New World, G-5 Branch.
Unlike its usual noisy atmosphere filled with Chief Steward Rehn's roars and the soldiers' training shouts, today the G-5 base was unusually quiet.
This silence wasn't due to desolation, but rather a kind of discipline etched into their very bones.
Although Lord Renzo had gone to headquarters for the ceremony, the "will" he left behind still blanketed this steel fortress.
At the top floor of the main tower, Acting Commander Potts sat behind a large desk that didn't belong to him, holding a thick document titled Golden City Materials Storage List (Issue N).
"Phew…"
Potts adjusted his monocle and carefully turned a page, as gently as if he were touching a newborn baby.
He didn't dare make a sound.
Even though Lord Renzo wasn't here, he still felt those gray eyes watching him from somewhere. If he made any noise, that terrifying fat steward Rehn might descend from the sky and give him an "efficiency therapy" shock.
"Too scary… The pressure of being acting commander is worse than fighting pirates…"
Potts sighed and looked out the window.
There lay G-5's proud Mermaid Garden, and in the distance, the entrance to the underground vault hollowed out to store gold.
"As long as I guard the base and nothing goes wrong…"
Potts reassured himself. "All the New World pirates have been scared out of their wits by Lord Renzo. No one would dare come here to cause trouble…"
However, Murphy's Law says: anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
…
Outside G-5, near the drainage outlet.
A sneaky figure, wearing a large piece of seaweed on his head, emerged from the murky seawater.
"Pwah!"
The man spat out seawater, revealing a face smeared with camouflage mud.
That distinctive topknot and somewhat comical expression, it was none other than Kin'emon, who had finally made his way here from Punk Hazard after countless hardships.
"Is… is this the lair of those demonic marines? G-5 Branch?!"
Kin'emon stared at the fortress-like base, his eyes burning with resolve.
"Lord Momonosuke! I'm here to save you!"
Though filled with fear of the Marines, especially the rumored Haiiroyo who could turn people into unspeakable things, his samurai loyalty overcame his instincts.
"Disguise Technique!"
Kin'emon picked up a rag from the shore and placed it on his head. With a poof and a cloud of smoke, he instantly transformed into a G-5 marine, complete with their signature "delinquent-style" uniform and even the "don't mess with me" expression.
"Good. As long as I don't talk, I shouldn't be exposed."
Taking a deep breath, Kin'emon swaggered into the base.
Along the way, he was filled with unease.
He had imagined G-5 as a living hell, torture devices everywhere, blood covering the ground.
But reality was…
"Hey, you over there! Walk softer! Do your boots have metal soles? Go change into soft ones! Don't scratch Lord Renzo's tiles!"
"Squad Three! Your breathing is too loud! Got rhinitis? Go to the infirmary and get medicine!"
"That flower in the flowerbed is tilted 0.5 degrees! Fix it! Maintain absolute 'visual comfort'!"
"???"
Looking at these fierce-looking marines holding feather dusters and cloths, carefully polishing railings, he was completely stunned.
'This… this is a den of marine thugs?'
'This is the imperial palace's internal affairs office, isn't it?!'
"Did I… come to the wrong place?" Sweat dripped down Kin'emon's forehead.
But he quickly steadied himself.
"No! This must be a disguise! Those devils must have imprisoned Lord Momonosuke in the deepest, darkest dungeon, torturing him!"
He stopped a marine who looked relatively friendly and asked in a low voice, imitating a G-5 grit:
"Hey, brother… that kid they just captured, where is he being held?"
The marine looked at him suspiciously. "Kid? You mean the 'S-Class Special Care Target'?"
"Care… care?" Kin'emon froze.
"Of course! He's in the Pink Building in the west district! What, you wanna visit?"
The marine gave him a knowing look. "But I'd advise against it. That place is a no-go zone for tough guys right now, Potts is personally overseeing it."
"Pink building? No-go zone for tough guys?"
Kin'emon's brain spun rapidly.
In a samurai's understanding, "pink" meant certain… inappropriate establishments. And "no-go zone for tough guys"…
"Oh heavens!!"
A wail echoed in his heart.
"Have they turned Lord Momonosuke into… that kind of 'boy toy'?!!"
"Unforgivable! Unforgivable, Marines!!"
His eyes instantly turned red!
Following directions, he rushed to the west district.
There stood a building with an extremely bizarre aesthetic.
Amid the steel-gray base, it was painted bright pink, with cute lace curtains hanging at the entrance.
But at the door stood four burly men over two meters tall, muscles like granite, seriously… embroidering?
Yes. Embroidering.
To improve finger dexterity, so they could better style "Little Momo's" hair.
Hiding in a corner, Kin'emon felt his stomach churn.
"These perverts…"
Taking advantage of a guard shift tea break, he slipped inside.
The moment he entered, a thick, suffocating scent of perfume hit him.
The hallway walls were covered with posters like "Lady Etiquette," "How to Be a Refined Boy," and "The Art of Dress Styling."
The deeper he went, the more horrified he became.
Until he reached a door labeled "S-001 Cultivation Room."
The door was slightly ajar.
Voices came from inside.
"Don't… not there… it tickles…"
It was Momonosuke's voice, tearful and weak!
"Hehe, Little Momo, endure it a bit, it'll feel nice soon~"
A rough man's voice, deliberately softened into something grotesque.
"Waaah… I want to go home… I want my father…"
"Be good, today's lesson isn't over yet. We have to turn you into the perfect masterpiece to present to Lord Renzo~"
BOOM!!!
The string of reason in Kin'emon's mind snapped completely.
'They were… violating the young lord!!'
'And planning to present him as a "work" to that demon Renzo?!'
"I'll kill you all!!!"
Kin'emon could no longer hold back. He drew his sword, flames bursting forth!
"Foxfire Style, Flame Split!!"
BANG!
The door was kicked open as the flaming samurai charged in like a furious lion.
"Let go of that child!!!"
But when he saw the scene inside…
His raised sword froze mid-air.
His battle cry stuck in his throat.
There were no torture devices. No indecent scenes.
Only a large pink lace-covered bed.
Momonosuke, the young lord of the Kozuki clan, was wearing an extremely elaborate, gorgeous… gothic lolita-style dress.
Twin tails tied neatly. Bright blush on his cheeks.
Surrounding him were four shirtless, heavily muscled men.
One was trimming his toenails.
One was applying a cucumber face mask.
Another was carefully combing his sparse topknot with a huge comb.
The rough voice came from the one combing his hair:
"Oh dear, sir, why didn't you knock? You'll scare Little Momo."
"… "
Kin'emon stared blankly.
His sword clattered to the ground.
'This…'
'Is this hell?'
'This is ten thousand times worse than seppuku!!'
"K-Kin'emon?!"
Momonosuke, peeking through cucumber slices, widened his eyes.
Then, "WAAAAAAAHHH!! Kin'emon!!!"
He tore off the mask, lifted his skirt, and ran over crying like a wronged bride.
"Save me! Please save me! These people are perverts!!!"
"Y-Young Lord!!"
Kin'emon hugged him tightly, tears streaming down his face at the sight.
"I came too late! You've suffered so much!!"
"Hey, hey, hey!"
The muscular caretaker codenamed Iron Chest stood up unhappily.
At 2.5 meters tall, his presence instantly pressed down on Kin'emon.
"Which unit are you from? No discipline at all!"
He pointed at Momonosuke's dress.
"We spent three nights sewing those lace edges! What if you wrinkle them like that?!"
"And another thing!" said "Steel Butt," holding a foot file with a fierce expression.
"Little Momo's nails were only half done! You interrupted our lady training program! If Chief Steward Rehn docks our bonuses, will you pay for it?!"
"You bastards!!!"
Kin'emon trembled with rage, shielding Momonosuke.
"Treating a man as a toy! Forcing a samurai into women's clothes! Is this your justice?!"
"Even if it costs my life, I will take the young lord away from this hell!!"
"Oh? Take Little Momo?"
Iron Chest and the others exchanged glances, then struck bodybuilding poses in unison.
"Not happening."
"He's a priority project personally designated by Lord Renzo."
"And the guarantee for our attendance bonus this month."
"If you want to take him…"
All four flexed their already massive muscles even more.
"You'll have to get through us first!!"
"G-5 Elite Care Squad, attack!!"
"Foxfire Style!!"
Inside the cramped, pink-scented room, a battle of dignity versus bonuses was about to erupt!
BOOM!
A wall was blasted open.
Potts, dozing in his office, jolted awake.
"What was that?!"
His eyes sharpened instantly.
"That direction… the Pink Building?!"
"Not good! Someone's stealing the peach!!"
Potts panicked.
If Momonosuke was lost, Rehn would skin him alive.
His Lord might turn him into a human stick.
ROAR!!
A griffin's roar echoed across G-5.
Potts transformed instantly into his hybrid form, wings bursting out as he smashed through the window and flew toward the west district.
"How dare you touch Lord Renzo's 'model of spiritual civilization construction'!"
"Leave your life behind!!!"
The entire G-5 base descended into chaos.
And the instigator of all this, Lord Renzo, was currently sitting on a platform in Marineford, enjoying a mermaid's massage, completely unaware.
"Ah-choo!"
Renzo rubbed his nose.
"Strange… is the AC too cold?"
"Whatever. Monet, get me another blanket."
"Yes, my lord."