Chapter 272: Invitation from Ryugu Palace! Dawn's Tenderness, the Iron Man in a Maid Outfit
Inside the penthouse suite of the Deep Sea Pearl Hotel.
The morning light pierced through ten thousand meters of deep seawater, carrying a dreamy azure hue, and gently spilled onto the large, messy bed.
Tatsuya leaned lazily against the headboard, sleeping soundly after a night of lingering intimacy and novel experiences with Robin.
Nami was also lying securely on his sturdy chest, breathing softly and evenly, fast asleep.
Robin was the first to wake from her slumber.
She forced herself to sit up from the soft bedding, despite the soreness that made her bones feel like they were falling apart.
Looking at the pile of clothes scattered on the floor, she shook her head helplessly and stepped off the bed with her fair, slender legs bare.
She tidied up the three sets of clothes, then draped the deep purple silky bathrobe over her graceful figure.
Hearing the movement, Tatsuya opened his deep eyes.
He watched Robin's back, which looked particularly charming in the soft light, a mischievous smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he beckoned to her with a finger.
Robin turned around and shot an annoyed glare at this insatiable man.
How could this guy have such terrifying stamina?
Yet, her eyes, clear as autumn water, were filled with an inseparable tenderness.
She walked back to the bedside with elegant steps, leaned down slightly, and leaned in, preparing to plant a gentle good morning kiss on Tatsuya's lips.
However, Tatsuya had no intention of letting her off so easily.
The moment their lips touched, Tatsuya suddenly reached out with strong arms, wrapped them around Robin's slender waist, and pulled her tightly toward him.
He turned passive into active, domineeringly extending the light kiss into a passionate, deep one.
But this was tough on Miss Navigator, who was still fast asleep.
Squeezed between the two, Nami not only felt the sudden tightness of the space, but the falling dark hair kept brushing against her delicate cheeks.
Woken up completely by the movement and Robin's hair, Nami rubbed her sleepy eyes in a daze.
When she saw the incredibly intimate scene before her, the remaining sleepiness in her mind vanished instantly, and she immediately pouted her red lips in dissatisfaction.
"Mmph... You two, actually doing this behind my back!"
Nami, refusing to be outdone, propped herself up, reached out with her fair, tender arms, and hooked them around Tatsuya's neck.
She forced herself forward and demanded an equally long, deep kiss from Tatsuya.
Only when they were both breathless did she let go with satisfaction, humming a little tune as she got up and headed to the bathroom to wash up.
The morning sunlight spilled into the room, and the atmosphere between the three was warm, natural, and filled with enviable sweetness.
An hour later, the three of them were dressed and ready to leave the hotel to meet up with their companions.
Just as Tatsuya's hand was about to touch the doorknob.
His powerful Observation Haki shifted slightly, keenly sensing that the corridor just a wall away was densely packed with fully armed Neptune Army soldiers.
Tatsuya sighed helplessly and pulled the door open.
However, to Tatsuya's surprise, the Neptune Army general leading the team outside did not raise his trident in hostility as before.
Instead, the moment the tall general saw Tatsuya, he immediately held out a beautifully crafted invitation with both hands and handed it over respectfully:
"Lord Crimson Lotus! Apologies for disturbing you and... your two ladies!"
"We are acting under the supreme decree of King Neptune, to thank you for saving Miss Camie on Sabaody Archipelago all those years ago."
"His Majesty the King sincerely invites you and your companions to attend the grandest state banquet at Ryugu Palace!"
"The other members of the Straw Hat Pirates, your companions, will also be heading there!"
"A banquet?"
Hearing this word, Nami, who had just finished dressing, immediately poked her little head out from behind Tatsuya's broad back, her big eyes sparkling with interest.
...
The scene shifted to the Mermaid Cafe.
At this moment, the atmosphere inside the cafe was bizarre to the extreme.
Because Franky, that guy, had volunteered to use his proud repair skills to fix Lady Shyarly's shattered crystal ball.
Not only did he fail to fix it, but he accidentally made the internal structure of the crystal ball even worse.
To apologize to the furious Lady Shyarly.
This massive, heavy-metal-modified steel hunk was now forced into an oversized black and white maid outfit that was about to burst from his terrifying muscles.
Franky wore a girly white lace headband, and his legs were clad in fishnet stockings that were painful to look at.
While serving tea and water to the surrounding guests, he didn't forget to stop every now and then.
He would put his arms together and strike his signature "SUPER" pose.
This horrifying and eye-stinging scene left all the mermaid guests in the cafe stunned.
But unexpectedly, business at the Fishman cafe was even more booming than before...
Clay sat on the bar counter, looking speechlessly at this unsightly scene, and covered his eyes with his wings.
And "Lassoo" was lying very obediently at Lady Shyarly's feet, leisurely chewing on a bone he had found somewhere.
Just then, a team of solemn Neptune Army soldiers pushed the door open and entered.
Seeing the fully armed soldiers, Franky's eyes sharpened, and he immediately ripped off the tight maid apron with a loud tear, preparing to fight.
Unexpectedly, the lead soldier did not attack but loudly recited the highest-level sincere invitation from Ryugu Palace.
After hearing the soldier's words, Franky was stunned for a moment, then let out a hearty laugh.
He struck that incredibly flamboyant pose again and shouted:
"SUPER—!"
...
Meanwhile, on the intricate coral streets on the other side.
Luffy was dragging Usopp, Chopper, and Brook, dashing wildly through the streets and alleys.
To escape the soldiers chasing them, they panicked and dashed headlong into a dim dead end.
The retreat was blocked, and behind them was the dense King's Guard.
Facing this desperate situation, the cowardly duo of Usopp and Chopper instantly collapsed, hugging each other and crying, raising their hands in surrender without hesitation.
But Luffy grinned, radiating battle intent, ready to break through by force.
Just as the conflict was about to erupt, the leading soldier captain waved his hand to stop his subordinates, sweating profusely, and shouted with all his might:
"Please wait! Straw Hat Luffy!"
"We are not here to capture you!"
"King Neptune has prepared the largest barbecue banquet in the entire Fish-Man Island at Ryugu Palace."
"There will be an unlimited supply of various top-tier Sea Kings barbecue, please do us the honor of attending!"
"Also, your other companions have also been invited!"
Hearing the four words "largest barbecue" that radiated endless magic.
Luffy's attack, which was ready to be unleashed, stopped instantly.
Then, his black eyes turned into two huge, sparkling meat steaks, and drool hung three feet long like a waterfall.
"Banquet! Meat! I'm coming—!!!" Luffy jumped three feet high with excitement.
The three people behind him stared with wide eyes.
They said in unison: "Stupid Luffy! What if it's a trap!!"
...
At a dead end on the edge of Fish-Man Island.
Zoro, who was completely lost, was looking irritably at the identical coral reefs around him.
Facing the Neptune Army closing in, he snorted coldly, gripped the hilt of his Wado Ichimonji with one hand, and prepared to draw his sword and cut down these guys.
Just as tensions were high, a giant whale, "Hoe," suddenly descended from the sky.
King Neptune, with his burly physique, had actually come out in person.
He sat on the back of the giant whale, looking at the murderous Marimo swordsman below, and smiled as he tossed out his trump card:
"This swordsman, it took quite some effort to find you."
"The wine cellar of Ryugu Palace stores peerless fine wine that has been treasured in the deep sea for hundreds of years."
"Also, your companions are already waiting for you at the plaza."
The four words "peerless fine wine" were like an unstoppable slash, instantly dissolving all of Zoro's fighting spirit.
He silently pushed the half-drawn blade back into the scabbard, a satisfied arc curling at the corner of his mouth.
...
Meanwhile, at a mermaid bathhouse in Mermaid Cove.
A team of Neptune Army finally found the currently extremely weak Sanji.
Looking at this pale human, the leading soldier sighed helplessly and shouted:
"Black Leg Sanji, please come with us."
"To thank you all, Ryugu Palace has arranged countless beautiful, gentle, and considerate mermaid palace maids, who are waiting to entertain you honorable guests..."
Before the soldier's words had fully landed.
Sanji, who had just been weak and collapsed on the ground, was like someone injected with the most potent stimulant, instantly launching himself from the beach.
Two huge, violently beating red hearts shot from his eyes, and pink boiling steam began to erupt wildly from his whole body.
He abandoned any thought of running or struggling, straightened his suit, stroked his chest with one hand, and bowed deeply in an incomparably elegant gentlemanly posture:
"Since it is the affectionate call of the beautiful mermaid ladies."
"Then as a qualified knight, I would be honored to accept!"
...
Under the highest-level escort of the Neptune Army, the Straw Hat Pirates, who had been causing trouble all over Fish-Man Island in several groups, finally reunited at the central plaza of Coral Hill.
King Neptune, riding the giant whale, nodded and greeted everyone with a smile, expressing his most sincere welcome.
Subsequently, the entire Straw Hat Pirates boarded the luxurious bubble car specially prepared by the royal family.
Under the surprised gaze of countless Fish-Man Island commoners, this long procession soared into the air.
They slowly ascended toward the symbol of royalty at the highest point of Fish-Man Island — "Ryugu Palace."
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