group of guards. They're well-trained, but nothing we can't handle."

Ultima's grin widened beneath her cloak. "Finally, some fun."

"Not yet," Rimuru warned. "We're just here to gather information. We'll make our move when the time is right."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Ultima huffed. "But I'm keeping count of how many of these guys I take down later."

They slinked through the shadows, moving toward a nearby hill that overlooked the palace. From their vantage point, they could see the entrance to the grand structure, as well as the heavily armed guards stationed around it.