Chapter 273: Diligence
[February 2nd TST/September 25th DBT]
"Mmn...it sounds like you had a busy day yesterday..." hummed Venelana, relaxing with her head against Vahn's left shoulder, enjoying simply being close to him after her daily dose of his incomparably potent vital essence. She was half-tempted to chastise him for letting Bonney walk all over him, but she also believed that the sooner they could tie up various loose ends in One Piece, the sooner he could focus on other things.
"Assuming her father consents, will we be joining them?" asked Grayfia, mirroring Venelana to Vahn's right. "It would make various things easier..."
"I feel like that would be establishing a dangerous precedent..." muttered Vahn, pointing out, "Most of those who accompanied us when we became detached from the outside world did so to bolster their populations. If we suddenly appear with three to five-year-olds after five days, those more dedicated to that pursuit might push to use stacking time compression to accelerate the process..."
"Even if they do, it's not like we have to capitulate to them," noted Yasaka, seated on the floor in front of Vahn with her hands crossed atop his knees and her head resting atop them. The unhurried swaying of her nine golden tails had a mesmeric quality against ordinary people, particularly men, but Vahn was more captivated by her deep golden eyes and the petal-shaped eyebrows above them. Yasaka would get pouty if he focused on them too much, but he liked to rub his thumbs across them while digging his fingers into her fringe.
"Danna-sama is having improper thoughts..." teased Yasaka, the swaying of her tails intensifying as she narrowed her eyes, turned her head a little more to the side, and seductively licked her lips.
"How can I not when I'm blanketed by three of the most alluring women across all realities...?" countered Vahn, reciprocating Yasaka's seductive smile with a smoldering one of his own.
"Now, now... let's not get carried away..." chimed Venelana. Though, if she were being completely honest, she wouldn't mind even if Vahn wanted to keep her, Grayfia, and Yasaka until they gave birth. Unfortunately, while it was more than possible, it would make her beloved daughter very upset...
"So, what will Danna-sama do...?" asked Yasaka, the swishing of her tails briefly intensifying as Vahn extended his hand to caress her head, causing her to close her eyes and proactively rub against it.
"The timing isn't ideal, but I intend to meet with the Revolutionary Army's leadership and see what they would like to do..." stated Vahn, appending, "If they're prepared to endure five years of training to give themselves an advantage against the World Government, I believe they're qualified to be its new representatives. If we coordinate with them to assemble a special task force, they could liberate islands and oppose the World Government without the need for a large army or fixed supply lines..."
"That's true..." affirmed Venelana. "However, it isn't simply for combat that rebellions amass forces. It's to bind people to the ideologies behind them. If an organization were to overthrow the World Government and suddenly announce themselves in charge, countries and economies that depended on the previous administration would crumple. Then there is the matter of oversight...you should be well acquainted with the difficulties of managing a large organization with a lack of personnel by now..."