G-5 Branch, Central Broadcasting Tower.
This was the throat of the entire base, and through which Rehn announced messages to the whole base, and even, through special channels, to the entire New World underground black market.
At this moment, Rehn stood before a broadcasting desk filled with microphones. His round body was tightly wrapped in a custom-tailored, gold-embroidered tailcoat.
The iconic thick gold chain hung around his neck, and his whole presence radiated a strange mix of nouveau riche and top-tier powerhouse.
He cleared his throat. In his narrowed eyes flickered an almost manic excitement.
"Testing, testing."
"You there, sound technician! Crank up the bass! I want intimidation! I want everyone who hears this to feel their soul tremble!"
With a crackling burst of electricity, Rehn's inciting voice spread like rolling thunder, instantly covering every inch of land and sea within dozens of nautical miles.
"Listen up! All living beings! All you ambitious fools who crave power, money, and a chance to rise above others!"
"I am Rehn, Chief Steward of Lord Haiiroyo, Renzo!"
"And now, on behalf of the supreme Lord Renzo, I announce something that will drive you all mad!"
Across every corner of G-5, whether it was soldiers training, brutes fighting over meat in the cafeteria, or troublemakers reflecting in solitary confinement, everyone stopped and listened.
Rehn's voice suddenly rose, filled with electrifying passion:
"As for the upcoming 'First G-5 Genius Efficiency Martial Arts Tournament,' Lord Renzo finds the previous rewards… too shabby!"
"To show the prestige of G-5, to make you understand what it means that 'following a god means never going hungry,' His Lordship has decided, to increase the prize pool!!"
"First! The champion of this tournament will receive the fruit known as the 'most vicious Logia' and the 'nemesis of all ability users', the Dark-Dark Fruit!!"
Boom!!!
Even just hearing the name seemed to shake the entire G-5 base.
The Dark-Dark Fruit!
A legendary power!
Eat it, and all ability users become ordinary people before you!
What kind of heaven-defying ability was that?!
But Rehn's "bombardment" had only just begun.
"Think the championship is too hard? No problem!"
"The top ten contestants, listen carefully, each one of you, will receive a Devil Fruit from the G-5 treasury!"
"Not on the level of the Dark-Dark Fruit, but definitely no trash! Carefully selected Zoan or Paramecia types!"
"What?! The top ten all get fruits?!"
On the training grounds, a scarred sergeant dropped his barbell on his foot with a loud clang, but he didn't feel any pain, only a burning excitement.
"This… this is insane!"
"And we're not done yet, you poor fools!"
Rehn's laughter echoed through the broadcast, dripping with the scent of money.
"Besides Devil Fruits, we also have the most practical reward, cash!"
"The top one hundred contestants! Even if you're just barely scraping in, if you make it into the top hundred, you will share…"
He paused deliberately for three seconds.
"A prize pool of FIVE BILLION Berries!!!"
"Fi… five billion?!"
In that instant, the entire G-5 base exploded.
Not cheers, raw, shocked roars.
Five billion Berries!
Split among a hundred people, that's fifty million each!
What was fifty million Berries?
In the New World, it was enough to buy a small island and live like a king for the rest of your life!
And in G-5… this was just a consolation prize for the top 100?!
"Long live Lord Renzo!!!"
"I'm signing up! Don't stop me!"
"Damn it! For fifty million, I'll risk my life to make the top 100!!"
The soldiers' eyes turned red, burning with greed and desire.
Inside the broadcast room, Rehn adjusted his monocle with satisfaction as he watched the frenzy outside.
"Good effect."
Then he delivered the most important condition.
"But!"
"If you want these rewards, there is only one condition!"
"That is..."
"You must join G-5! Sign a lifetime contract… ahem, a lifetime service agreement!"
"Become the most loyal spear and shield of Lord Renzo! Devote everything to His peace, and His sleep!"
"Now! The recruitment gates are open!"
"If you think you're talented, if you're tired of starving one day and feasting the next, "
"Then come!"
"There's only one week left before the tournament begins!!"
…
If this announcement caused a tsunami within G-5, then outside, it triggered a magnitude-10 earthquake.
Through news birds and underground networks, the news spread across the entire New World at lightning speed.
In a dark tavern, A pirate captain with a 200 million bounty slammed his table to pieces.
"The Dark-Dark Fruit?! Five billion in prizes?! Is that Renzo insane?!"
"Boss… are we going?"
"Of course! I'm sick of being hunted by Kaido's crew! If I get that fruit, I'll dominate the New World!"
"But… we'd have to become Marines…"
"So what? That's G-5! Renzo's territory! Look how they live, it's paradise! If I get the money, I'd even become a dog!"
On a remote island:
A martial artist stopped mid-punch.
"G-5… Martial Arts Tournament…"
"Only there… can my fists be proven?"
"And fifty million… enough to buy that lost manual."
He packed his things and set off.
Soon, a strange scene appeared across the New World's seas:
Pirate ships, lone boats, even black-market vessels, all lowered their skull flags, raised white flags, and sailed toward one destination: G-5.
…
G-5 Recruitment Office.
Once the quietest place in the base, it was now more crowded than the Sabaody slave auction ever was.
A sea of people packed shoulder to shoulder.
"Line up! Get in line!!"
Rear Admiral Potts shouted until his voice was hoarse.
He stared at the crowd, giants, long-arm tribes, even wanted criminals, now obediently holding application forms.
"Name?"
"'Skullcrusher' Bar." The man grinned. "Former pirate, 150 million bounty. Now… a good citizen."
"…Right. Before joining, you must settle your bounty."
"I know!" He tossed down a heavy sack. "Two hundred million. The extra fifty million is a gift for Lord Renzo. By the way… can I use a spiked club in the tournament?"
"Next!"
"Name?"
"Nameless. Swordsman."
The clerk looked up in shock. "You're… 'Ghost Sword'? The one who killed a Rear Admiral?!"
"That's the past."
"I just want food… and maybe that fruit. I heard Mihawk is here. I want to test myself."
Scenes like this played out everywhere.
For the Dark-Dark Fruit.
For the five billion prize.
For G-5's legendary benefits.
These ruthless figures of the New World surged in like sharks smelling blood.
Of course, some tried to sneak in.
"Hey! You, green hair! Why do you smell like a Revolutionary Army spy?"
Rehn appeared like a ghost and grabbed the man.
"We recruit fighters, not ideologues. Get lost!"
Crackle!
A bolt of lightning turned the spy into an afro-haired mess and tossed him into the sea.
"And you! The one who looks like a monkey!"
"You're too ugly! You'll ruin Lord Renzo's view! Rejected!"
"And you! You look half-dead already! You'll collapse before overtime! Out!"
Like a ruthless interviewer, Rehn filtered out only the most useful "tools."
…
Temple of Sloth, rooftop terrace.
Compared to the chaos below, this place remained peaceful.
Renzo lay on his couch, sipping iced watermelon juice, listening to the distant roar.
"Hmm… a lot of people."
"Yes, my lord," Monet said softly. "Over ten thousand registrations just this morning."
"Ten thousand?"
Renzo raised a brow. "All this… for one fruit and some money?"
"That is the Dark-Dark Fruit," Monet replied gently. "And fifty billion is a fortune most pirates never see in a lifetime."
"For you… it's just a prize."
Renzo chuckled.
"Men die for wealth, birds die for food."
"If they want to play, let them play."
He looked down at the ant-like crowd.
Their greed and ambition… were merely fuel to him.
"As long as I get even one in a thousand elites… plus one top-tier from that fruit…"
"I won't have to lift a finger anymore."
"That's efficiency."
He lay back down.
"One week…"
"Let Rehn handle security."
"I don't want any flies in my bedroom."
"And…"
"Tell Sanji to prepare more midnight snacks."
"This week… should be entertaining."