"Snake Princess! To recklessly enter the New World on your first expedition! You are far too bold!" Gloriosa, the old woman revered by the people of Amazon Lily as "Elder Nyon," said angrily to Hancock.
Hancock's eyes narrowed coldly at the words, intimidating Elder Nyon so much that she coughed into her hand and corrected her address. "Ahem, my apologies, Snake Princess-sama."
Although she was the Empress before the Empress before the Empress of Amazon Lily, Elder Nyon would not overstep her boundaries with the current Empress. However, because Hancock had assumed the position at such a young age, she had made a point to follow her on this expedition.
She had already felt that Hancock's appointment as Empress was too rushed, but Hancock's display of immense strength had won over everyone in Amazon Lily, so Elder Nyon had felt a little more at ease.
But one problem had barely been resolved before another appeared. The moment the expedition began, Hancock had made the shocking proclamation that she intended to go to the New World, scaring Elder Nyon half to death.
Hancock stared obsessively at the profile of Alucard sitting on Wolf's gigantic back, in front of the Kuja ship. When she finally heard Elder Nyon's suggestion, she put one hand on her hip, raised her other arm, and arched her body backward into an arrogant pose. "Shut up! Whatever I do is forgivable!"
As she spoke, Hancock narcissistically caressed her face, which was smoother than white jade. "Because I am just too beautiful."
"Forgiven! Forgiven!"
"Long live Snake Princess-sama!"
The female warriors behind her screamed in a frenzy. "A bunch of fools…"
Elder Nyon rubbed her forehead and looked at Alucard, who was sitting on Wolf in front of the Kuja ship. She thought back to her own past and murmured to herself in a daze, "But oh, a woman in love…"
"Elder Nyon's expression is so creepy." "Is she seasick?"
Seeing Elder Nyon's expression, the other Kuja warriors whispered to each other. "Hey! You brats!"
Elder Nyon snapped.
This story began two days ago. After meeting with Hancock and talking for a while, Alucard was preparing to head back to the New World.
When Hancock heard this, she immediately canceled her plan to simply sail around the first half of the Grand Line and changed it to an invasion of the New World instead.
Alucard didn't object, allowing Hancock to follow him. This was met with strong opposition from Elder Nyon, but Hancock resolved the issue by throwing her into the sea over ten times in just two days.
As for the rest of the Kuja crew… a single captivating glance from Hancock was enough to resolve everything.
"Captain, this thing is so uncomfortable~~"
At the edge of a Sabaody Archipelago coating facility, a thin bubble-like film had been coated over Wolf's body. He complained uncomfortably, looking as though he were encased in a transparent bag. The mechanics watched on in fear.
"Shut up. Does a ship talk?"
Alucard said flatly. Wolf immediately covered his mouth. "I-I'm sorry, Captain." "Master!"
Hancock ran over with a smile and pointed back at the Kuja ship. "We're all ready." "Then let's go."
....
"Right Minister, this is the border guard. Something… something very strange is approaching."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
Inside Ryugu Palace, the Right Minister received a call from the Fish-Man Island border guards. He listened to the report in confusion.
Usually, the problems they faced were pirates trying to pass through to the New World. With Whitebeard's flag now flying over Fish-Man Island, such incidents were much less frequent, though some arrogant, troublemaking pirates still existed.
"There's… there's a huge thing trying to enter! And the person on top is… Alucard of the Three Monsters!"
"Him?!"
Hearing Alucard's name, the Right Minister was so shocked he almost dropped the Den Den Mushi. It wasn't because of Alucard's past exploits. Not long ago, Alucard had returned from the New World to the North Blue, and because he hadn't understood the principles of the Calm Belt, he had passed through Fish-Man Island once before.
Although he had scared them half to death, Alucard had done nothing but pass through, leaving in less than half a day. This had allowed the royal family to breathe a sigh of relief.
But this time was different. Because Fisher Tiger and his crew were here. "Wh-What should we do?" the border guard asked nervously.
"…You can't stop him anyway. Let the enemy enter."
The Right Minister hastily hung up the phone and rushed to the main hall of Ryugu Palace. Fisher Tiger was there, paying his respects to King Neptune and Queen Otohime.
"You, who have been sailing the New World, have specially returned to the Grand Line for a young girl? Was that child a slave as well?" King Neptune asked from his throne, leaning down to speak to Fisher Tiger.
"Yes. She was too deeply poisoned by the Celestial Dragons to have recovered yet, but I've decided to take her back to her home. Along the way, I'll see if there's anything that can help her recover. I couldn't just leave that child behind…"
Suddenly, the Right Minister rushed in, without even taking the time to bow. He reported the contents of his conversation with the guards to Neptune.
After hearing the Right Minister's report, King Neptune's eyes widened in shock. "What a coincidence!"
After listening to the report, a cold sweat began to bead on Tiger's face. "And it just had to be at this moment…"
He had been sailing in the New World for a long time and had never encountered him. Now, on his first trip back to Fish-Man Island, he ran into him.
Tiger still remembered what had happened on top of the Red Line at Mariejois. If it weren't for Silvers Rayleigh intervening in time, he, his Sun Pirates, and the members of the Revolutionary Army would have died there.
Neptune was aware of the history between the Sun Pirates and Alucard. After thinking for a moment, he suggested, "Tiger, why don't you and your crew hide for a while?"
Tiger gave a bitter laugh in response. "I'm afraid it's too late now."
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