Chapter 29: The World's Most Beautiful Woman — Pirate Empress Debut!
Sabaody Archipelago — Shakky's Rip-off Bar
"Both Rok and little Monch were sent to Amazon Lily?"
Shakky lit a cigarette, her eyes complicated.
"Yep. Things are spiraling in ways no one predicted. Who would've thought someone would actually kill a Celestial Dragon?"
Rayleigh chuckled across from her, genuinely impressed.
Even the right hand of the Pirate King was stunned by Rok's deed.
Latest intel:
Saint Charlos → skull pulverized, confirmed dead.
Saint Rosward → body and head crushed, barely alive in a nutrient tank.
Only Shalria survived unscathed (mentally traumatized), and has now inherited her father's authority.
Rayleigh found that last part strange.
Logically, Shalria should have been Rok's primary target— yet she was the only one who returned to Mariejois completely untouched, even elevated in status.
Something didn't add up.
But he couldn't quite figure out Rok's angle.
Among the new generation, besides the destiny-burdened Straw Hat Luffy, Rok was the one who intrigued and baffled Rayleigh the most.
A young man who walked out of the Marines and into the seas— he was going to turn the pirate world upside down.
"If both the kid and Rok are on Amazon Lily… even I can't predict what Hancock will do."
Shakky exhaled a long plume of smoke.
As the previous Empress of Amazon Lily, she once believed Luffy would be the one to heal Hancock's heart.
Now Rok was there too.
Everything had become unpredictable.
No matter what Hancock chose, the fate of Amazon Lily was about to change forever.
…
Off the coast of Amazon Lily
"Shichibukai Boa Hancock! Aren't you supposed to be allies with the Marines?!"
Vice Admiral Stainless (Momonga) roared from the deck of a Marine warship, face twisted in pain.
He had a dagger buried in his own hand— self-inflicted.
It hurt like hell.
But he had no choice.
One glimpse of Hancock's face had already petrified half his crew.
Even a Vice Admiral had to stab himself to stay conscious against her beauty.
Damn it.
Why did he always get the worst missions?
Last time it was the failed ambush on Rok— and now learning the kid not only survived Weapon X but got stronger?
Momonga still had nightmares about that fight.
If he ever ran into a fully recovered Rok…
But that wasn't today's problem.
Today's mission: deliver the mandatory Shichibukai summons for the coming war.
"Hancock! The Marines need you at Marineford!"
"And if I refuse? You'll forgive me, won't you~? Because I'm just too beautiful♡"
Hancock struck a flawless pose, and several more Marines instantly turned to stone, hearts in their eyes.
Sweet-Sweet Fruit + world's most beautiful woman = zero logic, zero counter.
She didn't care about summons.
Soon, escorted by her snake, Hancock boarded her perfume-coated ship and sailed toward the island.
"Sister, I heard something interesting~"
Sonia slithered up, grinning.
"Oh? More interesting than my beauty?"
Hancock yawned.
"Nothing in the outside world matters. It's all filthy. I only care about protecting Amazon Lily."
"They say someone killed a Celestial Dragon on Sabaody! The Marines sent two Admirals, but the culprit got away! Whoever did it must be incredible!"
Sonia stuck out her forked tongue in awe.
Celestial Dragons were the deepest trauma for the three Gorgon sisters.
The idea that someone openly slaughtered one?
Mind-blowing.
"…Someone killed a Celestial Dragon?"
Even Hancock's expression flickered with a trace of fear— then admiration.
"That… is a man worthy of respect."
The mark on their backs was still a scar that would never fade.
…
Daughter Island Port
"WELCOME HOME, LORD HANCOCK!!"
"ALL HAIL THE SERPENT PRINCESS!!"
"SO BEAUTIFUL!!!"
The entire island erupted in cheers as the perfume ship docked.
Even from the mountaintop where Rok, Luffy, and Marguerite stood— they could hear the thunderous welcome.
"Pirate Empress Boa Hancock… you're finally back."
Rok looked down at the port, a small smile on his lips.
He had no desire to make an enemy of her.
But the system quest was clear: spend one full night in the palace.
That meant meeting her was unavoidable.
He just needed the right way to do it.
"Lord Rok, be careful! That cliff drops straight into Lord Hancock's private bath! Whatever you do, don't fall in!"
"…Bath?"
Rok's eyebrow twitched.
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