The atmosphere suddenly became oddly delicate.
Cavendish opened his mouth, stopped, then tried again before blurting out the words he had been holding back.
"Are you really that Ren—the one who killed Crocodile?"
"As real as it gets."
"..."
"So, what business do you have with me, your benefactor?"
Ren's eyes gleamed playfully. He could more or less guess why Cavendish had shown up.
In the original story, this man's obsession with fame bordered on madness.
And coincidentally, Ren had entered the Grand Line a year earlier—making them contemporaries.
Of course, he still didn't consider himself a pirate.
But he couldn't deny that in the eyes of the world, he was now a great pirate who had committed an earth-shaking crime.
Taking down a Warlord of the Sea—ever since the Seven Warlords system was established, such events were almost unheard of.
Countless arrogant pirates had been crushed beneath the might of the Warlords, their corpses piling high to build that fearsome reputation.
That's precisely why people across the Four Seas believed the Seven Warlords truly stood as one of the three powers ruling the seas.
Even the World Government flaunted the Warlord system as one of its signature achievements.
Such glory and prestige were something Cavendish could never hope to match, no matter how many pirate crews or Marine warships he destroyed.
After all, even Vice Admirals had fallen before.
Only by defeating a Marine Admiral could one truly surpass that.
Obviously, Cavendish knew this. And the irony was—his supposed target to kill was also his life-saver!
"This is unbearable!"
"What is?" Ren tilted his head.
"What do you mean what?!"
The corner of Cavendish's eye twitched as he hissed through clenched teeth beneath his bandages. "I came here to kill you!
You stole my spotlight—you broke the rules of fame, you hear me?!
After Sabaody, I was supposed to enter the New World as one of the Supernovas, basking in everyone's admiration!
Reporters from the World Economic Journal were tailing me every day! My bounty poster was treated as a treasure by countless girls on the streets! Do you know how many people dreamed of meeting me just once?!
And then what happens? Out of nowhere, some guy from a no-name corner of the world jumps out and defeats Crocodile!
All the reporters abandoned me to chase your story! They wouldn't even look my way!
Had I known that Warlords were such pushovers, I'd have gone after that bastard myself!"
Cavendish erupted like a storm, ranting with the intensity of a thunderclap.
Just as his tirade reached the "birdsong and flowers" stage, Ren wrapped a bandage around his mouth—manually muting him.
He had no intention of listening to this nonsense.
Though Cavendish didn't seem inclined to actually fight—just vent his frustrations—Ren wasn't interested in being his emotional trash can.
Soon, Cavendish's eyes were bloodshot. He grunted through his gag, gesturing desperately for Ren to remove it.
Once freed, he gasped for breath.
"Were you trying to suffocate me?!"
"If I'd known you'd treat your savior this way, I should've let you sink to the bottom of the sea.
Never thought the so-called Pirate Prince would have such a rotten character."
Ren put on an exaggerated look of disappointment, provoking Cavendish even more.
Cavendish opened his mouth to retort but remembered the previous suffocation experience—and quickly held his tongue.
As for actually fighting… well, setting aside what it meant to attack his benefactor, he didn't even have the strength to stand.
His injuries were severe—he felt as though he had brushed shoulders with Death itself.
That was also why Cavendish had mistaken Ren for a Marine Admiral earlier.
His second persona's power was formidable—even Vice Admiral Onigumo might have struggled to defeat him then.
And who was stronger than a Vice Admiral? An Admiral.
But he'd never believe that this man before him was stronger than himself!
Just a lucky upstart riding on a fluke!
If my second persona were awake, I'd kill him with a single swing!
The resentment burned plainly in Cavendish's eyes.
Ren, however, looked genuinely puzzled by the sudden leap in topic.
Before long, Cavendish calmed down and returned to the earlier subject.
"I'm not some ungrateful bastard. Even pirates value honor and repayment! So tell me, how do you want me to repay you? Once I've done that, I'll settle accounts for you stealing my fame!"
"If you put it that way, then this time next year will be your death anniversary."
Ren poked Cavendish's bandaged body with a finger, his meaning obvious.
Wait for your repayment?
Knowing your type, I'd be a fool not to deal with you now!
"...Go ahead and kill me, then. I won't beg for mercy!"
Cavendish's gaze hardened, then he tilted his head back indifferently—before promptly collapsing backward onto the floor.
Ren didn't bother helping him up.
Helplessly, Cavendish rolled around until he faced his benefactor-turned-enemy again, glaring as if he could kill him with his eyes alone.
"So, what if I used this debt of gratitude to make you give up on revenge?"
Ren asked curiously.
"Then I'd magnanimously let you go!" Cavendish declared proudly.
He didn't tilt his head this time; since he was crawling on the ground, he had to look up to see Ren.
Finding the situation ridiculous, he added, "And since you're so sensible, I'd even let you become my fan—and maybe grant you a few wishes."
"How amusing," Ren chuckled. "Have you ever considered another possibility?"
"What possibility?"
"That you heal up, repay your debt, come for revenge—and then I kill you anyway.
In that case, what difference is there between dying now or later? You'd just be helping me out first."
"..."
Cavendish gave him a strange look, then sneered, "Don't tell me you think beating a mere Warlord makes you impressive.
I once fought Vice Admiral Onigumo to a standstill, you know! You probably haven't even met a Vice Admiral yet! And Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals are far above those stationed in the Blues or the Grand Line branches!
Moreover—I once drew my sword against an Admiral and lived to tell the tale!"
Yeah, sure, Ren thought dryly. You mean you threw a shuriken from eight hundred meters away, right?
He almost couldn't keep a straight face.
Compared to Ren's understated caution, Cavendish was his polar opposite—boastful, dramatic, and utterly self-deluded.
If Kuzan had fought him seriously, it would've been over in a single move.
Ren didn't bother exposing him and simply steered the conversation forward. "If that's how you see it, then let's make it interesting.
Since you're a man who values debts, I'll make use of this favor to propose a bet you can't refuse."
"A bet? Speak! There's nothing I can't handle!"
Even wrapped head to toe like a mummy, Cavendish's arrogance remained intact.
"The bet is this: I wager that I can defeat you.
Once you've fully recovered and chosen your moment, we'll fight—whenever you're ready.
If you win, our debt is cleared, and I'll publicly admit defeat."
"That's perfect! Once you do, all your fame becomes mine!"
Ren hadn't even finished before Cavendish eagerly nodded, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Don't be hasty—hear the other side first."
"Whatever, hurry up."
"If you lose—then you've lost the bet.
You'll work for me as a hired hand for ten years.
No matter what task I give you, you can't refuse.
Of course, I won't send you to your death—or sell you off."
"Heh… confident little brat. All you upstarts are the same," Cavendish scoffed. "Trying to make me your subordinate—what arrogance!
But you've picked the wrong opponent. I'm one of this year's Supernovas!When the time comes, I'll show you just how vast the heavens and earth truly are!"
"Is that so? Then I'll look forward to it," Ren replied calmly. "So, we have a deal?"
"Deal!"
Cavendish agreed instantly, full of careless bravado.
Maybe he was too proud for his own good.
But it didn't matter—If I can't beat a Vice Admiral or an Admiral, surely I can beat this rookie!
No way I lose to him!
"Then it's settled," Ren said, pulling out a Health Potion and treating Cavendish's wounds.
After all, the sooner he recovered, the sooner the beating could begin.
Once again, Ren marveled at the freakish resilience of people in the One Piece world.
While they couldn't stop bullets, their regeneration bordered on absurd.
With the potion's aid, Cavendish was back on his feet within half an hour—though he still grumbled something about Admirals.
Onboard the Weather Ship,
there was finally an outsider among them, which made the cramped quarters even smaller.
But that also meant Cavendish soon realized—
the ship was flying through the sky!
Peering through the window, he saw clouds rushing past beneath them.
Though it seemed to be descending, he couldn't fathom how it flew at all!
Devil Fruit powers? he wondered—only for Ren to beckon him outside.
Perhaps their earlier commotion had drawn attention.
The moment Cavendish stepped into the corridor, he froze—two stunning figures stood before him.
No, "stunning" didn't even begin to describe them—they were goddess-level beauties, the kind even he rarely encountered.
"Ladies—"
He instinctively struck a flamboyant pose, ready to bask in their admiration.
But before he could utter another word—
"The mummy's up," Nojiko said coolly.
Vivi followed, her tone crisp and merciless.
"The mummy man!"
Wrapped head to toe in bandages, Cavendish had earned himself a new title—the Bandaged Freak.
"...??"
Cavendish's face contorted in disbelief and despair.
Since the day he was born, he had never suffered such an insult.
(End of Chapter)