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Reha approached the crowd with a beaming smile. "Brothers and sisters!" he boomed joyfully. "I've found the prince! Noir is of the First Prince's bloodline!"
The crowd gasped, turning to Noir with astonishment etched on their faces.
Reha subtly glanced at Noir, who understood the cue. He removed the pendant from his neck and held it aloft. "This is proof!"
All eyes focused on the pendant, instantly recognizing its significance.
Weapons clattered to the ground as everyone dropped to their knees, their voices thundering in unison:
"All Hail the Prince!"
"All Hail the Prince!"
"All Hail the Prince!"
Noir had last witnessed a grand display of reverence in Mary Geoise during the slave liberation. This time, however, he didn't urge them to rise.
After a moment of silence, Noir spoke softly. "Rise. There's no need to kneel."
The Noitem remnants obeyed, their eyes shining with renewed hope as they gazed at Noir. A spark had been ignited in their previously downcast expressions.
Among them were children, their gazes filled with curiosity and awe.
...
Inside the hidden base, Noir's Observation Haki, returned to full strength.
He sensed a significant presence, well over ten thousand Noitem citizens resided here.
While this wasn't a large number for a kingdom, it was still a considerable population for a fallen nation. A sense of relief washed over Noir.
Amidst the multitude of emotions swirling around him, Noir's Haki easily discerned their sentiments. As Reha had indicated, there was little resistance or dissent among them.
Even the adolescents displayed no rebellious tendencies, suggesting they had received specialized upbringing.
This struck Noir as remarkable, and, to be blunt, a testament to Noitem's effective indoctrination.
Their unwavering loyalty to a fallen kingdom, especially after so many years and the changing times, was extraordinary.
An elderly man, leaning heavily on a cane, emerged from the crowd. His cloudy eyes fixed on Noir, his voice trembling with emotion. "Your Highness, why have you returned to us?"
Noir smiled confidently, raising his hand and slowly clenching it into a fist. "I have the strength now. I will return to our homeland and rebuild the Kingdom of Noitem!"
Tears streamed down the old man's weathered face, and a hearty laugh erupted from his frail chest, sounding like a bellows struggling to pump air.
Despite his age, his spirit was indomitable.
He flung aside his cane, ignoring his physical limitations, and bent deeply at the waist, his voice ringing with vigor. "We will follow you, Your Highness!"
Reha leaned in, whispering to Noir, "This elder was a highly esteemed minister during the former King's reign."
Noir understood. It was like the historical accounts he'd read in his past life.
A loyal minister, unwilling to accept the downfall of his kingdom, biding his time for years.
Now, in his twilight years, he had finally found the heir to the throne. He would undoubtedly devote the remainder of his life to supporting the prince's cause.
Noir gently helped the old man to his feet. "With me, the rebuilding of Noitem will not put you in danger again."
The elder took Noir's words as reassurance, but he knew the truth. He remembered why Noitem had fallen, the enemies they had made.
Could the prince really fight the World Government?
This thought echoed in the minds of many present. Despite the known power of the Government and the Marines, their prince had returned. They had to answer his call; it was their duty as citizens of Noitem.
If Noir knew they were following him with a sense of fatalistic resolve, he would have told them there was no need.
The Government, while undeniably powerful, had too many constraints. As long as Noir planned carefully, they wouldn't actively attack him.
Having quickly gained the people's allegiance, Reha addressed the crowd with a joyful tone.
"Gather your belongings and supplies! We depart with the prince at once!"
The elder, alarmed by the haste, interjected, "Isn't this too rushed? We need to construct ships to transport our people and supplies!"
Noir smiled, his hand enveloped in black mist that swirled and expanded into a massive, ominous vortex in the air.
"This is one of my abilities. You should all be able to fit inside, if you squeeze in tight."
The hidden base was spacious enough for Noir to fully utilize his Underworld Portal. He guided them towards the swirling gateway while explaining its function.
As they stepped into the Underworld, the Noitem remnants were awestruck.
Beyond the black mist lay an enormous island!
Several members of the Underworld Pirates greeted Noir as he entered the dimension.
The elder rushed in front of Noir, his voice filled with concern. "Your Highness, be careful!"
It was Puff who had come to greet them. Seeing the elder shielding Noir, his fish-like face contorted in displeasure.
Who's this old geezer? Stealing my spotlight…
Noir laughed, gently pushing the elder aside and reassuring everyone. "This is a world only I can access. It's completely safe."
"These are my crewmates and companions. There's no need to fear."
Relieved, the elder and the others dismissed Noir's mention of crewmates as unimportant.
The people of Noitem had long since shed their former conceit.
So what if they were pirates? In these times, everyone had to bow to the World Government's authority…
Noir maintained the Underworld portal, allowing the people to begin transporting their supplies.
He entrusted Puff with overseeing the operation, instructing him to cooperate fully.
Thriller Bark was the size of an island, more than capable of accommodating all the Noitem remnants. The only issue was the lack of housing.
The elder, however, assured Noir that this wouldn't be a problem.
They had lived in harsh conditions for years; building a few houses was a trivial matter.
Just as everything was proceeding smoothly, several remnants approached Noir with troubled expressions. "Your Highness, we have a situation."
Noir frowned. "What is it? Are my crewmates not cooperating?"
The remnants shook their heads vehemently. "No, it's not that. It's…"
"It's one of our own."
Confused, Noir asked, "What kind of problem?"
The remnants explained, "It's the Scientist! She hasn't finished her research and doesn't want to leave yet."
"She? The Scientist who's developing the Haki-masking device?" Noir asked, understanding dawning.
They nodded eagerly. Noir stroked his chin, intrigued.
Scientists are always eccentric.
It looks like I'll have to pay her a visit personally…
...
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