G-5 Branch.
Another peaceful afternoon.
It had been more than half a month since that "all roar and no bite" sparring match between Potts and Sanji.
Since then, the G-5 Branch had officially entered the most peaceful "golden age" in its history.
After Renzo pointed out Potts's "lack of real combat experience," Potts immediately applied the next day, strongly encouraged by Rehn to take a squad and "clean up" the small-time pirates around G-5's surrounding waters.
As Rehn put it, this was called: "The most efficient combat training possible, so long as it doesn't disturb Lord Renzo."
And Renzo's life had returned once again to his favorite rhythm: sleeping, drinking tea, and… complaining.
"Sigh…"
A long, philosophically weary sigh drifted from the recliner.
Ain, who was watering the plants nearby, paused and massaged her forehead helplessly.
She knew her admiral's "daily episode" was starting again.
"Sanji," Renzo drawled lazily, turning his head toward the blond chef standing respectfully beside him.
"Today's Ceylon black tea… wasn't it steeped 0.5 seconds too long? The taste is slightly astringent."
A cross-shaped vein bulged instantly on Sanji's forehead, but he still maintained a professional smile.
"Admiral Renzo, I brewed it exactly by your 'golden three-minute standard.' Not one second off."
"Is that so…"
Renzo smacked his lips lightly. "Then it must be a problem with this batch of tea leaves. The tea we 'received as compensation' from BIG MOM last time is almost gone, right? The quality… was only so-so."
Sanji's mouth twitched.
Those were TOP-grade tea leaves treasured by BIG MOM herself, priceless anywhere else!
"And this pastry," Renzo picked up a beautifully crafted, fragrant macaron and popped it into his mouth.
"Mm…"
He chewed for three seconds, then let out his trademark sigh again.
"Too sweet."
"…Hah?"
This time, Sanji couldn't hold it in.
"Admiral, just yesterday you said the sweetness of this macaron was perfect, 'the taste of happiness'!"
"Yesterday's me was yesterday's me. Today's me is already tired of it."
Renzo spoke in a tone of someone who had seen through the emptiness of life.
"Sanji, it's not your cooking. Your cooking is flawless."
"Then it's…"
"It's the world that's lacking."
Renzo pointed to the sea with his sunglasses.
"These ingredients can no longer match your skill… nor my tongue."
The compliment was so ridiculous that Sanji was left speechless.
Renzo slowly sat up, a rare enough gesture that Ain looked over in surprise.
He seemed to fall into a painful recollection.
"I remember… Kizaru once told me. Many years ago, when he was still working in the first half of the Grand Line, he passed by an island called Apatia."
"On that island, there's a special coffee bean called Mistpeak. They only grow at the edge of a small patch of fixed cloud island floating permanently above the island. Extremely hard to harvest."
"Coffee brewed from those beans is smooth as silk… its aroma can make your soul leave your body… Ahh, how I long for that taste."
Renzo had just finished reminiscing when Sanji's eyes turned into two blazing hearts.
"Floating cloud island…?!"
"Coffee beans that only grow at the boundary of misty clouds?!"
"Ohhh!! These are truly ingredients worthy of a gentleman! A dream!!"
Sanji immediately entered his "ingredient fantasy mode" and imagined which desserts would best suit such divine beans.
Ahem.
Renzo coughed twice, stopping his delusions.
"Just having the coffee beans won't do. Kizaru also said that the sea area produces a rare 'Seven-Color Sea Salt.' Used for desserts, it brings out a mysterious sweetness… Such a pity it's so far."
"NOT FAR!!"
Sanji suddenly grabbed the arms of Renzo's beach chair, shouting passionately:
"Admiral Renzo! Please entrust this mission to me! For your afternoon tea, no! For the pursuit of ultimate flavor in this world! I, Sanji, shall gladly accept!"
Seeing his eagerness, Renzo nodded with satisfaction.
"Good spirit. But a chef alone isn't enough. Acquiring such rare and expensive ingredients needs someone knowledgeable, good with money, and sharp enough to handle trouble. A 'butler.'"
"Rehn," Renzo called toward the base.
Shoom!
As if he had been waiting all along, Rehn's round body flashed into view at "Soru" speed, dropping to one knee with a comedic wobble thanks to his belly.
"Lord Renzo! Your humble servant Rehn awaits your command!"
Sanji twitched again.
'This guy… his flattery skills were even more polished than Potts's.'
"Good. Rehn," Renzo said, satisfied with his speed. "How much money is left in G-5's accounts?"
"Reporting, my lord!"
Rehn instantly produced a delicate little abacus, from who-knows-where, and began flicking the beads at lightning speed.
"After subtracting three months of base maintenance, personnel bonuses, compensations, and your reserved 'nap fund,' we currently have 6.23 billion berries of liquid assets!"
"Hiss…"
Even Sanji sucked in a breath.
Extorting a Yonko really was the fastest path to wealth.
"Enough."
Renzo nodded.
"Rehn, you and Sanji will go to the Grand Line. Sanji chooses the ingredients; you pay and handle all 'problems.'"
"My requirements are simple," Renzo lay back down and waved lazily.
"I just want to drink genuine Mistpeak coffee for my afternoon tea next week."
"Hah?! Next week?!"
Now it was Rehn's turn to cry out.
Cold sweat poured down his round face, and his abacus sparked from friction.
"Admiral! Apatia Island is located in the latter half of the Grand Line's 'Paradise'! Departing from the New World's G-5, even with our fastest ship, a round trip would take three weeks at minimum, assuming nothing goes wrong!"
"This mission is impossible, my lord!"
"Oh?"
Renzo opened one eye, glancing at him.
"Impossible?"
Rehn froze, trembling.
He remembered his own "efficiency creed."
"No! Possible!"
He snapped to attention and shouted with all his strength:
"Rest assured, my lord! I will overcome every obstacle and execute the most efficient, swift, and flawless plan! Next week, at this exact time, I will personally deliver Mistpeak coffee beans to your table!!"
"Mm. That's better."
Renzo closed his eyes again.
"Go. Don't disturb my nap."
"Yes, sir!"
Sanji and Rehn exchanged a look, one serious, already calculating time compression, the other excited, already fantasizing about dream ingredients.
Half an hour later, G-5's fastest scout vessel hoisted the banner of "Marine Headquarters, Special Procurement Mission," and shot toward Reverse Mountain like an arrow.
"Destination: Apatia! Full speed ahead!"
Rehn commanded from the bow, map in hand, expression solemn.
"OOOHH!! Grand Line! Here I come! Unknown ingredients await me!"
Sanji danced across the deck in excitement.