Luffy turned to the group with a calm but slightly complicated expression. Without offering much explanation, he reached out to take Mansherry from Violet's hands.
"Let's go. Leo and the others should have found King Riku and Kyros by now. We should head back too."
Hearing Leo's name, Violet's confusion was replaced with surprise and joy. "Leo's here too? That's wonderful! I haven't seen him in years!"
Mansherry, however, seemed less enthusiastic. Her mood had soured, as she had initially believed herself to be Luffy's only fiancée. The realization that he already had two girlfriends—both seemingly very close to him—left her feeling neglected.
Noticing her dejection, Luffy gently rubbed her cheek with his fingers, his voice soothing. "Don't overthink it, Mansherry. I know our engagement was a little… rushed, but I treat all my women equally. You're important to me, just like they are."
Though still a little afraid of Kalifa and Olivia's intimidating personalities, Mansherry nodded obediently. If it was Luffy's request, she would do her best.
She took a deep breath, mustering up her courage. "Alright! I'll try to be friends with them!"
On the way back to the tent, Luffy casually turned to Violet. "Plum, does your father have any plans to reclaim the throne?"
Violet blinked, momentarily confused. " Plum? Are you… talking to me?"
"Of course," Luffy replied with a grin. "Plum can be violet colour. It's nickname. If you don't like it, I can call you something else—Laila, Little Let, Acai…"
As Luffy rattled off increasingly creative nicknames, Violet's cheeks flushed a deep red. "Stop! Just stop!" she stammered, waving her hands in protest.
"You… you can call me whatever you like, but Plum sounds so childish! I guess it's fine…"
Luffy's grin widened mischievously at her flustered response.
For him, Violet wasn't just another potential ally. Her ability, beauty, and connections made her indispensable, especially for the search for pure gold. He intended to pull her closer, both for strategic reasons and, admittedly, because of her charm.
"Alright, Plum it is, then!" Luffy teased. "So, Plum, why aren't you answering my question about your father? Does he have any intention of taking the throne back?"
Violet ducked her head, trying to hide her reddened face beneath her cloak. "I… I don't know. You should ask him yourself," she mumbled.
Undeterred, Luffy pressed on. "Fine. But Plum, how old are you? How tall are you? Do you have any hobbies?"
"23. 178 centimeters. And… no hobbies."
"Come on, there's no way you don't have hobbies! Don't be shy, Plum. Tell me what you like!"
"..."
Luffy's relentless questioning continued all the way back to the tent. Along the way, he managed to learn some rather interesting details about Violet—like her precise measurements. Her figure, especially her chest-to-waist ratio, was almost suspiciously perfect. Luffy even joked about verifying the numbers himself, though he wisely kept those thoughts to himself.
By the time they arrived, Violet was dazed and overwhelmed.
In the tent, King Riku was sitting with Leo, engaged in an animated discussion. Kyros stood nearby, keeping a watchful eye on Rebecca as she played with the dwarves, worried she might accidentally hurt them.
When Luffy and the others entered, King Riku and the others began to rise, but Luffy waved them off.
"No need to stand. I'll sit here," Luffy said, finding a nearby seat.
Leo, spotting Luffy, jumped up excitedly. "Benefactor! We've decided to stay and help rebuild Dressrosa! Kabu's already gone back to prepare supplies. He'll be here soon with supplies from Greenbit!"
"Good," Luffy said with a nod. "I'll have someone handle the reception and distribution when it arrives. You don't have to worry about that."
King Riku smiled warmly. The people of Dressrosa already regarded Luffy as their savior, and his dedication to helping the country's recovery only deepened their gratitude.
"With food from the dwarves, we'll be under much less pressure," King Riku said. "But I have to admit, the situation is still dire. Rebuilding will take more than supplies—we need leadership. Someone the people can trust."
Luffy turned to King Riku, his expression serious. "Your Majesty, that's exactly what I've been saying. Dressrosa needs a leader. Someone who can unite the people and guide them through this crisis.
"I understand why you stepped down, but the people need you now more than ever. It's time to take the reins again."
==============================================
Support me at p@treon.com/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
==============================================