The Easiest Place to Obtain Devil Fruits

Vivi lowered her head, her cheeks flushed red as she pinched the hem of her skirt. The lines she had prepared in advance reached her lips, but she could not say them.

Noki saw her anxiety and spoke first. "Princess, you came to see me to discuss future cooperation between the Alabasta royal family and Baroque Works, didn't you?"

"Yes."

Vivi hurriedly nodded and continued, "The Alabasta royal family hopes to defend this country alongside you. Rear Admiral Noki told me that you are a good person. We trust Rear Admiral Noki, and we trust you as well. We hope you can accept this request."

Robin covered her mouth behind them, struggling not to laugh. Was Noki giving himself a good guy card?

Noki lifted the wineglass before him and swirled it, taking a small sip before speaking unhurriedly. "I can cooperate with the royal family, but with Crocodile as a precedent, I believe the royal family must still harbor some reservations toward Baroque Works..."

Before he could finish, Vivi hurriedly cut in. "I assure you, the Alabasta royal family only bears hostility toward villains like Crocodile. We absolutely mean you no harm."

Noki shook his head. "Princess, please let me finish. It is not that I distrust the royal family.

Although a relationship maintained by interests may seem fragile, in some ways it is also the most stable. If Baroque Works protects the country for the royal family for nothing, it will inevitably arouse suspicion. As they say, when something is out of the ordinary, there must be a reason.

Therefore, I would like the royal family to provide Baroque Works with some financial support."

Baroque Works would change its operating model in the future, and there would be no shortage of places where money was needed.

Relying solely on casinos and assorted minor jobs would probably not make up for the enormous expenses anytime soon. Everyone knew Alabasta was rich and powerful. With royal funding, these problems would be easily resolved.

Hearing this, Vivi understood that he was indirectly asking for compensation. She cautiously asked, "Then how much funding do you think would be appropriate?"

Noki smiled, opened his palm, and held up five fingers.

"F-Fifty billion?!" Vivi was startled.

Noki looked stunned and explained, "That would not be necessary. I mean five hundred million Beli per month. That is only six billion Beli a year. Given Alabasta's economy, that should not be too large a sum."

Alabasta had a population of tens of millions and was at the height of its national strength. Even if every person contributed ten thousand Beli to the treasury each year, that would still amount to a full hundred billion Beli.

Even a somewhat luxurious meal at a restaurant in Marineford cost Noki around ten thousand Beli, showing that its financial resources were not to be underestimated.

Vivi sighed in relief. "That is indeed acceptable. Please allow me to return and discuss it with my father. I will give you an answer as soon as possible."

"Princess, since you are already here, why not finish your meal before leaving?"

"Th-That sounds fine."

Since Noki had extended such a warm invitation, Vivi could hardly refuse him and make him lose face, so she could only agree.

She had not noticed earlier, but upon taking a closer look, she realized that the dishes on the table were almost identical to those she had eaten aboard Rear Admiral Noki's warship.

Noki spoke at the right moment. "I learned cooking from Noki back then, and I picked up the essentials. Princess, please see whether it suits your taste."

"Oh, all right."

Vivi picked up her chopsticks and carefully placed a tender, juicy piece of meat into her mouth. It was silky smooth, rich without being greasy, and even more delicious than what she had tasted aboard the warship.

The dishes aboard the warship had been made by Tereina and Carmen. It was only natural that they tasted slightly worse than food personally made by their master, Noki.

In her excitement, Vivi took several more bites before realizing her lapse in manners. She apologized, "Lord Enel, I'm sorry..."

Noki was puzzled. "What is there to apologize for? It is only a meal. If you like it, eat more."

"Thank you, Lord Enel. Then I'll dig in."

Vivi admitted that her stomach had been conquered by Noki's cooking.

Robin stood beside them watching the two eat, and her stomach growled. She had tasted Noki's cooking some time ago too. It really was delicious!

Noki glanced at Robin. "Join us. There are extra bowls and chopsticks anyway."

Robin shot him an annoyed look. "Boss, you make it sound like I am the extra one."

"That was not what I meant," Noki said blandly as he ate.

Robin quickly sat down without saying anything else, picked up her chopsticks, and joined the meal.

After the three had eaten their fill.

Princess Vivi was so embarrassed that she wanted to bury her head in a crack in the floor. Before she came, Cobra had repeatedly reminded her to mind her etiquette. Yet the food had drawn out the tomboyish side of her personality.

"Um... Lord Enel, time is of the essence. I will return to Alubarna immediately and convey your wishes to my father. We... we can meet again in a few days."

Vivi did not dare stay any longer and immediately took her leave.

"Fine. Secretary, see the princess out for me."

"Yes, Boss."

Robin rose and led Vivi out of the room.

Several women dressed in maid outfits hurried into the room and began clearing the dining table.

Noki returned to his office.

After a while.

Robin returned with a smile. "My boss, you are truly irresistible. Even the princess has taken a liking to you, calling you Rear Admiral Noki over and over."

"Enough. Let us talk business."

Noki ignored her teasing. "Help me find a few pirates active in the waters near Alabasta, with bounties above ten million. I want to make a trip to Impel Down soon, and I need an excuse to escort prisoners."

"What are you going to Impel Down for?"

"Do you think there is anywhere with more high-quality ability users gathered together than the great undersea prison?" Noki smiled faintly and asked in return.

Robin hesitated. "Indiscriminately killing prisoners is a serious crime. Even if you have a Marine admiral backing you, no one can save you if you are discovered."

"I have my plans. Just do as I say. Find them quickly. I am leaving today."

"So urgent? What about Princess Vivi after you leave?"

Noki thought for a moment. "The Alabasta royal family will definitely agree to my request. As for the rest, it can be handled whether I am here or not. I am leaving it entirely to you."

Robin sighed. "You are truly skilled at being a hands-off boss. You are tossing everything to me again. I am suddenly starting to regret becoming your secretary. When will you be back this time?"

"If nothing important happens, I will probably be gone for a while. We can stay in touch by Den Den Mushi anytime."

"All right. You really do trust me." Robin wore an odd expression.

Noki looked deeply at her. "If you use someone, do not doubt them."

"Then I cannot disappoint your trust."

"Mm..."

About an hour later, Robin handed Noki a list containing several pirates with bounties of around thirty million. It included detailed information on their bases and crews.

Baroque Works was not particularly strong, but its intelligence network was not lacking in the slightest. It was especially formidable throughout the region near Alabasta.

Noki folded the documents and tucked them into the pocket of his Marine coat. Using Moonwalk, he set off and hurried toward the warship, following Ain's Vivre Card.

Unexpectedly, the people aboard the warship did not seem to notice that Noki had left, aside from Ain.

Their captain often stayed curled up in his room sleeping and barely handled any affairs. Though his presence was not low, everyone had grown accustomed to days without him around.

Noki ordered them to change course. They would not return to Marineford for now; they would capture a few pirates first.

He even gave a perfectly reasonable excuse.

It was supposedly to let the crew accumulate military merit.

Usually, the major pirates were all dealt with personally by him, and all the credit went to him. There truly was not much military merit left for his subordinates.

When Dezaya, Burgess, and the others heard there was a fight to be had, they were overjoyed. They did not really care about military merit. The main thing was that things had been too peaceful lately, and they were so bored they were practically growing weeds on their heads.

After spending several days capturing the pirates.

Noki unusually spared several pirate captains, claiming that capturing them alive would earn more military merit.

Seeing how considerate their superior was, every one of them was deeply moved.

On the way back to Marineford.

The warship passed Jaya Island.

Noki stood on the deck, staring into the sky in deep thought. After a while, he still shook his head.

Now that the overall situation with Baroque Works had been settled.

Noki's attention turned to himself. He intended to use this period to properly study what his father, Rogers, had told him.

Ordinary Devil Fruits did not interest him.

So he wanted to obtain several top-tier abilities and give them a try.

The Rumble-Rumble Fruit in the skies above Jaya Island was one of those that had caught his eye.

The Rumble-Rumble Fruit was hailed as the "strongest" Logia. In Noki's view, however, "most versatile" would be more appropriate than "strongest."

After all, it possessed speed, power, recovery, intelligence-gathering, and countless other capabilities.

If Noki could only choose one ability, there was a ninety-percent chance he would choose lightning.

However, he had already eaten the Dark-Dark Fruit, and the power of lightning was clearly not a good fit for him.

The greatest factor was the Dark-Dark Fruit's side effect of preventing naturalization. Noki estimated that even if he ate another Logia Fruit, he would still be unable to become intangible, because that was simply the nature of the fruit.

Without naturalization, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit would be greatly weakened. Rather than take a weakened ability, he would prefer another fruit capable of displaying its full strength, even if it was inferior to the former.

Therefore, Noki did not intend to go to Skypiea yet. He would definitely obtain the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, but not now.

What Noki wanted now were the two abilities in Impel Down...

The powers possessed by two legendary figures.

To kill them, Noki needed one person's cooperation.

That person was Impel Down's warden, Shiryu of the Rain!

At this time, he was probably still slaughtering prisoners for amusement and had not yet been reported by Magellan.

Judging by the timing, it would be soon.

In the original story, Shiryu of the Rain's sentence was a suspended death penalty, usually carried out after a two-year reprieve.

There were only around two years left until Luffy set sail.

Therefore, Noki had to go to Impel Down as soon as possible. Once Magellan took office, his plan to kill them and take their fruits would be completely impossible.

With Magellan's upright personality, he did not seem like someone Noki could persuade to open a back door for him.

After several days at sea.

The warship stopped before a heavily guarded fortress defended like an iron barrel.

"Rear Admiral Noki? What a rare visitor!"

The one who came to greet him was a blonde beauty wearing a hat slung diagonally over one eye and a pair of reddish-brown glasses. She approached with a smile. "You have always followed the principle of killing pirates without exception. Why the change of heart today?"

"I am only helping my subordinates earn more military merit." Noki knew this woman. She was Domino, Impel Down's deputy head jailer.

The head jailer and warden was Shiryu of the Rain.

"Oh, would you like to come in and sit for a while? Ain can come too." Domino smiled as she invited them.

Noki knew the people at Impel Down. Long ago, they had all been Marines stationed at Marineford, including Shiryu of the Rain. He had met him a few times, making him one of the few Marines Noki was not unfamiliar with.

Domino was an exception. She was fairly close to Ain and had once been Ain's senior. Through Ain, she had come to know Noki.

Ain leaned against Noki and rolled her eyes at Domino. "Who invites people into a prison to sit around?"

"If you do not want to come, forget it. I can be alone with Rear Admiral Noki. You became a rear admiral so quickly. When I first met you, you were not even a meter tall." As Domino spoke, she gestured near her knee.

"Ahem."

Noki said, "Since you have invited us so warmly, we will go in and sit for a while."

Ain gave her man a puzzled look but still chose to follow him.

Domino's main duty was security inspection. Since Noki and Ain were acquaintances she trusted, she upheld the principle of putting personal relationships above public duty and let them straight in.

After arriving at the office on the first level.

Noki was pondering how to find an opportunity to be alone with Shiryu of the Rain when he saw a broad-chinned man with a cigar in his mouth wiping down a blade in the room.

"Deputy Head Jailer Domino, you let people in without authorization. You have some nerve."

"Warden Shiryu, this is Rear Admiral Noki. You should know him."

Shiryu's gaze stopped on the two swords at Noki's waist. "That presence... famous blades. Brat, how is your swordsmanship?"

"Not bad."

Noki gave himself an impartial assessment.

Shiryu's pupils narrowed slightly. He sheathed his sword, rose to his feet, and said, "It is rare to encounter another swordsman. How about sparring with me? I have been stuck in this prison all day. My body is practically rusting."

Domino was startled and hurriedly said, "Warden, your swordsmanship is always lethal. How could Noki withstand it? What if..."

Shiryu snorted, raised his head slightly, and curled his lips into a wicked smile. "I am not forcing him. If he does not dare, forget it."

Noki gripped the hilt of Golden Scale and revealed a dazzling smile. "It is a rare opportunity. I would like to experience Impel Down's warden's swordsmanship."

"Ain, hurry and persuade your man. Warden Shiryu always strikes at vital points. I have never seen anyone survive after he draws his sword!"

Ain supported Noki without reservation. She smiled with pursed lips. "I believe Warden Shiryu will not harm a fellow Marine. Besides, Noki's swordsmanship is not poor. He may not lose."

Shiryu frowned. "Domino, do not disgrace my Impel Down!"

"Yes..."

Shiryu walked up to Noki and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. "Brat, come with me."

Ain disliked the sight greatly. Impel Down's warden was far too rude...

"Fine. Please lead the way, Warden." Killing intent hid beneath Noki's smile.

Shiryu led Noki and the others onto an elevator and descended to the first underground level, Crimson Hell. The corridors here were broad enough for the two of them to fight.

Ain and Domino stood aside and watched.

Domino had spent so long in Impel Down's sunless depths that she paid little attention to news from the outside world. She had heard that Noki killed five thousand pirates in the East Blue, but the East Blue's pirates were famously weak. No matter how many he killed, it proved nothing about his strength.

Noki had only been a rear admiral for a little over a year. It should be impossible for his strength to rival Impel Down's warden...