Chapter 413: Uta
Sabaody Archipelago · Concert Outskirts
Luffy rested his hands behind his head, lazily kicking the air, his face written all over with boredom. "Nami—the pirates are almost all wiped out, let's go eat some roast meat!!!"
Nami swiped her fingertips, a spark of electricity crackling with a bzz, and shot him a smiling, yet warning glance.
"Luffy~ This is a direct order from Fleet Admiral Sengoku. If you abandon your post without permission..."
She deliberately dragged out her words, a sly curve forming on her lips. "Big Brother Roy will pack you up and throw you straight to Grandpa Garp for three months of extra training~"
Luffy stiffened completely. The image of Garp's iron fist crashing down like a meteor instantly flashed in his mind. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he immediately stood at attention, shouting:
"I'M GOING ON PATROL RIGHT NOW!!!!"
Before his words even faded, he shot off like a cannonball. His eyes were wide open, scanning every corner 360 degrees, not even letting an ant hole in the wall slip by.
Nami couldn't help but cover her mouth and snicker, shaking her head with a sigh. "Honestly..."
Not long after, Luffy slinked back over, his face full of grievance. "Nami! After Zoro got his new sword, he dragged Kuina off to go fight Hawkeye... I'm so jealous!!! I want to find a strong guy to fight too—"
Nami was just about to raise her hand to smack his head when, suddenly, a commotion erupted ahead!
The crowd surged. Screams and the clicking of camera shutters intertwined, and the scene instantly spiraled out of control:
"It's Miss Uta!!!"
"Stop pushing!! Let me get a picture!!!"
"An autograph!! I want an autograph!!!"
Reporters held their microphones high, and fans shoved frantically. The air instantly became cramped and sweltering.
Nami's eyes sharpened. With a flip of her palm, the power of the Kumo Kumo no Mi (Cloud-Cloud Fruit) quietly activated.
"VROOM—!!!"
A milky-white mist suddenly rose from the ground. Like a gentle yet inviolable tide, it softly pushed the crowd aside, neatly carving out a perfectly straight path.
She grabbed Luffy and quickly walked forward.
At the end of the path, Uta was completely surrounded by crazed fans and reporters.
The young girl's face was pale, her breathing ragged. The microphone in her hand swayed unsteadily, and she looked like she was about to trip and fall.
Nami stepped in front of her without hesitation. Her voice was clear but carried an unquestionable authority: "Everyone, please maintain order! Miss Uta needs to prepare for her performance!"
The cloud mist expanded, transforming into a barrier-like force that forcibly suppressed the clamor of the crowd. The scene finally quieted down slightly.
Right at that moment, Luffy tilted his head and suddenly leaned right in front of Uta's face, staring at her curiously:
"Huh? Your hair... is actually red too?!"
Uta's pupils shrank violently, her heart giving a fierce jolt. Her fingertips gripped the hem of her skirt in a death grip. The emotions churning in her eyes were forcibly pushed back down.
With mist swirling around her fingertips, Nami cooperated with the arriving guards to quickly clear the hallway, escorting the three of them into a quiet waiting room.
The heavy curtains fell, blocking out the noise from outside.
Inside the waiting room, the lighting was soft, though the residual echoes of the fans outside still lingered in the air.
Nami spoke softly, her tone holding a mix of concern and warning: "Miss Uta, next time you go out, please make sure you have guards accompanying you~"
"Right now, almost everyone on this island is a fan of yours. Moving around alone is far too dangerous."
However, Uta seemed as if she hadn't heard a word.
Her slender fingers clutched her skirt, but her gaze was dead-locked onto Luffy beside them—the black-haired boy who was currently hanging off the window frame, eyes sparkling as he stared blankly at a roast meat stall outside.
"MEAT!!!" Luffy was practically drooling, completely immersed in his own world.
Nami frowned slightly. With a hint of impatience, she raised her voice: "Miss Uta?!"
Uta finally snapped out of her daze. A flustered blush spread across her cheeks as she quickly whispered:
"I'm sorry... I spaced out just now... I just wanted to be alone for a bit... I didn't expect to get surrounded..."
Though her mouth was apologizing, her eyes still uncontrollably darted toward Luffy from time to time.
A vein popped on Nami's forehead. She brought her fist down hard on the back of Luffy's head: "LUFFY—!!!"
"THWACK!!!"
Luffy held his head and shrieked, "That hurts!!! What was that for, Nami?!"
Nami put her hands on her hips and snorted coldly. Narrowing her eyes, her tone was laced with irritation: "This Miss Uta seems to be particularly... 'interested' in you! Do you two know each other?!"
Scared by her question, Luffy jerked his neck around and looked at Uta with a blank expression: "Who are you? I don't know you!"
Uta's heart suddenly tightened. Her expression froze on her face, an undisguisable flash of shock and hurt passing through her eyes.
Her fingertips quietly tightened around her skirt. After a long moment, she replied softly, her voice trembling slightly: "I'm sorry... I saw you in the newspaper... the Marines' 'Rear Admiral Flame Dragon', Mr. Luffy."
After saying that, she lowered her eyelashes, firmly burying that momentary flash of disappointment and complex emotion deep within her heart.
Nami stared at her, her gaze gradually sharpening. Deep down, she grew secretly vigilant: This woman... there is definitely something wrong with her!!!
Meanwhile · Punk Hazard
Roy walked slowly into the research facility with Ace, the heavy doors groaning open amidst the grinding of gears.
"Yo~"
A familiar voice echoed from the depths of the corridor.
Vegapunk was pushing a hover-cart loaded with equipment toward them. His long tongue flopped around, and his face wore that same quirky, lazy expression as always.
"I heard you had a falling out with the higher-ups, kid."
Roy stuffed his hands in his pockets, a faint smile on his lips. "Doctor, aren't you afraid someone will hear you saying that? After all, your identity is still the Chief Scientist of the World Government."
Vegapunk curled his lips and snorted disdainfully: "Tch~ Who cares about them?"
"Ever since Saint Saturn was taken out by you, there's no one left to micromanage my research. It's much more relaxing than before, haha!"
As his voice echoed, the experimental zone came into view—the six satellites were bustling about. Robotic arms waved, light screens flickered, and commands and data intertwined in a noisy yet methodical symphony.
One figure among them was particularly eye-catching—
It was a tall satellite with a smoking hot figure. Wavy twin-tails rested on her shoulders, and her freckled cheeks gave her a surprisingly cute appearance.
She wore goggles on her head. A dark crop top revealed her toned waist, with a thick, light-colored jacket worn over it. Her code name was engraved on her chest and arm.
She wore only a pair of panties on her lower half, and stepped around efficiently in the newly developed DOM shoes.
But the moment she caught sight of Roy, her eyes clearly panicked. She flinched as if she had been electrocuted, nearly dropping the tools in her hands, and hurriedly lowered her head to continue working.
Roy merely shot her a passing glance, his gaze not lingering.
He had already discussed the dirty little secrets between York and Saint Saturn with Vegapunk long ago. Now that Saturn had long been reduced to a pile of bones, there was nothing left to squabble over.
He withdrew his gaze and changed his tone, turning serious: "Doctor, about that ring I mentioned to you before... is it done?"
Vegapunk chuckled, reaching into his coat and pulling out a device box.
"Of course."
The lid popped open. Lying quietly inside was a ring, its metal surface covered in complex, spiral patterns that looked like flowing layers of runes.
Inside the inner ring, a flame-like light faintly flickered, as if it were breathing in a low whisper.
Roy's gaze fell upon it, but behind him, Ace's eyes were already shining. He was so excited that flames were practically ready to erupt from his pupils.
♧♧♧
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
♧♧♧
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you