The voyage of the Endless Sheep was less a military mission and more a long, leisurely vacation at sea.
The ship sailed at a steady, moderate pace, neither fast nor slow, always kept at the most stable speed, the kind that minimized any rocking.
This was Renzo's strict order.
Because of this, the Marine's seasoned navigator had no choice but to abandon every shortcut, current, and tailwind that could increase speed, instead choosing the calmest and longest route possible.
Renzo was very satisfied with this.
He spent most of his time slumped in the huge open-air hot spring at the stern, with only his head above the water. A waterproof floating cushion, Sanji's handiwork, covered his body, and a freshly sliced platter of chilled fruit rested on top.
Warm sunlight glittered across the water. A gentle ocean breeze brushed past. Now and then, a seagull perched on the mast and cried lazily.
Everything felt far too peaceful for a journey toward the New World.
"Potts."
Renzo mumbled the name while chewing a piece of melon.
"Yes, Admiral!"
Potts immediately poked his head out from the small kitchen nearby.
Aside from handling documents, his primary job now was to provide all sorts of service to Renzo, who spent his days soaking in the hot spring.
"Tell Sanji to switch the afternoon tea dessert to cheese tarts. Yesterday's mousse was too soft… I don't feel like using a spoon."
"Yes! I'll inform Sanji at once!"
Potts hurried off.
Inside the kitchen, Sanji, cigarette hanging from his lips, was studying a rare-fish guidebook he had "borrowed" from Marine HQ.
Hearing Potts' message, he didn't even look up, just grunted:
"Got it. Tell him to wait. I just caught a bluefin tuna, its belly meat will make great cheese tarts."
On this ship, Levi was the absolute authority, while Sanji held the position of second authority, master of the Admiral's "lifeline", his food.
And so in this utterly un-New-World-like atmosphere, the Endless Sheep finally reached its destination, Marine Base G-5.
....
G-5 Base was situated on an island perpetually shrouded in thunderclouds.
The base itself resembled a massive steel fortress. Its walls were covered in sword marks and scorch trails from cannon fire. The smell of rust, gunpowder, and cheap rum hung heavily in the air.
The Marines stationed here were infamous, the worst in the entire Marine system.
Most were troublemakers exiled from other branches. Violent tempers, poor discipline, and manners more pirate-like than pirates themselves.
Right now, hundreds of G-5 marines stood crookedly on the dock, smoking, carrying weapons, and wearing mocking, provocative grins.
They had heard that HQ was sending a new base commander, a newly promoted "Admiral."
They scoffed.
"An Admiral? Tch. Even a dragon has to coil when it comes to G-5!" A burly officer with a vicious face spat and said to his companion.
"Damn right! Even the last one, Vice Admiral Vergo, was 'handled' until he fell in line. If this new guy doesn't know his place, we'll make sure he learns the 'rules' of G-5!"
Those "rules" meant giving any incoming commander a brutally rude welcome to establish who really ran this place.
While they were chatting, the Endless Sheep slowly appeared on the horizon, totally out of place, relaxing and peaceful amid the harsh G-5 environment.
"There it is! That ship!"
"Hah? That's a warship? Looks like some Celestial Dragon's vacation yacht!"
"What's on the sail? A sleeping goat? Hahaha!"
The G-5 Marines burst into laughter, their contempt growing by the second.
The Endless Sheep drifted into port.
And when they saw what was on deck, their laughter exploded.
A blond cook was leaning against the railing, smoking.
A young paperwork-type soldier was scrambling to organize documents.
And the so-called new Admiral…was lying in a ridiculously comfortable lounge chair, covered in a blanket, apparently… asleep.
"Hey! You there, the new guy!"
The burly officer lifted a small rocket launcher onto his shoulder and aimed it at the deck.
"This is what HQ calls elite marines? You look like a bunch of sissies on a picnic!"
"Hurry up and get your asses down here! Or I'll give you a 'welcome salute' that'll send you straight to hell!"
Behind him, the G-5 marines hooted, whistled, and banged their weapons on the ground.
On deck, Sanji's brows instantly furrowed. He flicked his cigarette into the sea.
"A bunch of clueless trash."
Potts turned pale with fear and hid behind Renzo's lounge chair.
Finally, the source of all attention, Renzo, was awakened by the deafening noise.
He sat up extremely reluctantly, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He stared at the rowdy G-5 marines with pure, unmistakable annoyance.
"So noisy."
He muttered it quietly, but the sound somehow cut through all the chaos.
Then, with a lazy flick of his hand, as if shooing away a swarm of flies,
[Sloth's Declaration, Silence]
An invisible force instantly blanketed the entire G-5 dock.
The next moment, it was as if someone pressed both the mute button and the slow-motion button on reality.
The officer with the rocket launcher froze mid-sneer; his finger grew unbearably heavy, unable to pull the trigger.
Behind him, the marines' movements slowed to a ridiculous crawl. Their shouts stuck in their throats, turning into meaningless "Hhh, hhh, " noises.
In the same instant, hundreds of "elite" G-5 marines were swallowed by an overwhelming, soul-deep exhaustion.
Their bodies turned to lead. Their eyelids weighed a thousand pounds. Even standing upright became impossible.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Like wheat being harvested, the G-5 marines collapsed one after another.
Weapons clattered to the ground but were soon drowned out by the rising storm of thunderous snores.
In barely ten seconds, the once-noisy, murderous dock had become a giant outdoor dormitory.
Only the sea breeze moved, lifting dust and carrying the endless stream of snoring.
On the Endless Sheep, Sanji's mouth twitched.
Renzo looked at the peaceful scene with satisfaction, clapped his hands, and lay back down.
To the only officer barely staying awake, though wobbling, he said lazily:
"Alright. Welcome ceremony's over."
"Get a few people who aren't asleep to clear the way. I'm hungry. I want to check out your cafeteria."
"And move your softest bed into my office."
The officer processed Renzo's words with great difficulty, drowning in shock and drowsiness.
Then his knees buckled, and he collapsed too, joining the chorus of snores.
Renzo: "…"
He sighed and waved at Potts and Sanji.
"Forget it. We'll find our own way."
"Looks like this place is an even bigger hassle than I expected."
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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