Amazon Lily Island, inside the palace.
Four women were gathered.
"Snake Princess, why do you suddenly want to enter the New World?" Elder Nyon leaned on her snake‑shaped cane, her face puzzled. When she heard the bell earlier, she thought she had misheard. How could that cold and domineering woman ever leave the Calm Belt? She wouldn't have believed it even if her life depended on it.
"Yes, my lady, we are all very curious," Sandersonia and Marigold quickly added.
Hancock reclined on her throne, legs crossed, her delicate chin resting in her hand, her expression distant and reminiscent. She ignored the three of them completely.
They exchanged confused glances. None of them had any idea what Hancock was thinking.
Suddenly, Hancock pressed her hands to her face, shook her head slightly, and muttered: "Obviously, I try not to think about him… but why can't I help it?"
"What's wrong with the Empress? Why is she acting like this?"
Her muttering only deepened their confusion.
Elder Nyon struck the floor with her staff, the sharp sound echoing. "Snake Princess, what are you talking about? Did something happen?"
Hancock snapped back to herself. She glared coldly at the elder. "Gloriosa, who told you to speak to this Empress like that? Get out of my sight."
Marigold quickly tried to intervene. "My Lady, Elder Nyon only wishes to help us understand the New World. We know nothing about it."
Sandersonia nodded. "Yes, my Lady, let Elder Nyon advise us."
But Hancock ignored them. Her voice softened into something almost shy. "Someone came to see this Empress recently… a man."
Her sisters froze. Elder Nyon's eyes widened.
"His name is Drake. He is very powerful—his strength is at the level of an Admiral. He will soon become a Shichibukai, and he came to speak of cooperation… of the Shichibukai Alliance he founded."
Her cheeks flushed as she added, almost bashfully: "He's so handsome and powerful… this Empress likes him very much."
The three women were stunned. Drake? The Shichibukai Alliance? Hancock… liking him? The amount of information was overwhelming.
Elder Nyon recovered first. "Snake Princess, you said someone came to see you just now—how is that possible? How did Drake reach Amazon Lily? Can he truly do such a thing?"
Marigold added quickly, "My Lady, weren't you bathing earlier? How did you meet him?"
Sandersonia nodded. "And we were guarding outside. We heard nothing. How could anyone have entered?"
Hancock's expression hardened again, her queenly coldness returning. "He ate the Repulsion Fruit and developed a powerful ability to repel space. This Empress was bathing when he suddenly appeared. As for why you heard nothing—it was because he repelled the sound itself."
The three women gasped.
"Empress… did he see the mark on your back?" Elder Nyon's face twisted in horror.
"Perhaps he didn't," Hancock replied calmly.
Marigold and Sandersonia pressed her. "But you were bathing, my Lady—how could he not?"
Hancock brushed back her long black hair, smiling faintly. "It doesn't matter if he saw it or not. He already knew I was once a slave of the Tenryūbito. But he didn't care. Instead, he told me to grow stronger and prepare for future battles. He said we must drag the Tenryūbito down from their altar. Such domineering words could only come from a man of true power."
"Tenryūbito!"
Marigold and Sandersonia exclaimed, fear flashing across their faces as old memories resurfaced. Elder Nyon nearly staggered under the weight of the revelation. Hancock had spoken the word without trembling, without fear. It was unbelievable.
Everyone knew—the thing Hancock feared and hated most in the world were the Tenryūbito.
"Snake Princess… you said he already knew about the mark on your back. How is that possible?" Elder Nyon's voice shook. "And he dares to make enemies of the Tenryūbito? He must be joking. They are the descendants of the creators. How could anyone dare such a thing? Impossible!"
But Sandersonia and Marigold, still trembling with fear, barely heard her words.
Hancock's eyes turned cold. She glared at Granny Nyon and said viciously: "Gloriosa, if you dare to continue questioning the man this Empress loves, I will immediately cast you out.
He is the best man in the world; this Empress will not allow anyone to slander him. Absolutely nobody!"
This time, Elder Nyon fully understood. The most beautiful woman in the world had fallen in love with a man. The revelation shocked her deeply.
She knew Hancock well—cold as an iceberg. Yet now, the iceberg had melted. Hancock was overwhelmed by Drake.
"Snake Princess… are you in love with him?" Elder Nyon asked solemnly. "The reason you want to enter the New World is because of his advice, isn't it?"
Hancock nodded proudly. "Drake said I am too weak. If I remain in the Calm Belt, I will be completely overwhelmed in the future."
She lightly bit her jade finger, her expression serious. "You're right. This Empress wasted too much time before, never working to improve her strength. The citizens of Amazon Lily are a fighting nation, but now they hide in the Calm Belt, never facing strong opponents. The fighting capacity of the entire country has diminished. If this continues, Amazon Lily will truly perish."
Her eyes burned with determination. "Then, whatever happens, we must leave the Calm Belt and go to the Grand Line."
Marigold and Sandersonia exchanged glances, then nodded firmly. "My Lady is right. We will follow you."
Elder Nyon struck the ground with her staff, relief spreading across her face. "Snake Princess, I never expected such a drastic change. This is wonderful. The problem you mentioned—I discovered it long ago, but never told you. The former Empress was too confident in her strength, unwilling to listen. Today, you recognize your flaws and seek change. That makes me very happy."
But Hancock rose, turning her back on the elder. Her voice was cold. "Gloriosa, who do you think you are? Stop preaching to this Empress, you traitor who abandoned the country."
Elder Nyon's face twisted with fury. She nearly lunged at Hancock, but Marigold and Sandersonia quickly restrained her. "Snake Princess, you called me a traitor? I've always protected you like a mother—don't you know that?"
Marigold and Sandersonia nodded repeatedly, smiling nervously. "Yes, yes… Elder Nyon, don't be angry. Our sister didn't mean it."
Hancock ignored them. She placed her hand on Salome's head, a sweet and happy smile spreading across her delicate face. "Drake… wait. We will meet in the New World. This Empress is looking forward to that day."
West Blue, over a certain sea area.
A massive ship cut across the waves, heading swiftly toward the North Blue.
Inside the practice room:
"It's been a day… why isn't Drake back yet?" Honey Queen leaned on a chair, legs crossed, looking bored.
Baccarat stroked her dark red hair and smiled. "Are you so used to watching Drake train? It feels strange when he's gone."
Betty exhaled smoke, her tone light. "I've realized I actually enjoy watching Drake practice."
Suddenly, with a thunderous bang, a figure appeared before them.
"Did anything happen on board while I was gone?" Drake asked calmly.
Hana eyes lit up. "Ah, Drake, you're back!" she said with a smile.
"Don't worry, nothing unusual. Everything is normal," Baccarat added, her pretty face softening with relief. With Drake present, the ship felt secure—its backbone restored.
Drake nodded, said nothing more, and drew his blood‑red sword. He began to swing it with quiet intensity…
Four days later.
"Finally, we've entered the North Blue, Wiihahahaha…"
Burgess gazed at the vast sea, his mood soaring, unable to contain his booming laughter.
Lafitte twirled his cane elegantly, a faint smile on his lips. "Once our journey through the North Blue is complete, only the East Blue remains. After that, we head to the Grand Line, kill Crocodile, and secure the captain's position as Shichibukai."
Doc Q reclined lazily in his chair, his expression twisted with anticipation. "I hope we reach the New World soon… then I can attack a country and poison countless people to death, hehe~~"
Law raised Kikoku, his cold gaze fixed on the horizon. "The New World is filled with monsters. Whether we survive there will depend entirely on luck."
Suddenly, the shrill sound of an alarm rang out from the observation deck.
"Report!"
The lookout's voice trembled with shock. "An abnormal situation ahead… giant snails are sailing across the sea! Huge snails…!"
The tone was full of disbelief, the alarmist clearly shaken by the sight of these colossal creatures