One Piece: Marine Luffy, Garp regrets it

As The Stormbreaker glided smoothly toward Punk Hazard, Luffy leaned back on his chair, a satisfied grin plastered across his face. Across from him, Yamato sat slumped, eyes spinning in dizziness as her mind struggled to process the rapid-fire comparisons Luffy had thrown at her.

"19 to 3," Luffy declared with a triumphant smile. "So now, Yamato, who do you admire the most?"

Yamato's head lolled back, and with a dramatic groan, she flopped onto the floor. "You... you're the one I admire most," she muttered weakly, foam bubbling at the corners of her mouth.

Luffy clapped his hands in satisfaction. "Good kid. You're finally learning."

He gestured for Kujaku to carry the unconscious Yamato away while he returned to his chair, humming a jaunty tune. Inwardly, he marveled at his success. Not only is Yamato going to dress and act like a proper woman, but I've also managed to knock Oden off the pedestal in her heart. Not bad for just a few days' work.

Still, a nagging thought lingered. Am I really this good at convincing people, or is Yamato just that naive?

From her spot nearby, Gion couldn't hold back her disdain any longer. Rolling her eyes, she crossed her arms and sneered, "Is it really that fun tricking naive girls? You're absolutely heartless."

Luffy smirked, unfazed by her criticism. "Oh, come on, Sister Gion. Don't act so high and mighty. After all, I tricked you onto this ship too. And you're definitely not a little girl."

Crack! The glass in Gion's hand shattered as her expression darkened. Her fingers instinctively twitched toward the hilt of her sword, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

Luffy's grin widened. "Relax, I'm joking!"

Before Gion could unsheath her weapon, Hancock stepped forward, her voice cold as she blocked Gion's path. "Don't forget, this is my darling you're threatening."

The tension on deck thickened as the two women squared off. Sparks of rivalry ignited, and it seemed a fight was inevitable.

But Ain stepped in, her commanding tone cutting through the hostility. "Enough! Both of you, stand down! If anyone makes a move, I won't hesitate to act."

Her words carried weight, especially as Luffy himself had dubbed her the "eldest sister" among the women. Though reluctant, Gion backed down with a begrudging glare. Hancock, too, relented, though not without a disdainful huff.

Luffy, watching from the sidelines, gave Ain an approving thumbs up before quietly slipping away.

The next morning, The Stormbreaker arrived at Punk Hazard, its speed making the journey from the G2 branch in just a day. As they disembarked, Kizaru couldn't help but marvel.

"Sugoi! This ship's faster than any warship I've ever been on. Hey, Luffy-san, when is this going into mass production? Can I preorder a solar-powered model?"

Luffy laughed, clearly enjoying the praise. "Well, Uncle Borsalino, if you're willing to donate a billion Berries to help fund the project, I'm sure we could make something happen."

Kizaru waved the idea off with a sheepish chuckle. "Never mind. Pretend I didn't say anything."

Their conversation carried on as they entered Punk Hazard's research base. Guided by Marine and government personnel, they made their way through the facility's labyrinthine halls.

For Kizaru, the layout was familiar—this was, after all, his territory. But for Luffy, the high-tech corridors and security measures were fascinating.

Due to Punk Hazard's significance and the sensitive nature of Dr. Vegapunk's research, the visit was restricted to a select few. The women and most of Luffy's subordinates had opted to remain on The Stormbreaker to avoid the tedious security screenings.

Yamato, however, was eager to explore the base. Her enthusiasm was short-lived, as her status as Kaido's daughter—despite her pardon—meant she was barred from entry.

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