Early the next morning, a subtle tension hung over Marineford's Class-A military harbor.
A massive warship, pitch-black, sleek-lined, and clearly modified in every possible way, sat quietly at its berth.
It was even larger than the standard vice admiral's flagship, and unlike normal warships, it lacked the usual excessive cannons.
Instead, it had a wide-open deck, a giant glass-domed greenhouse, and, most outrageous of all, an outdoor hot spring pool built into the stern that looked criminally comfortable.
Its sail was a custom gray, without the standard Marine emblem.
In its place was… a sheep, lying on its side with its eyes closed, clearly taking a nap.
This was the Marines' hastily assembled, overnight-modified flagship for the newly appointed admiral "Haiiroyō" Renzo, the Endless Sheep.
At this moment, the ship was in the middle of a chaotic boarding frenzy.
"Potts! Those Sky Island cloudberries go in the temperature-controlled freezer! Exactly seven degrees, no more, no less!"
Sanji's voice came from the kitchen area as he supervised logistics soldiers carrying crates of top-grade ingredients into the ship.
"Y-Yes, Sanji!"
Potts jogged past, arms full of cookbooks he had just borrowed from the library.
On deck, Kizaru leaned lazily against the railing, fanning himself while pointing at the hot spring.
"Admiral Renzo~ your ship is really comfy~ Even a hot spring, hm~? Next time I go on a mission, could you lend this to me~?"
Beside him, Renzo lay sprawled on an absurdly expensive velvet recliner, covered with a thin blanket, utterly ignoring Kizaru.
He only opened one eye and muttered to the engineer adjusting the sunshade:
"The angle's wrong. Shift it three degrees left, and afternoon sunlight will shine directly in. Trouble."
The engineer broke into a sweat and hurried to fix it.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku stood on the pier, staring at what was supposed to be a warship but looked more like a luxury ocean resort, along with the utterly relaxed people on board.
His head began to ache again.
To convince this problematic admiral to go to G-5, he had approved a ridiculous modification budget and even allowed the man to bring his personal chef and redesign the entire ship's structure.
"…Is everything ready?"
Sengoku asked his adjutant wearily.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral. The Endless Sheep has been fully supplied with fuel, fresh water, and the… 'dessert ingredients' specifically requested by Admiral Renzo. We can depart at any time."
Sengoku nodded, inhaled deeply, and boarded the ship.
There were things he had to say before they departed.
"Renzo."
He stood before the recliner, voice calm but heavy.
Renzo cracked open an eyelid. Barely.
"The situation at G-5 is more complicated than you think."
Sengoku handed him a document.
"That place isn't just a pirate playground, it's a gray zone where all kinds of forces intersect. Even though Vergo was recalled, the mess he left behind, and the Donquixote Family's roots there, won't be easy to clean up."
Renzo didn't even lift a finger to take the file.
He lazily replied, "Got it. If they cause trouble, I'll just make them 'too lazy to move.' Problem solved."
Sengoku: "…"
He felt like he was lecturing a brick wall.
"I don't care how you do it," Sengoku continued, voice firm.
"Within one month, I want G-5's crime rate reduced by fifty percent! And you will uncover every Donquixote spy embedded there! That is a direct order!"
"One month?"
Renzo frowned. "That's too long. It'll delay me from getting back in time for the autumn chestnut cake."
"Then finish it faster! "
Sengoku practically roared.
"In any case, until you complete your mission, you are NOT allowed to return! And Sanji's kitchen will be 'temporarily confiscated'!"
This was his final trump card.
Renzo fell silent.
He glanced toward the kitchen where Sanji was happily working… then imagined the soft, sweet chestnut cake…
"…Fine."
He finally answered reluctantly.
"I'll 'take care of it' as soon as possible."
Sengoku sighed in relief, feeling like he had just won a battle.
He turned to leave, only for Kizaru to casually block his path.
"Fleet Admiral~"
Kizaru handed him a freshly brewed cup of black tea.
"G-5 is in the New World, after all... Things can get pretty complicated, I'm worried Admiral Renzo can't handle it alone~"
"How about I go with him to 'assist'~? I haven't stretched my legs in the New World for quite a while"
Sengoku stared at him suspiciously.
Kizaru? Volunteering?
Impossible.
Unless-
He instantly realized the truth:
This man wanted to go to G-5 to slack off and take a paid vacation.
With Renzo there, even chaos couldn't escalate.
Plus, the ship had a top-tier chef. And a hot spring.
A paradise for a professional slacker.
"Absolutely not."
Sengoku rejected him on the spot.
"The headquarters is busy. You stay here."
He wouldn't let two admirals disappear to the New World for a "slackers' party."
Kizaru sighed dramatically, though the amusement in his eyes never faded.
Even if he couldn't go now, once Renzo settled in G-5, it would become their future "Slacker Alliance Headquarters."
After Sengoku left, the Endless Sheep finally departed the harbor under countless jealous stares.
On board, Renzo lay back down, pulled up his blanket, and prepared for a long, glorious "nap voyage."
Sanji was in the kitchen, excitedly studying New World maps and ingredient charts, planning which rare delicacies to hunt along the way.
Potts sat by Renzo's feet with a pile of documents, working hard to learn how to handle all the "troublesome" administrative tasks.
Back at the dock, Kizaru sipped his tea and waved at the disappearing ship.
"Bon voyage, my ally~"
He murmured, "Remember to try G-5's specialty desserts for me tell me if they're good~"
Meanwhile, in the New World, inside Dressrosa's royal palace,
Doflamingo had also received the news.
"Oh? 'Gray Sheep' is heading to G-5? Fufufufufu…"
He let out his signature laugh, dangerous light flickering behind his sunglasses.
"Well, well… walking straight into the wolf's den, isn't he?"
"Looks like you'll get to have a nice little chat with our new admiral."
A storm was already brewing around the most chaotic Marine branch, G-5.
And at the very center of that storm, the man responsible for it all…
Grumbled irritably as the ship rocked slightly:
"Potts, tell them to sail steadier. I can't sleep with all this shaking."
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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