In front of the massive floor-to-ceiling window, Renzo lazily stirred the ice in his drink with a straw, the crisp clink clink echoing in the room.
Even though the holographic screen ahead showed intense final-round battles, his half-lidded, dead-fish eyes clearly weren't focused.
"Too slow…" Renzo muttered.
"The circle's shrinking way too slowly. At this rate, it'll take days to finish."
Just then, Ding!
The private elevator behind him opened.
"My lord! Great news! Great news!"
Before the man even appeared, his loud voice shattered the calm.
Rehn burst in, dragging behind him a floating, crackling Faraday Cage filled with blue-white lightning arcs.
CLANG!
The cage landed on the expensive carpet.
Inside, a disheveled, slightly singed, utterly defeated-looking, Sabo.
"My lord, look! I caught a HUGE rat in the underground tunnels!"
Rehn puffed his chest like a proud hunter.
"This guy injured Potts, tried to steal your property, and after some friendly questioning, we confirmed his identity, "
"Revolutionary Army's second-in-command, Sabo!"
"Revolutionary Army?!"
Monet and Uta both gasped.
Renzo slowly turned his head.
His gaze landed on Sabo.
Sabo looked back, still defiant, unafraid.
"Yo, Hawaiian shirt."
Renzo smirked faintly.
"So this is your real face? Cleaned up, sure, but your fashion sense is still terrible."
"…"
Out of all possible interrogation openings, this was not one he expected.
"Admiral Renzo."
Sabo steadied himself.
"Since I'm in your hands, kill me or-"
"Stop."
Renzo raised a hand, annoyed.
"Don't start that heroic speech. It's boring."
He lay back down and waved lazily.
"Rehn, what are you doing?"
"Why is our guest in such a cheap cage?"
"That's not G-5 hospitality."
Rehn blinked, then grinned.
"My lord means…?"
"Upgrade his room."
Renzo yawned.
"Give him a private cell. Feed him well. Don't let him starve."
"He's the Revolutionary Army's number two, if he dies, Dragon will come bother me."
"As for what to do with him…"
Renzo glanced at the ongoing match.
"The finals are at the best part right now."
"Handling political prisoners is too tiring. Bad for my sleep."
"Lock him up for now."
"When the finals end and I'm in a good mood…"
"I'll chat with him."
"Maybe about ransom."
"Or… having him dig soil in my garden."
Sabo was stunned.
'Dig… soil?'
"Understood, my lord!"
Rehn grinned like a crooked merchant.
"Hear that, Chief of Staff?"
"This is our lord's mercy!"
"You get to live, and enjoy our VIP prison package!"
"Take him away!"
Black-suited operatives wheeled the cage out.
As he passed Renzo, Sabo couldn't help but ask:
"What exactly are you trying to do…?"
No answer.
Renzo had already put his sleep mask back on.
Breathing evenly as if nothing in the world mattered more, than his nap.
...
Island of the End, Central Zone
The zone continued shrinking.
The battlefield was now reduced to one-third of its original size.
Encounters skyrocketed.
Battles escalated into life-and-death fights.
On a rocky wasteland.
BOOM!!
"Iron Fist" Balger smashed a boulder,
Knocking out a hidden assassin.
He looted a gold token and checked his score.
"Only four…"
"Too slow."
"Rank fifteen? At this rate, I won't even hit top ten."
"You're just stupid."
A cold voice slithered out.
"Desert Fang" Garon emerged from shadows.
"This area's getting crowded."
"Solo fighting is easy prey."
Balger grunted but didn't argue.
Then, a loud mechanical roar descended from above.
"Well, your efficiency really is disappointing."
Spotlights blinded them.
Above, a flying, heavily armed human-shaped arsenal hovered.
The "pay-to-win warrior", Zack.
"Relax."
He landed casually.
Holding… a wine glass.
"I checked the rankings."
"Top five are locked by monsters."
A holographic leaderboard appeared:
Issho – 18 tokens
Blake – 12
Aramaki – 11
Shelby – 9
"That blind guy is insane."
"The wood guy and fire guy too."
"You two? Outside top ten."
"If we do nothing…"
"We get nothing."
"Then what?" Balger asked.
"Alliance."
Zack tossed them each a gold card.
"200 million Berries upfront."
"I provide firepower, scouting, supplies."
"Balger tanks and smashes."
"Garon handles stealth and kills."
"Our goal?"
"Not monsters."
"Farm the weak."
"Stack tokens."
"Break into top ten."
"Top ten reward = pick any Devil Fruit from G-5 vault."
"Even Ancient Zoans."
"Deal." Garon grinned.
"Works for me!" Balger cracked his knuckles.
"Excellent."
"New World Gold Rush Squad… formed."
"Target," Zack circled the map. "Loot this entire zone."
.....
Missiles. Lasers. Explosions.
Balger bulldozed enemies.
Garon poisoned escape routes.
A perfect combo: Money + Tank + Assassin
"STOP! TAKE MY TOKEN!"
"This isn't a tournament, it's bullying!!"
"WHY DOES HIS AMMO NEVER RUN OUT?!"
Their rankings skyrocketed.
....
Central Live Plaza.
The spectators were stunned.
"They teamed up?!"
"Shameless, but insanely effective!"
"That rich kid is literally throwing money at people!"
Rehn laughed at the commentary booth.
"Brilliant!"
"This is Lord Renzo's philosophy, strategy and cooperation!"
"In this world, using resources wisely is power!"
....
The trio advanced eventually reaching a forest.
At the entrance, a shirtless young man stood, holding a wooden sword, Blake.
He slowly opened his eyes.
"Three of you?"
"…Good."
"Perfect for testing that move Lord Renzo taught me."