The women aboard the Kuja ship fell silent.
As they looked at the newspaper in Sandersonia’s hands, each of them hesitated, unable to find the right words.
"Enough."
"I don’t care what any of you think."
"I am the most beautiful woman in the world."
"No matter what I do, I will always be forgiven."
Hancock snorted coldly before striking her signature arrogant pose, arching her back and tilting her chin high.
"I will make that man give me a satisfactory explanation."
"Otherwise, I refuse to leave."
"Sister..." Sandersonia opened her mouth, but the words she had prepared simply wouldn’t come out.
The Kuja warriors on deck also fell silent.
Only Elder Nyon slammed her cane against the deck several times before shouting angrily,
"Hancock!"
"You’re still as willful as ever!"
"You never look at the bigger picture!"
"Have you forgotten that the Kuja value loyalty above all else?"
"If you want to settle scores with him, that’s your business."
"But we have our own choice."
"We’re not going to be as foolish as you."
"Throw her overboard."
Hancock calmly uttered those words without warning.
The Kuja women were already long accustomed to this rather unique way of showing respect to their elders.
Just as Sandersonia was about to change the subject, her expression suddenly shifted.
"Sister!"
"Look!"
"Those are the Marine Headquarters’ Admiral Candidates."
"They’re the ones who chased us before."
"The Admiral Candidates?"
Hancock frowned and looked toward the harbor entrance.
The first thing she saw was Momousagi, standing proudly at the bow of a warship.
Beside her stood another Admiral Candidate—
Chaton, with his ever-lecherous expression.
Seeing the two individuals recognized as second only to the Admirals in combat power appear together caught Sandersonia and the others by surprise.
"Sister,"
"haven’t these two Admiral Candidates always been stationed on the front lines, monitoring the movements of the Four Emperors?"
"Why have they suddenly returned?"
"Has something major happened out at sea?"
Sandersonia asked.
"Or..."
"Could it be that they’re rushing back because they oppose the appointment of the Fourth Admiral?"
"That wouldn’t be good news."
The Kuja warriors’ expressions also darkened.
After all, the Celestial Dragon had been beaten into a swollen mess, and the newspaper had splashed it across the front page.
No one yet knew how either the World Government or Marine Headquarters intended to handle the matter.
If two Admiral Candidates also came forward to oppose Lucas...
Things could become even more troublesome.
"Hmph."
"Two useless fools."
Hancock snorted disdainfully.
"They couldn’t defeat me back then."
"They certainly won’t now."
"If either of them actually became an Admiral..."
"That would be the real joke."
"Prepare to go ashore."
"I’ll make Marine Headquarters give me an explanation."
Sandersonia and the others exchanged troubled looks.
Seeing Hancock staring coldly toward the Gate of Justice without another word, none of them could bring themselves to persuade her further.
Meanwhile...
A thousand meters away, aboard the approaching Marine warship...
Momousagi and Chaton also noticed the lone pirate ship waiting at the harbor entrance.
An aide hurried over and bowed respectfully.
"Vice Admiral Gion."
"The pirate ship ahead belongs to the Kuja Pirates under the Seven Warlords."
"It belongs to Pirate Empress Boa Hancock."
"We’ve already entered the danger zone."
"Should we alter course immediately?"
"The danger zone?"
Some of the newly recruited Marines looked puzzled.
Curious, they instinctively turned to look toward the Kuja ship.
The moment they did...
Their eyes instantly turned into hearts.
One after another, they began shouting in excitement.
In just moments...
Half the several hundred Marines aboard had fallen under Hancock’s charm.
"Damn pirates!"
Chaton scowled.
"To dare behave so brazenly on Marine territory."
"If she weren’t one of the Seven Warlords..."
"I’d never let her off."
He immediately turned toward Momousagi.
"Vice Admiral Gion..."
"In my eyes..."
"That Pirate Empress isn’t even one percent as beautiful as you."
"Will you marry me?"
Watching Chaton prepare to kneel once again...
The veteran Marines and aides merely smiled bitterly.
This was probably...
His 999th failed proposal.
"Hehe."
"Vice Admiral Chaton,"
"you’re as amusing as ever."
Momousagi smiled gently as she withdrew her gaze.
"Hancock is still one of the Seven Warlords."
"We can’t make a move against her."
"Still..."
"I heard she was blasted away yesterday by our newly appointed Admiral."
"That’s certainly a rare sight."
"The fact that she’s still lingering here..."
"She’s probably planning to settle the score with him."
"So let’s avoid unnecessary contact with her."
"Our mission comes first."
She quickly issued a series of orders.
"Pass it down."
"Steer clear of the Kuja Pirates."
"And remind everyone whose willpower isn’t strong enough not to look toward their ship."
"If anyone has already fallen under her charm..."
"Knock them unconscious immediately."
"Don’t give them the chance to be turned to stone."
"I don’t want to negotiate with that arrogant woman over something so trivial."
The orders were carried out immediately.
Most of the Marines aboard were veterans who had previously accompanied Momousagi in pursuing Hancock.
They already knew exactly how to deal with the situation.
Resisting the urge to look any further...
They promptly knocked out each entranced recruit.
The blows were admittedly rather heavy...
But it was the only reliable solution.
Seeing that Momousagi had completely ignored his proposal yet again...
Chaton didn’t seem bothered in the slightest.
He tucked the bouquet back into his pocket before snorting.
"Hmph."
"Vice Admiral Gion."
"This morning’s World Economy News front page was covered with that bloodied Celestial Dragon."
"As a Marine Admiral..."
"He should’ve been protecting the World Nobles."
"Instead, he attacked one himself."
"What a joke."
"Does he really think the World Government and Fleet Admiral Sengoku won’t pursue the matter?"
"I’d say his Admiral’s seat hasn’t even warmed up before he’ll be kicked off it."
"And all that nonsense about..."
"Standing still while blasting away a Warlord..."
"Killing a CP0 agent with a single move..."
"Even slicing Admiral Kizaru into pieces..."
"I don’t believe a word of it."
"He’s just some kid barely in his twenties."
"How strong could he possibly be?"
"I bet Chief Staff Officer Tsuru deliberately spread those rumors."
"Just to reduce his punishment and protect the Marines’ reputation."
"In my opinion..."
"That brat simply got full of himself."
"He was dissatisfied with the Celestial Dragons..."
"So he attacked one."
His complaints echoed across the deck.
The veteran Marines and aides all nodded in agreement.
After all...
Their two superiors had served as Vice Admirals for many years before finally earning the title of Admiral Candidate.
Yet an outsider had appeared out of nowhere...
And taken the position of Fourth Admiral.
Anyone would find that hard to accept.
However...
As the warship drew closer to the Gate of Justice...
The sight that greeted them—
The once-bustling harbor platform, now reduced to shattered ruins—
Instantly froze every expression on board.
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