The Lullaby sailed steadily across the sea.
Inside the ship, within that extravagantly luxurious central ecological tranquil garden, the atmosphere was… subtle.
Uta, the world-famous diva, was sitting on the massive cloud bed that floated in the middle of the pool, originally meant for Renzo.
Her hands clutched tightly at the hem of her dress, her eyes full of vigilance and unease, like a little white rabbit that had wandered into a pack of wolves.
Across from her, Renzo still looked half-dead as usual, lying on the other side of the couch, his face covered by the book How to Efficiently Enjoy Retirement, seemingly asleep again.
As for Rehn, he stood nearby like a dutiful butler, holding that damned gold bar in his hand, wearing that smile that made people want to punch him.
"Miss Uta, please don't be nervous," Rehn said with a smile. "Although this is a Marine Warship, you can think of it as… hmm, a mobile vacation island."
"As long as you follow the agreement and use your singing to please Lord Renzo, this gold, oh no, this entire chest of gold, will be yours."
He pointed to the box at his feet, filled with gold bars he had casually brought back.
Uta didn't even look at the gold.
She took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and spoke to the "sleeping" man:
"Hey! Um… Admiral!"
"Why did you bring me here? What kind of song do you want to hear?"
"If it's some boring song praising Marine justice, I absolutely won't sing it!"
As the adopted daughter of Red-Hair, she had no love for the Navy's ideology.
The book shifted.
Renzo's hand came out, removed it, revealing his lazy eyes.
He glanced at Uta, then at Rehn.
"Rehn."
"Yes!"
"What did she just say?"
"She said… she won't sing praise songs."
"Oh."
Renzo rolled over, finding a more comfortable position.
"Who wants to hear that kind of thing?"
"Those songs are too noisy… and fake."
He looked at Uta and said calmly:
"Just sing what you were singing on the island earlier."
"The kind that makes people relax… makes them not want to move… preferably something that makes you want to sleep."
"A… sleep song?"
Uta froze.
'What kind of weird request was that?'
She was a user of the Sing-Sing Fruit. Her voice could pull people into illusions, stir passion, or bring them to tears.
But specifically to make people sleep?
That was basically a lullaby!
"I'm a world-class diva! Not your babysitter!" Uta said angrily. "My songs are meant to bring people joy and dreams! Not to lull you to sleep!"
"What's the difference?" Renzo replied. "Sleeping is the greatest joy. In dreams, you have everything."
"You…!"
Uta was completely speechless at that twisted logic.
"Grrrr…"
At that moment, a loud, ill-timed growl came from Uta's stomach.
In the quiet garden, it was especially clear.
Her face instantly flushed red, wishing she could disappear into the ground.
After performing and then going through shock and abduction, she was starving.
"Hungry?" Renzo glanced at her.
"Sanji."
"Present! My most honored princess! Your knight is always at your service!"
A blur flashed past, and Sanji appeared out of nowhere.
He held an elegant tray covered with a silver lid, spinning dramatically before kneeling on one knee in front of Uta, hearts practically glowing in his eyes.
"Uta-san! This is my specially prepared Song of the Deep Sea appetizer set!"
"Allow me to dispel the shadow of hunger!"
Uta was startled by the sudden enthusiasm.
"Th-this is…?"
Sanji lifted the lid.
Shine!
A radiant glow burst forth.
On the plate were dishes so exquisite they looked like works of art.
Transparent deep-sea fish jelly shaped like musical notes, decorated with sparkling caviar;
Cloud-like fluffy bread made from special flour and a drink with the colors of the aurora, carrying a faint fruity and floral aroma.
"So… beautiful…"
Uta swallowed.
As a foodie, she had zero resistance to delicious-looking food.
"Please, have a taste," Sanji said, offering a fork.
Uta carefully picked up a piece of fish jelly and put it in her mouth.
The next second,
Her eyes widened!
It wasn't just delicious.
It was… the taste of the ocean!
The taste of the wind!
The taste of freedom!
The jelly melted in her mouth, the rich flavor dancing across her tongue like musical notes, like a symphony playing inside her mouth!
"Mmm!!"
Uta held her cheeks, her face overflowing with bliss.
"It's so good!! What is this?! It's better than anything I've ever eaten anywhere!"
"This is just the appetizer, my princess," Sanji said proudly, flicking his hair. "If you're willing to stay, I can cook you every delicacy in the world!"
"Really?!" Uta's eyes sparkled.
Her earlier caution and dissatisfaction melted away by half under the assault of good food.
"Ahem."
Rehn coughed from the side.
"Miss Uta, now that you've eaten… shouldn't you get to work?"
"Lord Renzo's nap time is very precious."
"Y-yeah, I know!" Uta said with her mouth full of bread.
"Since it's so delicious… I'll reluctantly sing one song!"
She stood up, wiped her mouth, and took a deep breath.
Even if forced, as a diva, once she stood on stage, she would give it her all.
"This song… 'Trail of the Wind.'"
As her clear voice rang out, the air in the tranquil garden softened.
It was a song with no aggression, purely meant to soothe the soul.
Like a breeze across the sea, like a mother's whisper, like… the warmest dream.
"Hmm…"
Renzo, lying on the couch, completely relaxed.
His breathing steadied, even his always tense shoulders loosened.
"Not bad…" he murmured in a half-dream.
"This… is professional…"
Nearby, Ain and Monet were also entranced.
Even Rehn, who had remained vigilant, unconsciously nodded along to the rhythm.
The song ended.
Uta looked at Renzo nervously.
"H-how was it?"
"..."
Her response was Renzo's faint, rhythmic snoring.
He had fallen asleep.
And he was sleeping peacefully.
"…"
Uta froze.
"He… really fell asleep?"
She couldn't believe it, her voice had actually turned into a lullaby?
For a diva who wanted to shake the world with her songs, it was both humiliating and… oddly satisfying.
"Amazing, Miss Uta!"
Rehn rushed forward excitedly, lowering his voice and giving a thumbs-up.
"Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"
"You're the first person who's made Lord Renzo fall asleep within three minutes!"
"You are G-5's, no, the world's greatest 'sleep aid master'!"
"Sleep… aid master?"
Uta's eye twitched.
'What kind of title was that?!'
"Alright, to avoid disturbing Lord Renzo's rest, today's performance ends here," Rehn said, gesturing politely.
"Please proceed to your guest room. Sanji has already prepared a lavish dinner for you."
"There's dinner too?!" Uta's eyes lit up again.
"Th-then I'll stay a little longer! Anyway… I don't really have anywhere to go!"
And just like that, the world's top diva Uta temporarily settled aboard the Lullaby, drawn in by delicious food and the bizarre title of "sleep aid master."
But what she didn't know was that at the far edge of the sea…
A massive pirate ship flying a red skull flag was cutting through the waves at full speed, carrying overwhelming Haki straight toward them!
"My daughter…"
Red-Haired Shanks stood at the bow, one hand resting on the hilt of Griffin, his eyes colder than ever.
"Renzo… even if you're a Marine Admiral, this time… I'm going to settle this with you."