Arrival at Amazon Lily, meeting the Kuja Pirates!

"Amazon Lily? Summon the Shichibukai!"

Hearing Garp's words, Feng Lei walked out of the training room looking utterly baffled.

As he recalled, someone had to be a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral to summon a Shichibukai!

Though he was a [Special Recruit], he had no real authority or position.

Besides.

Wasn't Amazon Lily the Island of Women?

There was only one Shichibukai there: the Empress, Boa Hancock!

That woman was exceedingly proud.

In the original story, Momonga had gone to invite her as the commander of the G-1 Branch. Not only had she flatly refused him, but she had also turned all the Marines accompanying him to stone.

Even Momonga had only escaped by injuring himself.

In the end, if Luffy hadn't needed to go to Impel Down, Hancock might never have agreed to answer the summons.

Now he was being sent to summon her instead.

When that proud woman saw him, wouldn't she think she was being slighted?

"That's right!"

Garp nodded, then laughed. "Sengoku told me that as long as you complete this summons, you'll be given the position of Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral when you return. Once you're stationed at a branch, you'll be a high-ranking official with a territory of your own!"

Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral?

Feng Lei murmured to himself, then finally nodded. "All right, I'll go!"

"That woman is no pushover. You'd better be careful!"

Garp gave him a few words of warning.

"Mm!"

Feng Lei nodded slightly.

The Empress's ability was indeed powerful. Even Blackbeard could only resort to a sneak attack when going after her.

But Feng Lei wasn't afraid.

He could now open the Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates and had powerful Ninjutsu such as Dust Release and Ice Release. If the Empress didn't know what was good for her, he wouldn't indulge her.

Besides, he also possessed the Three Types of Haki. Tempered by Garp, his Haki was no weaker than Hancock's, and her Devil Fruit ability wouldn't work on him either.

"When do I leave?" Feng Lei asked.

"Now!"

Garp recalled Sengoku telling him not to let Feng Lei return to Marine Headquarters.

"Now?"

Feng Lei was taken aback.

"There's only one warship right now. Are you coming too?"

If Garp and Aokiji went along, Hancock would have no room to refuse. What would they need him for?

"Aokiji and I won't be going with you," Garp said, shaking his head. "We'll stay in Water 7 with that brat Luffy and wait for a nearby branch to send a warship. You take my warship and some men to Amazon Lily!"

"All right!"

Feng Lei nodded.

Soon.

Garp and Aokiji remained at the port with Luffy's group.

Boka, Koby, Helmeppo, and the other Marines, meanwhile, set sail for Amazon Lily with Feng Lei.

"I never thought something as important as summoning a Shichibukai would be entrusted to us!"

Standing on the deck, Helmeppo was visibly excited.

If this trip succeeded, he and Koby would have another achievement to their names.

"It's all thanks to Feng Lei."

Koby glanced at Feng Lei's back.

He knew.

This mission had been assigned to Feng Lei. He and Helmeppo were just going through the motions and picking up some credit.

The two had joined the Marines on the same day, but now not only was there a vast difference in their strength, the treatment they received was worlds apart too.

"Don't you go thinking this mission will be so simple!"

Just then.

Boka walked over, his expression grave.

"Captain Boka, why do you say that?"

Koby and Helmeppo were both startled and puzzled.

Boka sighed. "Every Shichibukai is exceedingly proud, and Empress Boa Hancock is the worst of them. She's also temperamental and especially despises men. Whenever we Marines deal with her, there's trouble at every turn, and it's hard to communicate with her. This summons could very well fail."

"Fail? Would she actually refuse?"

Their eyes widened.

They had thought it would be an easy mission. After all, the Shichibukai were pirates recognized by the Marines. Shouldn't she head straight to Marine Headquarters as soon as she received the summons?

If she refused, wasn't she afraid the Marines would strip her of her title?

"You can't judge that woman by common sense."

Boka shook his head, then gave Koby and Helmeppo a solemn warning. "In any case, remember this: if you encounter that woman, don't look at her. Close your eyes, or no one will be able to save you."

Hearing that.

Koby and Helmeppo exchanged glances.

Though they didn't understand why, Captain Boka's warning was so grave that they nodded firmly.

At the same time.

The two couldn't help growing worried.

If she was so difficult to deal with, could Feng Lei complete the mission?

Several days later.

Feng Lei was cultivating in the training room when he heard Koby's voice outside.

"Feng Lei, we've reached Amazon Lily!"

Inside.

Feng Lei glanced at the system panel.

[Eight Gates: Learning progress 90%]

"Ninety percent. Just ten percent more until I can open the Eighth Gate, but my progress is getting slower and slower."

Cultivating in seclusion yielded little progress. He still needed actual combat, and his learning progress would only surge when he fought powerful opponents.

He pushed the door open and stepped out.

Feng Lei followed Koby onto the deck.

He gazed into the distance.

An island emerged in the distance.

The island had a strikingly unusual shape. At its summit, nine giant snakes carved from massive stones coiled together, an awe-inspiring sight even from afar.

The sea in front of the island was strangely eerie as well.

The entire expanse was without a ripple, as flat as a mirror.

The Calm Belt!

In this region of the sea, there was no wind to propel ships, so any vessel that came here would be stranded.

Unless it had special equipment.

Marine warships, for example, didn't rely on sails and wind. Their unique propulsion systems allowed them to travel through the Calm Belt.

But the Calm Belt was also a favorite habitat of Sea Kings, so warships had Seastone fitted to their hulls to avoid drawing their attention.

"Prepare to make landfall!"

Feng Lei gave the order.

"Yes!"

Powered by its unique propulsion system, the warship sailed freely through the Calm Belt, moving slowly toward Amazon Lily.

But just then.

A huge, dark-red ship sailed toward them from the island.

A massive flag flew above the ship.

On it was the skull of a nine-headed snake.

"That's..."

"The Kuja Pirates! They're coming our way!"

On the warship, the Marines couldn't help growing nervous when they saw the nine-headed snake's pirate flag.

A Shichibukai!

The pirate crew founded by Empress Boa Hancock was infamous.

Though they had prepared themselves, only when they were about to meet them did Koby, Helmeppo, and the others realize they felt uneasy and apprehensive.

"Feng Lei, that's the Kuja Pirates. When you meet that woman, don't do anything rash. Just tell her why we're here."

Standing beside Feng Lei, Boka gave him the warning with a grave expression.

Empress Boa Hancock was temperamental and would attack at the slightest disagreement. Once she started fighting, she made no distinction between friend and foe. He was afraid Feng Lei would say the wrong thing and anger Boa Hancock.

Feng Lei was strong, but what if others got caught in the crossfire?

He didn't want to turn to stone.

Feng Lei didn't answer Boka's warning. Instead, he slowly spoke.

"Since they've come to us, we can't just do nothing, can we?"

"Bring the ship alongside theirs!"