After Yamato and the others set out as Inazuma's new fighting force, they quickly built reputation, defeating a Seven Warlord in a certain battle and earning bounties worth hundreds of millions.
Not long after, Fisher Tiger, who had freed slaves, died due to betrayal. Upon receiving this news, Ren decided to have Boa Hancock and her two sisters return to Amazon Lily first.
Hancock had made great progress in Inazuma over the years. She had mastered all three types of Haki quite well, and her combat strength wasn't inferior to Yamato's or Lucci's. With her two sisters' help, the three of them already had Warlord-level combat strength.
Ren's decision to send them back to Amazon Lily involved multiple considerations.
Amazon Lily's military strength was formidable. As a martial nation where everyone possessed Haki, its combat power could rival the original Wano Country's.
In the original story, Hancock's combat strength actually exceeded the newly appeared Oden's.
If Oden hadn't trained at sea for years, he might not have been Hancock's match. A nation with such combat strength was naturally something Ren wanted to secure.
Even the Mink Tribe had long since become one of Inazuma's allies.
This connection was actually being developed secretly by Buggy. With Inuarashi and Nekomamushi there, it was no cause for concern. Moreover, though Wano Country had fallen, Shimotsuki Yasuie and others were still alive and deeply grateful to Ren. With this foundation, the Mink Tribe wasn't hostile to Inazuma at all, but rather very close.
Ren had even formed a new alliance with Shandora. The friendship between Wano Country and the Mink Tribe had ended, but the friendship between Inazuma and the Mink Tribe had begun.
However, the king of Zou was no longer Shandora but Sicilian.
After Boa Hancock and her two sisters returned to Amazon Lily, they quickly organized the Kuja warriors into a pirate crew.
This nation had always valued martial prowess. Those with strength were worshipped. Since the previous queen of Kuja Island had vanished, many years had passed without anyone as powerful as Hancock.
Plus, with Shakky and the old woman's endorsement, Hancock quickly became the true Pirate Empress.
When the Kuja Pirates emerged, the old woman hoped Hancock would replace the Warlord defeated by Yamato. Actually, the Marines had also noticed this all-female pirate crew and sent an invitation.
But it was firmly refused by Hancock in the end.
Becoming a Seven Warlord would benefit Kuja Island in the short term. The Warlord privileges could help the island develop quickly without worrying about foreign invasions.
But honestly, being a Warlord carried risks. Ren was concerned about the potential Seraphim in the future. The World Government's Seraphim project definitely used Warlords' Lineage Factor.
When Doflamingo had joined the Seven Warlords, Ren hadn't objected because Doflamingo's status was special. Though stripped of his Celestial Dragon status, he still had Celestial Dragon blood flowing in his veins. The World Government might not allow Vegapunk to experiment on him.
But others were completely different.
"But if you don't join the Seven Warlords, what will you do when the Marines attack?" the old woman worried.
Kuja Island was actually in a rather awkward position in the Grand Line. Though the entire population was martial, they lacked top-tier combat strength. If not for being located in the Calm Belt, Kuja Island might face even more dangerous situations.
"The Marines are nothing to worry about. Rather than being the Marines' dog, I have a better solution." Boa Hancock's expression was cold, a red snake coiled around her.
Though she had lost the Mero Mero no Mi and could no longer petrify people, gaining the Mira Mira no Mi and becoming a mirror maiden still gave her enormous charm.
"A better solution?" the old woman asked.
She couldn't think of any way to prevent Amazon Lily from being invaded.
"Instead of becoming the Marines' dog, why not plant a Four Emperors' flag on Amazon Lily?" Hancock said calmly. "Even as a Seven Warlord, you'd face pirates' hatred and challenges. But an island protected by a Four Emperors—even the Marines and pirates would think twice before acting."
Hearing this, the old woman fell deep in thought.
Actually, what Hancock said made sense.
It wasn't that the Marines were weaker than the Four Emperors. It was that the Marines wouldn't take responsibility for the Seven Warlords. Though Warlords had various privileges, to the Marines, they were merely useful tools.
If a tool broke, they just needed to replace it.
But being protected by a Four Emperors was completely different. As pirates, the Four Emperors valued reputation immensely. Once bearing a Four Emperors' flag, both Marines and pirates would think twice before making a move.
Of course, there were downsides.
The Four Emperors weren't a safe bet. Even massive crews like the Rocks Pirates or Big Mom's could be destroyed. If you became a Four Emperors' subordinate, there was no guarantee this mountain wouldn't collapse one day.
But after consideration, the old woman still agreed with Hancock's idea.
"Joining a Four Emperors isn't that simple, is it? Which Four Emperors do you plan to serve?" the old woman asked. "Could it be Whitebeard?"
Whitebeard was arguably one of the oldest existing pirate crews. His contemporaries had died or been captured, leaving only this immovable giant still standing in the New World.
If anyone in this era was closest to becoming Pirate King, it was undoubtedly him (though Ren, who had obtained all four Road Poneglyphs, could become Pirate King at any time).
Whitebeard was indeed a good choice to pledge loyalty to. In the original story, Hancock had actually wanted to join the Whitebeard Pirates but gave up because of the Celestial Dragon mark on her back. That was why she became a Seven Warlord.
Though the current Hancock didn't have the Celestial Dragon mark, she had the Great Serpent Mark.
"Whitebeard? How long can that old man last on this sea?" Hancock countered. "I'm talking about the eternal Land of Lightning—Inazuma!"
"Inazuma?" The old woman's eyes widened, her wrinkled skin folding into deep creases.
"Can you really join Inazuma?"
"Would I need to lie?" Hancock looked at her coldly. She didn't reveal her connection to Inazuma, as it might make the old woman suspect something, which wouldn't help unity.
"Inazuma wouldn't refuse an ally like Kuja Island."
Hearing this, the old woman nodded.
"If we can bear Inazuma's flag, it might be even better than joining the Marines. Those war machines—even Kuja warriors need several people to defeat one."
Thinking about being able to buy Ruin Guards at low prices in the future, the old woman's mood immediately improved. She had no idea Amazon Lily had already been sold to Inazuma by its current ruler.
[
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