Chapter 598: Dressrosa Relocation
Facing the collective assault from her fellow women, Hancock displayed not the slightest hint of fear.
She carried herself like a proud white swan, gracefully extending her elegant neck as she confronted her challengers with unwavering confidence.
As the women edged closer to physical confrontation, Luffy—despite not fully understanding the source of their conflict—felt compelled to intervene in his capacity as head of this unconventional family:
"What do you think you're doing?!" he demanded, his voice resonating with authority. "I haven't seen any of you for half a year, and the moment I return, you immediately resort to squabbling? Is there nothing that can wait until after dinner? And now that Ain has returned, if you have grievances or require mediation, direct your concerns to her."
Luffy's approach might have provided him temporary advantage, but it also created unseen complications that would be difficult to resolve. In truth, he had unwittingly complicated matters further.
Although Luffy typically maintained a cheerful demeanor and seemed approachable in everyday interactions, when he spoke with genuine displeasure, the women instinctively fell silent.
Ain cast a sidelong glance at Luffy's frustrated expression before quietly pulling Koala and Hancock aside to ascertain the situation.
Meanwhile, Yamato, Hina, and the others who had been moments away from venting their fury upon Hancock now stood with downcast eyes, their postures reminiscent of schoolchildren awaiting punishment after misbehavior.
Of course, Luffy had no genuine intention of disciplining anyone. With a dismissive wave, he beckoned everyone to gather and be seated.
After listening to Koala's detailed explanation, Ain quickly grasped what had transpired.
Predictably, Hancock received significant criticism for her manipulative conduct.
This development felt catastrophic to Hancock. During the past six months, without Ain's moderating presence, she had nearly established herself as the preeminent sister within their extended family. Now, on the very first day of Ain's return, an incident had provided ammunition against her, allowing Ain to reclaim her influence and once again assert dominance over the Pirate Empress.
Unfortunately for Hancock, regret at this juncture served no purpose—the damage was already done.
Once everyone was comfortably seated, Luffy did not immediately commence the meal. Instead, with everyone assembled, he seized the opportunity to formally introduce the newest members of their circle—Vivi and Reiju—to the rest of the women.
Thanks to extensive coverage in major news outlets, the women already possessed some basic knowledge of each other. Despite this being their first face-to-face meeting, they quickly accepted the two newcomers as legitimate members of their unusual family.
With introductions complete, lunch officially began.
Unlike traditional households with rigid rules about silence during meals, Luffy's approach fostered a different atmosphere. For him, the dining table represented the perfect occasion for strengthening interpersonal bonds.
As conversation flowed naturally, the new arrivals—Vivi and Reiju—rapidly developed connections with the other women. Among them, Viola, who had recently transitioned from princess to queen, discovered abundant common ground with the newcomers.
Additionally, Hancock, having occupied her throne for many years, possessed considerable expertise in governance. The four women swiftly set aside previous antagonisms and engaged in animated discussion about effective leadership strategies.
Among the remaining group, Yamato, Koala, Kalifa, Mansherry, and others—either chronologically young or youthful in temperament—clustered around Nami, eagerly questioning her about the experiences and observations from her journey through the North Blue.
Simultaneously, Hina, Kujaku, Olivia, and Robin provided Luffy with comprehensive updates regarding recent developments and significant events in Wano Country during his absence.
Perhaps most noteworthy among these updates was Viola's decision, following her coronation as queen, to relocate Dressrosa to the vicinity of Wano Country.
Truthfully, Luffy had anticipated handling this challenging relocation personally upon his return. He was genuinely impressed to learn that Koala had independently accomplished this feat, employing 690 Flame Clouds to transport the entire island housing Dressrosa to its new location.
Worth mentioning was that despite Viola's ascension to queenship, her father—King Riku III—continued governing in her stead within the kingdom itself. This arrangement struck Luffy as particularly commendable.
Unfortunately, his attempt to praise Koala's remarkable achievement went unacknowledged, as she remained thoroughly engrossed in Nami's vivid descriptions of North Blue landscapes, completely oblivious to Luffy's admiration.
Beyond acknowledging Viola and Koala's accomplishments, the consequential impacts of Dressrosa's relocation demanded attention as well.
Viola's residence in Wano certainly didn't render her an absentee ruler. Following the devastating conflict between Doflamingo and Kaido, Dressrosa had been left in a state of considerable disrepair.