"Coby, why did you come all the way here?"
"Yes, Admiral, Luffy said he was bored, so he asked me to come along."
"When it's just Grandpa and me, it's all nagging, so I brought him along."
"What's this nagging?! It's all out of care and concern!"
After a year had passed since Luffy became the Inspection Chief, he walked down the interior corridors of the Marine Headquarters main building with Garp and Coby.
Unlike Coby but like Garp, he wore his Justice coat properly, sleeves on his arms rather than draped over his shoulders.
Luffy wore a red dress shirt and black pants, and atop his coat he sported his straw hat instead of a formal Marine cap.
"Anyway, whose fault is it that you became such an outstanding Marine? It's all thanks to your old grandpa here who trained you well from the start."
"I gave you a knuckle sandwich and threw you deep into the forest when you said you didn't want to join the Marines—who would want to be a Marine after that?"
"That was only because you've been so stubborn since you were a kid. Was it really that hard for you to just say you wanted to be a Marine?"
"I didn't want to lie to Grandpa."
"...In any case, I'm glad you've become such a fine Marine."
"Every time I heard the report of what you did over the past year, I was so proud."
"Proud? I just did what I wanted to do."
Armed with the authority as Inspection Chief to investigate any suspect without headquarters' permission, he and his subordinates had captured countless pirates and corrupt Marines over the past year.
No bribes worked on this righteous man, and few Marines dared threaten the grandson of Garp, the Navy's hero.
There had even been those who betrayed the Navy and conspired with pirates to kill Luffy, but that attempt was foiled by Luffy and the inspectors.
"When Sakazuki said he'd teach you personally, I was a bit worried, but things turned out better than expected."
"I kind of like his carrot-and-stick approach—unlike Grandpa's way."
"You're my grandson, not some horse! Save that comparison for when it actually fits!"
They reached the door at the end of the corridor, and Coby looked up at Garp.
"Um, Vice Admiral Garp, do we really have to go in now?"
"Why not, Coby?"
"The Fleet Admiral is attending the Seven Warlords plenary session right now—a crucial meeting not just of the Warlords but of senior World Government officials as well."
"That's why the Admiral told me to come later..."
"Do you think those government toe-lickers and the pirates sucking up there are more important than Luffy's business?"
"If they had some meeting, they should have scheduled time to handle Luffy's business first. That's Sengoku's bad time management."
"Luffy, can we not hold him back?"
"Even when the meeting's over, it'll be a while before it's my turn to report. If I want to get off duty early, I have to go in now."
"But there are procedures..."
"Coby, what do you think I've gained from the Marines by being Grandpa's grandson, apart from the Inspection Chief job, which just means more work?"
"Cutting in line for reports is about the extent of the perks."
"Skipping ahead of higher-ups isn't 'just that'!"
As Luffy and Coby spoke, Garp flung open the door at the end of the corridor.
Inside the large room, several people sat around a long table, and Sengoku sat near the center.
"Garp! I told you it was an important meeting—why are you coming in?!"
"Finish Luffy's business first, Sengoku!"
"If Luffy has to wait because of you, I won't have any time to hang out with him!"
"Luffy, you cut in again backing Garp up…!"
"My apologies. I met Grandpa on the way in, and he heard I'd have to wait a long time..."
"Enough. I'm tired of hearing the same excuse every time."
"I'll wait until the meeting ends."
"It's over. It was a meeting of just one person anyway, so it was short. Now hand over the documents for signature—it'll be quick."
"Understood."
As Luffy stepped up to Sengoku and handed over the bundle of documents, the men in black suits seated at the far right of the table rose to their feet.
Seeing that, Luffy and Garp took their seats at the table, and one of the men in suits spoke up.
"Well then... we'll be heading out, Admiral."
"Yes, have a safe trip."
"Um, sir, there are still reports to submit..."
"Let's go already. I don't want to stay any longer either!"
While the men headed toward the door grumbling, Luffy shifted his gaze sideways and addressed the elderly woman wearing her Justice coat over her shoulders.
"Chief of Staff, long time no see."
"As I said before, you can just call me Tsur, Luffy. Speak casually too."
"I started here as Sengoku and your grandpa's fellow recruit, and we've known each other for decades. So I want to treat you more like my friend's grandson than a subordinate."
"Thank you, Tsur... but what are they doing at the door?"
"They're entranced, same as your subordinates."
"...Coby?"
Luffy turned his gaze to Coby, who, unlike those seated, had stood to Luffy's left and was staring into empty air with an ecstatic expression.
The men in suits hovering at the half-open door were also staring at the same spot. Luffy followed their gazes and frowned.
"Creepy... that look in your eyes."
The seated woman rose, stepping forward from behind the others.
"You animals—how dare you look at me with those filthy gazes?!"
"[Mero Mero Mellow]!"
A wave of pink energy radiated broadly from her fingertips.
"Boa Hancock! Do you know where you are...!"
"Quiet, Admiral. You are not my target."
"You're targeting the beasts who are looking at me like filth."
Despite the beam sweeping over them, there was no sign of anything breaking.
Sengoku, Garp, and Tsur stood enveloped in a faint, smoke-like aura.
"Ehehehe... Pirate Empress..."
"So beautiful..."
In contrast, the World Government officials at the doorway lay collapsed on the floor, their limbs loose and flaccid, no longer resembling living humans of flesh and bone.
Their eyes, stained pink, hung low, and their mouths were pulled up to their ears in adoration of Hancock's beauty.
"See? As expected, beasts should crawl on the ground like beasts..."
"Hey, Coby... what's wrong with your body?!"
"...?"
At that moment, Boa Hancock, her movements faltering, looked down at Coby in shock, and the women standing behind her mirrored her astonished expression.
But before her stood Luffy, devoid of any aura, shaking Coby's limp form on the floor as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"How can my ability not work on you, a man...!"
"So beau-ti-ful..."
"Get your head together!"
"Who the hell are you?!"
"What...?"
"Can't you hear the words of this beautiful body?! Answer me, now!"
Hearing Hancock's words, Luffy stood up, pushing off from one of the flaccid chairs.
"What did he do to make you turn him into this state?!"
"Simple reason: because you were an eyesore."
"All for such a reason...!"
"I am forgiven for anything I do because I am..."
She swept her hair back, letting her glossy locks shimmer.
"the most beautiful woman in the world!"
She smiled seductively.
Her black hair, silky and lustrous, framed her sculpted ivory face like a flowing waterfall, and her eyes were like polished ebony beads.
From the gentle curve between her brows to the tip of her nose, her profile traced a flawless curve, and her egg-shaped face had not a single harsh angle.
Below her slender neck, her shoulders spread into a chest so full that it threatened to burst from her clothing, leaving a valley between them. Her narrow waist led down to broad hips and thighs that tapered into slender ankles, forming a natural, graceful silhouette.
"My queen, you're so beautiful!"
"So beau-ti-ful..."
"I'm in ecstasy..."
Hancock's enthralled admirers, including Coby, praised her beauty in a drooling chorus.
"Cut the crap..."
"Who are you people? Give me my friend back!"
Luffy shouted with anger and disgust at Hancock and her mesmerized followers.
'It's not the ability they're resisting... my beauty itself has no effect?!'
Hancock's crew gasped in shock.
Hancock's pale face drained of even the slightest color.
Having experienced an unknown realm for the first time, fear gripped Hancock, and, growing desperate, she reached out to Luffy.
"What trick did you use...!"
"Enough of this, Hancock."
Tsur placed a finger on the table and spoke to Hancock, who was lunging at Luffy as he backed away.
Tsur's finger, surrounded by the same faint white aura as Sengoku and Garp, hovered just before Hancock's outstretched hand.
"You're a good kid."
Hancock, her eyes wide, surveyed the three Marine legends before her: the Fleet Admiral at the pinnacle of the Navy, the veteran hero who had dueled the Pirate King Gol D. Roger, and the seasoned Chief of Staff.