G-5 Branch, Dock No. 1.
The once dazzling, eye-blinding golden ship, the Gran Tesoro, was now completely surrounded by scaffolding.
The air was filled with the sharp screech of metal cutting, and Nami's voice, filled with both pain and joy as she commanded the operation.
"Careful! Be careful with that!"
Waving her orange baton, her eyes practically shaped like Beli symbols, Nami stared intensely at every single gold plate being pried off.
"That relief carving is solid gold! Don't use a saw, use a crowbar and lift it out carefully! If even a speck of gold dust falls off, I'm docking half a year's salary!"
In just three days…
This ten-thousand-meter-long behemoth had been stripped by locusts passing through, peeled down layer by layer by the G-5 Marines.
The once gaudy golden exterior was completely gone.
In its place was a ship undergoing its final coating process.
No longer dazzling gold. Not even the traditional marine white.
Instead, it was a deep, matte black, like a void that devoured all light.
Renzo stood atop a high platform at the dock, wearing sunglasses. Looking at the now non-reflective giant, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Finally… it looks decent."
"Your wisdom is unmatched, sir."
Beside him stood a tall, intellectual beauty with long, wavy grass-green hair. She adjusted her glasses, Monet, former officer of the Donquixote Family, now Renzo's chief secretary.
Holding a folder, she spoke gently and calmly:
"This light-absorbing stealth coating was originally a high-tech product from Germa 66. It minimizes light reflection to the greatest extent. It not only provides an excellent sleep environment but also allows perfect concealment during night sailing."
"…It just feels a bit too oppressive,"
On the other side, Ain frowned slightly.
Dressed in a dark blue skirt suit beneath her Marine coat, the blue-haired beauty looked uneasy at the pitch-black hull.
"This doesn't look like a ship of justice… it looks more like a ghost ship meant to destroy the world."
"You'll have to get used to it, Ain."
Rehn appeared out of nowhere, staring at the black warship with fanatic admiration.
"This is Lord Renzo's aesthetic! Justice doesn't need to shine, justice only needs to let people rest… in the darkness."
Interior Rehnovation: From Casino to Floating Palace
If the exterior renovation was about "avoiding light," then the interior transformation was about ultimate "laziness."
The massive casino and golden theater that once belonged to Tesoro were completely dismantled under Rehn's supervision.
In their place stood a central ecological tranquil garden spanning ten decks.
As they entered the ship, the once noisy casino hall was now covered with thirty centimeters of premium long-pile carpet. Walking on it felt like stepping on clouds, no footsteps could be heard.
Around them were "soundproof plants" transplanted from the Boin Archipelago. The air carried a faint scent of lavender and chamomile, a sleep-inducing fragrance specially blended by Monet.
At the very center of the garden was a massive temperature-controlled freshwater pool.
The water surface was as still as a mirror, reflecting a soft artificial starry sky above.
"This is the core area."
Rehn pointed proudly at a massive floating circular bed platform in the middle of the pool.
"It's equipped with a super gyroscope designed by Dr. Vegapunk. No matter how rough the sea is outside, this bed will remain perfectly level. The mattress is filled with 'White Sea Clouds' from Skypiea, ten times softer than regular down."
Renzo stepped onto the platform and lay down experimentally.
He instantly sank into the cloud-like softness, completely enveloped in comfort.
"Not bad."
Renzo let out a lazy hum.
"This is what a ship should be. Those old warships with hard beds were basically torture devices."
Monet smiled and stepped forward. With a gentle flick of her finger, a crystalline snowflake fell into Renzo's wine glass, instantly chilling it to the perfect temperature.
"As long as you're satisfied, all this effort is worthwhile."
Ain stood to the side, watching this extravagant scene, tightening and loosening her grip on her sword.
She had been raised under strict, disciplined Marine values, but faced with Renzo's overwhelming "hedonistic strength," she found herself unable to refute it.
After all… the funding for this ship came entirely from confiscated assets.
Not a single coin from Marine Headquarters.
On the eve of departure, all key officers gathered on deck.
"The ship is complete, Lord. Please name it," Rehn said respectfully, offering a pen.
Nami's eyes sparkled. "How about Golden Merry Mark II? Or Super Beli Ship!"
Ain suggested seriously, "Obsidian Justice, or New Marine One."
Monet covered her mouth with a soft laugh. "What about Snow Country Train?"
Renzo yawned, looking at the silent, black ship, built seemingly for sleep itself.
"…Let's call it Lullaby."
He spoke casually.
"I hope it can help people sleep… like a lullaby."
Silence fell for a second.
Then Rehn's pupils shrank violently, his whole body trembling as if he had grasped some supreme truth.
"Lullaby…!"
His voice cracked with excitement.
"What a poetic yet terrifying name!"
"Terrifying?" Ain asked, confused.
Rehn turned and shouted to the G-5 Marines:
"You fools don't understand! A lullaby puts people to sleep, and for enemies, sleep means eternal death! When this black warship appears, all enemies will be buried in despair, resting forever! This is the Reaper's lullaby!"
"GASP!!!"
The Marines inhaled sharply before erupting into fervent cheers.
"Reaper's Lullaby! Funeral of the world!"
Ain stared at Rehn, stunned. 'How is his interpretation this extreme…?'
Monet, on the other hand, looked at Renzo with admiration.
"As expected of you, lord, even your naming carries such depth."
"…"
'I just wanted to sleep… was that so hard?'
'Forget it. Too tired. Think whatever you want.'
...
There was no grand ceremony.
Only Lieutenant Commander Potts stood alone at the dock, hugging a stack of documents taller than himself, crying like an abandoned child.
"Why… why am I the one staying behind again…?!"
On deck, Lieutenant Commander Harlock shouted sympathetically:
"Don't cry, Potts! This is an important responsibility! With Tesoro and Enel still there, only someone 'steady' like you can handle it!"
"I'm not steady at all! I want to go to Headquarters too! I want to ride the Lullaby too!!"
His wails were carried far by the sea breeze.
"Depart."
Renzo didn't hear a thing. He turned over and waved lazily.
The massive black ship began to move.
No roaring engines, this modified giant was as silent as a black swan gliding across water, slipping quietly away from G-5 and toward the turbulent seas ahead.
Onboard: The Tranquil Garden
After leaving G-5 waters, the Lullaby entered autopilot mode.
Inside the central ecological garden, the scene was enough to give Fleet Admiral Sengoku a stroke on the spot.
In the massive heated pool, ten beautiful mermaids played in the water.
Renzo lay on the floating cloud bed, a warm towel covering his face.
"Sir, is the pressure alright?"
Monet, still in her secretary uniform but barefoot, knelt beside the bed.
Using her Snow-Snow Fruit powers, she controlled her fingertip temperature to a cool level, gently massaging Renzo's temples.
This built-in "cold compress" massage was incredibly effective for relieving fatigue.
"…A bit cooler on the left," Renzo said without opening his eyes.
"Yes."
Her fingertips emitted a faint chill.
By the poolside, Nami lounged on a chair covered entirely in treasure; yes, she had literally spread gold coins over it, sipping juice and enjoying her vacation.
The most out-of-place figure was Ain.
Still in full Marine uniform, sword on her back, she stood upright beside Renzo, holding a report.
"Admiral Renzo!"
She took a deep breath, trying to maintain seriousness in this luxurious setting.
"Although we're heading to Headquarters, you must review the G-5 development report! I want to go over the progress of the 'Phase Three Base Expansion Project' during this voyage."
Splash
A pink-haired mermaid leapt from the water, giggling as she handed over a bunch of peeled crystal grapes.
"Lord Renzo say ah~"
Renzo opened his mouth and ate them, not even lifting his eyelids.
"Ain."
"Yes, sir!" she replied instantly, opening her notebook.
"You're blocking my view of the dancing."
"…!"
Ain's forehead veins twitched.
"Sir! Please take this seriously! Thanks to acquiring Tesoro's assets, the underground treasury is already complete! Our reserves now exceed a hundred years of Marine Headquarters' budget! Without proper management-"
"Isn't that fine?"
Renzo pulled the towel down slightly, revealing a lifeless, lazy eye.
"Money exists to be spent or stored. The vault's built, the money's stacked, lock the door and give the key to Monet. Why bother me with 'counting money'?"
"This is a deep-sea vault connected to 3,000-meter underwater defenses!"
Ain stomped her foot.
"And the defensive artillery matrix around the base has been fully automated! G-5 is now a steel fortress! If Headquarters asks-"
"Tell them it's a New World security demonstration zone."
Renzo yawned.
"As for the money, it's compensation for mental damage and overtime. If anyone has a problem, let them come to G-5… if they can survive entering it."
"Monet, explain the situation."
Monet stepped forward with a smile, handing Ain a chilled glass of wine.
"Ain, what the sir means is, the rear is completely secure. The treasury is full, defenses are impenetrable, and even those two 'gods' are obediently generating power. This trip to Headquarters…"
"…is basically a paid vacation."
"But…"
Ain looked at the terrifyingly wealthy report in her hands, then at the luxurious scene around her.
"Enough."
Renzo's voice grew drowsy.
"Put the report away. You all lived too tensely under Instructor Zephyr. With me… learn to enjoy the fruits of labor."
"…Even if most of the labor was done by others."
Ain looked at the chilled wine in her hand.
She thought of Zephyr struggling over funding… and then at the overflowing wealth of G-5.
Finally, she let out a deep sigh, closed the priceless report, and accepted the drink.
"…Maybe you're right. If everything's already running perfectly… there really isn't anything to worry about for now."
She tilted her head back and drained the glass.
The cold liquid slid down her throat, in the scorching New World climate, and felt unexpectedly refreshing.