Chapter 97 — Whispered Routes and Hidden Profits
S.C. 1510 — Mid December
Foosha Village — Makino's Bar
Makino's bar was unusually loud.
Not "Luffy-broke-something-again" loud.
This was merchant loud—the kind of noise created by grown men after traveling for days and discovering cheap alcohol and a warm room.
Half a dozen traveling merchants filled the place, chattering like parrots with coin pouches.
Ren sat in his usual dark corner, sipping warm milk like a tiny old man with secrets.
Zemo curled at his feet like a fuzzy ankle-warmer with judgmental eyes.
Makino passed by and whispered, smiling:
"Just listen, okay? Don't go getting ideas."
Ren bowed politely.
Too late, ideas already forming, he thought.
He didn't need to talk.
His mission tonight was simple:
Absorb information.
Silently.
Predator-mode.
(But tiny.)
---
Clue 1 — The Herb Shortage
A merchant wearing a faded blue bandana leaned over his ale.
"Shells Town is paying double for medicinal herbs. Their supply's dried up."
Ren's ears perked up like Zemo's.
Herbs?
Double price?
Marine town?
Another merchant groaned.
"Good luck selling there. Goa nobles buy up shipments before anyone else even hears a rumor."
Ren scribbled:
Shells Town → herb shortage
Goa nobles → hoarding
High demand → steady profit potential
Future opportunity, not yet
He underlined "future" three times.
Zemo peeked at the notes like he understood economics.
---
Clue 2 — Salt Prices Rising
A heavyset merchant slammed his mug down.
"Salt's going up. Conomi Islands slowed production—bad winter. Prices will triple by next moon."
Ren paused mid-sip.
Salt…
The one product he already had.
The one product the world constantly needed.
He wrote:
Winter → salt scarcity
Opportunity → Foosha supply can fill gaps
Low risk, high demand
Perfect early product
He tapped his pencil.
Salt is boring, he thought.
Perfect. Nobles ignore boring.
Zemo nodded wisely, or maybe he just liked the word "salt."
---
Clue 3 — Dangerous Waters Around Gecko Islands
A young merchant groaned dramatically.
"The route near Gecko Islands is cursed this year. Storms everywhere."
The older man beside him nodded.
"We're all rerouting. Anyone who can supply between Frost Moon and Flower Moon? They'll make good money."
Ren wrote:
Dangerous route → less competition
Safer alternate paths → increased trade demand
Opportunity for small ships
He smiled.
A quiet little cargo ship could slip through unnoticed.
Zemo flicked his tail in excitement, probably imagining himself as captain.
---
Clue 4 — The Refugee Workforce
One merchant sighed into his drink.
"Gray Terminal folks keep coming to Edge Town. They want work but nobles won't give licenses."
Ren froze.
His grip tightened around the pencil.
He remembered:
the footprints
the abandoned bag
the smoke in the sky
He wrote:
Gray Terminal → skilled but desperate workers
Loyal through stability
Perfect recruits for future merchant group
He underlined:
"Only offer, never force."
Zemo nudged his knee softly.
Ren gave him a faint smile.
---
Clue 5 — The Map of Routes
The bandana merchant unrolled a wrinkled map.
Ren leaned as casually as a seven-year-old genius could.
He memorized:
wind directions
trade lines
shallow points
harbors
seasonal currents
Then one man pointed at a thin line on the map.
"That north Foosha route—nobody uses it anymore. Too shallow."
Bandana merchant scoffed.
"Not shallow. Nobles don't want people passing by Gray Terminal. Bad for their reputation."
Ren's pencil flew:
North route → unused
Not shallow → nobles blocking
Ideal secret escape route
He circled it repeatedly.
"This will be our hidden sea lane."
Zemo thumped his tail, proud.
---
Clue 6 — Spending Problems
One merchant muttered grumpily:
"If Goa nobles keep wasting money on feasts and festivals, Edge Town will collapse eventually."
Another nodded.
"They don't understand long-term planning."
Ren wrote:
Nobles = short-sighted
Economy = unstable
Market chaos = opportunity for quiet suppliers
Perfect.
Chaos for them, opportunity for him.
---
Makino Notices
Makino approached with a gentle smile and placed a hand on Ren's shoulder.
"You're soaking everything up like a sponge."
Ren shrugged lightly.
"It's… useful."
Makino sighed.
"You think too much for your age. Be careful. Information is powerful—dangerously so."
Ren nodded.
"I'll be careful."
Zemo nodded too, as if promising to bite anyone who tried anything.
---
Heading Home
Ren stepped out into the cold night with Zemo trotting beside him.
The moon hung bright above Foosha Village.
Ren whispered:
"Herbs… salt… secret routes… desperate workers… unstable economy…"
It all formed a picture.
A web.
A future.
Zemo looked up at him, eyes shining.
Ren smiled faintly.
"We're getting closer, Zemo. Slowly. Quietly."
Step by step…
His merchant group was no longer just a dream.
Tonight, it gained its map.
---
End of Chapter 97