Chapter 398: The Immortal Black Crow
"How are the preparations going?" Mio asked Renee as his sharp eyes swept across the central area of Arpaiado, the Island of Gods. Towering walls surrounded the heart of the island, with shadowy figures of soldiers patrolling and watching in all directions.
"Everything is ready," Renee replied with a nod. "We can begin at any time. Also, Linglong Newspaper has instructed their agents to start searching for the Operation Fruit near the Sky Island immediately after the procedure."
There was a rumor about Devil Fruits: when a user dies, the fruit’s power reincarnates into a new fruit near the location of their death. Whether this was true or not, Mio didn’t care—he was willing to test it.
After all, the value of the Operation Fruit was immeasurable.
"Good. Let’s begin," Mio said calmly.
"Yes, please follow me," Renee answered respectfully and took the lead.
Perona hovered in the air using her Ghost Fruit powers, circling Mio playfully. Every so often, she’d sneak glances at him, only to quickly look away in embarrassment when Mio noticed. Her shy and awkward behavior made Mio chuckle softly.
Come to think of it, Perona had grown up under the influence of Renee and Penny. Since childhood, she’d been taught that "Sir is the greatest"—an idea that had taken deep root in her heart. This level of devotion was something Mio had never anticipated.
As they moved forward, Mio soon arrived at the central fortress of the Island of Gods, surrounded by high walls and guarded tightly.
At the fortress entrance, a Sky Island man dressed in a doctor’s coat waited with a wooden expression. Recognizing Mio instantly, he bowed slightly and turned silently to lead them inside.
Mio followed casually and asked, "How will the operation proceed?"
"It’s very simple. Just remove your clothes and lie down on the platform. I’ll handle the rest," the doctor replied calmly.