Luffy leaned back in his chair, a self-satisfied grin on his face after successfully silencing Hina, subduing Kujaku, and leaving Kalifa thoroughly rattled. Ain, who had been silently observing, smacked her forehead in exasperation.
"Seriously, you guys are hopeless," she muttered, glancing at her fellow Marines. "He gets under your skin every single time."
Luffy chuckled, relishing his "victory" in the playful verbal sparring. However, his moment of triumph was cut short by a knock on the office door. Before he could respond, Koala pushed it open and stepped inside.
Koala's signature orange-yellow short hair gleamed in the sunlight streaming through the window. Gone was her usual hat, replaced by a black knitted suspender dress paired with a Marine-issued white "Justice" cape. Her signature black stockings remained, though Luffy's influence had led her to switch to a thinner, glossy style that subtly complemented her outfit.
After the successful stabilization of Wano Country, Luffy's efforts had not gone unnoticed. He had been promoted to Vice Admiral, and his subordinates had seen significant advancements in rank and position:
Cook, Binz, and Gavin, Luffy's most loyal teammate, had been promoted to Commadore and were now stationed in strategic locations alongside Darius.
Veteran member members had earned the rank of Captain though many others were still Commander due to limited opportunities for military distinction.
Zoro and Sanji, despite their lack of formal military background, were recognized for their strength and assigned as Team leaders. Their official rank, however, remained at the Lieutenant Commander level.
As for the Kuja warriors, their unique status complicated matters. Not formally enlisted in the Marines, they lacked official ranks. However, due to their mastery of Haki, even Fleet Admiral Sengoku had to concede, granting them privileges equivalent to Marine Captain. This peculiar arrangement meant that Zoro and Sanji, despite their positions as leaders, often found themselves outshined by their subordinates in terms of benefits.
Koala, now a newly minted Marine lieutenant, approached Luffy with a bright smile. She had embraced her new role with gusto, donning a sleeveless Marine cape over her outfit. "Luffy, Luffy! I just received a message from Sister Robin—they're near Wano Country!"
Luffy's eyes lit up at the mention of Robin. "Oh, she's finally here? Perfect timing. I've got something amazing to show her."
Koala nodded eagerly, her enthusiasm infectious. "She's traveling with a small team. They're being cautious but should arrive by tomorrow."
Luffy turned to Ain. "Ain, I want you to go meet Robin at the factory. Take care to avoid any unnecessary attention, especially from those new to G66, like Darius."
Ain's face brightened at the mention of Robin. "Understood. I'll handle it personally."
Without hesitation, she shoved the pile of documents on her desk onto Hina's. "All yours, Hina!" she declared cheerfully, ignoring the lieutenant's stunned expression.
"Huh? Ain! You can't just—" Hina's protests were cut off as Ain grabbed Koala's arm and waltzed out of the office, humming a jaunty tune. The door slammed shut behind them.
Hina slumped in her chair, glaring at the towering stack of paperwork now in front of her. "Hina swear, this job is going to kill Hina," she groaned, burying her face in her hands. "All work, no fun, and then there's that bastard Luffy adding to my misery."
Luffy, still lounging comfortably, waved a hand dismissively. "Relax, Hina. Once everything settles down, I'll let you take some time off. I'll even take you on a tour of Wano."
Hina shot him a skeptical glare. "Promises from you mean nothing. You're no better than a capitalist, you know that?"
"Harsh," Luffy said, mockingly placing a hand over his heart. "Here, have some coffee. On the house."
He used his powers to pour a fresh cup from the kettle, sliding it across the desk to her. Despite herself, Hina accepted it, grumbling under her breath.
The brief reprieve was interrupted when Kalifa's Den Den Mushi rang. Picking up, she answered in her crisp, professional tone: "This is the office of the G66 branch base chief. How can I help you?"
Her calm demeanor shattered moments later. Kalifa's pupils shrank as the color drained from her face. Covering the receiver with one hand, she turned to Luffy. "Luffy, it's from the government. Goverment agents have entered Wano Country."
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