Marine Headquarters, New Marineford.
In the cafeteria, along dormitory corridors, even in the corners of training grounds, small groups of marines gathered everywhere. Each wore a mysterious, lottery-winning smile, whispering excitedly.
"Hey, did you hear about the black market price?"
A young Ensign leaned in, speaking in hushed tones.
"You mean the live-stream access code for G-5's 'Genius Efficiency Martial Tournament' finals?"
His companion swallowed hard and raised five fingers.
"It's already up to one million Beli for a standard view! And VIP codes, with 'god view' or player close-ups, have been driven up to ten million by New World tycoons! Some can't even be bought!"
"Ten million…"
The ensign clicked his tongue, glancing at his dry military bread with pity, pity for those suckers outside.
"Rich people are insane, spending that much just to watch a fight."
He then pulled out a golden card with a lazy sheep emblem, the one issued yesterday by HQ logistics.
Kissing it, he grinned like an idiot: "Good thing we're Marines! Admiral Renzo really came through, everyone on payroll got a free viewing pass!"
"Exactly!"
His friend teared up.
"Not just free, the signal is direct from G-5's control room! High-definition, zero delay! And we can join internal betting for prizes, like gold figurines from G-5!"
"Praise Admiral Renzo! This is real employee welfare!"
"I heard some veterans who were about to retire actually tore up their retirement papers just to watch this!"
The excitement spread like a virus.
From the Four Seas to the Grand Line, hundreds of thousands of marines were waiting eagerly.
For them, this wasn't just a match, it was a collective vacation, a gift from the most outrageously wealthy Admiral.
....
Fleet Admiral's Office
BANG!
A fist slammed into the desk, leaving a scorched crater.
"Ridiculous!! Absolutely ridiculous!!"
Sakazuki roared, face twisted with fury.
"Borsalino! You're just letting that bastard do whatever he wants?!"
He pointed outside.
"Look at this base! Where's the discipline?! They're talking about betting odds! Concerts! Hairstyles!!"
"This is the Marines, not an amusement park!!"
"That Renzo is corrupting justice with money and indulgence!!"
Behind the desk, Borsalino calmly trimmed his nails.
"Waa... Sakazuki, don't be so angry~."
"Young people are stressed. Letting them relax helps productivity~."
"Relax?! This is decadence!"
"And that broadcast! Why show it to the entire Marines?!"
Borsalino casually handed him a report.
"Take a look~."
Sakazuki grabbed it and froze.
Recruitment had surged 300%.
Resignations hit a historic low.
Top enlistment reasons: "I admire Admiral Renzo"
"I want G-5 Benefits."
"High salary."
"Soft beds and air-conditioning."
"…What is this…"
"This is the power of example," Borsalino said.
"He made being a Marine… attractive."
Sakazuki clenched the paper, speechless.
"…But that's not justice…"
Still, the numbers spoke louder than ideology.
"And by the way~"
Borsalino stretched.
"My vacation request was approved~."
"You're going to G-5?!"
"Of course~."
He grabbed a floral shirt and beach shorts.
"Renzo saved me a VIP seat and a massage chair~."
"This is an official inspection~."
"You, YOU!!!"
Sakazuki trembled with rage.
"…You bastard!!"
"I'll leave things to you~~~"
Borsalino turned into light and vanished.
...
Two Weeks Later ,G-5 Waters
What was once lively had become the center of the world.
Ships filled the sea, merchant vessels, news blimps, and even pirate ships watching from afar.
G-5 itself now looked like a floating golden city.
A fast, unmarked warship slipped through defenses.
No one stopped it.
Because at the bow stood Borsalino.
"Whoa…"
He stared at the transformed base.
"…This feels more luxurious than Mary Geoise…"
The fortress now glittered with luminous minerals.
The harbor had red carpets.
Honor guards lined the sides.
The Temple of Sloth was now triple its size, crowned with a crystal dome like a diamond.
"…This is ridiculous…"
At the dock, a round figure waited.
Rehn rushed forward, smiling brighter than the sun.
"WELCOME, FLEET ADMIRAL!"
He bowed deeply.
"Rehn is still so polite~."
Borsalino chuckled.
"You've gotten rounder~."
"Thanks to my lord!"
Rehn gestured elegantly.
"Please, Lord Renzo awaits you in the Sky Garden for a banquet!"
"Banquet?"
"Oh yes! Chef Sanji prepared a 'Feast of Light', golden dishes only! Fried Sea King, gold-leaf roast, glowing sashimi…"
"Renzo wants you to feel at home!"
"Hoh ho he knows me well~."
Driving through the base, Borsalino witnessed surreal scenes: Dracule Mihawk… farming cabbages.
"…He's really farming?"
Uta rehearsing dance routines with Marines.
"…She's having fun…"
Perona running a haunted house, scaring victims senseless.
"…This isn't a base…"
"…It's a monster playground…"
Rehn grinned, "Put monsters in the right place, let them live comfortably, they become protectors of peace."
"That's efficiency."
Borsalino nodded, "…Better than endless meetings…"
Sky Garden
At the top, under the crystal dome, a paradise of flowers and streams.
At the center, two massive cloud beds.
On one, Renzo lay in golden silk pajamas, sleeping.
Servants tended to him.
"Lord, the Fleet Admiral is here."
Renzo opened one eye.
"Oh, you're here."
He pointed lazily.
"Lie down."
Borsalino didn't hesitate.
The moment he lay down, "…Ahhh… this is heaven…"
"Of course," Renzo yawned.
"Best Sky Island clouds."
"…I regret becoming Fleet Admiral…"
"Stay here then."
"Good idea~."
The two clinked drinks like students skipping class.
"So… the finals?" Borsalino asked.
"Ready?"
"Not cruelty," Renzo said.
"Selection."
He pressed a button.
The dome turned transparent.
In the distance, a fog-covered island appeared.
.....
Island of the End.
Around it, 66 boats.
Each carrying a fighter: Shelby, Blake, Galorn, Balger… and Sassy.
"They're ready," Renzo said.
"Caged beasts. Starving for two weeks."
"Tomorrow…"
"I open the cage and throw in bait."
"The rest…"
"We drink and watch."
"That's our vacation."
Borsalino looked at the battlefield… then at Renzo.
"…Terrifying, Renzo-kun…" He smiled.
"…but I like it."
Night fell.
G-5's lights illuminated half the sky.
And behind that brilliance, a world-shaking, brutal spectacle…was about to begin.
...
30 Chapters in [email protected]/DaoistJinzu