On the deck of a warship in the Calm Belt.
Facing the Pirate Empress, who was dressed in a qipao and a floral cloak, exuding endless charm with every movement, Vice Admiral Momonga was utterly baffled, a string of question marks popping up above his head.
When entering the Calm Belt and approaching Amazon Lily, he had secretly prepared a dagger, just in case Hancock suddenly used her Devil Fruit ability to turn him to stone.
It wasn't that he was overly cautious—he had been almost turn into stone by Hancock before. The last time the World Government issued a mandatory Warlord summons, he was the one responsible for Hancock.
Back then, he didn't realized the gravity of the situation and had arrived full of bravado, only to nearly be petrified on the spot by Hancock Devil Fruit ability. Fortunately, he had quickly stabbed himself with his sword, using the pain to stimulate his brain and weaken the effects of Hancock ability, saving himself from being turned into stone.
However, while he had survived, his subordinates hadn't been so lucky. They were either petrified on the spot, their eyes glowing with hearts, or turned into human-shaped stone statues with hearts emerging from their chests.
The reason behind all this wasn't solely due to Hancock breathtaking heart-stopping beauty, but rather her Paramecia-type Mero Mero no Mi ability, which could petrify those infatuated with her. She could also directly use her power to turn opponents and objects into stone.
The most terrifying aspect was that once someone was petrified by Hancock ability, even if she died, the petrified state would not be lifted.
With this precedent in mind, Momonga naturally had to be cautious. Not only did he refrain from bringing any subordinates, but he also secretly gripped a dagger in his hand.
However— Unlike his previous visit, where Hancock had been the epitome of willfulness and arrogance, even looking down on him, a Vice Admiral of the Marine Headquarters, this time, although she remained proud, she was no longer unreasonable.
To his surprise, she didn't stay on the Kuja Pirates' ship but instead leaped in front of him.
"Vice Admiral Momonga, let's go!" Standing on the deck of the Marine ship with her back to Momonga, Hancock spoke with impatience.
"I will attend the Shichibukai meeting now!"
"Uh—" Momonga was caught off guard and tentatively said.
"Hancock, perhaps your people didn't make it clear. The Shichibukai meeting is in three days. You still have a day to prepare—"
"No need!" Hancock turned around, one hand on her hip and the other pointing at Momonga, her head tilted back in an exaggerated gesture. She succinctly declared.
"I don't need it!"
"Alright… fine." Still haunted by past experiences, Momonga didn't argue further and simply turned to head toward the ship's bridge.
...
By the time Momonga and Hancock arrived at Marineford port, the sky had already darkened. As soon as the Marine ship docked, a luxurious vessel flying the World Government flag pulled up beside it.
Before Momonga and Hancock could react, a tall cloaked figure with long sleeves leaped down from the ship, landing on the shore ahead of them.
Glancing at the ship beside them and the figures on its deck—Shamrock and the long-haired woman—Momonga eyes flickered with confusion.
"What are they doing here?"
Hmm?
Noticing the sudden silence around him, Momonga pupils slightly contracted, and he instinctively turned to look at Hancock. He had expected Hancock to be furious and throw a tantrum after someone had stepped ashore before her.
However, to his surprise, Hancock was unusually quiet, her beautiful eyes fixed on the long-haired woman beside Shamrock, a faint trace of hatred flickering in her gaze.
"Hancock?" Noticing her unusual state, Momonga quickly spoke up to remind her.
"We've arrived. However, since you've arrived at Headquarters early, I need to report to the Fleet Admiral."
"They are… the God's Knights!" Hancock seemed not to hear Momonga words, her teeth clenched as she squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth.
"I've seen her before!"
Not only had she seen her, but when Fisher Tiger had caused chaos in the Holy Land, she had barely managed to escape with her two sisters amidst the chaos, only to nearly be captured by the long-haired woman. If it hadn't been for Elder Nyon and the others arriving in time, she might still be in the Holy Land to this day.
Sensing the hatred in Hancock words, Momonga quickly intervened.
"Hancock, don't act recklessly. This is the Marine Headquarters!"
"So what!" Hancock took a fierce step forward, her gaze burning as she stared at the long-haired woman on the opposite ship.
"No matter what I do, the entire world will forgive me!" As she spoke, Hancock suddenly turned her head and flashed a smile.
"Because I am beautiful!"
Before Momonga could react, Hancock aura surged creating ripples in the air as she unleashed the power of her Paramecia-type Mero Mero no Mi.
"Damn it, this woman—" Momonga, nearly ensnared by Hancock sudden smile, wiped a cold sweat from his brow and swiftly shouted.
"Hancock, I don't know if the world will forgive you, but if you cause trouble here, the Fleet Admiral will strip you of your Warlord title and eliminate you on the spot!"
"Retract your Devil Fruit power. This is your final warning!"
Before Momonga could finish, Hancock suddenly came to her senses and decisively withdrew her power, reluctantly glancing at the long-haired woman across the way.
As the saying goes, enemies see red when they meet. The memories of her past experiences in the Holy Land had caused her to lose her composure the moment she recognized the long-haired woman. Fortunately, Momonga timely reminder prevented her from making a grave mistake!
After all, the one currently in charge of the vast Marine machine was the new Fleet Admiral, who had even forced the World Government to compromise.
If she had lost control and attacked directly, the new Fleet Admiral would surely have been furious. Losing her Warlord title would be the least of her worries, the people of Amazon Lily could suffer the consequences.
.....
Meanwhile, on the opposite ship.
The long-haired woman, who had long noticed Hancock, blinked in surprise and said uncertainly.
"This woman... I feel like I've seen her somewhere before!"
"One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock!" Shamrock placed a hand on the hilt of his sword and stepped forward, then calmly said.
"It seems she has some history with you. Should we teach her a lesson?"
The long-haired woman shrugged slightly.
"As long as you're not afraid of incurring Orion wrath, you can even kill her."
Hearing this, Shamrock turned his head to look at the long-haired woman.
"Even you think I'm no match for him?"
The long-haired woman smiled, then elegantly turned around.
"I've never denied your strength, but Shamrock, haven't you realized it yet? The reason Marigeoise compromised with Orion isn't because he's invincible, but because his appearance might be a variable between Nika and Im-sama."
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