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Seeing the item Noir produced seemingly out of thin air, Kuri gazed at the blueprints curiously. "What's this?"
Noir smiled enigmatically, handing them over.
They were the reward from the System: blueprints for the entire Iron Man suit series!
From the Mark I to the later nanotech suits, complete with the AI system, it was enough to drive any armor researcher in this world mad with excitement!
As Noir expected, Kuri's eyes lit up the moment she took the blueprints, her gaze fixated on the suit's design.
"This design… is it real?" Kuri's expression intensified, her entire being practically absorbed into the schematics.
The System's version of the Iron Man suit had undergone subtle magical modifications. All the materials could be sourced in this world, and the performance was no less impressive than the original.
That was why Kuri was so enthralled. With her innate talent for invention, she could tell these blueprints weren't just a fantasy, but a viable project with the potential for real-world application.
As Kuri became increasingly engrossed, Noir grinned mischievously and snatched the blueprints back. Kuri jumped up, trying to grab them back, but her small stature was no match for Noir.
Unable to reach them, she looked up at Noir, her eyes welling up with tears.
Noir held Kuri up by the scruff of her neck, dangling her in the air. "So? Now will you come with me?" he asked with a playful grin.
Kuri's face flushed with excitement, and she nodded rapidly. "Yes, yes! Your Highness, I don't want to stay here and do research anymore!"
Noir patted her head. "Good girl. Here you go."
He wasn't worried about Kuri losing the blueprints. She was just a child, and she clearly treasured the designs.
Kuri eagerly took the thick stack of blueprints, hugging them tightly and giggling.
A closer look revealed drool trickling down her chin, shattering any illusion of a composed genius.
Noir placed Kuri on his shoulders, letting her hold onto his head. "Kuri," he asked casually, "how old are you, exactly?"
Kuri scratched her head with a chubby hand. "About… ten, I think!"
Noir felt a pang of sympathy. Children in this world not only developed physically differently, but mentally as well…
Noir chuckled ruefully, feeling oddly out of touch.
Little did he know… he was barely eighteen himself and about to become a Warlord of the Sea.
As they walked, Noir supported Kuri's feet, while she, perched on his shoulders, was brimming with excitement. They looked like a father and daughter.
Passersby stared, then smiled warmly at the sight.
Kuri was an orphan, found abandoned by Reha years ago. Everyone in Noitem had watched her grow up.
For years, Kuri had focused solely on her research, isolating herself and making no friends her own age. Everyone worried about her.
But today, it seemed their prince had a knack for earning her trust.
Noir and Kuri entered the Underworld Portal, drawing curious glances.
Kuri, clutching Noir's hair, couldn't contain her curiosity. "Your Highness! Where are we? Is this a new dimension?"
Noir winced, swatting Kuri's hand away. "It's my special ability. Just think of it as a Devil Fruit power."
Kuri nodded vaguely, lost in thought. "A Devil Fruit… truly unfathomable…"
"I tried to study Devil Fruits before, but Uncle Reha is the only Devil Fruit user in Noitem. With no test subjects, I couldn't make any progress."
Noir's curiosity piqued. "What Devil Fruit does Reha have?"
Kuri replied seriously, "The Cat-Cat Fruit."
Huh?
Just as Noir was about to question that, Kuri added, "But it's an Ancient Zoan, Saber-Toothed Tiger Model."
Noir relaxed, letting out a breath. "That makes more sense…"
Such a ferocious predator suited Reha's rugged personality.
Including Reha, he now had two Ancient Zoan users in his crew!
Noir grinned, reassuring Kuri. "Don't worry, you can study Devil Fruits here. I have plenty of Devil Fruit users in my crew."
Kuri nodded enthusiastically, her face beaming.
An old man, overseeing the transport of goods, witnessed the scene and sighed wistfully. "Perhaps being with His Highness will spare Kuri from her fate…"
Noir's eyes flickered with red light, his gaze subtly shifting towards the old man.
Enel, his own Observation Haki exceptional, sensed something amiss. Just as he was about to ask, Fujitora stopped him with a raised hand.
Fujitora walked over to the old man, his blind eyes seemingly seeing everything, and sat down beside him.
"If you don't mind me asking, sir, what fate might befall Kuri while in the Captain's company?"
The old man looked at Fujitora in surprise. This blind man's hearing was incredibly sharp.
He sighed heavily. "Kuri is terminally ill. The doctors in Noitem diagnosed her… There's no cure…"
Fujitora was shocked. "Such a young child… How?"
The old man's eyes reddened, his posture seeming to shrink further. "There's no mistake. When she reaches adulthood… that will be the end for Kuri…"
Fujitora remained silent, his grip tightening on his cane sword.
Noir, sensing their conversation, his expression unreadable, tightened his hold on Kuri's hand.
This little girl was still useful to him. He couldn't let her die…
Noir was a pragmatist. If he'd chosen Kuri for her skills, she would live and work for him.
Enel, casually leaning back, observed Noir and instantly understood.
He clapped Fujitora on the shoulder, a carefree smile on his face. "Don't look so glum. Our Devil Captain won't let anything happen to her."
Noir pondered ways to cure a terminal illness. If conventional medicine was useless, what about the power of Devil Fruits?
He had high hopes for Trafalgar Law and his Ope Ope no Mi.
And he could recruit Law into his crew, making the Underworld Pirates even more formidable…
...
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