The Gul-Gul Fruit's applications are vast. That barrel monster creating Wapol Metal in the original was just a coincidence.
It doesn't mean that's the fruit's limit. Besides swallowing and recombining metal, it works on living things too. It might even affect genes.
Another fruit with a similar ability is the Gulp-Gulp Fruit. But the Gul-Gul Fruit is clearly much stronger.
Since that's the case, the fruit's ownership needs careful consideration. Ren's idea is for a researcher to eat it. That's the only way to maximize its creative potential.
Wano has already gathered a large group of researchers. However, very few among them are truly capable of leading.
It has to be said, geniuses exist in every field. Their existence seems to show us how uneven the world is.
"It's a pity I can't find Vegapunk," Ren sighed. He of course wanted the world's top scientist. But so far, he has found no trace of Vegapunk.
He didn't know if he was with the World Government or just in hiding.
"Oh well, it's not like I absolutely need Vegapunk," Ren mused to himself. Besides him, this world has many other brilliant scientists.
Vegapunk's technology is said to be five hundred years ahead of the world. By "world," they mean the average tech level of the One Piece world.
People like Queen and Caesar are far behind Vegapunk, but not by five hundred years.
Not to mention Ren has Pluton to study. Just like Franky, who built the Thousand Sunny from Pluton's blueprints, proves how amazing it is.
Even studying just a fraction of it would be more advanced than the Navy's warships.
Technology from eight hundred years ago is still ahead of the world today. If they can fully master the underwater Pluton, they could cultivate a scientist to rival Vegapunk.
But right now, Ren has no suitable candidate. He plans to hold onto the fruit for later.
"I wonder if Nico Robin is interested in scientific research," Ren thought. Or is she only skilled in history?
Robin scored a perfect on her archaeology PhD exam at age eight. Her intelligence must be incredibly high. It seems like a waste for her to only study history.
If she could switch to a scientific field, she might achieve great things. This world has geniuses who are only masters of one thing.
It's possible Robin's talents are only in history. But Ren thinks it's worth a try.
Then again, in this era, even Robin's mother is still a young girl.
"Let's not worry about Robin for now," Ren decided. "But I can bring back the Hana Hana Fruit."
The Hana Hana Fruit's power is undeniable. Just imagine if that old man Garp appeared first, sprouting a thousand fists to pummel your face. You'd know how terrifying it is.
The fruit is also highly versatile in other ways, like surveillance and eavesdropping.
The Hana Hana Fruit could actually grow arms inside another person's body. It could directly grab their heart to fight in battle. However, this method likely wouldn't work against an enemy with powerful Haki.
Even so, the fruit was still incredibly useful.
"Yukiko, I'm going to the West Blue," Ren said.
"The West Blue? Is there enough time?" Yukiko couldn't help but ask.
They were still under Shiki's threat, and he could return at any moment. The last time Ren went to Paradise to fetch the doctors and the Gul-Gul Fruit, it took a long time.
"That's true, let's wait a while then. It's not urgent over there," Ren thought.
He decided not to act rashly. Unless something unexpected happened, the Hana Hana Fruit should be fine for now. He would deal with it after repelling Shiki.
Just like that, Ren waited on the island with Yukiko again. Shutenmaru also returned from outside.
He wondered how Shiki's recruitment was going. He had originally planned to plant some spies, but it seemed Shiki already knew about the Orochi tattoo.
The recruitment process now included checking for tattoos.
Ren didn't know Shiki's progress, but many pirates were flocking to his side instead. They wanted to become his followers.
Since setting sail, Ren had rarely appeared in the papers, only twice so far. But these two appearances had firmly established him as a great pirate.
He had essentially risen to prominence by stepping on Shiki, no wonder that old lion hated him so much.
Because of this, many pirates in the sea believed Ren's strength had surpassed Shiki's. With that kind of power and influence, many felt he was a worthy leader.
"What should we do with these people?" Shutenmaru asked. Many had already gathered outside Inazuma, wanting to become Ren's followers.
"Most are just scum from the sea who want to use my name to show off," Ren said. He could feel their thoughts through his Observation Haki, even amidst the four inner islands wrapped in thunderstorms.
"Then, should we drive them all away? Or just kill them?" Yukiko said this cruelly with a calm face.
Nanatsuki July, standing next to her, shivered. "Yukiko-neechan, so scary..." July compared Yukiko to her own sister in her mind. For a moment, she couldn't tell who was more terrifying.
"Thinking about it, Yukiko-neechan is very strict, but she's usually quite gentle to her own people. She only becomes scary when someone offends Lord Ren."
It seemed that in July's eyes, Yayoi was even more terrifying.
"No, let them stay on Rito Island for now," Ren shook his head. Rito Island was the northern island not wrapped in the thunderstorm, serving as the battlefield.
Considering it might be used to host other factions for trades after the battle, he simply called it Rito Island.
"Those scum want to bear my flag, so they must pay a price," Ren said.
He extended his hand, palm up. A small white snake crawled from his sleeve, rearing up and flicking its tongue. Its eyes, like cold gems, stared at Shutenmaru.
"Take this. If you're going to bear my flag, then bear my mark!"
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