'Interesting… So this is what fame feels like, huh?'
Sitting leisurely on a sofa chair, Ren closed his Keen Hearing ability and mused quietly to himself.He recalled the reactions of the grandfather and grandson trio who had just left — and the dazed expression that lingered on Henzo's face till the very end.
Ren chuckled softly. This feeling wasn't bad at all.
The Rainbow Mist was something that only appeared at the right time. For now, all he could do was search as much as possible.
So…Waiting was a virtue.
At the same time, he needed to observe how Mock Town and its latest rumors would ripple across the seas.
He had to admit —the Revolutionary Army's intelligence network was nothing to scoff at. After all, they were an organization that had stood toe-to-toe with the World Government for years.
Before long,Ren received news.
The first report came from Dressrosa.
"Fuffuffuffu… A deal, huh? Now that's an amusing turn of events."
Sitting on a stone high-back chair in his grand hall, Donquixote Doflamingo grinned broadly."That little brat actually managed to force Red-Hair into such a corner. Looks like he's got something quite remarkable in his hands."
"But we've benefited from this too — gaining promises of profit from the World Government itself."
"So all we need to do is kill that brat?"
A sharp, grating voice rang out — it was Pica, speaking in his squeaky tone.
"That's what they said. The moment any movement was detected, they started urging us to act."
Doflamingo's smile faded slightly, his tone cooling."Tch… bunch of fools. I'm no one's damn killing tool.
A deal is a deal — whether it happens depends entirely on my mood."
"Neh-neh, Doffy, then what'll you do?"
The one asking was Trebol, his nasal voice dripping with mockery.
"How could I let go of such a perfect chance to extort some benefits?"
Doflamingo's grin returned, the edges cold and sharp. "But before that… let's have the Marines do some scouting for me first."
"A rookie pirate? Even if he took down Crocodile, do we really need to treat him so seriously?"
Wearing his flamboyant outfit like some tribal chief, Diamante frowned. "Someone like that, I can handle myself.
Crocodile, that sand crocodile, getting beaten only proves he was just that weak."
"Of course, I'm sure you're stronger than Crocodile, Diamante."
Doflamingo pressed a hand to his forehead and smirked. "After all, you really are strong."
"No, no, I'm nothing special," Diamante replied, flustered.
"No, you're strong."
"No, no—"
"All right, fine, Crocodile's stronger."
"Wrong! I'm stronger!"
Diamante's face turned instantly serious — like a child pretending not to want a New Year's gift, only to panic when it was taken away.
'This guy…'
Doflamingo's lips curved again. His tone turned calm.
"The reason I'm being cautious is because the source of this intel is… too perfectly timed.
If I'm not mistaken, that brat named Ren deliberately used a certain channel to leak this information to us.
I don't know why he's so confident — but walking into a trap head-first isn't my style."
"As expected of you, Doffy."
Trebol snickered wickedly. "So, what's the plan?"
"Where's Monet?"
"Ready whenever. Though Caesar's been acting wary lately."
"Then have her go with Pica. Don't make a move yet — just watch the Marines' performance.
If the timing's right, we'll swoop in and reap the rewards.
If not… I'll go myself."
As Doflamingo flicked his fingers, countless near-invisible threads danced between them.
He didn't know what that brat across the sea was plotting, but using him so easily? That wasn't going to happen.
Rather than being used, he preferred to be the one who won it all in the end.
"Remember — before killing him, I want everything he knows about Red-Hair extracted from his head."
"Yes, sir!"
Pica's shrill voice echoed as he left the executive meeting, heading to find his partner.
Soon, he found Monet.
"Two hundred seventy million Beli bounty? Pica, this guy's worth more than you", a childlike voice chirped beside her — it was Sugar, wearing her usual smug grin.
"Watch your mouth! Is that how you talk to a top executive?"
Pica clenched his fists, his sharp tone filled with menace. It looked like he'd teach Sugar a lesson any second now.
The girl stuck out her tongue and ducked behind her sister in mock fear.
"All right now," Monet smoothed things over quickly, giving Sugar a cool glare. "If you upset the Young Master, I'm banning grapes for a week."
"Humph, stupid brat."
Pica snorted. "Two hundred seventy million? That's nothing.
If they ever publicized half the things I've done, my bounty wouldn't be a mere ninety-nine million!It hasn't been updated since Doffy became a Warlord of the Sea."
"Ufufufu~ Truly impressive," Monet said, adjusting her glasses with a smile. "No wonder the Young Master places such high expectations on you.
I'm sure that brat named Ren won't stand a chance.
If not for me being needed as a Logia-type escort, Doffy probably would've sent you alone.
Once you use your power, that island will be your battlefield."
"Heh, not exactly.
If that fool Ren has other subordinates, deal with them for me. Saves me the trouble."
Buoyed by the praise, Pica lifted his chin, letting the insult slide.
Before long,the Donquixote Family executives were on the move.
Their first step — naturally — was using the Shipping King's express vessel.
They needed to wait just long enough for the leaked information to reach Marine Headquarters.
And so—
Inside the Marine HQ conference hall, another emergency meeting was held concerning Ren's crew.
"That guy… less than half a month of silence, and he's active again?"
"If it weren't for this unexpected intel source, we might've been fooled again."
"He's so cautious — doesn't act like a pirate at all."
"If he became a Warlord of the Sea, it'd save us a lot of trouble."
"A man like that should just be eliminated early."
At the conference table, Vice Admiral Onigumo opened his cold eyes, instantly silencing the chatter. He stared at the officer presenting the report.
"Leave this to me. No matter what happens, I'll drag him back — and throw him into Impel Down myself."
The other Vice Admirals exchanged looks — none dared contest the mission.
At their level, it wasn't battle honors they lacked — it was strength to climb higher.
Many of them had just returned from missions, weary and unwilling to fight over assignments.
Thus,the meeting ended swiftly.
Vice Admiral Onigumo prepared his ship and led his subordinates to the docks.
As he passed through the bustling port, countless marines stopped their work to salute in awe.
"Vice Admiral Onigumo!"
"At ease. Back to work."
The stern-faced Onigumo strode toward his warship, trailed by a squad of fierce officers.
Behind them came the murmurs of the lower-ranked marines.
"Such pressure… must be a high-priority fugitive."
"Last time, wasn't it that guy called Ace?"
"My cousin's friend's brother said it's the Demon Ren!"
"The Demon? The two hundred seventy-million pirate?"
"As expected of Vice Admiral Onigumo — he'll definitely bring him back for justice!"
"Of course, he's a Vice Admiral!"
Hearing their whispers, Onigumo's expression didn't change.
He'd been that kind of young marine once himself — and it felt good to now be the one inspiring awe.
'A mere pirate, daring to leak his own movements ahead of time…
If I hadn't caught wind of it from that chatty bird, he might've actually pulled off a grand entrance!'
His face grew colder, the strands of hair behind his head twitching like clawed hands.
The officers at his side stiffened. They knew — the Vice Admiral was serious.
Still, a pirate worth over two hundred million Beli was indeed worthy of such attention.
But Onigumo's pursuit wasn't the only thing set in motion.
Within the towering Marine HQ buildings, Vice Admiral Tsuru lifted her gold-ringed hand and dialed a Den Den Mushi.
"Moshi moshi? Kuzan here. Vice Admiral Tsuru, what's the matter?"
"Kuzan — that Demon Pirates group you were looking into has appeared in Mock Town."
"…Understood. Mind if I ask — do you know something?"
"I don't," Tsuru replied calmly, pouring herself a cup of tea. "I once thought Ren could become a Warlord, so I took some… steps.
But the World Government rejected him outright. Which means, that mistake needs correction.
Didn't you request leave to search for something?
Since you're free, do me this favor."
There was a short pause. Then Kuzan's voice came softly:
"…Thanks."
"Goodbye."
The line clicked dead.
Far beneath the sky, Aokiji pedaled across a vast frozen ocean on his ice bicycle.
He turned off his wrist communicator, the faint glow fading.
Beneath him,an endless sheet of frost stretched outward — frozen fish glinting beneath the surface.
His eyes were empty, lost in thought. Moments ago, this had been a surging sea.
He said nothing, only looked to the horizon and murmured
"Too obvious, huh…"
The whisper was torn away by the icy wind. His bicycle creaked as he shifted direction and kept moving.
For someone like him, distance was never a problem.
The only question was —whether he could find the person he'd been searching for.
If…
Ren's crew hadn't taken Robin, hadn't rescued that Devil Child who betrayed Crocodile…
Then where would he go next to find her?
Still—
No matter what, Mock Town was a place he had to visit.
Even if he didn't find Robin, he could at least clean up some of the trash.
(End of Chapter)