In the restaurant.
Ryan had just picked up his knife and fork when he noticed nearly all the surrounding gazes converging in the same direction. Without even thinking, he knew it was Boa Hancock beside him drawing the attention.
Hancock was wearing simple casual clothes, her long hair loosely tied back. Even with her usual cold expression, her naturally radiant, breathtakingly beautiful face and the noble aura she exuded from within still captured the entire room's attention.
"It seems you're the center of attention wherever you go. Truly captivating," Ryan remarked with a playful smirk, deliberately leaning closer, his voice soft yet clear enough.
"Shut up!" Hancock snapped, turning sharply to glare at Ryan, her eyes filled with fury.
What did it matter if she was captivating? This man was clearly mocking her intentionally. What was even more infuriating were the forceful and humiliating things he had done to her, leaving her almost too ashamed to face the stares of others. And now, he had the audacity to make sarcastic remarks.
The helplessness of having her abilities sealed by Seastone, the shame of being forced to comply, and the frustration of having every resistance easily suppressed—countless times she had wanted to bite him hard, to make him taste pain. Yet, every time she touched his resilient skin, she couldn't even leave a mark, leaving her to sink deeper into humiliation.
"You think you can make me submit? Dream on!" Hancock gritted her teeth inwardly, a flash of ferocity in her eyes. "If I ever break free, I'll make you suffer a fate worse than death!"
Ryan paid no heed to her reaction. The fiercer she was, the more amusing it became. However, he didn't continue teasing her and instead pointed at the dishes on the table. "Don't just stand there. Eat before the food gets cold and loses its flavor."
"None of your business!" Hancock turned her face away, her tone still icy, crossing her arms in clear defiance, refusing to touch the utensils.
Even in something as trivial as eating, she absolutely refused to be controlled by this man.
Ryan raised an eyebrow, lightly tapping his knife and fork. Suddenly, as if recalling something amusing, his tone grew even more teasing. "Could it be that you've already had your 'fill' back at the inn?"
"You... you bastard!"
That simple remark instantly shattered Hancock's composure. Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she trembled with rage, clutching a napkin from the table tightly in her hand. Her deep blue eyes burned with shame and anger.
The nearby guests, who had long sensed the tension, hurriedly averted their gazes, though curious glances still lingered. Even the waitstaff slowed their steps.
"Don't be angry. If you don't eat now, it'll really get cold," Ryan said, his smile deepening as he watched Hancock's "furious yet helpless" expression. Deliberately, he speared a piece of roasted meat with his fork and brought it to her lips, his tone feigning gentleness.
"No need!" Hancock reflexively rejected him, but no sooner had the words left her mouth than her body betrayed her resolve. She leaned forward slightly, quickly biting the piece of meat without even touching the fork, her cheeks still flushed and her eyes avoiding Ryan's gaze.
If she continued to resist, who knew what even more humiliating things he might do—like feeding her in front of everyone or saying something even more intimate. If that happened, what little dignity she had left would surely shatter completely in this restaurant.
Ryan watched Hancock's proactive approach, a glint of sharpness flashing swiftly in his gaze as the smile at the corners of his lips deepened. He withdrew the fork and began meticulously cutting the meat on his plate, all the while calculating in his mind.
It seemed the training over the past few days had begun to yield results. Boa Hancock was already learning to "comply," even in such trivial matters. The cracks in her "resistance" had unknowingly started to form, and these fissures would only widen with time.
Take it slow, no rush. There was plenty of time to wear down Hancock's edges. One day, Ryan would personally witness the once-arrogant "Pirate Empress" willingly bow and submit before him.
The mere thought of that scene filled Ryan with anticipation, and even his appetite for grilled meat improved.
After the meal, Ryan naturally wrapped an arm around Hancock's waist as they left the restaurant. Despite her look of utter disdain, he led her all the way to the harbor. As soon as they stepped onto the deck, a tall figure approached.
Daz Bones, clad in his signature black trench coat, wore an expression devoid of excess emotion. He spoke concisely, "Captain, the Straw Hat Kid and his crew have arrived at Sabaody Archipelago, in the 34th Grove."
"Oh..." Ryan's hand around Hancock's waist paused almost imperceptibly. He then narrowed his eyes slightly, a flicker of amusement crossing his gaze before he chuckled softly. "It seems Sabaody Archipelago is about to get lively."
Hancock, held tightly by Ryan, keenly noticed his subtle hesitation. This wasn't the casual reaction he'd have toward ordinary Pirates. Even Daz Bones had specifically reported it—clearly, this crew was anything but ordinary.
Just who was this Straw Hat Kid to catch this bastard's attention?
Ryan paid no mind to the questions brewing in Hancock's heart. Based on his memory of the "plot," the Straw Hat Kid's arrival at Sabaody coincided with the grand auction—a place where slaves were sold as commodities, and among them were some truly exceptional finds.
"It seems there's no need to rush our departure from Sabaody," Ryan mused, his fingers lightly stroking the Seven Star Sword at his waist. A playful glint flashed in his eyes as he remarked casually, "I've heard there are plenty of interesting 'items' at that auction. I'll go take a look."
Doing a good deed a day—"rescuing" some intriguing beings wouldn't be such a bad idea.
An auction? Wasn't that just a filthy venue where the Celestial Dragons and the nobility bought and sold slaves, trampling on others' dignity? The "interesting items" Ryan spoke of were clearly the people being treated like merchandise, picked over at will!
Hancock's face instantly turned cold, her deep blue eyes brimming with undisguised revulsion. Her entire body tensed uncontrollably.
As expected, this man was no different from those Celestial Dragons—treating people as price-tagged objects, reveling in the thrill of controlling others' fates, and delighting in crushing their dignity beneath his feet!
All men were cut from the same cloth—not a single one of them was any good!
Ryan sensed the stiffness in Hancock's body and glanced down, roughly guessing the root of her resistance. Yet, he deliberately teased her, his tone laced with mockery. "You're coming with me. It's a perfect chance for you to witness the 'excitement' of Sabaody."
Hancock jerked her head up, glaring fiercely at Ryan, and snarled, "This queen will not set foot in such a filthy place!"
After escaping from Mary Geoise, Hancock swore never to set foot in any place related to "slave trading" again, and never to recall the nightmare of being imprisoned by the Celestial Dragons. That was a humiliation etched into her bones, a past so revolting that even mentioning it made her sick!
However, the choice was not in Hancock's hands.