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Vander Decken IX, while a somewhat troublesome opponent for Fish-Man Island's guards, was no match for Jinbe, a Warlord of the Sea…
…especially with the infamous Devil Noir at Jinbe's side. Escape was practically impossible.
Vander Decken IX glanced around and spotted the beautiful figure that haunted his dreams. He cried out excitedly,
"Princess Shirahoshi!"
Shirahoshi trembled at the sound of his voice and quickly hid behind Noir.
Noir summoned his cursed blade, Devil Blade, his expression impassive. "Let's finish this quickly. I don't have time to waste."
Vander Decken IX, seeing the woman he loved hiding behind another man, momentarily forgot his fear. Rage consumed him as he roared,
"You damn bastard! Don't interfere with my love for Princess Shirahoshi!"
Noir's face darkened, and his figure vanished into the murky depths.
Vander Decken IX's pupils constricted. The coppery tang of blood filled the water, staining the sea crimson.
Jinbe watched in stunned silence. He hadn't even seen how Noir had moved, how he'd drawn and swung his sword.
'Was it a combination of light and shadow manipulation? But how could Noir use his powers underwater?!'
Vander Decken IX clutched his gushing throat, his face contorted in agony as he glared at Noir.
Noir wiped his blade on Vander Decken's clothes, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Weak.."
Vander Decken's vision blurred, his eyes rolling back as he floated lifelessly in the water.
Shirahoshi covered her eyes, unable to bear the sight. The three princes stared at Noir in awe as he sheathed his sword.
The Ryugu Kingdom had been unable to capture Vander Decken IX for so long, not only because of his cunning and elusiveness, but also because of his considerable strength.
Yet, against Devil Noir, he hadn't even landed a single blow.
Noir swam back to the mermaid patrol, addressing Shirahoshi. "He's taken care of. You don't have to worry about him bothering you anymore."
Though Shirahoshi found Noir's methods a bit brutal, she was deeply grateful. "Thank you, Noir-sama!"
As she spoke, the System reward arrived:
[Significant figure encountered. Reward issued: Talent Evolution Card x1, Pearl Necklace x1.]
Noir, thrilled to receive his first Talent Evolution Card, examined it within his mental inventory.
Without hesitation, he used the card on his "Empathic Resonance" talent.
All his other talents could be upgraded through training. But Observation Haki, especially at its highest level, was incredibly difficult to improve.
His recently acquired red talent, "Empathic Resonance," quickly evolved to gold quality.
Noir felt a rush of power, his mind momentarily overwhelmed by the surge of energy.
Robin, noticing Noir's disorientation, quickly supported him, her voice soft and concerned. "Are you alright? You don't look well."
Noir's mind felt like a muddled mess. He shook his head, trying to clear it. "I'm fine. Just adjusting to the new power."
Observation Haki was different from other abilities. This power to peer into the minds of others was extraordinary, and its usage placed a significant strain on the user's mental fortitude.
Furthermore, "Empathic Resonance" was the talent Noir had possessed for the shortest time, so his control over it was currently less Enhanced than his other abilities.
It wasn't a major issue, though. With practice, he would master it.
Noir then examined the Pearl Necklace, studying the System's description.
It appeared to be an ordinary piece of jewelry, but its function was more useful than he'd anticipated.
It allowed the wearer to breathe underwater and protected them from the harmful effects of seawater.
Essentially, it acted like a water-repelling charm, something quite useful for Devil Fruit users.
It wasn't much use to Noir, however, since he could already swim.
Too bad it wasn't mass-producible; he would have given one to Robin and the others.
With Vander Decken IX dealt with, the four princes breathed a collective sigh of relief. Shirahoshi expressed her desire to visit her mother's grave.
The princes readily agreed, deciding to escort her there.
Enel stretched, yawning. "How boring. I was hoping for a stronger opponent!"
Noir shrugged. "Things are winding down here. Let's have some fun and then head back to the surface."
Robin nodded and raised her hand. "I spoke with Neptune earlier. He mentioned that there's a Poneglyph hidden within the palace. I'd like to take a look."
Noir nodded. Fish-Man Island was rich in historical information, including Poneglyphs, Joy Boy's message, and Noah.
However, Noir had observed that the sunken ship Vander Decken IX had been inhabiting wasn't the Noah from the future.
Noir couldn't repair a ship of that size anyway, so he hadn't given it much thought, though he was curious about the history surrounding it.
Since Robin was interested in these things, he decided to leave the investigation to her.
As the Underworld Pirates dispersed to enjoy their time on Fish-Man Island, Noir was about to explore the area when Fukaboshi approached him, his face troubled.
Noir raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Shouldn't you be with your sister?"
Fukaboshi's expression was grim. "A group of intruders has illegally entered Fish-Man Island! They're causing havoc!"
Noir's eyes narrowed. "Pirates? What does that have to do with me? Can't you handle them?"
Fukaboshi shook his head. "But… they specifically said they were looking for you."
Noir was taken aback. Looking for him?
He'd temporarily dealt with the World Government and the Marines. They shouldn't be causing him any trouble. Did he have other enemies?
He thought for a moment. 'Is it Crocodile?'
Noir sighed and said to Fukaboshi, "Lead the way. I'll see what they want."
Fukaboshi nodded, his fishtail swishing as he gestured for the merfolk guards to bring a royal carriage equipped with a bubble-encased compartment.
Noir, pleased with the prince's efficiency, settled into the carriage. Fukaboshi, riding a bubble-powered seahorse, led the way.
...
Soon, they arrived at a bustling street. Fukaboshi drew his weapon, confronting a group of individuals.
Noir observed the intruders with interest.
They wore matching, threadbare cloaks with hoods that obscured their faces. They certainly looked like dangerous criminals.
...
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