The Nap-One steadily descended into the dark deep sea.
However, after diving about five hundred meters, this luxurious flagship did not, like ordinary pirates, nervously rush straight toward Fish-Man Island ten thousand meters below.
Instead, upon reaching a certain depth, it turned its bow and began a smooth underwater cruise along the edge of the Red Line.
…
Flagship, top-floor luxury suite deck.
Renzo was still reclining on the ergonomically designed lounge chair custom-made for him.
Monet held up a parasol for him, even though there was no sun underwater; it was "for the atmosphere" while reading aloud a New World economic report, essentially a sleep aid.
"Now then Renzo-kun~."
On the other side, Kizaru sipped hot tea while watching the bizarre, glowing deep-sea fish outside the bubble and spoke lazily.
"I remember quite clearly~. Inside the Red Line, the World Government and Marine Headquarters have a special elevator passage."
He pointed toward the pitch-black, unfathomably tall rock wall above them.
"As long as we use that secret route~ we could go straight from the Holy Land Mary Geoise safely and quickly to Fish-Man Island. At least two days faster than this… sightseeing."
The meaning was obvious: The two of them absolutely had the authority to use the VIP route, so why float around underwater like this?
Renzo didn't even open his eyes, his voice heavy with sleepiness.
"Borsalino… are you questioning my vacation arrangements?"
"Not at all~."
"Taking the secret route," Renzo explained lazily, "Is troublesome... too many paper work and a stuffy process."
He frowned, clearly exhausted just imagining it.
"Right now, I just lie here and do nothing. The ship moves on its own... this is what you call a vacation."
"…."
Kizaru paused for half a second. A glint flashed across his glasses, and he gave his trademark smile.
"Ohoho, I see. Truly an irrefutable reason~.."
"Your understanding of 'work' surpasses even mine, Renzo-kun."
"You flatter me."
"So~" Kizaru pointed ahead, "our current course is…?"
"We circle around the underside of the Red Line and surface on the other side," Renzo replied.
"Destination, the Sabaody. We'll find a craftsman there to re-coat the ship, then properly dive."
"Ah, Sabaody~."
Kizaru stretched the word.
"That is quite… a lively place. Full of energetic young people~."
….....
Meanwhile, inside the ship
"Divine Gaze: Absolute Defense Perimeter!"
Rehn stood in a horse stance before the captain's observation window. His round body was rigid, staring intensely at the grotesque Sea Kings approaching outside.
"Lord Renzo's sleep shall be protected by me! Any creature that comes within one thousand meters of Nap-One will face divine wrath!"
"Hey! You idiot fatso!"
Sanji came out of the kitchen carrying a tray with a freshly baked apple pie.
"Can you tone down that 'take one more step and I'll kill you' killing intent?! You're scaring all the fish away! I still need a deep-sea anglerfish for tonight's appetizer!"
"Shut up, curly-brow!" Rehn snapped without turning.
"Protecting Lord Renzo's sleep environment is my top priority! Mere ingredients cannot compare to his rest!"
"You!"
"And besides!" Rehn smugly turned his head. "Lord Renzo said I'm not allowed to use electricity, it ruins the meat. So now I'm using divine pressure! Majestic and silent, right?"
"…That's just your Devil Fruit power and Observation Haki! Why do you give everything weird names?!"
Amid the bickering of this "god" and cook, the Nap-One cruised peacefully through the deep sea for a full day.
…...
One day later
The ship slowly surfaced and broke through the ocean.
Warm sunlight fell upon the deck again.
"Haah!" Sanji was the first to rush up, greedily breathing fresh air and already imagining mermaids.
"Finally surfaced~." Kizaru stretched as he walked onto the deck.
Before them appeared a surreal sight.
Countless colossal Yarukiman Mangroves rose from the sea floor, their roots intertwining above the surface to form an entire archipelago.
The strangest part was the bubbles, soap-like spheres constantly rising from the ground and floating into the sky.
"Wow…" Even Monet let out a small gasp. "So this is Sabaody… what a dreamlike place."
"Dreamlike?" Sanji scoffed and exhaled smoke. "Miss Monet, this place isn't as pretty as it looks."
He pointed toward the floating bubbles and the faint uproar echoing from the islands.
"This is a lawless zone. Across the 79 tree-islands gather the worst things in the world, pirates, bounty hunters, human traffickers… In short, a nest of outlaws."
"Lord Renzo!"
Rehn hurried onto the deck, his usually playful face now serious.
"My Divine Gaze senses… many… very many unpleasant presences."
"Yeah."
Renzo finally sat up from his lounge chair as Monet draped a coat over him.
He frowned, listening to the distant noise, shouting pirates, fighting, and chaotic music.
"So noisy…"
Rubbing his temples, he looked at Kizaru. "Borsalino, this technically falls within your jurisdiction, right? Aren't you going to do anything?"
"I'm on vacation~," Kizaru immediately shook his head.
"And this is at the mangrove roots, not Marine HQ territory and not the Holy Land either. A gray zone~."
"Tch." Renzo looked annoyed.
"Lord Renzo!" Rehn stepped forward and pounded his chest.
"Shall I make this archipelago… quiet?"
Electric sparks began gathering in his raised hand.
"With a single word fromyou, I can make everyone sleep peacefully!"
"…You're louder than they are."
"Th-then what should we do?" Rehn scratched his head.
"These vermin dare disturb your peace! A capital offense!"
Renzo glanced at the noisy islands, then at his ship.
He only wanted to finish coating the hull and dive quickly to the quiet Fish-Man Island.
"Monet."
"Yes, Lord Renzo."
"Dock the ship. Find a berth in the lawless zone. Yes, the noisiest one."
"Huh?" Monet blinked.
"Sanji, Rehn, you two go ashore."
"Yes!"
"Understood, Lord Renzo!!"
"Mermaids, I'm coming!"
Renzo took from his pocket, handed by Monet, an unlimited-credit Marine internal settlement gold card.
"Take this."
"Find the best, fastest, and quietest coating craftsman."
He added, "Tell him the Nap-One must be recoated within three hours. I'll pay five times the price."
"If he can't…"
Renzo glanced at Rehn.
Rehn instantly understood and gave a vicious grin:
"I understand! If he can't, I'll help him do it! Fast and quiet!"
"…I mean," Renzo sighed, "If he can't, just find another one. Don't use violence... it's noisy."
"Ah? Oh… yes!" Rehn deflated immediately.
"In any case," Renzo lay back down and pulled over his sleep mask, "I'm giving you three hours. After that, we dive. If something as trivial as coating delays my nap…"
"I guarantee it!!"
Sanji and Rehn, especially Sanji, shouted in unison, eyes blazing.
Sanji for the mermaids.
Rehn for Renzo's command.
"Even if we have to tie him up, we'll drag that coating craftsman here!"
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu