First Bounties

Her emerald-green hair flowed like a waterfall, scattered messily across the silk pillow. A few playful strands clung to Hiyori's flushed, pretty face.

A faint smile still rested on her lips as she nestled happily in Lucas's warm embrace, her breathing long and even. She was clearly still immersed in a sweet dream.

The rain outside had stopped at some point, and morning light squeezed through the gap in the curtains, painting a long, narrow band of golden light across the carpet.

Suddenly, with a bang, the bedroom door was violently pushed open from outside, followed by a lively, excited voice:

"Lucas, look! We've got bounties on our heads!"

Among the women by Lucas's side, only Robin and Yamato would still call him by name so freely.

Hearing that familiar voice, Lucas identified the visitor without even opening his eyes or using Observation Haki.

Startled awake by the sudden commotion, Hiyori sleepily shrank farther beneath the covers, a hint of embarrassment coloring her fair cheeks.

Only then did Lucas slowly open his eyes and look at the girl standing beside the bed.

Yamato wore a fitted training outfit, sweat dripping from her forehead. She held a thick stack of bounty posters in her hand, her face full of excitement and curiosity. Seeing her like this, Lucas could not help looking a little helpless.

"Yamato, knock before entering someone else's room in the future, understand?"

Yamato tilted her head, her clear eyes filled with confusion.

"What's the problem? I don't mind seeing you 'strengthen another woman's body.' Don't worry, I'm not that petty."

Lucas's mouth twitched. Probably no one else in the world could interpret such an intimate matter as simply and crudely as "strengthening the body."

But thinking about it carefully, there did not seem to be anything particularly wrong