That morning, the rare quiet of the G-5 Branch was shattered by an unusual commotion.
The noise didn't come from pirates attacking, but from the harbor.
A high-speed transport ship flying the flag of the Marine SSG, Special Science Group, was unloading a massive crate, wrapped tightly in alloy plates and shock-absorbing materials.
On the crate was a striking apple-shaped logo with an eccentric design.
Beside it, a line of tiny text read: "To Admiral Renzo, from the genius who understands you best."
"Careful! CAREFUL! Watch what you're doing!"
Potts was shouting himself hoarse as he directed the workers, sweating buckets.
"This is something Dr. Vegapunk personally sent to the Admiral! If you dent it, scratch it, none of us in this branch can pay for it!"
The marines handled it like it was a bomb, using every ounce of strength to slowly drag the enormous object across the rail platform toward the central plaza.
"Hey, what do you think's inside?" one marine whispered.
"No idea, but with this level of security… has to be some world-ending weapon, right? One blast could level an island!"
"I bet it's the newest model of the Pacifista corps! A special unit for our Admiral!"
"Oh, please," an older marine snorted.
"You don't understand our Admiral at all. I'm telling you, it's a bed. The biggest, comfiest, auto-massaging, self-feeding super-bed in the world."
Ridiculous as it sounded, several marines actually nodded in agreement.
And eventually, the chaos finally did "disturb" Renzo.
Half asleep, he was dragged outside by Sanji on the excuse: "New toy delivery. If you don't see it, it might ruin your appetite."
By the time Renzo arrived in the plaza, the massive crate had already been opened.
Inside wasn't a weapon.
Wasn't a robot.
Wasn't a bed either.
It was… a thing.
Suspended in mid-air, about three meters long and two meters wide, shaped like a perfectly plump, fluffy white cloud.
Its surface wasn't solid; rather, it seemed to be made of glowing particles and some soft, energy-like substance, radiating a warm, gentle light.
There were no corners, no sharp edges, just immaculate curves shaped around the concept of comfort.
At the center was a perfectly contoured dip, a cradle designed for someone to sink into effortlessly.
At the bottom was a nearly invisible micro-thruster, purring softly like a cat asleep, keeping it afloat.
This was the only time since becoming Admiral that Renzo had used his highest clearance to request something "custom-made" from Vegapunk.
The requirements were simple:
It must float.
It must be absolutely comfortable, more comfortable than any sofa or bed in the world.
It must look good: no bulky parts, no complicated buttons.
When he lies on it, it must take him anywhere he wants.
Vegapunk read this "scientifically useless" request and fell silent for three full days,
until curiosity about the Sloth-Sloth Fruit user, mixed with a touch of mischief, made him accept.
He named it:
Floating Sofa, Cloud Cluster No. 1.
"...Oh."
For the first time, Renzo's eyes shone.
He stepped forward, reached out, and lightly touched the cloud surface.
The sensation was indescribable, neither cotton nor silk, warm, soft, elastic in just the right way… like touching the embodiment of a dream's comfort.
Without hesitation, Renzo flipped his body over and melted into the central cradle.
"Ahh…"
A sigh of pure, soul-deep satisfaction escaped him.
Every muscle, every joint, every fiber of his being eased completely under the perfect support.
The cloud even reacted automatically to his temperature and posture, adjusting itself to maintain ideal comfort.
A single thought made the entire "Cloud Cluster No. 1" lift him upward, floating with weightless, serene smoothness over the plaza.
The sofa moved perfectly in sync with his passive ability, gliding wherever he willed.
"That guy… he really is a genius…" Renzo murmured, eyes narrowing with bliss.
Every Marine in the plaza froze.
Their Admiral drifted overhead on his personal fluffy Nimbus like some lazy deity basking in sunlight.
The surreal scene was so absurd that it felt natural, because it fit Renzo perfectly.
Potts' jaw dropped.
"So… it really is a flying… sofa?"
Sanji took a drag of his cigarette, twitching.
"That bastard… he'll do anything to be lazy in comfort…"
Night fell, and the G-5 cafeteria had been decorated anew.
To welcome Ain as the new adjutant, and to celebrate finally having someone who could "get things done", Sanji prepared a massive banquet.
Tables overflowed with food:
Grilled Sea Kings, roasted pork ribs, desserts made from exotic Grand Line fruits…
The aroma alone could blow the roof off.
The Marines drank, laughed, and tore into the food with wild joy.
Ain, the star of the night, kept her formal composure, but even she softened under Sanji's flawless cuisine and the Marines' genuine warmth.
"Rear Admiral Ain! A toast to you! Our file cabinets are clean again!"
"Yeah! Someone finally reads our reports!"
"To the most beautiful, most competent adjutant, cheers!"
Ain politely raised juice in return, but her mind never left the clues she found in the archives.
She knew Vergo must have left spies behind in G-5.
Starting an investigation would definitely meet resistance.
Even with her rank, secretly mobilizing ships without a clear justification would not be easy.
This base, after all, had an infamous reputation.
Just as the party reached its peak, the cafeteria doors swung open, and silence fell instantly.
Every Marine turned.
Their mouths opened wide in unison.
Renzo had arrived.
But he wasn't walking.
He was floating in.
Side-lying on the glowing Cloud Cluster No. 1, his head propped on one hand, the other draped casually over his torso, a lazy king descending upon mortals.
The cloud drifted above the main table, giving him the perfect vantage to gaze down on everyone below.
Not a sound remained.
Only the crackle of meat roasting over flames.
For the first time, the Marines saw the legendary Admiral outside sleeping hours and outside his office.
The atmosphere grew heavy, the air thick with pressure.
Renzo surveyed the room.
His gaze stopped on Ain.
"So. Seems lively."
His voice was soft, lazy, yet reached every ear clearly.
"Admiral Renzo," Ain stood, surprised.
She'd expected him to sleep until morning.
Renzo ignored the greeting.
Instead, he issued a decree, not loud, but absolute:
"Listen up, you noisy brats."
"First, this is Ain. Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral. Starting today, she is my adjutant."
His eyes darkened slightly.
The weight of command fell over the room.
"Second, and this matters most."
"From now on, every word she says is equal to my word."
"Every order she gives is equal to my order."
"You will obey her with the same unconditional, immediate, absolute obedience you give me."
He paused, golden eyes flashing with a quiet, deadly coldness.
"If something becomes troublesome for her…that means it becomes troublesome for me."
"And the result of making me feel troubled…you should already know."
"I make the source of trouble…very, very quiet."
No emotion.
No threat in tone.
But everyone felt the killing intent.
He finished, turned the cloud sofa around, and floated out, never once stepping off his "mobile throne."
Only when his figure vanished did the G-5 cafeteria remember how to breathe.
Everyone wiped cold sweat from their foreheads.
For that moment, it felt like a sleeping monster had opened its eyes.
One wrong movement, and they'd be erased.
Gulp
A Marine swallowed hard.
All chatter was gone.
Silence and reverence filled the room.
Their eyes turned to Ain, not as a capable superior, but as the bearer of a divine decree.
Potts clenched his fist, thrilled.
The Admiral had swept every obstacle out of Ain's path in one overwhelming move.
Sanji whistled softly.
"That guy… what an outrageously domineering slacker…but damn, he's protective."
Ain stood quietly, a storm raging in her heart.
She watched the direction Renzo had left, wordless.
She hadn't expected him to support her in such a direct, overwhelming way.
What he gave her wasn't just authority, it was a blank check of absolute power.
With that decree, she could mobilize the entire G-5 fleet to attack an unnamed island if she wanted, and no one would dare oppose her.
'Did he see through my worries?'
'Or is this just his way of eliminating future "trouble" early?'
Ain didn't know.
She only knew this: This man always gave her an inexplicable sense of assurance.
Her lips curved slightly.
She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
Sanji saw the tiny gesture and nearly dropped his jaw.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu