Chapter 268: Farewell!!
The silence of the top-floor suite in the Deep Sea Hotel was quietly broken by the soft artificial light that mimicked the morning dawn.
The room was a complete mess.
Luxurious clothes and fabrics were scattered everywhere, and fragments of a white dress even hung from the coral chandelier overhead.
Most eye-catching of all was the large seaweed-velvet bed.
One of the bedposts had clearly bent out of shape, while the center of the mattress had sunk deeply inward as if it had endured unimaginable pressure. Half of the bed had practically collapsed.
"What an… intense 'battle' that was."
Luffy stood energetically before the massive full-body mirror, carefully adjusting the collar of his red vest. The corners of his lips kept curling upward uncontrollably, filled with lingering satisfaction.
"Haa… Luffy… I think I finally understand what Nami went through before…"
Robin's slightly weak voice came from behind him.
She still lay on the intact side of the bed, buried in the soft sheets, seemingly too exhausted to even lift a finger.
Her pupils were slightly unfocused as she stared blankly at the pearl-lined ceiling, her lips parted as she breathed softly.
That breathtaking face—both intellectual and alluring—still carried traces of flushed redness that hadn't faded yet, mixed with utter satisfaction and deep exhaustion.
"Haha… I-I'm not that amazing…"
Luffy turned around and looked at the scene on the bed.
The usually graceful archaeologist was now barely covered, her fair skin marked with lingering traces, her laziness giving off a dangerously seductive charm.
After all, throughout most of the night, Robin had silently endured the discomfort of her first time while still gently responding to him.
Compared to that… his own lack of restraint really had been a little too enthusiastic.
Still, when his eyes lingered on her once more, and he realized that this mysterious and beautiful woman—so intelligent and elegant—had truly become his woman…
A scorching sense of pride and possessiveness instantly filled his chest, making every pore in his body feel refreshed.
"Get some rest!"
Suppressing his excitement, Luffy tried to make his voice sound gentler.
"I'm going to grab breakfast. I'll bring back the best stuff for you!"
With that, he left the room with a grin he couldn't hide.
The heavy shell-shaped doors slowly closed behind him, sealing off the room once more.
Silence returned, broken only by the gentle pulse of flowing water.
Robin remained lying there quietly for a long time before finally letting out a long breath.
It took her nearly half an hour just to force her sore body upright and lean against the tilted headboard.
Her gaze swept across the chaotic room before finally stopping on the bedsheet beneath her.
There, upon the pale fabric, was a striking crimson stain—silent proof of what had happened.
Robin's normally calm and composed face gradually flushed red at a visible pace, the color reaching even the tips of her ears.
Subconsciously, she pulled the thin blanket up around herself, covering her body now filled with marks of affection.
The cool touch of the blanket calmed her gradually.
A moment later, a faint yet genuine smile slowly bloomed at the corner of her lips like a flower blooming quietly in the night.
"Now… at last…"
she murmured softly, her voice slightly hoarse yet perfectly clear.
"I've truly become Luffy's woman."
Meanwhile, in the corridor leading to Ryugu Palace's banquet hall—
"You rubber-brained idiot—!!!"
Nami grabbed Luffy's ear with deadly precision and twisted it hard while placing her other hand on her hip. Her orange hair practically flared with anger.
"Where the hell did you disappear to last night?! Huh?!"
"I waited half the night for you!! I didn't even get any sleep!!"
Thinking about all the anticipation and preparation she'd put in only to be completely ignored made her even angrier.
She loosened her grip for a second before twisting his ear even harder.
"Monkey D. Luffy! You've got guts now, huh?! You seriously stood me up?!"
"What, now that you've gotten what you wanted, you don't care anymore?! Don't know how to treasure people anymore?!"
The more she spoke, the angrier she became.
Suddenly, she stopped and narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Her small nose twitched like a cautious cat as she leaned close to Luffy's neck and collar, sniffing carefully.
"Tell me! Did you sneak off and fool around with some girl again last night?!"
At first, it was only a faint difference.
But in the next instant, a familiar fragrance drifted into her nose.
Elegant, refined, carrying a scholarly charm with a subtle seductive undertone…
It definitely wasn't the smell of food or alcohol from the banquet.
It belonged to someone specific.
"This scent… feels familiar…"
Nami frowned as several faces flashed through her mind.
Then suddenly—
Her pupils shrank.
Her expression instantly shifted from anger into a mixture of shock, betrayal, and even greater fury.
"It was… Robin?!"
"You shameless womanizing rubber idiot—!!!"
BAM—!!!
A devastating "Fist of Love," fueled entirely by rage and jealousy, slammed directly into Luffy's head.
A giant bright-red bump the size of three fists instantly swelled on top of his head, even steaming slightly.
"Hmph!!"
Nami withdrew her fist and crossed her arms tightly over her chest, breathing heavily in anger.
She glared viciously at Luffy, who was clutching his head with tears nearly forming in his eyes.
Then she stormed into the palace hall without looking back, leaving behind only a murderous aura.
"Ugh… th-that hurts…"
Luffy clutched the massive bump and hopped around in pain with watery eyes.
I should've soaked in water longer and scrubbed myself clean afterward…
He regretted it so badly his intestines practically turned green.
Forget explaining himself—he didn't even have the courage to get within three meters of Nami right now.
When this woman got angry, she hit way too hard!!
At Fish-Man Island's inland harbor, the light of the Sunlight Tree Eve passed through the giant double-layered bubble membrane, coating the Thousand Sunny in a dreamlike golden glow.
The sails had already been lowered, and Franky was conducting the final engine checks while the crew busied themselves with departure preparations.
The harbor was already packed with people.
Countless Fish-Man Island residents crowded the docks, waving their arms, ribbons, and handmade flags as cheers and farewells blended into a warm sea of voices.
"Lord Luffy… please come back again someday!!"
"Sanji-san! Fish-Man Island will always welcome you!!"
"Zoro-sama! Let's compete in drinking next time!!"
"Usopp-brother! We still haven't heard enough of your stories!!"
"Doctor Chopper! Thank you so much!!"
…
The passionate waves of voices nearly shook the bubble membrane itself.
Groups of beautiful mermaids gathered together as well, throwing flying kisses toward the ship while gazing reluctantly at the blond figure aboard.
"Luffy-sama… are you really leaving already?"
Shirahoshi floated in the harbor waters, carefully holding Luffy up to eye level in her giant hand. Her blue eyes brimmed with tears.
Pearl-like droplets continuously rolled down her cheeks.
"We finally became friends… I-I still have so many things I want to talk about with you, Luffy-sama… so many places I want to visit together…"
She sniffled, her voice filled with childish reluctance.
"At least stay one more day… no, one week… no! One year, okay?!"
"Ah~"
Luffy scratched his cheek awkwardly while crossing his arms.
"You really are a crybaby, Shirahoshi. You're huge already but you still cry all the time."
"Uuu… I-I'm very sorry!!"
Panicking, Shirahoshi hurriedly wiped away her tears with her free hand, though new tears kept spilling out.
"I-I won't be a crybaby anymore! Please don't hate me, Luffy-sama!"
She tried her best to look brave, though her nose remained red.
"Luffy-sama, I'll definitely become stronger! Strong and brave like you!"
She leaned slightly closer, her watery sapphire-like eyes staring at him with careful hope.
"If… if we meet again someday… could you take me outside Fish-Man Island?"
"I want to see the cherry blossom snow country you talked about… and the islands in the sky…"
Luffy stared quietly at the pure longing and dependence in her eyes.
Then—
"Oh right,"
he grinned brightly as if he had only just remembered.
"You've never been to the surface before!"
He pressed down the straw hat atop his head, his smile beneath the brim as bright and confident as ever.
"Sure!!"
"I promise!"
"Next time we meet, I'll take you on an adventure! We'll see real sunlight and all the fun things on land!"
Those words were like sunlight itself, instantly driving away the shadows in Shirahoshi's eyes.
She burst into tears and laughter at the same time, her smile bright enough to light up the harbor.
"Yes!! It's a promise, Luffy-sama!!"
"Hey, Luffy—!! We're setting sail! SUPER ready to go!!"
Franky's booming voice rang out from the Thousand Sunny along with the deep hum of the ship's engines.
"Yeah!!"
Luffy answered loudly with a carefree grin.
He gave one final glance toward the enormous pink-haired princess on the shore.
Shirahoshi was waving both arms wildly, tears still flying from her eyes while smiling brighter than pearls.
Then his gaze shifted toward Jinbe, who was formally saying farewell to King Neptune and the three princes.
"Jinbe! Let's go!!"
Before the words even finished—
Luffy's arm shot out like a living rubber rope and wrapped tightly around Jinbe's broad waist.
"Huh?!"
Before Jinbe could react, an irresistible pulling force yanked him off the ground.
In the next instant, the massive fish-man was launched through the air together with Luffy toward the open deck of the Thousand Sunny.
The sea breeze brushed against their faces as the bustling harbor and magnificent scenery of Fish-Man Island rapidly shrank below.
While still in midair, Luffy turned toward his "kidnapped" crewmate, his grin brighter than the light of the Sunlight Tree Eve itself.
Then he spread out his free arm toward—
The thousands of Fish-Man Island residents waving and shouting below;
Toward the teary-eyed Shirahoshi;
Toward King Neptune;
And toward this deep-sea kingdom that had given them feasts, battles, and unforgettable memories—
Gathering all the freedom and spirit of a pirate into one loud farewell shout:
"See ya!!!"
The Thousand Sunny's engines roared to life.
Amid drifting flower petals and sparkling tears, the ship slowly departed the harbor and sailed proudly toward the bright current leading into the New World.
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