Chapter 53: 53: Which Cannon?
Luffy burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the trees. "So, Hancock," he said, grinning widely, "how does it feel? Can you handle this excitement? We're making a huge commotion here, and they can't see a thing!"
Inside, he felt a rush of triumph. It was the result of his Conqueror's Haki, a power that had rendered the beautiful women's awareness of them completely ineffective. They couldn't see Luffy and Hancock; it was as if their very perception had been stripped away. Of course, this didn't mean they were blind to everything—just to the two of them. The sheer extent of such power was astounding.
"Wait?! What do you mean by 'making a commotion'?" Hancock asked, confused by Luffy's words.
"Ah, there are different kinds of 'cannons' in the world," Luffy proclaimed, his voice filled with mischief. "There's the friendship cannon, the love cannon, the breakup cannon, the comfort cannon, the caring cannon, the sympathy cannon, and the passion cannon! What kind of cannon do you think we're launching right now, Hancock?" He tossed the question back at her with a cheeky grin.
Hancock was taken aback, stunned by his unexpected terminology. "What does that even mean? So many different 'cannons'? I can't guess! Just tell me!"
Luffy nodded, laughing heartily. "Hancock, it shows how pure you are! I'm glad you're not confused."
He continued, "We're definitely firing a love cannon right now. No doubt about it. It's as simple as that."
The straightforwardness of his words made Hancock blush fiercely. She felt a wave of warmth wash over her. "Yes! Luffy! Please fire your love cannon at me!" she exclaimed, filled with excitement.
Luffy let out another roar of laughter. "Not yet! We've got to do it with full force!"
His declaration echoed in the forest, reverberating with a thrilling intensity that sent shivers down the spines of the women nearby.
"What's happening?" Aimee questioned, her brows furrowing in confusion. "Is it… haunted?"
"Why is there so much noise if no one is here?" Lori added, her voice shaky.
The swordswoman commented, "This place feels strange. There's something terrifying hidden here. We should get out."
"Forget it!" another chimed in. "Luffy will be fine. He's the world's strongest man! If the strange noises were related to him, I'm sure there's nothing to worry about."
"Exactly!" someone else agreed. "Luffy is invincible. Even if he is involved, nothing bad could happen."
Nodding in agreement, the group decided to leave. Unbeknownst to them, Luffy and Hancock were merely a meter away, caught in their own world of laughter.
"Love cannon!" Luffy shouted again, his voice exuberant.
"Luffy!…" Hancock echoed, swept up in the fervor. "Cheers to the love cannon! Cheers to us!"
"Everything is great! Everything is fine!"
Luffy nodded, surprised at how many words Hancock had managed to string together in her enthusiasm. No matter what, everything about her in this moment felt like it belonged to him, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
The forest reverberated with their symphony of joy, while the others remained blissfully unaware of what was transpiring. Luffy felt exhilarated, as if this moment was truly worth it.
Time sped by, and soon Luffy and Hancock walked hand in hand back to the cabin. As soon as they stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted; everyone erupted in excitement.
"Luffy-sama!" they exclaimed, relief flooding their voices. They had been anxious to find the two.
"Hmm?" Luffy responded, noticing that the women were staring at their joined hands, eyes wide with realization.
The sight was unmistakable. The joy radiating from Hancock was impossible to conceal, and the other women couldn't help but feel happy for them.
"Your Majesty!" the swordswoman exclaimed.
At that moment, Hancock glanced at Luffy, allowing him to take the lead in the conversation. He waved his hand, declaring, "We're married now!"
The simplicity of his statement left everyone in shock.
"Married?" they echoed, disbelief etched across their faces.
"Luffy-sama married the Empress?" Aimee whispered in awe, her tone tinged with jealousy. "I can't believe it!"
Others shared her sentiment, their feelings of envy and confusion mixing together. If Luffy had married Hancock, how would that affect their interactions with him? He was their beloved hero, after all.
"Yeah!" Luffy nodded, fully aware of their reactions, though not using his Conqueror's Haki to gauge their feelings. It was an intuitive sense that told him they were all processing this monumental news.
Luffy held a significant place in everyone's hearts, and when they heard about his marriage, their expressions shifted to disappointment.
"It's nothing," Luffy reassured them. "Hancock and I talked about it beforehand. You all can still accompany me. You can even be my concubines."
His words were straightforward and clear, cutting through the tension like a knife.
"What?" Lori gasped in disbelief. The idea of Hancock's man taking concubines seemed too outrageous to accept at first. But when they saw Hancock's calm demeanor, their doubts began to fade.
"Of course, Luffy-sama could do that," the swordswoman remarked, her admiration evident. "He's even got the Empress's blessing! We're in awe of him."
Luffy felt a swell of satisfaction at their responses. "It's nothing special. You all know I'll be heading back to the New World soon. I plan to recruit some higher-tier fighters."
He didn't finish his thought, leaving the women confused.
"What I mean is," he continued, "I'm going to marry several wives. Not just concubines. Hancock will help create a complete family with them."
Suddenly, it clicked for everyone. They turned their gazes toward Hancock, who smiled warmly, exuding both charm and allure.
"Yes!" she affirmed. "My husband and I discussed this in advance. Initially, I was against it. But once he explained things, I understood so many truths about the world. I shouldn't be greedy and try to keep him all to myself. He's not just any man; he deserves the affection of many."
Hancock's words reflected the discussions she'd had with Luffy. In fact, they echoed much of his philosophy. The group applauded in acceptance, finding it entirely reasonable.
"Exactly!" one of them exclaimed. "Luffy-sama can see dimensions we cannot comprehend. He knows the way of the world better than anyone."
Another chimed in, "Yes! Luffy-sama's knowledge and abilities are unrivaled. His philosophy is infallible."
"Absolutely! As we follow Luffy-sama, we don't have to worry about anything. It's so simple and comfortable!"
Luffy nodded, pleased with their understanding. "Great! The fact that you can grasp my perspective shows your thought processes are sound. You don't need to worry about anything. Just follow me. Be loyal to me. Be honest with me. Trust me. The future will be bright, and it will be glorious."
His words ignited a passionate response, filling the women with fervor. They all knelt—not in a subservient manner but as a gesture of respect, their movements elegant and refined.
"Luffy-sama! We wish you and the Empress a lifetime of happiness!"
Luffy laughed, responding, "Of course! Nothing can stop that!"
"Alright," he continued, "it's been half a year since we set out on this new journey. I need to focus on solidifying my training level." He turned to Hancock and the others, instructing them to discuss future governance matters.
Earlier, Luffy had told Hancock that they needed to build the Women country into a complete nation. It required military strength, economic development, and overall power—all must be at the forefront of the world.
This wasn't just a fleeting thought; it was a real aspiration. Luffy intended to establish fortified nations beyond the seas. The daughter country was a perfect fit for this endeavor. They had already discussed several preliminary matters, and Hancock went off to coordinate with everyone.
Conqueror's Haki Value: 89/100!
Luffy checked his attribute panel, surprised and pleased to see the number climbing. Thanks to Hancock, he had experienced an unprecedented feeling of fulfillment that had elevated his understanding by two points. Achieving a score above eighty was challenging, and after a week of intensive training, he had anticipated reaching ninety.
He had increased the frequency of his training sessions with Hancock and explored more trends together. Under normal circumstances, the progress should have been evident, yet his number had stagnated at eighty-nine. He suspected that reaching ninety might be more challenging than he'd imagined, a significant threshold to cross.
Luffy believed that once he surpassed ninety, his abilities would soar beyond his wildest dreams. Even at eighty-nine, he felt he could grasp and control everything around him.
Suddenly, he sensed that Rayleigh had left the island. Using his Haki, he covered Rayleigh's consciousness, causing him to feel dizzy for a moment. Shaking his head, Rayleigh muttered, "Ugh… must be my emotions playing tricks on me. The red-haired pirate is arriving soon. I need to keep an eye on the situation with Nika. I'll go to the nearby wind port to meet him."
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