The nine-tailed fox, Ahri, is a member of the Vastaya race, one of its branches.
Similar to the Mink Tribe in the One Piece world, they both exhibit animal traits.
The Vastaya race spans an even broader range, encompassing mammals, birds, reptiles, and merfolk, among others.
Ahri is a particularly unique individual among them, born with an innate connection to spiritual magic. This is precisely why Oran's dream journeys occasionally bring him near her.
His strong mental resilience renders him immune to Ahri's natural charm ability, and his vast mental energy can even replenish her daily consumption. After a few encounters, the two developed a penpal-like relationship—or rather, a bond of dream companions.
"It was exactly seven days ago. I can't be wrong. Last time you appeared, you said you were negotiating a deal at Bilgewater's port. I was curious why you were showing up so frequently this time."
Oran was certain that several months had passed since he left the Valley of the Gods. It seemed the flow of time differed between the two places.
"A slight mishap. Do me a favor and take a message back to Piltover. Tell them I probably won't be back anytime soon. They should carry on as usual, and if there's any trouble, they can consult Uncle Heimerdinger."
The location of dreams was uncontrollable, and finding a familiar face to carry a message wasn't easy.
"You're asking a delicate lady like me to cross oceans just to deliver a message for you?"
"A delicate lady, you? It's not that much trouble. Just find Sett's people. I'm not sure when I'll run into another familiar face, so I'm counting on you."
"Sett? That fight pit lunatic? He'd do something for you?"
"I'm close with his mom. You've probably heard. That guy's half a mama's boy."
A night breeze blew past, and Ahri was momentarily speechless. She felt something was off about Oran's words but couldn't pinpoint what.
"You're full of secrets… But what kind of trouble are you in? Need help?"
"Just some unique experiences. You couldn't help with this… Time's almost up. Thanks for handling this. Next time we meet, I'll bring you a more interesting story."
Oran's body began to fade, as if he'd never been there.
"Troublesome man. Always ordering people around."
Ahri turned and headed down a forest path. It was a long way from here to Sett's territory, and delivering the message from Ionia to Piltover required crossing the sea. To get it there in time, she couldn't dawdle.
The dawn sunlight fell on Oran's face. Compared to yesterday, the Sorbet Kingdom hadn't changed much. Kuma and the others, besides their usual studies, had added a new routine: exploring the world with Blitzcrank.
The metal shell remained ice-cold, but Blitzcrank's inner self was beginning to grow.
"Right there, Blitzcrank! Grab it!"
Whoosh!
Blitzcrank stood on the shore, with Kate perched atop its head. As its mechanical claw shot into the sea, a fish with an elephant-like trunk was yanked from the water.
Blitzcrank's learning module adapted quickly. While catching the elephant tuna, its palm emitted an electric shock, stunning the fish.
"Such a weird fish. It has a nose like the Elephant Lord."
"It's an elephant tuna, a specialty of the South Blue. They say it's a gem of the sea, a miraculous ingredient. The nose is the tastiest part."
Kate had never seen this fish before, but Blitzcrank identified it based on its knowledge module and began sharing facts.
"Blitzcrank, you know so much."
"The Master programmed relevant knowledge into my system."
"Then do you know what Oran likes most?"
Oran often seemed devoid of desires, his actions driven by clear purpose. What he truly thought was a mystery to Kate and Kuma. Even after leaving the Valley of the Gods, they hadn't seen Oran show significant emotional fluctuations.
"No relevant data. Blitzcrank will inquire with the Master tonight…"
"Wait! Don't ask that! Do you even know what a private conversation is?"
"Unknown. Blitzcrank is still learning."
Despite its growth module, Blitzcrank remained naive. Its sophisticated logic made it seem like a true soul resided within the metal shell, but delving into certain questions revealed a machine's logic that could be maddening.
Woo-woo!
At that moment, a steam whistle sounded in the distance. A peculiar steam-powered paddle ship appeared in the Sorbet Kingdom's waters.
Unlike the sleek designs of typical ships, this one resembled a cylinder. The letters "MADS" were prominently displayed on its hull, and a flag above bore the word "Pacifist" to signify peace.
Several months had passed since the Valley of the Gods incident, but the seas hadn't calmed. The monsters once loosely united under Rocks' command, operating near Hachinosu, had scattered.
With Rocks' downfall, restless figures set sail again. The Big Mom Pirates, Whitebeard Pirates, and Flying Pirates had increased the pressure on the seas.
The Navy scrambled to respond, and the scope of conflict widened.
At this time, certain individuals began to act.
One of the underworld's key figures, known as the "Loan Shark King," Du Feld, started investing in legitimate charitable ventures to bolster his reputation.
Under his funding, the peace research institute MADS was established a while back, recruiting scientists in need of research funds.
Du Feld provided financial support for projects promoting peace. Whether they succeeded or not, his goals were achieved.
Leading the MADS team was Vegapunk. Though not yet world-renowned as in the original timeline, Vegapunk had some regional fame.
This earned him Du Feld's sponsorship. Now, MADS was sailing the seas, conducting research while recruiting new talent, seeking "hidden geniuses" worldwide.
Their arrival at the Sorbet Kingdom was due to ship damage requiring repairs. Nearby inquiries suggested the kingdom could forge superior metals.
"This backwater place looks nothing like it has a foundry. Vegapunk's so easy to fool."
Two researchers in lab coats, sporting non-mainstream yellow hairstyles, were griping about Vegapunk. They'd joined MADS for funding but resented Vegapunk's leadership.
In their eyes, their own technical skills surpassed his.
"You said it… Wait, Queen, what's that thing over there?"
"Judge, you're no better. A robot in this dump??"