Ren did not care about that. He was only thinking about one thing.
Should he warn Whitebeard and tell him to watch out for his son Squard stabbing him in the back?
Although Ren was not sure when Akainu's little trick had begun, he could at least give him a warning in advance.
But after thinking about it carefully, trying to explain something like that to a "father" willing to give his life for his sons… forget it. If he got stabbed, then he got stabbed.
Ren had personally experienced the strength of Word Spirit: Don't Die. As long as one's willpower was strong enough to pass the test, it was truly a BUG-level ability.
Forget one stab. Even if half of Whitebeard's head were smashed apart, before he failed the test, he would still remain in peak condition.
'Compared to that, I should think about Blackbeard instead. That guy's gaze was locked on me.'
Ren recalled the details of his contact with Blackbeard.
He could confirm that the other party was indeed a ruthless ambitious hero. Everything he did in the conference room had been purposeful.
His contact with Hancock was probably because he had noticed Hancock's ability.
In the original story, Blackbeard invaded Kuja precisely for Hancock's Sweet-Sweet Fruit ability.
All Ren could say was that it was fortunate he had not obtained it. Otherwise, Ren dared not imagine a "Mero Mero" version of Blackbeard.
As for him contacting Ren himself…
'Has he taken a fancy to my Devil Fruit ability? That makes sense. After all, in the eyes of the world, I'm a Devil Fruit user.
Even if Vice Admiral Onigumo reported the intelligence back, they would only conclude that my clone ability isn't afraid of Seastone or seawater, but my main body definitely would be.
The known abilities I've displayed already include flight, teleportation, flames, lightning, and multiple others.
If he wants to hunt for fruits, then I'm definitely one of his best targets.
Well, it doesn't matter. He's my target too.
We're just hunting each other.'
Blackbeard was an extremely special person. Among the confirmed intelligence about him, there was already the fact that he did not need sleep.
At present, the suspected explanations leaned toward something like a twin-body condition, or the so-called octopus physique.
In the original information, he had broken the iron rule that one person could only eat one Devil Fruit.
He had eaten two Devil Fruits: the Yami Yami no Mi and the Gura-Gura no Mi. There was even a possibility that he could eat a third.
That was clearly the result of his special constitution.
What made things rather subtle was that the Glory Sanctuary's Conversion Pool had a function called "Precision Operation."
It could break down captured creatures and use the traits of the Conversion Pool to extract the abilities held by that creature.
Talents, Devil Fruit powers, knowledge, race… did Blackbeard's constitution count?
Obviously, it did.
And even more conveniently, in Ren's plan, there were two Devil Fruits suitable for him.
The Paramecia-Type Devil Fruit, the More-More Fruit—or rather, the multiplication fruit—was held by a great pirate imprisoned on Level 6 of Impel Down, Infinite Hell.
Byrnndi World, nicknamed the World Destroyer.
The ability of the More-More Fruit was to increase an object's speed and size, with a range of one to one hundred times.
For example, it could enlarge a bullet fired from a pistol by one hundred times, while also increasing the bullet's speed by one hundred times.
Or it could increase the size and speed of a small stone thrown by hand by one hundred times.
Because of the rise in speed and mass, the resulting power would increase to a terrifying level capable of shattering a warship.
However, it was uncertain whether it could also increase "destructive power" by one hundred times.
In addition, because it was a Paramecia, the fruit user could enlarge their own body by one to one hundred times, but could not use the ability on other living beings.
To Ren, this ability was an indispensable component.
For example, when using World-Ending Horn: Abyssal Sun, what would happen if he used the ability to enlarge that energy body by one hundred times?
The answer was: he did not know.
But perhaps it could be regarded as a scene like "the sun falling."
Even after obtaining the Mother Flame, this ability, which directly violated the laws of physics by increasing speed and size out of thin air, was still indispensable.
In other words, in Ren's schedule, he would interfere with matters at the great prison of Impel Down.
As for the second Devil Fruit… that was naturally the Gura-Gura no Mi.
After his battle with Whitebeard on Raijin Island, Ren had gained a deeper understanding of the Tremor-Tremor power.
The way Whitebeard expressed his ability was not pure vibration. It was more like the concept of a natural disaster, casually raising his hand or taking a step and causing mountains to collapse and the earth to split apart.
However, after truly experiencing it, Ren realized that Whitebeard's method of using the Tremor-Tremor power was extremely ingenious.
He converted vibration into force, used a small "force" to leverage a greater "force," then let it snowball. Through large-scale snowballing, he created an immense force that formed a "quake source."
Then, he used that quake source as offensive power to unleash a series of attacks.
In other words, the root of the Tremor-Tremor power was still vibration.
And in Ren's understanding, vibration could be interpreted another way: "the motion of matter."
Everything in the world, whether the earth, beasts, birds, great winds, lightning, or even the blazing sun suspended high in the sky…
All of them fell within the concept of matter in motion.
If matter stopped moving, then everything would die along with it and become meaningless "things."
Yes.
That was what vibration was.
If he could reach that level, Ren was confident he could sweep through the entire One Piece world.
He just was not sure whether he had the ability to do it.
Even if he could not reach that level, with a transformation method combined with the Dimensional Roulette, he was confident that he could turn this Devil Fruit ability into something even more terrifying.
'Should I kill Blackbeard and get the More-More Fruit first?'
Just as Ren was fantasizing about the future, the Den Den Mushi in his pocket suddenly rang.
Buru Buru~
"Hm?"
Ren interrupted his thoughts and answered in surprise. Then, he heard an unexpected voice.
"Can you come over? I have something extremely important."
"Now?"
Ren looked out the window. The sky had already gone dark.
"It is precisely because it is dark that I am calling you over. With your ability, that should be very easy to accomplish, correct? I am waiting for you on the bed in my bedroom right now."
After saying that, Hancock hung up directly.
"Is she inviting me to launch a night attack on her?"
Ren put the modified Den Den Mushi back into his pocket and stroked his smooth chin in surprise.
"No, this is more like a counterattack.
Has she finally been unable to endure it anymore? I thought she would wait a while longer before daring to take the risk… Well, now is indeed a pretty good opportunity."
He activated Combat Dispatch and directly teleported to Hancock's location.
Light and shadow blurred. When he appeared again, he had already plunged into something soft.
It was not some seductive scene. It was a soft bed, still carrying Hancock's fragrance.
Ren could not help twitching his nose. From behind him came a disgusted voice, along with a click.
"You are also a filthy man. I truly do not understand how you are immune to my petrification."
Hancock coldly raised her chin slightly.
Perhaps because it was nighttime, her attire was somewhat different now.
She wore a red, yoga-like fluffy top. Her exceedingly full northern and southern hemispheres propped up the front of the garment.
Her entire abdomen was exposed, and the smooth lines of her vest-like abs were incomparably alluring.
A Marine coat from who knew where was draped over her shoulders. Beneath its long hem were hot short shorts that revealed her long, full, fair thighs.
As she spoke, she stuffed the Photo Den Den Mushi in her hand into the valley before her chest.
The bulge became even more outrageous than before, almost as if it were about to burst her top apart.
"A trap, huh."
Ren turned over and lazily lay on Hancock's bed.
"So, do you really know what you're doing?"
"If I do not struggle and counterattack, then regardless of whether I betray you or not, the final result will be destruction, correct?"
"No."
"I do not believe you."
Hancock took a step back and pointed coldly and seriously beneath her feet.
"This is Marine Headquarters. If there is any commotion, a Marine Admiral will be drawn here directly.
After all, the Marines attach great importance to this war. Even if it is you, it is impossible for you to do anything under an Admiral's watch, correct?"
"Mm, very thorough consideration. Anything else?"
Ren changed his posture and lay on his side, propping up his head with one hand as he asked curiously,
"If that's all, I'll be very disappointed in you.
Since you noticed my ability, you should know that it will only take me an instant to go back."
"Naturally. That is why I took a photograph the moment you appeared.
You may try to snatch it, but you must understand that I will definitely create a commotion before you succeed.
It is impossible for you to subdue me in an instant!"
Hancock straightened her back, thrusting out her full chest that looked as if it were about to split her clothes.
Along with it, she raised her arrogant, beautiful face, wearing a proud tsundere expression that practically said, "I have won."
If one listened carefully to what she said, they would discover that her phrasing and tone were almost exactly the same as what Ren had once said.
"Once a commotion breaks out, I will confess what you did on Kuja Island before.
Taking action against a fellow Warlord without permission is already something the Marines do not allow. Add to that the fact that you deliberately controlled me and demanded that I participate in this war.
You will bring even greater trouble upon yourself. And then there are the photographs and recordings of the Celestial Dragons that you showed me.
Those things will make your situation even more troublesome, correct?"
"You intend to help the World Government retrieve the Celestial Dragons?"
"I have no interest in that! This is merely a bargaining chip to threaten you! If you refuse to step back, then I will fight you to the bitter end!"
Hancock's beautiful face was as cold as frost, openly displaying her determination.
"I do not know what plan you have.
You only gave me a scroll and told me to tear it open according to your instructions, but I know the result it brings definitely will not benefit Kuja Island.
If I follow your plan, neither I nor the kingdom will be saved!"
"So you think now is the critical moment, and you want to seize the initiative from me?"
Ren said with great interest,
"Pretty good thinking ability. As expected of the Empress."
"It is useless to praise me now. Either do as I wish, or we fight to the death!"
As Hancock spoke, her delicate body tensed. From the look of her, the slightest movement would cause her to create a huge commotion.
Indeed, she could see that Ren's target was definitely the World Government, and even the Celestial Dragons she hated.
Under normal circumstances, Hancock would even be willing to provide a little help.
After all, she truly hated the Celestial Dragons. She loathed those World Nobles for the disaster they had brought upon her.
But absolutely not through this method of being controlled!
Hancock had no idea what the other party's plan was, nor did she know Kuja's position within that plan.
She had only received one scroll and part of the steps. Who knew what would happen if she followed those steps?
(End of Chapter)