G-5 Base, Military Port No. 3.
When the colossal golden ship, the Gran Tesoro, as massive as an island, docked at the harbor, the entire coastline of the G-5 base was bathed in a lavish golden glow.
Sunlight poured over the deck and structures made entirely of gold, reflecting a brilliance so intense it could practically blind people.
"W-WHOAAAAAA!!!"
On the dock, the G-5 marines responsible for receiving the ship all stood frozen, jaws dropped so wide it seemed like their chins might fall off.
"A… a ship made of gold?!"
"The whole thing… is gold?!"
"Don't be ridiculous! How could it all be gold?! How do you even build a ship out of gold?! Do you even understand physics?!"
Harlock leaned on his cane, staring at the golden ship that had once brought him immense humiliation, tears streaming down his face.
"Waaaah… revenge! Lord Rehn is amazing! Long live Admiral Renzo!"
Meanwhile, at the very top deck of the giant ship,
Nami was clinging tightly to a solid gold Roman pillar, hanging off it like a koala. Her face wore a blissful, almost dazed smile as she muttered repeatedly:
"Mine… it's all mine… all of it is mine…"
In contrast, Renzo's reaction was extremely "cold."
He lay on a lounge chair that Rehn had specially moved to the best viewing spot, wearing two layers of sunglasses, yet still frowning.
"Tch."
Renzo turned over, facing away from the ship.
"Too bright."
"Light pollution."
That was his evaluation.
"This kind of nouveau riche aesthetic is basically an assault on the optic nerves. Just looking at it is irritating. I can't even take a proper nap."
"Understood!!"
Rehn immediately pulled out a notebook and wrote seriously:
"Lord Renzo's directive: Gold may be valuable, but as a construction material it's too vulgar. Reflectivity is too high and severely affects sleep quality. Must undergo anti-glare treatment!"
Rehn turned and shouted to Nami, whose eyes were sparkling:
"Miss Nami! Lord Renzo has ordered it! Strip the ship, whether it's gold plating or solid panels, take it all off! Even if you reduce it to a skeleton, not a single glint of gold is allowed to reach Lord Renzo's eyes!"
"No problem!!!"
Nami instantly launched herself off the pillar, her eyes shining brighter than gold.
"Leave it to me! I'll strip this ship clean, not even a gold tooth will remain! This is for my own t- no for Lord Renzo's eye health!"
Renzo ignored the two of them dividing the spoils.
He pointed lazily at a man tied up like a dead dog in the corner of the deck, the pink-suited figure still unconscious.
"That guy."
Renzo yawned.
"Annoying to look at. Dispose of him."
"Yes, sir!"
Rehn's smile turned sinister.
He grabbed Gild Tesoro by his expensive tie like a trash bag and hauled him up.
"Let's go, former richest man."
Rehn sneered.
"Lord Renzo has arranged a nice place for you. There are plenty of 'big shots' just like you waiting there."
…
G-5 Base, Underground Level 5, Maximum Security Prison.
This place was even more hopeless than Impel Down.
Because while Impel Down at least had legends of escape, this prison sat directly beneath Admiral Haiiroyo.
If that man didn't want you to leave, you couldn't leave, not even in death.
Dark. Damp. Oppressive.
The air was filled with the weakening aura of Seastone.
Clang, Rehn dragged Tesoro down the long corridor.
On both sides of the cells were pirates from the New World, fools who had crossed Renzo's rules.
"L-let go of me…"
Tesoro finally regained consciousness.
His body was wracked with pain, especially his chest. Rehn's earlier strike had nearly shattered his organs.
He weakly opened his eyes and saw the dim ceiling… and that round, bulky figure.
"D-do you know who I am?!"
He tried to struggle, only to realize he had no strength. Heavy Seastone shackles bound his wrists and ankles.
"I am the Golden Emperor! I control 20% of the world's Beli! I have the backing of the Celestial Dragons! You can't imprison me!!"
SMACK!
Rehn stopped and slapped him hard across the face.
"Be quiet, poor man."
Rehn said with a smile.
"P-poor… man?!"
Tesoro's eyes widened. No one had ever called him that.
"Your ship is gone. Your money has been confiscated by that orange-haired woman. As for your Celestial Dragon backers… hehe, they're too busy hiding under their blankets, afraid Lord Renzo might come after them."
Rehn spoke mercilessly.
"So now, you're just a penniless prisoner who owes Lord Renzo a massive amount in emotional damages."
"No… impossible… my golden empire…"
Tesoro's worldview shattered.
"We're here."
Rehn stopped before a heavy Seastone door engraved with runes.
Cell S-002.
"S-001 houses Caesar Clown, but he's currently being used as an air purifier in the lab, so he's unavailable."
Rehn took out a key.
"So, to keep you company, Lord Renzo has arranged a heavyweight roommate."
"Roommate…?"
Tesoro froze.
Click, rumble…
The heavy door slowly opened.
A mix of moldy air and… something slightly burnt drifted out.
Inside was a small cell, a bunk bed and a shabby wooden table.
At the table sat a man.
Bare-chested, with four damaged drums on his back and long earlobes hanging to his chest.
He held an outdated newspaper, looking bored.
Beside his feet… was a hand-cranked generator.
Hearing the door, the man lazily looked up.
Former God of Skypiea, Enel.
"Oh?"
Enel raised an eyebrow, glancing at Tesoro.
"Another insect?"
His voice was full of disdain.
"Looks like that fat man went out to pick up trash again."
"Shut up, long-ears!"
Rehn kicked Tesoro into the cell.
"This is the famous Golden Emperor. He's your new cellmate."
"Golden Emperor?"
Enel glanced at Tesoro's miserable state and sneered.
"Gold? A metal with excellent conductivity? Heh… not a bad conductor."
"W-who are you?!"
Tesoro asked, instincts warning him, this man was dangerous.
Even with Seastone shackles, his arrogance and presence were overwhelming.
"Me?"
Enel pointed at himself with his thumb, grinning.
"I am God! The omniscient and omnipotent God, Enel!"
"God?"
Tesoro froze, then laughed hysterically.
"Hahaha! What a joke! In this world, money is god! Without money, what kind of god are you?!"
"I once controlled 20% of the world's wealth! I could buy entire nations! I am the true ruler!"
"Foolish mortal."
Enel looked at him like an idiot.
"Before absolute power and lightning, your gold is nothing but scrap. With a flick of my finger, I could reduce you and your gold to ashes."
"Hah! Big talk!"
Tesoro shot back.
"If you're so powerful, why are you locked up here… cranking a generator?!"
He pointed at the device beside Enel.
"YOU KNOW NOTHING!!"
Enel's face flushed in anger.
"This is… this is me experiencing life! And it's to power Renzo's 'game console'! If I don't crank it 10,000 times, I don't get apples for dinner!!"
"…."
Tesoro was stunned.
'To eat apples… he had to generate electricity for that lazy admiral?'
'This was a god?!'
'How humiliating!'
"Alright, alright, you two 'gods.'"
Rehn leaned at the door, eating sunflower seeds.
"Since you're roommates now, drop the act."
He pointed at the table.
"You'll eat together from now on."
"Oh, and to improve prison energy efficiency…"
Rehn took out a slightly larger hand-cranked generator and tossed it to Tesoro.
"Mr. Tesoro, I heard you're an awakened user. You must have good stamina."
"Since you're here, you can't freeload."
"Enel powers the game console. You… will power the gold smelting furnace."
"W-what?!"
Tesoro's eyes nearly popped out.
"You want me, the Golden Emperor, to crank this junk?!"
"You don't have to."
Rehn smiled.
"Then you don't eat."
"And…"
He pointed at Enel.
"If you don't meet your quota, he might kindly 'encourage' you… with his fists."
"Yahahaha!"
Enel cracked his knuckles.
"That's right, mortal. If you delay my apples… you'll face divine punishment!"
"Y-you…"
Tesoro's vision darkened.
'This… is hell. I'm in Hell.'
BANG!
The door slammed shut.
The last light disappeared, leaving only a dim bulb.
Two former "gods" sat across from each other at a tiny table.
One, the "God of Skypiea," now generating power for apples.
The other, the "Golden Emperor," stripped of everything, now generating power to survive.
Silence.
Enel picked up his crank.
Creaaak… creaaak…
The sound echoed miserably.
Tesoro stared at his own, larger generator.
These hands once controlled endless gold and countless lives.
Now… "Damn Renzo… damn that fat bastard…"
Tears of humiliation streamed down his face.
His trembling hand grabbed the crank.
Creak.
The first turn. Enel glanced at him.
"Hurry up, mortal. If you want dinner… keep up with my rhythm."
"Shut up, long-eared freak! I don't need your help!"
Crying, Tesoro cranked wildly.
And so, the two fallen "gods" began a bizarre power-generating competition, for survival, for scraps of food.
Outside, Rehn listened to the creaking and nodded.
"Mm. Dual-core system. Efficiency doubled."
"Lord Renzo's environmental philosophy truly leads the world."
He adjusted his clothes and walked away.
"Trash disposal complete."
"Next… time to report the renovation progress of Lord Renzo's new residence."
"With that golden ship… construction of his 'sea palace' can finally begin!"
....
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu