Chapter 91 — The First Blueprint of a Future Empire (Rewritten)
S.C. 1510 — Early December
Foosha Village — Underground Lab (Living Chamber)
The underground living chamber was silent…
except for the rapid scratch scratch scratch of charcoal on paper.
Ren sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by open notes, crumpled drafts, diagrams that made no sense, and one extremely unimpressed fox.
Zemo lay sprawled across Ren's thigh like a furry paperweight, occasionally lifting his head to judge Ren's decisions.
Ren wasn't forging today.
Not smelting.
Not accidentally creating new alloys or discovering suspicious plants that vibrate at night.
Today was far more terrifying:
Planning for the future.
The world outside Foosha was getting messy—
smoke from Goa, refugees on the road, broken carts, abandoned supplies.
Everything screamed:
"Hey Ren, stop being a tiny secret blacksmith goblin and start preparing for survival."
So today, Ren finally started drafting something he had only dared to think about till now—
His future merchant network.
His future power base.
His future empire…
but like, the quiet version.
---
The Core Philosophy
Ren wrote the first line as seriously as a seven-year-old possibly could:
"Profit is not the goal. Stability is."
He paused, staring at the words.
Zemo glanced at the notebook, then flicked his tail like:
"Good. Money is fake. Food is real."
Ren rubbed his forehead.
"My group won't be like the greedy merchants in Goa. No bribes, no stealing, no scams. Just… stability."
He added underneath:
Stay neutral
Stay useful
Stay invisible
Zemo sneezed, which Ren interpreted as approval.
---
Step 1: Future Talent Sources
Ren wrote:
1. Gray Terminal — Ideal recruitment zone
hardworking
overlooked
loyal if treated like actual humans
skilled at survival
won't betray someone who lifts them up
He tapped the page.
"Timing's everything… too early, and I attract noble attention. Too late, and they'll suffer."
Zemo placed a paw gently on Ren's hand.
Ren exhaled.
"Yeah. I know."
---
Step 2: What Will the Merchant Group Sell?
Ren needed a beginning that wouldn't make nobles suspicious.
So he listed:
Salt (already scaling)
Dried fish (new traps being built)
Basic tools (wood & stone only—NO KEA stuff)
Cheap herbal medicine
Soap (simple, useful, ignored by nobles)
Clean water in sealed barrels
Nothing shiny.
Nothing rare.
Nothing that screams "secret genius child is running an underground industry."
Ren nodded.
"This is low-value, low-attention, high-need stuff… perfect."
Zemo poked the word "soap" with his paw.
Ren laughed.
"Hey! Cleanliness is important."
---
Step 3: Transportation – The First Ship
Ren sketched a ship on the page.
It looked like a rectangle with sails, but he labeled it confidently as:
"Cargo Vessel — Model 1"
He wrote:
capacity: 6–8 workers
carry 200+ salt bags
durable
cheap materials
built quietly on island base
Zemo looked at the drawing and made the face of someone who just saw a cursed fish.
Ren sighed.
"I know it looks like a potato with sails, okay? I'll fix the drawing later."
Zemo barked, unconvinced.
---
Step 4: Leadership Structure
Ren drew a tiny pyramid:
Ren (supreme overlord—but secretly)
↓
Core Agents (Gray Terminal recruits)
↓
Labor & Processing Workers
↓
Village contacts
↓
Ship crew
Zemo yawned loudly.
Ren rolled his eyes.
"Yes, yes, boring, but important."
---
Step 5: Funding Needs
Ren listed everything he needed money for:
ship materials
tools
barrels for salt
paying recruits
bribery (just in case Goa nobles get nosy)
food storage
research equipment
emergency escape routes
He added at the bottom:
"Expand salt sales quietly."
He would increase production slowly—like a hermit crab growing its shell one size at a time, not all at once.
Zemo nodded sagely, like a wise fox monk.
---
Step 6: Name? … Nope.
Ren stared at the section titled:
"Merchant Group Name:"
He tapped the charcoal.
He thought.
He stared at the ceiling.
He dramatically flopped back onto the floor.
Then he sat up again and scribbled:
"No name yet. Too risky."
Zemo agreed with a proud head bop.
---
Closing Thoughts
Ren carefully placed the notebook inside a sealed clay box and slid it into the hidden shelf.
He whispered softly:
"Someday… this group will protect people. People like the ones fleeing right now. People Goa nobles ignore."
Images flashed in his mind:
refugees
smoke rising
burned trash piles
hungry children
Ren's small fists tightened.
"I'm too weak for now.
But give me a few years…"
Zemo pressed against him, warm and supportive.
Ren smiled faintly.
He didn't need muscles.
He didn't need a Devil Fruit.
He didn't need a title.
He had time.
He had brains.
He had Zemo.
And now—
he finally had a plan.
A silent blueprint for a future empire.
One that would grow slowly, quietly…
until the world realized it existed.
By then?
It would already be unshakeable.
---
End of Chapter 91