G-5 Branch, West District, in front of the Pink Building.
BOOM!!!
With a deafening explosion, the door decorated with cute bows, along with half the wall, was blasted apart by a scorching wave of flames.
Amid the smoke and dust, a man in a G-5 uniform, yet holding a samurai sword, his topknot disheveled, stumbled out while carrying a small boy in a gothic lolita dress, his makeup smeared from crying.
"Young Lord! Hold on! I'll carve a path out of here!"
Kin'emon swung his blade, panting heavily. There were several scratch marks on his face, and his clothes were torn in multiple places.
Behind him, the four muscle-bound "caretakers," now like lionesses whose cub had been stolen, charged out with bloodshot eyes.
"Stop! You child thief!"
"Put Little Momo down!"
"Damn it! He dirtied that limited-edition dress! Unforgivable!"
Iron Chest took the lead. Though he had no Devil Fruit ability, his mastery of Rokushiki's Tekkai turned him into a human tank.
"Tekkai: Rock Smash!"
He slammed toward Kin'emon like a cannonball.
"Foxfire Style: Firework Flash!"
Kin'emon, one of the Nine Red Scabbards, was no weakling. With a backhand slash, he released a flaming strike that forced Iron Chest back several steps, but the recoil numbed his own hands.
"These perverts… why are they so strong?!" Kin'emon was shocked.
"Kin'emon! I'm scared!"
Momonosuke clung tightly to his collar, trembling, his twin tails fluttering messily in the wind, both ridiculous and pitiful.
"Fear not, Young Lord! Once we reach the shore, "
"ROOOOAAARRRR!!!"
Suddenly, a thunderous cry of a beast echoed from the sky!
A violent gust descended, bending nearby trees.
Kin'emon looked up, his pupils shrinking.
Above them, a massive shadow blotted out the sky, diving at terrifying speed.
A griffin!
Lion body, eagle head, wings spread wide, talons like hooks, eyes gleaming with predatory intent!
It was the acting commander, Potts, arriving to "protect the peach"!
"Thief! Prepare to die!!"
Potts' voice thundered from the sky, filled with rage.
This was an S-class mission personally entrusted by Lord Renzo!
If Momonosuke was lost, how could he face Chief Steward Rehn, who could fry people to ash in the name of "efficiency"?!
How could he face Lord Renzo?!
"Griffin: Sky-Rending Claw!!"
Potts folded his wings, diving with gravity's force. His talons, coated in black Armament Haki, tore downward like meteors.
This strike could rip steel apart.
"Not good!"
Kin'emon's face changed drastically.
This opponent was on a completely different level from those muscle men!
This was… a true powerhouse!
"Young Lord! Hold tight!"
He dared not block head-on. Pushing off the ground, he twisted midair.
SHNG
Potts' claws grazed his back. Though he avoided a fatal hit, his disguise uniform was shredded instantly, leaving three bloody gashes across his back!
"Ugh!"
Kin'emon groaned, rolling on the ground while holding Momonosuke.
"It's not over!"
Missing his strike, Potts flapped his wings, generating a powerful gust as he adjusted for another dive.
"This is G-5! Lord Renzo's domain! No one takes anything from here, not even a single thread! Not even a brat in a dress!"
"Surround them!!"
At that moment, the "caretaker squad" caught up, along with a large group of G-5 marines.
In an instant, Kin'emon and Momonosuke were completely surrounded.
This was the heart of the base; there was no escape.
"Damn it…"
Half-kneeling, Kin'emon gripped his sword in one hand while shielding Momonosuke with the other.
Looking at the vicious faces around him, despair welled up.
'Is this… where I die?'
"Kin'emon…" Momonosuke trembled. "Will I… never eat oden again?"
"Young Lord…"
Seeing the ridiculous dress, Kin'emon felt both grief and fury.
"Even if I die, I will protect the honor of the Kozuki clan!"
He stood up and pointed his blade at Potts.
"Come! Demons! I am Foxfire Kin'emon, retainer of Kozuki Oden!!"
"Foxfire?"
Potts paused midair.
Though he hadn't been to Wano, he had heard the name.
'One of the Nine Red Scabbards?'
But his gaze quickly turned colder.
"Fox or fire, it doesn't matter! Anyone who dares touch Lord Renzo's 'project' deserves death!"
"Men! Attack! Capture that perverted samurai! Take Little Momo back! And don't damage the dress!"
"Charge!! For the bonus! For the dress!!"
The marines surged forward like wolves.
At that critical moment, puru puru puru
A sharp Den Den Mushi ringtone suddenly rang from Potts' pouch.
That ringtone…
It was the highest emergency line!
Only two people would call it, Chief Steward Rehn, or… Lord Renzo!
"STOP!!!"
Potts roared, halting his dive midair.
The force of his wings sent the front-line marines stumbling.
"Everyone, stop!!"
The marines froze in confusion.
Kin'emon also froze, sword raised.
Potts reverted to his hybrid form and pulled out a golden Den Den Mushi with trembling hands.
He took a deep breath and answered.
"H-hello… Potts speaking…"
From the other end came Rehn's familiar voice, slightly flattering, yet authoritative:
"Potts, it's me."
"Chief Steward Rehn!"
Potts snapped to attention midair. "Sir! I'm handling an emergency! A samurai has infiltrated the base and is attempting to abduct the S-class subject! I'm about to execute him on the spot!"
"Oh? Someone's stealing Momonosuke?"
Rehn didn't sound surprised, almost amused.
"Is it a guy with a topknot, a shabby sword, and fire abilities?"
"Eh?"
Potts glanced at Kin'emon. "Y-yes! How did you know?"
"Then it's fine."
Rehn's tone relaxed. "He's a guest. An uninvited and troublesome one, but Lord Renzo just gave orders."
"Lord Renzo?!"
Potts' heart skipped a beat.
"Lord Renzo said," Rehn mimicked lazily, "'That samurai, noisy, but he's with that little pervert. Since the guardian's here, let him take the kid. Honestly… I'm tired of seeing that brat in a dress anyway.'"
"…Huh?"
Potts was dumbfounded.
'Tired of watching?'
'So… the game's over?'
"But sir… we invested so much into this project-"
"Silence."
Rehn cut him off. "Lord Renzo's will is absolute! If he's bored, then the brat has lost his 'entertainment value.' Understand?"
"And besides," Rehan added, "Lord Renzo is busy in Marineford, enjoying sleep. He's in a good mood. Let them go, and make sure they leave quickly. Don't let them make noise in G-5."
"…Yes! Understood!"
Though reluctant, Potts obeyed without hesitation.
He hung up and looked down.
Kin'emon stood ready to fight to the death.
Momonosuke had his eyes shut, waiting for the end.
"Ahem."
Potts cleared his throat, withdrew his killing intent, and slowly descended.
Looking at Kin'emon, his expression was… complicated, with a hint of disdain.
"Hey, samurai."
"If you're going to kill me, then do it! I will not be humiliated!" Kin'emon roared.
"Who said anything about killing you?"
Potts rolled his eyes and gestured for the Marines to stand down.
"By order of Lord Renzo-"
He pointed toward the gate.
"You… can get lost."
"…Eh?"
Kin'emon froze.
Momonosuke froze.
The caretakers wailed in despair:
"What?! That's it? Little Momo's evening yoga class isn't even done!"
"Leave before I change my mind," Potts said impatiently. "This is Lord Renzo's mercy. Remember, don't ever let this brat appear in G-5 again. Otherwise…"
He glanced at the dress and smiled like a demon.
"Next time, a dress won't be the worst of it."
"…!"
Momonosuke shuddered, feeling a chill down below.
"Y-you're really letting us go?"
Kin'emon still couldn't believe it.
"MOVE!!"
Potts kicked a stone into powder.
"Yes! Thank you for sparing us!!"
Kin'emon didn't dare ask further. Hugging Momonosuke, he fled toward the harbor like a stray dog.
"Waaah… Kin'emon… they're so scary… I never want to wear a dress again…"
Momonosuke's tearful cries faded into the wind.
Watching them leave, Potts sighed.
Turning to the dejected caretakers, he patted Iron Chest's shoulder.
"Enough sulking."
"Lord Renzo said that due to your hard work… although the project is canceled, your bonuses will still be paid."
"OOOOOOH!!!"
The men instantly revived.
"Long live Lord Renzo!!!"
Potts shook his head and looked toward Marineford.
"Lord… you really are… unpredictable."
'But that's exactly what makes him G-5's god, isn't it?'