Chapter 152"I was a little worried seeing you come back alone all of a sudden," Luffy said."M-me? What's there to worry about?" Vivi fell silent for a moment, forcing a smile onto her face.The smile seemed a bit forced.Luffy took a step forward, reached out, and gave Vivi's soft cheek a gentle pinch."Is it about the bounty poster?" Luffy asked.Vivi hadn't expected Luffy to be so perceptive, hitting the nail on the head about what was troubling her.Her expression became conflicted, her lips moved as if she wanted to deny it, not wanting Luffy to worry."You barely ate anything at the banquet either, that doesn't seem like 'nothing'," Luffy interrupted her before the lie could leave her lips, his tone carrying a hint of forcefulness. "Don't lie to me."So forceful.Those words seemed to have a magical effect, making Vivi tense up instantly. She felt all wrong, her mouth producing more saliva due to nervousness, and she unconsciously swallowed.The heat that had just subsided a little after her bath surged back. She hurriedly averted her gaze, not daring to meet Luffy's eyes.In this state, lying was completely impossible.In the end, Vivi gave in, nodding honestly.She looked just like a little animal caught doing something wrong by its owner, waiting for judgment.Seeing Vivi with her head bowed, looking like a bullied little wife ready to endure anything, Luffy's expression also became somewhat strange.Because he was starting to sense that Vivi seemed to... respond to this approach?Her actions and expression were full of a sense of being wronged, completely different from the usually strong and resolute princess.Luffy remembered back in Alabasta."Tell me," he softened his tone a bit, but it still carried a commanding edge.Vivi, like a startled little rabbit, quickly looked up at Luffy, then immediately lowered her head again upon meeting his gaze. Her hands nervously gripped the hem of her clothes, fidgeting uneasily as she whispered:"It's just as you thought... the words on the bounty poster."As she spoke, she carefully retrieved her brand new 500 million Berries bounty poster from the stack of old clothes by the bed. Her fingers trembled slightly as she unfolded it.Looking at her like this, Luffy felt like commenting:Hey, show it to me. How can I see the small print from so far away?Vivi seemed to sense Luffy's exasperation. She cautiously looked up at him again, her eyes flickering with a hint of inquiry and submission.Then, as if receiving some silent permission, she shuffled her feet closer to Luffy and held the fully unfolded bounty poster right in front of his eyes.Luffy fell silent for a moment.Why had Vivi become like this?Could it be that, just like back in Alabasta, she actually liked it when he was forceful with her?He thought back carefully. The seeds of this 'condition' might have really been planted from their very first meeting.To make Vivi, who was an enemy at the time, submit, Luffy had mercilessly spanked her bottom, followed by a mix of threats and inducements.In that sense, he, Luffy, was indeed largely responsible for Vivi now showing this tendency.Vivi looked up at him, her eyes shining with a complex light.That look seemed to be cautiously begging for a reward after doing what her master had asked.Luffy: "..."So, he tentatively reached out his hand.Vivi was already half-crouching, holding up the poster. Seeing Luffy's hand reach out, she instinctively lowered herself further, settling into a standard seiza-like sitting position. She tilted her head up slightly, her eyes holding a trace of eagerness, hoping Luffy's hand would land on her head.This posture completely exposed her slender neck to Luffy's view. Her fair skin glowed with a soft luster under the Moonlight.The wide collar of her shirt was slightly open, hinting at delicate collarbones and a soft curve. A breeze stirred her damp hair and lifted the hem of her shirt, revealing more of her pale, smooth skin.Luffy's hand landed on her head, gently ruffling her damp, soft hair.Vivi seemed instantly soothed. She took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing comfortably like a cat being petted, even her tense shoulders relaxing. The previously oppressive and gloomy mood seemed to be gradually dispelled by Luffy's touch.Yet, a strange emotion welled up in Luffy's heart.Seeing Vivi looking so completely trusting, even with a hint of dependence and enjoyment, made him feel a restless itch, an impulse to touch other places.This feeling came suddenly, catching even him off guard.Vivi, completely unaware of the turmoil in Luffy's heart, was fully immersed in the peculiar sense of security brought by being commanded and then soothed.Her body temperature was rising, her heartbeat accelerating. Even she didn't understand why she was like this.Luffy's forceful words seemed to possess immense magic, easily breaking down her defenses, making her unable to resist, even secretly longing for more.If he ignored her, she would instead feel an emptiness in her heart, as if little claws were scratching at it, unable to find peace.So, a preposterous thought suddenly emerged from the depths of her heart:If I do as he says, will I get more rewards?This thought spread through her mind, impossible to extinguish. She was stunned for a moment, and by the time her brain caught up, she had already ended up like this, looking up like a pet begging for its master's affection.Luffy's hand stopped moving because he noticed Vivi's pleased expression falter slightly. Then she opened her eyes and met Luffy's probing, peculiar gaze.Vivi instantly flinched as if burned, turning her face away in embarrassment, the roots of her ears turning bright red."Vivi, you..." Luffy looked at her with a complicated expression.Vivi, as if suddenly regaining some clarity from her 'condition', let out a soft 'ah'. Then, as if mortified, she buried her entire face in the soft bedding, her voice muffled:"I don't want to be like this either... It's just sometimes, my brain gets hot... Other times I'm fine..."That much was true.Chapter 223 Whatever, It's Fine, If You Like ItOn the ship, when most of the crew were around, no matter how forcefully Luffy commanded, Vivialways appeared as an independent, strong princess without any issues.But when they were alone, with a little trigger, this symptom easily flared up.Vivi completely presented her back and flushed nape to Luffy's scrutiny.Luffy hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is it because of what happened when we first met?"He was referring to the extreme measures he took back at Whisky Peak to recruit her.Vivi lifted her head from the blanket, her face flushed as she looked at him. Her eyes were evasive, but she didn't deny it.Seeing this, Luffy understood.It really was.Vivi hesitated, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum, and added a reminder, "And... back in Alabasta too."She was referring to when Luffy deliberately gave her forceful commands to pressure her into admitting she wanted to set sail.Luffy facepalmed.Damn it, back then it was *you* who wanted me to use that method!How did it end up becoming a catalyst to deepen this 'condition'!Look me in the eyes and tell me, is that really how it is?Look my eyes!Vivi hemmed and hawed, her face turning even redder. Finally, as if giving up, she whispered, "Anyway, that's how it ended up."This is an illness. It needs treatment!That thought flashed through Luffy's mind.Otherwise, he seriously suspected that if the other crew members, especially Nami, found out about this, he would face terrifying judgmental stares and physical beatings.He sighed, temporarily pushing the complicated issue of 'treatment' to the back of his mind, and remembered he was here on serious business.He bent down, picked up the bounty poster Vivihad dropped on the bed, and carefully looked at the note below:'Condition: Must be captured alive' changed to'Subject to circumstances. If encountering resistance or inability to safely capture, necessary measures may be taken.'Luffy suddenly understood.He realized what Vivi was worried about.This meant the World Government was also starting to suspect whether Vivi was truly kidnapped or had willingly joined the Straw Hat Pirates.Or, even if she was kidnapped initially, whether this princess had fallen into depravity on the pirate ship.This wasn't just Vivi's personal problem; it would implicate her country, Alabasta.Back in Alabasta, Nami had analyzed that as a princess, Vivi's identity meant that if she publicly became a pirate, it would bring immense trouble and pressure to her and her country.This was exactly what Vivi feared.The subtle change in the wording of the bounty poster reflected the World Government's shifting attitude, undoubtedly adding to her psychological burden.Would the World Government do something to Alabasta?Regarding this, Luffy could understand.Medically speaking, this was probably a kind of psychological issue?Luffy didn't have any immediate, good solutions right now.Go smash the World Government and force them to change it back to 'must capture alive'?That wasn't realistic.But he knew he absolutely couldn't let Vivi stay alone and brood. That would only make her dwell on it more."Vivi."Luffy suddenly called her name. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable force."Ah?"Vivi jolted as if electrocuted, her back instantly straightening as she sat bolt upright on the bed, looking at him nervously. "W-what? What is it?"Her voice carried a noticeable tremble.Luffy could clearly sense she was nervous, her whole body trembling subtly. She was afraid, yet also seemed to be secretly anticipating something."Get dressed properly,"he said, his gaze sweeping over her appearance—wearing only a shirt and shorts, barefoot.After a moment's thought, he added in a commanding tone, "Hurry up.""Okay!"For Vivi, 'getting dressed properly' seemed to imply more formal attire, including shoes, socks, and even things like stockings.Her legs had a beautiful shape, straight and slender. Since she only wore shorts, a large portion of her pale skin from the knees down was exposed to the air, glowing with an enticing white sheen under the Moonlight.Luffy's attention was involuntarily drawn to her feet.Vivi sat on the edge of the bed, obediently bending over, slowly searching for socks.She first picked up what looked like a pair of thin, white ankle socks, carefully slipping one onto her left foot. Her movements were gentle, her fingertips brushing her ankle and calf, carrying an indescribable sensuality.She herself seemed to realize something. After putting on the sock on her left foot, she paused, hesitantly looking up at Luffy with flushed cheeks, asking softly:"Should I wear stockings?"Huh?It's not like we're going on a date.Luffy's original intention was just to take Vivi out for a walk, to clear her head and change the environment, not let her stew in the room.Seeing Vivi like this, executing his command 100%, even proactively asking for details, that strange feeling in his heart grew stronger.As for why Vivi asked?Because Vivi often had little private chats with Nami. She occasionally heard Nami complain about Luffy being a 'leg guy', a 'collarbone guy', a'stockings guy', or something like that.Luffy fell silent for a moment. Looking at Vivi's questioning gaze mixed with a hint of expectation, he said vaguely:"Whatever."
