A Marine noticed Rear Admiral Darius lingering with a forlorn expression and cautiously approached him. "Rear Admiral Darius, we've prepared a room for you. Please allow me to escort you to rest."
The Marine offered a kind smile, but Darius shook his head, declining the offer. "There are still some CP agents checking out the factories. I need to return to ensure they don't cause any trouble. I'll be heading back immediately."
With those words, he turned and walked away without a second thought, leaving the Marine standing there, perplexed.
As Darius's figure disappeared into the distance, the Marine murmured under his breath, "Why do I feel like Mr. Rear Admiral looks a bit… pitiful?"
Inside the base, Alpha followed Khalifa through the halls, her eyes darting around the lavishly decorated interior. The grandiose style of the castle, combined with the occasional sight of well-dressed maids bustling about, sparked an irrepressible sense of indignation within her.
Unable to hold back, Alpha leaned closer to Khalifa and whispered urgently, "Hey, what's the deal with this place? This is just a Marine branch, right? Why is it so luxurious? Is this what Marine officers do—live like royalty?"
Her gaze shifted to a group of maids passing by, and her voice dropped further. "And these maids? Really? Keeping maids in a military base? Is Vice Admiral Luffy here to serve as a base commander or a noble lord? I'm taking note of all this. I'll report it to the government later and ensure they discipline you lot for this outrageous misconduct!"
Khalifa, at first, ignored her sister's incessant muttering. But as Alpha continued her tirade, her voice buzzing like an annoying fly, Khalifa's patience began to fray. Finally, she stopped, turning to glare at her sister.
"Shut up!" Khalifa snapped. "This castle isn't some Marine-funded palace. It's our trophy from the battles in Wano. Transforming it into a Marine base didn't cost us a single berry. In fact, we made a profit by selling off useless antiques, calligraphy, and paintings. It actually reduced expenses for Marine Headquarters."
Alpha opened her mouth to retort, but Khalifa didn't give her the chance. Her tone turned cold as she continued, "And those 'maids' you're so eager to criticize? Open your eyes! They're not maids; they're civilian workers assigned menial tasks."
Alpha faltered for a moment, still wanting to argue. But before she could utter another word, Khalifa leaned closer and added with an edge of menace, "I'd advise you to choose your words carefully. Luffy's Observation Haki covers the entirety of Wano, let alone this Marine base. If you keep running your mouth, you might not make it out of here to file that report."
Alpha froze, her face draining of color as memories of the lightning strike flashed through her mind. The fear of facing Luffy's wrath silenced her completely. She lowered her head, trembling slightly, as the weight of her earlier comments sank in. What if Luffy had already heard her insults? What if he decided to punish her for slandering the Marines?
Khalifa, watching her sister's obvious distress, couldn't help but feel a mix of contempt and pity. When we were kids, she was so adorable, always clinging to me and calling me 'sister.' How did she turn into such a fool? Khalifa thought, shaking her head internally. This is all the fault of that bastard father and the government. If not for them, we wouldn't have been separated, and she wouldn't have turned out like this.
Unaware of Khalifa's thoughts, Alpha trudged silently behind her sister, the fight drained out of her. Together, they navigated the corridors of the castle, taking multiple turns before finally stopping in front of a room on the third floor.
Khalifa knocked on the door and called out, "Luffy, I've brought her."
"Come in," came the response from inside.
Khalifa pushed the door open without hesitation, stepping aside to let Alpha through. She turned to her sister and said impatiently, "Well, what are you waiting for? The Vice Admiral is inside."
Alpha hesitated for a moment, her unease apparent. "Ah? Oh, right… I don't need you to tell me," she said, coughing to mask her nervousness. Squaring her shoulders, she pushed past Khalifa and strode into the room with a feigned air of confidence.
Khalifa rolled her eyes at the display, muttering under her breath as she followed her sister inside and shut the door behind them.
The room was unexpectedly modern, its design distinctly different from the traditional architecture of Wano Country. There were plush sofas, a coffee table, bookcases lined with neatly arranged volumes, and even a coffee machine. A projector den den mushi sat on a stand, its screen rolled up on the wall. The decor was unmistakably influenced by the outer seas.
Alpha's eyes scanned the room, but her focus quickly shifted to the man standing by the wine cabinet. Vice Admiral Monkey D. Luffy, the youngest officer of his rank in 800 years, was casually selecting a drink. He wore a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and simple trousers. His relaxed posture belied the aura of power surrounding him.
At first glance, Luffy's lean frame made him seem less physically imposing compared to veteran Vice Admirals. But his height—nearly 1.9 meters—combined with the defined muscles on his forearms and the knowledge of his legendary battles, created an oppressive presence that made Alpha's heart race.
For a moment, she felt a bead of sweat trickle down her temple. Despite her training, she couldn't suppress the growing sense of unease in Luffy's presence.
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