The LC-02 slowly sailed into the only small bay of Warmwave Island.
The sea shimmered in a dreamy emerald green, so clear that colorful fish could be seen swimming among the corals.
The air carried a faint sulfur scent mixed with a strange, sweet aroma of various flowers and fruits, making the mind feel at ease.
A thin layer of warm steam shrouded the island, giving it the appearance of a fairyland from afar.
Vegetation on the island was lush, with many plants in shapes and colors unseen in the outside world.
"This is it!"
Sanji excitedly jumped off the ship first, taking a deep breath, a look of bliss on his face.
"This air… has vanilla, lemon, and… some spices I've never smelled before!"
Potts followed closely, handling the mooring and carrying basic supplies, his face showing curiosity and excitement.
Renzo was the last to disembark. He stepped onto the soft, almost warm white sand, squinting as he surveyed the surroundings.
"Hm, not bad," he commented. "Not too noisy."
Indeed, aside from the rustling of leaves in the breeze, distant birdcalls, and the sound of a waterfall far away, the island was peaceful and serene.
Sanji, like a child discovering treasure, rushed toward a nearby bush.
It bore translucent, sapphire-like berries.
"Blue Mist Fruit! I saw this in an ancient text! Its juice supposedly triples the freshness of seafood!"
He carefully picked one, gently squeezing it. The flesh melted instantly, releasing a cool, rich fragrance.
Potts, caught up in the excitement, held a basket and followed: "Sanji, can we eat this red mushroom? It looks like a giant strawberry!"
"Don't touch that!" Sanji warned. "That's the 'Sleeping Beauty Mushroom.' Just smelling it can put you into a three-day slumber! But…"
He leaned closer, eyes gleaming.
"If handled properly, a tiny amount could be a top-quality natural anesthetic and seasoning, perfect for making extremely tender meat dishes."
Renzo showed no interest in the discovery process. His Observation Haki had already passively scanned the entire island, locking onto the "most comfortable" energy source.
Yawning, he lazily followed a worn path deeper into the island.
"I'll find a spot to rest. You… don't wander too far, or I'll have to come find you," he called lazily.
Sanji and Potts were already lost in the joy of discovering new ingredients, only responding vaguely.
After about ten minutes, Renzo's path led him to taller trees and thicker mist, the temperature perfectly comfortable.
Passing through a grove with glowing hanging vines, he suddenly came upon a clearing.
A giant, sapphire-like hot spring pool lay before him.
The water was crystal clear, with smooth white rocks at the bottom. Bubbles rose continuously, releasing soothing warmth.
One side of the spring leaned against a cliff, with a small, hotter waterfall flowing gently into the main pool. The water's sound wasn't noisy, but like natural white noise.
Best of all, a huge, flat rock, warmed by geothermal heat, sat beside the spring, practically a natural lounge chair.
"This is perfect," Renzo nodded in satisfaction.
He removed his outer layer, still wearing light clothing underneath, and slowly slid into the hot spring.
"Mm…" The heat enveloped him perfectly, dispelling the last bit of fatigue and stiffness from the sea voyage. He sighed contentedly, leaning on the edge, eyes closed.
The spring water seemed to possess a special magic, making his ever-active Domain of Absolute Sloth even more relaxing and peaceful.
He didn't even need to maintain it consciously; the domain naturally kept all "troubles" out, even the overly eager sunlight was softened by the steam.
Within minutes, his breathing became steady and long, and he actually fell asleep in the hot spring.
His body swayed gently with the water, like an incredibly cozy cradle.
...
Meanwhile, Potts made an even more astonishing discovery at a rock beside a hot spring stream: "Sanji! Look! These eggs!"
Several round eggs with soft pink shells, gently steaming and glowing, lay quietly in shallow pits lined with soft moss.
They were larger than normal chicken eggs, perfect in shape.
"Hot spring eggs! And of the highest quality!"
Sanji's eyes lit up. He carefully picked one up, feeling the warmth, as if life pulsed inside it.
"That's exactly what Renzo asked for!"
However, just as Sanji prepared to place the precious eggs into a specially prepared soft cloth pouch, a highly dangerous aura suddenly erupted from the nearby hot spring pool!
"Grrrrr!!!"
With a low, intimidating hum, the water erupted violently.
A massive creature, covered in dark red scales, leapt out, sending hot water spraying everywhere!
It was the size of a manatee, but far more ferocious.
Its limbs were short but powerful, claws gleaming, head lizard-like with a pair of small, coral-like horns, and amber vertical pupils filled with rage, staring directly at the egg-carrying Sanji.
It hissed threateningly, radiating overwhelming wild pressure.
"W-what is that?!"
Potts collapsed in fright, scattering fruits and vegetables from his basket.
Sanji's expression also changed, but he clutched the eggs tightly: "Looks like… we've touched the guardian's treasures!"
The guardian beast clearly regarded their actions as a severe provocation.
It opened its mouth, not to bite, but to spray a scorching white steam laced with strong sulfur!
"Watch out!"
Sanji shoved the terrified Potts aside and rolled to avoid it himself.
The steam brushed past his back, hitting a small tree behind him. The trunk blackened and withered before their eyes.
"Incredibly corrosive!"
Sanji sweated profusely; his back burned, and his clothes were scorched.
Missing its strike, the guardian roared in fury, its massive body moving with surprising agility, lunging at Sanji with claws aimed at his chest.
Sanji quickly tucked the eggs into his chest and blocked with his legs.
Bang!
Leg met claw with a dull thud.
A massive force surged through him; his leg went numb, and he was knocked backward into a tree, nearly coughing up blood.
"Bastard!" Sanji gritted his teeth, standing and assuming a fighting stance again.
Potts, gathering courage, grabbed a thick branch from the ground, trembling as he tried to help. "Y-you let go of Sanji!"
The guardian ignored Potts entirely; its target was only Sanji, the egg thief.
It unleashed another scorching steam blast, even wider this time, forcing Sanji to dodge repeatedly, appearing extremely clumsy.
The fight was completely one-sided.
Sanji's kicking skills were more than enough against ordinary pirates, but against this thick-skinned, powerful, and long-range guardian, they were helpless.
His attacks barely scratched the creature, only further enraging it.
Minutes later, Sanji and Potts were battered and bruised, their clothes torn, many burns and claw marks covering them, gasping for breath, forced back to the edge of the hot spring area, looking utterly miserable.
Though the eggs in Sanji's arms were safe, there was no way they could take them away.
"Damn… this thing is too strong…"
Sanji wiped blood from his mouth, glaring at the still-watchful guardian.
Potts nearly cried: "Commodore… Commodore! If he doesn't come, we'll be cooked alive!"
Meanwhile, their Commodore was relaxing in the most comfortable hot spring on the island.
Renzo floated in the warm water, only half his head visible, leaning against a smooth rock.
Steam swirled around him, the waterfall's gentle sound like a lullaby.
His breathing was even, his face rosy, sleeping soundly.
The Domain of Absolute Sloth operated faithfully, perfectly isolating the minor conflict of "egg theft versus guardian" from disturbing him.
To him, the world remained peaceful and beautiful, perfect for dreaming about food.
As for his chef and attendant being beaten up?
Hm… too troublesome to care.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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