Two days after Mary Geoise was set ablaze, a team of CP0 agents arrived on the deserted island where Kurogane Ren had once been stranded.
The masked man in white leading them looked around and asked, "Is this the place?"
"Based on Saint Rodcaster's route, his ship should have been attacked somewhere nearby. We've already searched the surrounding area. This is the only island in the vicinity."
"But Saint Rodcaster isn't on the island."
"Chief."
"What is it?"
"Look over here."
One of the men in white pointed at a dent in the surface of a rock.
The man in white robes walked over, examined it, and said, "A bullet mark. And it's fresh."
"Chief, there's something here too."
He turned and looked at two neighboring rocks. Different traces had been left on each of them.
"These look like marks caused by extreme cold and extreme heat. Fresh as well."
His expression darkened.
"It seems Saint Rodcaster most likely met with an accident. Report everything here to the Five Elders immediately."
…
"What do you mean, missing?!"
The blond Elder's voice thundered through the room.
"We found clear traces of someone living on the island for an extended period of time, but no sign of Saint Rodcaster. Based on the evidence, we believe Saint Rodcaster most likely encountered an accident."
"Did you find a golden box?"
"No. Aside from the rocks, there was nothing else on the island."
"Can you determine who did it?"
"No. The person was very cautious and left behind nothing of real value. But based on some of the residual traces, we can confirm one thing."
"The box was likely destroyed."
"…I understand. Return for now."
"Yes, sir."
Click.
The blond Elder looked toward the other four and said grimly, "The item is gone."
The other four had naturally heard everything through the Den Den Mushi as well.
"So both the Devil Fruit and the item are gone."
"Based on CP's report, the Devil Fruit was likely eaten. Inform all CP units to keep watch for anyone with the ability to control temperature. The moment such a person appears, detain them immediately."
"But what do we do now? Without the secret medicine, how are we supposed to suppress that thing over the next several years?"
"Should we send CP agents to suppress it?"
"The Rocks incident already cost CP three fighters with Admiral-level strength. With CP's current forces, suppression is impossible."
"Then what do we do?"
"If that thing breaks free, the Sea Kings of the Calm Belt will also lose their restraint. And once that happens, the Holy Land itself will be in danger."
"Should we send Marine Admirals to suppress it?"
"No. It would take at least three Admirals to keep that thing down. If the Marines lose the restraint of the three Admirals, pirates across the seas will immediately start causing chaos."
"Damn it. This is all Roger's fault."
"So what now?"
"There's only one option left."
"We'll have to request that person's intervention."
"But that person can only make a limited number of moves…"
"If we fail to suppress that thing, and the truth gets out, the World Government is finished."
A heavy silence followed.
Then one of them sighed.
"…Fine. Let's all go request an audience with that person."
…
"Damn it… I'm so hungry…"
Kurogane Ren lay sprawled across the deck of the little sailboat, eyes dull as he stared at the sky.
He had already been drifting at sea for five full days.
During those five days, he had spent long stretches continuously using his ability to generate wind, which drained his stamina badly. And the result was obvious.
His food was running out far faster than expected.
By noon yesterday, he had eaten the last of it.
Since then, he had been running on an empty stomach while still forcing himself to use his power.
That only made the hunger worse.
And today's draw hadn't given him food either.
He got a mirror.
A damn mirror.
At this point, Ren was still inside the Calm Belt. Since he hadn't managed to leave it after all this time, he was starting to seriously suspect that instead of crossing the Calm Belt, he had been sailing along it lengthwise the whole time.
Several times, he had wanted to turn the boat around and pick a different direction.
But every single time, the same thought stopped him.
What if the next second is the moment I finally make it out?
Looking at the same cloudless sky overhead, Ren couldn't help wondering if he was about to become the first transmigrator in history to starve to death.
He had even eaten that disgusting bread before.
And only after forcing himself to swallow it had Ren finally understood why the Devil Fruit hadn't tasted that bad to him back then.
Compared to that bread, the Devil Fruit counted as gourmet cuisine.
"System, I'm starving," Ren groaned weakly. "I feel like I'm about to die. Can't you let me draw early just this once? Tomorrow I'll sign in and skip the draw. Deal?"
"No."
The system's answer was cold and immediate.
"This system will not allow such a thing."
"But if I die, won't that be a problem for you too? Like… won't you disappear? Or maybe your KPI will get worse?"
The system replied flatly, "Host, you think too much. I chose you. You did not choose me. Even if you die, it has no effect on me. At most, I'll just change to another host."
Ren froze.
All this time, he had believed the system wouldn't let him die.
The reason was simple—over the past month, about half the items he drew had been food or water, things absolutely crucial to his survival at sea.
That had made him assume he and the system were in a mutually dependent relationship.
But apparently…
The system had never cared whether he lived or died.
Ren swallowed and asked, "Then why did I keep drawing so much food and water?"
"Because this system detected the host's brainwave activity," the system answered. "After analysis, it was determined that the host had a strong demand for food and drinking water. Therefore, the lottery results leaned toward food and water."
Ren blinked.
So that was it.
Holding his hollow stomach, he took out a bottle of water and gulped it down in several long swallows.
The large amount of water sloshing into his belly eased the hunger a little.
The next day—
Ren lay weakly over the bow of the boat, his eyelids heavy.
The hunger was so intense that he hadn't been able to sleep at all.
Still, he raised both hands and activated his power again, driving the sailboat forward.
But because his body lacked strength, he could only use the ability for short bursts now. The boat advanced only a limited distance each time.
Then, after another wave of exhaustion hit him and he stopped using his ability, Ren suddenly noticed something strange.
The boat was still moving.
He hadn't activated his power.
And yet it was still moving.
For a second, Ren was stunned.
Then he realized it.
He had finally left the Calm Belt.
He shot upright at once, felt the direction of the wind, and hurried to adjust the sail.
Only after he finished did the last of his strength leave him.
He collapsed onto the deck.
He didn't know how much time passed.
At some point, voices reached his ears.
"Colonel, there's a civilian on the boat. Looks like a shipwreck survivor."
"Hurry. Get him aboard."
…
"Where… is this?"
When Ren opened his eyes again, he found himself staring at the ceiling of a room.
"You're awake?"
He turned his head.
A Marine soldier stood beside him, carrying a tray.
The moment Ren saw the uniform, his heart clenched, and his eyes filled with instinctive caution.
After all, he had killed a Celestial Dragon.
"Relax," the Marine said, noticing his tension. "We're the Marines. We found you yesterday. You were in terrible condition at the time, but the doctor said you only fainted from starvation. We've already put you on fluids."
Ren hesitated, then asked, "Y-You're the ones who saved me?"
"Yeah," the Marine replied with a grin. "You were lying there on that little boat. If we'd found you any later, you might've drifted back into the Calm Belt."
Then he handed over a bowl of soup.
"Here, drink this first. The doctor said you're still weak, so you shouldn't eat anything too hard yet."
By this point, Ren had already pieced it together.
After he lost consciousness, the Marines must have found him and assumed he was an ordinary survivor of some disaster at sea.
They had rescued him.
Ren accepted the bowl and said softly, "Thank you."
This one was sincere.
He truly meant it.
Because if these Marines hadn't found him when they did, he probably would have died for real.
Hearing that, the young Marine broke into a bright smile.
"Helping civilians like you is the duty of us righteous Marines."
Ren smiled back and extended his hand.
"My name is Kurogane Ren."
The Marine grabbed it firmly.
"I'm Kena," he said. "A trainee Marine."