The entire Hive Island was in an uproar.
The sides of the wide avenue leading from the dock to the Skull Building were filled with pirates eager to watch the spectacle.
If it weren't for the Beast Pirates maintaining order, this grand avenue—built specifically by Ochoku for the occasion and wide enough to allow a giant sea king to pass—would have been completely blocked.
The Golden Dragon returned, and the island's master, Lord Ian, was back!
But the pirates' main focus wasn't on this pirate emperor.
Instead, it was on the monsters following Lord Ian.
"Hee hee hee hee hee!"
Solem, carrying a massive golden warhammer, grinned as he looked around. The giant, nearly twenty-five to twenty-six meters tall, caused the ground to tremble slightly with each step.
"It seems like they're all here for us!"
He licked his lips, his eyes gleaming dangerously as he watched the pirates. "I wonder how much wealth they have?"
"Don't cause trouble here, Solem."
Ian said casually.
"Of course, boss!"
Solem chuckled, "This is our territory! I won't cause any trouble here! I'm just curious, heh, just curious!"
Your expression doesn't look like pure curiosity.
This guy was truly an extraordinary money-hungry individual.
If it weren't for Ian, he probably would have already started commanding the giants to clear out the pirates and begin looting.
But he wasn't wrong—the pirates were indeed here for the giants.
Three hundred giants stretched out in a terrifying formation behind Ian.
Their steps weren't synchronized, but it felt as though the whole Hive Island was shaking.
"All giants! Am I really not dreaming?"
"Isn't that several hundred of them? I never thought I'd see so many giants in my life!"
"This is Lord Ian! So terrifying, did he really tame all these giants? He directly created a monstrous giant army!"
"Such a terrifying army, what in this world can still stand against it? Damn, what can still resist this?"
The pirates were truly shocked.
This was a real giant army, something that had never happened on the sea before.
Even the Giant Pirate Crew, which shook the world ninety years ago, had no more than a hundred members.
Even the giant brigadier generals recruited by the Navy numbered no more than twenty.
Yet now, what appeared on Hive Island, standing before them, was a true army of two to three hundred giant warriors!
How absurd!
Unprecedented, absolutely horrifying!
Ian smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth.
If he wasn't mistaken, it wouldn't be long before the fact that he had formed a giant army would spread across the world.
So, when he returned to Wano Country, he'd have to first settle a score with Kaido-sensei.
But before that, Ian turned his head slightly, glancing at the woman walking just behind him.
The woman named Stussy still maintained her usual elegant demeanor, but her face had grown slightly pale, giving her a somewhat stiff appearance.
It was easy to tell what this woman was thinking.
"Ian!"
Hancock shot a glance at Stussy, her teeth gritting slightly. She stepped forward, standing beside Ian, and whispered, "Who is this woman?"
She had dared to get so close to Ian just now!
She had certainly sealed her own fate!
"Timely Rain."
Ian chuckled.
Hancock tilted her head, looking completely puzzled.
But that didn't stop her from glaring fiercely at Stussy.
Stussy returned a smile.
She of course knew Hancock's identity. To be honest, this senior officer from the Golden Dragon ship was someone whose strength was beyond what she could handle.
However, this wasn't the time to worry about that.
Stussy couldn't help but glance again at Ian's back.
This boy… what exactly does he know?
He suddenly brought up Dr. Vegapunk in front of her—did that idiot Queen notice something?
But that doesn't make sense.
Queen had no way of knowing that she had replaced Stussy's identity.
Calm down.
Stussy, stay calm.
Even if this boy knew about her relationship with the doctor, it wasn't really a big deal, right?
In fact, it might even be an opportunity to get closer to him through her connection with Queen.
And perhaps, when he thinks he knows her secret, wouldn't that make it easier for her to get close to him?
Stussy thought.
"Hey! What are you looking at?"
Hancock noticed Stussy's gaze, her lips curling into a scowl as she angrily huffed, "Are you plotting something?"
Having regained her composure, Stussy responded with a bright smile, "No matter how many times I look, I still think it's amazing. To achieve such accomplishments at such a young age... truly deserving of being called Lord Ian."
Hancock narrowed her eyes, her gaze filled with a murderous glint.
You think flattering Ian will get you out of this?
"Alright, Hancock,"
Ian said lightly, "Stussy is my guest."
"Understood!"
Hancock instantly changed her expression, becoming gentle and understanding.
Stussy also tugged at the corner of her mouth.
As expected, the rumors were true. Ian, Yamato, and Hancock, the three highest-ranking individuals on the Golden Dragon ship, were in a love triangle.
This might be a breakthrough, who knows?
After all, everyone knows that Yamato is Kaido's daughter. Would that man stand by and let Ian's flirtations go unchecked?
If Ian had the ability to read minds, he would probably laugh out loud if he knew what Stussy was thinking.
Forget whether Kaido would care about such matters, even if he wanted to intervene, the only thing he would say would probably be one sentence:
"Handsome men are only for the strong to possess."
Walking down this wide path, the final destination was the central hub of Hive Island, the massive Skull Tower.
This building had been partially destroyed during Ian and Marco's battle, but Ochoku had already repaired it.
After Ian took control of the island, he remodeled the entire place, erasing all traces left by Ochoku.
At first, he thought about adding two large horns to the skull, but later, because he had to put on a show with Kaido, he was forced to abandon the idea.
Later, the upper half of the Skull Tower, where the officers lived, was the next stop.
Black Maria brought Ace, Zoro, and Kuina here, smiling as she said, "Go ahead and pick the rooms you want."
"Anything goes?" Zoro gawked at the row of rooms in front of him.
There were so many rooms!
Just to add, this Skull Tower wasn't small.
It had thirty floors, with over a thousand rooms inside.
After all, it used to be the headquarters of the Wang Zhi Pirate Crew.
"Woohoo!"
Ace cheered loudly and immediately rushed out.
Zoro was not one to fall behind, quickly following after.
Kuina looked at the two eager boys, gave a small smile, and slowly followed behind.
Soon, the boys and girls had chosen their rooms, all of which were located at the front of the skull-shaped island. From the windows, they could see the endless ocean stretching out before them.
"Such a big island, is it all under Ian's control?"
Zoro stood by the window, looking down at the massive Hive Island. All he could see were densely packed buildings below and pirate figures that looked like ants.
This island was much bigger than the one where his hometown, Shimotsuki Village, was located.
"Big? If you're surprised now, it's still too early to judge," came a laugh from behind.
Zoro turned around, and Black Maria smiled as she spoke. "Do you think you've boarded just any ship? Hive Island is just a small part of Ian's territory."
Zoro was taken aback.
This is just a small part?
**********
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