When Luffy was half-pushed, half-led by Vivi into the spacious, luxurious new room filled with a distinctly feminine atmosphere, he looked around curiously at the decor.
"This place looks really fancy," Luffy remarked.
He'd never seen many of these things before.
So this was what a princess was like?
The more he saw, the more he admired Vivi for being willing to abandon these privileged conditions to infiltrate a place like Baroque Works.
Then, his gaze inadvertently swept over the open walk-in closet, where various clearly intimate articles of female clothing were hung and folded, in different colors and styles.
Luffy:
" "
" "
A bit smaller than Nami's?
The comparison popped into his head instantly.
This was all Nami's fault! Luffy quickly shifted the blame.
Vivi followed his gaze and instantly saw the undergarments neatly arranged by the maids. She let out a soft "Ah!" as her cheeks burned crimson.
Flustered, she wanted to rush over to block his view, but felt that would only make things more obvious. In the end, she froze on the spot, her body trembling slightly.
Is she that nervous?
Seeing Vivi, whose ears were now completely red, Luffy felt a bit uneasy himself.
They were the only two left in the room. The problem was, he had no idea what he was supposed to do next.
Could he just ask directly, "Vivi, what should I do now to seem forceful?"
That would be way too awkward.
So, Luffy tentatively asked, "Vivi, is it because you have something on your mind?"
Even Cobra had agreed, so he really couldn't figure out what the obstacle was.
"No..." Vivi's voice was faint.
How could she possibly say the real reason out loud!
"Is it because you weren't happy on the ship?"
"No!"
"Then is it because of Robin?"
Luffy guessed, given that Robin had been the former vice-president of Baroque Works. If Vivi had reservations about Robin's past, he, as captain, would be in a bit of a bind too.
"That's not it either!"
Vivi shook her head hurriedly.
Cobra had already spoken to her about Robin. Their conclusion was that Crocodile would have targeted this country with or without Robin. In fact, it was precisely because of the conveniences and information Robin had secretly provided that the country's losses hadn't been greater. So, deep down, Vivi actually felt a sense of gratitude towards Robin.
Seeing Vivi like this—clearly willing in her heart, yet stubbornly refusing and even making a request for him to forcefully take her away—her contradictory behavior made Luffy's expression grow even more peculiar.
The scene before him involuntarily reminded him of their first meeting. Back then, to complete the [Plan], he had desperately wanted Vivi to become a nakama and had resorted to some rather extreme methods.
Hadn't Vivi just said herself that she wanted him to take her away by force? Could she mean... that?
What a mess.
But he had to do it.
This damned [Plan] only gave him thirty minutes, and more than half were already gone!
Luffy took a deep breath, trying hard to recall his state of mind back then, letting his expression gradually turn cold, his gaze deliberately becoming oppressive.
"I don't care what you're thinking right now, or what messy worries you have. Once I've decided you're my nakama, I will take you away no matter what."
Vivi bit her lower lip, stubbornly turning her head away without speaking. But her slightly trembling body and clenched fists seemed like a silent protest.
She looked exactly like she did that day when Luffy had dominated her.
"Why are your legs shaking?"
"They're not!"
Luffy glanced at Vivi's legs, pressed tightly together yet still showing a slight tremor. He couldn't tell if it was from nervousness or some other emotion.
Luffy thought he understood.
So he continued staying in character, staring at Vivi with that cold, scrutinizing gaze. "You promised me before you'd become my nakama. Do you want to go back on your word now? Are you someone who doesn't keep promises?"
"I... I'm not!"
Vivi didn't know why, but hearing Luffy speak in this icy tone made her feel as if her heart were being squeezed. Her legs trembled even more. This feeling of being the focus of his attention, of being pressured by him, filled her with both fear and a strange, perverse excitement. It was utterly contradictory.
"You are."
Luffy interrupted her, his eyes fixed intently on Vivi as he spoke with overwhelming pressure. "You want to abandon your nakama!"
Silence.
Luffy didn't speak. He took a step closer to Vivi, staring at her expressionlessly.
Vivi, unable to bear the pressure of his gaze and words any longer, began to breathe more rapidly. Her eyes started to redden, and a glistening tear seemed to form at the corner of her eye. Luffy's forceful attitude satisfied some hidden craving deep within her; her very body seemed to grow excited in this peculiar atmosphere. Yet, at the same time, the content of his words filled her with genuine alarm and grievance. She was afraid he really thought of her that way, her heart torn by contradiction, not knowing what to do for a moment.
Luffy was getting anxious too.
He'd done exactly what Vivi asked, putting on a forceful attitude, so why was there still no completion prompt from the [Plan]?
Was it because Vivi hadn't agreed yet?
Or was his performance not strong enough?
He was getting desperate.
Gritting his teeth, Luffy decided to escalate, his tone carrying a hint of threat. "If you don't agree, I'll make you agree the same way I did before!"
Vivi was stunned for a moment, then realized what he was referring to. Her face instantly flared red, and her hands instinctively flew to cover her buttocks, a mix of shame and anger. "You really are just an out-and-out pervert, just like Nami said! A pervert!"
"This is all because you're being so stubborn!" Luffy retorted. "If you'd just obediently agreed earlier, none of this would be happening!"
He felt wronged. Vivi was the one who asked for this!
Vivi, perhaps thinking of Luffy's special treatment of Robin, or perhaps spurred by his current bully-like demeanor, felt a surge of inexplicable courage and jealousy. Her own temper flared.
She asked through gritted teeth, "If it were Robin standing here right now, and she refused to agree, would you do this to her too?"
Luffy didn't hesitate, answering righteously, "Of course. Interrogation is a necessary method."
Merry had taught him that.
Vivi glared at Luffy, fuming, her chest heaving. "You really are a pervert! Completely hopeless!"
Luffy got angry too. He suddenly closed the distance between them, bringing his face so close to Vivi's their noses were almost touching.
"Aren't you one too?" he asked in a low, dangerous voice.
"What are you doing?!"
Vivi panicked completely. She was a bit scared by Luffy's suddenly amplified presence and the closeness. She instinctively stepped back, only to find her back pressed against a cold wall. "Stop! Don't come any closer!"
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!