"Hahahaha!" Luffy burst into laughter, catching the change in the swordswoman's mood almost effortlessly. Every single detail of her emotions was laid bare to him, like an open book. In fact, for Luffy, this was all too easy. It didn't even require much focus anymore—his mastery over Conqueror's Haki had sharpened to the point where sensing subtle shifts in a person's emotional state was second nature.
Right now, though the swordswoman's heart was filled with anxiety, Luffy could also pick up a peculiar undertone in her emotions—a hidden determination that burned resolutely beneath her anxiety. He nodded thoughtfully, sensing that this steadfast resolve stemmed from her deep loyalty to Boa Hancock, the Empress. Even though she knew she was outmatched, her devotion kept her fighting without hesitation. Luffy found himself deeply admiring this, so much so that he felt inclined to give her some sort of…reward.
With a swift, calculated flick, the loaf of bread in Luffy's hand suddenly shot forward like an arrow.
"W-What?!" The swordswoman's eyes widened as the bread stick darted toward her with impressive speed, taking her completely by surprise. It wasn't just a fast move; it was perfectly timed, with an angle so precise it felt unstoppable.
"Crunch!" The breadstick slid straight into her mouth before she could react, leaving her frozen in place, sword raised in a halted motion, her expression one of absolute bewilderment.
The other women stared at her in stunned silence, holding back laughter. Although this swordswoman was their superior and a trusted confidante of the Empress, there was something undeniably comical about the sight of her standing there, unable to do anything but awkwardly chew on the bread that had been so suddenly and skillfully inserted into her mouth. The effort to stay solemn was palpable, but finally, the youngest, Aimee, let out a stifled giggle.
"Pfft…!"
Luffy roared with laughter as he spoke. "How's that? Good, right?" His voice was casual and sincere, his eyes sparkling with innocence. "That breadstick's pretty great, huh? Try it out!"
There was no malice in his words; they were as pure as could be. However, this left the swordswoman utterly stunned—she couldn't comprehend how Luffy had managed it. In their battle just now, her speed had been relentless, nearly unmatched, and yet Luffy hadn't just dodged her blows effortlessly; he had also somehow found the time to put a piece of bread in her mouth. This level of skill was terrifying beyond belief.
"Good, right? Tasty, right?" Luffy asked with a grin.
Reacting at last, the swordswoman raised her sword, clearly furious. She swung it with all her might, aiming right at Luffy in an attempt to make him pay for his insolence.
But Luffy was already one step ahead. Effortlessly, he sidestepped her swing, then lightly pressed a finger against her side.
"Ah!" She yelped, suddenly bursting into involuntary laughter as Luffy's finger hit a sensitive spot, triggering a laugh reflex.
The unexpected touch sent the breadstick tumbling out of her mouth, but Luffy, ever-prepared, deftly intercepted it, pushing it right back in. She was left sputtering with shock and embarrassment, her laughter cut short by the reappearing bread.
"You can't just waste food," Luffy said matter-of-factly, shaking his head. "This breadstick isn't just any old snack. It's delicious, carefully made, and absolutely worth savoring! Took Aimee and the others hours to get it just right!"
The women nodded in agreement, watching with a mixture of pride and amusement. This particular breadstick was indeed special, representing their best work. Its outer crust was golden and crisp, and its interior was light, fluffy, and infused with a hint of sweetness that made it irresistible. To them, it was a creation to be treasured.
Luffy nudged the breadstick further, and the swordswoman, despite herself, had no choice but to take a huge bite. Her eyes watered as she tried to chew, the sheer volume of bread almost too much for her at once.
"Cough! Cough!" She struggled, the unexpected size of the bread nearly choking her. For a moment, she thought Luffy might be pushing her limits, but she quickly realized he had skillfully managed to avoid causing her any real harm.
"See? It's delicious, right?" Luffy winked. "Just a little lesson in not wasting a perfectly good snack!"
While the swordswoman grappled with the overwhelming breadstick, Luffy's gaze suddenly sharpened. He felt something shift—a barely perceptible disturbance in the air, but one that his honed Haki instincts immediately picked up. It was a ripple of danger, a warning so subtle that it would have been unnoticeable to most, but not to him.
Thanks to his extensive training with Conqueror's Haki, Luffy had reached a level where even his subconscious was alert to potential threats, and it didn't take any conscious effort for his senses to go on high alert. Even if he were asleep, his body would respond instinctively to danger.
As the hint of hostility grew closer, Luffy's expression hardened, but a glimmer of excitement sparkled in his eyes. Whatever was coming, he was ready.
Luffy sensed the incoming danger in an instant. A flicker of excitement crossed his mind as he realized who it was—just over the hill, lurking with an air of determination. It was the archer, no doubt aiming to rescue her comrade, the swordswoman, who had just suffered a bout of humiliation at his hands. Her loyalty was admirable; no true ally would stand by idly when a friend was under duress.
And so, the archer moved, aiming to catch Luffy off guard with a single, carefully calculated arrow. The angle suggested she didn't intend to kill him—perhaps it was a warning, or a way to even the score. After all, she wouldn't dare harm the Empress's honored guest, nor did she believe that Luffy meant any real harm to them. Instead, it seemed a mutual exchange of respect, a playful clash where she answered him in kind, letting him know she would not back down.
At that very moment, while others were still laughing over the swordswoman's breadstick predicament, a lone arrow cut through the air. It flew swiftly and true, covering the distance between them in a heartbeat.
"Hahaha!" Luffy chuckled inwardly, thinking how simple and straightforward this all was. Even with her skill, which was considerable, the archer's shot was nothing he couldn't handle. With a casual lift of his fingers, he pinched the arrow mid-flight, catching it with precision that seemed more like the arrow had simply sought his fingers than the other way around.
The archer's jaw dropped, astonished. She couldn't believe it—this seemingly simple catch actually revealed a mastery of Observation Haki so advanced that it was almost mystical. She realized that Luffy had predicted her every move; the angle, the trajectory, every possible outcome was laid bare to him. It was as if the arrow's entire path had been mapped out and locked in place by his grasp.
"Impossible," she murmured in disbelief, shaking her head. Not even their Empress, Hancock, could accomplish such a feat, and she was known for her terrifying power. Though the Empress had trained them on countless occasions, offering invaluable guidance, even she couldn't catch an arrow mid-flight as Luffy had. It was unfathomable.
Luffy laughed even harder, finding the simplicity of it all amusing. This didn't mean, of course, that he had surpassed Hancock, the Empress of the Seven Warlords. His strength had only just recovered to a level of one or two hundred million, still far from Hancock's own power. But when it came to reading his opponents, he had clearly achieved something remarkable.
With a sudden burst of speed, Luffy flung the arrow back, and the archer's expression changed in an instant. She frantically tried to nock another arrow in her bow to deflect it, but before she could react, a flash of pain jolted her, as though something invisible had struck her mind.
"What's happening?" she gasped, a brief but intense headache clouding her focus. By the time her vision cleared, it was too late. Luffy's returned arrow was flying toward her at a dizzying speed. It grazed her hand, sending her bow clattering to the ground, leaving a thin line of blood where it had struck.
Luffy burst out laughing, pleased by how seamlessly he had taken control of the situation. Satisfied, he reached for a glass of red wine and casually poured it into the swordswoman's mouth, as though he were merely offering her a refreshing drink.
"Hahahaha! You can't just eat bread alone," he said with a grin. "A little wine will do wonders—makes everything go down smoother."
Though it was just a simple act, his care and cheerfulness were unmistakable. The swordswoman found herself at a loss, her confusion giving way to an odd sense of appreciation. Then, with the speed of a cannonball, Luffy shot forward like a bullet.
"Boom!"
In an instant, he was upon the archer, who was still inspecting her wounded hand. Before she could react, Luffy pinned her down, his face full of mischievous delight as he held yet another breadstick in his hand.
"This breadstick," he declared with excitement, "is absolutely the best. Your friend already got a taste—now it's your turn. Go on, try it."
The archer, though flustered, found herself in no position to refuse. Before she could voice her protest, Luffy had already pushed the breadstick into her mouth.
"How is it?" he asked, his tone warm and caring.
Though she had expected to dislike it, she found herself surprised. "…It's… it's delicious," she murmured.
"See?" Luffy said, his eyes sparkling with pride. "Aimee put a lot of effort into it. It's one of a kind, probably the best breadstick you'll ever have. Consider yourself lucky—I wouldn't just share this with anyone."
As he spoke, Luffy gently helped her take another bite, and the archer couldn't deny the deliciousness of it. After a moment, he released her, letting her sit up as he rose to his feet. By now, the swordswoman had recovered and stood ready, though her expression was still filled with uncertainty.
"All right!" Luffy said, raising his hands in a sign of peace. "It was just a test of skill, nothing more. There's no point in dragging this out any further."
He spoke with a calm certainty that left no room for disagreement. "You still don't understand, do you?" Luffy continued, his voice light and kind. "I'm a good guy, you know? I'm helping you all improve your skills, lifting you up in both body and spirit."
His words seemed to carry an undeniable truth, a sincerity that reached straight into their hearts. Both the swordswoman and the archer found themselves oddly convinced, the lingering effects of Luffy's Conqueror's Haki subtly weaving into their minds, blurring any sense of doubt.
"Just take a look," he said, gesturing to the others nearby. "They've all gotten stronger and healthier from our little 'training sessions.' They're happy. Don't you agree?"
In that moment, both women could feel the truth of his words sinking into their hearts, unable to deny the strange yet undeniable logic. They watched in silence as Luffy gently wrapped an arm around each of them, a reassuring smile on his face that somehow made everything seem perfectly normal.
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T/N:
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