"With the Government likely to keep stirring up trouble for a while, let's set everything else aside for now and get some extra rest," Grimm said with a faint smile.
At the mention of "rest," Hancock's cheeks flushed slightly. She suddenly thought of Violet — whenever there was no mission, the woman would rush straight to Grimm's side.
Yet Violet was only in charge of logistics, work she could easily delegate to her subordinates.
It was nothing compared to the endless responsibilities Hancock faced as both Empress and Captain of the Kuja Pirates.
"Lord Grimm, would you consider staying here with me for a while?" she asked, mustering all her courage.
If she could keep him on Amazon Lily, she could use her authority to keep Violet from getting too close. How clever of me! she thought proudly.
"I'll leave a Hearthstone here so I can return anytime," Grimm replied, yawning as he walked out of the town.
"But I still need to visit the other islands to oversee their development."
"Ah…" Hancock let out a soft sound of disappointment, then soon drifted off into her own fantasies again.
In her daydream, she saw Grimm wrap an arm around Violet, then push the woman away sharply and declare, "I've grown tired of you — having her is more than enough!"
And just then, Violet even shot her a look of pure disdain.
Shaking herself free from the fantasy, Hancock clenched her fists and gritted her teeth silently. I won't lose — I absolutely won't!
"Hey, Hancock?" Grimm called, looking at her blank expression with a sigh.
"I said I'll be sleeping here tonight. Are you saying you don't want to keep me company?"
"W‑what?!" Her face turned bright red in an instant.
"Is that a 'no'?"
---
A few days later, Zephyr and Garp returned to Marine Headquarters and submitted their report.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Zephyr stood with a dark, furious expression and demanded, "So what exactly did that agent mean when he said 'The Sea King' just before he died?"
It had been years since Kong had seen Zephyr this angry.
After a moment of surprise, he replied, "The orders I received stated that your mission was classified as the World Government's highest secret — not to be revealed to anyone."
"Not even to you, the Fleet Admiral?" Zephyr leaned forward, his face inches from Kong's, his tone icy.
Six hundred of his own students — six hundred young, promising Marines — had died on this mission.
Under such intense pressure, Kong could only grit his teeth and confirm, "That is correct… They told me nothing at all."
"Ugh!"
Zephyr's jaw tightened so hard it felt as if his teeth would shatter. What kind of absurdity was this?
More than six hundred lives, the future strength of the Navy, lost for reasons they were not even allowed to know.
Seeing this, Garp — who had been sitting quietly on the sofa — stood up and spoke to calm him.
"Don't let your anger get the better of you, Zephyr. Remember what Grimm said — your cursed power is already on the verge of breaking free."
Zephyr took a sharp breath and stepped back, regaining his composure.
"I have a rough idea of what this is about, and I'm sure you two do too. If the Government tries to drag me into any more such schemes, I will refuse."
"Zephyr, don't let emotion cloud your judgment!" Kong stood up and called out.
"I am thinking clearly," Zephyr replied calmly.
"But let me tell you this: Grimm has the smallest number of subordinates and the lowest overall combat strength among all Four Emperors. Yet if the card he holds — the Sea King — is real, then within a few years, his power will surpass even Whitebeard's. The Navy should do everything in its power to stop that. But if we blindly follow every order from the Government, then the Navy itself will cease to exist."
With that, he turned and walked out without looking back.
"Zephyr! Zephyr, wait!" Kong called after him, but could not make him stay.
"He remains here because he believes in justice," Garp said, unusually serious for once.
"And you, Garp?" Kong asked, turning to him.
"Me? I just have nowhere else to go, hahaha!" Garp laughed, slipping back into his usual carefree self.
---
Early in the Year 1511 of the Sea Calendar
"Forces Sent by the World Government to Raid the Kuja Pirates Are Completely Defeated!"
Reading the morning news, Sengoku sat behind his traditional‑style desk, silent and deep in thought.
It had been half a year since the Navy's last incursion into Grimm's territory.
Yet the knowledge that Princess Shirahoshi — suspected of being Poseidon, the Sea King — remained firmly in Grimm's hands had become a constant thorn in the Government's side.
They would find no peace until this matter was resolved.
Though they still had no absolute proof, the Government was now almost certain of the truth. Why?
Because for the past two years, Grimm himself had hardly left his own territory.
He had always been known for roaming the seas, stirring up trouble wherever he went — but now he stayed put.
The Government concluded he was simply waiting for Shirahoshi to awaken the full power of Poseidon.
It was a classic case of possessing something others covet.
Six months earlier, Vice Admiral Kuzan and Rear Admiral Issho had led three thousand Marines to attack Amazon Lily.
But their plan was spotted instantly, and before they even reached the island's waters, they were intercepted and sent back by Jaina, Yasuo, and Plank.
Now, with their patience wearing thin, the Government had sent a dedicated strike force to launch a surprise assault — only to be utterly crushed by Grimm, just as the news reported.
Sengoku was certainly concerned. He could not ignore the threat of an Emperor controlling one of the Ancient Weapons.
Yet now was not the time to provoke Grimm directly; doing so would only waste their strength in vain.
Even if they feared Shirahoshi's growth, things had to progress one step at a time. The Government's own haste was what had led to these repeated failures.
"Still, the Kuja Pirates are far from a weak force," Sengoku muttered.
He flipped through their intelligence files:
- Boa Hancock: Devil Fruit user, ability classified; can conjure flames that burn the soul. Bounty: 550,000,000 Berries.
- Boa Sandersonia: User of the Snake‑Snake Fruit, Model: Anaconda. Bounty: 370,000,000 Berries.
- Boa Marigold: User of the Snake‑Snake Fruit, Model: King Cobra. Bounty: 260,000,000 Berries.
- Riku Violet: Suspected user of the Glare‑Glare Fruit; wields twin swords. Bounty: 300,000,000 Berries.
- Gentian: No Devil Fruit, but a skilled Haki user. Bounty: 80,000,000 Berries.
And so the list went on.
The Holy Light Pirates had gained so many new commanders.
Added to their original elite group, the Four Knights, their total bounties were now rivaling those of the Whitebeard Pirates.
In fact, they could now be called the Five Knights — as Hancock's strength had already reached the level of top‑tier leadership.
"The last time Kuzan failed, it was likely because of that young girl Violet," Sengoku thought, glancing at her bounty poster.
Suspected Glare‑Glare Fruit user — the All‑Seeing Eyes. Her reconnaissance ability is terrifying, even if she shows little in direct combat. That explains such a high bounty.
Knock, knock.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Sengoku called.
A Marine Colonel entered, saluted, and reported, "Admiral Sengoku, I have several urgent matters to bring to your attention!"
__________________
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