Night. The Chief Steward's office at the G-5 base was brightly lit.
Rehn stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at G-5's "fortress that never sleeps," which had already begun to take shape.
This fortress, built according to Lord Renzo's will, was expanding at a terrifying pace under the planning and promotion of Rear Admiral Ain, gradually becoming the strongest and wealthiest paradise in the New World.
But at this moment, Rehn's mood was completely at odds with this prosperity.
His chubby face, usually smiling, was now so gloomy it seemed like water could drip from it.
"Tesoro…"
He squeezed the name out through clenched teeth.
Just a few minutes ago, he had returned from meeting Lord Renzo.
Lord Renzo's reaction was both expected and unexpected.
His indifference was only natural.
Because in Lord Renzo's world, someone at Tesoro's level didn't even qualify as a 'trouble.'
However, "Tesoro… How dare you!"
Rehn's anger had already burst through the top of his skull.
This was no longer about three ships of gold.
Since the founding of G-5, this was the first time-
The first time someone dared to openly rob within the territory designated by his Lord.
This was the ultimate provocation against the authority of the Haiiroyo.
And it was an unbearable humiliation to Chief Steward Rehn's competence.
He had to make that man who called himself the Golden Emperor pay tenfold, no, a hundredfold for that so-called warning.
But he couldn't mobilize the G-5 fleet.
Lord Renzo had said it was a small matter and told him to handle it however he wanted.
If he made a big spectacle by deploying the fleet, wouldn't that turn a small matter into a big one?
That would… disturb Lord Renzo!
That would be the real dereliction of duty!
"A private matter… must be resolved in a private way."
Rehn's mind raced.
He needed help.
Someone who wouldn't attract the attention of Marine Headquarters.
Someone strong enough, and absolutely professional.
And there was another major problem,
He didn't know where Tesoro's moving golden casino ship, Gran Tesoro, was drifting in the New World.
He needed a navigator capable of "smelling gold" on the sea.
In Rehn's mind, an image instantly appeared,
The orange-haired woman currently sleeping in G-5's underground treasury, hugging gold bars.
"Heh. The perfect candidate."
The ferocious expression on Rehn's face instantly vanished, replaced once again with his professional smile.
....
Underground Level Three "City of Gold" Phase One Warehouse
"Hehe… heheh… mine… all mine… Beli… gold bricks…"
Nami was lying in a completely ungraceful starfish pose atop a small mountain of gold bars, drooling as she slept, counting money even in her dreams.
Ever since Ain approved her temporary supervision of this batch of gold, she had moved her bed into the warehouse.
In her words, this was called: "Breathing with wealth and sharing its fate."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The heavy alloy door was struck.
"Who's there?!"
Nami instantly woke up like a lioness protecting her food. She sprang up with a flip, grabbing the Clima-Tact beside her and shouting vigilantly:
"Password! Gold or Beli?!"
"Miss Nami," Rehn's gentle voice came from outside the door.
"It's me, Rehn. I have… a piece of 'gold-related business' I'd like to discuss with you."
"Gold?!"
Clang, Beli symbols instantly lit up in Nami's eyes. She rushed to the door at the speed of Soru and opened it.
"Get in!"
She yanked the round Rehn inside and slammed the door shut.
"Fatty, you'd better not be wasting my time. What business?"
"Miss Nami, don't rush."
Rehn wiped some sweat from his forehead; the gold's reflection was blinding.
Looking at the mountains of gold filling the room, even he couldn't help clicking his tongue.
This financial consultant's obsession with wealth was… terrifying.
"It's like this," Rehn cleared his throat and smiled kindly.
"I have a private commission."
"I need you to help me, no, help Lord Renzo, find something at sea."
"Lord Renzo?"
Nami looked at him suspiciously.
"Why isn't he here himself? Fell asleep somewhere again?"
"Ahem!" Rehn declared righteously.
"Lord Renzo's entertainment time is sacred and inviolable! Naturally, trivial matters like this are handled by me, his steward."
"A trivial matter?"
Nami's interest immediately dropped by half.
"I don't do trivial work without profit. I'm busy planning the second phase renovation of the vault."
"There is profit."
Rehn slowly raised one finger.
"A ship."
"A ship?"
"A ship made entirely of gold."
"A massive, mobile casino city."
Rehn's tone was full of temptation.
"!!!"
Nami's breathing stopped.
Her orange eyes widened instantly, "Gran Tesoro?!"
Of course she knew what that was.
It was one of the ultimate dreams of navigators worldwide.
A moving Golden Ship.
The gathering place of the world's wealth.
"Y-you… you guys…"
Nami's voice trembled with excitement.
"Lord Renzo… is he finally going to make a move on that mountain of gold?!"
"No, no, you misunderstand."
Rehn waved his hand, wearing a look of righteous anger.
"Lord Renzo has no interest in such vulgar objects."
"It's that reckless fool Tesoro… he angered Lord Renzo."
"He stole a tribute that was supposed to be offered to Lord Renzo!"
Rehn skillfully replaced G-5's stolen gold with "Lord Renzo's tribute."
"What?!"
Nami immediately got angry, too.
Stealing my money = stealing Renzo's money = stealing my money.
Perfect logic.
"That Tesoro! How dare he!!"
"So," Rehn said with a knowing smile.
"Lord Renzo is very displeased. He has authorized me to handle this matter entirely."
"I need your navigation skills, Miss Nami. Only you can find that moving mountain of gold in the vast sea."
Beli symbols were already spinning in Nami's eyes.
"Find… find it…"
"Exactly." Rehn increased the bait.
"We're going to collect a debt. Lord Renzo wants us to retrieve it with interest."
"With interest…"
Nami nearly drooled.
"Then… my payment…"
"Miss Nami, we're already 'our own people'."
Rehn tried playing the emotional card.
"Cut the nonsense. Even brothers settle accounts clearly."
"…Alright."
Rehn sighed. He knew he needed something tangible.
"Lord Renzo said that all the interest recovered this time…"
"…you may take thirty percent."
"Thirty percent?!"
Nami's eyes shone blindingly bright.
'Tesoro's interest?!'
'How much money would that be?!'
"Deal!!!"
Without hesitation, Nami grabbed Rehn's thick hand.
"When do we leave?!"
"Now."
Rehn smiled with satisfaction.
"And to avoid disturbing Lord Renzo, we must… leave quietly."
"Just the two of us."
"Two people?!"
Nami froze, "To fight… Tesoro's entire Golden Empire?!"
She loved money, but she wasn't crazy.
"Miss Nami, you misunderstand again."
Rehn smiled mysteriously.
"We're not going to fight."
"We're going to negotiate."
He gently patted his round belly.
"And I, Rehn, specialize in making people peacefully return what doesn't belong to them… with interest."
Crackle.
A faint golden arc of electricity flashed briefly at his fingertips.
Looking at his "kind" smile, Nami shivered.
For some reason, she had the feeling that this fat man's negotiation might be very… physical.
One hour later, night had fully fallen.
At the most secret Dock No.7 of the G-5 base, a special G-5 black reconnaissance boat equipped with the newest Seastone silent engine slid out of the harbor like a ghost.
On deck, Nami gripped the helm.
Her expression had already switched from money-obsessed mode to professional navigator mode.
She opened her mouth to feel the direction of the sea wind, then glanced at the Eternal Pose in her hand, which Rehn had tampered with.
"This pointer… isn't accurate. Tesoro is moving, and fast."
Nami frowned, "Finding him will be like searching for a needle in the ocean."
"I trust your professionalism, Miss Nami."
Rehn emerged from the cabin holding a steaming cup of fragrant coffee.
"This is Sky Island Mist Peak, personally roasted by Sanji. A reward from Lord Renzo. Perfect for keeping a top navigator alert."
"Not bad."
Nami accepted the coffee and took a sip. The rich aroma instantly refreshed her.
"But that alone isn't enough. I need more precise intelligence."
"Of course."
Rehn snapped his fingers.
"The Golden Emperor's ship periodically sends golden invitations to underworld rulers worldwide, inviting them to auctions."
"And I happened to intercept the transmission trajectory of one such invitation."
He handed Nami a sea chart with a triangular area marked in red.
"Sea Area G-Gas-04. That's where he sent the signal last week."
"G-Gas-04?"
Nami's expression changed slightly.
"That's near the territory of Kaido of the Beasts! And the weather there is the New World's most chaotic Magnetic Storm Zone!"
"That's exactly why we need you, Miss Nami."
Rehn smiled.
"Places like that are perfect for hiding a mountain of gold, aren't they?"
"…Madman," Nami muttered.
But in her orange eyes, an excited flame had already ignited.
The more chaotic the sea…
The more unpredictable the challenge…
The more it awakened the fighting spirit of the "Cat Burglar."
"Hold tight, fatty!"
Nami slammed the control lever forward. The reconnaissance boat's engine growled as its speed skyrocketed.
"And if you puke on my deck, I'm raising the price by fifty percent!!"
"Understood!"
Rehn stood behind her as steady as a mountain, like the most loyal butler.
But in his heart, that icy killing intent had already locked onto the distant horizon.
"Tesoro…"
"Enjoy your final carnival while you still can."
....
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu