Rehn slumped weakly into his chair. His normally sharp mind had completely shut down under the dual shock of the grandson of Vice Admiral Garp and a 100-million-Berry extortion.
From the very moment this mission made its mad dash toward Sky Island, everything had spun away from "efficiency" and straight into its opposites, chaos, disorder, and outrageous expenses.
"Hehehe, don't be so hasty, Mr. Marine."
Haredas leisurely sipped the red tea Sanji had just brewed from Blue Sea leaves, carefully stored, rare treasures Sanji carried everywhere.
"A journey through the skies can't be rushed. The wind has its own rhythm."
"Nami-swaaaan~~~! Your tea! Two sugar cubes and a slice of Sky Island 'cloud lemon'! Its sweet-sour flavor is just like my heart whenever I see you, fluttering with excitement!"
Sanji completely ignored the half-dead Rehn beside him, floating over with near "Moonwalk" grace as he served Nami her custom tea with flourish.
"Oh, thanks."
Nami accepted it without hesitation, took a sip, and her eyes lit up.
"Mmm! Delicious! You really are something, you curly-browed idiot. Hey, are you sure you're just a marine cook? How about joining our pirate crew? I… ahem, I mean, our captain would definitely be pleased."
"Join your crew?! O-O-OHH!! To cook three meals a day for a lady as lovely as you, GUWA!"
Sanji's fantasy was cut short by Nami's fist hammering down on his skull.
"Don't get weird! I just appreciate your cooking! The food on our ship… sigh…"
Nami sighed, clearly recalling certain traumatic "manly cooking" disasters.
"Nami, be ready."
Haredas rose and walked toward Versalia's "control deck",
an open-air platform covered in wind vanes and barometers.
"Prepare the Wind Knots! Set sail!"
"Ohhh!"
The seemingly lazy scholars instantly sprang into motion.
They rushed to the island's edges and pulled from their robes small bottles tied with strange braided cords.
"Southeast Wind Knot No. 3, release!"
"Updraft, fine adjustment!"
As each knot was untied, visible streams of bound wind burst from the bottles, pushing the miniature floating island forward.
Boom,
Weatheria trembled lightly, then began gliding across the endless White Sea, accelerating with the smoothness of the world's finest vessel.
"Ohhhh!! It's moving!"
Sanji dashed to the railing, thrilled.
"So this is… Sky Island navigation?! Amazing!"
Rehn staggered over as well, feeling the smooth, efficient propulsion.
"This… this energy source… it's…"
His professional instincts kicked in, and his mental calculator appeared instantly.
"Natural wind power… zero cost… high efficiency… low noise… high comfort! If, if we could introduce this to G-5… Lord Renzo's nap quality would rise by at least 300%!"
His gaze toward the scholars changed immediately.
A moment ago he looked at Nami like she was a bandit.
Now he was staring at these old men as if they were glittering treasure vaults of pure efficiency.
"Mr. Haredas!"
Rehn lunged forward, grabbing his hand in excessive enthusiasm and flattery.
"About this 'Wind Knot' technology, would cooperation be possible? The Marine, no, Lord Renzo, has deep interest in such clean, high-efficiency renewable energy!"
Haredas froze at the sudden 180° shift.
"Ah… this… this is a secret art of Weatheria…"
"We can sponsor your research! One hundred million Berries! No, five hundred million!"
Rehn had instantly transformed into the most generous investor alive.
THUD!
Nami kicked him square in the butt, sending him stumbling.
"Hey! Fatty, am I invisible to you?"
Hands on her hips, she shook the box of advance payment in her hand.
"Our previous deal only covered navigation! Not technology transfer! If you want to buy our tech? Heh…"
Nami smiled the very smile that gave Rehn stomach pains.
"That'll cost extra~."
"…"
Rehn got up silently, brushing dust from his clothes.
He realized that before this orange-haired pirate, his proud "efficiency negotiation skills" were utterly worthless.
This woman was the natural enemy of efficiency, a walking, bottomless budget black hole.
Traveling was monotonous, but with Sanji onboard, that problem vanished instantly.
Determined to impress Nami, and also win everyone over, Sanji completely took over Weatheria's kitchen.
Using "high-priced" ingredients from Angel Island, which Rehn paid for, Sky flounder, cloud eel, and various exotic Sky Island produce, he combined them perfectly with Blue Sea seasonings.
"Appetizer: A Whimsical Encounter of Cloud-Sea Stars and Blue Sea Caviar."
"Main Course: Demon Wind Kick, Special Sky Island Roast (G-5 Deluxe Edition)."
"Dessert: For Miss Nami Alone, Cloud Cotton Candy Romance."
When these Michelin-level dishes appeared, the scholars erupted into the island's most enthusiastic celebration in history.
"Uuuh… delicious… too delicious!"
"This… this is the flavor of the Blue Sea? My meteorology research has gained new inspiration!"
"Haredas! We must keep this chef!"
Even Nami, after eating her exclusive dessert, blushed slightly and closed her eyes in bliss.
"Mmm… since the food was this good… I'll give you a 1% discount on the remaining 50 million."
"Nami-swaaaan!!!"
Only one person was silently crying.
Rehn hid in a corner with a plate of exquisite roast meat, both devouring and scribbling furiously in his notebook:
"Added mission expense: premium Sky Island ingredients, 30 million Berries (estimated)."
"Public relations cost (bribing), 50 million Berries (estimated)."
"Navigation fee (extorted), 100 million Berries (50 million already paid)."
"Potential tech acquisition cost: incalculable (black hole)."
"…"
"Conclusion: Mission budget… critically exceeded!"
"Lord Renzo… I have failed you…"
Even as he sobbed, he kept stuffing meat into his mouth.
"I-I couldn't protect your wallet, or your chef… but this roast is too delicious… hic…"
Just when the ship was enjoying an atmosphere of harmony, except Rehn, Nami's expression suddenly hardened.
"Something's wrong up ahead."
Everyone looked up.
Directly before them, the normally calm White Sea twisted into a massive, black-hole-like whirling cloud vortex.
Inside it, purple-black lightning flashed violently, radiating a terrifying aura.
"Oh dear," Haredas frowned.
"That is… the Cloud Graveyard. The most dangerous thunderstorm zone in the sky! We must go around!"
"Around?!" Rehn gasped. "How long will that take?!"
Nami checked the map quickly.
"At least… six extra hours."
"SIX HOURS?!"
Rehn nearly fainted.
"No! Absolutely not! Even one minute late for Lord Renzo's afternoon tea, that would be an insult to efficiency itself!"
"So what do you suggest?"
Nami snapped. "Charge through? Those lightning strikes would blast this whole island to pieces!"
"I…" Even Rehn knew that was impossible.
"Heh."
Suddenly, Sanji, who'd been quietly enjoying his meal, stood up.
He walked to the front, eyes narrowing at the swirling thunderstorm.
"Nami, Haredas-san."
He turned, a confident smile forming on his lips.
"What if I said… I had a way to make that storm 'stop'?"
"What?!"
Nami and Haredas both froze.
Sanji didn't explain.
He simply took a long drag of his cigarette, lifted one black leather shoe, slowly.
"Rehn. Watch closely."
"This… is also a form of efficiency."
"Diable Jambe-"
Flames ignited around his left leg.
"Dragon Chop!!"
WHOOSH!!
A concentrated flaming kick, wrapped tightly in Armament Haki, shot out like a meteor toward the very center of the storm.
"Now, open up!!!"
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu