New World, G-5 Branch.
The sun was as harsh as ever. The earth-shaking roars from the training ground seemed almost enough to scatter the clouds over the sea.
Everything carried the unique atmosphere of the G-5 base, chaotic yet bursting with vitality.
And within this lively scene, one figure stood out, strolling forward leisurely as if inspecting his territory.
Rehn.
His round body was wrapped in a special black cloak made by the G-5 branch, with the four golden embroidered words on the back: Efficiency Above All.
With his hands behind his back and his considerable belly sticking out, he walked with steady bow-legged steps that didn't match his body shape at all.
Ever since Lord Renzo had entrusted him with the complete authority over G-5's "daily efficiency optimization," Rehn felt that his life had already reached its peak.
Lord Renzo was responsible for enjoying peace and quiet.
And he, Rehn, was Lord Renzo's sharpest spear, strongest shield, and most thoughtful "cleaner."
He would turn G-5 into an absolutely efficient, absolutely loyal, absolutely silent perfect fortress.
Everything was for Lord Renzo!
"Chief Steward Rehn!"
"Greetings, Chief Steward!"
Sailors along the way, no matter how lackadaisical they were moments before, would instantly snap to attention upon seeing this round figure and loudly greet him with heartfelt, almost fanatical reverence.
No joke.
This man was the Admiral's spokesperson.
The ruthless figure who once electrocuted CP0 agents into ashes when they disagreed with him, and even dared to point at a Celestial Dragon's face and call them "products of inbreeding."
He was also the god of wealth who held the power to distribute bonus payments at the G-5 branch!
At G-5, you could disrespect Rear Admiral Ain (and get beaten up), you could disrespect Lieutenant Commander Potts (and get punished), but you absolutely could not disrespect Chief Steward Ren!
Because he... would really dock your bonus!
"Mm."
Rehn nodded reservedly, enjoying the feeling of being second only to one person and above everyone else.
He arrived at the base's "S-Class Special Care Zone", a place he had specially established for Momonosuke.
From a distance, he could hear the manly roars emanating from inside.
"Hah! Hah! Hah!"
"13,001! 13,002!"
Ren pushed open the door and entered. There was the leader of the Macho Childcare Protection Squad, Cucumber, naked from the waist up, his bronzed torso glistening with sweat as he did one-arm push-ups.
And beside him, a small figure wearing a pink little dress was crying miserably, forcibly held down by two other muscular men, doing comical "puppy-style" squats.
"Waaah... let me go! I don't want to wear a dress! I don't want to do this!!"
Momonosuke let out a despairing wail. "I want to see Nami! I want to see Lady Ain!"
"Shut up, Little Peach!"
Yorick roared in a deep, muffled voice. "Chief Steward Ren said it! A perverted brat like you needs to be corrected with pure, unadulterated manliness! You haven't finished the 3,000 repetitions of the macho dance today, so no food!"
"Chief Steward Rehn!"
Another senior officer of the G-5 base, Potts, happened to be making his rounds as well.
When he saw Rehn, he saluted immediately, then pointed at Momonosuke and reported proudly:
"Chief Steward, your method is working! The kid has been much more obedient lately, and his stamina has improved significantly!"
But Rehn slowly shook his head.
In his squinting little eyes flashed a trace of disappointment.
"Lieutenant Commander Potts."
"Sir!"
"Do you think…" Rehn pointed at Momonosuke, who was being tortured by the macho squad, "…that this is punishment?"
"Eh?" Potts froze. "Isn't it? High-intensity training…"
"Foolish!!"
Rehn interrupted mercilessly, his chubby face full of disappointment.
"This is abuse, not education!"
"Huh?" Potts was completely confused.
'Wasn't this entire plan designed by you?!'
"Look at him!"
Rehn pointed at Momonosuke.
"What kind of person is he? A perverted brat who thinks only about women and learned to take advantage of others since childhood! And now you keep him among a group of men. Sure, it's hard work, but essentially, you've put him in a safe zone!"
"And furthermore!" Rehn added.
"You're also training his stamina? You want him to have more energy to harass the female soldiers at G-5 base in the future? Potts! You're aiding and abetting the enemy! You're holding back Lord Renzo's 'spiritual and cultural construction'!"
"Th-Then... what should be done?"
Potts broke out in a cold sweat from the scolding, feeling his brain completely unable to keep up with the Chief Steward's train of thought.
"Sigh…"
Rehn looked at him like a teacher disappointed in a dull student.
"To deal with a twisted pervert like this, you must use magic to defeat magic."
"Did you think the instructors I hired at great cost from Momoiro Island were just decorations?"
Rehn slowly raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
Snap.
The door of a sealed warehouse beside the protection zone slowly opened.
"Eeeheehee~~"
A spine-tingling, flirtatious voice filled with hormones echoed out, accompanied by heavy thud, thud, thud footsteps.
Five… gigantic okama emerged.
Each of them stood over three meters tall, weighed at least three hundred kilograms, wore pink lace princess dresses, and had makeup thick enough to resemble a paint palette.
They twisted their "graceful" waists as they rushed out.
They were the "advanced etiquette instructors" Rehn had hired from the Kamabakka Kingdom on Momoiro Island using his Lord's authority.
The moment they appeared, even the macho squad led by Chadbeard shivered, feeling their masculinity being severely contaminated.
"Oh my~~!!"
The leading okama instructor immediately spotted the small boy in a dress.
"What a cute little boy~~!!"
"…?!"
The moment Momonosuke clearly saw those five towering figures,
The tear-streaked face of his instantly turned deathly pale.
'W-What monsters are these?!'
"N-No… don't come closer!!"
"Come here, little cutie~❤"
The five instructors screamed excitedly and spread their thick arms as they lunged forward.
"From today on~ we'll be by your side 24 hours a day, teaching you what true ladylike etiquette is~!"
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
Momonosuke let out a scream one hundred times more miserable than when the macho men had been torturing him earlier.
This was more terrifying than hell.
Watching Momonosuke being surrounded (dragged away) by the five instructors like a soulless puppet, Potts's face turned a little green.
"Chief… Steward Rehn… this… this is your…"
"Exactly."
Rehn put his hands behind his back again and smiled as if everything was under control.
"This is what it means to solve the problem at its root."
"This is called efficiency."
"I have learned something truly brilliant…"
Potts swallowed hard, his awe toward Rehn deepening even further.
This Chief Steward… was ruthless not only toward enemies, but also toward his own people.
Rehn had just prepared to leave this mentally contaminating area with Potts to continue inspecting the security of the Mermaid Back Garden, which was Lord Renzo's real priority,
When suddenly,-
"REPORT!!!!!!"
A desperate shout, so sharp it broke into a crack, erupted from the direction of the harbor.
A Marine responsible for harbor lookout came stumbling over, crawling and rolling, his face filled with apocalyptic terror.
He ran so fast that he tripped and fell flat on his face.
"Chief Steward Rehn! Lieutenant Commander Potts! S-Something terrible has happened!!!"
Rehn's brows instantly furrowed.
'Damn it.'
'More noise?!'
'Did someone disturb Lord Renzo's afternoon nap again?!'
"Why panic!" Rehn barked.
"If the sky falls, Lord Renzo will hold it up! Speak! What happened?!"
The Marine dropped to his knees, his voice trembling with tears.
"I-It's Lieutenant Commander Harlock!!"
"Harlock?"
A terrible premonition rose in Rehn's heart.
'The fleet transporting the gold?!'
"Lieutenant Commander Harlock's ship… it returned! But… but…"
"But what?! Say it!" Potts shouted.
"But the ship… half of it sank! Lieutenant Commander Harlock… he… he…"
BOOM!!!
Before the Marine could finish, a battered, blood-covered figure smashed through the wall of the training field and crashed heavily in front of Rehn and Potts.
It was "Iron Fang" Harlock.
His once-sturdy lieutenant colonel uniform had turned into shredded rags.
His body was covered in wounds.
One leg bent at a horrifying angle, clearly broken.
Even the iron hand gripping his saber was covered in terrifying dents.
"Harlock!!"
Potts was shocked and rushed forward to support him.
"Chief Steward… Rehn"
Harlock grabbed Rehn's pant leg.
On his resolute face were now endless humiliation, fury… and bone-deep fear.
Using the last of his strength, he forced out hoarsely from his throat the sentence that would shake the entire G-5 base.
"I'm… I'm sorry…"
"The… gold…"
"…All of it... was all… stolen!!!"
"…"
"…"
The smile on Rehn's face slowly disappeared.
Within his squinting eyes flashed a cold, terrifying spark of lightning.
"What... did you say?"
....
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