The three women had only ended their "battle" half an hour ago before stumbling back to their rooms to sleep off the wine. Unfortunately for them, Kalifa had tracked them down and dragged them out of their beds.
As Luffy finally entered the office, Kujaku rolled her eyes at his tardiness, small sparks of annoyance practically radiating from her.
"You're really something!" she snapped. "It's been a full hour since I notified you. If you had arrived any later, we would have left without you."
Luffy smiled awkwardly but offered no excuse.
Kalifa set down her pen and adjusted her glasses, explaining the situation in greater detail.
"An hour ago, we received notification that a fleet led by Vice Admirals Comil, Momonga, and Doberman is approaching Onigashima. According to our estimates, they'll reach the island in less than half an hour."
"After all," Kujaku added, "these three are Vice Admirals from Marine Headquarters, same rank as you. You should at least greet them properly."
Hearing they wouldn't arrive for another thirty minutes, Luffy couldn't help but sigh in relief, then grumbled unhappily.
"If they're not arriving for another half hour, why the rush to find me? Couldn't you have let me sleep a little longer?"
From her position on the sofa, Hancock raised her head slightly, her usual haughty expression somewhat dampened by her hangover. "That's right. And I'm not even a Marine. Why should I care about your Headquarters business?"
Kalifa glanced first at Luffy. "We informed you in advance because we knew you'd waste time." Then she turned to Hancock. "And just to remind you, when we found you three, you were all passed out drunk on a single bed. We're simply being courteous by waking you at all."
Hancock, Hina, and Gion looked gloomily at each other before shouting in unison:
"Assholes! Who gave you permission to sleep in my bed?!"
Kujaku clutched her forehead, suppressing her rage as she gritted her teeth.
"Let me remind you again—you three idiots were sleeping in MY room! You even vomited all over it! Remember to clean that mess up later!"
The three women exchanged surprised glances. They had been completely intoxicated and only vaguely remembered finding a room and collapsing into sleep. As for whose room it was or if anyone else had been present... those details had escaped their alcohol-addled minds.
Faced with Kujaku's furious glare, the three turned away, whistling guiltily.
"Damn drunkards," Kujaku cursed under her breath. After gathering the documents from the table, Luffy spoke up.
"Let's head to Onigashima and wait. Koala and Violet have already picked up Olivia and are waiting on the island. Yamato returned to the academy, and Alpha checked in at the CP station. Robin went to see the doctor—her identity is still sensitive after all."
Luffy nodded in agreement. "Mansherry isn't feeling well and is resting, so let's go." After speaking, he glanced at the three women pretending to be asleep on the sofa. "Are they coming too?"
Hancock immediately refused. "Absolutely not! I am a Shichibukai. You Marines can't order me around!"
Gion was equally decisive in her refusal. "I'm a candidate for Admiral. My rank is higher than theirs. If they want to see me, they should come to me."
"Hina..."
Hina began, also wanting to find an excuse to avoid this meeting. Compared to a Shichibukai and candidates for Admiral's position, she was merely a Rear Admiral from Headquarters. There seemed to be no valid reason for her to refuse.
As she struggled to come up with an excuse, Luffy shook his head and sighed.
"Forget it. It would be embarrassing if you showed up in your current state. You three stay here and look after the base. If anything important comes up, call me."
"Yes, sir~" the three women answered in weak unison.
Luffy shook his head, too embarrassed to look at them any longer. Kujaku and Kalifa exchanged glances and shrugged helplessly.
Before leaving, Luffy used his lightning ability to retrieve three quilts from the fifth floor. Each woman claimed a sofa, and the moment they touched the blankets, they closed their eyes and fell into deep slumber.
The departing trio didn't disturb them further. After informing the soldiers at the base of their departure, Luffy took the two women and set off directly for Onigashima.
On Onigashima, in the lounge of the Marine port, Koala and Violet each held cups of hot milk, sipping them slowly with expressions of absolute comfort.
Beside them sat Olivia, an important figure in their current transaction and the president of Olive Company. Unlike the relaxed Marines, she appeared anxious and impatient.
"Really? The Vice Admirals are almost here, and your people haven't arrived yet?" Olivia fidgeted with her papers. "Whether we can expand our business worldwide depends on this transaction. They shouldn't be late at such a critical moment!"
Violet calmly set down her cup, leaning back in her chair with the nonchalance of someone who had seen far worse crises in her time with the Marines.
"Don't worry," she said soothingly. "Didn't I tell you? Luffy was in quite the fierce battle last night, so he might be running a bit late."
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