At Fleet Admiral Sengoku's invitation, everyone gathered for lunch at his residence in Marine Headquarters.

Luffy had thoughtfully brought Ain, Kujaku, and Hina to help with the preparations, which proved to be a blessing. Without their assistance, the meal would have been impossible to manage with so many voracious eaters present.

Sengoku barely had time to cook as he watched Luffy and Vice Admiral Garp devour everything in sight, their appetites seemingly endless as they competed for portions. The other Marines looked on with a mixture of amusement and disbelief as plates emptied at an alarming rate.

"Oi, Luffy! Save some for the rest of us!" Garp bellowed with a mouth full of food, reaching across the table to snatch a piece of meat from his grandson's plate.

"No way! Get your own, Gramps!" Luffy retorted, stretching his arm to grab more food from a distant platter before anyone else could reach it.

After the hearty lunch concluded, everyone expressed their gratitude and prepared to depart. As promised by Sengoku, they would all have three days to rest and recuperate before returning to their duties.

It was an unexpectedly perfect opportunity for relaxation, especially after Admiral Akainu had gotten drunk and fallen asleep in a corner chair, his intimidating presence temporarily nullified by the effects of sake.

Vice Admiral Garp, Instructor Zephyr, and Vice Admiral Tsuru remained behind, apparently planning to enjoy afternoon tea with Sengoku before dinner. Their laughter echoed through the house as they settled in for an extended stay.

Luffy, Ain, Hina, Kujaku, and Vice Admiral Gion bid farewell to the senior officers and made their way toward the exit.

Since it was a rare chance to be back at Marine Headquarters, Luffy planned to visit his personal quarters first—his "little nest," as he affectionately called it.

Vice Admiral Gion still had administrative matters to attend to, and her relationship with Luffy was somewhat complicated. She chose to maintain a professional distance while at Headquarters, conscious of appearances and protocol.

"I'll see you all tomorrow," Gion said with a polite smile as they reached Luffy's residence. She gave a casual wave before turning to leave, her cape billowing gently in the afternoon breeze.

Luffy led the women into his long-missed villa, a spacious residence befitting his rank in this alternate timeline. He pushed open the door with a satisfying click.

"Ahhh~ I'm finally back~~" he exclaimed joyfully, carelessly kicking off his shoes and rushing into the entrance hall. The familiar decorations and furnishings brought a broad smile to his face as he stretched his arms enthusiastically.

Ain, following close behind, shook her head with a helpless smile at his childlike excitement. She bent down to neatly arrange the shoes he had haphazardly discarded. Together with Hina and Kujaku, she changed into house slippers before entering.

"Some things never change," Hina remarked with a fond sigh. "Luffy-kun still acts like a child sometimes."

"That's part of his charm, isn't it?" Kujaku responded, with a small smile.

Inside the villa, the women who had remained at home were just finishing their meal, lounging about as they digested their food.

Kalifa, Olivia and Nami were engaged in an intense card game at the dining table, both down to their final cards and sensing victory. Scattered around the living room, others relaxed in small groups, some daydreaming while others joined in different card games.

The only exceptions were the unfortunate Yamato and Viola—Yamato had dozed off while washing dishes in the kitchen, and Viola was finishing the chore in her place.

When Luffy's voice echoed through the house, Nami immediately brightened. With a mischievous grin, she tossed her losing hand of cards onto the table, much to the annoyance of her opponents, and scampered toward him on bare feet.

"You guys are back~" she called out excitedly, her orange hair bouncing as she approached. "How did it go? Has the appointment as admiral been announced?!"

Her question immediately captured everyone's attention. Even Olivia and Kalifa, who were on the verge of winning their game, temporarily suppressed their frustration and listened intently.

Luffy welcomed Nami, dressed in a white miniskirt and light blouse, into his arms with a warm embrace. He smiled affectionately and gently ran his fingers through her long orange hair.

"How could it happen that quickly?" he explained cheerfully. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku only informed me verbally for now. To officially become an admiral, I need to travel to the Holy Land of Mariejois and receive approval from the Five Elders."

Nami lifted her head from Luffy's chest, her pretty eyebrows furrowing slightly in displeasure. She pouted and complained, "What? Can't those five old geezers come here themselves? Why do you have to make another trip?"

With a hint of mischief, Luffy pinched Nami's pouting pink lips between two fingers. Realizing her dissatisfaction, she squirmed in protest, her small fist playfully punching his chest several times before he finally released her.

"Haha, if they didn't make things unnecessarily complicated, how would they show they're in charge?" Luffy chuckled sarcastically. He let go of Nami and continued with an indifferent shrug, "It's fine. I'll rest for two days, then make the trip myself. I'll try to go and return on the same day. That way, I won't have to stay in that stuffy place for too long and feel sick."

After discussing his plans for the next two days—particularly mentioning his intention to have Mansherry examine Zephyr's condition—Luffy headed to his bedroom to freshen up.

The women greeted each other warmly before Ain, Hina, and Kujaku retreated to their respective rooms to change into more comfortable attire. At home, loose clothing was preferred for relaxation.

As they dispersed one by one, the living room fell into a brief silence. The remaining women exchanged meaningful glances, each seemingly lost in their own thoughts and calculations.

At that moment, Viola emerged from the kitchen, drying her hands on a small towel. She observed the unusual quiet that had descended upon the normally lively room.

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke softly, breaking the silence, "Well, you guys talk first. I have something important to discuss with Luffy."

Without waiting for a response, she hurried toward Luffy's room and closed the door behind her with a decisive click.

Nami, who had returned to shuffling the deck of cards at the table, glanced at the suddenly deflated expressions of the other women. With a knowing smirk, she couldn't resist the urge to tease them.

"Haha, everyone likes to pretend to be innocent, right?" she said with playful sarcasm. "We've been together for such a long time—who are you trying to fool? What's this? Now that the opportunity has been snatched away, you all look so disappointed! Hah! You're all just hesitant cowards!"

Faced with Nami's blunt attack, the women's faces contorted with annoyance, turning various shades of green and red. They glared at her with irritation, grinding their teeth in frustration.

Nami showed no sign of backing down, returning their glares with contemptuous provocation of her own, a victorious smile playing on her lips.

Yamato, who had been quietly observing the exchange from the corner, leaned forward with genuine curiosity and asked innocently, "What are you all talking about? Who's a coward? Tell me so I can laugh at them too!"

The women fell silent, exchanging awkward glances.

Nami rolled her eyes and replied, "Be good. Adults are talking—kids should stay out of it. Just play your cards."

Yamato's expression shifted to confusion, her head tilting to one side. "???