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"Whoosh!" In an instant, the Marines froze. This time, they truly froze, turning into stone statues, maintaining their embarrassing, infatuated expressions.
"Phew, that was close!"
Law, who had suddenly left the deck and appeared in the cabin, felt a lingering fear. Although he remained conscious, he couldn't be entirely certain he wouldn't turn into a stone statue. The Pirate Empress's charm was simply too immense.
"What should I do now?"
Law was burning with anxiety. The Pirate Empress attacked the Marine ship; was her goal to completely destroy it? Although ROOM allowed Law to teleport, the maximum range Law could expand his ROOM space to was a hundred meters. Any larger, and he would run out of stamina. A hundred-meter range was nothing in the vast sea. Without the Marine ship, Law couldn't establish a foothold.
Outside. The Kuja pirate ship approached the Marine ship. Two giant pythons lay down, connecting the Marine ship and the pirate ship.
"Transfer everyone and all supplies to the ship." The Pirate Empress, cold and imperious, stepped onto the deck, disdainfully looking at the stone statues.
"Yes, ma'am!"
The Marines, turned to stone, were all carried onto the pirate ship.
"Too unsightly. Destroy it."
"ROOM!"
Cannonballs fired from the pirate ship quickly destroyed the Marine ship. Law, hidden within the Marine ship, expanded his ROOM space to its maximum extent. The next moment, he instantly vanished, appearing in an unoccupied room on the pirate ship.
"This is not good," Law also understood his predicament was grim.
"Return!"
The Marine ship was destroyed, sinking without a trace in the Calm Belt. The giant pythons dragged the pirate ship, sailing through the waves, quickly disappearing over the horizon.
"What is the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock's purpose?" In a certain corner of the pirate ship, Law was utterly perplexed. If it was for supplies, then why bring the stone-transformed Marines onto the ship as well? If it was revenge against the World Government Marines, she shouldn't have left them as stone statues.
"What is her purpose?" Law opened a massive ROOM space, encompassing the entire pirate ship. He instantly vanished from his hiding spot, appearing in a large room in the ship's hold. Here, there were hundreds of stone statues; not only Marines, but also petrified pirates. Law became even more confused.
"I must remain hidden and absolutely not be discovered." Law stayed concealed in the shadows, ready to activate his ROOM space at any moment. With his ability to transmute objects, he temporarily didn't need to worry about safety. But he absolutely could not be discovered by the Pirate Empress. Although two years had brought Law great growth and significant strength, making him a rising powerhouse on the Grand Line, Law didn't believe he was a match for the Pirate Empress now. Although he didn't know when the Pirate Empress became a Warlord of the Sea, it must have been within these two years. To be chosen by the World Government as a Warlord of the Sea, she certainly couldn't be weak. Furthermore, the Pirate Empress's ability was an absolute bane for men. Law couldn't even guarantee he could fully resist her beauty.
The pirate ship changed direction, sailing swiftly. This journey lasted three days, deviating significantly from the Marine ship's previous route. Until the fourth day at noon, a huge island appeared on the horizon. The island's center clearly showed a gigantic python statue; Amazon Lily had been reached. Law, who had been secretly gathering intelligence for three days, finally learned the Pirate Empress's purpose from the conversations of the female pirates on the Kuja ship. He felt even heavier; it was not good news.
...
"The Kuja Pirates are back."
The Amazon Lily tribe cheered. Coming to the sides of the river leading to the sea, all women, all cheering, welcoming the faith in their hearts. The Pirate Empress naturally received the highest treatment. And all the stone statues from the pirate ship were brought down.
"Why are there so many men? Even though they're petrified, they're still men. How can men enter Amazon Lily?" The stone statues caused a national sensation.
"Fortunately, these men won't enter Amazon Lily. They are captives, their purpose is to expand the river leading to the sea. Although we can do such strenuous work, it's too dangerous." The petrified men, brought back, were to be used as laborers. And extremely dangerous laborers at that.
...
In the palace.
"Hancock, among the laborers you brought back, why are there Marines? If the Marines find out, Amazon Lily will be in danger," Elder Nyon said.
"Are you questioning me?" The Pirate Empress Boa Hancock said haughtily. "Their luck was too poor; they encountered this empress. What if this empress brought them back? Marine Headquarters won't mind, because whatever this empress does will be forgiven."
"..."
"Forget it," Elder Nyon stammered, speechless. "The Marine ship was destroyed. As long as these Marines are dealt with secretly in the end, it won't be discovered. But why did you refuse the World Government's invitation, Pirate Empress Hancock?"
"Are you referring to the Seven Warlords of the Sea? This empress is unwilling."
"Hancock, I know you hate the World Government, but the Amazon Lily tribe is not what it once was. Before, there was the natural barrier of the Calm Belt, but now the Marines have the ability to conquer the Calm Belt. Amazon Lily is just a pirate nation. Perhaps in the future, it will face hardships. Only by becoming a Warlord of the Sea and cooperating with the World Government can Amazon Lily's future be secured."
"But this empress is still unwilling."
"Hancock, this is no time for childish whims. For Amazon Lily's sake, you should agree to become a Warlord of the Sea. With your strength, Hancock, there will be no danger," Elder Nyon advised earnestly.
"This empress is tired. Throw the old hag out," the Pirate Empress Hancock said impatiently.
"Hancock, you can't do that," Elder Nyon said, panicking.
But in the end, she was forcibly dragged to the window by the Pirate Empress Hancock.
"Hancock, calm down, I..."
"Actually, this empress is willing to consider Amazon Lily, and also willing to become a Warlord of the Sea, but..." The Pirate Empress suddenly adopted a pitiful expression.
"Really?"
"Of course not." With a bang, Elder Nyon was thrown out by Hancock, directly smashing through the window and flying out.
"Hancock, refusing the Seven Warlords of the Sea might eventually lead to Amazon Lily's destruction..."
"This empress knows, but even if it's destroyed, everyone will forgive this empress. Who can help it when this empress is simply too beautiful?"
...
Night fell deeply. Late at night, Law stealthily left the deserted pirate ship. After several object transfers, he left the easily exposed city and hid in the forest.
"What should I do?"
Law pondered how he could escape. For now, there was no immediate danger, but also no way to leave.
"Notify Marine Headquarters? Wait for Marine Headquarters' rescue?" Law frowned slightly. The Marine ship had been destroyed, and there was no Transponder Snail. Did this country even have Transponder Snails? But Law didn't know how to use one. And Transponder Snails also needed to be dialed to connect.
"Consider it a possibility for now." Law wasn't sure if it would work; there were too many uncertain factors. He needed a more perfect escape plan.
"Continue to hide until the next time the Kuja pirate ship sets sail, hide on the ship, and then leave?" That was one method, but he didn't know when the next trip would be. Amazon Lily was a completely independent nation in the Calm Belt, self-sufficient. And who could guarantee they would pass by other islands, and it had to be a populated island.
"Hide, train in secret, until I surpass the Pirate Empress Hancock?" The forest had no shortage of food, and his Devil Fruit ability meant Law wasn't afraid of being exposed. He was confident he would surpass the Pirate Empress Hancock. Although the Pirate Empress Hancock didn't display all her power in the original story. But how long would that take? Three years or five years? This could only be a last resort.
"Which path should I choose?" Law frowned in deep thought, his mind involuntarily recalling Luffy's situation in Amazon Lily from the original story. Law didn't believe he was weaker than Luffy at that time. Law's current situation was better than Luffy's, at least he hadn't been exposed yet. If Luffy could leave safely, Law believed he could too.
"Luffy's method was?"
Law's lips twitched slightly... Seduce the Pirate Empress?