As soon as Luffy finished speaking, the two women, who had been fighting moments ago, stopped in their tracks and turned toward him. Their eyes lit up as they realized he was back. Hancock, wasting no time, opened her arms wide with joy.
"My dear, you're finally back! I've missed you so much~~!" she cried, throwing herself into his arms with abandon. In the process, she subtly pushed Violet aside, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Welcome home, Luffy," Hina added, her tone more reserved but no less genuine as she moved in for a hug. She, too, managed to nudge Violet further away with her embrace.
Caught between the two, Luffy chuckled nervously, unsure how to handle the sudden influx of affection. Meanwhile, Violet, who had been unceremoniously pushed aside, fumed in silent outrage. Her fists clenched tightly as her face turned a deep shade of red.
Then, as if on cue, Hancock and Hina turned their heads simultaneously, flashing Violet matching cunning smirks that made their intentions unmistakable.
#! #! #!
"Damn it! These two bastards are working together!" Violet thought, her frustration boiling over. "They're just acting all lovey-dovey to keep me away! This is a declaration of war—a direct challenge to me! I won't back down!"
With renewed determination, Violet squared her shoulders and attempted to squeeze her way back toward Luffy. Unfortunately, the two women were an impenetrable wall of resolve, their grip on him unyielding. Every effort Violet made was met with subtle, almost imperceptible resistance that left her fuming even more.
Breaking the stalemate, Violet turned to Luffy with a deliberate air of innocence and asked in a sweet, exaggeratedly delicate voice, "Luffy, who are these two aunties? Would you mind introducing me?"
For a moment, there was silence. Then—#!#!#!
"Auntie?!" Hancock and Hina exclaimed in unison, their eyes twitching with barely suppressed fury.
Hancock's body began to tremble as she lowered her head, her fingers clenching tightly. "Hehe… Oh, I see how it is," she muttered darkly. "This little brat is clearly insulting you, Hina."
"Oh no," Hina replied, her tone equally venomous. "She's obviously referring to you, Hancock."
Before Violet could even process the exchange, Hancock raised her leg in a graceful arc, her expression dark with malice. "How dare you, rude child! Perfume Femur!" she declared, her attack aimed squarely at Violet.
Not to be outdone, Hina coated her extended iron spear in Armament Haki, her voice laced with scorn. "You're nothing but a little girl pretending to be a woman. Blackthorn Spear!"
The two women, fueled by Violet's earlier remark, launched their attacks simultaneously, their intent clear. Violet's eyes widened in alarm as she realized the full force of their fury was directed at her.
Before the blows could connect, Luffy's arms shot out, wrapping around both Hancock and Hina's waists. "Oi, oi! Calm down, you two!" he yelled, his voice tinged with exasperation. "No fighting on the ship!"
Hina kicked her long legs in frustration, her flesh-colored stockings catching the light as she struggled against Luffy's grip. "Let me go, Luffy! Hina going to teach this brat some respect!"
Hancock wasn't any less indignant.
As the commotion continued, the other women on board began gathering to watch the spectacle. Kalifa, standing beside Olivia, smirked as she observed the escalating drama. "Well, well, it seems Violet is stirring up trouble again," she whispered. "First, she picks a fight with Hina and Hancock. Now she's trying to win Luffy's attention. This is going to be fun."
Olivia nodded, a playful gleam in her eye. "She's certainly bold for a newcomer. Let's see how far she gets."
Nearby, Nami, ever the opportunist, had already pulled out her wallet. "Alright, ladies! The betting pool is open!" she declared. "Place your bets! Who will Luffy side with? I'm putting 30,000 Baileys on the newcomer."
The enthusiasm spread quickly, and one by one, the women began placing their bets.
"I'll bet 50,000 on Hancock and Hina," Koala chimed in.
Kalifa raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Make mine 100,000 for Hancock and Hina."
Olivia crossed her arms confidently. "500,000 Baileys on the veterans. The new girl doesn't stand a chance."
Even Mansherry, swayed by Koala's encouragement, timidly added, "I'll bet 10,000 on Hancock and Hina…"
As the bets piled up, Luffy's patience wore thin. A prominent vein throbbed on his forehead as he listened to the chaos unfolding around him. Finally, he took a deep breath and raised his voice.
"Oi! Hancock! Hina!" he called, his tone unexpectedly calm and gentle.
The two women paused mid-struggle, their anger simmering just below the surface as they turned to look at him. "What is it, Luffy?" they asked in unison, their curiosity piqued by his sudden change in demeanor.
Luffy's smile was anything but reassuring. He turned his gaze toward the gathered women, his eyes narrowing as a sinister grin spread across his face. "I have a favor to ask."
The tension in the air shifted as Hancock and Hina exchanged a glance, their anger momentarily replaced by intrigue. "What kind of favor?" Hancock asked cautiously.
Luffy's grin widened as he pointed toward the betting crowd. "Can you help me teach those idiots over there a lesson? They've been having too much fun watching the show."
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