Was this woman really that innocent?
How could she just ask that out loud?
Shouldn't that kind of question be... Perona felt like her face was on fire.
This question actually stumped Luffy.
What was it?
Explaining from a medical perspective... would she even understand what medicine was?
Explaining from the simplest differences between men and women... she hadn't even recognized him as a man at first.
It was a bit tangled.
It truly stumped him.
Luffy looked down, then explained using simple, easy-to-understand adjectives:
"Ah, this. They're a man's special golden eggs."
Gold?
Eggs?
Metal was also a valuable item on Kuja. "Eggs"? Marguerite became extra interested in this expensive-sounding name. She unconsciously pressed further, "Can I see them?"
She reached out her hand.
Pfft!
Perona nearly choked on her own saliva. She could no longer hold back and interrupted.
"Stop! End of discussion! This topic ends here!"
One of them really dared to ask,
and the other really dared to answer.
She was afraid that if they continued, these two would explore something even more shocking.
Interrupted by Perona, Marguerite also realized that her question was somewhat inappropriate. After looking at Luffy and Perona, she couldn't help but voice her confusion:
"How did you get here?"
"That's a long story."
Luffy, seeing that the atmosphere had eased, sat down right there and smiled. "A lot of things happened. I ran into a few enemies I couldn't beat for now. My crewmates were also sent flying into the sky by some guy using his strange ability."
Aokiji,
Kizaru,
Garp!
Strictly speaking, it wasn't that he couldn't win one-on-one. They just had more people.
Now, Luffy's goal to become stronger was to be able to fight two at once!
"Who exactly are you people?" Marguerite asked.
"Us?"
Luffy smiled, reached out, pulled down Perona, who was still floating in the air trying to escape the awkward topic, sat her beside him, and said frankly, "We're pirates. Do you know about pirates?"
"Pirates?"
Marguerite blinked. Of course she knew. "The emperor of this country, Snake Princess, is also a pirate."
Luffy remembered that this country seemed to be all women, and they were very resistant to men. So he asked curiously, "So that pirate crew is all women? Are they strong?"
At the mention of Snake Princess and her pirate crew, Marguerite's expression immediately became extremely serious and proud.
"What a foolish question!"
Marguerite said,
"The Kuja Pirates are all elite warriors chosen from thousands in this country. They are extremely strong! And Snake Princess is a woman that everyone in the country admires—strong, noble, and the world's most charming woman! She is the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock!"
Boa Hancock?
That name was indeed familiar.
Luffy recalled the information about the Warlords of the Sea that Vivi had shown him. He suddenly remembered.
"I remember now! She's one of the Warlords of the Sea. The same as Moria."
Perona, standing nearby, pursed her lips in slight disagreement.
Not even Moria was a match for Luffy. So what if the Pirate Empress was also a Warlord?
Luffy roughly understood. This place was like Thriller Bark—the territory of a Warlord of the Sea.
He didn't want to get into a conflict with another Warlord. He didn't have the time, for one thing. And seeing how much Marguerite respected the Empress, he also couldn't bring himself to attack.
So he asked Marguerite:
"Marguerite, can you get me a ship? We want to leave here."
Marguerite shook her head. "There are no ships. This is the Calm Belt."
"The Calm Belt?"
Luffy had learned navigation from Nami, so he knew what the Calm Belt meant.
Marguerite further explained:
"This island, Amazon Lily, is surrounded by the nest of large Sea Kings called the Calm Belt. Normal sailors don't come near here. Even if someone miraculously drifts here, they're almost always already dead."
Perona, hearing this, looked grateful.
She was glad Kuma had sent her flying here.
Otherwise, being scared to death by those gigantic Sea Kings would be terrifying.
Now came the problem: how to leave?
"So how does this country's pirate crew do it? How do they go out to sea?"
Luffy asked, hitting the key point.
Marguerite said, "Snake Princess's ship is pulled by venomous sea serpents. Even the Sea Kings don't dare to attack them easily. But there's only one ship in all of Amazon Lily."
Luffy was stumped.
Was he supposed to steal it?
He was a pirate. He had no qualms about stealing things.
But judging from Marguerite's attitude, she respected Snake Princess very much. And she had just given him a lot of information and given Perona clothes. That made her a friend.
Taking something that a friend respected wasn't his style.
He had principles.
"Then I have no choice but to talk to this Snake Princess?"
Luffy stroked his chin, thinking.
If sailing required snakes, his ability to talk to animals would allow him to communicate with them.
What a headache. There was no wind here.
Thinking this, Luffy involuntarily thought of Vivi again.
If only Vivi were here. The Fū Fū no Mi might have been able to do something.
Marguerite watched Luffy deep in thought. Her face showed a struggle, her expression shifting several times.
As a protector of the country, her duty was to protect the country's rules. And one of the country's iron laws was: men are forbidden!
She stood up abruptly. The snake on her body coiled around her arm, eventually forming a bow.
"I can't let this continue!"
Marguerite's gaze became firm. She notched an arrow, drew her bow, and aimed at Luffy. "Surrender!"
"Hey, hey, hey. Are you people experts at changing faces?"
Perona couldn't help complaining. "We were just talking nicely a moment ago. Now you're starting again?!"
These emotional swings were too fast!
But Luffy's attention was clearly elsewhere. He looked at the arrow in Marguerite's hand, coated with Haki, and his eyes lit up. "Your arrows are very strong! Why do you all know Haki?"
Zoro and Sanji had undergone his fist-pounding training just to learn Haki.
If there was a shortcut, Luffy really wanted to learn it so he could teach Nami and the others.
He didn't have a problem hitting Zoro and Sanji. He still couldn't bring himself to hit Nami and Robin. As for Vivi...
Well, she'd probably enjoy it.
Zoro: "???"
Sanji: "???"
"Luffy,"
Perona looked at the cold, gleaming arrows and quickly floated over, pinched Luffy's cheeks, and shouted, "This woman is trying to kill you!"
Luffy's mouth was pinched out of shape, but he smiled vaguely and said, "Eh, eh. There's a reason."
He understood Marguerite's position.
At present, Marguerite was clearly not a match for him. Even with her Haki-coated arrows, under the perception of his strong Kenbunshoku Haki, their paths were clearly visible. He was confident he could dodge them.
Sure enough, after several rounds of shooting, Marguerite was surprised to find that no matter how she aimed, Luffy always could adjust his position slightly in advance, making her feel as if all her movements were under this man's control.
A sense of powerlessness arose.
"Ah. I don't want to fight you either."
Luffy sighed, then suddenly turned to Perona and asked, "Perona, ready?"
Hearing this familiar, nightmare-inducing opening, Perona's hair stood on end. She screamed, "Can you stop saying that?!"
She knew nothing good followed!
Sure enough, the next moment, her waist was again wrapped by Luffy's rubber arm and jerked to the side.
Almost simultaneously, several Haki-coated arrows shot swish-swish-swish into the spot where Luffy had been standing.
Kikyo and the other Guardians had arrived!
Meanwhile.
On the sea outside the Sabaody Archipelago.
Two massive, venomous sea serpents pulled a giant pirate ship with a giant snake figurehead, slowly sailing toward Amazon Lily.
It was the Kuja Pirates' ship.
Because the two serpents were themselves highly venomous, even the giant Sea Kings of the Calm Belt mostly dared not easily attack them.
The area around Amazon Lily was in the Calm Belt, with many Sea Kings living there. It should have been an absolute no-go zone for pirates and merchant ships.
But today, this restricted area had received a group of uninvited guests.
A fleet of flying Marine flags was quietly anchored on the sea.
On the deck of the lead ship stood a middle-aged man with a serious expression and a Mohawk hairstyle.
Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, Momonga.
One of the executives of the Kuja Pirates, Ran.
She walked out, stared at the Marines on the ship ahead, and said with a hint of sarcasm, "To have the nerve to anchor in the middle of a sea where monsters gather."
She noticed, on the nearby sea, a giant Sea King floating dead, with a large, clean cut on its body.
"Yes. We were attacked by it just now."
Vice Admiral Momonga walked out and said in a low voice. "Even on this warship, which is equipped with Kairoseki to somewhat mask its presence, if we anchor too long, these sharp-nosed creatures will notice."
He glanced at the Sea King's body and continued, "But according to the agreement between our government and your Kuja, we are forbidden from entering the sea within three kilometers of the island's coast. So, we have no choice but to wait for you in the middle of this monster's nest."
The Marines behind him whispered among themselves, looking curiously and warily at the legendary Kuja Pirates.
It was rumored that the Empress of Kuja was a monster who could turn people to stone.
Ran ignored the Marines' chatter. Pointing at the dead Sea King, she asked, "Did you kill that?"
"Sea Kings are not uncommon in the Grand Line, but the ones in the Calm Belt are truly huge. 'Monsters' is a more accurate word. That Sea King tried to swallow our ship whole. I had no choice but to take care of it."
Momonga shifted his tone. His gaze sharpened as he looked at the Kuja ship. "I've been waiting for you for a long time, Kuja Pirates. Warlord of the Sea, Pirate Empress Boa Hancock. Come out! I've come to get you!"
War was about to begin!
The Navy needed the power of the Warlords.
Though it felt very strange.
Unsurprisingly, this was met with ridicule from the Kuja Pirates.
"The Empress will not come out. We have already replied many times."
"Men really are creatures without manners."
"And they want us to participate in a war. They're so weak."
"But it's been a long time since we've seen a live man. Whenever they see the Kuja flag, whether pirates or merchants, they always get in their small boats and try to escape."
Listening to their chattering, Momonga suppressed his anger and threw a newspaper over.
"We received your reply, saying you would consider responding to the summon, but there is no sign of actual action!
This is this morning's newspaper!
The location and date for the public execution of Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander, Portgas D. Ace, have been decided!
We will not yield any further! This compulsory summon of the Warlords is a strict order from the World Government! If you refuse, you will be stripped of your Warlord title! Do you know what that means?"
His voice rose. "You, who have been doing as you please under the World Government's protection, will become ordinary pirates! Furthermore, you will be treated as hostile forces to the World Government and the Navy! Do you hear me, Boa Hancock!"
The scene fell silent.
Finally, the ornate doors of the pirates' ship cabin were slowly pushed open. The crisp sound of footsteps came.
A woman in a red high-slit qipao, with a light cloak, long black hair, and peerlessly beautiful features, walked out with elegant, haughty steps.
Her expression was indifferent, as if nothing in the world was worth her notice.
The Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock!
She didn't even look directly at Momonga. She lightly stepped onto the head of a sea serpent, came to the deck of the Marine ship, stood with one hand on her hip, and looked down at Momonga.
"Annoying."
Her vermilion lips parted, her voice carrying a natural charm and coldness. "Have you forgotten why I am called a Warlord of the Sea?"
Momonga's face darkened.
Why were the Warlords of the Sea called Warlords of the Sea?
Because they themselves were the most troublesome pirates!
It was precisely because they had the strength! The power! The influence! that they were qualified to work with the World Government.
"The reply a few days ago was just to brush you off. I will not participate in the war."
Boa Hancock's tone shifted. She lightly tapped her chin with her finger, showing an innocent-like smile. "But, I don't want my Warlord title stripped from me either. Also, I want all of your ship's cargo."
Momonga finally couldn't hold back. "What nonsense are you talking! Do you think you're a naive child, believing such unreasonable demands would be granted?!"
Boa Hancock smiled enigmatically and simply flicked her long hair.
Momonga's internal alarm bells went off. He spun around and saw that his Marine soldiers had dreamy eyes and flushed cheeks. They had actually started to obey Hancock's words and were actively moving the ship's supplies!
You idiots!
"What are you doing! Wake up!" Momonga roared.
But it had little effect.
He turned back, cold sweat streaming down his face, and stared at Hancock. "In one week, Portgas D. Ace will be publicly executed in Marineford Plaza!
That means, to rescue Ace, the Whitebeard Pirates will certainly act!
We have mobilized the full force of the Navy, led by the three Admirals, to fight them! Will you choose to have your Warlord title stripped and become a hunted pirate, or will you accept the summons? Choose now!"
To be honest, after the Sabaody Archipelago incident, Momonga, as a Marine Vice Admiral, knew some inside information.
Straw Hat was too terrifying!
The pattern of the world was bound to change.
Deep down, Momonga had his doubts about the Warlord system. But he knew that in the coming war, the Navy needed every bit of power it could get, even from these uncontrollable pirates.
Boa Hancock sat down and crossed her long legs.
"I like my Warlord title. I don't want it stripped. But I hate the World Government. I don't want to obey their orders."
She tilted her head, revealing a smile that could captivate anyone. "How about this? The Marines who came to welcome me encountered an incredible accident at sea. Their bodies all turned to stone. Total loss."
As soon as she said this, the Marines still in their enthralled state snapped awake somewhat. They remembered the rumors about the Kuja Empress's terrifying petrification power. Fear appeared on their faces.
"I warned you earlier! Don't think your tantrums will be forgiven!" Momonga raged.
Nearby, Hancock's two sisters, Sandersonia and Marigold, sneered.
"Elder Sister has a bad temper. But everything she does is forgiven."
"Yes. She has reasons to be forgiven."
Boa Hancock slowly stood up, stepped onto the Marine deck, looked around at the surrounding Mar
ines, parted her red lips, and spoke the words she deeply believed:
"Because I am beautiful."
"Ahhh! Snake Princess!!"
"So beautiful!!"
Both the Marine soldiers and the Kuja women warriors instantly erupted. Their eyes were filled with fervor and affection.
"Mero Mero Mellow!"
Hancock made a heart with her hands. A pink, heart-shaped light spread out, enveloping all the Marines on the deck.
The soldiers hit by the light instantly had their obsession expressions freeze. Their bodies quickly turned into grayish-white stone from the bottom up.
In that instant, using his strong willpower, Momonga abruptly stabbed his own palm with his sword. The intense pain erased his inner evil thoughts, just barely allowing him to avoid petrification.
"Oh? He's a true veteran. Using pain to resist my charm? Not bad."
Boa Hancock praised lightly.
Could he use that method once, or every time?
She didn't believe there was anyone in the world who could completely resist her beauty.
***
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