'How foolish.'
Monet's cheeks flushed as she gave a shy smile—so convincing it seemed utterly genuine.
She wasn't planning to flip the table just yet.
Unlike the arrogant Pica, she was the one who cared most about the Young Master's orders.
For now, what she needed to dowas to figure out why Ren had appeared here all by himself.
And if possible, learn more about his relationship with the Red-Haired.
Interrogation could get… dirty.
After that,she would wait for the Navy to arrive—just as the Young Master had planned.
After all,whatever the Young Master said was always right.
Such a naïve fool. He's already completely charmed by me. Men really are idiots—only the Young Master stands above them all.Now then… why not confess everything while you're still trying to impress me?
After an entire barrel of wine went down,Monet's cheeks glowed red as she gazed in admiration at the slightly tipsy Ren, who began showing off the strange powers of his black-and-gold card.
A golden field shimmered into existence, spreading roughly three meters around them.An odd sensation filled the air.
How to describe it—it felt as though something had invaded her.
Monet's heart stirred uneasily.
"What… is this?"
"Relax," Ren said, grinning. "This is my trump card. Normally, no one gets to see it."
He reached out and seized her hand, squeezing it lightly, his gaze wandering shamelessly toward the pale curve of her chest.
"You've heard the rumors, haven't you? I'm immortal."
"Isn't that just a legend?"
Monet's beautiful eyes widened. The revelation was enough to throw her judgment off balance.
Now that she thought about it…
There were reports mentioning something about resurrection surrounding this man, weren't there?
"Of course not. How else do you think I defeated Crocodile?" Ren said with a smirk, his fingers sneaking closer between her hands like a blond playboy luring a naïve girl with a candy stick.
"Lord Ren…" Monet flinched slightly, shrinking back as though frightened, prompting the man to chuckle awkwardly and retract his hand.
"My bad, my bad. The wine's gone to my head."
He pretended to fiddle with the black-gold card as though nothing had happened, the pale golden domain pulsing and expanding through the three-meter radius.
Monet's unease grew stronger. For a moment, she almost thought she'd been exposed—that he was about to strike her.
Yet… that greedy gaze, the one that seemed to strip her bare…
It didn't feel like an attacker's look.
After all,not just anyone knew of the Donquixote Family's officers—and Monet herself was one of the most secretive of them all.
Besides, in the vast sea, news didn't travel easily.
Theoretically,this prey before her couldn't possibly know who she really was.
Yes.Impossible.
Steeling her nerves, Monet suppressed her rising dread and continued her act.
Then—new progress appeared.
"I'll show you a magic trick," Ren said.
He watched the invisible progress bar on the black-gold card climb to 99.95%, his grin widening.
"A magic trick? Is it related to that resurrection thing?"
Monet instinctively swayed her hips, subtly drawing attention to her curvaceous figure.
But then—she caught it. The change in his eyes.
That drunken, lustful haze vanished. In an instant, his gaze turned sharp and clear.
Something's wrong! That's not how a pervert looks—he changed too fast!
The moment their eyes met, a chill shot up from Monet's toes to her scalp, a warning bell exploding in her mind.
A frigid gale howled, carrying blades of snow that tore through the air toward her would-be prey.
Black-gold progress: 99.98%!First strike—eliminate you!
Monet tore away her bashful façade, her beautiful eyes twisting into something feral and cruel. Her entire demeanor became savage and beastlike.
Black-gold progress: 100%!Fast reflexes… so that thing only works for a moment, huh?
Ren sighed softly and murmured, calm as ever,"Time… Stop."
Click—
The sound was like gears locking in place.
Golden light flared, outlining countless suspended clocks in the air within the three-meter field. Each clock differed in size and shape—but they all shared one thing in common:
Their hour, minute, and second hands were perfectly still.
Three meters wasn't much space.But under the rule of Space-Time: The Creator, it became a miniature world.
And when the Creator of that world issued a command, everything within it naturally came to a halt.
Time itself…was merely the Creator's plaything.
Truly… astonishing.
Ren looked at the frozen scene before him, genuine awe flickering in his eyes.
Just a finger's length away,razor-sharp snowflakes and biting winds hung motionless in the air.
At their source, Monet—transformed into a snow demoness mid-attack—was trapped in time, her fierce expression and outstretched claws frozen in place.
Not just her, but even the air and the tiniest dust motes were still.
Anything Ren willed to stop… did so the instant he spoke those two words.
Dominion… so that's why the card's suffix is "The Creator."
Ren studied the card's power, catching Monet's frozen glare.
She was staring daggers at him, unable to comprehend what was happening.
After all, a Logia user's elemental body was supposed to be immune to all but seastone, seawater, or Armament Haki—an invincible state.
So why—could she not move? Why couldn't she even blink? All she could do was rage in place, eyes wide with fury.
And worst of all…
She knew her current situation was the enemy's doing.
But how could she have been so careless before!?
Swish—
The table between them vanished. Ren caught the falling coin, pocketing the key instrument of his little setup.
Yes—Monet had fallen into his trap because of that very coin.
A prize from Ruluka Island's Golden Roulette.
[Gambler's Misfortune]
Origin:Kakegurui (Land of Gambling Madness)
Type: Curse of Misfortune
Description:The grudges of countless failed gamblers are bound to this seemingly ordinary 500-Beli coin, granting it extraordinary powers.
Properties: "Misfortune," "Dulling of Mind."
Misfortune: When activated, the user may sacrifice a portion of their own luck to amplify fivefold misfortune onto a designated target.
Dulling of Mind: When the misfortune takes hold, the target experiences the same trance as gamblers intoxicated by imminent victory—their rationality weakens, their awareness blurs, and they overlook simple inconsistencies.
Cost: Luck.
Indeed—it was a prize tied to the domain of luck.
After creating Space-Time: The Creator, Ren couldn't resist testing whether his luck still existed.
So he tried a single roll—and this was what he got.
Functionally, it wasn't particularly strong, but in the right hands… terrifyingly effective.
And given that it involved luck itself, the one-hundred-million-Beli price tag didn't seem too excessive.
When his Shikigami discovered Monet,Ren decided to test the card's field in a "hero saving the damsel" act.
It was a perfect scenario: a few clueless pirates, one overconfident fool, and a chance to experiment.
He tested Space-Time: The Creator's domain control.
Though he knew it was mainly meant for accelerated growth, testing was necessary.
Unexpectedly, the ability had real combat potential.
Once domain control was achieved, even a Logia could not resist the Creator's authority.
However—
The flaws are obvious. Those within the field can sense it—the unease, the rejection. She even broke through the Gambler's Misfortune effect in the end. And expanding the domain is slow; against stronger foes, it'd never work.
Ren poked Monet's smooth cheek. And clearly, dominated beings still retain consciousness. Her anger shows she's fully aware of what's happening. So then… can that experiment still be done?
He placed a finger on her forehead. Golden light glimmered, flowing into her mind.
This experiment—
Was cognitive alteration.
If his domain was truly one of divine creation—where he was the absolute ruler—then perhaps he could alter thoughts themselves.
It wasn't written anywhere in the system interface; this was Ren's own speculative line of research.
If he could pull it off,he'd plant a loyal spy right under Doflamingo's nose.
But honestly, Ren wasn't confident. The first test had already shown Space-Time: The Creator wasn't omnipotent.
And Monet—based on the original story—was someone who would die for Doflamingo without hesitation.
Her loyalty ran deep.
Even so,he tried anyway. She was an enemy; breaking or killing her made no difference.
The process didn't go smoothly—the resistance was immense.
While the Creator's domain excelled in manipulating matter and time, it was surprisingly weak against human will.
If one were to explain it…
Every human could be considered a miniature "world" of their own.
Yet the Creator's world was undeniably greater. And when worlds collide, even if they repel, they inevitably affect one another.
Crack—
A faint fracture echoed.
Ren looked toward the golden barrier surrounding them—the boundary between inside and out.
Thanks to those fools from Ruluka Island, he'd gathered enough time units for this experiment.
But the consumption rate was far higher than he'd expected.
Reached the limit, huh?
He quietly withdrew his hand.
The golden domain faded—and Monet moved again.
Instantly,she lunged, hands clutching at Ren's throat, ready to tear it open.
But…
Ren merely looked at her mockingly—as she faltered, trembling, clutching her head in agony.
"You're finished," she hissed.
(End of Chapter)