Chapter 37 – Plans in Motion
"Moshi moshi."
A sweet voice came through the Den Den Mushi. Ren smiled faintly as he held the receiver near his ear.
"Moshi moshi. How are you?" he asked casually.
"Perfectly fine, darling," replied Shakuyaku with her usual playful tone. "We just received some news. A grand auction will be happening next week, and there may be more than one Celestial Dragons attending."
Her voice turned slightly serious.
"That means the security will be much tighter."
Ren fell silent for a moment as he thought about it.
"Fine," he finally said. "Wait there. I'll be coming."
Shakky chuckled softly, clearly having expected that answer.
"But darling… what about Wano Country?" she asked teasingly.
Ren leaned back comfortably on his flame cloud.
"Don't worry. The Whitebeard Pirates are staying here, and the Beast Pirates are still in Wano. Soon Shimotsuki Ushimaru will return as well."
He continued calmly.
"Inuarashi and Nekomamushi are back too. Right now, not even the World Government could touch Wano."
Nearby, Gloriosa listened to the conversation in horror.
Shakky only laughed.
"Well darling," she said casually, "since you're coming anyway… why not just take Amazon Lily while you're at it?"
Ren shrugged slightly.
"That sounds good. We can also take Fish-Man Island back while we're at it."
Gloriosa's mind nearly broke from confusion.
'Take Amazon Lily? Take Fish-Man Island?' she thought in disbelief.
'What kind of conversation is this?!'
Shakky ignored her reaction completely.
"Fine then," she said calmly. "I'll contact Tritoma."
She corrected herself lightly.
"After all, Tritoma is the current Empress."
"Alright," Ren said with a small smile.
"See you soon, love."
Shakky blew a playful kiss through the snail.
"See you soon, darling."
The line clicked as she hung up.
Gloriosa stared at Shakky with a complicated expression.
"You really chose a good man," she admitted slowly.
"And you seem to love him deeply. Now I'm curious to meet him."
Shakky smiled charmingly.
"Oh, he's the best," she said confidently.
"You'll understand when you meet him."
Gloriosa nodded, though something still felt strange about the whole situation.
But she decided not to question it further.
"Well, Gloriosa," Shakky said while standing up. "Can you stay here for a while? I'm going to visit Tritoma and discuss the immigration of Amazon Lily."
Gloriosa waved dismissively.
"Go already. I'm not some weak old woman who needs guarding."
Shakky smiled.
Then lightning suddenly erupted around her.
Her body transformed into a bolt of thunder as the power of the Goro Goro no Mi activated.
In an instant she shot into the sky as living lightning, racing toward Amazon Lily.
---
Meanwhile above Wano's skies, Ren continued flying on his flame cloud.
"So we're going to Sabaody Archipelago and Fish-Man Island?" Yamato asked excitedly.
She had woken up during the call and her eyes were sparkling.
Ren smiled slightly.
"Well, yes."
He glanced down at her.
"You'll also meet a girl who should be about three years older than you. Her name is Boa Hancock."
Yamato's excitement immediately exploded.
"And we can also visit the amusement park on Sabaody," Ren added.
Yamato instantly jumped up and hugged him tightly.
"Ren, you're the best!"
She kissed his cheek happily.
Ren chuckled before dialing another number on the Den Den Mushi.
"Peru Peru Peru…"
"Katcha."
"Hey Kaido," Ren said.
"I'm heading out for a while. Take care of Wano. Monkey D. Garp should be visiting soon. You can enjoy his company."
Kaido's laughter roared through the snail.
"Wororororo! Perfect timing!"
"I need someone to help me master Conqueror's infusion and future sight."
Ren smirked slightly.
"Then enjoy your fight."
He hung up and immediately made another call.
"Hey Edward Newgate," Ren said.
"I'm taking Fish-Man Island back to Wano."
Whitebeard laughed loudly.
"Gurarararara! I protected that island as best as I could. Now you can have it back."
He paused briefly.
"King Neptune already knows about our ten-year protection agreement."
Whitebeard continued thoughtfully.
"His wife is also interested in meeting you after hearing about your dream."
Ren nodded.
"That saves us some trouble then."
He thought for a moment.
"But just in case, ask Marco to contact Neptune and tell him to prepare for relocation to Wano."
Whitebeard frowned slightly.
"You're sure about this, Ren?"
"Fish-Man Island is the entrance to the New World. If you move it, many people will lose access to new World"
Ren's eyes turned cold.
"You think I care about the World Government?"
His voice carried quiet menace.
"If they dare come to Wano, I'll go to Mary Geoise and show them what the Holy Land looks like when it's half frozen and half burning."
Whitebeard burst out laughing.
"Gurarararara! As expected of you."
"Fine. I'll tell Marco."
Ren added one more thing.
"And while you're in Wano, make sure the Marines stay away."
"Kaido will handle Garp, but I suspect Sengoku may send Borsalino too."
Whitebeard grunted.
"That light brat is troublesome."
"But Marco can watch him. Fighting that slippery bastard will be good training for Marco and King."
"Good enough," Ren said.
"Then I'm heading to Fish-Man Island."
"Katcha."
---
Ren turned his flame cloud toward the capital.
"Since we're leaving," he said casually, "let's bring Ulti, Page One, and Jack too."
Yamato grumbled slightly but continued hugging him.
"Hey," Ren said suspiciously. "Aren't you acting a bit spoiled lately?"
Yamato stuck her tongue out at him.
"Bleh. I wanna. Got a problem?"
Ren sighed helplessly.
He had definitely spoiled her too much.
But he couldn't help it.
After all, Yamato was the guardian princess of Wano and his favorite girl from the One Piece world.
As long as she remained the same kind and cheerful Yamato, he didn't mind.
Ren pinched her cheeks gently.
"As long as you stay my Yamato, it's fine."
Soon they arrived at the training grounds.
There they found Jack, Ulti, and Page One practicing.
Ulti immediately spotted Ren and her face lit up with a huge smile.
But the smile vanished instantly when she saw Yamato hugging him while sticking her tongue out teasingly.
"Youuuu!" Ulti growled.
Yamato was clearly doing it on purpose.
Ren lightly bonked Yamato's head.
She accidentally bit her tongue.
"Ow! Ow! My tongue!"
She clutched her mouth while glaring at him.
"You idiot!"
Ren raised his fist threateningly.
"You think I didn't notice what you were doing?"
Then he looked at the others.
"Ulti, Page One, Jack… let's go."
"We're heading to the sea for a fun adventure."
Page One was about to refuse when he noticed Ulti's excitement.
Before he could speak, Ren added calmly.
"Don't worry. Ulti won't bother you."
"I'll come," Page One agreed instantly.
After all, he was still a kid too.
And Ren was the only person who could actually keep Ulti under control.
Ulti puffed her cheeks angrily.
"What's that supposed to mean, Pay-Pay?!"
"You don't like your sister anymore?!"
She grabbed him by the neck and started shaking him violently while crying, yelling, and complaining all at once.
Page One looked like his soul was leaving his body.
"Ulti," Ren said calmly.
"That's enough."
"Are you coming or staying here?"
Ulti froze instantly.
She dropped Page One and jumped onto the flame cloud.
"That's unfair!" she complained loudly.
"You took Yamato to Dressrosa before. You can't leave me behind this time!"
Ren laughed.
"Sorry about that."
"How about I buy you whatever you want?"
Ulti's eyes sparkled.
"Really?! Deal!"
She still remembered all the clothes Yamato had bought in Dressrosa.
Jack nodded silently and stepped onto the flame cloud as well.
Page One followed reluctantly.
Jack had recently eaten an Ancient Zoan Mammoth Devil Fruit and was currently the strongest among the kids except Yamato.
Page One had also eaten an Ancient Zoan.
Only Ulti still lacked a Devil Fruit.
Ren had been considering giving her the artificial Pink Dragon Devil Fruit created on Punk Hazard.
There was no Momonosuke in this timeline since Toki had followed Ren instead of Oden.
Still, Ren sometimes felt a little sad.
He missed Kozuki Hiyori, the only part of the Kozuki legacy he had truly liked.
In fact, he had already decided something.
If he and Toki ever had a daughter, he would name her Hiyori.
With that thought lingering in his mind, Ren guided the flame cloud forward.
Five figures flew across the sky toward Fish-Man Island.