[OP Marine Officer Luffy] Chapter 581 - 585

Chapter 581: Sanji: What Are You Planning With My Sister?!

Sanji felt profoundly uncomfortable at the evening's banquet.

It wasn't just about sharing a table with his "father" and "brothers" whom he regarded as enemies. The worst part was Judge's occasional pretense of caring about him—a charade that made Sanji's skin crawl and killed his appetite entirely.

He had abandoned any pretense of eating, leaving the plate before him untouched. Resting his elbows on the table, Sanji kept his head turned away, refusing to witness Judge's performance of paternal concern. He'd planned to maintain this stubborn posture until the dinner concluded.

However, a sudden sound caught his attention—the silver bell-like laughter that reached his ears was unmistakable. It belonged to Reiju, the sister he cherished above all others.

Curiosity finally compelled him to turn his head toward the source of the laughter. Diagonally across from him, seated beside the position of honor, Luffy was engaged in animated conversation with Reiju. Whatever he'd said had amused her so thoroughly that her shoulders shook with unrestrained laughter.

By itself, this wouldn't have troubled Sanji. In his experience, Luffy did possess a certain talent for humor, so making Reiju laugh wasn't particularly surprising.

What happened next, however, was the true cause for alarm.

After her laughter subsided, Reiju leaned closer to Luffy, her cheeks slightly flushed. She whispered something into his ear with unmistakable familiarity. Luffy responded with a smile, then leaned in to whisper something back, causing Reiju to laugh again while playfully swatting at him in mock indignation.

This scene struck Sanji like lightning. His eyes widened to the point of nearly bulging from their sockets.

"When did these two...?!" His thoughts raced in confusion. "No, that can't be right. They only just met today! What happened? How did they become so close so quickly?!"

As he watched them chatting and laughing together, an ominous feeling settled in Sanji's stomach. He knew Luffy all too well and had always been simultaneously envious and jealous of his popularity with women.

Sanji had no doubts about Luffy's charm and ability to attract female attention—how else could he have gathered dozens of beautiful women around him? But there was a world of difference between Luffy pursuing women in general and pursuing Sanji's sister specifically!

"That bastard is two years younger than me!" Sanji fumed internally. "Is he seriously trying to become my brother-in-law?!"

The mental image of a potential future wedding where he would have to address Luffy as "brother-in-law" made Sanji want to die on the spot.

In reality, Sanji had completely misinterpreted the situation. Luffy and Reiju were simply discussing the popular comic "Sora: Warrior of the Sea"—a topic that Reiju herself had initiated.

Luffy had merely recounted an incident from the ship, describing how Sanji's face had darkened when subordinates asked for his autograph, mistaking him for the comic hero. This anecdote had made Reiju laugh uncontrollably, her cheeks flushing adorably from amusement.

As for Reiju's playful swats, those came after Luffy had made a somewhat irreverent comment about the comic sharing its name with Reiju's deceased mother. Fortunately, she wasn't genuinely offended, though she admitted the name created a strange sensation when reading the comics—almost as if family members were fighting against each other.

The unmistakable camaraderie between them naturally attracted attention from others at the banquet. Most of Luffy's companions remained emotionally composed, considering such interactions unremarkable.

On the Germa side, beyond Judge who was already smiling in satisfaction, only the three Vinsmoke brothers remained as observers. Though they were cyborgs largely stripped of emotions, the sight of their sister laughing freely with a man she'd known less than a day elicited strangely instinctive reactions from them.

"That woman," Yonji questioned, "is that really Reiju? When did she start laughing so much?"

"Idiot," Niji replied smugly. "Don't you understand what's happening? Reiju is in love."

"What? Love? Who? Reiju?!" Yonji exclaimed in disbelief. "Are you joking?"

"You truly are stupid if you can't see what's right in front of you," Niji taunted. "Ichiji, don't you agree?"

As the two brothers debated, they turned expectantly toward their eldest brother, the flame-haired Ichiji. However, he displayed little interest in the matter, offering only a meaningless chuckle.

"It doesn't matter," Ichiji stated coldly. "It would be better if she left this family for that man. I've long grown tired of having an older sister always ordering me around. After she departs, I'll be the one with the final say in this family, second only to Father."

Chapter 582: Sanji: I'll Kill You!!!

The conversation between the three brothers carried clearly to Reiju, who sat not far away. The smile on her face instantly vanished, replaced by a flash of disappointment, pain, and resentment in her eyes. Her bitterness toward Judge intensified—it was his doing that had transformed Ichiji and the others into this state.

Luffy immediately noticed Reiju's emotional shift. Considering her circumstances, he realized she was truly a pitiable young woman. Her mother had died when she was young, and her father had been completely consumed by his ambitions. Of her four younger brothers, only Sanji retained his humanity—the others had become emotionless, cold-blooded machines.

To survive in such an environment, she'd been forced to smile along when Ichiji and the others tormented Sanji. Only after they departed would she dare secretly find Sanji to tend to his wounds and offer comfort.

Had she never met Luffy, her best possible future would have been as Judge's bargaining chip, married off to secure some political alliance. In the worst scenario, she would likely meet an unfortunate end on the battlefield.

These thoughts stirred compassion in Luffy's heart, and his gaze toward her softened considerably.

"Reiju."

"Hmm?"

Though deeply distressed, Reiju instinctively looked up at the sound of her name. Her eyes met Luffy's gentle, smiling gaze.

Before she could react, she felt her hand firmly clasped in his warm, strong grip.

Looking at the beautiful young woman's somewhat dazed expression, Luffy offered soft words of comfort. "I think what they said has some merit—why not come stay with me? Your brother who genuinely cares about you is already under my command. I'm certain he'd want to live with you as well."

As he spoke, Luffy guided Reiju's gaze toward Sanji's direction.

Reiju, contemplating what little remained of her familial bonds, turned her head to look at her brother.

What she saw left her speechless. Sanji had a plate clenched between his teeth, a knife in one hand and a fork in the other. He appeared completely unhinged—his eyes bloodshot, veins bulging prominently on his cheeks and neck. His gaze was fixed intently on Luffy and Reiju's clasped hands.

While grinding the knife and fork together, he muttered incoherently, his words laced with unmistakable hostility:

"You bastard... you absolute bastard... I won't allow this! I'll kill you... I'LL KILL YOU!!!"

Both Luffy and Reiju were stunned by this display.

The smile vanished instantly from Luffy's face while Reiju, after her initial shock, couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth in amusement.

Early the next morning following Luffy's visit, Judge announced the engagement between the eldest princess of the Germa Kingdom and the newly promoted Admiral Luffy with great fanfare.

The news sent shockwaves throughout the world. The kings of the North Sea's member states cursed loudly while secretly envying Judge's good fortune. Simultaneously, this development further reinforced the rumors about Luffy's apparent preference for princesses.

Across all four seas, the kings of the World Government's member nations quickly recognized the implications of this alliance. They mobilized their connections and resources, each attempting to establish contact with Luffy. Many hoped to marry their daughters to the young admiral in exchange for his support and protection.

Even Garp received a call from the elderly king of his homeland, the Goa Kingdom. During their conversation, the king repeatedly emphasized how Garp and Luffy shared East Blue heritage, and how fortunate the Goa Kingdom was to have the Monkey family as distinguished representatives in the Marines.

The king then proceeded to introduce his daughter, Princess Sally Nandkanet, in notably flattering terms. His transparent attempt to secure Luffy's allegiance through hometown connections and marriage was painfully obvious.

Unfortunately for the king, Garp had no interest in such political maneuverings. He offered a few vague pleasantries, made some noncommittal promises, and quickly ended the call.

To be honest, compared to his initial wish for Luffy to find multiple wives and provide him with numerous great-grandchildren, Garp now felt somewhat alarmed by the rapidly expanding number of women in Luffy's life. He genuinely feared that one day he would receive news that his grandson had been completely drained by his harem of beauties.

If that were to happen, the Monkey family's reputation would be irreparably tarnished!

Chapter 583: Sanji: My Heart Is Torn Apart!

The news of Luffy and Reiju's engagement shocked not only the outside world but especially the Marine members who had accompanied Luffy to Germa.

Counting from their arrival at the Germa Kingdom yesterday at noon until breakfast this morning, less than a day had passed before their commander had quietly secured another princess as his fiancée.

Including Princess Vivi who had boarded their ship earlier, this marked the second royal conquest Luffy had made during their expedition. The crew had reasonable grounds to suspect that Luffy's true motivation for touring the North Sea was these beautiful and noble princesses.

Of course, Luffy completely denied such accusations.

He hadn't expected Judge to act so shamelessly, rushing to broadcast the news early that morning as if afraid Luffy might renege on their agreement. As a result, Vivi had stormed off in anger at daybreak, taking Ain and Nami with her.

Luffy had intended to find the three women and explain the situation, but before he could take action, an even greater trouble arrived at his doorstep.

After changing his clothes and opening his door to leave, Luffy found his path blocked by a figure that appeared suddenly before him. It was Sanji—his eyes bloodshot, hot air practically steaming from his mouth and nose. He clearly had just engaged in some intense physical exertion.

Luffy greeted him with his usual casual smile. "Hey~ Sanji, good morning~"

Sanji had run all the way from the dining hall, and seeing this bastard still in the mood to smile at him only stoked his fury further. He lunged forward, grabbed Luffy by the collar, and began berating him with a contorted expression.

Unfortunately, all that came out was: "Wuwuwu, ah %@#¥@@**¥%¥^~~~"

His words were completely unintelligible.

A drop of cold sweat formed on Luffy's forehead as he regarded his friend with bewilderment.

How severe a shock did this guy receive? What happened to reduce him to this state? Luffy wondered internally.

Outwardly, he placed a steadying hand on Sanji's shoulder to calm him. "Okay, okay, please speak slowly. I won't run away."

Under Luffy's patient reassurance, Sanji gradually regained control of his emotions.

"However," Luffy added casually, "I have an appointment with Reiju coming up, so we shouldn't waste time."

This subsequent statement pierced Sanji's heart like a sharp blade. He had initially refused to believe the engagement was real, assuming it was merely Judge's wishful thinking. The confirmation delivered a critical emotional blow—he staggered backward several steps before collapsing to the ground.

Seeing Sanji's devastated expression, Luffy sighed inwardly.

Of course, he understood why Sanji had rushed to confront him so urgently. But the arrangement with Reiju wasn't solely due to the agreement with Judge. Luffy had genuinely taken a liking to Reiju, and she appeared to have no objections. The matter was, for all practical purposes, already settled.

Considering this, Luffy sighed again and stepped forward to help Sanji to his feet.

"I understand what you're thinking," Luffy said sympathetically, "but let's be reasonable about this. From now on, I'll just call you 'brother,' and you can regard me as your brother-in-law. How does that sound?"

Sanji's already distressed face instantly darkened. He looked up at Luffy in utter disbelief. After several moments of stunned silence, he responded with unbridled anger:

"You bastard! Go to hell!!!"

Just as Sanji was about to lose control entirely and physically confront the shameless admiral, a voice called out from nearby.

"My, my, boys certainly are energetic. It's not very considerate to shout so loudly this early in the morning."

Hearing this voice, Sanji's body suddenly went rigid. He slowly turned his head to see Reiju approaching them, dressed casually but boldly in a white shirt and hot pants. Under his horrified gaze, she casually took Luffy's arm in a possessive gesture.

Noticing Sanji's stare, Reiju smiled slightly and asked: "Is there anything else you need? If not, could you please step aside for a moment? Your sister wants to discuss something private with your superior~"

"Step aside? Me? Are you kidding?! I'm your brother!" Sanji pointed at himself and yelled in disbelief.

This is all lies, he thought frantically. These two are just trying to get rid of me so they can go on a date! I won't let this happen!!!

"Hehe," Reiju chuckled softly as she addressed Luffy while gesturing toward Sanji. "I should probably explain something to you. This is my younger brother whom I haven't seen for more than ten years. We don't exactly have the closest relationship. So... do you understand what I'm dealing with?"

"I understand nothing!" Sanji declared, refusing to accept the situation unfolding before him.

Chapter 584: When Your Brother Becomes Your Brother-in-Law

Sanji stared at Reiju in utter disbelief. How could this woman say something so cold and heartless? Just yesterday, they had reconnected with the warmth of siblings. Now today, after meeting a stranger for less than a day, Sanji had suddenly been demoted to her "less-close younger brother"?

Incredible, he thought bitterly. You've truly embodied the saying "prioritize romance over brotherhood."

Reiju turned her head toward the young man beside her who, despite his mature bearing, was actually two years younger than Sanji.

Observing Sanji's indignant expression, Luffy could easily imagine how aggrieved he must feel. Though Sanji's recent attitude had left much to be desired from a future brother-in-law's perspective, Luffy recognized the importance of maintaining family harmony.

After some consideration, he cleared his throat. "Ahem, Reiju, Sanji is an adult. It's probably fine to let him in on certain matters."

"You're absolutely right," Reiju agreed readily. "Sanji, now that your brother-in-law has spoken up for you, come and join our conversation. And don't forget to thank your brother-in-law."

"Hey, we're all family," Luffy interjected with an easy smile. "There's no need for formal thanks. Your brother is my brother too, after all."

Listening to the "couple" harmonizing so perfectly, Sanji felt his anger rise until his nose nearly twisted with fury. These two were clearly playacting without the slightest hesitation. A man with dubious intentions had teamed up with an "outsider" to torment his own brother.

In truth, at that moment, Sanji had to admit they genuinely looked like a couple—equally irritating in their united front against him!

Taking the disgruntled younger brother with them, the "couple" walked into the room arm-in-arm without a trace of self-consciousness.

For an important guest like Luffy, Judge had arranged accommodations equal to those of royal family members—essentially a private compound. The suite included not only a bedroom, living room, and study, but beyond the living area opened into a spacious courtyard featuring a small outdoor swimming pool.

They moved some tables and chairs outside, settling themselves in the yard to enjoy morning tea while basking in the gentle warmth of the rising sun.

Of course, Sanji's expression remained clouded with displeasure.

However, after the initial shock, he had calmed considerably and was now contemplating the reasons behind their relationship and its potential consequences.

After a long silence during which he frowned thoughtfully while clutching his teacup, Sanji finally voiced the question foremost in his mind. He regarded the two sitting side by side with complicated emotions, noting how their eyes occasionally met with apparent affection, as if they truly were a couple.

"Are you two... actually serious about this?" he asked hesitantly.

Upon hearing his question, the pair who had only met yesterday nodded in perfect unison and answered:

"Yes, absolutely."

Sanji's tone grew frigid, nearly bewildered by their uncanny synchronization. He studied them both carefully before finally fixing his gaze on Luffy.

"What exactly did you say to Judge? Why would he agree to let Reiju marry you? Do you two genuinely have feelings for each other?"

Meeting Sanji's scrutinizing gaze, Luffy casually sipped his tea before responding with a slightly more serious expression.

"It's quite simple. Judge wanted to become Lord of the North Sea, and I agreed to support his ambition, promising to advocate for him with the World Government," Luffy explained. "As for feelings, those can develop gradually over time. We're only engaged at this point, not married. Besides, as you can see, we get along remarkably well."

When he finished speaking, Reiju smiled and continued seamlessly:

"That's right—emotions can be unpredictable. Even though we've known each other for less than a day, I feel Luffy and I have excellent chemistry. Furthermore, whether considering appearance, strength, or status, Luffy currently ranks among the world's finest. No matter how you analyze it, I'm certainly not getting the short end of this arrangement."

"You... you..."

Sanji was rendered speechless. He finally understood the situation—these two were clearly in a scenario where one was eager to pursue and the other receptive to being pursued. Perhaps Judge's interference had initiated matters, but it was obvious that after their brief acquaintance, genuine attraction had developed.

Having figured this out, Sanji became completely dejected.

Who would have thought that just yesterday morning, he and Luffy had been good friends and comrades? Now, barely a day later, Luffy had claimed his sister, and their relationship had transformed into a literal family connection.

The notion of a respected brother becoming a brother-in-law was enough to make Sanji's spirit collapse entirely.

Chapter 585: The Heartbreaking Truth - A Mother's Ultimate Sacrifice

Luffy and Reiju noticed Sanji's doubtful expression and secretly exchanged amused glances. Though the teasing was entertaining, Luffy had serious matters to address.

He suddenly turned to Reiju with an unexpectedly direct question: "You don't have any listening devices on you, do you?"

Reiju's body tensed slightly as her smile gradually faded. She met Luffy's serious gaze and shook her head firmly. "No. Why? Do you distrust me and suspect I have hidden motives?"

"Not at all," Luffy quickly clarified, wanting to avoid any misunderstanding. "It's just that if your father overheard what I'm about to say, it might damage our newly established cooperative relationship. But since you've confirmed there's no surveillance, I'll speak freely." He cast a meaningful glance toward Sanji.

"You probably don't realize the gravity of the situation. When your so-called father was genetically modifying your siblings, he installed control mechanisms in each of them that prevent them from disobeying his orders. In fact, except for you and Reiju, Ichiji and the others have been stripped of even the most basic human emotions. They've essentially become emotionless machines, only capable of killing and executing missions."

As Luffy casually revealed this long-buried secret of the Vinsmoke family, both Reiju and Sanji stared at him in astonishment.

Reiju was particularly shocked. This information was supposed to be known only within her immediate family and had never been disclosed to outsiders. How had Luffy discovered it?

After staring at Luffy in stunned silence, Sanji quickly shifted his gaze to Reiju, desperately seeking confirmation of these disturbing claims.

"How did you come to know this?" Reiju asked Luffy quietly. "To protect this secret, my father executed all the scientists who participated in the experiments."

"So what Luffy said is true?" Sanji interjected, his face contorting with rage. "That bastard implanted control devices in his own daughter?! And Ichiji and the others... they..."

Observing Sanji's mounting anger and disbelief, Reiju gave a helpless smile. She was too preoccupied with the revelation to question how Luffy had obtained this information. Settling back in her chair, she began to share the painful truth in a hushed voice.

"Yes, it's true. Not just me, but all three of the others—Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji—we're all controlled and manipulated by our father. If he desired it, he could order us to die, and we would comply without hesitation."

She continued with a note of bitter irony in her voice. "The only reason I'm somewhat luckier than Ichiji and the others is that I was born earlier, when father's research on bloodline manipulation was still in its developmental stages."

Her gaze softened as she looked at Sanji. "But you and your brothers weren't so fortunate. Before you were born, father forced our mother to consume experimental drugs."

Reiju's voice grew quieter. "If mother hadn't secretly taken counteracting medication at great risk to her own health, in a desperate attempt to thwart father's madness... even you, Sanji, might now be an 'emotionless machine' like Ichiji and the others."

As she spoke, perhaps recalling the mother they had lost so long ago, tears began to stream down Reiju's face.

"Sanji, you know you've been labeled as weak since childhood, but that supposed weakness was purchased with our mother's life. You aren't the failure father claimed you to be—quite the opposite. Your gentleness, kindness, sensitivity, and compassion—the very traits father despised—make you the most successful 'perfect creation' in mother's eyes. She believed this with her dying breath."

"I am... the most perfect creation..." Sanji repeated numbly. The revelation struck him like a physical blow, and he slumped back in his chair, swaying slightly.

In his daze, he seemed transported back to his childhood, reuniting with the gentle, beautiful woman who had given him such profound encouragement. Her radiant golden hair and that smile—fragile yet infinitely warming—remained vivid in his memory.

"Really? So in her heart, I was always perfect?" His voice cracked with emotion. "Reiju, please take me to visit mother's resting place later. I hope I haven't disappointed her with the man I've become."

Looking at her brother as he covered his face, his shoulders trembling slightly, Reiju gently wiped away her own tears and nodded vigorously, agreeing to Sanji's request.

"If possible," Luffy interjected softly, "take me with you. I'd like to pay my respects to this remarkable woman and let her know that I'll protect her daughter for the rest of my life, ensuring she never suffers again."

Sanji's trembling body went still. He slowly raised his head, giving Luffy what could only be described as a death glare.

Meanwhile, Reiju was moved by the sincerity in Luffy's tone and gazed at him with undisguised affection.

"Alright," she said warmly. "I believe our mother would be very happy today."