Ren didn't continue thinking about the Golden Den Den Mushi.
No matter how many possibilities he imagined, there was no way he'd abandon his current plan just to draw a Golden Den Den Mushi.
Mainly because—
There was nowhere in the East Blue to even use it!
The so-called weakest of the seas didn't even have a single Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral stationed there. If someone actually triggered a Buster Call here, who would they even be attacking?
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like that obviously had to be saved for a crucial moment!
Once that thought was settled,Ren tossed some of the useless prizes he'd drawn into the sea. He had no interest in keeping something as suicidal as that self-destruct weapon around.
Then he began examining the two new skills he had just obtained.
[Crystallization]
Origin:Attack on Titan
Type: Skill
Effect: Condenses the user's own flesh and blood into crystals far harder than steel, which can cover any part of the body. However, movement will be slightly hindered. By producing excessive crystals, the user can encase themselves entirely and enter a dormant state.
Cost: Stamina
A rather versatile skill—useful whether applied to the First Calabash Brother Template or the Third Calabash Brother Template.
Ren thought briefly about how to best use it, then continued to the next one.
[Savage Charge]
Origin:Legend
Type: Skill
Effect: After charging up, performs a long-distance rush that inflicts tremendous damage calculated by Strength × Speed to all obstacles along the path.Enemies sent flying will collide with others, causing secondary damage.However, colliding with an indestructible obstacle will also injure the user.
Cost: Stamina
Another highly adaptable skill—perfect as a foundational combat enhancement for the Calabash Brother system Ren was constructing.
"Alright, that's enough. My luck's clearly starting to dip. Guess I should save the next draw for after some real action," he muttered.
He glanced at his remaining chips: 160 million.
Then he stopped.
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
As soon as Ren and his companion left, the manager who had been entertaining them dropped his pleasant smile and coldly released a falcon into the sky.
The sea was vast, and islands were isolated with almost no reliable means of communication.
It was said that there existed a special type of Den Den Mushi capable of transmitting signals across any distance, even spanning entire seas.
But those rare creatures only existed in Marine base facilities; no civilians could ever get their hands on one.
Thus,the Krieg Pirates had long since trained a flock of falcons for long-range communication.
The one the manager released was one of them—and the net they'd been weaving around the Demon Pirates had already been cast ten days earlier.
The falcon sliced through the clouds, crossing hundreds of nautical miles before landing on a designated island.
The bird handler there retrieved the message and hurried it to the man waiting in silence—Gin.
"Lord Gin, the Demon Pirates have appeared near Gerven Island. The local manager is delaying them under a pretext. We'll have at least three days before they can move again."
"Send word. Withdraw our setups in the southeast and west. Tell the Big Bucket Pirates to prepare to set sail."
Gin issued his orders coldly.
The bird handler hesitated, then spoke softly: "Sir, it seems the Gerven Kingdom has noticed our movements. They've sent an offer to dispatch their royal guard to assist Captain Krieg in eliminating his enemies. They can mobilize over a thousand soldiers to help us encircle the Demon Pirates."
"A bunch of farmers who only dropped their hoes a few years ago—and they dare call themselves soldiers?"
Gin sneered. But then he added,"Still, tell them to handle the surrounding preparations before the operation starts. Then have them join the encirclement. The Admiral values this mission. I don't want any mistakes."
"Yes, sir."
The handler departed.Moments later, Gin boarded a pirate ship teeming with rough men.
They were the Big Bucket Pirates—a newly-risen crew that had just sworn fealty to the Krieg Pirates after being crushed by the harsh realities of the seas. Over a hundred of them now sailed under Krieg's banner.
Their captain, Crescent, wielded a warhammer with surprising skill and had already earned himself a 5 million bounty—enough to catch Krieg's attention.
"Set sail! We reach Gerven Island by tomorrow afternoon!"
On deck, Gin barked the order, his grim expression fixed toward the horizon.
He didn't yet know what sort of enemy awaited them—but if they were foes of the Krieg Pirates…
Then it could only mean they were unlucky.
"Understood! Yes sir, right away!"
Captain Crescent nodded and bowed repeatedly, then scurried to arrange everything before returning to Gin's side.
"What is it?" Gin asked flatly.
"Boss, I just wanted to ask—after this mission, does that mean we'll officially be part of the Krieg Pirates?"
"Yeah."
"And, uh…" Crescent scratched his cheek nervously. "I heard there's going to be a big operation within our ranks soon. Will we be part of it? There aren't many chances to earn merit with Captain Krieg, you know…"
"You heard that?"Gin's eyes snapped open, his cold gaze freezing Crescent in place.
The once-feared pirate who had terrorized small ports trembled and stammered, "J-just rumors! That's all!"
"…"
Gin was silent for a moment before exhaling sharply through his nose."Next time, don't go sniffing around where you shouldn't. But fine, I'll tell you this much—unless something changes, the boss will send you out.The Baratie Restaurant won't be easy to seize, and knowing Captain Krieg's nature, you'll have your chance to shine."
"Y-yes, sir! But, uh, why attack the Baratie anyway? Isn't that just a restaurant?"
"You don't understand. "Gin's tone grew serious. "A while back, the Admiral captured some of Buggy's men. Their crew got wiped out by someone, and the survivors were chased off their home island.When we found them drifting at sea, they offered us something valuable in exchange for their lives."
"What was it?"
"Ever heard of the Grand Line?"
"The Grand Line!? That's supposed to be the graveyard of pirates!" Crescent blurted out. "Don't tell me the Baratie has something to do with that place?"
"The remnants of Buggy's crew claimed their captain had been to the Grand Line. The danger there lies in the weather. Anyone with knowledge of the Grand Line's conditions could chart a safer course. Our people searched Buggy's base but found no such map. However…" Gin's eyes gleamed, "Captain Krieg learned something else—Baratie's head chef, Red-Leg Zeff, once sailed the Grand Line himself. And he brought back a logbook."
Gin's voice grew fervent, almost fanatical: "As long as we can seize that logbook and capture Zeff as a living map to guide us through the seas, Captain Krieg will set sail for the Grand Line—to become the next Pirate King! He'll be even greater than Roger himself, ruling all four seas and the entire world!"
"So that's what this is about…" Crescent breathed, awe widening his eyes. He could almost see a radiant path opening before him—a chance to rise at last.
He had joined the Krieg Pirates because he lacked strength of his own.And now, it seemed serving such a powerful master was indeed the wisest choice.
(End of Chapter)