Fish-Man Island.
Ren and his group passed through the deep sea and arrived at the underwater island.
The newly arrived Mink Tribe were so shocked they couldn't speak.
They never imagined there could be an island in the deep sea.
And they could actually live there.
As soon as Ren arrived, mermaids and fish-men alike showed him respect.
Even the king of Ryugu Kingdom had not stayed with his wife who had just given birth, but instead gave Ren a grand welcome.
In Ryugu Palace, Ren saw Otohime, who had just given birth, and a normally sized Shirahoshi.
Shirahoshi was crying loudly, while Otohime looked at her child with loving eyes.
"Lord Ren, this is Shirahoshi," Otohime said, preparing to bow. Ren had fulfilled her dream.
"Lord Ren," a guard said, approaching him.
"What is it?" Ren asked.
"CP cannot be contacted… we fear that…"
"It seems the real trouble is just beginning," Ren said gravely.
After he had rejected the Five Elders, he knew they would take back some of his rights.
Of course, being a Celestial Dragon, he would not be hunted.
"Waaah…" Shirahoshi seemed to sense Ren's presence and began to cry.
Otohime started comforting her, and gradually Shirahoshi calmed down in her arms.
Ren smiled and said, "I guess I shouldn't get too close to Shirahoshi for now."
"No, Lord Ren, Shirahoshi is very good," Otohime said, handing her to him.
Shirahoshi's second embrace was no longer with her biological father, but in Ren's arms.
Ren tried to be as gentle as possible. The little one sniffed him and began sucking on the fingers that had touched her face.
"You little one… you're going to grow so big in the future," Ren said with a smile.
That day, Fish-Man Island celebrated.
Even without CP providing intelligence, no one dared to capture mermaids that year, a single act making everyone cautious for a decade.
But not all news was good.
Outside, the mermaids rushed to meet him.
Upon seeing Ren, one of them quickly said, "Lord Ren, Fisher Tiger went to the Holy Land to rescue slaves and has been put on the World Government's wanted list."
"Fisher Tiger…" Otohime fell silent. Should Ren go rescue him? But Ren had already changed Fish-Man Island; he had no obligation to help them further.
"Show me the news," Ren said, knowing the news had reached the deep sea. Fisher Tiger was probably already returning the rescued slaves home.
Ren saw the three sisters. They had truly gone to sea in his name.
Young Hancock had been put on the bounty list for 100 million, unprecedented in history.
"It's Hancock and the others," Reisa said, glancing at the newspaper with nostalgia.
"What? Do you know her?" The Mink Tribe immediately crowded around Ren, looking at the newspaper.
"Not bad." Ren nodded, then looked at everyone and said, "Save him. Fish-Man Island might be targeted by the World Government."
At that moment, everyone fell silent. They knew exactly how merfolk had been treated over the past year. They had come this far, and the thought of going back to the way things were was unbearable.
"Waa… waa…"
Shirohoshi began to cry loudly in Ren's arms. Otohime took Shirohoshi, and Ren and the others left the place.
"Lord Ren, shall we take action?"
"Of course. Do you take me for someone timid?" Ren showed a confident smile. With his strength, there was no reason to hesitate. At least for now, on the open seas, no one could defeat him.
"Yes." The guards responded quickly.
At that moment, Ren's Den Den Mushi rang.
"Coo-coo-coo-coo, Donquixote Ren, have you been abandoned by the World Government?" Donquixote Doflamingo's sinister laughter came through.
"You sure get news fast. I abandoned that identity on my own, but tell me what is your purpose for calling me?" Ren said sarcastically.
"I can provide you with information, but I have one condition." Doflamingo's tone was confident.
"What's the condition?"
"Influence in the underworld. Ren, you can manage it, can't you? The World Government won't hand out information freely to you anymore."
"Agreed." Ren did have connections in the underworld. Right now, he needed a source of information.
Fighting was easy, but gathering intel was another challenge entirely.
"Ren, you're on Fish-Man Island now, right? To celebrate our cooperation, a great sword and a Devil Fruit will be sent to you soon." With that, Doflamingo hung up.
Ren, in turn, recommended Doflamingo to the Underworld Emperor. As for what would happen next, he trusted that they would handle it.
"To the paradise."
Ren didn't stay long on Fish-Man Island and set off with his group toward the paradise.
In the Sabaody Archipelago, Ren's ship appeared, and the pirates there quickly scattered. Any pirate who had been to the seas already knew Ren.
"Do you have Fisher Tiger's Vivre Card?"
"Yes," the fish-man hurriedly replied.
The group sailed swiftly. They had a clear target, and Fisher Tiger's actions were to send the slaves home. Soon, Ren caught up with him.
Seeing Ren, Fisher Tiger let out a sigh of relief. "Lord Ren."
"Rescued the slaves?"
"Yes." Fisher Tiger lowered his head. He hadn't wanted to do this.
Fish-Man Island had finally reached its current status, but recalling the nightmares there day and night made him restless if he did nothing.
"It's fine, but have you thought about the consequences?" Ren looked at Fisher Tiger.
"No." Fisher Tiger shook his head. He had acted impulsively, climbing up with his bare hands, not thinking much.
"Then why do you think the villagers on the island where you returned the slaves wouldn't report you for money?"
"This…"
"Just reporting you could give someone a lifetime of wealth. What do you think they would choose?"
Fisher Tiger instantly broke into a cold sweat. He hadn't thought that far.
"Lord Ren, that shouldn't happen, right?" Jinbe said, unwilling to believe it.
At that moment, a laser shot from afar, aimed straight at Fisher Tiger's heart. Even if he noticed it, he couldn't dodge such a fast attack.
Ren simply drew his sword and slashed the laser cannon away. Instantly, an explosion erupted over the sea, like the end of the world.
"Still strong, huh~ Celestial Dragon Ren." At this moment, Vice-Admiral Borsalino spoke.
"As expected of a Logia Devil Fruit user.… I suppose you could easily destroy an entire island, couldn't you, Vice-Admiral Borsalino?" Ren raised his blade.
"Well, this is troublesome. Can I retreat this time, Admiral Sengoku?" Kizaru didn't want to waste effort on a pointless fight. Fighting Ren was like defying the World Government itself.
"Allowed. Lord Ren, what exactly are you planning?" Sengoku's voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
"Does my strength not allow me to act freely?" Ren asked in return.
"Retreat."
Soon, Kizaru's figure vanished into the sky. The fastest Devil Fruit had been eaten by the sleaziest person, and he fled at incredible speed.
"Thank you, Lord Ren." Fisher Tiger quickly expressed his gratitude, and so did Arlong. Among humans, he only respected Ren; everyone else annoyed him.
"I can't help you much. You may contact the Revolutionary Army—they'll likely welcome you." Ren said after a moment's thought.
"The Revolutionary Army?"
"They're a group that seeks to resist the World Government."
"…"
The fishmen fell silent.
Ren's suggestion was awkwardly blunt—it was basically telling them, hurry up and rebel against me.
**********
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