Kingdom of Oykot, Sea Circle Calendar Year 1504, January 23rd.
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East Blue, Southern Waters.
Kingdom of Oykot.
The scars left by the pirate attacks two years ago still haunt this nation.
In the northeastern part of this island country, at a trading port called Maqi Port, a merchant ship bearing the flag of the Rum Trading Company slowly docked at the harbor.
The harbor sheriff, accompanied by a dozen soldiers, watched the armed merchant ship warily.
However, after Anthony presented official documents from the Kingdom of Rum, the sheriff relaxed a bit but still insisted on boarding for an inspection.
Anthony didn't mind; after all, their real purpose in coming to the Kingdom of Oykot this time was to search for a Devil Fruit. Trade was just an excuse.
Soon, Anthony settled all the port formalities.
That evening.
In a third-floor room of an inn by the port.
Anthony, Ari, and Vic each shared their findings from the day.
"According to big brother's divination, the Soundwave Fruit is somewhere within the Kingdom of Oykot, but that's still too broad," Anthony said, frowning as he looked at the map spread out on the table.
It was an official map of the Kingdom of Oykot. The entire kingdom wasn't just one island but a large archipelago composed of one main island (Oykot Island) and eight smaller inhabited islands, along with forty-two uninhabited ones.
Just Oykot Island alone covered over three thousand square kilometers, posing a huge challenge for their search efforts.
Ari pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Based on big brother's divination, the fruit hasn't been consumed yet, which means it's likely still undiscovered. So, our priority should be those uninhabited islands."
But Anthony shook his head. "No, we should search the inhabited islands first. If the Soundwave Fruit is on an inhabited island, the risk of it being found or eaten is very high. We must first eliminate the high-risk areas."
Ari quickly agreed. "That's possible. I support searching the inhabited islands first."
"But the Kingdom of Oykot has over thirty towns. Checking them one by one will take a lot of time, won't it?" Vic looked at the map, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Anthony, however, was confident. "We can leverage our identities. Plus, there are many refugees in the Kingdom of Oykot who suffered from the pirate attacks. We can use them to gather local information."
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Early the next morning.
Under the guise of an underground merchant, Anthony hired dozens of locals and had them spread a rumor in the towns around the port.
Soon, word began to spread around Maqi Port.
In the slums on the south side of the port.
A young man with slicked-back hair and old glasses was buying vegetables. Just as he picked up a potato, he overheard a conversation at the neighboring fruit stand.
"Luke, have you heard about that thing?"
The fruit stand owner, wiping an orange, looked puzzled. "What thing?"
"You don't know?"
"Old Jim, spill it! What's going on?"
"There's an out-of-town merchant over by the port who's buying all kinds of rare flowers and plants—seedlings, seeds, fruits, you name it."
"Really?"
"Of course! Go ask around near the port, and you'll find out."
"Rare flowers and plants? How much are they paying?"
"I heard the starting price is 100,000 Berries."
The fruit stand owner's eyes lit up. He immediately said, "I happen to have an unusual sweet melon vine at home. Do you think they'd buy it?"
"Oh? Looking to sell? I know someone who knows that merchant. But if the deal goes through, I want ten percent as a referral fee." The man rubbed his hands together greedily.
The fruit stand owner hesitated.
Next to them, the bespectacled man at the vegetable stand unconsciously adjusted his glasses with the inside of his wrist, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.
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After three days of spreading the rumor, many people were interested in selling. These individuals were led by underground intermediaries to secret trading spots, or Ari and Vic would visit them directly to inspect the goods.
Although they hadn't acquired the Devil Fruit yet, Anthony didn't have them reject everything. They selectively purchased some truly rare flowers and plants.
The small-time crook who had been talking to the fruit stand owner earlier was busy contacting others, unaware that he was being followed, and continued to work diligently.
While inspecting goods, Ari suddenly furrowed his brow.
Vic sensed something amiss as well.
Without revealing anything, the two exchanged a few words in code and then continued inspecting the goods before them.
Although Anthony didn't expect to find the Soundwave Fruit in Maqi Port, when luck strikes, nothing can stop it.
On the sixth day after the secret purchasing operation began.
Ari and Vic bought a Devil Fruit from a countryside shop owner. However, it wasn't the Soundwave Fruit they were searching for but a Zoan-type Devil Fruit.
Ari casually teleported the fruit back to the secret base in the Kingdom of Rum.
Upon receiving the fruit, Noah identified it as the Snake-Snake Fruit, Rattlesnake Model.
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Over the next three months.
Anthony and his companions traveled throughout the Kingdom of Oykot. Until April 19th, when they successfully purchased the long-sought Soundwave Fruit from a farmer on Northwind Island, an island under the Kingdom of Oykot.
As soon as he got the Soundwave Fruit, Anthony ate it immediately, as this fruit was arranged for him by Noah.
With the Soundwave Fruit in hand, Anthony's group promptly prepared to leave the Kingdom of Oykot and head to the northern waters of the Organ Islands to search for the Glue Fruit.
Just as the merchant ship was about to depart.
The person lurking in the shadows could no longer suppress his greed. Under the cover of night, he swiftly sneaked into the captain's cabin of the merchant ship.
Seeing Anthony sleeping soundly, the man drew a sharp, claw-like weapon and slashed at Anthony's throat.
However, in the next moment, the man's eyes widened in shock.
His prized ten-bladed weapon was actually blocked by Anthony's neck, even sparking upon contact.
What kind of monster is this guy? This is bad! I need to escape!
Before he could react, a wave of dizziness and nausea overwhelmed him, an indescribable sickness rising from his gut.
Anthony turned on the light, quietly watching the bespectacled man convulsing on the floor. "Your courage is commendable, but you're overestimating yourself."
Vic pushed open the door and glanced at the man on the ground, shaking his head in disappointment. "I thought it was some big shot, but it's just a little kitty. What do you plan to do with him?"
"Hand him over to Mary for a look. If he's not worth transforming, let him return to nature," Anthony decided his fate without a care.