Chapter 416 - 255

Chapter 256: Drunk, Kissing, and the First Meeting with Shirahoshi!"Come on! Drink up! No one is allowed to use Hakito sober up!""Anyone who does is a little fish fry!"Luffy and Zoro had their arms draped roughly over each other's shoulders, holding up massive wooden mugs in their other hands, big enough to fit half a normal person's head.The two craned their necks, competitively chugging the cool alcohol down their throats, uncaring as the amber liquid streamed freely down the corners of their mouths, soaking their clothes."Hic—! That hits the spot!!"Luffy slammed his wooden mug heavily onto the coral table, letting out a thunderous burp.The heat of the alcohol had burned his cheeks crimson, and a hazy glaze began to cover his eyes."Ever since Nami... hic... put a 'drinking ban' on me, I've been suffocating! I have to drink my fill today!""Hmph, that's why I said,"Zoro also put down his mug, his tongue slightly slurred, but his tone was resolute,"You should have 'gotten rid' of that woman long ago!"He spoke shockingly and slapped Luffy hard on the back, making Luffy cough out another burp."Listen, if a real man can't even drink freely,"Zoro held up a finger, his expression so "serious" it was as if he were expounding on some great maritime truth,"Then what's the difference between his life and a salted fish soaking in seawater?!""Uh... that seems... somewhat reasonable?"Luffy's eyes unfocused for a moment, and he subconsciously nodded along.But the next second, a sense of crisis, rooted deeper in instinct and sharper than Observation Haki, suddenly pierced the alcoholic haze, making him jolt awake."Holy crap!!"He immediately broke out in a cold sweat, and most of his intoxication vanished.His neck "creaked" like a rusty gear as he nervously scanned the hall, feeling guilty.The banquet was noisy, and figures were moving, but fortunately, the familiar orange long hair and the face with the "kind" smile did not appear in his line of sight."Phew... I'm saved..."Luffy let out a heavy sigh, patting his chest with lingering fear, as if he had just returned from a trip to the gates of hell.What kind of joke was that?!Nami had only entrusted her most precious possession to him a few days ago!!If he dared to have the thought of "abandoning" her now?Before Luffy's eyes, the image of Nami's raging black flames rising behind her, and the familiar yet terrifying "Iron Fist of Love" descending from the sky, seemed to materialize.He would die!He would absolutely die without even a speck remaining!!"No more, no more! I truly can't drink another drop!"Luffy shook his head violently, as if trying to fling out both the remaining intoxication and the suicidal thoughts.He staggered to his feet, his steps unsteady as he tried to shuffle away from Zoro."Tch, spineless guy!"Zoro watched his "henpecked" demeanor, frowned in displeasure, tilted his head back, and chugged another large mouthful before sneering:"Sure enough, beautiful women are the storms of the sea!""They make you dizzy when you get close, and if you truly run into one, they can break a man's spirit!"..."Luffy, are you alright?"A clear, concerned voice came from his side.Uta had approached at some point, naturally reaching out a hand to gently steady Luffy's drunkenly swaying arm.At such a close distance, Luffy looked through his hazy, drunken eyes and felt that Uta before him was even clearer and more dazzling.Beneath her slightly arched, delicate brows, those unique, Violet eyes, which seemed to hold stars and melodies, clearly reflected his current disheveled image, brimming with concern that was almost overflowing.Her refined nose bridge, moist cherry lips, and snow-white skin that appeared even finer and smoother under the soft banquet lighting... everything was enveloped in a breathtaking beauty."Luffy, do you need me to stay with you?"Her thin lips parted slightly, and her pleasant, oriole-like voice, carrying a trace of sweet, unique fragrance, quietly drifted into Luffy's nostrils.Perhaps the alcohol had completely numbed the nerve called "reason,"Or perhaps the concerned look so close to him was simply too moving,Before Luffy's muddled brain could make any judgment, his body acted first!!He lowered his head and precisely covered those slightly parted, rosy, soft lips."Mmm...!"The moment she was kissed, Uta's breathing suddenly stopped, and it was as if brilliant musical notes exploded deep within her mind, turning everything blank.She abruptly widened her beautiful purple eyes, gazing in disbelief at Luffy's profile, which was inches away.The sensation on her lips was entirely unfamiliar, warm and moist, carrying a faint scent of alcohol, yet unbelievably fervent.Luffy's breath aggressively invaded her senses, like the strongest rhythm, instantly seizing her heart, washing over her soul, and drowning all her thoughts.The stage, the singing, the noisy banquet... everything faded and receded in that moment.In her world, there was only the scorching temperature between their lips and the sole figure of Luffy.The concept of time became blurred.It felt like a long time had passed, or perhaps only a moment, before Luffy slowly pulled away.A faint, ambiguous silver thread briefly connected their separating lips before snapping."I, I'm going to sober up!"It seemed Luffy had just realized what he had done, and his gaze was evasive.His large hand rubbed Uta's soft, red-and-white hair in slight panic, and then he practically stumbled away, shaking his head and hastily fleeing the scene.Leaving Uta standing alone in a daze.After a few seconds of stillness, a startling flush rushed "boom" from her neck to her ear tips, finally sweeping across her entire pretty face.She felt her cheeks were incredibly hot, like a bubbling teapot about to spout steam."This... is what kissing feels like?"She subconsciously raised her slightly trembling jade hand, her fingertips lightly touching her still tingling and burning lips, then touching her hot cheek.A sensation mixed with dizziness, shyness, and a certain inexpressible sweetness enveloped her entirely.She felt giddy, as if she were stepping on clouds. The sounds of the surrounding banquet turned into a blurry background noise, and only the residual warmth and scent of Luffy on her lips remained incredibly vivid... The sea breeze, carrying the characteristic slight saltiness and coolness of Ryugu Palace, passed through the coral corridor, slightly clearing the intoxication in Luffy's mind.He leaned against a pillar and let out a long breath."Phew—! I'm finally a little clearer!"He vigorously patted his cheeks,"Next time, I absolutely cannot let Zoro force me to drink so much again!"Just then, an enticing aroma of food drifted by, precisely capturing his extraordinarily keen sense of smell for delicacies."Huh? That smell is..."Following the scent, he peeked over and saw several Ryugu Palace Guards carefully pushing a food cart, delivering plates of food into a strangely shaped "Hard-Shell Tower" nearby.Their movements were extremely gentle. After setting down the food, they bowed respectfully toward the depths of the tower.They then almost tiptoed out and tightly closed the heavy door, the entire process being quiet to the point of solemnity."I remember now..."Luffy scratched his head, looking at the closed tower,"That's where that... super huge, slightly timid, and especially weepy Mermaid Princess lives!"A huge, teary-eyed, yet somehow endearingly naive figure vaguely appeared in his mind."Hmm... since I can't sleep anyway, I'll go take a look!"Once curiosity was sparked, it was unstoppable.He crept up to the exquisite door of the Shell Tower, held his breath, and pushed the heavy door open just enough for a peek.Inside the door was pure darkness and silence, with only the faint aroma of untouched food drifting from a distant table."Looks like she really is sleeping," Luffy thought, preparing to gently close the door."Clink."A clear, crisp sound was particularly abrupt in the silence.The next instant, countless soft luminous pearls embedded in the tower walls and dome lit up one after another."Waa... wh-who is there?"A voice came from the depths of the sleeping chamber.The voice was soft, sweet, and moist, carrying the grogginess of being newly woken and a hint of imperceptible trembling, as if it were so delicate that a gentle squeeze could make water drip out, instantly seizing the listener's heart.Luffy's body stiffened, and he awkwardly turned around.He saw that on the huge, magnificent coral bed, the Mermaid Princess Shirahoshi was propping up her massive body, rubbing her eyes sleepily with her small hands.Her cherry-pink long hair was somewhat messily draped over her smooth shoulders like seaweed, and her eyes, azure like the purest deep sea, were still coated with an un-dispersed film of moisture, stunningly clear.Her appearance was flawlessly exquisite, enhanced by a touch of innocence from just waking up, and her magnificent pink-and-red fishtail shimmered with a dreamlike luster under the pearl light.But at this moment, Luffy, facing this extremely impactful beauty, couldn't muster a single thought of appreciation."Who, who are you?"Shirahoshi clearly saw the unfamiliar human figure at the doorway. Her remaining sleepiness was instantly replaced by panic. She instinctively shrank back, her voice thin and trembling,"Are you... a human? Are you also... one of those people who came to take my life?"She tried to appear braver, puffing out her chest, but the trembling in her voice and her rapidly reddening eyes completely betrayed her:"I... I'm not scared! I am King Neptune's daughter... You, you mustn't do anything reckless..."Before she finished speaking, her azure eyes, filled with unease, quickly misted over with a crystalline film, and massive tears were on the verge of falling."Oh no, oh no! She's going to cry!"Luffy's heart sank, and he immediately felt that things were going badly.He felt completely helpless and his scalp tingled!"I, my name is Luffy! Monkey D. Luffy!"He quickly raised both hands and waved them vigorously, trying to look harmless."Don't be afraid! Don't be afraid! I absolutely didn't come here to hurt you! I just... uh, smelled something good and was curious to take a look!""Eh...?"The expected torrent of tears did not happen.Shirahoshi blinked suddenly, and the tears that were about to fall miraculously hovered at the edge of her eyes.She tilted her head slightly, her long pink eyelashes still catching tiny specks of tear light, and the look of panic on her face was gradually replaced by an expression mixed with astonishment, disbelief, and even a hint of... yearning."...Luffy-sama? Are you truly that 'Luffy-sama'?"Her voice was still very soft, but the fear had completely vanished, leaving only a sense of almost careful confirmation and reverence.Luffy: "...???"He was completely stunned where he stood, a giant question mark seemingly popping up above his head.Since when did his name possess such a miraculous, instantaneous "cry-stopping" effect?This was even more effective than Chopper's Cure-all!