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Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Victor’s Worries, the Strongest Connection

On the shore of Amazon Lily, the surrounding sea was the Calm Belt, and the surface of the water was still as glass.

Hancock hooked her red lips, passionately kissing Victor, who also responded just as eagerly.

The two were completely lost in each other.

Margaret and the Kuja Pirates crew were embarrassed. They were all women, and their faces turned crimson.

But at this moment, who would dare to disturb Snake Princess?

Even Sandersonia and Marigold only dared to glare resentfully at Victor, that freeloading good-for-nothing.

The kiss lasted for a full ten minutes before Victor and Hancock reluctantly separated. By that time, Margaret and the others' pretty faces looked as if they'd been roasted.

Just as everyone was about to return, huge waves suddenly surged on the sea.

Amazon Lily was surrounded by the Calm Belt. How could there be waves!?

There was only one answer: Sea Kings!

"Husband, be careful!"

Hancock was shocked—afraid that Victor would be harmed.

Boom!

The sea exploded, and a monstrous Sea King, covering the sky and sun, surfaced and lunged at them, its massive jaws aimed straight for Victor!

Everyone froze.

Margaret and the other Kuja warriors trembled before the enormous beast, while Hancock feared most for Victor's safety.

Sandersonia and Marigold, however, remained calm. This Sea King was powerful, but nowhere near Hancock's level.

Victor, though? He would surely cower behind a woman again, right?

Their eyes filled with disdain.

But Victor was different now.

With Observation Haki, he had already sensed the Sea King's movements.

"Hancock, let me handle this! This bastard dared to scare my wife—watch me kill it!"

Victor held Hancock back.

"Husband?" Hancock was stunned. In her mind, Victor was still just an ordinary man. How could he face such a monster?

"Don't worry."

Victor smiled gently, then stepped forward.

Sandersonia sneered. Show-off. He won't even know how he died.

Marigold mocked. He won't freeload this time—he'll just pretend.

But as Victor moved, an overwhelming force suddenly erupted from his body.

The sheer pressure forced even Sandersonia and Marigold to stagger.

The Sea King froze, its eyes going vacant, its spirit completely shattered.

"Conqueror's Haki!!"

Hancock's eyes widened, her deep blue gaze instantly filling with hearts. As expected of the man she loved!

But Victor wasn't finished yet.

Covering his hands and feet in Armament Haki, he leapt high into the air and shot straight at the tottering Sea King.

Boom!

With a thunderous crack, his strike pierced straight through the Sea King's massive body. Blood and fragments scattered as the beast collapsed into the sea, quickly devoured by smaller fish.

"Conqueror's Haki… and Armament Haki… both so strong!"

Sandersonia and Marigold were stunned. They knew exactly what they had just seen: not only Armament, not only Observation, but the one-in-a-million Conqueror's Haki as well.

Victor wasn't just a freeloader. He had the potential of an emperor!

That night, at the Imperial Palace of Amazon Lily…

Victor stood outside Hancock's chambers, his expression worried.

He had just received troubling news.

Straw Hat Luffy had escaped.

That damn brat. Always restless.

Victor had been guarding the door all day to make sure Luffy didn't stumble into Hancock's bath by accident.

Part of it was petty jealousy.

But the bigger reason was this:

Now that Hancock was completely devoted to Victor, she would never fall for Luffy as in the original story.

So, if Luffy ever accidentally saw Hancock's secret… he'd be killed on the spot.

If Luffy died here, Victor didn't even want to imagine the fallout.

The Pirate World's strongest connections would all rally for revenge.

Marine Hero Garp.

Revolutionary Army leader Monkey D. Dragon.

Red-Haired Shanks of the Four Emperors.

And, of course, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Robin, Usopp, and the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates.

Hell, even Ace, locked up in Impel Down, would probably break out just to avenge his brother.

Victor sucked in a sharp breath just thinking about it.

Yes, he had a system. But he was still just starting out. Compared to those King-level monsters, he was barely at Platinum-level.

And in this world, raw strength wasn't enough. Swordsmanship, Rokushiki, Devil Fruits, and most importantly—the will to fight—all decided a battle's outcome.

"In this world, only the strong are respected. If I want to live freely with my wife, I must become stronger."

Victor looked at the stars above, his heart firming with resolve.

Just then, a faint fragrance drifted past.

The World's Most Beautiful Woman, Boa Hancock, gracefully walked to his side and linked her arm with his.

"Husband, what are you looking at?"

"The stars. Look, there's a row of five."

"Ah, it really is ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦. I love it so much!"

Her dark hair danced in the wind, her deep blue eyes sparkling with reflected starlight. In truth, whatever Victor loved, she loved too.

"Snake Princess! Snake Princess! Granny Nyon requests an audience!"

A Kuja guard rushed forward, bowing.

Hancock's expression chilled. She hated being interrupted when she was with Victor.

Not even by the former Empress.

Victor, however, grew thoughtful. In the original timeline, Granny Nyon's arrival meant only one thing—Hancock had refused the World Government's summons to Marineford.

She had even clashed with Vice Admiral Momonga on the way back.

Now, with Victor in the picture, Hancock wouldn't leave so easily.

"Snake Princess! Snake Princess!" Granny Nyon cried as she hurried over. "You can't refuse the World Government's summons! If your Shichibukai title is revoked, Amazon Lily will be in danger!"

"I'm not going. And call me Snake Princess!" Hancock's icy tone cut her off.

Boom!

Before Granny Nyon could reply, the roof above them collapsed in a cloud of dust and rubble.

From the wreckage crawled a skinny man with a Straw Hat in his hands—

Luffy.

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