━─── Despite the jest, the members of the Whitebeard Pirates couldn't suppress their twitching brows, the humor edged with disbelief.
Thatch smirked, crossing his arms, a cocky glint in his eyes. "Well, I wouldn't want to look like a beauty when I'm this manly." He threw his head back, laughter sparkling in his gaze.
Ace and the others chuckled, the mix of admiration and amusement filling the air. Izo smiled sweetly, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"You said that, but I found some makeup in your room," Izo teased, his voice laced with sarcasm.
The crew burst into playful whistles and laughter, the sound blending with the salty breeze and thickening the camaraderie around them.
Thatch's cheeks flushed pink, his usual confidence slipping. "That's not mine! It's from that chick I slept with!" he stammered, though the gleam in his eyes betrayed his embarrassment.
"Sure it is," Izo quipped, hiding his grin behind his fan, his laughter bubbling just beneath the surface. The light tension faded, replaced by the crew's easy banter.
Marco observed the scene, his lips curling into an amused smile. He knew the makeup wasn't from some 'chick.' It had been a gift from a shopkeeper who believed that with Thatch's appearance and charm, the man must've have a girlfriend. Marco chuckled quietly, knowing full well that bringing a girl aboard Whitebeard's ship was forbidden.
Why? Simple. Whitebeard's ship was a sanctuary for pirates. The old man believed civilians, especially women, had no place in their rowdy world unless proven capable, and the thought of a civilian girl aboard, exposed to the dangers of the sea and their notorious reputation, was a burden he couldn't bear.
【Usopp stood up, his eyes bright with realization, and a broad smile spread across his face. "There's nothing we can do! We have Chopper and Franky's bodies, so their souls can return to the right places... but Sanji took your body to search for the samurai!" The sniper gestured animatedly at Sanji, or rather, Nami, his voice ringing with excitement. "Your soul was left behind, so you had to go into Sanji's body."】
"Yeah, and the Ero-cook had to drag us into his mess," Zoro grumbled, arms crossed. He recalled Nami's unwavering glare as she forced him to play bodyguard to Sanji and Brook, two perverts who dared not touch her.
Sanji's irritation flashed in his eyes, but before he could snap back, a pair of hands shot from his back, silencing him with startling force. A muffled protest escaped his lips as the crew turned their attention to Robin.
