"Pick some coconuts. We can't let ourselves starve to death on this island. We'll need food once we set sail again."
Zoro slung his bundle over his shoulder, then glanced at Ren as something occurred to him. "By the way, there was only my small boat on the beach. How did you end up meeting me at sea?"
"I thought you'd ask how long I've been stranded here," Ren said with a faint smile.
"I did think that at first," Zoro admitted. "But after circling the island, I realized there are no signs of anyone living here." His eyes narrowed slightly in curiosity. "If it's some kind of secret, I won't pry."
"You'll see for yourself later. Also—"
Ren shrugged, then dropped the branch he was holding and stamped out the smoldering embers beneath his foot. "I came to tell you dinner's ready, Zoro."
"Dinner?"
Zoro blinked in confusion and followed Ren out of the coconut grove.
Then he froze. A pot had appeared in their original camp spot, steam curling from boiling water filled with strangely shaped noodles.
Beside it lay a heap of peculiar objects—oddly decorated cans and barrels, mismatched clothes of all sizes, a dozen or so daggers, and piles of other miscellaneous things.
"???"
Zoro dropped his bundle and rubbed his eyes. He could swear none of that had been there before he left. And there was no way Ren's small backpack could have held so much.
"Come eat. The noodles are ready."
Ren sat casually on a wooden stool, waving him over. His gaze flicked to Zoro's coconuts. "We'll keep those for dessert."
"You a magician or something? How'd you pull all this out of nowhere?"
Zoro's gaze lingered on the backpack, his expression torn between suspicion and disbelief.
"Technically speaking," Ren said lightly, "I'm a Devil Fruit user. Ever heard of the great treasures of the sea? I ate one of them."
He used the convenient excuse of a Devil Fruit to cover up the truth. "My ability lets me trade certain… costs for specific things I want."
In reality, it was just the Dimensional Roulette's trait of producing random junk from the lower tiers—he'd spent about 100,000 Beli to draw some useful supplies. But explaining the roulette itself would be troublesome, and his trust in Zoro hadn't reached that level yet. So, a "Devil Fruit" it was.
"I see. So those weird things really exist, huh."
Zoro clapped his hands once in realization, accepting the explanation without question.
"Well, the fear of seawater part is annoying," Ren admitted, shrugging as he poured noodles into paper bowls. He handed one to Zoro.
The savory aroma wafted through the air—rich, meaty broth with springy, glossy noodles coiled like tiny serpents, topped with a sausage and a few vegetable flakes.
On the paper bowl's surface were printed the words: Master Kong Braised Beef Noodles.
That's right—the pot contained humanity's ultimate sustenance, the lifeline of overworked office workers everywhere: instant noodles!
Slurp—!
Zoro took a bite, then blinked in surprise. "This tastes amazing! This could compete with restaurants in major towns! Don't tell me you're a chef?"
"I'm no chef," Ren said sheepishly. "I just tear open the packet, toss everything in the pot, and boil it. That's it."
He gave a self-deprecating laugh. He was no culinary genius—just a worn-down corporate drone who'd mastered the art of instant noodles.
Not because he was lazy, but because after being drained by endless overtime, who had the energy to cook? Only instant noodles could remind him that life still held a shred of warmth.
What?Experts said they were junk food with no nutrition?
If you're already surviving on instant noodles every day, who even cares?
According to Ren's plan, he wouldn't stay on this island long.
He intended to spend a few days sorting his thoughts—especially figuring out how to make use of Zoro, the powerful "asset" he'd accidentally picked up.
For that, he carried a small notebook, filled with notes written in Chinese—his recollections of the original story.
Afterward, he'd resume drawing prizes from the Dimensional Roulette.
Even though he now had Zoro, Ren wasn't about to rely entirely on someone else.
At that moment, he sat inside a tent drawn from the roulette, reviewing his current situation.
With Zoro guarding the perimeter, he could finally relax.
[Current Balance: 2,000,000 Beli]
Since meeting Zoro, he'd spent about 100,000 Beli drawing for food and supplies on the island.
The roulette was entirely random—no way to predict what would appear next.
For example, the tent beneath him had appeared on his 56th spin of the intermediate wheel.
He now possessed a pile of assorted items: straight knife, first aid kit, Moutai liquor, a pot for noodles—basically a heap of weird junk.
But only a few had real value: the Desire Compass, Schrödinger's Poster/Seal, and Lucky Lighter.
Plus, of course, some food. The knife, first aid kit, and pocket watch fit in his backpack; the Liquor, he figured, could be a gift for Zoro later.
Let's be cautious—half for now, half for emergencies, he decided.
Partly because his strength was still lacking, but also because his luck had begun to improve.
A shimmering panel appeared before him, listing his current stats:
[Name: Ren]
[Age: 18]
[Race: Human]
[Strength: G (Ordinary adult)]
[Agility: H– (You're painfully slow)]
[Endurance: G (Ordinary adult)]
[Luck: G++ (Residual effects of a certain power make you slightly luckier than normal)]
[Charm: E (Your looks are above average compared to normal humans)]
[Trait: Drifter from the Other Shore / Surfer of Fate]
Ever since he left the town near Marine Base 16, Ren had noticed his luck returning—perhaps even improving.
The new trait must have manifested before he met Zoro, though he'd been too busy saving people to notice.
[Drifter from the Other Shore / Surfer of Fate]
Origin:One Piece / Earth
Type:Soul Trait
Effect:You have completely assimilated into this world and will not be rejected by it. However, due to your unusual origins, your luck is far beyond normal—yet as one who knows too much, you are bound by the tides of fate. You will more easily encounter both good and bad events. No matter your choices, you are already caught in fate's whirlpool.
Note:While holding this trait, your luck functions as a balanced scale—one side bearing fortune, the other misfortune. When misfortune is consumed, fortune rises; when fortune is consumed, misfortune grows.
(End of Chapter)