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The Air Door materialized slowly in a street within the ruins of the former capital, Anel. Noir and his crew stepped out into the desolate city.
Anel was in ruins, though as Reha had said, it was in better condition than other parts of the island.
The streets were relatively clear, and some buildings remained partially intact, hinting at the former glory of Noitem.
Stepping out of the Air Door, Noir surveyed his surroundings. "Not bad. Anel is relatively intact."
Reha, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and nostalgia, nodded. "The Government and Marines used this area for years. They wouldn't have let it fall into complete disrepair."
He pointed ahead. "Your Highness, the royal palace is that way. Please, follow me."
Noir nodded, and they walked through the ruined streets until they reached an imposing wall, a single, massive gate providing the only entrance.
He found the familiar style appealing, though it was a shame that so much of it had been destroyed.
Reha led them through the gate, explaining, "The palace's interior is completely ruined. It's no longer fit for a ruler."
Noir wasn't concerned. "It's fine. Any room will do for now."
'We're all seasoned adventurers. Who cares about fancy accommodations?'
Noir's casual attitude, however, elicited a shocked reaction from Reha, who exclaimed, "Absolutely not!"
"If Your Highness is to rebuild Noitem, you will be its new King! You cannot reside in such squalor!"
Noir shrugged, a smile playing on his lips. "Alright, alright. We'll build a new palace later, then."
Reha relaxed, relieved. He led Noir into the palace's interior.
The inner palace was more ornate than the exterior but lacked the same grandeur and imposing presence.
Reha led him on a tour, but they found nothing of personal significance to Noir.
They discovered some nobles' records, but they contained only mundane administrative details from past rulers.
Noir examined the documents, but they offered no clues or insights, just ordinary records of governance and the state of the kingdom.
He wasn't an expert in these matters, so he handed them to Robin for analysis.
After a thorough search, Noir found no clues about his own past in the ruins.
"The Marines and the Government really cleaned this place out…" he muttered, a hint of frustration in his voice, though he'd anticipated this outcome.
Seeing Reha's excitement, however, Noir put aside his disappointment.
They had secured a large territory. That was a good start.
He clapped Reha on the shoulder, a grin spreading across his face. "Alright, we've seen enough. Time to get to work."
Reha's eyes lit up. "Yes, Your Highness!"
...
Night had fallen. Dark clouds blanketed the sky, not a single star visible, as if even they feared the oppressive darkness.
On the roof of a ruined palace building, Noir held the Underworld Mirror aloft. Beams of light streamed out, illuminating the surrounding area like miniature suns.
Countless points of light, like stars in the dark night, revealed themselves to be people emerging into the open.
The remnants of Noitem and the escapees from Mary Geoise were finally released.
When the Noitem remnants saw their surroundings, they were stunned. They looked at Noir and Reha in disbelief.
Soon, a cry arose from the crowd, a cry that had been suppressed for years:
"It's Anel!!! We're home!"
"There are… no enemies? Has His Highness reclaimed this place?!"
"All Hail the Prince!!!!!"
"All Hail the Prince!!!!!"
The people of Noitem wept, embracing each other, some falling to their knees in gratitude to Noir for bringing them home.
The escapees from Mary Geoise, having grown close to the Noitem remnants during their shared ordeal, were deeply moved.
They, too, raised their hands and cheered, their voices joining the chorus of celebration.
Anel, silent for so many years, was reawakened by the voices of these people who had been forced to wander for so long.
Noir stood on the rooftop, a confident smirk on his face, and addressed the crowd below. "My friends—"
"Noitem is ours again! Now, let us rebuild our home together, starting with the capital!"
"Ooooh!"
The crowd roared its approval, their voices filled with renewed hope and determination.
Noir smiled, nodding in satisfaction.
Though the population of the new Noitem was small, in the world of pirates, strength was everything!
With his reputation as a Warlord, he could attract those seeking refuge. His actions in freeing slaves had also earned him a certain notoriety…
A thought struck Noir. He could raid more slave ships, Enhancing his image as a "Savior" and attracting more loyal followers, both slaves and virtuous individuals, to his Kingdom.
Noir waved his hand, and more figures emerged from the Portal. "These guys will help you during the night!"
The crowd cheered, recognizing the figures. "It's the lovely zombies!"
Noir's smile faltered.
'Lovely?'
Had their prolonged exposure to the zombies warped their sense of aesthetics, just like Robin's?
The people embraced the zombies like old friends.
The zombies, creations of the Kage Kage no Mi and thus loyal to Noir, showed no hostility towards the people.
Having spent so much time together in the Underworld, the people and the zombies had grown accustomed to each other.
"Everyone here is skilled. Rebuilding the capital will be swift!" Reha said, his eyes shining with unshed tears.
Noir nodded, his mind already racing with plans.
Then, a sudden thought struck him. "Right! The Sky Island!"
The people nearby, startled by his outburst, looked at him in confusion. Enel and Wyper asked in unison, "What sky island?"
Noir didn't answer, instead focusing on the system reward he'd received after encountering Enel on Skypiea.
The system had granted him the ability to create a custom sky island. He'd saved it, and now was the perfect time to use it!
A sky island above Noitem could serve as a hidden base for research, training, or even…
Noir's eyes gleamed. He could build a Palace in the Sky!
...
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