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As Issho sheathed his blade and turned toward Zephyr, the older Marine let out a deep breath and clapped a heavy hand on the blind man's shoulder.
"Well done," Zephyr said, his tone firm yet warm. "I thought your blade had grown dull in these peaceful days… Seems I was wrong."
Issho offered a small, knowing smile. "It's just been waiting for a worthy opponent."
Zephyr's laughter rumbled like distant thunder. "Come on. Let's get you processed before the bureaucrats bury your name in paper. Bastards love to drag their feet."
Together, the two men walked side by side, their footsteps crunching through cracked stone and debris as they made their way toward the central building. Their silhouettes receded slowly into the light streaming from the open hallway.
Luffy stood in the ruins of the training ground, watching them.
He didn't speak, just watching them leave.
His hands were deep in his pockets, fingers twitching slightly. The grin he'd worn moments ago had softened into something more subdued—quiet pride mixed with a flicker of distant melancholy.
"Old man…"
The old man hadn't lost himself.
Not this time.
He hadn't lost himself to hatred, not to bloodlust, not to grief.
Zephyr had found a different path, a different future.
A better one.
And yet, as Luffy stood alone amidst the rubble, that warmth in his chest was tinged with a bitter chill.
He clicked his tongue and looked down at his hands.
"Che... Dammit."
He clenched his fists.
The callouses there, forged from countless battles, felt heavier than usual.
He had saved Zephyr. But what had it cost?
Issho wasn't supposed to be here, at least not yet. He shouldn't have joined the Marines for at least another five years.
The butterfly effect was real. And Luffy… was the storm that set it in motion.
He let out a slow exhale and muttered under his breath, "Every time I fix something… I give those bastards another pawn to play with."
The Evil World Government and the disgusting Celestial Dragons.
Those worms in white robes pulling strings from atop the world.
He hated them, and every time he helped the Marines—even when it was for someone he respected—he felt like he was feeding the machine he wanted to destroy.
He shook his head slowly, letting the wind stir his wild black hair. Dust lifted in the breeze around his boots as he turned away from the cracked battlefield.
Luffy walked leisurely through the inner paths of Marineford, his hands tucked behind his head and his coat fluttering faintly in the breeze. The distant sound of waves crashing against the rocky coastline blended with the hum of marine activity. He could smell the salt in the air, but his mind wasn't on the ocean.
He was headed to Gion's quarters.
It had been a while since he had spent some time with her.
After that explosive sparring session with Issho and a heavy moment of reflection at the training grounds, his mind craved something lighter and warmer.
And as he neared the familiar set of quarters tucked behind the South Wing, a rare smile crept up his lips.
He didn't knock as he pushed open the door and stepped inside. Immediately, the sound of feminine chatter, soft giggles, and the faint scent of citrus and body lotion wrapped around him.
He followed the voices down the hallway, every step echoing slightly on the polished floor, until he reached the bedroom.
The door was open, and the scene inside pulled a low, appreciative chuckle from his throat.
Three breathtaking women lounged on the wide bed, legs sprawled and bare, comfortable and completely at ease. The air shimmered with feminine energy.
Gion was leaning back against the headboard, her long curly black hair tied up in a messy bun, her loose white T-shirt hanging off one shoulder, revealing the subtle swell of her chest. Her toned legs were folded beneath her, smooth and tan, one of them twitching slightly with idle energy.
Hina sat cross-legged beside her, blowing on a glass of chilled juice, her long purple hair cascading down her back like silk. She wore a charcoal-gray tank top and black shorts that hugged her thighs tightly, revealing every inch of her curves. Her eyes caught Luffy's figure the moment he entered, and her lips twitched with a knowing smile.
Kuina sat on the other side, legs curled to one side, wearing a pale-blue oversized shirt that clearly wasn't hers—likely stolen from Gion. Her long legs were bare, smooth, and athletic, and her face held the flushed glow of post-training comfort.
All three women turned to look at him.
And just for a second, their laughter paused.
Their gazes took him in.
Dusty coat, wrinkled shirt, and a faint smear of blood near his collar. His pants were slightly torn near the thigh from the spar earlier. His black hair was slightly damp from sweat, strands stuck to his forehead.
He looked like a man who had just walked out of a battlefield.
Gion narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even change your clothes?"
Hina clicked her tongue in disappointment. "Hina is displeased."
Kuina raised an eyebrow, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Let me guess. You ran into someone interesting."
Luffy grinned, casual and unapologetic. "Took a bath earlier, I swear. But I met a guy named Issho… we ended up sparring. He is a new recruit that Grandpa Zephyr had brought. He's super strong. His swordsmanship is at a master level, and combined with his gravity devil fruit, his strength rivals the Admirals."
"Gravity…?" Gion blinked, sitting up straighter. "That's rare."
"You just bathed, and you got dirty again?" Hina sighed and stood up. "You really don't care about timing, do you?"
Luffy chuckled, scratching his cheek. "Couldn't help it. Guy was fun to fight."
"Tch. Always picking fights the moment we leave you alone," Gion muttered, though there was no real anger in her voice—just playful annoyance.
Hina walked toward him and grabbed his wrist. "Come here already."
"Huh?"
Without warning, she yanked him forward. Luffy barely had time to smirk before Hina pushed him straight onto the soft bed. The plush mattress dipped beneath his weight, his arms splaying out as he landed in the center of the bed, surrounded by warmth and laughter.
"Oi—"
But it was too late.
Gion leaned forward and pressed herself against his left side, her curves melting against him like a familiar embrace.
Hina straddled his right thigh, tossing her hair over her shoulder as her fingers casually ran along the edge of his collar.
Kuina slid closer near his legs, resting her chin on his knee like a lazy cat, eyes glinting with amusement.
"You've been gone too long," Gion murmured into his ear, her breath warm and teasing. "Do you know how boring it was without you?"
Luffy closed his eyes and relaxed, hands behind his head as he let their voices flow around him. "Well, I'm back now."
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Spoilers for the next three chapters!
Chapter 149: Home Sweet Home (2)
Chapter 150: Anxious Heart
Chapter 151: The Dragon's Claim
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