G-5 Branch, the top floor of the Temple of Sloth, the room with the best view in the entire base, and the softest bed.
The afternoon sunlight was a bit harsh, but after passing through specially designed one-way glass, it softened into the perfect glow for a nap.
Renzo lay sprawled on his cloud-like bed in a starfish position, a hardcover book titled How to Make Subordinates Complete Tasks Automatically covering his face.
His breathing was steady and long, as if the outside world didn't exist.
But as G-5's chief steward, Rehn knew well, this calm was just the silence before the storm.
A week had passed since the preliminaries ended. The 66 "monsters" who made it through were now like caged wolves, waiting eagerly for the finals.
"Lord Renzo…"
Rehn carefully approached the bedside, holding a glass of iced mint lemonade, lowering his voice to the extreme.
"About the finals' rules…"
"Haa…"
A faint sigh came from beneath the book.
Renzo didn't move, didn't even remove the book, just lazily turned over.
"Rehn… didn't I say? You handle things that require thinking."
"My lord, I dare not!"
Rehn immediately put on a pained expression.
"This concerns the selection of G-5's future core officers! Only your divine wisdom can create the most perfect, fair, and efficient system! How could my pig brain compare?"
Beside him, Ain adjusted her glasses, already used to Rehn's flattery, though her lips still twitched slightly.
"Admiral Renzo," she added, notebook in hand, "those 66 include Logia users, top-tier swordsmen, and… complex individuals. A normal tournament would be too slow and destructive. We need something more… efficient."
At the word "efficient," Renzo finally moved.
He slowly removed the book, revealing sleepy gray eyes.
Taking a sip of lemonade, he spoke: "A tournament is too slow. Sixty-six people, one-on-one? That'll take forever. And I'd have to sit there watching? Boring."
He tapped the bed rhythmically.
"Since they're so energetic… since they all want to prove they're the strongest survivor…"
A mischievous smile appeared.
"Let them play something bigger."
"Something bigger?" Rehn's eyes lit up.
"Rehn, clear out the largest uninhabited island nearby, Island of the End."
Renzo said calmly, "We're going to hold a pirate-world version of… battle royale."
"Battle… royale?"
"Simple. 'Winner winner chicken dinner.'"
Renzo raised three fingers.
"Rule one: Throw all 66 onto the island. Each starts with three special Golden Tokens."
"Those tokens are their lives."
"Defeat someone, and you take one token. Lose one, and you're randomly respawned elsewhere."
"Everyone has three lives. More tokens = more points and survivability."
Rehn trembled in excitement.
"Brilliant! This prevents accidental elimination and allows comebacks! It tests strength, strategy, and luck!"
"Not done yet."
Renzo's eyes gleamed.
"To speed things up…"
He pointed to himself.
"I'll join."
Ain was shocked. "You'll fight too?!"
"Who said that? Too tiring."
Renzo rolled his eyes.
"I'll use my ability, Domain of Sloth."
He stood by the window, arms open.
"At first, it covers the outer sea. Then it shrinks over time."
"That's the 'poison zone.'"
"Inside it, people slow down, grow sluggish… and eventually fall asleep."
"And if you fall asleep, " Renzo smirked, "you're eliminated."
"They'll be forced toward the center, fighting as the safe zone shrinks."
"In the end," He clenched his fist.
"The entire island is covered, leaving only a 500-meter final circle."
"The last five standing, with the most tokens, advance."
Rehn trembled in pure ecstasy.
"Terrifying! Exciting! Efficient! This is a masterpiece of human nature testing!"
"Lord Renzo, you are the God of Games!"
Even Ain's hands shook slightly.
She could already imagine it, 66 elites, driven like beasts, slaughtering each other under pressure.
"As for rewards…"
Renzo flopped back onto the bed.
"First place: the Dark-Dark Fruit and 5 billion Beli."
"Top 5: promoted to Vice Admiral."
"Top 20: promoted to Rear Admiral."
"Others, consolation prizes."
He waved lazily.
"Write it nicely. Make it exciting. Sell tickets. You know what to do."
"I do!" Rehn's eyes turned into Beli symbols.
"This will be historic! Tickets, betting, merchandise!"
"Go. Don't disturb my nap."
Half an hour later
At the central plaza, the giant screen flickered, a blood-red poster appeared: [G-5 Genius Efficiency Martial Tournament: FINAL, BATTLE ROYALE]
Rehn's voice boomed: "Warriors of hell! The divine decree of Lord Renzo has descended!"
"This is no longer a duel; this is a survival game!"
"Three lives! Shrinking zone! Victory to the strongest!"
The plaza exploded.
"WHAT THE HELL?! Battle royale?!"
"Three lives?! That's insane!"
"Fall asleep = elimination?! That's humiliating!"
"Vice Admiral rank and Dark-Dark Fruit?!"
The crowd went mad.
Competitor reactions
Galorn licked his blade.
"Chaos? Perfect for poison."
Balger cracked his fists.
"Three lives? I can kill people multiple times!"
Blake analyzed calmly: "This tests positioning and timing… Lord Renzo is testing strategy."
Shelby swirled his wine: "Not elegant… but if it's his script, I'll perform."
.....
Elsewhere, Dracule Mihawk paused watering plants.
"Shrinking the cage… forcing beasts to fight…" He smirked.
"That lazy man… came up with something interesting."
....
"Tickets?! Sold out instantly!"
"Open immersive experience! 100,000 Beli!"
"BUY!!"
Within an hour, profits skyrocketed.
Rehn stared at the numbers, grinning wildly.
"My lord… this 'battle royale' is a money-printing machine!"
...
30 Chapters in [email protected]/DaoistJinzu