Aokiji chuckled softly as he lifted the porcelain teacup and took another slow sip. The warm steam drifted lazily around his face while his half-lidded eyes studied Luffy across the table. Despite the serious mission he had been sent on, the admiral looked as relaxed as if he were spending a peaceful afternoon at a countryside tea house rather than sitting in the middle of a storm brewing around Wano.
After placing the cup down, Aokiji leaned back in his chair and stretched his long legs slightly.
"Alright," He said with an amused sigh, "enough fun and teasing. What's your next move?"
The quiet courtyard was bathed in the soft glow of the late afternoon sun. The gentle wind carried the faint scent of blooming flowers, and for a brief moment, the scene looked strangely peaceful despite the looming presence of Kaido's empire over the land.
Aokiji tilted his head slightly and continued.
"You still remember that Sengoku sent me here to bring you back," He added casually. "So what are you going to do about it?"
Luffy paused midway through drinking his tea. His hand froze for a moment before he slowly lowered the cup and exhaled a long, tired sigh.
"Ugh… don't remind me." He scratched the back of his head with clear annoyance.
"I'm officially on leave, you know," He muttered. "Grandpa just loves making a fuss about everything."
Several of the Marines sitting around the table exchanged amused looks. Anyone who had served under Sengoku knew exactly how troublesome the legendary hero could be when he decided to meddle in someone's business.
Luffy leaned back in his chair and stretched lazily before continuing.
"Anyway, I'm staying here and taking care of the mess," He said. "But Gion and the others can return for now."
The words had barely left his mouth when a firm voice cut through the air.
"No."
Everyone turned toward the speaker.
Kujaku stood with her arms crossed, her expression completely serious as she stared straight at Luffy.
"I'm not going back," She declared without hesitation. "I'm not going to leave you here alone. If you're staying, then I'm staying too."
Her voice carried such determination that no one doubted she meant every word.
Before Luffy could respond, another voice spoke.
"Me too."
"Me too."
"And me."
The other women quickly joined in one after another, their responses coming almost immediately as if they had already made their decision long ago.
Gion smiled faintly while observing Luffy.
Tsuru gave a slow, approving nod.
Hina folded her arms and spoke calmly.
"Hina agrees."
Even the usually quiet Kuina raised her hand slightly with a relaxed expression.
The declaration came so naturally that it felt less like a debate and more like a simple statement of fact.
Aokiji watched the entire scene unfold while resting his chin on his palm. He had always known that Luffy had a strange charm that made people gravitate toward him. Still, seeing it with his own eyes like this was something else entirely.
Around the table sat several of the most talented and beautiful women in the Marines.
And every single one of them had just refused to leave him.
Aokiji's eyelid twitched faintly. He quietly took another sip of tea.
For some reason, the tea suddenly tasted a little bitter.
It wasn't only him.
Binz scratched his cheek awkwardly while watching the scene.
Issho merely smiled calmly, though even he seemed faintly amused by the situation.
But Tokikage's face had already darkened several shades.
The Marine officer stared at Luffy with undisguised jealousy as he clenched his teacup.
His mind screamed silently.
'What exactly does this idiot have that I don't?!'
Meanwhile, the man responsible for the chaos simply sighed in exasperation.
Luffy calmly finished his tea before placing the empty cup down. He looked around the table at everyone, his expression turning slightly serious.
"I know you guys are worried," He said, his voice carrying a rare sincerity. "But you should trust me a little more."
The women remained silent, though their gazes clearly showed that they were listening carefully.
"I'm officially on leave," Luffy continued, gesturing casually with his hand, "but you guys aren't. So it's best if you all go back first."
He glanced toward the direction of the distant harbor.
"Don't worry," He added. "I'm staying here for the sake of Wano's citizens."
His tone became firmer. "Now that I've started this mess, then as a man it's my responsibility to see it through to the very end."
For a moment, the group fell silent.
Issho slowly spoke. "But staying here alone… your life will be in danger."
His calm voice carried genuine concern.
"Ahahahaha!" Luffy blinked, and then he burst out laughing.
The carefree laughter echoed through the courtyard.
"Me? Alone?" He pointed at himself as if the idea itself was absurd.
"Why would I do that?"
He began counting on his fingers. "I have Zoro and Kuina with me... And now there's Yamato."
He grinned widely. "The four of us are more than enough."
Binz almost choked on his tea. "Ehh?! But isn't Yamato… Kaido's daughter?"
The sudden question immediately drew everyone's attention toward the tall, horned woman sitting nearby.
"That bull gorilla…" Yamato snorted loudly. Her voice carried open disdain. "He's not my father anymore. I wanted to kill that bastard myself."
Several people nearly choked on her words.
The courtyard fell into stunned silence.
Every head slowly turned toward Yamato with identical expressions of disbelief.
Even Aokiji blinked twice in surprise.
Tokikage's jaw nearly dropped, and Issho tilted his head curiously.
Aokiji scratched his cheek before cautiously speaking. "Umm… just what happened between you and your father?"
He looked genuinely confused. "Why do you want to kill Kaido?"
Yamato's eyes instantly turned colder.
"That cow gorilla actually tried to kill me," She said with suppressed fury. "So I will kill him."
Her voice was calm but filled with unmistakable hatred. "He's not my father anymore."
Everyone instinctively turned toward Luffy, and their gazes clearly demanded an explanation.
"Well…" Luffy sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Kaido locked her in Onigashima for sixteen years with explosive seastone cuffs. And he bullied her the entire time."
The atmosphere froze at his words.
Several Marines stiffened instantly.
Luffy shrugged lightly. "Since I helped her escape, she decided to break ties with him and kill that bastard."
The casual way he said it made the revelation even more shocking.
"Sixteen years…?" Kujaku's eyes widened.
Gion's expression darkened at the truth.
Even Doll looked visibly displeased.
Just imagining herself being locked away for sixteen years was horrifying.
The thought alone sent chills through everyone present.
Yamato merely snorted again, though her clenched fists betrayed the anger she carried inside.
Aokiji leaned back slowly and rubbed his forehead. "…Does Kaido even realize he was exploiting a child?"
His voice sounded irritated. "No wonder his daughter wants to kill him."
He sighed heavily.
"If he were my father…" Aokiji paused for a moment before shrugging casually. "I would have killed him, too."
The courtyard fell into a heavy silence after those words, yet strangely, no one disagreed.