The sky was clear and cloudless.
The sea was calm, and the "Wave Rider" sailed smoothly across the water. It should have been a perfect day for enjoying the sea breeze and basking in the sun, but the cabin was filled with a "liveliness" starkly contrasting the tranquility on deck.
Perona lay sprawled on the soft bed, her cheeks flushed an unnatural crimson, fine beads of sweat dotting her forehead. Even her usually fluffy pink hair was disheveled. She turned her head, her gaze falling behind her, where Ryan had his left arm wrapped around Mikita's waist and his right hand gripping Porche's wrist. The three of them were intimately entangled.
Three women make a drama, but Ryan had gone and set the stage right in the cabin!
"He's a complete beast!" Perona bit her lower lip, complaining inwardly. But despite her complaints, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She had long experienced Ryan's ferocity. His relentless, unrestrained energy was always overwhelming. Now, with Mikita and Porche here, they could at least "share" the burden, sparing her from facing that suffocating pressure alone.
"This is actually fine..." Perona stole a glance, then quickly averted her eyes, the flush on her cheeks deepening. "At least I don't have to endure it all by myself. Otherwise, I'd definitely get hurt by this awful man sooner or later..."
"Slacking off again?" Just as she was thinking, Ryan's hand came down with a sharp slap. The crisp sound made Perona yelp in pain, her eyes instantly reddening with unshed tears. Filled with grievance, she could only obediently push herself up, complying with his wishes, her two messy pink pigtails swaying slightly with the movement.
"Captain, you're so mean," Porche cooed, noticing the distinct red mark. She immediately leaned against Ryan, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Perona's just a little girl. Hitting her so hard must hurt so much~"
"Think my hand is too heavy?" Ryan glanced down at Porche's deliberately coy act, a playful smirk curling his lips. "Then you do it."
He had held back most of his strength earlier—just a reminder for the lazy girl. If he were serious, it wouldn't leave just a red mark; he'd probably knock her senseless.
"Fine, I will!" Porche perked up immediately, breaking free from Ryan's grip and moving to Perona's side without any hesitation.
"Porche, you're so sneaky!" Mikita pouted in dissatisfaction upon seeing this. "You always snatch the 'good stuff'! No way, I want in too!"
With that, she moved to Perona's other side, her eyes gleaming with eagerness.
"You two..." Perona, sandwiched between them, felt her cheeks burn like ripe apples. She cursed these two "accomplices" inwardly.
These women were utterly shameless, actually fighting for a turn.
"How mean," Porche instantly understood Perona's thoughts. She reached out and twirled a strand of Perona's pink hair, deliberately leaning in to tease her. "Little Perona, big sister is helping you here. With the captain's ferocity, you'd suffer a lot otherwise."
"That's right!" Mikita chimed in, pinching Perona's flushed cheek. "We're kindly sharing the burden, and you're not even grateful. You really are just a little girl~"
"I-I don't need your help!" Perona turned her head away, her face red, her voice trembling slightly.
"Why are you so resistant then?" Porche chuckled as she released her grip, speaking leisurely, "There's an old saying—if you can't resist, just accept it gracefully. Honestly, it's not so bad. After all, we're not the ones putting in the effort."
Perona's eyes widened in shock. The words sounded utterly absurd, but upon second thought, she realized she never could resist anyway. If she just obeyed, it might actually be easier.
"Perona, have you lost your mind!" The moment the thought crossed her mind, Perona snapped back to reality, scolding herself inwardly. How could she even consider their logic? They might be content with their downfall, but she mustn't follow suit!
Ryan found Porche's "if you can't resist, just accept it" remark amusing. These two women had truly mastered the art of "turning the tables."
In essence, it was about "if you can't change your current life, learn to enjoy it." Compared to Perona's fearful yet stubborn immaturity, this was the mark of a mature woman—knowing how to go with the flow and find comfort within given boundaries.
Ryan watched the three women lined up before him with keen interest. Their varied demeanors were far more entertaining than battling Pirates at sea or dealing with the Marines.
.......
Click...
Sometime later, the door gently pushed open, and Kalifa stepped in wearing high heels. Her sleek black secretary outfit accentuated her curvaceous figure, while her flowing golden hair and thin-framed glasses added a touch of professional efficiency.
As she took in the scene, Kalifa's gaze paused behind her lenses, and she instinctively halted at the doorway.
Porche and Mikita flanked Perona, supporting her. The girl's cheeks still flushed with lingering color, her eyes dazed, and her pink hair disheveled against her neck. Ryan stood tall before Perona, exuding a casual air of having just stepped away from the "excitement."
Quite the playboy!
"Oh, perfect timing. Join us," Ryan glanced back at Kalifa by the door, a teasing smile curling his lips.
Kalifa raised an eyebrow, adjusting her glasses with a hint of displeasure. "That's sexual harassment."
"Ah, Kalifa, no need to be so formal," Mikita chimed in from the side, stepping forward playfully with a wink. "With you and the captain seeing each other day in and day out, how could it be harassment? It's more like a little flirtation~"
"Exactly!" Porche immediately echoed, "Everyone on the ship knows you and the captain discuss work late into the night. If that counts as harassment, then we're all 'harassed' daily!"
Kalifa's expression remained unflinching, as if she hadn't heard Mikita and Porche's banter. She didn't even glance their way, keeping her stern, businesslike gaze fixed on Ryan, clearly uninterested in such frivolous jokes.
"Heh." Ryan chuckled lightly, brushing off Kalifa's discontent and ending the teasing. Turning back to his task, his tone grew slightly lazy as he asked, "Well, what is it?"
Kalifa quickly averted her gaze, her face maintaining its usual composure as if she hadn't noticed anything unusual in the room. She said seriously, "A pirate ship has been spotted three nautical miles off the starboard side. It's been confirmed to bear the emblem of the Kuja Pirates and is currently heading in our direction."
The Kuja Pirates? Boa Hancock? Why are we encountering them here?
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