Cheng Xiaoyu did not rush to leave, but leaned against a giant tree that covered the sky, his arms crossed, his eyes thoughtful.
He knew that Empress Boa Hancock was not on the island at the moment, because her highly recognizable giant snake pirate ship was not in the harbor.
Sure enough, not long after, the calm sea was stirred up by two huge sea snakes.
In the distance, a luxurious, almost extravagant pirate ship slowly sailed into the harbor.
The ship was painted with a huge snake pattern and hung with various flags on both sides.
On board was its owner—the ruler of Nine Serpent Island, the Empress of the empire, Boa Hancock!
Cheng Xiaoyu slightly raised his eyes, his gaze fixed on the ship across the sea.
However, behind the Empress's giant snake ship, a Marine warship also followed closely.
The flag on the warship fluttered majestically, and Vice Admiral Momonga, wearing a cloak of justice, stood on the deck.
Apparently, this was an urgent summons issued by the Marine for the Shichibukai.
And Vice Admiral Momonga's perpetually stern face and serious expression clearly indicated the urgency of this mission.
After the giant snake ship docked, Hancock's slightly arrogant voice came from the ship:
"Who allowed the Marine's dirty ship to approach my territory? Momonga, is it your turn to show some 'love' this time?"
It seemed that the World Government had sent Momonga to summon Hancock to participate in the upcoming Summit War.
Cheng Xiaoyu's mouth curved into a cold sneer; there was a good show to watch.
"Boa Hancock, I am here by order of the World Government to summon you to an emergency meeting," Vice Admiral Momonga said seriously.
"I'm not interested," Hancock refused coldly, without even lifting an eyelid.
"This is not up to you, Hancock!" Vice Admiral Momonga's expression turned somewhat grim. "This is an order from the World Government; you must obey!"
"I'll say it again, I'm not interested," Hancock waved her hand impatiently. "Also, leave all the supplies on your ship, and then you can scram."
Vice Admiral Momonga's face turned ashen with rage. He hadn't expected Hancock to be so arrogant, daring to openly defy the World Government's orders.
"You're playing with fire, Hancock!"
"I enjoy it," Hancock scoffed, then activated her Devil Fruit ability. "Mero Mero Mellow!"
A pink heart-shaped ray shot from Hancock's hand, turning Vice Admiral Momonga and several Marine soldiers into stone.
"How annoying," Hancock frowned in disgust, looking at the petrified Marines.
She harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Celestial Dragons because she and her two younger sisters had once been their slaves, enduring inhuman torture.
She would never help the World Government, much less participate in any Summit War.
At this moment, Vice Admiral Momonga stabbed his palm with his sword, barely resisting the power of the Mero Mero Fruit through the pain.
"Hancock! You know this violates the Shichibukai agreement!"
The Empress made a gesture, and her Nine Serpent female warriors who had come with the ship quickly moved, continuously moving the Marine's weapons, equipment, food, and other supplies onto the giant snake ship.
Vice Admiral Momonga was shocked. This Shichibukai was actually looting his warship right in front of him!
He wanted to stop her but was powerless. Under the Mero Mero Fruit's ability, he could barely move, let alone fight.
"Shut up! Get lost," Hancock waved her hand disdainfully.
Finally, the Marine warship gradually left the harbor under Vice Admiral Momonga's clenched-jaw command, as he suppressed his fury.
Cheng Xiaoyu watched this farce, a slight smile playing on his lips, secretly commenting on how truly domineering this Empress's style was!
In the Pirate World, the strong are respected.
The reason Hancock could become the new Empress after escaping from the Holy Land was also due to her strength!
This was a clear manifestation of the power gap; otherwise, would Vice Admiral Momonga be such an easy person to deal with?
Just then, Hancock's sister, Sandersonia, suddenly spoke:
"Sister, I heard a piece of news: a man named Cheng Xiaoyu killed three Celestial Dragons on Sabaody Archipelago!"
"What?!" Hancock and Marigold exclaimed in unison.
"It should be true! He also destroyed an island and finally... escaped alive right under the nose of a Marine Admiral!" Sandersonia said excitedly.
This news, like a thunderclap, repeatedly exploded in her ears!
Her slender fingers lightly touched her lips, and a strange light appeared in her beautiful eyes, a complex intertwining of emotions.
"Someone actually dared to kill Celestial Dragons? And three at once!"
Hancock murmured softly, maintaining her lady-like posture, but her eyes could not hide her shock.
"Cheng Xiaoyu..." Hancock murmured the name, her eyes shimmering with a strange light.
"A man who can kill Celestial Dragons and escape from a Marine Admiral must be very strong..."
"If I could see him with my own eyes, I... I..."
"Sister, what's wrong?" Sandersonia and Marigold had never seen Hancock so flustered, and they asked with some concern.
"He... he's simply a match made in heaven for me!"
Just as Momonga's warship completely disappeared, Cheng Xiaoyu lightly landed from the large tree where he had been hiding.
He looked at the giant snake ship docked before him, his gaze focusing on Hancock for the first time.
Cheng Xiaoyu's usual coldness and ruthlessness were, at this moment, mixed with a hint of amusement.
He had never seen such a radiant human beauty, nor had he ever seen a woman with a physique that was the pinnacle of human limits.
"Heaven created all things, truly perfect!"
Cheng Xiaoyu secretly praised in his heart, this Empress Hancock was simply a peerless beauty!
At this moment, Hancock did not notice Cheng Xiaoyu; she only saw a group of female warriors lying unconscious on the ground at the harbor.
Her intuition led her to believe that Nine Serpent Island had been attacked while she was away.
"Who's there? How dare you invade Nine Serpent Island!" Hancock roared.
"Me! They're just unconscious," Cheng Xiaoyu replied calmly.
Facing the intruder, Hancock, without a word, made a fluid gesture, and pink heart-shaped arrows flew towards Cheng Xiaoyu.
Cheng Xiaoyu's lips curved slightly upward, showing no intention of dodging.
He tilted his head slightly, looking at the incoming "heart arrows," and couldn't help but let out a low chuckle.
He had always wanted to know what it felt like to be hit by the Empress's heart arrows.
The next second, his wish came true. After being hit by the Empress's arrows, a part of his body naturally turned to stone.
One could say, it hardened slightly, as a sign of respect!
Then, under the deterrence of his powerful will and advanced Haki, all the arrows that pierced his body shattered and dissipated like glass before they could take effect.
It is well known that there are only two ways to avoid being petrified by the Mero Mero Fruit.
One is a glutton like Luffy, who only thinks about eating and is always in sage mode.
The second is to possess Haki far superior to the user's, as powerful Haki can nullify Devil Fruit abilities.
Cheng Xiaoyu was undoubtedly the latter.
As a normal man, who isn't a little lustful?
"What?!"
Hancock was greatly astonished; she had never encountered such a situation.
Cheng Xiaoyu walked step by step towards Hancock, a charmingly wicked smile on his face.
Hancock looked at the man before her, a perfect blend of handsomeness and coolness, and her heart inexplicably quickened...
"You... who exactly are you?"
"Cheng Xiaoyu."
"Cheng Xiaoyu..." Hancock repeated the name softly. Suddenly, her face turned incredibly pale.
"You... you're the one who killed the Celestial Dragons..."
Cheng Xiaoyu smiled slightly, not denying it.
"It's me."
Hancock's eyes were filled with shock; she never imagined this man would come knocking on her door!
"You... what do you want to do?" Hancock's voice trembled.
Cheng Xiaoyu walked up to Hancock and reached out, wanting to brush a fallen leaf from her hair.
Hancock's body stiffened, not daring to move.
"You... don't touch me!"
Hancock suddenly stopped him, her expression incredibly complex.
Curiosity, shock, joy, anticipation—all emotions intertwined...
Many times, when a woman says no, she means yes.
So, Cheng Xiaoyu brushed the fallen leaf from Hancock's hair, then lightly traced her lips with his finger.
"Such a beautiful little mouth, it must be very sweet, right?"
Hancock's heart beat faster and faster; she felt like she was about to suffocate and faint.
"You... what exactly do you want to do?"
"First time meeting, how about a kiss?"