Fish-Man Island, Ryugu Palace, Royal Bedchamber.
This was the fourteenth day since Renzo arrived at Fish-Man Island.
Sunlight passed through the roots of Sunlight Tree Eve, traveled ten thousand meters through the deep sea, filtered through the enormous bubble dome, and finally transformed into soft, dreamlike rays that scattered gently across the luxurious coral bedroom.
Renzo was sprawled in an extremely "undignified" posture, limbs flung wide, on an absurdly oversized round bed woven from sea rabbit fur, breathing steadily.
On the other side of the room, Borsalino sat with one leg crossed over the other, wearing an eye mask, lying in an almost identical posture on another sofa, enjoying this decadent paid vacation.
"Maa~"
Kizaru's sleazy voice broke the silence. "Renzo-kun, I'm starting to feel like I don't want to go back to Marineford~."
"Old man Sengoku roaring doesn't sound nearly as nice as this singing~."
Outside the bedchamber, the faint, heavenly chorus of five mermaid guides drifted through the air.
"Then don't go back," Renzo replied casually without opening his eyes.
"Oh my... that won't do~."
Kizaru sat up and stretched, splashing water droplets everywhere. "Vacations always end~."
"Those old men in the Holy Land, and that mentally unstable Celestial Dragon… I've got mountains of troublesome follow-up reports waiting~."
He stood and straightened his eternal yellow-and-white striped suit.
"And besides," a glint flashed across his lenses, "I should go back… and report personally~."
This report would be far too interesting.
He would personally inform Sengoku and Tsuru that Renzo, for the sake of his vacation, had publicly executed a Celestial Dragon's lackey, and casually… taken over Fish-Man Island's "protection rights."
Just imagining the wonderful expression on Sengoku's and the old men's faces hearing this news, their suppressed fury, soaring blood pressure, and utter helplessness, made Kizaru feel that this vacation had absolutely been worth it.
"Oh."
Renzo merely turned over impatiently and tugged his blanket.
"Then hurry up and leave. Walk softly. Don't disturb my nap."
"What a cold-hearted man~."
Kizaru shrugged, his body dissolving into a beam of light that vanished from the room.
He did not alert anyone. Using Fish-Man Island's official passage, he headed toward the Red Line and the Holy Land above, returning to Marine Headquarters.
…...
Kizaru's departure seemed to mark the true end of the vacation.
Half a day later, when Renzo finally climbed out of that supremely comfortable bed, he yawned and decided it was time to return to G-5.
Fish-Man Island was wonderful. The desserts were exquisite. The mermaids were easy on the eyes…
But ultimately, nothing compared to the custom luxury bed built specifically for him at G-5.
When news of Renzo's departure reached King Neptune through Rehn, the entire Ryugu Kingdom was once again thrown into unprecedented mobilization.
"What?! Lord Renzo… is leaving?!"
King Neptune shot up from his throne with a, his face showing no trace of the relief of "sending away a troublesome god," but instead filled with extreme panic and reluctance!
'Are you kidding me?!'
'The "savior" was leaving?!'
'He had just announced protection over Fish-Man Island!'
'If he left and that old hag Big Mom sent people demanding sweets again, what then?!'
'If the Holy Land decided to settle accounts afterward, what then?!'
'No!'
'Absolutely not!'
They could not let this mighty pillar leave quietly and unceremoniously!
They had to!
They must make him feel Fish-Man Island's most exalted and fervent respect!
They had to solidify this protective relationship once and for all!
"Quick!!"
Neptune roared hysterically at his three sons and ministers:
"Issue my highest royal command!"
"The entire nation! All citizens! All guards!"
"Immediately! At once! Gather at Coral Harbor!"
"We shall send off Admiral Haiiroyo, our savior, Lord Renzo, with the highest ceremonial honors of Fish-Man Island!!!"
"And!"
Neptune suddenly grabbed his eldest son, Prince Fukaboshi, pulling him close and lowering his voice to an intensely serious whisper.
"Go immediately! Bring those five, no! Bring the ten we carefully selected! The most beautiful, most intelligent, most skilled in song and dance, our 'Mermaid Jewels', all of them here!"
"Father?! Ten?!" Fukaboshi was shocked.
"That's right!"
Neptune's eyes gleamed with the cunning of an old fox.
"Doesn't Lord Renzo enjoy pleasant scenery? Doesn't he prefer quiet?!"
"Then we shall give him the highest-grade visual enjoyment!"
"Tell those girls!"
Neptune's voice carried firm resolve.
"This is not tribute! This is Fish-Man Island's… royal delegation to G-5!"
"Their mission is to serve at Lord Renzo's side in our stead! To ensure he forever remembers Fish-Man Island's sweets and beauty!"
Neptune's calculations rang loud as thunder.
As long as these ten "mermaid ambassadors" whispered at Renzo's bedside, Fish-Man Island's protection would be rock-solid!
This was the highest-efficiency political investment!
….....
One hour later, Fish-Man Island, Coral Harbor.
The place had already become a sea of people.
No, it was a "sea of fish-people."
Tens of thousands of fish-men and mermaids crowded every street, coral reef, and even bubble waterway!
They held banners with crooked handwriting:
[Thank you, Lord Haiiroyo, for your salvation!]
[Lord Renzo! Eternal benefactor of Fish-Man Island!]
[Farewell to our Savior, Lord Renzo!]
The flagship "Nap-One" had already been freshly coated with a new bubble membrane and quietly docked at the Royal VVIP harbor.
When Renzo emerged from Ryugu Palace's corridor, yawning, surrounded by ten top-tier mermaids, escorted by Rehn, Sanji, and Monet.
"Lord Renzo!!!"
"Lord Renzo!!!"
A mountain-shattering roar erupted instantly!
Tens of thousands of Fish-Man Island residents knelt in perfect unison!
With the most devout posture and fanatical gaze, they welcomed the "god" who had brought them new life.
"Waaahhh!!!"
Princess Shirahoshi floated inside her enormous bubble, crying uncontrollably.
"Lord Renzo! Thank you! Please… please come back again!"
"Admiral Renzo, sir!"
King Neptune knelt at the very front with his three sons, his massive body slamming heavily against the ground in a full kowtow.
"Fish-Man Island… for generations… will never forget your great kindness!!"
"…"
Renzo frowned deeply at this sudden spectacle.
He hated crowded, noisy, sentimental scenes the most!
This…
This was even more troublesome than arguing with a Celestial Dragon!
"Tch."
He dug at his ear impatiently.
"Rehn."
"Here! Lord Renzo!"
Rehn immediately stepped forward and shouted in his booming voice:
"Silence!!!"
"My Lord Renzo has already felt your insignificant reverence!"
"Now! The vacation is over! My Lord… is returning to catch up on sleep!"
Rather than offending the crowd, Rehn's blunt declaration only deepened their admiration.
"Ah! As expected of Lord Haiiroyo's subordinate! So bold and unrestrained!"
Renzo couldn't be bothered with the troublesome masses.
He walked straight up the gangway.
Behind him, the ten selected "mermaid ambassadors" lined up, tearfully bidding farewell to their families.
"Mother! I... I'll take good care of myself!"
"When you get to G-5, you must attend to Lord Renzo well!"
"Wuwuwu... my daughter, this is our family's thousand-year glory!"
With reluctance for their homeland, anticipation for the future, and curiosity and awe toward the "savior," the ten mermaids boarded the ark bound for the New World.
"Set sail!"
At Rehn's command,
Nap-One slowly ascended, rising through the bubble dome amid the tearful, grateful farewells of tens of thousands, heading toward the sea surface.
…...
Inside the captain's cabin.
Renzo had already returned to his familiar floating sofa and pulled up his blanket.
"So noisy… finally quiet…"
He let out a satisfied sigh.
"Lord Renzo."
Monet brought freshly brewed Wufeng coffee.
"Mm."
Renzo kept his eyes closed.
"Th-the ten new mermaid ladies…"
Monet's expression was somewhat strange.
"How should they… be arranged?"
Renzo thought for a moment.
"Rehn."
"Here! Lord Renzo!"
"Same old rules."
Renzo's lazy voice echoed.
"First, have them each copy the 'G-5 Employee Handbook' and the 'Regulations for Ensuring Lord Renzo's Vacation' ... ten times."
"Especially the two clauses 'No making noise during non-essential hours' and 'No crying loudly in front of Lord Levi'! They must copy them carefully!"
"Eh?!"
The ten mermaids, who had just entered from the deck, instantly turned to stone upon hearing this "onboarding training."
Rehn revealed a kindly smile.
"It's alright, Ambassador Ladies."
"I... will personally and efficiently... guide you."
Nap-One, carrying ten trembling mermaids, slowly surfaced from the sea.
G-5 Branch… your Admiral has returned.
....
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