[OP Marine Officer Luffy] Chapter 536 - 540

Chapter 536: Share the Joy, Share the Pain

After leaving Marine Headquarters with a comprehensive stack of intelligence reports, Monkey D. Luffy felt a complex mixture of emotions swirling inside him. The promotion to Admiral came with privileges, yes, but also with mountains of paperwork and responsibilities that made his head spin.

He went abord on Stormbreaker with all of his girls, including Koala that had been pick up from Wano.

Rather than bearing this burden alone, Luffy headed straight home with a mischievous grin spreading across his face. He had someone special in mind to share his "joy" with.

"Koala!" he called out as he entered his quarters, the thick bundle of papers clutched firmly in his hand.

Behind the desk sat Koala. Her bright eyes widened at the sight of the imposing stack of documents Luffy was carrying.

"What's all that?" she asked, her cheerful expression faltering slightly.

"Intelligence reports," Luffy announced, dropping the nearly meter-long stack onto the desk with a heavy thud. "And guess who's going to help memorize all of it?"

Koala’s face cycled through a series of expressions—surprise, disbelief, and finally, something resembling panic. She glanced between Luffy and the mountain of paperwork, her features twisting with a mix of emotions that Luffy found immensely satisfying.

"Well," she said, desperately seeking an escape route, "I could just take pictures of it with a Den Den Mushi camera and send the images back to Mr.Dragon. There's no need to memorize all this, right?"

Luffy shook his head firmly, his straw hat bobbing with the motion as he dispelled her hopeful fantasy.

"Those are two completely different approaches," he explained with exaggerated seriousness. "You can take pictures, sure, but you still need to commit these reports to memory."

He tapped his temple with his finger.

"You can't carry this entire stack with you every time you go on a mission. What's stored in your head is truly yours. I shouldn't need to teach you something so basic."

Luffy's tone clearly conveyed the message: "I'm doing this for your own good."

Upon hearing this, Koala's face immediately fell. The color drained from her cheeks, and it seemed as if most of her soul had departed her body, leaving behind only a shell of despair.

Seeing her distraught expression, Luffy couldn't help but feel even better. That's right—if he had to endure hardship, he certainly wasn't going to endure it alone. After all, isn't it better to share happiness with others than to enjoy it by yourself? And by the same token, shared suffering was half the suffering—for him, at least.

Ain and Nami, who had been called over together, watched as Koala was "tortured" by Luffy. Both women shook their heads and silently prayed for their sister-in-arms.

But they shared a tacit understanding, and neither of them said anything foolish like "we'll help you" or "we'll share the burden." Koala was the unfortunate chosen one, and they had no intention of wasting their precious time on such torturous material.

Seeing that Luffy appeared to be in a much better mood after delegating his paperwork, Ain quickly asked why he had summoned them.

"You called us here, not just to watch you torment Koala, right?" she inquired, her arms folded across her chest. "Is there something specific you need us for? And let me be clear—I'm not interested in any... extracurricular activities in broad daylight."

Looking at Ain, who stood with her arms crossed and a wary expression on her face, Luffy immediately wiped the smile from his face.

"Hey, hey, what kind of person do you think I am?" he protested. "I called you here for legitimate business!"

Ain continued to eye him suspiciously. She'd seen this pattern before—Luffy claiming to have important matters to discuss, only to pull them into his quarters for some "personal time." It had happened more than once.

Ain had important responsibilities—she needed to process applications from Marines wishing to join the G66 branch under her command. She didn't want to spend the day in bed, body limp and unable to move after one of Luffy's "important discussions."

Furthermore, she had been promoted to Vice Admiral just days ago, and Luffy had been in such a good mood that he'd found many creative ways to "celebrate" with her and the others.

Nami, on the other hand, looked rather excited at the prospect. Since Luffy's promotion to Admiral, he had finally begun to pay her the kind of attention she'd been craving. These days, she was enjoying the newfound sweetness in her life, believing that any location could become their "battlefield."

It was unfortunate for her that Luffy was genuinely here to discuss serious matters this time, so her unspoken request would have to wait.

"This is related to my Admiral promotion," Luffy explained, his tone becoming more serious. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku has ordered me to patrol the North Blue according to standard procedure for newly promoted Admirals."

He leaned against his desk, crossing his arms over his chest.

"This assignment cannot be postponed—it's tradition. So I have no choice but to comply. Given this situation, we need to allocate our personnel carefully and divide you and the others into two groups, with some returning to Wano first."

Ain, having graduated from the Marine Academy, was familiar with many of the Marine's protocols and traditions. She hadn't thought about it initially, but now that Luffy mentioned it, she immediately recalled these regulations.

"Oh, I nearly forgot about that custom," she said, nodding in understanding. "According to protocol, you do need to tour the Four Blues to officially announce your presence as the new Admiral to the world."

As she spoke, Navy thoughtfully cupped her delicate chin with her slender fingers.

"We brought almost everyone with significant combat capabilities on this mission, and I'm concerned about leaving the G66 branch undermanned," she mused. "So I suggest that most of our personnel should return with me."

She glanced at Nami before continuing, "Perhaps just Nami and I should accompany you, leaving enough crew members behind to operate the Stormbreaker."

Koala, who had reluctantly begun to memorize the intelligence reports, immediately perked up when she heard that Ain planned to leave her behind. She rushed over anxiously, protesting loudly:

"No! I absolutely refuse!"

She turned to Luffy with pleading eyes, grabbing his arm with both hands and shaking it gently as she spoke in her most persuasive tone:

"Luffy~ It's boring enough that you're making me memorize all this information! If you all go to North Blue without me, I'll die of boredom!"

She pressed herself closer to him, her eyes wide and imploring.

"Please take me with you... pretty please?"

Feeling the soft pressure against his arm, Luffy's heart skipped a beat. But he steeled himself against her tactics.

"Nice try," he said firmly. "You're going back to Wano Country to memorize those reports."

Chapter 537: The Real Mission

After wrestling with Koala for several minutes, Luffy finally managed to calm her down, convincing her—through a combination of promises and mild deception—to return to her task of memorizing the intelligence reports.

Having enjoyed the entertaining spectacle, Ain and Nami shared amused glances before turning to discuss the practical arrangements for their upcoming journey with Luffy.

The primary responsibility fell to Nami, who, as the navigator of their group, would determine the optimal route to North Blue, whether they would travel by air or sea, and all other logistical details of their journey.

Nami's proposal was straightforward. Patrolling North Blue was a long-term assignment—it would take several months at minimum to complete the required by Marine protocol.

"Since this is going to be a lengthy mission anyway," she suggested, "there's no need for us to rush. We might as well treat it as a voyage of exploration and enjoy the journey."

Logically speaking, with their current resources and Luffy's status, they could simply fly over the Red Line continent where Mariejois was located, heading directly to North Blue. After entering the New World, they could cross the Calm Belt and arrive at their destination relatively quickly.

This would undoubtedly be the most efficient route, but unfortunately, Fleet Admiral Sengoku had expanded the scope of Luffy's mission. He wasn't only tasked with patrolling North Blue—many World Government member nations in the first half of the Grand Line were also included in his assigned territory.

This was a tradition dating back to an era when the Marines didn't possess the capabilities to easily cross the Calm Belt. Newly promoted Admirals traditionally traveled around the world via the longer route, visiting key allied nations along the way.

The numerous member states along the first half of the Grand Line were naturally part of this ceremonial tour and were automatically included in Luffy's mission parameters.

Since these member nations were widely dispersed across the Grand Line, visiting them all would require traversing much of the first half of that treacherous sea route.

After carefully analyzing their situation, Nami immediately began plotting the optimal sailing course on the massive world map spread across Luffy's study table.

For Nami, who dreamed of creating the most comprehensive sea chart of the entire world, this assignment was actually a wonderful opportunity. She hummed happily while marking waypoints and calculating distances, completely absorbed in her work.

Observing her enthusiasm, Luffy and Ain tactfully stepped aside to avoid disturbing her concentration. Only when they were certain their conversation wouldn't interrupt either Nami's planning or Koala's studying did Ain speak softly:

"Speaking of World Government member states," she said thoughtfully, "we'll need to visit Alabasta Kingdom. And in that country, you still have a certain... little fiancée waiting."

She raised an eyebrow suggestively.

"Perhaps we should bring her along? After all, the rest of us are together now—it seems unfair to leave her behind all alone."

Ain was referring to Princess Vivi of Alabasta, of course. Although Luffy hadn't seen the young royal in quite some time, he had maintained regular contact with her. The two frequently communicated via Den Den Mushi, sharing stories about interesting developments in their respective lives, discussing new discoveries, and supporting each other's growth and ambitions.

Luffy thought about the lively young woman with her long, sea-blue hair, recalling her numerous complaints about being left behind and the longing in her voice whenever they spoke. He hesitated only briefly before making his decision.

"You're right," he said with a nod. "If we don't bring her along, she'll never stop pestering me about visiting Wano Country. Let's take her aboard this time and let her experience life at sea properly."

His expression softened slightly as he continued, "When we return to headquarters after the mission, I'll make arrangements to bring her to Marine officially."

As he contemplated their upcoming reunion, Luffy couldn't suppress a faint smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth. It had been too long since he'd seen Vivi in person...

Ain, catching sight of her beloved thinking about another woman right in front of her—despite already having numerous partners—couldn't help but let out a cold snort of disapproval.

"Fine, keep daydreaming about your princess," she said, turning away with a hint of jealousy in her voice. "I need to leave now—I have actual work to do. I'll inform Hina and the others about our plans."

Hearing her tone, Luffy immediately snapped back to reality. Watching as Ain turned to leave, her long legs carrying her gracefully toward the door, her slender waist swaying slightly with each step, he quickly reached out and wrapped an arm around her midsection.

"Why the rush?" he asked, pulling her closer. "I have something important to discuss with you. Let's find somewhere private where we won't disturb the others and talk... in detail."

Ain, who had already stopped walking when he mentioned having more to discuss, immediately tensed when she heard the suggestive tone in the second half of his sentence.

"No, I—I still need to process those recruitment applications," she protested, attempting to pry open Luffy's strong hands from around her waist. "We can talk about it tonight at my quarters."

But when Luffy was determined, he was impossible to dissuade. Even without using his full strength, there was absolutely no chance for Ain to escape his grip through her own power.

Once he realized she was genuinely trying to leave, Luffy dropped all pretense. With casual ease, he simply lifted her by the waist with one hand, tucked her under his arm like a package, and strolled out of the room without a care in the world.

Behind them, Nami glanced up from her maps just long enough to shake her head with a knowing smile before returning to her work.

Chapter 538: Return to Water 7

The commotion caused by Luffy dragging Ain away was neither subtle nor quiet. Koala and Nami, being neither blind nor deaf, immediately noticed what was happening.

Almost simultaneously, the two women exchanged knowing glances and declared in perfect unison:

"You know what? I need to use the bathroom first."

Nami froze.

Koala stared.

Hearing the exact same words echoed by the other, both women shared an awkward smile.

"What a coincidence," Nami said, her tone playfully suspicious. "You also need to use the bathroom? Why don't we go together?"

"Absolutely," Koala agreed with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Let's definitely go together."

Without further discussion, the two women abandoned their tasks without a second thought. The intelligence reports and navigational charts could wait—some opportunities simply couldn't be missed.

Arm in arm, like schoolgirls heading to the restroom during a class break, they followed the path Luffy and Ain had taken, their intentions anything but innocent.

What happened afterward played out exactly as Luffy had anticipated. When the rest of his group learned that he planned to leave most of them behind while enjoying a "private voyage" with Ain and Nami for several months, protests erupted from all directions.

Kujaku, Hina, and Kalifa all voiced their objections in various ways, but none were as vocal as Yamato. The daughter of Kaido was particularly adamant, insisting that she had been looking forward to experiencing the unique cultures and customs of North Blue. She declared emphatically that she had no intention of returning to Wano without seeing the world.

In the end, Luffy had to personally "persuade" her, promising that she would be the first he'd take on his next voyage. After a night of intense "negotiations" that left Yamato thoroughly exhausted but satisfied, she reluctantly agreed to his terms.

The following morning, Luffy departed from Marine Headquarters with Ain and Nami, while the others saw them off with expressions ranging from resignation to poorly concealed jealousy.

Hina and the rest would remain at headquarters for two more days to complete the processing of newly recruited Marines before catching a passing warship back to the G66 branch under their command.

At an altitude of 2,000 meters, the Stormbreaker cruised sedately through the clouds at roughly 40 knots, the ship performing admirably in its aerial configuration.

According to Fleet Admiral Sengoku's briefing, news of Luffy's diplomatic tour of the first half of the Grand Line and North Blue had already been communicated to all relevant nations. Each country had responded with enthusiasm, eagerly preparing welcoming ceremonies befitting a Marine Admiral's visit.

Luffy had submitted his intended route in advance, allowing the various nations to arrange appropriate festivities according to his schedule. It was precisely for this reason that the first country on his itinerary had requested a few extra days to complete their preparations.

Luffy had therefore extended his stay at headquarters, departing only when he felt the timing was right. Even so, the first destination of his voyage was not the small, obscure nation that had requested the delay, but rather the world-famous shipbuilding haven—Water 7, the City of Water.

Luffy hadn't forgotten that he had commissioned Iceburg, the mayor of Water 7 and president of Galley-La Company, to design several advanced vessel concepts for him. This visit would provide the perfect opportunity to inspect the progress personally, even if the technical details were far beyond his understanding.

After more than half a year, the Stormbreaker was returning to the place of its birth. The difference, however, was stark. When the ship had first departed, it had been just another vessel, albeit an exceptional one. But now, with Luffy's meteoric rise to Admiral status, the situation had completely changed.

As Luffy's exploits gained recognition, details about his personal vessel had been uncovered and widely disseminated by marine enthusiasts and journalists alike. Some accounts were so exaggerated that if Luffy hadn't been personally aboard the Stormbreaker, he might have believed he was piloting the legendary ancient weapon Pluton rather than a modified pirate ship.

The sensationalist reports described capabilities for flying, diving, and even optical camouflage, making Luffy joke that the newspapers thought he was commanding some kind of alien spacecraft rather than a sailing vessel.

Despite the ridiculous embellishments, these stories ensured that everyone from the Celestial Dragons to common citizens now recognized that Admiral Monkey D. Luffy traveled aboard a remarkable flying battleship.

"Haaah... Mmm!"

Standing on the bow of the Stormbreaker, Luffy stretched his arms wide and took a deep, satisfying breath of the briny air.

"It's been quite a while," he mused aloud, "though I didn't expect to return so soon."

With a nostalgic smile, he leaned over the railing and peered down at the approaching city. Spotting the crowd of residents and reporters already gathering outside the dock's security perimeter, he felt a surge of pride and ambition fill his chest.

Chapter 539: Fan Club, Celebrity Admiral

"Well, well," Luffy remarked with a satisfied grin, "now I'm finally getting the pomp and ceremony a big shot deserves. Quite different from my last visit, when hardly anyone recognized me walking down the street."

Observing Luffy's smug expression, Nami rolled her eyes dramatically before picking up the Den Den Mushi to coordinate their landing procedures with the dock authorities.

As previously arranged, Iceburg had granted permission for the Stormbreaker to dock at Galley-La Company's private berth. The area had been cleared of all other vessels, leaving the entire space reserved exclusively for Luffy's ship.

Standing at the edge of the dock with his arms folded across his chest, Iceburg gazed up at the magnificent vessel that represented the culmination of his company's finest craftsmanship. Pride and nostalgia mingled in his expression as he waited for his distinguished visitor to disembark.

Beyond the security barricades, a substantial crowd had gathered—some were curious onlookers, others journalists eager for a story, but a significant portion wore matching white shirts emblazoned with a distinctive logo: a heart pierced by a lightning bolt.

The Stormbreaker docked with practiced precision, and Luffy, followed by Ain and Nami, strolled casually down the gangway. Taking the lead, Luffy smiled broadly and waved to the assembled spectators, triggering an immediate response from the crowd.

The reaction was particularly intense among the white-shirted fans. At the sight of their idol's acknowledgment, several of them appeared to lose all self-restraint, surging forward against the barriers maintained by Galley-La employees.

Their frenzied behavior momentarily stunned Luffy, who couldn't immediately comprehend the situation. It wasn't until he activated his Observation Haki to assess the crowd that he realized these passionate individuals were actually organized members of his fan club.

They called themselves the "Lightning that Captures Hearts" fan club—or "Heart-Strike" for short—with the lightning-pierced heart on their shirts serving as their official emblem.

Having heard rumors of Luffy's impending visit to Water 7, they had mobilized to catch a glimpse of their idol. For various reasons, every member of this surprisingly large group had developed a fervent admiration for the young Admiral, creating a fan base that included both men and women of diverse ages and backgrounds.

Surveying the enthusiastic fans, who constituted at least thirty percent of the gathered crowd, Luffy couldn't help feeling both surprised and secretly pleased.

"Would you look at that?" he thought to himself with undisguised satisfaction. "That's my charisma at work! When there were only three Admirals, I never heard of Akainu, Aokiji, or Kizaru having dedicated fan clubs. But I've got an entire organization of supporters already!"

"Clearly, a handsome young man like me has more popular appeal than those three grumpy middle-aged uncles!"

After indulging in this moment of narcissism, Luffy decided he would find some way to show appreciation to his devoted fans before departing the city.

Watching Luffy descend the gangway with confident steps, Iceburg wasted no time in approaching to welcome him. As soon as the Admiral and his companions reached the dock, Iceburg extended his hand in greeting.

"Admiral Luffy," he said with genuine warmth, "it's been quite some time since our last meeting. Welcome back to beautiful Water 7. I hope your visit proves enjoyable and productive."

Luffy, in exceptionally high spirits, clasped Iceburg's hand firmly and responded with uncharacteristic politeness:

"Mayor Iceburg, it has indeed been too long. I'm honored to return to Water 7, especially with such a warm reception from its citizens."

Despite the months that had passed since their last encounter, the two men fell easily into comfortable conversation. After exchanging the necessary pleasantries, they quickly reverted to their more natural, bantering dynamic.

"Brother Iceburg," Luffy said with a mischievous gleam in his eye, "I came straight to you the moment I became an Admiral. Since I'm doing your city such a favor with my presence, how about offering me a discount on my next ship?"

"An Admiral of your stature, haggling over prices?" Iceburg shook his head in mock disapproval. "That hardly seems befitting of your position."

"What's the point of 'befitting my position'?" Luffy countered. "How much is dignity worth in berries? I'll trade you all my dignity for a free meal right now!"

"The free meal is already arranged," Iceburg laughed. "Why are you trying to bargain for something you're already getting?"

"Ha! Just making sure," Luffy grinned. "Can't be too careful when food is involved."

As they walked together toward the waiting transportation, Iceburg found himself silenced by Luffy's shameless banter.

"Good grief," he thought to himself, "this kid hasn't changed a bit since becoming an Admiral. If anything, he's even more brazen than before!"

Secretly, Iceburg resolved that if he didn't manage to get the upper hand over Luffy during this visit, he'd renounce his own name. The young Admiral might have risen in rank, but some things clearly remained unchanged—particularly his ability to reduce serious situations to absurdity with just a few choice words.

Chapter 540: Franky's Weapons Business

Word spread quickly among the fan club members who hadn't been able to attend, as those present eagerly showed off their close encounter with their idol. With the full support of Galley-La employees forming a protective barrier, Luffy and his companions finally managed to escape the enthusiastic siege laid by his fanatical admirers.

The experience left Luffy feeling oddly touched—this was his first taste of genuine celebrity treatment, and he found he rather enjoyed it.

Before departing, he made a point of addressing his fans directly, thanking them for their support and promising to prepare special gifts for them in the near future. This unexpected acknowledgment came as a complete surprise to the members of the "Heart-Strike" club.

Many of the female fans screamed with excitement, while several appeared to faint from the sheer thrill of being acknowledged by Admiral Luffy himself. Unbeknownst to him, as news of this interaction spread through the club's communication network, members from other locations began making plans to intercept Luffy at his future destinations, preparing to surprise him when he visited the major World Government member nations on his itinerary.

To formally welcome Luffy's arrival, Iceburg, in his dual capacity as owner of Galley-La Company and mayor of Water 7, had arranged a grand banquet. The event attracted all of the city's most prominent figures, from shipwrights to businessmen to local politicians.

Before Luffy could even exchange more than a few words with Iceburg, he found himself surrounded by these civic and business leaders, all eager to make the acquaintance of the Marine's youngest Admiral. He had little choice but to engage in the social niceties expected of his position.

Fortunately, his newly acquired rank commanded respect, and these savvy local powerbrokers understood the value of brevity. Most approached only to exchange a few pleasant words, offer their business cards, and then politely excuse themselves, ensuring Luffy would remember their faces if nothing else.

Occasionally, wealthy mature women or ambitious young ladies—some seeking business connections, others merely drawn by his youthful good looks—would attempt to engage him in extended conversation. However, Ain and Nami, standing vigilant on either side of Luffy, skillfully intercepted these approaches, permitting none to monopolize their Admiral's attention.

Observing Luffy's unexpected popularity from a distance, Iceburg could only shake his head helplessly as he was gradually pushed to the periphery of his own event. Taking a glass of wine, he retreated to a quiet corner of the venue.

"Didn't I explicitly tell you to dress appropriately?" he muttered to a figure who joined him in the shadows. "This is... beyond perverted."

The man before him was wearing what could technically be considered formal attire—a well-tailored black jacket and bow tie that looked quite stylish from the waist up. However, the blue-haired shipwright had chosen to pair this with only a pair of swim briefs below, leaving his mechanical legs mostly exposed.

After considerable hesitation, Iceburg settled on "perverted" as the most diplomatic description of his friend's appearance.

Surprisingly, the muscular, half-dressed man took no offense at this characterization. Instead, he turned with a broad grin and responded cheerfully:

"Hey, ice-for-brains! If you're going to praise me the moment we meet, I'll get embarrassed~"

Looking at his smirking companion, Iceburg was sorely tempted to smash his wine glass against the man's metal-reinforced face.

Praise you?! And what kind of person actually feels happy about being called an idiot?

The underwear-clad party crasher was none other than Cutty Flam, better known as "Cyborg" Franky, former apprentice of the legendary shipwright Tom and Iceburg's foster brother.

During the recent incident involving the destruction of the Pluton blueprints, Franky had gone into hiding with assistance from certain revolutionary connections. It wasn't until several months later, when it became apparent that the World Government had abandoned their search for him, that he dared return to Water 7.

With the danger of the ancient weapon blueprints no longer hanging over their heads, both foster brothers had experienced considerable relief. Iceburg had gradually opened up emotionally, while Franky had returned to his flamboyant, uninhibited self.

Though Franky still operated independently with his Franky Family, conducting salvage operations and occasional bounty hunting, Iceburg would periodically commission work from them. As a result, the living conditions of Franky's followers had improved substantially.

However, Franky showed no interest in returning to traditional shipbuilding. Instead, he had begun focusing his considerable engineering talents on developing advanced weapons systems.

His long-term plan was to establish a company that would complement Galley-La's operations—Iceburg would build the ships, while Franky would supply the weaponry, offering customers a complete package of world-class vessels and cutting-edge armaments.

When discussing weapons manufacturing in the Grand Line, one could hardly avoid considering the Marines as a potential primary client. Marine battleships were traditionally constructed in Water 7, but their weapons systems were typically sourced from other contractors.

Franky's ambition to enter the arms industry had initially met with Iceburg's disapproval, but years of brotherhood eventually won out, and Iceburg reluctantly agreed to provide assistance. This was precisely why Franky had been invited to attend the banquet—Iceburg planned to introduce his unconventional brother to Admiral Luffy, hoping to secure a share of the lucrative Marine weapons contracts.

Before the event, Iceburg had explicitly instructed Franky to dress formally. As anyone could see, the cyborg had complied with the letter, if not the spirit, of this directive—his upper body was appropriately attired, but his lower half remained as exhibitionist as ever.