"Saren, what's your plan?"
"We'd better make sure Mr. Ren enjoys his stay on Cuckoo Island."
Captain Saren sighed as he gave his suggestion, deliberately leaving out the rest of his thought.
Otherwise, he might make our deaths very unpleasant.
He understood perfectly well what the other side was plotting.
Once that line was spoken, any trouble Ren encountered could easily be blamed on the Merchant Guild.Unreasonable? Maybe. But what could anyone say when the man had the bigger fist?
The intent was simple—if the guild harbored any bad intentions, there'd be no need to investigate; just strike first.And if they didn't, then to avoid unnecessary disaster, they'd have to clear away any obstacles for Ren themselves.
"…Then let's do that," Sir Becks muttered after a pause. He didn't dare say anything like "we don't have to get involved."He was genuinely terrified. So, to save face, he forced out a more respectable excuse:"After all, he's our guest—and a business partner we've worked with before. Helping him out is only proper."
"Yes, sir," Saren replied with a nod before leaving to make preparations.
If he remembered correctly, there was still one of the guild's men aboard the ship.Perfect—he could use that guy to arrange safe lodging for Ren and the others.
The guild's infrastructure on this island was still operational, after all.No one expected, however, that Ren would find trouble—or be found by it—so quickly.
At that very moment, inside the Broken Wheel Tavern—
Ren sat at a table with a few half-eaten dishes before him.The taste was mediocre; cheap ingredients always spoke for themselves.This wasn't the high-tech world of his previous life—cheap meant cheap.
Even the environment couldn't compare to the comfort of the Gus.It made Ren frown slightly, a trace of dissatisfaction he made no effort to hide.In fact, he deliberately displayed his honest reaction, without restraint.
That expression caught the attention of several curious patrons,all of whom were eyeing him as a "potential client."
And Ren, in turn, regarded them as "potential deliveries coming straight to him."
Ah, the beauty of mutual interest.
His plan was to return to his cabin on the Gus for the night, solidifying his image as a wealthy traveler.Then, as expected, Saren would probably approach him later to "outsource" his lodging and meals—which would conveniently place him at an inn in Cuckoo Town.That would complete the first phase of his plan.
The only reason he was still here was because Zoro had gone upstairs after whispering something about scouting around.And besides… he'd just spotted a "familiar face."
"Hey there—your drink," said a young waitress.
She wore a short-sleeved blue-and-white striped shirt and blue shorts with a few deliberate rips.Her figure was near perfect—an S-shaped silhouette with fair, flawless skin that gleamed under the tavern's dim lights.She was a world apart from the other servers here.
Her short orange hair swayed as she moved with practiced grace,her pretty face bright with a smile as she deftly avoided the drunken hands reaching her way,placing drinks down at each table and leaving behind a trail of disappointed laughter.
"Little wildcat, you're too quick for us!"
"That's because you're too clumsy."
The waitress shot back playfully before turning toward the last customer—Ren.
Experience told her he was probably some rich kid out "experiencing commoner life."Judging by how stiffly he sat and how his eyes wandered around the tavern,he seemed shy and introverted—an easy mark.
Maybe I can get a tip out of him. Just a few smiles, and I can earn a nice bonus without losing a thing!Come on, Nami! Every little bit counts! Only twenty million more and I can finally save up a hundred million Beli to buy back the village!
Pumping herself up, Nami stepped forward—only to notice the young man staring straight at her.He seemed almost entranced.
Huh… an old acquaintance, huh?
Ren's eyes narrowed. He hadn't expected to run into her here.
Orange hair, that face—any man who had seen One Piece and had a pulse would recognize her.
Nami!
A core member of the Straw Hat crew, a navigator of extraordinary—no, unmatched—talent.Though timid at times, she was notoriously obsessed with money and had once lived as a thief preying on pirates before joining Luffy's crew.Her story was tangled, connected to the Fish-Men,but at heart, she was kind, sentimental, and fiercely opposed to injustice—a capable, occasionally gentle woman.
Ren was still lost in thought when she placed the last two bottles of liquor on his table.
"Here you go, sir," Nami said sweetly, leaning forward slightly with a playful wink."Don't forget the tip, okay?"
It was such a blunt, straightforward request that Ren couldn't help but smile.
After a brief pause, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a wad of Beli—and in one swift motion, slipped it inside her shirt.
A flash of cleavage, a brush of smooth, silky skin—and then, before Nami could react, the deed was done.
"...S-Sir?"Her smile froze. The situation had taken a turn she absolutely hadn't expected.That supposedly shy, polite kid—how was he this fast!?
"What's wrong? You don't want it? Then I'll just take it back," Ren teased with a sly grin.
He reached forward again, only for Nami to twist away, creating distance in a blink.The nearby patrons burst into raucous laughter.
"Looks like the wildcat got clawed! Haven't seen that in weeks!""Hey, Nami, I've got a tip too—want it?"
The drunken crowd hooted, some eyeing Ren with envy… others with greed, malice, and killing intent.
"You're a bold one, sir," Nami said with a pout, though her hands were lightning fast as she pocketed the cash.Just from the feel of it, she could tell it was at least fifty thousand Beli.
Jackpot!
"Is that so? Then I'll double it next time," Ren replied lightly, though his gaze shifted toward a corner of the tavern.
The group of men who'd been watching earlier were now quietly slipping out.His grin widened.
Things were about to get interesting.
As for the local guards?That line he'd said to Saren earlier—about avoiding "unpleasant incidents"—had been a setup for this exact situation.
He hadn't said what kind of trouble he wanted to avoid.If he was the one stirring things up, well, that was a different story.
A little chaos was perfectly normal.And when the guards came asking questions, Saren's guild would have to smooth things over.
After all, a merchant guild this big couldn't possibly lack local connections.Ren just had to make sure he didn't commit a crime serious enough to turn the whole island against him.
His true goal was simple:those filthy fortunes hoarded by criminals and smugglers.
Because really—why earn money when you could take it?
At its core, capital always began with blood and plunder.
(End of Chapter)