As the division commanders exchanged glances, Dragon turned toward the ever-calm Robin.
"First of all, we're grateful for the help you've brought to the Revolutionary Army. Whether it was a trade or not, the information about the two Ancient Weapons has been of immense value to us. And that," he paused, "is thanks to you and Mr. Ren.
As a gesture of goodwill, we owe you a warning."
"What kind of warning?"
"You've been marked."
"?"
"I'm sure you remember the commotion Ren caused back in the East Blue—and his grudge with Red-Hair." Dragon tapped a finger against the table, his expression turning grave. "Though that incident ended with Red-Hair's response, things have since taken a strange turn.
It seems he's reached some sort of understanding with the World Government—or perhaps the Government itself has other plans.
Either way, within our intelligence network, the forces belonging to Heavenly Yaksha Doflamingo are actively searching for you.
And from the intelligence we've intercepted, they're not coming with friendly intentions. It looks more like… they're on the hunt."
"I see…"
Robin's expression shifted slightly—her calm eyes growing visibly heavier.
Donquixote Doflamingo. One of the current Seven Warlords of the Sea, and the reigning monarch of the New World's member nation Dressrosa.
From what she knew, he was also one of the reigning kings of the criminal underworld—on par with the Shipping King and the Loan Shark King.
To put it in perspective, the president of the World Economic Journal was widely known as the News King.
That caliber of man had set his sights on Ren's crew.
By logic, Robin should have felt a strong sense of crisis. But when she recalled everything Ren had shown her, that feeling was instantly dispelled.
Even the Heavenly Yaksha himself… facing that man, his end probably wouldn't be much better than Enel's.
Besides—she could feel it. Ren's crew was growing in power at an astonishing pace.
Once that massive Ark project reached completion, there would likely be nowhere left in the world that could truly contain him.
With that thought, Robin's lips curved slightly. "Understood. I'll pass this on to the captain. I trust this next enemy will be one the crew finds… satisfying."
"…"
Dragon blinked, momentarily surprised by her answer. "That guy… you should still take him seriously.
He is one of the Seven Warlords. I've never dealt with him much myself, but in the past, he was the sort that could give even an Admiral a headache."
"I simply have more faith in our captain, that's all."
Robin smiled softly.
"I see."
Dragon said no more, simply lifting his teacup and draining it in one sip.
"Well then, I'll be turning in."
Robin rose gracefully, ending the conversation. She left the conference room under the Revolutionaries' warm, approving gazes.
Outside, she dialed Ren's Den Den Mushi.
Though she didn't believe Doflamingo could match Ren, it never paid to let contempt creep into one's strategy.
Naïve fools didn't live to her age.
Buru ~ Buru ~
"I see. Got it. Mm. Stay safe."
Inside the third-deck bedroom of the Enlightenment, Ren—who had just woken from a nap—hung up the call and pondered for a moment.
It didn't take long to draw his conclusion.
If nothing unexpected had happened, Doflamingo's involvement must be a move by the World Government.
Or rather—one of their moves.
Of course,it wasn't that the Government wanted Doflamingo to assassinate Ren once he reached the New World.
If they really wanted him dead there, they might as well let Red-Hair do the job himself.
But since they clearly intended to eliminate Ren before he ever reached that sea,it wasn't a task just anyone could handle.
The Marines were one option—but compared to an official Navy manhunt, sending one of the underworld's kings like Doflamingo was far more suitable.
Whether he came to hunt personally or dispatched his officers to do it, it was still cleaner than mobilizing the Marines.
After all, entering the Grand Line was no problem for Doflamingo.
In the original timeline, he'd appeared in Mock Town himself after one of his subordinates was defeated.
'Besides, it's not just Doffy looking for me. The Cipher Pol agencies are likely moving as well. If I hadn't come up to Skypiea, I might've been facing a far nastier situation already.
But now…'
Ren glanced down at Chester squatting by his feet, tongue lolling, and smiled coldly.
Who was the hunter—and who was the prey? Hard to say.
At the very least, he currently lacked a Warlord-level "prey."
Perhaps Doflamingo would make a fine one.
Of course, not immediately.
Ren still had far too many things to do first—chief among them one critical project:
the Time Training Machine.
The appearance of the Land Cards had given him a glimpse into the potential of harnessing the Rainbow Mist phenomenon.
If all went smoothly, he would obtain a tool perfectly suited for training—or rather, for growth.
That was his next top priority.
As for Doflamingo, the best time to deal with him would be after the Ark was complete.
'Which means… it's draw time.'
Ren finalized his short-term plan and opened the fully recharged Dimensional Roulette.
{Chip Balance: 500 million}
No Sea Offering this time, but as usual, he began with his "Lucky Double Strike."
{Drawn – Outfit: Angel of Light Wings}
{Drawn – Barracks Module: BOSS Unit}
{Drawn – Synthesis Scroll}
{Drawn – Rat Talisman Fragment}
{Drawn – BUG Poké Ball}
Five hundred million chips vanished in an instant, transforming into a handful of rewards.
The last to appear in Ren's hand was an ordinary Poké Ball—red on top, white on the bottom. The classic kind.
Except, of course, no ordinary Poké Ball would ever come out of a one Hundred Million-tier prize pool—much less with a "BUG" prefix.
As Ren examined it, a light-screen materialized before him.
[BUG Poké Ball]
Origin: Pokémon Dimension
Type: Minor Rule Artifact
Description: A special containment device for Pokémon, created under extraordinary circumstances—apparently a top-tier product from a certain research facility. Aside from basic Poké Ball functions, it possesses BUG traits, causing drastic alterations to its original properties.
Current BUG Traits: 100% Capture Rate, Data Conversion, Pokémon Contract
100% Capture Rate – Due to BUG interference, this trait guarantees capture when used on a target incapable of resistance.
Pokémon Contract – BUG mutation allows forcibly converting a captured creature into a Pokémon-type being. The process is irreversible; the target enters both data and physical states simultaneously and forms a master-servant bond with the user.
Data Conversion – Due to BUG effects, abnormal autonomous data evolution occurs. The system can analyze biological data of the contained Pokémon and simulate optimal evolution paths.
Consumption: Energy
Capacity: 0 / 1
'Strange… capacity of only one. Meaning it can capture just once. Consumes energy… I wonder if electricity counts.'
Ren pondered.
So the BUG Poké Ball was meant to capture a hostile life-form—convert it into an ally, and even grant it an evolution pathway like a Pokémon.
However…
nothing said the term life-form excluded humans.
And humans, after all, are living beings.
A very peculiar item indeed.
His first instinct? To use it on that giant serpent in the forests of Upper Yard.
The Sky Lord Nola wasn't extraordinarily powerful. In the original timeline, the scales that could withstand Zoro's slashes were utterly useless against Enel. A clear contrast.
Still, as a weapon of war, Nola was perfect—massive in size, scales harder than steel, organs incredibly resilient, vitality monstrous.
Any foe below the hundred-million-Beli level would barely scratch it. And anyone stronger could simply be left to Nami or Zoro.
Ren had told Zoro not to kill the Sky Lord precisely because he'd hoped to draw a control-type item someday—to turn that serpent into his war beast, a living siege engine on the battlefield.
If this thing truly provided a Pokémon-style evolution channel, Nola could become something far greater.
But then again…
there was always a but.
Realizing the Poké Ball might also work on humans, Ren couldn't help but review in his mind those he deemed "worth capturing."
First rule: he had to be able to defeat them—reduce them to a state of helplessness. That's how Poké Balls functioned. Key phrase: unable to resist.
Second: the target needed to have value—not too weak, ideally bringing added benefits like resources or influence.
Running through the list, only a few names surfaced.
And among them, one woman immediately stood out—
Boa Hancock!
The most beautiful woman in the seas, Devil Fruit user, and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Of course, the main reason she popped into his head first was simply because of her narrative presence—not necessarily because she was the ideal choice.
The Golden Emperor could also make a good target.
Still…'Turning people into Pokémon… isn't that a little too much?'
Ren mused, finally tossing the BUG Poké Ball into storage.
Next came an old acquaintance—the Rat Talisman Fragment.
Apparently, the dimension it came from had gone through some catastrophic battle; even Shendu's talismans had been shattered. This one was far more complete than the piece he'd drawn from the Silver Roulette.
Still, since he'd already used up his previous fragments, assembling a full Rat Talisman was now impossible. Better to use it as material for Nami's next weapon upgrade.
Conveniently, this draw had also granted him a Synthesis Scroll.
With a few extra materials, he could probably help Nami's gear undergo a qualitative transformation.
(End of Chapter)