Gini grinned and said, "I found it through the North Blue's underworld black market. Even though it's hidden, some big shot seems to have appeared on that island recently."
"Because of that, many forces in the underworld market know about it. But don't worry, boss, I didn't expose our goal. Even when we went to the island to search for the laboratory you mentioned, we did it quietly. The Marines stationed there didn't notice us."
"You didn't go in?"
"No, we followed your instructions and didn't dare enter on our own, boss. Oh, right, since you're here now, should we send someone in to explore?"
"No need for now."
Ian rubbed his chin while thinking.
That's right, Karakuri Island, Vegapunk's hometown, contains a lot of technology left behind by Vegapunk.
Especially inside a certain abandoned laboratory... Later on, a certain gentleman who liked wearing only briefs accidentally broke in and discovered some of Vegapunk's black technology, which he used to modify his body.
Although many years have passed and those technologies are already outdated for Vegapunk, that only applies to someone with the best brain in the world.
For regular scientists, those technologies are likely profound and difficult, practically top-tier secret material.
Anyone capable of understanding them might be considered world-class.
Since he had already come this far, he might as well take a look and see if he could pick up some black technology.
He originally thought that with the short time given, Gini wouldn't find it, but unexpectedly, things went smoothly.
Well, it made sense.
Now that Grado was already one of the Five Major Families of the West Blue, getting intel from North Blue's underworld forces was much easier.
Those forces would gladly give Gini, the boss of Grado, some face.
However, even though Vegapunk was taken by the World Government, they still valued his hometown and even stationed Marines there all year long.
And Vegapunk had set up a self-destruct mechanism in his laboratory; no one knew which button triggered it.
If someone accidentally pressed it and activated self-destruct, that'd be bad.
Ian glanced at Kuma, maybe he should bring Kuma and check the laboratory themselves?
Maybe they could move the entire laboratory?
But just as he was thinking, Gini suddenly acted sneaky, leaned in, and grinned. "Right, boss, look what I found."
Before Ian could react, Gini pulled out something from his coat, a uniquely shaped... fruit?
Ian froze, sounding surprised. "A Devil Fruit?"
Kuma and Ace also leaned over to look at the fruit.
"So that's a Devil Fruit? It looks so weird!"
Ace scratched his head and said, "Luffy ate one. He said it tastes terrible, and if you eat it, you can't swim."
"Is it really a Devil Fruit?"
Hearing them, Gini's face lit up excitedly. "I thought it was just some weird fruit. Didn't expect it to really be a Devil Fruit!"
"It is definitely a Devil Fruit."
Ian carefully examined it.
In his mind, he recalled the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia he borrowed from Captain Enchi.
After thinking for a moment, his expression turned even more surprised. "No... This looks like the Clear-Clear Fruit. Where did you get this?"
If he remembered correctly, the Clear-Clear Fruit was later eaten by Absalom, a subordinate of Moria.
After Absalom was killed by Blackbeard, Shiryu obtained the Devil Fruit.
Could it be that Gini was also destined for the Clear-Clear Fruit?
While Ian was deep in thought, after hearing that this was actually the Clear-Clear Fruit, his dream Devil Fruit, Gini's face filled with excitement. He held the fruit and bounced happily.
"So this is the Clear-Clear Fruit? Amazing! This is my dream Devil Fruit! Boss, can I eat it now?"
However, before Gini could eat it…
Boom!
A loud collision suddenly sounded.
The three-masted ship Gini had prepared seemed to have been hit by something.
Everyone snapped out of it and was just about to check the bow of the ship when a loud, arrogant voice rang out: "Devil Fruit? What a lucky surprise! Kid, hand over that Devil Fruit!"
"...?"
Everyone froze, just about to look and see who dared to be so arrogant and even try to steal their stuff, a figure wearing a mask resembling Batman and holding a scythe jumped onto their ship.
When Ian saw the figure, he froze for a moment and instantly understood who they were dealing with, but didn't really care. He raised his axe, ready to finish it.
"Mr. Ian, let me! Let me handle it!"
Ace suddenly jumped forward with his eyes shining with excitement. "I've been bored these past few days! Let me deal with this pirate!"
Before Ian could even respond, the kid rushed out, leaving Ian helpless, but he still put his axe away.
The masked pirate, seeing that a kid was stepping up, looked displeased, his expression irritated.
"A bunch of adults letting a kid fight for them? Kid, this isn't a game. If you get seriously wounded by me, don't blame me!"
As he finished, the scythe in his hand was already swinging toward Ace's neck.
"Since you have the courage, I'll at least tell you my name. I am Hanafuda. In your next life, remember to think before taking action."
"Hanafuda?"
Other than Ian and Kuma, who remained expressionless, Gini stared in shock at the guy wearing a bat-shaped hood. "Could it be... A Warlord of the Sea?"
Ever since the incident with Crocodile, Gini had become somewhat familiar with the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
As the boss of one of the Five Major Families of the West Blue, obtaining information that was already publicly known was not difficult.
"But why did this guy come to North Blue?"
"He is indeed a Warlord of the Sea."
Ian looked at the two who were already trembling. He rubbed his chin, then, as if remembering something, turned to the Devil Fruit in Gini's hand.
Devil Fruits consciously choose their hosts.
If Gini obtained one and didn't eat it, would the Devil Fruit find some reason to end up in the hands of the person it truly chose?
As expected, once you get a Devil Fruit, you should eat it immediately.
Otherwise, even if you were chosen, if you don't eat it, the fruit may, due to all sorts of reasons, end up being eaten by someone else more suitable.
Just like with that Giant Bear Pirates' Captain, if Ian hadn't also eaten the Light-Light Fruit when he got it, would it have ended up belonging to someone else?
This thing was basically a monster-attractor!