"What... did you say?"
Rehn's voice was very soft, so soft it sounded like an unconscious murmur.
However, the moment those words fell, the entire training ground, every G-5 marine present, including Potts who was supporting Harlock, felt a suffocating pressure descend!
The air seemed to turn into thick syrup.
The temperature began dropping at a visible rate.
A faint smell of ozone, mixed with the soft crackling of electricity, started to spread around Rehn's round body.
This was the prelude to Chief Steward Rehn's true anger.
"C-Chief Steward Rehn…"
With a thud, Harlock forcefully broke free from Potts' support. Using his one good hand to brace himself on the ground, he slammed his head heavily against the floor.
Blood and dirt smeared across his face.
"It… it was the Golden Emperor, Gild Tesoro's people!"
Harlock's voice was filled with humiliation and unwillingness.
"It was one of his executives! That woman with the Lucky-Lucky Fruit, Baccarat! And another monster who could teleport!"
Harlock said miserably, "Our fleet couldn't resist their abilities at all! They… they didn't even kill all of us. They said…"
"What did they say?"
Rehn's tone had no change at all. The narrow slits of his eyes were already completely swallowed by shadow.
"They said… this was Tesoro's small 'warning' to Lord Renzo… telling our G-5 not to be so arrogant…"
Harlock deliberately added fuel to the fire.
He had to destroy those people completely.
BOOM!!
Before Harlock even finished speaking, a massive training boulder nearly three meters tall beside him exploded into powder without warning.
"Heh…"
"Hehehe…"
Rehn laughed.
His fat body trembled violently from the suppressed laughter.
"A warning?"
"A small… warning?"
"Even when beating a dog, you still look at its owner."
"And now even mere dogs… dare to bite the owner's hand?"
Potts and the surrounding marines fell completely silent.
Everyone understood that the nature of this incident had completely changed.
This was no longer about several ships of gold.
This was the so-called "Monster of the New World," the Golden Emperor, openly provoking the "God" of G-5, Lord Renzo.
More importantly… Rehn's face burned with humiliation.
Lord Renzo had entrusted him with the entire efficiency of G-5.
Lord Renzo had entrusted him with maintaining the peaceful environment for his sleep.
Lord Renzo had even entrusted him with the gold transport, such a profitable task!
What tremendous trust!
And what happened?
Right under Lord Renzo's watch, Rehn had allowed their wealth to be robbed.
This wasn't merely negligence.
This was like slapping Rehn across the face.
And even worse, it was like slapping Lord Renzo's face.
"Unforgivable… unforgivable… unforgivable!!"
Rehn's teeth ground together with a cracking sound.
"Potts!"
"Here!"
"Level-One combat readiness! Seal off the information! Take Harlock to the infirmary! Suppress all 'noise' for me!"
Rehn suddenly turned around. The black cloak behind him, embroidered with the words "Efficiency Above All", fluttered violently despite the absence of wind.
"Before this noise… reaches Lord Renzo's ears…"
"I will go… and request the lord's instructions!"
.....
G-5 Branch, the top floor. The room was crafted by Rehn using the highest level of security and the highest level of soundproofing materials.
Completely different from the noise and panic outside.
Here, it was warm as spring, with the sound of flowing water.
A massive, constant-temperature swimming pool, over five hundred square meters in size and built with gemstones, emitted dreamy mist.
The pool water was "sparkling water" brought from the deep sea, allowing one to breathe freely at the surface.
At this moment, ten mermaids, who had voluntarily come to G-5 from Fish-Man Island for "cultural exchange," were forming a magnificent "water ballet troupe."
Sometimes leaping from the water, sometimes flicking their brilliant tails, accompanied by their ethereal and beautiful singing.
And Renzo, wearing a loose silk robe, was half-lying on a super lounge chair, specially made by Rehn, inlaid with countless diamonds and gold.
He wore sunglasses. Beside him, the prettiest female soldier of the G-5 branch was carefully feeding him freshly airlifted, peeled grapes.
On the other side, Monet was massaging his shoulders with the utmost gentleness.
Luxury. Corruption. Decadence.
"Mmm… that high note has excellent penetration."
Renzo took a sip of iced fruit juice and commented leisurely.
"Reward her. Give the one with the pink tail a gold brick."
"Yes!"
A servant immediately wrote it down.
In the midst of this sacred and peaceful atmosphere,
An incompatible set of hurried footsteps suddenly approached.
Thud.
Rehn's massive body knelt heavily at the entrance of the residence with a humility that seemed completely at odds with his size.
He did not raise his head.
His forehead pressed tightly against the cold marble floor.
"Lord Renzo…"
Rehn's voice sounded hoarse from extreme suppression.
The mermaids' singing stopped.
Monet, who had been massaging his shoulders, froze.
The marine feeding grapes held her hand suspended in mid-air.
The entire residence fell into instant silence.
Levi slowly took off his sunglasses, revealing those lazy yet deep-set eyes.
He didn't turn around, just uttered a faint "Hmm?"
"Lord Renzo… I… am guilty."
Rehn's body trembled again.
"The gold… you entrusted me to transport…"
"Oh, the gold."
Renzo seemed to just remember it existed.
"What about it? Did it sink?"
"…It… it was robbed."
Rehn clenched his teeth and forced out the words.
"Oh. Robbed, huh."
Renzo's reaction was calm.
He even put his sunglasses back on and waved his hand.
"Singing, continue. Dancing, continue."
"Don't stop."
"Yes!" The mermaids immediately resumed their performance in relief.
Renzo's lounge chair slowly rotated, now facing Rehn kneeling on the ground.
"Who did it?"
"The Golden Emperor, Gild Tesoro."
"Tesoro?" Renzo tilted his head. "That guy who built the big golden ship and calls himself the Golden Emperor? I remember… Rehn, didn't you report before that we own 5% shares of that ship?"
"Y-Yes!" Rehn hurriedly said. "Which is why this is even more unforgivable! This is-"
"Stop."
Renzo interrupted him.
"How much did he take?"
"T-Three large transport ships… fully loaded with gold."
"Oh, three ships."
Renzo waved his hand, signaling the marine to keep feeding grapes.
"I thought it was something serious."
"???"
Rehn suddenly raised his head, shock written across his face.
"Lord Renzo… that's… that's three ships of gold!"
"I know."
Renzo said vaguely while chewing grapes.
"But so what?"
"We already own half of the Golden City, plus the development strategy Ain designed. We've invested in so many companies… we have more money than we can spend…"
Renzo sighed and sat up from the chair.
He walked to Rehn and patted the tense fat on his shoulder.
"Rehn."
"You need to think long-term."
"Just three ships of gold, and you came running here to interrupt my entertainment?"
"B-But! It was Tesoro! The Golden Emperor! He slapped our face!" Rehn panicked.
"So what if he did?"
Renzo said indifferently.
"What's the use of a face anyway? Besides, for just three ships of gold I'd have to personally go to the New World and visit that flashy golden ship… what a hassle."
"I just got back from vacation at Fish-Man Island. I don't want to go anywhere."
"I'm tired."
Renzo lay back down and waved his hand like shooing a fly.
"Don't bother me with such small matters again."
"If it got robbed, it got robbed. Handle it yourself."
"Deal with it however you want."
"…"
Rehn froze like stone.
He knelt there, stunned for a full half minute.
Only when Renzo's impatient "Hmm?" sounded again did Rehn finally snap out of it.
"Yes!"
"It was this subordinate… who was foolish!"
"This subordinate disturbed Lord Renzo's enjoyment and deserves death!!"
Rehn slammed his head three times heavily on the ground.
Then, without another word, he slowly backed out of the luxurious top-floor room.
When the thick soundproof doors slowly closed,
Cutting off the mermaids' singing and laughter completely,
Rehn slowly stood up.
The panic and unease on his plump, honest-looking face disappeared completely.
In its place appeared a twisted, icy ferocity.
"Lord Renzo… does not care."
"Hehehe… yes. How could a god care about mud thrown by mortals?"
"A god has the perspective of a god."
"A god has the dignity of a god."
"But…"
Rehn's slit-like eyes suddenly opened wide.
Terrifying lightning flashed inside them.
"I, Rehn!"
"As the most loyal servant of the god!!"
"Have the duty, and the responsibility to cut off every hand that dares throw mud at the 'god'!"
"Tesoro… Golden Emperor?"
"You've caused a very big problem."
....
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu