After four underwater treasure hunts, Noah and the others had roughly searched the seabed along the route from the Starfish Archipelago to Loguetown, wherever it was no more than two hundred meters deep.
Shortly after the New Year, Noah tested Joshua and the others' strength, then set out to sea with Vic without a moment's rest.
This time, his destination was the route between Loguetown and Reverse Mountain.
That route was dozens of times busier than the one between Starfish Island and Loguetown. It was also the only way for East Blue pirates to enter the Grand Line, so shipwrecks littered the seabed in that area.
Two days later.
Apart from stopping for six hours on the shore of a deserted island, they had spent the entire journey traveling.
Before long, the submarine reached the planned route, southwest of Loguetown's harbor. It was the route from Loguetown to the Reverse Mountain canal.
Using Observation Haki, Noah quickly found a spot where there might be a large number of shipwrecks.
It was a submerged reef area about a hundred meters deep.
Sure enough, as soon as they entered the area, his Observation Haki sensed the outlines of numerous shipwrecks on the seabed.
Vic, who knew the routine by heart, immediately took his tools and swam down after Noah intimidated the surrounding sea beasts.
In the searchlight's beam, the shipwreck was a sorry sight, its hull riddled with cracks and gashes of all sizes.
Vic saw a row of skulls carved into one of the planks and knew it was most likely a pirate ship.
He pushed open the battered cabin door. A skeleton lay silently on the wooden floor, still clutching a corroded axe. Judging by the cabin's layout, this was probably the captain's quarters.
He picked up a ring from the skeleton's finger, then opened the drawers in the cabin and found a pile of rotted bags of Beli, more than twenty gold and silver objects, and over a dozen gemstones.
After putting everything into a bag, Vic raised his iron spear and jabbed it into the cabin's wooden planks, probing for any hidden compartments.
Twenty thrusts left the rotten planks riddled with gaping holes.
Suddenly, Vic's gaze stopped on the spot where the skeleton lay. Under the searchlight, a faint golden gleam reflected from a gap between the planks beneath it.
He pushed the skeleton aside and pried up the planks underneath. Sure enough, there was a hidden compartment containing several wooden chests. One had broken open, revealing gold, silver, and jewels inside.
Vic couldn't help growing excited.
Looks like I've made a good haul this time.
He opened the chests one by one. Two contained gold, silver, and jewels, while another held rotted Beli.
The last chest contained a large pile of miscellaneous items: rotted books, a Log Pose, a dagger set with a large sapphire, and a small box.
Vic opened the small box, and his gaze sharpened.
Inside was a black, melon-shaped fruit covered in arabesque patterns.
A Devil Fruit? That's great!
Vic put the Devil Fruit away and searched the rest of the ship's cabins once more. Then he returned to the submarine with the treasure and the Devil Fruit.
Half an hour later.
Vic emerged from the diving chamber.
"Big brother, look what I found!"
Noah saw the black fruit in his hand, and a flicker of delight passed through his eyes. "I didn't expect it to be a Devil Fruit. It's another Devil Fruit I've never seen before."
Noah wasn't actually surprised to find a Devil Fruit he hadn't seen in the memories of his previous life. After all, much of the information about the world of pirates was closely tied to the main group.
But beyond the main group, there were bound to be other Devil Fruits that had never been portrayed.
Noah picked up the Devil Fruit. "Vic, I'll find a way to check exactly what this Devil Fruit does. If its ability suits you, I'll give it to you to eat."
But Vic shook his head. "Big brother, give this fruit to Lilith and the others instead! I don't want to lose the ability to swim, and I think I can become strong by training in the Six Powers and Armament Haki too."
"I'll find a way to get a few more Devil Fruits. Whether you eat one or not, there'll be one for you."
"Thank you, big brother!" Vic was deeply moved.
Noah patted him on the shoulder and told him to get some rest while he could. Noah then piloted the submarine to a spot more than eighty kilometers southeast of Loguetown.
More than four hours later, the submarine arrived in a bay on a deserted island.
He put the submarine away and went ashore with Vic.
Deep in the island's jungle, Noah changed his appearance once again and told Vic to hide by the coast and keep an eye on the nearby waters.
He took out a Den Den Mushi and dialed Morgans' number directly.
"Bulu bulu..."
Before long, the Den Den Mushi took on the appearance of a bird's head wearing a top hat.
"President Morgans, long time no see."
"Hehehe, if it isn't Lord Dawn! What big news do you have to trade?"
Noah wasted no time and got straight to the point. "Two pieces of information. I need the most complete Devil Fruit Encyclopedia available and a set of navigational materials on Paradise in the Grand Line. Leave the encyclopedia and the materials at your Loguetown branch. I'll pick them up in a week."
"A Devil Fruit Encyclopedia? Navigational materials for Paradise? OK, but I wonder if your big news is worth the price."
Noah spoke in a calm tone. "One is a World Government scandal, and the other is information about Kaido."
"Oh?..." A hint of surprise appeared in Morgans' eyes. "Lord Dawn, you really are resourceful. You even have information about the World Government and Kaido of the Beasts? If that's what you have, then there's no problem with this trade."
"Good! Same as before, I'll give you one piece of information that's easy to verify first. I'll give you the other after I receive the goods."
"Agreed."
"In Flevance, the White City of the North Blue, a mineral called Amber Lead has been mined for nearly a hundred years. However, the local residents don't know that the dust produced during mining is extremely harmful to the body. For the sake of profit, the World Government concealed the truth and passed Amber Lead Syndrome, a form of heavy metal poisoning, off as an unknown infectious disease. It has also been secretly planning to incite the countries around Flevance and completely destroy the nation."
"Gulp..." Even Morgans, who had seen his share of storms, was shocked by this information. He knew full well that if he reported this news, the World Government would absolutely go mad.
But as Big News Morgans, he was unwilling to shelve the information, leaving him conflicted.
A moment later, Morgans finally regained his composure and said with a smile, "Lord Dawn, you wouldn't happen to be with the Revolutionary Army, would you?"
"No." There was not a trace of hesitation in Noah's voice.
Morgans gave him a long, searching look. "Pick up the goods in Loguetown in seven days. Until next time."
"Have a pleasant day. Goodbye."
After hanging up, Noah sealed the Den Den Mushi away and continued treasure hunting with Vic along the routes near Loguetown.