Ren watched as Monet's expression shifted from confusion to terror, shaking his head as he muttered to himself, "Or rather, it wasn't as successful as I expected."
Thinking carefully, he mused, "If this ability were truly that miraculous, the price I paid would have been exponentially higher. The imbalance between cost and gain makes failure inevitable."
"This failure taught me something. Perhaps every human being is a miniature 'world' unto themselves. And between worlds, there is always interaction and influence."
He gestured slightly toward her. "That's why we have this scene before us."
"Yes, Monet," Ren said softly. "Even if I failed to achieve the original goal, that experiment still left a permanent mark on you."
"You can no longer see me as an enemy—because in your mind and soul, how could a lover ever be an enemy?"
"You're incapable of acting against me—attacking me, speaking ill of me, or even leaking information."
"But at the same time," he continued, his tone calm but clinical, "you will never truly be mine. Your body and memory both remind you that all this stems from an external ability."
"If not for that, you and I would have been sworn enemies destined to kill each other."
"So, I can't truly use you either, because you would never betray the Donquixote Family."
"However," Ren's eyes glinted faintly, "if I introduce a few variables, part of the system might still work. For example, if I make a request and offer an appropriate 'payment'—you won't refuse."
"Just as you willingly abandoned Pica in exchange for the truth."
"…"
Monet was speechless. Overwhelming terror devoured her from within.
She could understand every word he said—yet she couldn't comprehend how something so absurd could exist. Among all the Devil Fruits of the seas, she had never heard of one capable of such horror.
Tampering with a person's thoughts?
What the hell was this monstrosity?!
What terrified her most was that… he was right.
'What a pity,' Ren thought as he observed the trembling woman, reflecting on the flaws in his design.
If he had foreseen this outcome before synthesis, he might've chosen a more suitable material. In the world of One Piece, there existed a creature capable of consuming human memories—a seahorse, if he recalled correctly.
Since the Rainbow Mist arc had proven to be real, perhaps that seahorse was real too.
He couldn't change what had already been done, but in the future—if he could obtain that creature and perform another synthesis—He might create something truly terrifying.
The only question was whether that result would be worth pursuing.
'Later,' Ren concluded, setting that thought aside as another roar filled the air.
"You'll never succeed!"
Monet glared at him with unrestrained hatred, her mind consumed by fury. "The Young Master will kill you! He'll avenge Pica and me!"
"You stupid bastard from Paradise—you don't even understand who you're up against!"
"You—!"
She wanted to hurl every curse she could imagine at him—but found herself unable to utter a single one. Something beyond her body's control—some higher authority—was restraining her speech.
Just as she couldn't attack him, she couldn't even insult him.
No matter how she struggled, the woman named Monet had fallen completely into the demon's grasp.
What awaited her now was… the next stage—something Ren called "Hypnosis x Guidance."
Yes—though the experiment had failed, Ren had no intention of killing his precious first test subject.
He planned to bring her back and study the results—see if there was any room for improvement.
Returning her to the Donquixote Family? He wasn't that naïve. After all, the experiment had still failed.
"Welcome back."
On the weather ship, Sas ignored the disheveled, furious woman beside Ren and greeted him with calm indifference.
The scholars of Weatheria were generally moral people—but not the kind who tried to reform the morality of others.
It had already taken countless generations to study the sky. The human heart, being far more unpredictable, was a field few dared to explore.
Thus, even if Sas suspected that Ren had abducted a beautiful woman as some sort of "star experiment," he said nothing—he would simply report it later.
After all, the green-haired beauty standing there as a "trophy" was stunning—her allure easily rivaled Nojiko, Vivi, and even Nami, her hourglass figure no less captivating.
And her mature, commanding aura… placed her in a class of her own.
Sas sighed inwardly but chose to stay silent.
Ren, however, noticed the flicker of expression on Sas's face. He, too, said nothing. Everyone was a passerby—so long as his conscience was clear, that was enough.
"What about her?" Nojiko asked curiously, eyeing the green-haired woman without hostility.
Beside her, Vivi widened her eyes, opening and closing her lips as if too shocked to speak.
"A trophy," Ren replied simply. "A Donquixote executive. A bargaining chip—and an experiment subject."
Then he turned his gaze toward them.
"And you two?"
Apparently, Ren wasn't the only one who had brought back spoils of war.
Before them stood a humanoid ice sculpture, the faint life aura within it flickering like a candle in the wind.
"Cavendish? How'd he end up frozen? Went after Kuzan, did he? Tsk, tsk…"
From Nojiko and Vivi, Ren quickly learned what had happened.When Cavendish, in his unstable state, had recklessly charged at the departing Kuzan, well… this was the result.
Ren couldn't help but sigh. "That second personality of his really is deranged. Picking a fight with an admiral—does he even have eyes?"
Then he paused.
"Oh right, he doesn't right now. Guess that explains it."
'Fascinating,' he mused, rubbing his chin. How should he handle this man?
In the original story, Cavendish appeared in Dressrosa—a pirate who had entered the New World a year before Luffy. He was strong—around the hundred-million range. When Hakuba took over, his power spiked to about three hundred million—comparable to some of the Donquixote officers.
Beyond that, though, he fell short.
Personality-wise, he was troublesome—obsessed with fame, even at the cost of his life.He bore intense hostility toward any peers more famous than himself. Yet, when helped, he would always repay kindness with sincerity.
He was, in a way, the same type as Luffy.
"What do you think?" Nojiko asked for the captain's opinion.
"Try to save him," Ren decided. "If it fails, toss him."
Then he turned to Sas. "We can depart now."
The weather ship began to move.
Ren retreated into the inner cabin of the Waver and retrieved a BUG Poké Ball.
He opened it—white light burst forth, materializing into the elegant figure of Stussy.
She blinked, momentarily surprised, then quickly regained her composure. Surveying her surroundings, she gracefully seated herself across from him.
"What an intriguing development, Ren… or should I say, Master?" Stussy crossed her legs elegantly, resting her pale chin upon one hand. Her aquamarine eyes shimmered like rippling water, seductive yet unreadable.
She leaned back against the cloud sofa, subtly arching her slender waist to accentuate her curves.
Clearly, this secret agent had already adapted to her situation, adopting whatever demeanor might serve her best.
Of course, that was only on the surface.
Inside, Stussy was deeply shaken.
'Kuzan helped him capture me… which means this man struck a deal with an admiral. What kind of leverage could compel someone like Aokiji to break protocol? Who exactly is this Ren? What kind of monster defies all reason?'
'How did he even discover me—let alone uncover my true identity?'
Countless questions pressed on her mind, but she remained calm and composed. After all, she had already signed that contract. Her life and death now rested in her master's hands.
In truth, her time in CP0 had always been a form of servitude. As a clone created by Vegapunk, she had nowhere else to go.
Back when the World Government absorbed the scientific group led by Vegapunk, Caesar, and Judge—she was classified as "property."
Though Vegapunk always saw her as a living, sentient being, Stussy herself never fully believed she was human.
Thus, being used as a tool had never bothered her. Whether it was the World Government or now her new master—her role remained the same.
If there was any difference at all, it was in her mindset.
Having tasted the world's beauty, she had grown fond of it.
So when Ren began questioning her, Stussy answered freely.She held nothing back.
After about an hour, Ren leaned back thoughtfully, satisfied. He had learned many valuable secrets—and during the talk, Stussy made sure to emphasize her usefulness:espionage, infiltration, assassination… even companionship.
She was the very definition of a top-tier asset.
"What do you think about your current situation?" Ren asked finally.
"It makes no difference," Stussy replied calmly. "Whether my master is you or the World Government—it's all the same to me."
"Artificial beings need a reason to live. To enjoy the world's pleasures, or to fulfill a mission—both are experiences that give life meaning."
Ren nodded. "Understood. I'll give you a new assignment soon."
He thought for a moment, then issued her orders—specific, practical, not sugarcoated.
When he finished, he released Stussy into the world again.
Technically, it was no different from "sending a Pokémon into battle."
There was no need to worry about rebellion. The master–servant bond of the BUG Poké Ball was absolute—once signed, it was practically a lifetime contract.
(End of Chapter)