Chapter 87: The Ryu Ryu no Mi

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"An Ancient Zoan?" Noir was taken aback as he looked at Franky.

Franky smirked, an air of mystery about him, and said, "Yeah, that's what I heard through some back channels. Only those with deep connections know about it. Someone's actually looking to sell this Devil Fruit!"

"Just like that? Selling it?" Noir asked in disbelief.

This was an Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit!

Even if Conis were to eat it, she'd turn into a powerhouse, capable of smashing opponents with a single punch!

Who in their right mind would sell something so valuable?

Franky mused, "The seller's already eaten a Devil Fruit. Plus, from what I've heard, he made some powerful enemies to get his hands on it, so he's in a hurry to sell."

Interesting...

Noir began to contemplate. There was no way he could let such a powerful Devil Fruit slip through his fingers.

Not for himself, though, this one was meant for Wyper.

Wyper needed to grow stronger quickly, and a Devil Fruit was undoubtedly a shortcut.

And an Ancient Zoan, enhancing physical abilities, was perfect for Wyper's combat style, especially one as rare as this.

Noir decided that he had to visit this black market!

Anyone who could sell a Devil Fruit of this caliber must be someone of considerable strength.

But they probably didn't anticipate that such a prize would attract a predator like Noir.

Meanwhile, in another car of the Sea Train, several shady individuals were seated together.

One of them, with short purple hair, dark circles under his eyes, and half his face covered by a mask, was Spandam.

Spandam was in a particularly good mood. As the commander of CP9, he wielded significant power, despite his own lack of combat ability.

Not long ago, his pride and joy, Rob Lucci, CP9's strongest agent in 800 years, requested a Devil Fruit.

Preferably a Zoan-type, so that his mastery of Rokushiki could advance even further.

At first, Spandam had no idea where to find such a rare item. But soon after, he stumbled upon secret intel about an Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit.

Spandam was ecstatic. If Lucci were to eat a rare Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit, he'd become even more formidable.

Driven by the desire to please Lucci and secure this incredible opportunity, Spandam had boarded this train.

Unbeknownst to him, in another car further back, there was another group of mysterious figures.

One of them was the same man who had been spying on Noir earlier.

Beside him sat a woman, her figure partially concealed by a heavy cloak, though her elegant form was still visible.

In a low voice, the woman asked, "Are you sure Noir is here?"

The spy nodded confidently, "Absolutely. They must be here for that Devil Fruit."

The woman thought for a moment and then instructed, "Keep a distant watch on them. If possible, lend a hand. It might open up a chance for a conversation."

Another member of their group voiced concern, "But Noir's reputation for brutality... What if he turns on us?"

The woman shook her head, "Don't worry, I have a plan."

On this train, three different factions were now converging on the same destination.

Enel, yawning out of boredom, found the chatter around him irritating, making him drowsy.

But from what he heard, the guy who had been spying on them earlier didn't seem to be aligned with the group that attacked them in the street.

Enel relayed this information to Noir, who was equally puzzled.

Aside from the World Government, who else would have the means to track them?

And more importantly, what did they want?

Noir instructed Enel to keep listening while he continued his conversation with Franky.

The train, full of secretive passengers with hidden agendas, finally arrived at an island near Water 7, the location of the black market Franky had mentioned.

As Franky led Noir through the black market, Noir commented, "It's surprisingly quiet here. I expected more activity."

Franky smiled and explained, "It's still a black market, after all. They deal in rare items, but most of them are highly illegal or taboo."

"Like the Treasure Tree Adam I've been eyeing for a while... Still don't have the money for that one."

Noir nodded, then asked, "So, where's the merchant selling the Devil Fruit? I'd like to have a chat."

Thanks to Franky's guidance, they soon found the merchant's location.

It was a small, shabby room, sparsely furnished, with nothing but bare walls and a middle-aged man sitting there, looking pale and worn out.

This is where they're selling an Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit? How underwhelming...

Noir couldn't help but feel a bit let down.

Based on his experience, a place like this should be an auction house.

In his imagination, a grand auction hall, where he would sit in a VIP box upstairs, bidding against the commoners below.

Seeing Noir's expression, Franky explained, "Even the most thriving black market is still part of the underworld. Secrecy is key."

Fair enough...

Noir sighed and addressed the man, "Hey, mind if we see the merchandise?"

Without lifting his eyes, the man gave a slight nod.

He turned around, opened a safe, and took out a wooden box, which he then placed in front of Noir.

Inside, nestled within the box, was a Devil Fruit with a distinctive spiral pattern, its rough, leathery texture resembling the skin of a dinosaur.

Noir asked, "Are you sure this is an Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit?"

The man nodded confidently, "I've had the chance to study some fruit encyclopedias. This is definitely an Ancient Zoan."

Noir pressed further, "And what species does this fruit represent?"

The man replied firmly, "The Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Pteranodon!"

Hiss,

Noir drew in a sharp breath. A Pteranodon-type?

This was even rarer than a standard Ancient Zoan.

One of Kaido's top officers, King the Wildfire, wielded the power of the Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Pteranodon.

As for the Pteranodon, even with Noir's limited knowledge of dinosaurs, he had heard of this legendary creature in his previous life.

Also known as the Feathered Serpent Pteranodon, it was the largest known flying creature in human history.

Noir glanced at Wyper, who blinked back at him in confusion.

Given Wyper's skills as a Skypiean, adept in aerial combat using Dial shells, the abilities of a Pteranodon would suit him well.

Swallowing hard, Noir placed his hand on the box containing the Ryu Ryu no Mi and said, "Name your price."

The man's eyes gleamed as he met Noir's gaze, and he replied coolly, "3.5 billion berries!"

Noir nearly choked.

He had expected the price to be high, but not this high.

Yet the man wasn't trying to rip him off, putting this Ryu Ryu no Mi on the open market could easily fetch a much higher price.

If someone had the guts and the means to strike a deal with Kaido, the price could multiply several times over.

But even so, Noir found it difficult to gather that kind of money.

Even if he converted all the gold from his ship into berries, he could just about afford it, but that would leave him with nothing else.

As Noir was racking his brain, a voice came from the doorway:

"I'll take that fruit!"

Noir's eyes lit up.

A sucker, just in time!

...

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