"Ancient Zoan?" Noyer looked at him in surprise.
Franky smiled mysteriously, "I heard this through the grapevine. Only people with wide connections know about it — someone wants to sell this fruit!"
"They're just going to sell it like that?" Noyer asked doubtfully.
That's an Ancient Zoan fruit!
Even if Conis ate it, she'd instantly transform into a muscular powerhouse, the kind that could knock out weaklings with a single punch!
Who would be stupid enough to sell it?
Franky pondered, "The seller has already eaten a Devil Fruit. From what I heard, he offended quite a few people getting this one, so he wants to get rid of it quickly."
Interesting…
Noyer began to think. He couldn't let such a valuable Devil Fruit slip away right under his nose. Not for himself — for Wyper.
Wyper's strength needed a quick boost, and a Devil Fruit was the perfect shortcut. A Zoan-type that enhances physical abilities would suit his combat style perfectly. Especially an Ancient Zoan.
This trip to the black market was a must.
A seller capable of offering such a fruit must have considerable strength. He probably didn't expect this Devil Fruit would attract such predators, though.
In another car of the sea train, several suspicious figures sat in their seats. One had short purple hair, dark circles under his eyes, and half his face covered by a leather mask.
Spandam was thrilled — absolutely thrilled. As chief of CP9, he had no fighting ability himself, but he wielded considerable authority.
Not long ago, his prized subordinate Rob Lucci — the strongest in CP9 in 800 years — had requested a Devil Fruit. Preferably a Zoan, so his Rokushiki would become even sharper.
Spandam had been wondering where to find one when — lo and behold — he heard from secret sources about an Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit up for sale.
Spandam was overjoyed. If Rob Lucci ate this rare Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit, wouldn't he become even more formidable?
Eager to secure benefits for his subordinate — and incidentally please Lucci — Spandam boarded the train.
Further back, in another car, sat a group of mysterious people.
One was the man who had been spying on Noyer from the shore. Beside him sat a woman, her cloak covering her completely, though her graceful figure was still vaguely visible.
The woman said in a low voice, "Are you sure Noyer is here too?"
The spy nodded with certainty, "Absolutely. They're probably after that fruit."
The woman pondered for a moment, "Keep an eye on them from a distance. If possible, help them out to find a chance to talk."
Another companion said worriedly, "I heard Noyer has a violent temper. He won't attack us, will he?"
The woman shook her head, "It's fine. I know what I'm doing."
Three different factions, all riding the same train.
◇◆◈◆◇
Enel yawned out of boredom. The mixed chatter on the train was making him drowsy.
But from what he'd overheard, that spying guy didn't seem to be part of the same group that attacked them on the street.
Enel told Noyer what he'd heard. Noyer looked equally puzzled.
Besides the government, who else would be following him? What did they want?
He had Enel keep listening while he continued chatting with Franky.
The train carried the group — each with their hidden agendas — to an island near Water 7. This was the black market the robocop had mentioned.
Franky led Noyer through the black market. Noyer looked around curiously, "This black market is so empty. I thought it would be bustling."
Franky smiled, "It's a black market, after all. The things sold here are rare, and most come with taboos attached. I had my eye on Treasure Tree Adam before, but I still don't have the money to buy it."
Noyer nodded, "Where is the merchant selling the Devil Fruit? I want to talk to him."
Following Franky's lead, the group found the dealer's location. It was a small, bare house with no decorations. Only a middle-aged man with a sallow, haggard face waited inside.
This was the place trading an Ancient Zoan fruit? Too shabby, wasn't it?
Noyer silently complained.
Based on years of reading novels, shouldn't a place like this be an auction house?
In his imagination, there should be a magnificent auction hall, with him sitting in a VIP box on the upper floor, holding up a paddle and outbidding the commoners below.
Seeing his expression, Franky explained, "No matter how prosperous a black market is, it's still part of the underworld. Being shabby makes it easier to hide."
Fine then…
Noyer sighed and said to the man, "Buddy, can you let us see the goods?"
The man's dead-fish eyes didn't even lift, but he nodded.
He turned and took out a wooden box from the safe. He placed it in front of Noyer and gently opened it.
A brown fruit with distinctive spiral patterns lay inside, its texture as rough as dinosaur skin.
Noyer asked, "Are you sure this is an Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit?"
The man nodded, "I once had the privilege of reading part of a fruit encyclopedia. This is definitely an Ancient Zoan."
Noyer stared at the fruit, "What kind of animal is this fruit?"
The man said firmly, "Ryū Ryū no Mi, Model: Quetzalcoatlus!"
Hiss —
Noyer drew in a sharp breath. A pteranodon species?
This was even rarer than an ordinary Ancient Zoan.
One of Kaidō's top officers, King the Conflagration of the Three All-Stars, possessed the Ryū Ryū no Mi, Model: Pteranodon.
The Quetzalcoatlus — even though Noyer only had a basic understanding of dinosaurs, he had heard many legends about it in his previous life.
Also known as the Feathered Serpent Pterosaur, it was the largest flying animal in human history.
Noyer glanced at Wyper, who blinked in confusion. As a Skypiean who fought using Dials and excelled in aerial combat, if he transformed into a pterosaur, he should adapt well, right?
Noyer swallowed and pressed his hand on the box, "Name your price."
The man stared at him intently, "฿3,500,000,000!"
Noyer nearly choked. He'd expected a high price, but not this high.
Still, the man wasn't cheating him. On the open market, the Ryū Ryū no Mi would be worth even more. If someone had the guts and connections to deal with Kaido, the price could multiply many times over.
But Noyer couldn't quite come up with that much money. If he converted all the gold on the ship to Belly, he could afford it — but then he'd have no savings left.
Just as he was worrying, a voice rang out at the door:
"I'll take this fruit!"
Noyer's eyes lit up.
The sucker had arrived!
Enel had already told him about Spandam.
As soon as they'd gotten off the train, Noyer had spotted him and arrived here first. He hadn't expected he'd still need to use him, though.
Spandam walked up to the man, glanced arrogantly at Noyer, and said in a mocking tone, "Government business! Stand aside!"
Huh?
"Government your ass…"
The two hot-tempered guys behind him couldn't hold back. Rolling up their sleeves, they wanted to give this scrawny chicken a major nose job, but Noyer quickly held them back.
Noyer and the others hurried out of the shop with Franky.
Franky covered his face. The moment he saw Spandam, he nearly rushed forward to beat him up.
This was the man who took Mr. Tom away. The scar on his face? Franky's handiwork.
Enel was pulled outside and complained, "What are you backing down for?! That piece of trash — you could kill him with a fart! Go get him!"
Noyer gave him a punch to the head, "What do you know?!"
Wyper said thoughtfully, "You want him to buy that fruit, and then we…"
Noyer nodded with satisfaction, "The student can be taught."
After all, Spandam wasn't a good person. No pressure in robbing him.
Enel clutched his swollen head and muttered, "Then why didn't you just rob the shopkeeper directly?"
Noyer shook his head, "No need. Didn't Franky say he's also a Devil Fruit user? Let Spandam step into this trap."
Inside the house, the man looked at the sneering Spandam, still showing no sign of panic.
Spandam sat in a chair with his legs crossed, "I heard you're selling this fruit for 3.5 billion…"
The man nodded, "That's right."
That's right?
Spandam smiled sinisterly, slammed the table, and cursed, "Who would believe such a price?!"
The man's expression darkened, "Then what do you want?"
Spandam put on a thoughtful expression, "How about 1,000 Berries? Gahahaha!!"
He and his subordinates burst into unbridled laughter.
The man's expression grew darker as he clenched his fist.
Spandam continued making disgusting expressions and threatened, "I'm with the government, you know. This price is absolutely fair!"
"What's wrong? Do you think the price I'm offering is too high?" The man looked down at the clown before him, and finally an expression crossed his face.
He smiled.
Spandam smiled too. Just when he thought he'd succeeded, the man suddenly abandoned his dejected appearance and charged at him ferociously.
"What are you doing… Ahhh!"
Spandam felt as if he'd been hit by a Sea Train. His internal organs seemed to have switched places, and he collapsed to the ground retching.
The man's exposed arms turned black. None of Spandam's subordinates' attacks — whether by sword or gun — had any effect.
Noyer, sensing from the doorway, changed his expression.
Haki? This guy had some skill…
Seeing his subordinates knocked down, Spandam finally showed fear.
"We're with the World Government! Do you know who you're opposing?!"
The man landed a punch on the intact half of his face. Immediately, flesh split open and blood flowed. Spandam clutched his face and howled in agony.
The man said coldly, "Either pay up or get lost! I don't have time to waste on you!"
Spandam's face was completely disfigured. His subordinates couldn't beat the man, so he had no choice but to have someone fetch the money.
This guy was really asking for it. He'd originally prepared the money, but when he arrived and saw the man seemed easy to bully, he'd thought about getting it for free. He hadn't expected to run straight into a steel wall.
Spandam reluctantly handed over the money, cursing viciously in his heart. Once he took this fruit away and had Lucci eat it, he'd definitely have him personally kill this fool who didn't know his place!
How dare he defy him and the World Government — seeking death!
With a dark expression, Spandam took the wooden box and hurried off to find reinforcements.
Noyer and the others, hiding by the door, grinned and quietly followed him. Franky was persuaded to step aside, fearing his identity would be exposed.
The three of them transformed into righteous bandits and jumped out to block Spandam and his group's path.
"Stick 'em up! Hand over what you're holding!"
Spandam's face turned green as he roared, "Again?! Do you think we're pushovers?!"
"Huh?!"
◇◆◈◆◇
After a swift, one-sided fight, Spandam fell to his knees once again.
Enel tossed his head proudly as the electric arcs on his body faded. Before him, a group of subordinates in government suits lay collapsed in a heap, their faces charred black, sparks of electricity still crackling across their bodies.
Wait until… wait until Lucci comes… He'll kill them all, along with that merchant!
Cut them to pieces!
"By the way, Wyper, where's that Blueno guy?"
"He was getting in the way during the fight, so I handed him over to Fran… that pervert."
Wait! What… Blueno?
Spandam struggled to raise his head.
Noyer smiled knowingly, "You want to ask about Blueno, right? Before coming here, they tried to kill me, but I defeated them. Oh, and I caught one alive."
What? Blueno captured alive, Lucci defeated?
CP9's strongest, Rob Lucci — how could he possibly lose?!
Spandam was so enraged he vomited another mouthful of blood.
Noyer sneered and drew Rasetsuō from his waist. In the original story, this man had captured Robin and made her suffer so much.
It had nothing to do with the present situation, but Noyer was still pissed!
And there was also that person in the original who peeked at Nami bathing.
They all had to die! (red eyes)
He drew his blade and slashed at Spandam's neck. His head flew off on the spot.
"Killing you even dirties my blade." Noyer said with a grimace as he sheathed his sword. He took the Devil Fruit from the corpse's embrace.
Franky emerged from his hiding spot with Blueno still slung over his shoulder. Having witnessed everything, he felt immensely satisfied — it vented years of pent-up resentment.
But soon, Franky said worriedly, "Killing government people — you'll face retaliation!"
Before Noyer could respond, Enel jumped in: "With them? Bring it on — we'll kill them one by one!"
Noyer looked at him in surprise. Had he gotten addicted or something?
He had the feeling that Enel was adapting to the Blue Sea even faster than Wyper.
Noyer stretched lazily and smiled, "Let's go. Back to Water 7 first. This time we're probably really starting our life on the run."
The group returned to the train station. By coincidence, the man who'd sold the Ryū Ryū no Mi had just boarded the train to leave.
He turned his head and casually watched them through the window. The man saw the box had ended up in Noyer's hands. He was somewhat surprised but said nothing.
Just thieves robbing thieves — in any case, he'd already gotten his money.
The man was about to look away when a gleam of light on Noyer's neck caught his attention.
That pendant… Noytemus!
The man pressed against the window in shock, his eyes filled with disbelief.
It's His Majesty's child!
◈◈◈
T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want 20 chapters ahead of this novel for just $5 or enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations (free or starting at $1.5): MrBlackWing (you know where to search)
I'm currently translating another project (for $1.5) where the main character travels through various worlds, like Highschool of the Dead, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, Darwin's Game, and many more, building a massive harem. It will have smut chapters (+18) and spicy images of the female characters. Check it out if you're interested! :)
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)