Marineford Strategy Conference Room.
The air smelled faintly of sandalwood and bitter coffee as Sengoku stood before the projector screen, pointing at the map showing pirate movements across the New World.
His voice was so stern it could've frozen the air.
"The Beast Pirates have been unusually active along Wano's borders, and the Big Mom Pirates are gathering Poneglyphs. Each branch must heighten their alert levels, especially the forces guarding the western sea routes-"
Before Ahe could finish, he caught sight of something out of the corner of his eye.
In the back row by the window, Renzo was slumped against his chair, head nodding. He was clearly asleep.
"Renzo!"
Sengoku's voice cracked through the room like a whip as his pointer slammed against the table with a sharp crack.
"Wake up! This is a strategy meeting, not your living room sofa!"
Renzo opened his eyes slowly, still half-dazed. His adjutant immediately slipped him a note.
It contained a quick summary of what Sengoku had just said, something the adjutant had hurriedly scribbled down while pretending to take his own notes.
Renzo gave it a quick glance, then looked up at the map full of complex sea routes and muttered lazily,
"Got it. Just have Kizaru handle it. He's fast. Even if he can't win, he can always run, saves everyone the trouble."
The room erupted into suppressed laughter.
Kizaru, sitting beside Renzo, fanned himself with a folding fan and smiled like a cat that had just stolen cream.
"Renzo's right~ I happen to have some free time anyway. A little trip to the New World doesn't sound so bad~."
Sengoku's face turned an unhealthy shade of green.
These two, one treated his job as a bother, the other treated missions like vacations. And since they always backed each other up, he couldn't even properly scold just one of them.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to stay calm.
"Fine! Kizaru, you'll handle the Wano border reconnaissance. But Renzo, don't think you're getting off easy! You're personally reviewing all pirate reports from the western sea routes!"
"Reviewing reports sounds like too much trouble."
Renzo frowned and pushed the stack of documents in his adjutant's hands toward Kizaru.
"You read them and tell me what they say after."
Kizaru didn't even reach for them. Instead, he nudged them right back, still smiling.
"No can do~ Sengoku-senseispecifically said those were for you~ I wouldn't dare steal your work~."
The two passed the papers back and forth like children playing catch. Sengoku's temple veins throbbed visibly before he finally snapped:
"Fine! The documents stay in your office! I want an answer on my desk before you clock out today!"
When the meeting ended, Renzo strolled alongside Kizaru toward his office, walking at a snail's pace, as if the deadline Sengoku set didn't even exist.
At the door, his adjutant was waiting with yet another pile of paperwork.
"Rear Admiral, these are updated bounty lists from the West Blue branches, along with three logistics requests that require your signature."
Renzo glanced at the stack like it was a nest of vipers and stepped back.
"Leave them on the desk."
Then, without hesitation, he shoved them into Kizaru's arms.
"You handle them. I'm going to see what Sanji's cooking today."
"Ehh~ you're getting too good at this whole 'delegation' thing~."
Kizaru took the papers but didn't open them, he simply followed Renzo toward the kitchen.
"Good timing, I'm hungry too. Sanji-san said he'd be making 'Sky Island Cream Soup' today. I've got to try that~."
By the time they reached the private kitchen, a rich buttery aroma had already filled the hallway.
Sanji stood at the stove, stirring a pot of creamy white soup, flecks of hot spring moss floating gently on the surface. The scent drifted lazily through the air.
Beside him, Potts was slicing fruit. When he noticed the two officers, he quickly greeted them.
"Rear Admiral! Admiral Kizaru! Sanji-sensei's soup is almost ready!"
"Yo~ Sanji-san~," Kizaru leaned in over the counter, sniffing theatrically.
"Just the smell alone's better than the coffee in the mess hall~."
"If you want some, hand me that butter over there first."
Sanji didn't even turn around but still pulled a clean bowl from the shelf, clearly he had already prepared one for Kizaru.
Renzo sat by the window, and Potts hurriedly handed him a freshly toasted slice of garlic bread.
Renzo took a bite, watching Sanji at work and Kizaru cheerfully fetching ingredients. For once, he thought, 'Maybe paperwork wasn't so bad, if someone else was doing it.'
Before long, Sanji brought out the soup, smooth, creamy, paired with golden fried Sky Eggs.
Renzo took a spoonful. The warm richness of cream mixed with the faint freshness of moss, melting the irritation from the morning's meeting in an instant.
Kizaru, savoring his portion, sighed dreamily.
"If only Sanji-san could come along on missions~ these meals could boost morale~."
Just then, the kitchen doors slammed open.
Akainu strode in, still in his uniform from the New World front, fury radiating off him. When he saw Renzo and Kizaru enjoying soup at leisure, his brow furrowed so hard it could split rock.
"Renzo! You're a Rear Admiral! Why are you here eating instead of handling your paperwork?!"
"And you, Kizaru! You were joking around during the strategy meeting, and now you're helping him slack off?!"
Renzo looked up, voice calm as ever.
"I was hungry, so I'm eating. Kizaru's handling the documents, it's fine."
"Fine?!"
Akainu stomped forward, snatching the folder off the table.
"Pirates from the West Blue are practically knocking on our gates, and you're sitting here eating and drinking! You call that 'fine'?!"
"I'll deal with them when they show up," Renzo replied coolly. "Right now, paperwork ruins my appetite. If I eat poorly, I'll have no energy for battle. That's more trouble."
"You-!"
Akainu's fists clenched, Haki flaring so hot that the temperature in the room rose sharply.
Kizaru quickly stepped between them, waving his fan.
"Now~ now~, Akainu, calm down~ Renzo's actually been helping me research front-line food logistics! Sanji-san's meals here are test samples for a morale-boosting supply menu. This is official work, not slacking~."
He threw Sanji a meaningful look.
Sanji immediately caught on and picked up a menu.
"That's right, Admiral Akainu. I'm developing portable dishes for frontline troops. Rear Admiral Renzo's helping me taste-test them to ensure the flavor and nutrition meet standards."
Akainu blinked, glancing between the soup, the eggs, and the menu. His scowl softened slightly.
He knew all too well how miserable rations were on the front lines. If this project was genuine, it wasn't exactly something to punish.
"Hmph. Even if it's taste testing, you can't delay your duties."
He slammed the documents back on the table.
"I'll leave these in your office. You'd better have them done before the end of the day!"
With that, he stormed out, shooting Renzo one last glare before disappearing.
Kizaru exhaled in relief and shot Renzo a sly wink.
"Good thing I'm quick on my feet~ Otherwise, that would've turned into another shouting match~."
Renzo said nothing, just resumed drinking his soup.
Sanji snorted.
"Next time, don't let him in here. He ruins my cooking mood."
Potts sighed in relief too, gathering up the papers.
"I'll return these to your office and organize them properly. You two just… take your time."
The kitchen soon fell quiet again, only the soft clinking of spoons and Kizaru's compliments filling the air.
Renzo leaned back in his chair, savoring the warmth of the soup, thinking idly.
'Next time Akainu shows up, I'll have Sanji make the spiciest thing possible, hot enough to chase him out. That'll save everyone some trouble.'
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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