While the entire world was in an uproar over the newspaper reporting the 20.8-billion-berry compensation, the epicenter of the incident, the G-5 Marine Base, looked like a completely different world.
A strange, peaceful laziness hung in the air.
On the side of the base, on a small artificial beach the G-5 marines had carved out of piles of trash and scrap metal through sweat and stubborn effort…
Two beach chairs sat side by side.
Renzo lay sprawled on one of them, wearing oversized sunglasses that covered half his face. A thin towel rested over his body, his chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. He appeared to be in a deep, undisturbed sleep.
Beside him, Kizaru lounged in an equally lazy pose, humming some tune while reading the very newspaper that had shaken the world.
"Oh my my~ 20.8 billion berries… That Morgans fellow really does love exaggerating things."
Kizaru said in a tone that suggested he had no personal stake in anything at all.
"Renzo, you're even more famous than a Yonko now, you know~"
Renzo didn't even bother to lift an eyelid. He just made a vague "mmh" noise.
Standing beside them was a Monet.
In her pale hands she held a tray with chilled juice and freshly sliced fruit.
The moment Renzo so much as twitched, she could serve a drink instantly.
Her expression was calm, almost serene. One might even say… content.
Compared to the conspiracy-filled, suffocating palace of Dressrosa, this simple, almost dull daily life of "just make sure the admiral can sleep well" was nothing short of paradise.
Not far away, the G-5 marines, led by Tea Beard, were training while constantly sneaking glances toward the beach.
"Look at that! THAT is the lifestyle of the strong!"
"Two of the Marine's top combat forces, sunbathing on our G-5 beach! What an honor!"
"Monet-san is so beautiful… But isn't she one of Doflamingo's executives? Why is she…"
"Shut up! Executive what?! She's Admiral Renzo's aide now! Didn't you see how dedicated she is? This is called 'abandoning darkness for the light'!"
.....
Far away in Dressrosa, the contrast couldn't have been more brutal.
On the King's Plateau, inside the Donquixote Family palace, the atmosphere was suffocating. Almost solid.
"Fufufufufu… fufufufufufu!!!"
Doflamingo sat on his throne, but there was no triumph in his iconic, arrogant laugh, only rage, twisted and barely contained.
He clutched the newspaper in his hand, veins bulging on his forehead and arms, as if he could crush both paper and space itself.
The front page featured Renzo yawning lazily.
But inside, in a corner of a distant shot of G-5's docks, was a blurry figure in a bikini serving Renzo drinks.
Even with the grainy quality, he recognized her instantly.
Monet.
His important executive.
His trusted "family."
"How dare he… HOW DARE HE!!"
Under his sunglasses, his eyes were bloodshot.
Ever since Vergo crawled back alive, he had lost all contact with Monet.
At first, he believed she had died in the Marine ambush, he had mourned her for days.
Only recently had faint whispers from the underworld told him that Monet wasn't dead… She had fallen into the hands of the new admiral, Haiiroyo.
He had been furious, ready to mobilize all the Family's strength, to reclaim his "family" member.
But the crushing oppression Renzo had given him during Marineford still haunted him.
And now the newspaper showed Renzo driving off Big Mom and extorting 20.8 billion berries.
His volcanic fury smashed against the iceberg of absolute powerlessness.
Blackbeard…
Big Mom…
Either one was already beyond him.
But Renzo could toy with the top rulers of the sea like children.
Rob him by force?
With what?
For the first time, Doflamingo felt his proud strength, schemes, and influence, all of it, were pitifully weak before that lazy man.
"Young master…"
Trebol oozed closer, whispering cautiously, "Should we… maybe…"
"SHUT UP!"
Doflamingo roared.
A burst of overwhelming Conqueror's Haki exploded outward, blasting Trebol backward several steps.
The other top officers, Pica, Diamante, Sugar, froze, terrified.
Their king was trembling between wrath and despair.
His breathing was ragged.
Every time he replayed that blurry image of Monet serving Renzo like a maid, it felt like a knife tearing through his heart, the heart that valued family above all.
To him, Monet must be suffering unimaginable humiliation.
Enduring torture.
Praying constantly for him to save her from that Marine devil.
If force wouldn't work…
Slowly, his fury cooled into something colder, the ruthless resolve of a kingpin.
He stood up.
His voice was hoarse, but commanding.
"Connect me to Marine G-5."
"I will speak to that man myself…"
"…about a deal concerning my family."
.....
G-5 artificial beach.
Purururururu… pururururu…
A den den mushi rang loudly in the nearby watch hut.
The half-asleep Potts jolted awake and fumbled to answer.
Kacha.
"This is Marine G-5, Potts speaking. Who is this?"
The other end was silent for a moment.
Then came a familiar, sinister, arrogant laugh.
"Fufufufu… Marine?"
"I want your commanding officer. Admiral Haiiroyo."
"Tell him… the King of Dressrosa, the Heavenly Yaksha Donquixote Doflamingo… wishes to discuss a business deal."
Potts' face drained of color.
He covered the receiver and ran to the beach.
"Admiral Renzo! It's Doflamingo!"
"He says… he wants to negotiate a deal with you."
The sea breeze lifted a corner of Renzo's towel.
Renzo slowly removed his sunglasses, revealing sleep-blurred, deeply annoyed eyes.
"Doflamingo?"
"Tell him I'm busy."
"No time."
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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