The next day, early morning.
After a night of emergency overtime repairs, the harbor of the G-5 base had finally been restored to its original state.
Renzo's personal flagship, Nap-One, was now quietly docked at the pier.
From the outside, the ship didn't look nearly as menacing as the other G-5 warships. Instead, its lines were sleek, its hull pure white, and its deck paved with the finest wood available.
Rather than a battleship, it looked more like an ultra-luxurious super-sized cruise liner.
At this moment, the soon-to-depart "Fish-Man Island Inspection Delegation" had already assembled on deck.
Meanwhile, the personnel staying behind to guard the house had arrived with serious expressions to give their reports.
"Lord Renzo!"
Potts, sporting two massive dark circles under his eyes reported loudly:
"G-5 Base is operating normally! Supplies are fully stocked! The 'S-Rank Special Conservation Subject' (Momonosuke) is emotionally stable! The Special Childcare Squad is rotating on a 24-hour schedule without rest, he will absolutely not be allowed to come into contact with any female organisms!"
Renzo nodded in satisfaction. He was reclining on a luxury deck chair, shaded by an umbrella held up by Monet, sipping freshly squeezed juice.
"Very good."
He added lazily, "While I'm gone, if that thing gets too energetic, have the squad accompany him for more 'muscle-based exchange' to burn off his stamina... In short, don't let him get bored, and don't let him leave his room."
"Yes!" Potts shuddered involuntarily at the mental image.
Standing beside Potts was another key member staying behind, Ain, holding a thick stack of documents, her expression as serious as ever.
"Admiral Renzo."
She stepped forward briskly, "Your trip is scheduled to last seven days. I've already organized all routine documents for that period. Any urgent matters will be relayed to you through Mr. Rehn's channels."
"No," Renzo waved his hand. "Don't relay them to me."
"...?"
Renzo yawned, "For these seven days, I'm on 'vacation.' All G-5 affairs are under your and Potts' full authority. And if you run into something you can't handle…"
He pointed at another lounge chair nearby, where Kizaru was sprawled comfortably, eye mask on, one leg crossed, fully committed to doing absolutely nothing.
"…dump the responsibility on Borsalino. Say he forcibly requisitioned the G-5 flagship and dragged me off on an S-Rank top-secret mission. If the sky falls, he can hold it up."
"Ayah I didn't hear anything at all~."
Kizaru didn't even remove his eye mask, his voice dripping with none of my business laziness.
A vein popped on Ain's forehead.
'These two salary thieves!'
'One lazier than the other!'
"I understand," Ain said after taking a deep breath. "I'll… 'handle' everything properly. I wish you a pleasant… 'inspection.'"
"Mm." Renzo was very satisfied with this outcome.
With Ain managing internal administration and Potts handling external affairs, G-5 would remain rock-solid.
"Then-" Renzo announced, "we depart."
"Yes!"
Behind him, the three "accompanying personnel" responded, each in their own very different way.
"Understood! Lord Renzo!"
Rehn slammed his round chest with a thump.
"I have activated Divine Gaze, that's what I named it, to maximum output! Any Sea King within fifty kilometers that dares disturb your nap will be blasted into particles!"
The reason he had to come was perfectly valid: Lord Renzo's peace came first! With a god at his side, who would dare act up?!
"Fish-Man Island's cute ladies~! I'm coming~!!"
Sanji, dressed in his signature black suit, twisted his body into an unnatural S-shape, hearts shooting from his eyes. He was biting his cigarette so hard it looked ready to snap.
His reason for coming was even more compelling: How could Lord Renzo's and Admiral Kizaru's vacation lack world-class cuisine?! And, of course… mermaids.
"Lord Renzo, today's wind and currents are ideal. We're expected to reach the deep-sea passage beneath the Red Line in about a day. This is your second glass of orange juice."
Monet smiled as she handed him a fresh drink.
As for why she had to come, no reason was even needed.
As Renzo's personal secretary, serving tea, feeding him fruit, organizing documents even though he rarely read them, and acting as a living Do Not Disturb barrier while he slept were simply part of her job.
Ain looked at this group of people, each with their own ulterior motives, and sighed helplessly.
This is supposed to be an "inspection"?
"Depart!"
With Renzo's command, Nap-One slowly sailed out of the harbor.
Once the ship reached the deep-water zone under G-5's jurisdiction, coating craftsmen who had been waiting there quickly moved in, enveloping the entire luxury flagship in a massive bubble.
"Well then everyone~," Kizaru removed his eye mask, gazing at the rapidly darkening sea outside the bubble and sighing contentedly. "A ten-thousand-meter undersea journey is about to begin~."
Nap-One began its descent.
Light vanished quickly, and soon the surroundings fell into darkness and silence.
Inside the flagship, however, it was brightly lit, like daytime.
"Rehn," Renzo suddenly spoke.
"Yes! Lord Renzo! Your orders!" Rehn snapped to attention.
"You…" Renzo pointed toward the grotesque deep-sea fish gathering curiously outside as the ship descended.
"The lightning on you is too bright. It hurts my eyes. Turn it off."
"Ah? Yes!"
Rehn immediately reined in his crackling divine majesty and reverted to being an utterly ordinary fat man.
"Sanji."
"Yes! Lord Renzo!"
"Go to the kitchen and prepare lunch. I want deep-sea caviar with champagne. As for Admiral Kizaru… hmm, give him some 'light-speed soba', something he can finish instantly."
"Ehh? Iwant Sea King sashimi~," Kizaru protested.
"Then let Rehn catch it."
"Understood!!" Rehn instantly got excited again.
"No electricity!" Sanji roared.
"You'll ruin the texture, you idiot fatso!"
"What did you say, curly-brow?!"
"..."
Renzo stopped paying attention to the two idiots arguing and leaned back comfortably into his chair.
Monet promptly draped a blanket over him.
"Monet."
"Yes, Lord Renzo."
"Read to me… hmm… let's go with the Fish-Man Island Tourist Guide. Focus on… the Mermaid Café chapter."
"Of course."
Smiling, Monet opened the book and began reading in her gentle, cultured voice:
"The Mermaid Café, located in the heart of Fish-Man Island, is a paradise no traveler should miss. Here, you may enjoy close-up views of…'"
As Monet's soft reading continued, Renzo slowly closed his eyes, a look of anticipation curling at the corner of his lips.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu