Nami suddenly sensed that the atmosphere between Vivi and Luffy seemed a bit subtle. The way they looked at each other...
How to put it? There was a hint of avoidance, and something else hard to define.
Vivi's cheeks were flushed, her gaze evasive, while Luffy scratched his cheek, looking everywhere but at Nami.
Nami narrowed her eyes, her suspicious gaze darting back and forth between Luffy and Vivi's faces. Her sharp intuition picked up a whiff of something unusual. "Wait a minute... Did something happen between you two behind my back?"
Vivi's face flushed a deep crimson instantly. She waved her hands hurriedly, a trace of barely perceptible panic in her voice. "Wh-what are you talking about? Nami, you're overthinking it!"
She even instinctively resorted to the money temptation tactic, trying to divert Nami's attention. "Oh! I just remembered! I have 500,000 Beri in personal savings I've been hoarding for a long time. I'll give it all to you, as my joining fee!"
Normally, Nami's eyes would have turned into Beri signs and she'd have accepted it immediately. But at this moment, she resisted the craving for money, her gaze still prowling between the two of them. She wasn't that easy to fool.
Just then, Luffy's sharp eyes spotted Igaram walking over from the end of the corridor, coming to call them for the banquet.
"Yoohoo, Igaram! Is the banquet ready?" Luffy shouted loudly. "Hey, everyone! The banquet's about to start!"
The distraction technique always worked. His shout successfully drew everyone's attention. Chopper, Usopp, Sanji, Zoro, even Nika hugging her wine jug and Merry floating in the air all looked over.
"A banquet!"
"Finally, we can eat!"
"I've been waiting!"
"Please, follow me."
Igaram gave a gentle smile and led everyone towards the banquet hall. "Apologies for the delay. There was much to handle after the war, and with the Marines around... we could only start the banquet now."
Luffy didn't mind. "As long as there's food!"
"Speaking of which, we saw Marines outside," Sanji interjected. "We should plan accordingly."
"We'll set sail right after eating!" For Luffy, eating was the highest priority. He didn't want to deal with any more of those messy special missions.
Arriving at the opulent banquet hall, Luffy immediately spotted a woman directing servants in setting the table. Her build and hairstyle were remarkably similar to Igaram's, though she wore a maid's uniform.
"Is that Igaram's twin sister?" Luffy's mouth fell open.
Nika, clutching her jug, quipped from the side, "What kind of strange family combo is this? A husband-wife guard and maid duo?"
Igaram quickly explained, somewhat embarrassed. "Sir Straw Hat, this is my wife, Tylagoda. She is also the head chef of our palace kitchens. Her skills are excellent."
Tylagoda smiled and said, "I guarantee with my 20 years of experience as the palace head chef, I will not disappoint you esteemed guests!"
Vivi also explained with a smile, "They're not twins. It's 'couple's resemblance.' It's said that people who love each other and live together for a long time start to look more and more alike in face, temperament, and even behavior."
"Couple's resemblance?"
Merry, sitting on Luffy's shoulder, tilted her little head. Her pure, big eyes filled with curiosity as she looked at Tylagoda and Igaram, then turned to look at Luffy and Nami beside her. Suddenly, she spoke with innocent naivete, "Then, do I and Luffy look alike?"
Before Luffy could even speak, Nami's face flushed red first. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she jumped up, reaching out to pinch and stretch Luffy's highly elastic cheek, demanding in flustered anger, "What kind of messy things have you been teaching Merry?!"
Merry watched Nami pulling Luffy's cheek, blinked her big eyes, and couldn't help but add, "I don't know why, but I feel Nami and Luffy are starting to look more and more alike too."
Pfft.
These words were like a precise arrow, instantly hitting Vivi, who was drinking water beside them. She choked immediately, her face turning as red as an apple as she coughed violently. Uncontrollable images flashed through her mind, completely defeating her. Her eyes began to dart around. "Cough, cough... The banquet's starting! Everyone, please take your seats!" Vivi hurriedly changed the subject.
Soon, well-trained maids and footmen formed a long procession. Balancing huge platters laden with delicacies on their heads, they flowed into the banquet hall like a stream, elegantly and efficiently covering the long banquet table with a dazzling array of food.
There were golden-brown, crispy whole roasted lambs, fragrant giant slabs of Sea King meat, colorful assorted fruit desserts, and local specialty desert-flavored dishes. The food was a feast for the eyes, making mouths water.
Tylagoda, the head chef, was also secretly observing her opponents. She quickly discovered that the strongest fighting force at the dining table was not the tall men, but the seemingly harmless, grinning Straw Hat captain, Luffy, and the ship spirit Merry, who was as cute as a doll, sitting on his shoulder!
The stomachs of these two little ones seemed connected to another dimension. Their eating speed was truly like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds.
Ten minutes later.
As expected, the only ones left at the table with voracious appetites and fighting spirit were Luffy and Merry. The two even began a friendly competition to see who could eat faster, the piles of empty plates before them visibly growing.
"Luffy, this roasted lizard leg is delicious!"
"Uyi! Merry wants that honey cake too!"
"No problem, they're all mine. Oh no, I mean, they're all ours!"
Witnessing this horrific eating scene, even the experienced Tylagoda couldn't help but wipe a bead of sweat from her temple. Frankly, she was starting to sweat.
After eating and drinking their fill, it was time for Luffy's crew to prepare for departure. Though under the protection of the Alabasta royal family, the Marine blockade on the periphery was very real. Through the royal intelligence network, they knew they were definitely under close surveillance.
Merry raised a small hand, brimming with confidence. "Don't worry, everyone! I already hid the Going Merry in a very safe place earlier." Merry had taken care of this before joining up with Luffy and the others. She guaranteed that once everyone reached the ship, no matter how many Marine fleets there were, she could lead them all to break through!
So, under the cover of night, the Straw Hats decided to set sail. Members of the Falcon Unit, led by Pell, were responsible for guiding them to the secret port where the Merry was hidden. They had originally planned to wait until tomorrow's coming-of-age ceremony, but plans couldn't keep up with changes.
At the palace gates, King Cobra personally saw them off. "Luffy, I'm entrusting Vivi to you. Please protect her for me," he said solemnly, placing Vivi's hand in Luffy's.
Luffy shed his usual playful smile, nodding seriously. Then he grinned, pointing to the companions beside him. "Of course! I'm her captain. And all of us will protect Vivi!"
From Zoro to Sanji, Nami to Robin... With this group of nakama, the journey should be smooth, right?
***
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