Chapter 33: Den Den Mushi and Transponder Snails
After Kurozumi Higurashi had nearly completed her transformation, at first glance it looked as though 2 identical Ren stood before Yukiko.
"That's about right. Although there are still subtle differences in temperament, even close acquaintances would find it difficult to notice," Ren said with a smile as he looked at his other self.
Hearing this, Kurozumi Higurashi chuckled softly, then quickly touched her face with her left hand and reverted to her original appearance. She felt it was disrespectful to maintain Ren's appearance when there was no need to do so.
"Lord Ren, with this, we'll be able to deceive Kozuki Sukiyaki," Muzemi said with a smile. After all, Sukiyaki had never met Ren in person, so as long as the appearance matched, even differences in temperament would not expose them.
Ren nodded and sat down before asking, "Muzemi, after transforming with the Mane-Mane no Mi, can you replicate the abilities of the person you transform into?"
This question had always lingered in Ren's mind.
"That… that's not possible, Lord Ren," Kurozumi Higurashi shook her head. "The Mane-Mane no Mi only allows imitation of appearance, not the abilities of the person being copied, at least before awakening."
Perhaps with further development, more might be possible, but she did not have the time for that.
Different users could develop completely different applications from the same Devil Fruit. For example, the tanuki Pat who followed Redfield was, in essence, a pen and also a Mythical Zoan, the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Bake-danuki.
Yet even in using tanuki abilities, Pat was inferior to Redfield himself.
At the thought of Redfield, a flash of inspiration crossed Ren's mind. Instead of blindly searching for the unknown Suigu Town, there was a faster way to confirm whether the Vampire Fruit existed.
That was to investigate Redfield himself.
As a figure from the same era as Roger and Whitebeard, Redfield should have already set sail by now. If so, there might already be a bounty poster bearing his name.
If Redfield truly existed, then Suigu Town and the Vampire Fruit likely existed as well.
"Muzemi," Ren said, "put the search for Suigu Town on hold for now. The next time you go to sea, pay attention to whether there's a bounty poster for someone named Redfield. If there isn't, there's no need to keep searching for Suigu Town."
If Redfield did not exist in this world, then the Devil Fruit that appeared in the game might not exist either. Even if it did, it might not be located in Suigu Town, making the search a waste of manpower.
Especially at this stage, such an effort would be an unnecessary luxury.
After a brief pause, Ren added, "Actually, forget it. I'll go myself."
He decided to use this opportunity to head out to sea in person. In everyone's eyes, he had already left Kuri, so he might as well make it real.
"Lord Ren, you're going to sea?" Muzemi's expression changed, and she quickly advised him. "The dangers overseas are far greater than within Wano. How can you take such a risk?"
"Don't worry," Ren replied calmly. "I know the few forces in this world that absolutely cannot be provoked: the World Government and the Marines among the righteous, and the Rocks Pirates among the pirates. As long as I avoid them, there won't be many problems."
Ren had his own objectives for this voyage. At this point in time, Eneru either had not been born yet or was still an infant, so the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was naturally without an owner.
In fact, even Kaido had yet to obtain the Azure Dragon Fruit, though Ren did not know its location.
Beyond Devil Fruits, Ren also intended to find fresh blood to cultivate. In short, plans for his future "Inazuma Kindergarten" were already taking shape.
If he encountered any of the brats Kaido would later recruit, Ren had no intention of letting them go.
"Since you've decided, my lord…" Kurozumi Higurashi could not stop him and could only agree.
At this moment, Ren turned to Yukiko and asked, "By the way, Yukiko, does Yuriko know any ancient languages?"
"It seems she does," Yukiko nodded. "Yuriko's family kept some books written in ancient script."
"That's perfect," Ren said. "Take Yuriko and Jasmine with you on this voyage."
"Yuriko and Jasmine?" Yukiko asked in surprise. "Jasmine is fine, but can Yuriko's body withstand the rough seas?"
"I need someone who can recognize ancient texts," Ren explained. If he could confirm Redfield's existence on this trip, he would attempt to locate Suigu Town, and deciphering clues related to the Devil Fruit would require such knowledge.
As for the seas, there was no need to worry. He planned to fly.
Besides Devil Fruits and potential subordinates, Ren also had another goal: wealth. The Gold Country in the sky could be collected as well when he searched for the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Gold was hard currency everywhere.
After settling these matters, Ren asked about other issues.
This time, Muzemi had also brought back several Den Den Mushi, known as Transponder Snails. Wano Country had its own native communication clams, and while their operating principles were similar, the two species could not communicate with each other due to language differences.
Moreover, the range of Wano's clams was limited. Once someone went out to sea, communication could only be maintained through human messengers delivering letters.
With Transponder Snails, however, communication would become far more convenient.
All the Transponder Snails Kurozumi Higurashi brought back were ordinary ones. There were no surveillance-type or anti-surveillance Black and White Den Den Mushi.
These specialized snails were used for eavesdropping and counter-eavesdropping.
However, this was not a concern in Wano Country. Clams and snails used different "languages," making interception impossible.
Ren and the others had also raised some native clams, but in this era, most people had yet to discover their uses, and wild Transponder Snails were also rare.
There was a dedicated area within the Daimyo's Mansion for breeding these creatures. Both clams and Transponder Snails were natural species, and it was unclear whether they would learn each other's signals if raised together.
"Have the sisters Saya and Saori take charge of raising the clams and Transponder Snails," Ren said after some thought. "I remember they like small animals. Muzemi, write down the precautions for feeding the Transponder Snails so they don't fail to adapt."
Yukiko and Muzemi both nodded.
Yukiko silently thought that while Saya and Saori did like small animals, they preferred fluffy ones, not slimy, strange-looking creatures like these.
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