G-5 Branch, High-Ranking Officers' Exclusive Dining Hall.
Morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, spilling across the long redwood dining table. This place was supposed to be an elegant venue where gentlemen enjoyed breakfast while quietly discussing military affairs.
But right now… the scene was, frankly, hard to describe.
"Chomp chomp, gulp!"
Balger, the four-meter-tall giant, had one foot planted on an expensive chair, tearing into a whole roast turkey like a caveman. Grease dripped from his chin onto the pristine white tablecloth, leaving shocking oil stains.
"Slurp, ha!"
On the other side, Galorn squatted on his chair, stabbing steak with his hooked blades and shoving it into his mouth. While eating, he casually sprinkled some unknown spice powder into nearby cups.
As for the other pirate-born officers, some were picking their teeth, some scratching their feet, and some nearly drew weapons over the last sausage.
Bang!
Up on the second-floor balcony, Renzo's forehead twitched with a visible vein.
He slammed his teacup onto the table.
"These guysa…"
Through the one-way glass, Renzo watched the chaotic "demonic dance" below, his mouth twitching.
"They can fight, sure, but this behavior… it's embarrassing."
"They look like a bunch of gorillas in suits."
"If I bring them to Mariejois for a meeting, the Five Elders will think I'm a bandit leader here to rob the place."
Renzo turned to Ain and Rehn behind him.
"Rehn, these are your 'elites'?"
"Uh…" Rehn wiped sweat from his forehead and forced a grin.
"My lord, this is… wild charm. They're free spirits from the sea, after all…"
"Charm my ass," Renzo rolled his eyes. "This is lack of discipline."
He pointed downstairs.
"Starting today, fix them."
"Not just their fists. Train their minds. Their manners."
His gaze landed on Ain.
Zephyr's prized disciple, known for strict discipline and seriousness.
"Ain."
"At your command, Lord Renzo!"
She snapped to attention.
"This is your job now."
Renzo leaned back lazily and pulled down his eye mask.
"Open a class for these beasts. Weekly or daily, your call."
"I've even named it, 'How to Become a Qualified, Elegant, and Loyal G-5 Watchdog… I mean Elite Officer.'"
"Teach them how to dress, eat, speak, and most importantly," he raised a finger.
"Make them understand who they fight for… and what it means to treat my will as absolute."
"If anyone skips class or slacks off…"
He pointed at Rehn.
"Let him 'loosen their bones' again."
Rehn grinned, electricity crackling faintly.
"Heh heh… gladly."
Ain adjusted her glasses, a sharp glint in her eyes.
The teaching instinct in her blood ignited.
"Leave it to me. I'll train them into… perfect gentleman officers."
....
The next morning.
G-5 Branch, Tier-One Lecture Hall.
Originally a serious war meeting room, now converted into a classroom.
Dozens of oversized desks filled the space, custom-built for someone like Balger.
The sixty-plus newly promoted commanders sat upright, hands on knees, barely daring to breathe.
Why so obedient?
Because in the back row sat a round, ominous figure.
Rehn.
Holding a "teaching pointer", actually a high-voltage baton, casually filled his nails while scanning the room with cold, narrow eyes.
Next to him, on a hospital bed dragged in for effect, lay a fully bandaged "mummy."
Aramaki.
The living example of "discipline."
With that kind of warning sitting there, who would dare misbehave?
Even the most arrogant pirates sat like elementary school students.
Click, click, click.
The sound of heels echoed.
Ain entered, wearing a crisp vice admiral uniform, carrying books and a pointer.
She slammed them onto the desk.
Bang!
"Everyone, stand!"
Swish!
All officers sprang up instantly.
"I am your instructor, Vice Admiral Ain."
She adjusted her glasses.
"This course is now mandatory. Fail, and you lose your monthly bonus. Additionally-"
She pointed at Rehn.
"-you'll receive 'after-class tutoring.'"
Everyone shivered.
"Good. Sit."
She wrote on the board: [Chapter 1: Identity Shift , From Brutes to Nobles]
"First, let me correct your mindset."
Her gaze swept across the room.
"You used to be pirates, killers, drifters. I don't care."
"But now, you are G-5 officers! You represent Lord Renzo!"
"Look at how you eat! Sit! Move! Disgusting!"
"Balger! Take your foot off the desk! That's for books, not hooves!"
Balger hurriedly withdrew his leg.
"The table's too small…" he muttered.
"Then cut your leg off," Rehn added casually.
Balger instantly sat perfectly straight.
"As G-5 officers," Ain continued, "you represent the most elite, wealthy, refined force in this sea."
"Stop shouting 'rob them' or 'kill them all.' That's low-class."
"We emphasize efficiency and civility."
"For example, if you want to seize a pirate ship, don't say: 'Hand it over or die.'"
She tapped the board.
"You say: 'Under G-5 maritime regulations, your vessel is being detained for illegal modification. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say may increase your fines.'"
"Damn…"
"You can do that?"
"That actually sounds… classy…"
In the middle row, Sabo furiously took notes while internally screaming: 'Isn't that just robbery with better wording?!'
"Next, Chapter 2. The most important."
A slide appeared.
A giant image of Renzo sleeping peacefully, a halo added.
[Chapter 2: Absolute Core, Loyalty to Lord Renzo]
"Look at him!"
Ain's voice turned fervent.
"Who is he?!"
"LORD RENZO!!!"
"Wrong!"
"He is not just Lord Renzo!"
"He is our light! Our electricity! Our salvation! The source of your fifty-million-Beli salary!"
Without him, you'd still be crawling in the mud! Being hunted! Fighting dogs over bread!"
This hit hard.
Especially for people like Blake.
His eyes reddened.
Yes… nwithout Renzo, he'd still be nothing.
"So!"
Ain slammed her pointer.
"Your primary duty is NOT justice."
"It is NOT catching pirates."
"It is-"
"Protecting Lord Renzo's sleep! Maintaining his mood! Solving his problems!"
"Memorize the three iron laws of G-5:"
"1. His words are truth. If he says the sun is square, you make it square."
"2. His trouble is our shame. If he has to act, we've failed."
"3. His happiness is our goal. He wants music? Get singers. He wants quiet? Silence everything within a hundred miles!"
"Understood?!"
"UNDERSTOOD!!!"
Even Shelby took notes: Eliminate enemies elegantly before Lord Renzo wakes. Do not let blood stain his shoes.
Even Aramaki, lying bandaged, slowly shifted from disdain…
To realization.
'So this… is workplace survival…'
"Now, practical exercise."
Ain clapped.
"A Yonko commander tries to invade and wakes Lord Renzo."
"What do you do?"
"I'll answer!"
Galorn said, "Poison him silently. Dissolve the body."
"Barely acceptable. The smell costs you points."
Balger answered, "Drag him 10km away and smash him!"
"Too crude. Make it 50km."
Then, Blake spoke.
"I'd use illusion or fear… make him believe he already woke Lord Renzo… and Rehn is coming."
"Let him mentally collapse… bind himself… and beg."
"No effort. No noise. Plus, we charge emotional damages."
CLAP CLAP CLAP!
Rehn stood up applauding.
"Brilliant!"
"This is talent! This is vision!"
"Full marks!"
Blake sat calmly.
'All thanks to Lord Renzo's teachings.'
Meanwhile, in the Temple of Sloth… Renzo watched everything through surveillance.
Drinking cola and smiling.
"Not bad… Ain improved a lot."
"She turned 'Absolute Justice' into 'Absolute Loyalty.'"
"Nice."
He stretched.
"With subordinates who fight, think, and solve problems…"
"Life's about to get easier."
"Hmm… reward them with extra chicken tonight."
"After all… brainwashing, ah, I mean learning, is exhausting."
...
30 Chapters in [email protected]/DaoistJinzu