NOVEL NEXT Chapter 72: Chapter 72
During this time, Luffy and the pink-haired beauty indulged in an endless spree of carefree fun.
Life was nothing short of blissful.
The two lived in absolute comfort—sometimes soaking in the large bathtub, other times sipping tea, or even experimenting with snacks like spicy strips. They enjoyed themselves to the fullest.
Luffy, for a moment, seemed to forget who he was.
He seemed to forget all about his voyage across the seas.
With a chuckle, he said, "These spicy strips… not bad."
"Except…"
He paused, scratching his head.
"Something feels off."
In the kitchen, the pink-haired beauty and Luffy busied themselves, tirelessly working on their culinary experiments.
Failure was a frequent companion, but it didn't deter them.
With patience and determination, they pressed on, exploring and experimenting.
Dozens of Navy soldiers stood nearby, utterly under Luffy's control, acting as loyal assistants. Some worked on preparing ingredients, others managed the heat, while a few fanned the flames diligently. They resembled a troop of devoted servants.
"Alright, you guys," Luffy announced.
"Even though the spicy strips didn't turn out perfect this time, the flavor's decent enough."
"Try it for yourselves."
He generously handed out the spicy strips as a reward to the Navy soldiers.
In an instant, excitement spread among them.
"Thank you, my lord!"
"All hail Lord Luffy!"
They eagerly flattered him.
Luffy smirked, amused by their enthusiasm.
"Oh?" he teased.
"But isn't your boss supposed to be Fleet Admiral Akainu? Shouldn't you be showing him this kind of respect?"
His tone was light but laced with irony.
At that, the Navy soldiers exchanged glances before one of them stepped forward.
"Akainu?"
"That man?"
"He's just someone who sacrifices the happiness and personal lives of hundreds of thousands of Navy personnel for his own ambitions. Not much of a boss to admire."
Another chimed in.
"Yeah, we used to think he was a great Fleet Admiral—strict, action-oriented, and a hard worker."
"But now? After Lord Luffy's words, we've come to realize… Akainu is nothing but a selfish bastard!"
"Damn him!"
"He's not worth anything!"
"I'll curse his entire family!"
They vented their grievances openly.
"We're worked to the bone as it is, and he keeps piling on more missions. Does he even care that we're human too? The man's a total tyrant!"
They sighed heavily, shaking their heads.
"But what choice do we have? Orders are orders. If we don't follow them, we'll be punished."
Luffy nodded thoughtfully before asking, "And what exactly are Akainu's orders for you right now?"
One of the soldiers hesitated, his expression conflicted, before answering, "His orders… were to find you, Lord Luffy."
The words almost made Luffy burst into laughter.
He couldn't hold back his amusement, grinning widely.
"I'm standing right here! By Akainu's orders, shouldn't you all be reporting back and trying to arrest me?"
"Yet, here you are, doing absolutely nothing. Why is that?"
The soldiers responded in unison, their tone firm and unwavering.
"Lord Luffy!"
"We've turned our backs on the darkness and chosen the light!"
"Akainu's incompetence doesn't deserve our loyalty. But you… you're invincible, Lord Luffy! How could we betray you?"
"That's why…"
"Forget Akainu. We won't follow his orders anymore. All that matters is ensuring your safety, Lord Luffy!"
Their words were simple yet heartfelt, bringing a smile to Luffy's face.
"Well said," he replied, nodding in approval.
"From now on, follow me, and I promise you a better future. Got it?"
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of spicy strips emerged from the kitchen.
Luffy glanced at the results and declared, "Alright, let's give these a try!"
"If they're good, I'll reward each of you with ten thousand gold coins!"
He wasn't joking; his admiration for his newfound followers was genuine.
"Long live Lord Luffy!"
"Lord Luffy is unstoppable!"
"All hail Lord Luffy!"
The Navy soldiers cheered, their voices echoing through the room.
At the same time, in Fish-Man Island, an intense battle raged on.
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