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Noir narrowed his eyes, focusing on the group of mysterious figures, especially the man at the forefront.
Their appearances were blurry and indistinct, but the silhouette of the leader seemed… familiar.
Noir tapped his head lightly. 'Where have I seen him before?'
The mysterious figures, surrounded by Ryugu Palace guards, nervously raised their weapons. The leader focused a powerful aura gathering in his hands.
Glossy black Busoshoku Haki coated his fists. Noir was taken aback. Such mastery of Haki was rare.
Fukaboshi's eyes flashed with anger. Did these pirates really think they could invade Fish-Man Island without consequences?!
Brandishing his trident, the hotheaded prince lunged, clashing with the mysterious man.
However, Fukaboshi, despite his fierce appearance, held back. Within a few exchanges, a Haki-infused punch landed squarely on his face, sending him flying backward.
Noir stared at Fukaboshi, exasperated. 'If you're not strong enough, just stay put. Why charge in recklessly?'
As the man with Haki prepared to attack again, Noir called out, "Stop!"
The man obeyed instantly, halting his advance and staring blankly at Noir, who was now descending from the carriage.
Noir cleared his throat theatrically. "You are…?"
Before he could finish his sentence, the man abruptly dropped to his knees, his head bowing low to the ground.
This unexpected action stunned Noir. 'What's this about? No need to kneel even if you don't want to fight.'
Before Noir could help the man up, his companions followed suit, collapsing to their knees one after another.
Then, they began begging, their foreheads hitting the ground in unison, the sound echoing like a hailstorm. Noir felt his lifespan shortening with each thud.
The nearby fish-man citizens who had fled the earlier attack heard the commotion and wondered, 'Is that thunder?'
Fukaboshi, his nose bruised and bleeding, saw the kneeling figures and looked at Noir with awe.
'As expected of Devil Noir! He made them beg for mercy without even lifting a finger!'
Even Noir, with his thick skin, couldn't handle being bowed to by so many people. He said awkwardly, "Who are you? Get up and speak!"
As if on cue, the group sprang to their feet, their backs ramrod straight, their faces resolute as they stared ahead.
'Holy… crap.'
They resembled highly trained soldiers, their movements precise and disciplined.
Noir paused, then walked towards the leader, a suspicion forming in his mind. "Have we met before?"
The man's eyes widened, his voice booming like thunder. "Indeed! Your Highness has a keen eye!"
'Your Highness?'
Noir froze, then remembered what Rayleigh had told him.
"Are you... remnants of Noitem?!" Noir asked, his eyes widening in surprise.
The man's eyes glistened with unshed tears, his voice trembling as he replied, "Yes, Your Highness! I apologize for my failure to recognize you back then."
Noir smacked his forehead. It finally clicked.
This was the burly man who had sold him the Ryu Ryu no Mi!
At the time, he'd found it strange that someone in the first half of the Grand Line possessed such mastery of Busoshoku Haki and casually sold Devil Fruits.
But if he was from Noitem in the New World, his actions made perfect sense.
Noir stroked his chin, pointing at the man. "What's your name?"
The man's expression turned serious. "I was adopted by the former King and granted the name Kyros Reha."
Noir scratched his head, then asked with a puzzled expression, "So, Reha... how did you find me?"
Reha's square, resolute face remained impassive. "I recognized Your Highness by your pendant. I then gathered my comrades and followed your trail."
"Using your bounty posters and news reports, we searched Thriller Bark and Sabaody Archipelago. Just as we were planning to sneak into Mary Geoise, we heard news of your arrival on Fish-Man Island."
Noir's lips twitched. 'True to Noitem's style.'
'It's a good thing they didn't infiltrate Mary Geoise. They probably wouldn't have made it out alive.'
This display of loyalty confirmed Noir's belief in their dedication.
They had traveled to so many places, unwavering in their search for a prince whose identity they couldn't fully confirm. Their determination was impressive.
But Noir still had questions. "Why would a pendant convince you to follow me?"
He hadn't even been born when Noitem fell. It was likely his parents who had escaped.
Reha lowered his head, his voice filled with sorrow. "In those years, the royal family dwindled. The former King adopted many orphans like myself, granting us the name Kyros, and raised us to serve Noitem."
"But then, disaster struck. The former King was killed. We protected the First Prince and escorted him out of Noitem. Your pendant is the First Prince's royal insignia."
'The First Prince... my father.'
Noir asked, his voice tinged with emotion, "If the First Prince escaped Noitem and sent me to the East Blue, where is he now?!"
Reha was momentarily stunned. "We... don't know. He disappeared during our escape…"
"However, the former King seemed confident that the First Prince would reach safety."
Noir shook his head sadly. To be adopted by the King and granted the name Kyros meant they were trusted confidants, raised from childhood. Even they didn't know the details…
He had a growing feeling that something else must have happened after the First Prince escaped Noitem, something that ensured Noir's safe upbringing.
Reha looked at Noir's face, his voice filled with emotion. "Seeing you safe and sound, Your Highness... I'm deeply moved."
Noir, looking at Reha's weathered face, knew the man had suffered greatly. He sighed. "You've all endured so much over the years."
Reha shook his head vehemently, then hesitated before asking, "Your Highness, what about our kingdom…?"
A confident smile spread across Noir's face. "Now that I've found you, I will rebuild Noitem!"
Reha and the other Noitem remnants erupted in cheers, bowing their heads in unison. "Yes!"
With that settled, he had a base of operations and the unwavering loyalty of the Noitem remnants. Rebuilding his kingdom shouldn't be too difficult.
Just as Noir's mood soared, Reha spoke, his voice laced with anger. "But Your Highness, our homeland has been claimed by the World Government."
Noir's expression turned cold.
It seemed he'd have to make some demands of the Government after all…
He had to see Noitem's ruins with his own eyes. There were likely secrets about his past hidden there.
...
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