Alpha was on the verge of tears. Though she had escaped death, her current predicament felt worse than dying. The thought of her life being controlled at any moment was suffocating.
Khalifa, noticing her sister's silent suffering, stepped forward. "Let her stay with me," she offered, her voice calm. "I'll teach her properly and ensure she willingly joins us."
Luffy's gaze darkened at her suggestion. His displeasure was evident as he crossed his arms. "Khalifa," he said sharply, "I'm disappointed in your behavior today. You've interfered too much."
He paused, his tone growing more authoritative. "Fine, I'll leave her to you. But tonight, come to me to receive your punishment."
Khalifa knelt immediately, her head bowed. "Yes, Vice Admiral," she answered, her voice trembling slightly.
Luffy cast a final glance at the sisters before snorting in irritation. Without another word, he turned and strode out of the reception room, his footsteps echoing down the hall.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Alpha's body gave out. She collapsed onto the carpet, her limbs weak from relief and exhaustion. Her gaze fell on Khalifa, who had just knelt before Luffy to protect her. Though she didn't know what "punishment" her sister would face, it was clear that Khalifa had put herself in harm's way on her behalf.
Alpha hesitated, her pride warring with her gratitude. But as emotions overwhelmed her, she whispered softly, "Sister…"
Khalifa turned, a small smile gracing her lips. "Lil sister."
The simple acknowledgment made Alpha's eyes fill with tears. Unable to hold back, she rushed forward and threw her arms around Khalifa, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, sis. It's all my fault!"
Khalifa gently patted her back, her expression softening. She didn't say anything, allowing her sister to vent her emotions.
Outside the room, Luffy paused, shaking his head as he overheard the sisters' reconciliation. "With that kind of intelligence, it's no wonder she's only CP8," he muttered to himself. "She's leagues behind Khalifa."
As he walked away, his Observation Haki picked up on the whirlwind of emotions swirling in Alpha—gratitude, guilt, fear, and relief. This new ability to sense others' emotions, akin to the legendary Princess Otohime of Fishman Island, was something Luffy was still getting used to.
"Is this an advanced form of Observation Haki? Otohime was born with it, but can it also be awakened through training?" He pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on his next task.
An hour after Alpha's dramatic ordeal, Robin arrived in Wano. Cloaked in black with a veil covering her face, she disembarked discreetly, accompanied by a group of loyal Marines. The area around the lift had been cleared of ordinary soldiers, leaving only trusted veterans and Kuja under Luffy's command.
As Robin stepped onto the platform, two familiar figures—Ain and Koala—approached her enthusiastically. Koala was the first to greet her, rushing forward with a bright smile. "Sister! It's been so long! I missed you so much!"
Robin blinked, surprised by the changes in Koala's attire and demeanor. After a brief pause, she smiled warmly. "It's been a while, Koala. You've grown even more beautiful."
Koala puffed out her chest proudly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "It's all thanks to Sister Khalifa. If you'd like, I can ask her to help you with some beauty treatments."
"Khalifa?" Robin mused, her mind briefly flashing back to the spectacled secretary from Water 7. She nodded thoughtfully. "I'll leave it to you, Koala."
Koala beamed. "You've got it!"
Their animated conversation was interrupted by Ain, who had been standing quietly nearby. Clearing her throat, she addressed Robin with a formal tone. "Welcome to Wano Country. However, this isn't the place for a reunion. Let's move to a more secure location."
Robin turned to Ain, her expression softening. "It's been a while, Ain. Thank you for the warm welcome."
Ain nodded, but before she could lead Robin away, Robin raised a hand to stop her. "Wait," she said, her voice calm but firm. "We brought a gift—something special."
Ain blinked, her curiosity piqued. "A gift?"
Robin gestured toward a stack of neatly arranged wooden crates on the platform. "It's a specialty from Sky Island. Very valuable."
==============================================
Support me at [email protected]/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
=============================================