Fish-Man Island, Ryugu Palace, Royal Chambers.
This was the most luxurious and quiet suite in the entire kingdom, specially vacated by Neptune to host the Marine Headquarters' two highest combat forces.
Beyond the massive floor-to-ceiling windows lay the glowing roots of the Sunlight Tree Eve, casting gentle radiance over the coral reefs below, where beautiful mermaids swam and played.
Renzo was sprawled on a floating sofa, covered with a premium thin blanket woven from sea rabbit fur.
His vacation had reached its fifth day.
"Lord Renzo."
Monet's voice was as soft as a feather. Kneeling beside the sofa, she used a delicate silver pick to spear a cube of freshly delivered Deep-Sea Pearl Jelly, still dusted with ice crystals, and carefully brought it to his lips.
"Mmm…"
Renzo let out a satisfied hum, too lazy even to open his eyes.
Not far away, the five mermaid guides, were softly singing ancient songs of Fish-Man Island.
Their voices were ethereal and soothing, almost magical, capable of washing away all irritation. In Renzo's evaluation, they ranked just below "absolute silence" as a top-tier lullaby.
On the other side of the room, Kizaru lounged with one leg crossed over the other, wearing a G-5 special-issue "nap mask," sprawled on another sofa in almost the exact same pose as Renzo, enjoying this utterly decadent paid vacation.
"Renzo-kun~," Kizaru drawled lazily.
"I'm starting to not want to go back to Marineford. Old man Sengoku's roaring doesn't sound nearly as pleasant as this singing~."
"Then don't go back," Renzo replied casually without opening his eyes.
"Oh my, that wouldn't do~."
Amid this atmosphere of such peaceful indulgence it practically invited corruption, an unharmonious sound appeared.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Rehn's round figure rolled in like a giant meatball, yet somehow stepped as lightly as a cat.
He bowed respectfully toward Renzo, then lowered his voice and reported solemnly, as if delivering an imperial decree:
"Lord Renzo, disturbing your divine slumber is a crime deserving death."
"…Speak."
Renzo's brow twitched slightly, clearly displeased at this new "noise source."
"Yes!"
Rehn quickly pulled out a small notebook.
"The G-5 Branch's S-Class mission... ahem, also known as the Momonosuke Care Program, has sent this week's routine video report."
"Oh?"
Renzo finally opened one eye a slit.
This "program" interested him.
"Play it."
"Yes!"
Rehn immediately took out a small visual Den Den Mushi and placed it on the table.
The snail blinked and projected a beam of light into the air, displaying a clear real-time image of the G-5 base.
Meanwhile, New World, G-5 Branch, Special "Care Room"
Originally the branch's most secure confinement chamber, it had now been repainted in warm… pink.
The walls were decorated with motivational posters of heavily muscled men.
"Sniff… sob…"
A suppressed, humiliated crying sound came from beneath the blankets in the corner.
Kozuki Momonosuke, the future shogun of Wano, was curled up under the covers, trembling.
He regretted everything.
Why had he escaped the ship at Punk Hazard?
Why had he drifted into this cursed sea?
Why had that winged monster picked him up?
This place… wasn't fit for humans.
It was hell.
A hell ten thousand times more terrifying than Kaido's Onigashima.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Heavy footsteps approached. The Rehnforced steel door burst open.
"Little Momo!!!"
A booming voice full of "care" and "vitality" shook his eardrums.
Potts entered at the front.
Behind him followed twelve elite G-5 marines, the Macho Care Squad.
Bare-chested, bronze skin gleaming with sweat, their bulging pectorals, eight-pack abs, and biceps thicker than Momonosuke's waist radiated suffocating masculinity.
"Little Momo, why are you crying again?"
The lead caretaker, codename "Iron Chest," a giant with a thick beard, smiled what he believed was a gentle smile and reached out with a fan-sized hand.
Before Momonosuke could react, he was lifted straight out of the blankets.
"Don't touch me!"
Momonosuke shrieked.
"Oh dear, Little Momo's shy again."
Iron Chest expertly pulled him into a crushing hug and rubbed his bristly beard aggressively against Momonosuke's delicate cheek.
"Ugh!"
He could barely breathe!
The overwhelming scent, a mix of sweat, iron, and cheap cologne, was like a biological weapon.
"Little Momo has been naughty," Potts said sternly.
"You didn't wake up on time again. According to Lord Renzo's Efficiency Manual, your care time will be doubled today."
"D-Doubled?!"
Momonosuke turned pale.
"That's right! Men!"
Potts waved his hand.
"Bathe and dress Little Momo!"
"Yes, sir!!!"
Two more caretakers, "Steel Glutes" and "Power Arms", charged forward eagerly.
"No! I'll wash myself! I can do it!!"
His desperate scream echoed.
He would never forget his first bath.
It wasn't bathing.
It was… deck-polishing with G-5 warship-grade hard brushes.
"No, Little Momo."
Power Arms held him down seriously.
"Lieutenant Commander Potts said your status is noble. If you slip and injure yourself, we cannot answer to Lord Renzo."
"For your absolute safety and absolute cleanliness!"
Iron Chest declared proudly,
"The Care Squad will provide 360-degree full-service support!"
"NOOOOO!!!"
Ten minutes later.
Splash
Momonosuke was pulled out of the tub, his skin scrubbed red as if he'd shed a layer.
His eyes were lifeless.
"All right! Time for today's new outfit!"
Steel Glutes excitedly revealed the uniform.
It was a pastel blue dress… with lace trim.
"…No…"
He let out a weak moan.
For G-5's "morale stability" and "spiritual civilization construction," Rehn had specifically instructed that Momonosuke be "de-masculinized," removing any potential "threat" toward women.
"Little Momo, please don't be troublesome."
Potts' voice turned cold.
Momonosuke froze.
He remembered the rumors.
If he became "too troublesome," he might be sent to share a cell with that limbless Burgess…
Trembling in humiliation, he changed into the dress.
"Wow! So cute, Little Momo!"
Iron Chest and Steel Glutes' eyes sparkled with strange heart shapes.
"Breakfast time!"
Potts pulled out a giant syringe filled with gray, viscous paste.
"G-5 special Sea King Essence High-Energy Protein Blend. One dose lasts a whole day. Maximum efficiency nutrition!"
"No… I don't want that… I want rice balls… sweet red bean soup…"
"Those are low-efficiency foods."
Potts was merciless.
"Open your mouth."
"WAAAAAHHH!!!"
Momonosuke's "happy" life had only just begun.
Back at Ryugu Palace
"Pff-cough cough cough!!"
Kizaru spat out his tea, choking as his old face turned red.
"Oh my… Renzo-kun… your G-5 truly produces… remarkable talents…"
He pointed at the image of Momonosuke in a lace dress being force-fed and shook with laughter.
"This is far more entertaining than reading the newspaper~."
Renzo nodded in satisfaction.
"Mm."
"Potts did well. Very efficient."
Looking at Momonosuke's hollow, spiritless eyes, the faint irritation in Renzo's heart finally dissipated.
"Rehn."
"Yes! Lord Renzo!"
"Record a First-Class Merit for Potts and the entire Care Squad. Triple their bonus."
Renzo spoke calmly.
"Tell them G-5's spiritual civilization depends on them."
"Yes, sir!!!"
Rehn excitedly wrote it down.
"Leave the visual Den Den Mushi here."
Renzo pointed to the table.
"This is more interesting than mermaid singing."
"From now on, play it every afternoon at tea time."
"Yes!"
And so, under the "meticulous care" of the G-5 Macho Care Squad, and under Admiral Renzo's amused observation,
Kozuki Momonosuke, future shogun of Wano, began his long, humiliating, masculinity-scented… "happy" childhood.