"Researched Devil's Fruits?" Ryu questioned for a moment, looking at him with a skeptical gaze. He didn't know this guy of course, but he didn't seem like he was much older than himself. Maybe a few years at the most. Unless he also possessed some kind of power that left him looking younger. As the man said himself, there are very few things in this world that can be considered impossible thanks to the power of the Devil's Fruit. Of course, when Mitsuki mentioned the Marines, he visibly flinched slightly in response, purely on instinct. They were definitely the number one slot on his "people to avoid at all costs" list while he was still on the island.

However, he did give the man another inquisitive look. The wrong eyes, he had said? That was a curious guess to make. For a moment, it was almost as if he might know something about this fruit of his that he shouldn't...and its exact relationship with the Marines. But that was a conclusion to jump to at a later time, perhaps. It was hardly anything more than guesswork on his end as well. It could very well be just him making a mountain out of a molehill in the end.

"Cast off.... Right. Well, I'm not really a pirate, no," he replied. It wasn't a lie...he had not actually done anything pirate-like and he didn't yet have a crew, nor a reliable ship. But of course, he didn't need to know that that was his intention yet. Though then again, this guy was obviously a very capable swordsman. And for some reason, he still couldn't shake the feeling like he knew something about his fruit somehow. He almost felt...connected to him somehow.

"Speaking of which." he said. "You seem like a pretty good guy and you're pretty tough. You could probably show me a thing or two. If you're not doing anything much right now, why don't you come with me? I could sure use a guy like you to, uh...keep me company. And, y'know...maybe teach me a little bit, since you seem to know so much about fighting."