"Is that so... I see..."
Hancock was somewhat dazed; at this moment, Cifer seemed to merge with the figure who had set fire to Mary Geoise many years ago.
"You truly surprise me, Cifer-kun."
She began to feel at ease. Some people are born without fear of power, and she wished she could be one of them.
"Do not be alarmed, for what has been will be again."
As Bonney ran toward him, Cifer slowly opened his spatial dimension. He knew what Hancock was thinking and what she was afraid of.
He knew what she was trying so hard to forget, and he wouldn't reopen her wounds; those scars needed blood to cover them.
Bonney couldn't understand what they were saying, so she went into the Garganta first, just as Cifer stepped in.
"Will I be able to become that kind of person someday in the future?!"
For the first time since becoming Shichibukai, Hancock felt a mix of uncertainty, fear, and anticipation about the future.
For the first time, she, who was known as the Empress, humbled herself and wanted an answer.
"Certainly!"
Cifer did not turn around, and the space slowly closed.
"I can also..."
Hancock stood there, stunned. All around her seemed to be silent, except for the sound of her heartbeat.
"Sister, what are you doing here?"
Two women, one tall and one thin, saw Hancock standing blankly in the harbor and disembarked to walk over to her, puzzled.
There was nothing there.
She only came out of her daze when her two younger sisters came to her side, and she just smiled slightly with a faint blush on her face.
Confused, the two followed her back to the Kuja Pirates' ship.
At the port.
"Hey, stop looking! The ship's already gone!"
A sergeant punched a group of people who were standing in a row, watching the departing empress.
"Wipe your drool off first, bro!"
"No way!"
The sergeant wiped his mouth in embarrassment and anger. She was the World's Number One Beauty; what was wrong with drooling a little?!
"By the way, did you hear what they were saying just now? I think I vaguely heard something like 'not afraid' or something like that."
He was very curious about who this person was who could make two Shichibukai say the word "fear".
"Who cares? Everyone's watching Lady Hancock!"
"Wow, that's amazing! They got back here in no time!"
"But why here?"
Bonney looked puzzled, because they were standing in front of a restaurant in the Sabaody Archipelago.
What do you think?
Cifer glanced at her and strode in.
"Hehe, actually I can still eat a little bit more."
Bonney grinned and followed closely behind.
After a satisfying meal, the two returned to Shakky's Bar.
"Yay! Hahahaha!"
As soon as the door opened, Enel's signature laughter rang out. Beside him, Chopper had several large bumps on his head, while Nolan and Robin were unharmed.
"Cifer ~"
Chopper rushed over crying and hugged his leg.
"What's going on?"
"Chopper volunteered to practice Observation Haki, but ended up getting hit by Rayleigh's blows several times!"
Robin smiled calmly and explained how the incident began.
The situation at the time...
"So that concludes our discussion of the concept of Haki. Is there any brave man who would like to step forward and give it a try?"
As soon as Rayleigh said this, all eyes turned to Chopper, since Enel had already fully mastered Observation Haki and had also figured out Armament Haki on his own.
Only the two girls and Chopper remained.
"Of course... I, Chopper, am a brave man, a great warrior of the sea, a monster..."
The result is what it looks like now.
"Really..."
After comforting Chopper, Cifer temporarily left Bonney behind as well.
He took out the torn-off Vivre Card from his pocket. There wasn't a trace of burning on it. He wasn't in a hurry to go to Mock Town or Banaro Island.
While wandering around the Sabaody Archipelago, I unexpectedly stumbled upon an auction venue located in Zone 1.
He wasn't particularly interested in this so-called high society gathering place and was about to turn and leave.
"Mr. Cifer! What brings you back to Sabaody Archipelago today?!"
A familiar voice and attitude.
"Bater, what are you doing here?"
The person walking towards him with a fawning expression was the person in charge of the auction venue on Kakaman Island.
When he heard his subordinates say that the man looked like this, he immediately dropped everything and ran out.
"Mr. Cifer, I'm so lucky to have been transferred here by the boss to be in charge."
Bater scratched the back of his head, his face beaming.
Originally, that person wanted to send him to the New World, but later Bater thought about it and realized that such a place was too dangerous.
So he pleaded to be transferred to this place where he could make the most money, while the original person in charge was sent to Kakaman Island.
"I see. Did you handle the father and daughter on Kakaman Island?"
Although he only led him for a short distance, the fact that the other party called him Brother Kun was enough to make Cifer take him seriously.
"Don't worry, Mr. Cifer! Those islands are not suitable for ordinary people to live on at all. I specially sent people to send them to the safest East Blue."
Bater was very excited. He had only thought that perhaps Mr. Cifer had some affection for the father and daughter, so he took it upon himself to send them away.
Unexpectedly, when they met again, he actually asked about it. I'm sure my popularity with him has skyrocketed!
Bater, oh Bater, your life has only just begun!
"Well done! Interested in becoming my subordinate?"
It's not that we can't support someone like this who's involved in the Underworld. Bater is very sensible and quite to Cifer's liking.
"I... Mr. Cifer, are you talking about me?!"
Bater's heart was wavering. All along, he had only served as Doflamingo's subordinate, working for him in the Underworld.
If I hadn't met Cifer, I would probably have spent my whole life on Kakaman Island, until I lost my usefulness and was abandoned.
Because he was just a dispensable pawn.
The only reason I was able to get here and even receive a little bit of Doflamingo's attention was because of the man in front of me!
But...
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Cifer!"
"Since I've chosen Doflamingo as my boss, I will absolutely not choose anyone else until he abandons me!"
Bater also wanted to follow in the footsteps of those around her, to try to reach a higher stage and see a wider view, but Isshin could not have two masters.
He knew this might be his only chance in his life, but even in the darkest of times, there are moral principles that must be upheld.
If you take this step, your future will be utterly ruined.
"What a pity."
He patted Bater on the shoulder and was about to leave.
"Mr. Cifer! I recently acquired a Devil Fruit. You are an important figure, and I humbly request that you help me appraise it. I will pay you a generous reward!"
The latter quickly spoke up, saying that this Auction House was in charge of human trafficking and didn't have anyone knowledgeable in this area. The man in front of him was knowledgeable and must know!
Although Cifer knew nothing about this, he nodded slightly, thinking of his own guess.
Just then, a group of people suddenly rushed out of the auction hall; they were clearly Bater's men chasing after a man.
"Mr. Bater! He stole the Devil Fruit you treasured!"
"What did you say?!"