"Alright, I heard everything you said earlier at the base," Luffy began, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable edge. "While I'd love to teach you a lesson about the true power of the Marines, I'll let it slide this time—only because of your connection to Khalifa. But let me make one thing clear: this is your only warning. Next time I hear something I don't like…"
He leaned forward slightly, his tone dropping into a low, dangerous register. "You can guess what'll happen."
Alpha swallowed hard, the sound audible in the tense room. Sweat beaded on her forehead and trickled down her back, soaking through her shirt. Her entire body felt like it was on edge, trembling under the weight of Luffy's words.
She didn't need further elaboration to know he wasn't bluffing. If not for her status as a government representative—and perhaps Khalifa's presence—she didn't want to imagine what might have happened.
Khalifa, seated beside Luffy, couldn't help but notice the way her sister's shirt clung to her damp skin, exposing hints of the pale flesh beneath her chin. Knowing full well how terrified Alpha was, Khalifa suppressed a smirk. She was tempted to let her sister wallow in her discomfort, but a small pang of sibling pity made her act.
Breaking free from Luffy's embrace, Khalifa stood and moved toward her sister, who eyed her warily.
"What are you doing?" Alpha asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.
"Just shut up and stay still," Khalifa snapped.
Before Alpha could protest further, Khalifa placed a hand on her shoulder and activated her devil fruit ability. Instantly, the sweat soaking Alpha's clothes and skin evaporated, leaving her dry and presentable once more.
Alpha blinked in confusion before glancing down at herself. "What just happened?" she muttered, inspecting her now-dry shirt. Realization dawned on her quickly, and her gaze snapped back to her sister. "Wait, is this… a devil fruit power? You… you ate a devil fruit?"
Khalifa gave her an infuriatingly smug look, her fingers pinching Alpha's chin lightly. "That's right. My man gave it to me. Jealous?" she teased, leaning back slightly. "And next time, don't talk to me unless you've brushed your teeth. Your breath is terrible."
"Why, you—!" Alpha fumed, her hand flying up to swat Khalifa away, but just like before, her movements failed. Her palm slid harmlessly off Khalifa's body as if repelled by some unseen force.
Khalifa laughed softly, clearly enjoying her sister's frustration. She let go of Alpha's chin and retaliated by pinching her puffy cheeks hard before turning back to Luffy, who was watching the scene with amused detachment.
"Really, Luffy?" Alpha spat, glaring at him. "She's your girlfriend, but you're just going to let her bully me like this?"
Luffy raised an eyebrow and gave Khalifa's thigh a playful pat. "She's your sister. Don't you think it's good for her to let off some steam? Though…" He paused, tilting his head thoughtfully. "Next time, maybe string her up and give her a proper lashing. That might make her learn faster."
Khalifa giggled and gave Luffy a playful salute. "Got it, Vice Admiral."
Alpha's face turned red with rage, but under Luffy's watchful eye, she bit back her retort. She gritted her teeth and swallowed her anger, deciding it was safer to endure the humiliation—for now.
Once Alpha composed herself, she cleared her throat and spoke in a forced tone of professionalism. "Mr. Vice Admiral, I'll get straight to the point. The government is aware of the Marine's current challenges but hopes you'll consider the difficulties we face as well."
As she began outlining the government's perspective, she attempted to draw parallels to the hardships of the Great Pirate Era. However, Luffy's patience quickly wore thin, and he interrupted her with a sigh.
"Stop," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "Do we really have to go through the entire history of the world? Spare me the lecture. If you're here to appeal to my pity, save your breath. I'm not interested."
Alpha froze, blinking in surprise. Luffy leaned forward, fixing her with a sharp gaze. "Skip the sob story and tell me the government's bottom line. And be careful with your words—if you waste my time, I might let you experience a bit of my lightning firsthand."
Alpha hesitated, her mind racing. Finally, she exhaled shakily and said, "The government's position is simple. We ask that the price for seastone products be cheaper than it was during Kaido's rule. Additionally, the government expects to receive the lion's share of the factory's monthly output. You'll be free to sell whatever remains."
"No," Luffy replied bluntly, not missing a beat. "Here's how it's going to work. I'll keep 20% of the seastone production for myself. The remaining 80% will be split evenly between the government and the Marines."
Alpha's jaw tightened, her fists clenching at her sides. She wanted to protest, but before she could stand, the pen on the table quivered ominously, its gold-plated tip glinting as it hovered slightly. The silent warning made her sink back into her seat, her earlier confidence reduced to ashes.
Forcing a strained smile, she finally said, "Ha… ha… I see. The Marine is, of course, a branch of the government. I'll explain this arrangement to my superiors. We'll adopt this model moving forward."
Her attempt at diplomacy was met with Luffy's satisfied smirk. He raised his glass, gesturing for a toast. "Good. Glad we're on the same page."
Alpha hesitated but reluctantly picked up her glass, clinking it against his and Khalifa's. The trio exchanged a toast, though Alpha's smile was visibly strained.
As the negotiations concluded, Luffy leaned back, his satisfaction evident. From his perspective, the arrangement was more than favorable. Seastone products were an invaluable resource, and with Wano's monopoly on their production, Kaido had essentially extorted the government for decades. Luffy's deal not only allowed him to secure a steady supply but also positioned him—and the Marines—to profit significantly.
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