After settling the matter with Fisher Tiger, Ren and his group began their return journey. As for information, Ren trusted that Doflamingo would not disappoint him.
On the Sabaody Archipelago, Ren spotted a Celestial Dragon surrounded by bubbles.
"Saint Ren, I heard Fishman Island is under your control now. Do me a favor and take me there," Saint Musgarud said, waving his hand impatiently. The nearby CP agents kept their wary eyes on Ren.
They didn't know what had happened, but the higher-ups had ordered them not to provide Ren with any more intelligence.
"Saint Musgarud, go back to where you came from," Ren replied without giving him the slightest respect.
"You…" As a fellow Celestial Dragon, Musgarud found himself completely helpless against Ren.
"Hmph, even without you, I can still get to Fishman Island," Musgarud said, his face stiff with humiliation.
"CP, right? I suggest you stop him," Ren said coldly to the men in suits, "Otherwise, you'll have trouble explaining yourselves."
The CP agents felt bitter. Disputes between Celestial Dragons were something they could never meddle in. Offending either side would only end badly for them.
Ignoring Musgarud, Ren strolled around the Sabaody Archipelago with the mermaids. As for the Mink Tribe, he allowed them to sail freely, not wanting to limit their growth.
The appearance of several Celestial Dragons on the islands left no one daring to step outside, afraid they might be captured.
As always, Rayleigh was in charge of coating Ren's ship.
"I never thought you'd reach the point where you could fight Whitebeard evenly," Rayleigh said with a chuckle.
News of Ren had once again spread across the world through the papers. Rumors were already calling him the strongest man at sea.
"For now, even if Whitebeard goes all out, he can't defeat me," Ren said with confidence.
"Hahaha! This really is the age of the young," Rayleigh laughed, his thoughts drifting to Roger.
Could Ren be the one Roger and others had hoped for? But the timing didn't add up. His expression turned serious.
"What is your true goal?"
Ren fell silent for a moment before answering. "My goal? To shape this world into what I want it to be."
"Hahaha! That's quite the grand ambition," Rayleigh roared with laughter.
"Didn't Roger start the Great Age of Pirates for the same purpose?" Ren said with a smile.
Rayleigh's expression grew serious as he asked, "Ren, just how much do you know, and where exactly do you stand?"
"Who knows," Ren replied, unwilling to explain further.
Out at sea.
Ren's ship crossed paths with Saint Musgarud's ship. Without hesitation, Ren swung his blade and cleaved the ship in half.
"Saint Ren!" Musgarud roared in fury, only to be swallowed by the raging sea moments later.
"It seems you people didn't listen to my warning." Ren killed one of the CP agents on the spot, then turned his gaze to the other.
"Take my advice—leave while you still can. You live this time, but if I see you again on Fishman Island… heh."
A chill ran down the agent's spine. He understood Ren's meaning clearly—if they failed to restrain Saint Musgarud, the Celestial Dragon would surely be slain. Without daring to linger, he hurriedly carried the unconscious noble away and returned to the surface.
Fishman Island.
After Ren's return, his life settled into raising Shirahoshi. She grew by the day, changing almost every moment, and was showered with endless love and affection.
"Lord Ren, Doflamingo has sent a famous sword and a Devil Fruit," one of his guards reported as he approached.
"Good, bring it here," Ren said with a bright smile. He was quite satisfied with Doflamingo—when it came to intelligence, the man had not disappointed him.
It was a Great Grade Blade, accompanied by a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit. Ren had little interest in the fruit and simply picked up the sword. It was decent, though still inferior to the blade he currently wielded.
"Lord Ren, the Five Elders are on the line," his trusted guard said as he entered with a Den Den Mushi.
"Ren, do you want the name 'Donquixote' to vanish from this world?" the Warrior God of Finance asked coldly.
"I'm still alive, aren't I?" Ren replied with a smile.
"You…"
"The Mink Tribe, Fishman Island—those lands can be placed under your rule if you wish. We will not interfere, and we could even move to completely strike down the slave trade." The Warrior God of Finance spoke calmly.
"So what's the price?" Ren narrowed his eyes. There was no way such a good deal came without strings attached.
"You'll serve as the Warrior God of Diplomacy. From time to time, you will be sent to deal with nations unwilling to cooperate with the World Government." The Warrior God of Finance explained.
"Sorry, not interested. With my current strength, I have nothing to fear." Ren refused once again.
His rejection angered the Five Elders. That man's decisions were not something anyone could refuse twice. Ren's rights as a Celestial Dragon would all be stripped away.
As for the excuse, it was simple. The same reason given to the Donquixote family when they abandoned the Holy Land could be used again.
If not for Ren's overwhelming strength, assassins would have been sent after him long ago.
In the days that followed, life gradually calmed down. Shirahoshi had already learned how to call out to him and was extremely attached.
Above the black mist.
"Well, everyone seems to be doing well," Naruto Ren spoke first.
"Hm? Why has your aura changed so much?" Pirate Ren asked in surprise.
"Everyone, I've upgraded the glasses. You should all give them a try." Detective Ren pulled out a handful of glasses from his hand.
"Why is it that I always fail?!" Akame Ren complained, clearly unhappy. Why was he the only one who couldn't bring anything in?
"Um… excuse me, but where is this place?" A man in a black robe asked quietly.
"Ren?"
"Finally, a newcomer," Pirate Ren grinned. With this new power sharing, his strength will be the greatest across the seas.
The man said nothing, only remained silent.
"Come, shake my hand first."
The Rens shared their powers once again, watching the newcomer Ren in silence.
"So that's how it is. I always wondered why she chose me and granted me her power. Now I finally understand." The newly arrived Ren looked a little crazed.
"The Witch of Vainglory, Pandora… so she actually took an interest in you." The Akame Ren gave him a sympathetic look.
"Hahaha! I can travel freely to your worlds. Is this truth… or a lie?" The Re:Zero Ren laughed loudly as he looked at the others.
The other Rens exchanged glances before answering in unison, "That must be a lie."
"Yet lies can overturn truth in an instant." The Re:Zero Ren spoke calmly.
"Well? How about it?" The others turned their eyes toward him.
"No… it doesn't work here. It seems the rules of this world are greater than my Authority." The Re:Zero Ren shook his head.
His Authority was simple in mechanism—if he declared something and the other party denied it as a lie, then that very lie would become reality.
In the world of Re:Zero, even Reinhard the Sword Saint could not kill him. Talkative Regulus, the Sin Archbishop of Greed, could not kill him either.
Authority surpassed blessings, and once the effect was set, the reality became permanent.
It was indeed an overwhelming power, but in truth Ren himself was weak. If the enemy did not fall into his trap, all he could do was run.
Still, he was thankful. The knights of that world, and especially the Sin Archbishops, always answered his questions.
Regulus, with his endless chatter, had fallen into his trap the moment they met.
"Can we use our Authorities here?" The Detective Ren tilted his head, curious. He couldn't understand why simply denying someone's words could reverse reality. It made no logical sense.
"Probably not. But his Authority did give me a stronger life force and boosted my power to a higher level." The Pirate Ren spoke as he carefully felt the energy within himself.
"Pandora really is broken… to use her power and grant you immortality." The Akame Ren couldn't help but feel a little envious.
"You think that's a blessing? The stronger her ability, the harder it is for me to escape her grasp." The Re:Zero Ren sighed.
Back then, he had run into Pandora by chance, and she had taken him away without leaving him any chance to refuse.
"Let's leave it at that. Looks like today's meeting is over." The Naruto Ren's figure vanished in an instant, and the others slowly faded away as well.
**********
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