Chapter 95 — Understanding Power
S.C. 1510 — Mid December
Foosha Village — Underground Lab, Living Chamber
The lantern flickered softly, throwing warm orange circles over the messy stone desk.
On the desk lay:
half-finished maps
charcoal scribbles
overheard rumors
doodles that Ren would never admit were actually doodles
and one serious notebook at the center
Ren sat cross-legged with Zemo curled beside him like a fuzzy foot-warmer.
Today was not about metallurgy.
Or plants.
Or digging holes in cliffs like a determined mole.
Today was about something far more dangerous.
Politics.
Ren rubbed his temples.
"I'm seven. Why do I have to understand government structures already?"
Zemo blinked slowly, clearly thinking:
You chose this life, buddy.
Ren exhaled and flipped his notebook open.
"…Time to understand the Goa Kingdom. Before it bites us."
---
The Three Layers of Goa
Ren drew three horizontal lines and labeled them dramatically:
1. High Town — The Crown of Corruption
Fancy walls.
Clean streets.
Zero morality.
Ren wrote:
nobles hoard wealth
overtax Edge Town
manipulate king
"clean" Gray Terminal by burning it
absolute political power
zero empathy
He scowled.
"These guys make villains look underqualified."
Zemo growled low.
Ren nodded.
"My thoughts exactly."
---
2. Edge Town — The Mask of Normal Life
Average citizens doing average things.
Ren scribbled:
mid-tier merchants
shopkeepers
guards who take bribes
officials who love paperwork but hate honesty
people who work hard and stay quiet
This was Ren's target area.
"Here… is where a future merchant group can live in peace. Blend in, make money, stay invisible."
Zemo tilted his head like:
Invisible money sounds suspicious.
---
3. Gray Terminal — The Forgotten
Ren paused before writing—thinking of:
the abandoned bag
the broken wagon wheel
the burnt smell from Goa
the desperate footprints on the forest road
He pressed the charcoal harder.
"They treat them like trash…"
He wrote:
scavengers
widows
orphans
hardworking
incredibly resilient
loyal if treated with kindness
full of hidden potential
Zemo nudged Ren's arm gently.
Ren whispered, "We'll help them. Just… not yet."
---
Power Behind the Scenes
Ren flipped to a new page and drew four simple symbols.
(1) The Royal Family
Symbol: a wobbly crown
Notes:
king = figurehead
nobles = puppeteers
decisions take forever
easily manipulated
"A decoration more than a leader," Ren muttered.
Zemo yawned as if agreeing.
---
(2) Noble Council (Actual Rulers)
Symbol: three snakes tied together
Ren wrote:
greedy
act in unity
fear change
hate the poor
burn slums when convenient
Ren stared at the snake doodle.
"…Okay, maybe that was too accurate."
---
(3) Merchant Guilds
Symbol: coin with cracks
Ren wrote:
profit-driven
sometimes betray nobles
sometimes help nobles
always confused
vulnerable to disruption
Ren circled it.
"This is where we enter. Quietly. Smartly. Like ninjas. Merchant ninjas."
Zemo squinted at him like:
You really need sleep.
---
(4) Local Navy
Symbol: badly drawn anchor
Notes:
patrol schedules predictable
corruption varies
sometimes lazy
sometimes strict
depends on the officer
Ren tapped the page.
"So they'll ignore us… half the time."
Zemo shrugged.
Half was good enough.
---
The Burning Problem
Ren drew a big, dark X over Gray Terminal.
"The nobles are burning trash again… but trash includes homes. People."
His tiny fists tightened.
"I'm still weak. I can't save anyone yet."
Zemo nudged him, quietly supportive.
Ren took a slow breath.
"Not today. But someday."
---
Planting the Seeds of the Future Heist
Ren flipped to another page.
"This isn't for now. This is future—like, years later. But planning starts early."
Zemo chuffed.
Ren translated:
"I know, I know. No heists at age seven."
He wrote:
A) Intelligence Network
listen quietly
ask questions casually
gather rumors
blend into crowds
never reveal identity
Zemo stood tall as if volunteering.
Ren laughed.
"Yes, you. You pick up more clues than most adults."
---
B) Supply Advantage
Expenses low. Profits steady. Attention minimal.
Ren listed:
salt
dried fish
soap
herbal medicine
fresh drinking water
"All boring goods," Ren declared proudly.
"Perfect disguise."
Zemo sneezed.
Ren added:
"Not exciting but safe."
---
C) Workers from Gray Terminal
Ren wrote carefully:
honest
loyal when treated well
desperate for stability
strong
willing to relocate
never forced
He underlined the last point twice.
"Never force loyalty. Earn it."
Zemo nodded firmly.
---
D) The Future Heist Draft
Ren quickly sketched a messy map.
High Town → Gate → Edge Town → Warehouse District → Docks → Open Sea
The plan wasn't for gold.
It was for:
rescuing key people
retrieving documents
sabotaging corrupt systems
getting materials
leaving unseen
Zemo raised an eyebrow.
Ren laughed.
"Don't worry. That's like… five years from now."
Zemo tilted his head skeptically.
---
Closing Thoughts
Ren shut his notebook.
He didn't have strength.
He didn't have soldiers.
He didn't have a Devil Fruit.
He didn't have Haki.
But he did have:
knowledge
patience
a hidden island
KEA tools
a loyal fox
a growing information network
and quiet determination
Ren whispered as he dimmed the lantern:
"One day… we'll change Goa.
Not loudly.
But permanently."
Zemo curled beside him.
Their time was coming.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Smartly.
---
End of Chapter 95