CHAPTER 52 – The Monster Within
"What is the difference between me and those high-and-mighty Celestial Dragons?"
"Aren't I the same kind of monster as them? Just because I gained strength, I stopped caring about other people's opinions and feelings."
Ren stared at the sky. The more he thought about his past actions, the more frightened he became. His mind kept returning to the same questions, each one digging deeper into his heart.
*Why have I suddenly become so different from the man I was back then?*
*Were those few years really enough to change me so much?*
Shakky gently stroked his head, running her fingers through his hair with a tenderness that slowly eased the tension in his body.
"It's okay. Calm down."
Listening to her, Ren indeed began to calm down. He took a few deep breaths, allowing the cool breeze to brush against his face before finally looking at Shakky.
"I…"
He hesitated, struggling to find the right words.
Shakky rolled her eyes.
"Why are you acting so out of character? You want to say something? Just say it. If you don't, then it's fine not to tell me."
Ren stared at her for a moment before sighing.
"As for the matter with Gloriosa?"
Shakky continued stroking his head as she spoke casually.
"I was the one who suggested it in the first place. And trust me, if you had gone slowly and tried to build an emotional connection first, it would have taken years."
She paused briefly before continuing, a knowing smile appearing on her face.
"Don't underestimate a Kuja suffering from lovesickness. She wouldn't even have talked to you properly. Being bold and taking that step was necessary. It hasn't cured her sickness, but now she won't be trying to avoid you. All you have to do now is win her over, and trust me, you will do it in no time."
Shakky grinned as she finished speaking.
Ren looked at her speechlessly.
*Damn you women! I'm having an existential crisis here!*
He complained inwardly as the corner of his mouth twitched.
"Ahem... Well, I don't know how to react to that statement, but whatever, I guess!"
He scratched his cheek awkwardly before his expression turned serious again.
"But for me, it's still no excuse for what I—no, wait! What WE did with Gloriosa."
His eyes narrowed as he looked at Shakky.
"Damn it! You were also part of it, so why am I the only one feeling guilty?"
Shakky looked back at him with an innocent smile, looking as though she were a harmless cat who had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.
Ren's mouth twitched.
"Damn it! You black-hearted women! Feel some guilt, will you? You're her best friend, after all!"
"Fufufufufu! There's no need to overthink it, Ren darling~"
Shakky spoke in a coquettish tone, her lips curling into a playful smile.
"You worry so much, darling~"
She said it with such a nonchalant expression that Ren almost wondered whether she was deliberately trying to make his headache worse.
Shakky leaned closer and continued explaining, apparently determined to put his worries to rest.
"I know Gloriosa better than you do. If she had wanted to resist, she would have. And with her new vampire abilities, she could have easily escaped, but she didn't."
She shrugged as though the matter were perfectly simple.
"Well..."
Ren was speechless.
*Well, damn.*
He sighed deeply, staring at the sky as if searching for answers among the drifting clouds.
For some reason, he suddenly felt as though he was far too innocent for this damn world.
"Sigh..."
He rubbed his face before finally sitting up a little straighter.
"But I still feel bad. So, first of all, we're going to Amazon Lily. I'll go and apologize to Gloriosa. Then we're taking Yamato and the others, heading to Fish-Man Island, and meeting King Neptune."
Shakky tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Hmmm... So, when are you planning to move Fish-Man Island?"
"Probably never."
Ren answered without hesitation.
Shakky raised an eyebrow and looked at him strangely.
Ren smiled.
"I'm not going to move Fish-Man Island. It would cause too many problems for us. The pirates and the Government would become our enemies."
She narrowed her eyes as she began to understand what he meant.
"I see. You want to say that we'd become public enemies of both sides?"
"Yes. Fish-Man Island is the only way for pirates to enter and return from the New World and Paradise without going through the Calm Belt or the Holy Land. Neither option is practical for pirates. If we interfere with that route by moving the island, we'd become public enemies of both sides."
Ren rested his hands behind his head and continued speaking, explaining his reasoning.
"Think about it. The pirates need that route, and the World Government benefits from controlling access to it. Even if we had good intentions, moving the island would disrupt the existing balance. We'd be inviting trouble from every direction."
Shakky sighed, already feeling a headache coming on.
"So, we're going to immigrate the Fish-Men and mermaids in batches?"
"That's the idea."
She rubbed her forehead.
"Well, fine. But we'd still attract the Government's attention."
"We already have."
Ren shrugged, seemingly unconcerned.
"But they'll have other pirates to deal with, so they can't simply start a war with us over Amazon Lily. They'll be keeping a close eye on us, of course, since we've already demonstrated our strength."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Kaido has openly joined us, and Newgate has openly shown that he has no intention of becoming our enemy."
Ren looked toward the distant horizon, his expression becoming more thoughtful.
"Even if we start relocating the Fish-Men and mermaids, it won't be worth the Government going all out against us. Doing so would give other pirates an opportunity to strike against them while their forces are occupied."
He let out a quiet chuckle.
"In the grand scheme of things, we're just a troublesome eyesore in the Government's eyes. As long as we don't go around poking at their taboos or threatening the foundations of their rule, they won't care much about our existence."
A mocking smile appeared on Ren's face.
"That's the World Government's bottom line. Their arrogance comes from having centuries of history, influence, and power behind them. They don't take us seriously because they look down on us."
Shakky listened quietly, considering his words. His explanation made sense, and she couldn't deny that his assessment of the Government was reasonable.
However, there was something else that had caught her attention.
She turned toward him with a teasing smile.
"Well, that does make sense. But why do you know so much about the Government and understand it so well?"
After all, Ren had always avoided this question whenever she asked him about his knowledge of the world.
He knew far too much about the way the Government operated, its priorities, and the limits of its willingness to act. Sometimes, it felt as though he understood its thinking better than people who had spent their entire lives dealing with it.
Shakky had noticed it long ago, and she wasn't about to let the opportunity pass.
Ren glanced at her, then smiled faintly.
"Some things should be left in the past."