ONE PIECE: Lone Sails

After four undersea expeditions, Noah and his team had thoroughly scoured the seabed along the Starfish Islands-to-Rogue Town route, down to depths exceeding 200 meters. With the New Year barely past, Noah assessed the progress of Joshua and the others, then promptly set out with Vic for another venture. This time, their target was the bustling route between Rogue Town and Reverse Mountain—a corridor teeming with traffic, and a notorious passage for East China Sea pirates bound for the Grand Line. The seabed here promised a dense trove of shipwrecks.

Two Days Later

Southwest of Rogue Town Port

After a six-hour rest on a deserted island en route, the submarine reached its destination: the Rogue Town-to-Reverse Mountain canal. Noah's Observation Haki quickly pinpointed a prime hunting ground—a reef-laden area at a depth of about 100 meters, littered with sunken vessels.

As they entered the zone, his heightened senses mapped the outlines of numerous wrecks scattered across the seafloor. Vic, now seasoned in these operations, donned his diving gear and descended after Noah cleared the area of sea beasts with Conqueror's Haki.

Under the beam of his waterproof searchlight, Vic surveyed a grim scene: a ship's hull, fractured and splintered, lay half-submerged in sediment. A wooden plank bore a series of carved skulls—a telltale sign of a pirate vessel. He pushed through the decayed cabin door, revealing a skeleton sprawled across the floor, a rusted axe clutched in its bony grip. The cabin's layout suggested it belonged to the captain.

Vic retrieved a ring from the skeleton's finger, then rummaged through a drawer, uncovering rotted bags of Berries, over twenty gold and silver items, and a handful of gemstones. He stowed them in his net bag, then probed the cabin's wooden panels with an iron crowbar, searching for hidden compartments. After twenty strikes, the brittle boards gave way, revealing a gap beneath the skeleton's resting place. A faint golden glint caught his eye.

Displacing the skeleton, Vic pried open the underlying planks, exposing a concealed compartment. Inside were several wooden boxes, one already cracked, spilling gold and silver jewelry. His pulse quickened. This haul's looking good.

He opened the boxes one by one. Two contained gold and silver treasures, another held decayed Berries. The final box was a miscellany: rotted books, a Log Pose, a sapphire-encrusted dagger, and a smaller container. Lifting its lid, Vic froze. Nestled within was a black, melon-shaped fruit adorned with intricate arabesque patterns—a Devil Fruit.

Another Devil Fruit? Incredible! He secured it carefully, conducted a final sweep of the cabin, and returned to the submarine with his bounty.

Half an Hour Later

Submarine Cockpit

Vic emerged from the diving compartment, holding the black fruit aloft. "Brother, look at this!"

Noah's eyes widened briefly with surprise. "A Devil Fruit—and another unfamiliar one." He wasn't shocked by its novelty; much of the pirate world's lore centered on the Straw Hats, leaving countless other fruits undocumented. "Vic, I'll identify this fruit's specifics. If it suits you, it's yours."

Vic shook his head. "Brother, give it to Lilith or the others. I don't want to be a landlubber—I believe I can become strong with the Six Styles and Armament Haki alone."

Noah clapped his shoulder. "I'll keep searching for more Devil Fruits. Whether you eat one or not, you'll have your share."

"Thanks, Brother!" Vic's voice trembled with gratitude.

"Rest up," Noah instructed. "We're moving southeast, about 80 kilometers from Rogue Town."

Four hours later, the submarine surfaced in a deserted island's bay. Noah stowed the vessel, and after ensuring Vic was positioned to monitor the coast, he ventured into the jungle. Changing his appearance once more, he dialed Morgans' private line on a Den Den Mushi.

Buru buru…

The snail morphed, adopting Morgans' bird-headed hat. "President Morgans, it's been a while."

"Hehehe, Mr. Li Ming! Got more big news to trade?"

"Two pieces of intel," Noah said briskly. "In exchange, I need the most comprehensive Devil Fruit encyclopedia and navigation data for the Grand Line's Paradise section. Deposit them at the Rogue Town branch—I'll collect them in a week."

"Devil Fruit encyclopedia and Paradise navigation? Fair enough. Is your news worth it?"

"One's a World Government scandal, the other's about Kaido."

"Oh?" Morgans' eyes glinted with intrigue. "You've got dirt on the World Government and Kaido? If it's that caliber, the deal's solid."

"Excellent. As before, I'll offer one piece upfront for verification, with the rest delivered after pickup."

"Go ahead."

"In Flevance, the 'White Town' of the North Blue, a mineral called Amber Lead has been mined for nearly a century. The locals are unaware that its dust is toxic. The World Government, prioritizing profit, has concealed this, reclassifying Amber Lead poisoning as an unknown contagious disease. They're secretly inciting neighboring countries to annihilate Flevance entirely."

"Gulp…" Morgans, a veteran of sensational scoops, was momentarily stunned. This revelation could enrage the World Government if published, yet its potency as news was undeniable. He wavered, torn between caution and ambition.

After a pause, he chuckled. "Mr. Li Ming, are you with the Revolutionary Army?"

"No," Noah replied without hesitation.

Morgans studied him through the snail's eyes. "Seven days, Rogue Town branch. Until next time."

"Pleasant day, and see you soon."

Noah sealed the Den Den Mushi and rejoined Vic, resuming their treasure hunt along the Rogue Town route. The deal with Morgans was a calculated risk, leveraging his informational edge to secure vital resources. The Devil Fruit encyclopedia would identify Vic's find, while the navigation data would prepare them for future ventures. As the submarine glided through the depths, Noah's mind churned with plans—each treasure, each piece of knowledge, a stepping stone to greater power.