One Piece: Talent Copy System!

Chapter 156: Noir's Companions

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...

Noir led Hancock and her group to where the Celestial Dragons were being held.

It was the darkest, most desolate part of the ancient castle, a place Noir had been using as a prison.

Over thirty Celestial Dragons were confined there.

A faint sliver of light penetrated the gloomy chamber. The Celestial Dragons, seeing the opening door, felt not relief, but a surge of terror. Their eyes widened in fear.

Being locked up was one thing, but if that Devil came...

As if summoned by their dread, Noir stepped into the room, his handsome face, the last thing they wanted to see, coming into view.

Hancock stood outside the door, pressed against the wall. She didn't want to lay eyes on the Celestial Dragons, perhaps afraid that, in a fit of rage, she might lash out, and no one would be able to stop her.

Noir looked at them with a cold smile, releasing a hint of his Haoshoku Haki. Panic flashed across the Celestial Dragons' faces before they collapsed unconscious.

What he was about to do next, couldn't be witnessed by the Celestial Dragons themselves.

Noir looked down at the shadows on the ground, lost in thought.

The same old trick. He'd cut out their shadows, replace them with fabricated ones, and create remotely controlled assassins.

He had spent considerable time refining this technique, and he could now perform even more intricate manipulations without fear of the Government's countermeasures.

Even if they were kept in a place without sunlight, Noir could directly control their shadows, forcing them to commit suicide.

Since he was the only one in the world with the Kage Kage no Mi, and it was unlikely another would appear, he could use its powers without restraint.

Looking at the unconscious Celestial Dragons, Noir smiled with satisfaction. Though he'd used this trick against the Marines before, it was still incredibly effective.

He clapped his hands. "There. Even if they're not within my sight, I can kill them at any moment."

Hancock, silent for a moment, spoke from the doorway. "Do you... have a grudge against the Celestial Dragons?"

Noir paused, considering his answer. "I suppose... I do."

"They tried to harm Enel. That's when our real conflict began."

Hancock looked at him with newfound respect. "You confronted the Celestial Dragons just for your crewmate?"

Noir reflected on his journey so far. "It seems that way, but I also despise them."

His initial reason for kidnapping the Celestial Dragons had been largely for Enel's sake. Even the ransom demand had been to reassure him.

Although Enel had initially wanted to escape, his temper hadn't subsided much, but he was now willing to stand up for his crewmates.

So, Noir was happy to avenge Enel.

And later, after kidnapping the Celestial Dragons from Mary Geoise and intending to retreat, Wyper's compassion had led them to free the slaves.

Noir chuckled. "Honestly, I was worried about Fighting the Government, but my crew is sometimes even more reckless than I am. They manage to get my blood boiling too."