Chapter 173: Water 7's Carnival and the Lovers' Night
After the storm, Water 7 welcomed the long-awaited bright sunshine.
The "Aqua Laguna" that seemed ready to swallow everything finally receded, and the haze hanging over the city on the water dissipated along with it.
The sky was as blue as the purest gemstone, and the sea breeze blew gently over the winding waterways.
When the Galley-La Company's large rescue ship carrying the Straw Hat slowly sailed into Dock 1, the entire city erupted.
"They're back! It's those pirates!"
"They really did it! They came back alive from that hellish Enies Lobby!"
"And they even rescued Mayor Iceburg!!"
Although the World Government would soon issue new bounties.
Although legally they were heinous criminals who attacked Enies Lobby.
But in the eyes of the people of Water 7, this reckless group of pirates,
were the heroes who defeated the true culprit behind the mayor's assassination and saved the city.
Ribbons flew, and cheers shook the sky.
Citizens lined the streets to welcome them, the cries of Bulls rose and fell, and the entire Water 7 fell into a grand carnival.
...
As night fell, by the side of the huge open-air swimming pool in the backyard of the Galley-La Company.
An unprecedented victory banquet was being held here.
A huge bonfire burned fiercely in the center of the square, reflecting the night sky in a brilliant red.
Dozens of barbecue grills sizzled in unison, and the aroma of fat dripping onto the charcoal filled the air, making everyone's mouth water.
The center of the banquet was undoubtedly the "bottomless pit" Captain of the Straw Hat.
Luffy was in an amazing state of "sleep-eating."
"Meat... meat..."
Luffy's eyes were closed, and a large snot bubble hung from his nose; he was clearly fast asleep.
But his hands seemed to have a consciousness of their own, accurately grabbing the mountain of meat on the bone from the plate and stuffing it into his mouth mechanically and rapidly.
"Hey! Luffy! That's my portion!"
Usopp, who was next to him, was just about to grab the chicken leg from his own plate.
Luffy's arm suddenly stretched out, snatching the chicken leg with lightning speed and swallowing it without even chewing.
"Whew... sho good... whew..."
"Is this guy a monster?!" The surrounding shipwrights watched in stunned silence.
On the other side of the pool, Zoro had monopolized the largest barrel of rum.
A group of burly shipwrights who had come to challenge his drinking capacity already lay scattered around his feet.
"Burp... too weak, way too weak."
Zoro sat cross-legged by the barrel, holding a huge mug, and drained it in one gulp.
He "clanged" on the empty barrel and shouted with a flushed face:
"Hey! Anyone else! Do the Galley-La foremen only have this much capacity?!"
"Is the wine gone! Fill it up for this great one quickly!!"
"That Marimo... he's a real wine barrel..." The survivors around him trembled.
Meanwhile, in the open-air kitchen area, Sanji felt like he was the happiest chef in the world.
"Ah beautiful ladies, this piece of meat needs to be grilled over a low fire to lock in the juices"
With hearts in his eyes, Sanji was teaching a group of female shipwrights in work clothes with clearly defined muscles how to grill meat.
"Mr. Sanji is so gentle~"
"It's true, he's much better than those stinky men who only know how to swing hammers!"
Hearing the praise, Sanji was so happy he felt like he was about to spin into the sky.
In the pool, water splashed everywhere.
Chopper, having drunk too much special sweet fruit juice, was in a state of extreme "sugar high."
"Oooooh! I am Reindeer Super-man!!"
Chopper transformed into his original reindeer form, letting Kokoro's granddaughter Chimney ride on his back.
The two of them ran around the pool like crazy, leaving chaos in their wake.
"Go for it! Big Brother Chopper!!" Chimney screamed with excitement.
Besides the people, the pets also completely let themselves go.
Lassoo, at this moment like a real puppy, wagged its tail like a propeller, excitedly chasing the wrench thrown by Franky.
"Go! Lassoo!!" Franky threw the wrench while striking a SUPER pose.
"Woof!" Lassoo ran over happily.
However, when it got too excited, its nose suddenly itched.
"Achoo!!"
With a sneeze, it couldn't control its fruit ability, and a baseball-sized timed bomb ball flew out of its mouth.
The ball traced a parabola in the air and landed squarely in the pool next to Zoro.
"Boom!!!!"
A huge splash of water exploded three meters high.
Zoro, who was just raising his mug and shouting "Who else," was instantly drenched like a drowned rat, his mug filled with bathwater.
"..."
Zoro wiped the water from his face, veins popping on his forehead, as his hand silently moved toward his sword hilt.
"Hahahahaha!!!"
The entire place erupted in laughter, even the dog that caused the trouble was rolling on the ground.
And at the top of a sun umbrella, a black Crow stood extremely elegantly.
Clay, this Crow, looked as proud as a noble at this moment.
It actually had a delicate little red bowtie tied around its neck.
That was because after seeing the pigeon Hattori on Lucci's shoulder wearing a tie at Enies Lobby, it had developed a strange sense of competition, and after returning, it pestered Nami relentlessly to make one for it.
"Caw. Stupid humans and dog."
Clay pecked at its bowtie, looking down at the farce below with satisfaction.
...
Outside the noise of the banquet, in the lounge chair area a bit further away.
Robin sat alone on a lounge chair, a glass of red wine in her hand, her black hair fluttering gently in the wind.
She didn't join the crowd's revelry but watched it all quietly.
Watching Luffy's silly grin and everyone's fooling around, a gentle curve involuntarily formed at the corner of her mouth.
Her gaze passed through the bustling crowd and finally fixed on a stone pillar.
Tatsuya was leaning there.
He also held a glass of wine in his hand.
He just stood there quietly, watching everyone, with a relaxed and satisfied smile on his face.
The firelight reflected on his profile, softening his usual cold and stern temperament.
Robin looked at him, her eyes becoming extremely complex.
It was gratitude, admiration, and an indescribable fluttering in her heart.
Scenes from Enies Lobby kept replaying in her mind.
The moment Tatsuya dragged Spandam's corpse out of the office and said, "The trouble is resolved."
Robin felt that the heavy shackles named "Demon of Ohara" that had locked her for twenty years had completely shattered.
To him, it might have just been killing an enemy for the sake of the big picture.
But for Nico Robin, it was the strike that ended her twenty-year nightmare of being on the run.
As if sensing that burning gaze.
Tatsuya turned his head, his gaze accurately piercing through the crowd to meet Robin's.
Seeing Robin watching him, Tatsuya didn't say anything, but simply smiled and raised his wine glass in a distant toast.
Robin was stunned for a moment, and then a girl-like blush appeared on that mature and intellectual face.
She gently raised her red wine glass and gave a soft clink toward Tatsuya's direction.
Her lips moved slightly, and although separated by the noise, she silently mouthed a sentence:
"Thank you."
Tatsuya understood, his smile deepened, and he tilted his head to take a sip of wine.
Just then.
"These guys are really too enthusiastic..."
She was dressed up tonight, her long orange wavy hair cascading down.
She was wearing a bold backless evening gown bought at a boutique in Water 7.
The dark blue silk tightly wrapped around her graceful figure, making her look exceptionally charming and dangerous under the firelight.
Just as she escaped the entanglement and looked up, she keenly captured the "eye contact" between Robin and Tatsuya.
That kind of affectionate gratitude, that kind of unspoken atmosphere.
"Hmm..."
Nami puffed out her cheeks.
Although she knew it was a life-and-death friendship between companions and that Robin's feelings for Tatsuya were more of gratitude.
However, the possessiveness of being the official girlfriend still made a small surge of sourness rise in her heart.
"Hmph, a hateful man who spreads charm everywhere."
Nami put down the fruit juice in her hand and, stepping in her high heels, walked gracefully to Tatsuya's side.
She didn't speak but directly reached out and tightly took Tatsuya's arm.
The whole person was like a lazy kitten, sticking to him without any hesitation.
The soft touch and the faint scent of citrus perfume on her body instantly surrounded Tatsuya.
"Vice Captain..."
Nami looked up, her eyes misty, with a hint of tipsiness and a clear sense of acting spoiled:
"Everyone has had enough to drink... it's so noisy here."
Her voice became soft and seductive as she leaned in to whisper in his ear:
"Should we... 'rest' now?"
The word "rest" was spoken with particular ambiguity.
Tatsuya looked down at the Cat Burglar in his arms, whose gaze was smoldering.
"As you command."
Tatsuya gave a light laugh, put down his wine glass, and naturally took hold of that slender waist, feeling the smoothness of the silk and the warmth of her skin under his palm:
"My Miss Navigator."
The two quietly left the noisy banquet hall.
Along the quiet waterways, they returned to the most high-end hotel in Water 7—a presidential suite specially arranged by Iceburg to thank them.
"Click."
The door to the top-floor suite had just closed, isolating all external sounds.
Before Tatsuya could turn on the light, Nami had already eagerly pounced on him.
She hooked her hands around Tatsuya's neck, stood on her tiptoes, and pressed her red lips against his in a passionate and proactive kiss.
"Mmm..."
Tatsuya was pushed back two steps by her and leaned against the wall.
Nami's kiss was hot and moist, carrying the aroma of the red wine from the banquet.
"Tatsuya..."
Nami murmured his name in the gaps between breaths, her fingers eagerly unbuttoning his clothes.
Tatsuya's eyes darkened, and he took the initiative.
He picked Nami up and, amidst her exclamation, tossed her onto the soft, huge circular bed in the middle of the room.
The moonlight from outside spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows onto Nami's skin, which was as smooth as congealed fat, making her look breathtakingly beautiful.
Tatsuya leaned over, cupping her delicate face with his hands, his thumbs gently wiping away the tears seeping from the corners of her eyes.
"Don't cry."
Tatsuya's voice was husky and magnetic:
"Tonight, there is only us."
"Mm..." Nami nodded.
Looking up at the man with misty eyes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and proactively offered her lips.
Tatsuya lowered his head, kissed away her tears, and then deeply kissed her lips.
His kisses slid down from the corner of her lips, past her slender neck, her delicate collarbone, and then even deeper...
"Ah..."
Nami's breathing became rapid, her body arching in a graceful curve.
Her hands tightly gripped Tatsuya's solid back, her nails almost sinking into his flesh.
Clothes slipped off one by one, scattered on the carpet.
On this quiet night without the smoke of war, in this romantic city on the water,
two young and burning bodies were tightly intertwined.
Tatsuya's movements were gentle yet powerful, every touch as if wanting to penetrate deep into her very bones and blood to confirm each other's existence.
Nami's moans were soft and lingering, intertwining with the occasional sound of waves lapping against the shore outside the window, composing a melody belonging only to lovers.
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