Chapter 28: The Miserable Overtime Life

"Captain Renji, are you getting off work already?"

Kuzan glanced out the window. The sun was still high in the sky.

Renji felt a little awkward. He had been caught red-handed trying to sneak out. "Kuzan, I have clothes drying at home. I need to go back and collect them. It'd be a shame if they got blown away by the wind."

"That's quite the excuse..." Kuzan didn't know how to respond to his superior.

"But I've already asked Shanks to take care of it for you."

Kuzan adjusted his glasses. Thankfully, he had prepared for this.

"I also have other things to take care of..." Renji tried to make one last attempt to escape.

Kuzan sighed, covering his forehead with his hand. Having such a superior was truly a curse. "Captain, have you finished processing your documents?"

"Almost..." Renji thought of the towering pile of documents on his desk and felt his scalp tingle.

Kuzan's forehead twitched, and his tone became stern. "Then you can't leave. You can only go once you've finished everything."

He was frustrated. Renji was only in his twenties, with a bright future ahead of him. Why did he act like someone about to retire, always avoiding his responsibilities?

"Actually, someone came to report something to me earlier... I was planning to handle that," Renji said, suddenly coming up with an excuse.

"I'm already aware of that matter. The people assigned to it are already on their way," Kuzan said mercilessly, crushing Renji's hopes.

Renji muttered weakly, "I'm the one in charge here..."

Kuzan stated the facts. "The people in the base hardly see you more than a few times a month..."

Renji was completely at Kuzan's mercy. How could he, the highest-ranking officer, be treated like this?

In reality, Kuzan was practically the second-in-command in the base. He handled matters fairly and justly, and his abilities and strength were beyond reproach.

But Kuzan didn't want this. It was all forced upon him by Renji.

"If your younger siblings find out..." Kuzan's words were a fatal blow.

Renji raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, I get it!"

As Renji walked back into the office, he felt completely drained.

"That Kuzan... I'll note this down in my little black book. Just wait until later... hehehe." Renji chuckled darkly.

In another office, Kuzan suddenly felt a chill and shivered.

"That Renji... he's bad-mouthing me again."

He had grown used to this strange bodily reaction. Ever since he started working under Renji, he shivered at least once a day.

...

"Brrr brrr... brrr brrr..."

Just as Renji finished processing the documents and was about to celebrate, the Den Den Mushi he carried with him suddenly rang.

Renji took out the Den Den Mushi and answered the call.

"Hello, this is Renji."

As soon as the call connected, Garp's loud voice came through. "Hahaha, guess who this is!"

"Vice Admiral Garp, are you calling to settle the bill for the food you took earlier?" Renji asked directly.

"Huh... huh?" Garp's laughter died down. "Nonsense! Those were gifts you gave me. I just took what you said I could 'take as much as I wanted.'"

"Take as much as you wanted and then empty my entire warehouse, huh?" Renji chuckled. "Alright, let's not talk about that. What's the reason for your call, Vice Admiral Garp?"

"What's with that tone? Can't I call you just to chat?" Garp sounded indignant.

"..."

Renji rolled his eyes. Of course, you can't...

You're always doing your own thing and only think of others when you need help with something troublesome.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Do you really think I'm that kind of person in your eyes?" Garp huffed. "Forget it, let's not talk about that. Let's get to the main point."

"Just say what you need to say." Renji knew it. There had to be something.

"Ahem..." Garp cleared his throat. "Dragon has already set off for the South Blue. I hope you can keep an eye on him when he arrives."

Renji found it strange. There was no need to call specifically for something like this.

Sure enough, Garp continued, "There are also two others coming with him to see you."

"No problem. Two more people are fine. Who are they?" Renji didn't mind. More people meant more free labor. The more, the merrier.

"Zephyr's wife and son," Garp replied.

Renji was stunned. "Wait, what? I can understand you sending your son to me, but what's Zephyr's deal? His wife isn't coming to join the military, is she? Is Zephyr okay with this?"

"Ahem..."

Garp seemed to feel Zephyr's glare and knew his old friend wasn't in a good mood. He couldn't help but cough twice.

"What's wrong, Vice Admiral Garp? Are you sick?" Renji pretended to be concerned. "No wonder you don't have time to teach your kid."

Although he had gained free labor, Renji didn't want the South Blue to turn into a daycare. Otherwise, his future nickname might become "Daycare Captain (or Admiral)."

Garp said irritably, "Don't talk nonsense, kid. Zephyr's wife and son are just going to the South Blue for a vacation."

Renji couldn't understand. What was so fun about the South Blue?

Aside from pirates, there were only more pirates. What scenery couldn't they see next to an admiral? Plus, their safety would be guaranteed. Why would they want to come to this godforsaken place?

Wait! Zephyr already has a child? Then next year, his wife and son...

"Just focus on keeping an eye on Dragon. Zephyr will handle his own affairs," Garp said solemnly.

Renji's heart sank. Those were an admiral's family members. If something happened to them on his watch, he didn't even want to imagine the consequences.

Renji tried to resist. "Is it too late to refuse?"

"It's too late. Dragon and the others set off this morning," Garp said, shaking his head.

Ahhhh! Renji's mind was in chaos. He understood Zephyr's contributions to the Navy and didn't want him to end up in such a tragic state in his later years.

But he didn't know if Zephyr's family leaving his sight would lead to pirates acting earlier.

He also didn't know if he had the ability to prevent Zephyr's family from meeting their fate.

The pirates who dared to kill an admiral's family couldn't be nobodies. If even Zephyr couldn't stop it, could he really do it?

"Hey? Renji, are you still there? Huh? Is something wrong? Why hasn't anyone spoken for so long..." Garp called out several times but got no response. He thought the Den Den Mushi might be malfunctioning.

"..."

Renji could only take things one step at a time.

...