Far out on the endless sea, aboard the Kuja Pirates' ship...
"It's been three days now," Marigold said with a conflicted look, glancing at Sandersonia beside her.
Sandersonia stared silently at the calm sea, lost in thought.
After a long pause, she finally asked, "How's our Big Sis's Vivre Card?"
"It's fully restored," Marigold answered quickly.
"Is that so… That's a relief," Sandersonia sighed inwardly, a burden lifting from her chest.
Three days earlier, they had suddenly noticed Hancock's Vivre Card burning. Panic swept through the entire ship, everyone feared the worst.
Thankfully, the burning stopped not long after.
A day later, the card even began to regenerate slowly.
Sandersonia continued, "If Hancock's life is no longer in danger, and she hasn't sent us any word… it likely means she's been captured."
"Captured?!" Marigold's eyes widened, her brow furrowing tightly.
Given their traumatic past, the word "captured" stirred up painful memories neither of them could forget.
Snatching up the weapon at her side, Marigold shouted, "Then we need to go save her, now!"
"Wait!" Sandersonia quickly grabbed her arm, stopping her from acting on impulse.
Her voice dimmed, filled with quiet dread. "Even Hancock lost there. If we go, we'll only meet the same fate."
"Then what do you suggest we do?!" Marigold spun around, eyes blazing with anger and despair. Tears spilled down her cheeks, unchecked.
Of course she knew how strong Hancock was. Of course she understood how dangerous that island was. But helplessness was eating her alive.
She could see no other choice, no other path, except to charge in and fight to the death.
Just thinking about what might be happening to Hancock was enough to make her scream. Her only thought was to return to Thriller Bark and rescue her sister.
"Calm yourself, Marigold!" Sandersonia barked, her voice firm and resonant.
Though worry clouded her face, she carried herself with a rare composure.
Marigold looked into her sister's eyes, and slowly, her rage began to subside.
Of the three sisters, Hancock had always been the strongest, beautiful, brilliant, and commanding. Sandersonia, the second sister, was clever and composed beyond her years.
They'd grown up relying on each other. Even after being enslaved, they stayed together.
Whenever the cruel Celestial Dragon lashed his whip and sought to amuse himself with them, it was always Hancock or Sandersonia who shielded her.
Her sisters had protected her, always. She'd never been harmed, not even once.
That was why she trained so hard. She fought to become strong enough that they'd never have to protect her again.
But now, with their Big Sis imprisoned by the enemy, she found herself powerless once more.
What a bitter tragedy that was.
Still… she wasn't alone.
Looking at Sandersonia's eyes, she could tell, her sister had a plan.
"Sandersonia, what do we do now?" she asked urgently.
Sandersonia nodded slightly, her eyes flickering as she considered their next move. After a moment's pause, she replied calmly,
"At this point… there's only one option left."
"What is it??"
"The Marine."
"The Marine?"
Sandersonia stepped forward, leaning against the railing of the ship. Her voice was steady.
"Yes. We have to seek help from the Marine."
"But…" Marigold hesitated. Her words trailed off.
Sandersonia understood what she was thinking. "Hancock may be furious with us for this, but we can't worry about that now. Saving her comes first."
"Besides," she added, "Hancock was just officially announced as one of the new Warlords of the Sea. If word gets out that she's already been defeated, I doubt the Marine would want that kind of humiliation either."
Marigold clenched her fists tightly. After a moment of inner struggle, she nodded in reluctant agreement. "Then let's head for Marine Headquarters."
─────────🏴☠️─────────
Meanwhile, in a training hall deep within the Florian Triangle…
"Yah!"
Hancock's leg lashed out with lightning speed, landing a sharp kick against Robin's shoulder.
Robin was sent flying backward.
"Robin!"
Hancock gasped in alarm and rushed to her, quickly helping her up. "Are you okay, Robin?"
"Uhh…" Robin winced, feeling awkward as she was supported by the Pirate Empress. Something about the atmosphere around them felt… off.
"I'm fine. Let's keep going," she said with a small smile.
"...Okay," Hancock replied softly, stepping back and resetting her stance.
They began sparring again, but this time, Hancock held back. Her strikes were noticeably lighter than before, almost by a third.
Off to the side, Moria and Luffy stood watching the two graceful figures move fluidly across the training floor.
"When did they get so close?" Luffy muttered, puzzled.
"Gehihihi… Robin-san really is something," Moria chuckled, not answering the question directly.
Luffy shook his head with a sigh. "What's so impressive? Hancock's just going easy on her. She's barely using any force, she's obviously just playing around."
"Gehihihihi…"
Moria simply laughed, saying nothing more.
He knew full well that Hancock was training Robin, but the "impressive" part wasn't about strength.
In just three days, Robin had turned a former enemy into a friend.
Though Hancock still wore her cold, aloof expression, she now shared meals with them and behaved like a normal crewmate.
She even refused to move into the new room Moria had arranged for her, insisting on staying with Robin.
Of course, Moria still hadn't returned Hancock's shadow, it remained in his possession, a tool Luffy could use to keep leveling up.
─────────🏴☠️─────────
Half a month later, a ship no one expected to see appeared at the harbor of Marineford.
Vice Admiral Tsuru eyed the two tense Kuja warriors standing before her. Her voice was low and steady.
"I understand your request."
"Then please, send help right away to rescue our sister!" Marigold pleaded, unable to wait another second.
"Hold on."
Tsuru raised a hand, calm as ever. She looked up at the anxious sisters and said,
"Rescue is possible, but we have one condition."
"What condition?!" Marigold asked urgently.
"From this year forward, the Kuja Tribe must send fifty children, aged ten or younger, to join the Marine's youth training program."
"Absolutely not!" Sandersonia cut her off before she could even finish.
"We will never sell out our people!" she said firmly, without hesitation.
"Don't be so quick to reject it," Tsuru replied evenly. Her measured tone created a strange pressure that made the two sisters uneasy.
"Our request is only for them to join the training program. What they do afterward is entirely up to them."
Her words seemed to stir something in the sisters. Their expressions began to shift, they were clearly conflicted.
After a pause, seeing their hesitation, Tsuru added,
"If it's still too difficult, we're willing to compromise: thirty children per year instead of fifty."
Marigold looked to Sandersonia, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sandersonia…"
Sandersonia clenched her jaw tightly. Finally, after a long moment, she exhaled sharply and forced out four words:
"We accept the terms."
"Good," Tsuru said with a sudden smile. She turned to the Marine beside her and instructed,
"Summon Vice Admiral Kuzan to my office."
"Yes, ma'am!"
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