Specifically, her new master—the Celestial Dragon Child—seemed to be a child who disliked going out.
He always liked watching the stars alone, often holding frozen treats in his hand. It was the first time she had ever seen such a hobby.
However, because her new master never went out and seemed to have no hobbies, her life had become much simpler.
Her daily tasks were much the same as those of the servants in the estate: cleaning and trimming the flowers and plants.
As for serving dishes or attending to the master, those jobs were not for slaves.
Four days ago, the Celestial Dragon Child had suddenly decided to embark on a Four Seas Pilgrimage.
As one of the more nimble slaves, Hancock had naturally been included among the entourage.
It was also on that day that something happened which would shock her for the rest of her life.
On the eve of departure, a Red-skinned Fish-Man had infiltrated Mary Geoise and freed tens of thousands of slaves, charging toward them in a mighty wave.
At that moment, alongside her surprise, Hancock felt even more unease and hesitation.
This was a perfect chance to escape. If she followed those people, she would surely be able to get away.
But she had not seen her two younger sisters among those tens of thousands.
Both of her sisters had been forced to eat Devil Fruits, leaving their bodies strangely shaped and extremely conspicuous.
If they had been there, Hancock would have recognized them at a glance.
They were not there, yet she was supposed to escape alone and abandon them? Was that really all right?
Once she left, it would be a final farewell.
While she hesitated, she saw the Fish-Man charge toward her master, the Celestial Dragon Child.
However, what happened next was completely different from what she had imagined.
The Celestial Dragon Child easily sent the Fish-Man flying, then broke all four of his limbs with several consecutive punches, leaving him kneeling on the ground, unable to rise.
The sight was simply unbelievable to her.
Hancock, who had secretly been training all along, could vaguely sense that the Fish-Man was far stronger than she was.
If they truly fought, she would absolutely be no match for him.
Yet a Fish-Man far stronger than her had been defeated by a Celestial Dragon Child. It was like a dream.
If she had not seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed such a thing could exist in this world.
The abilities the Celestial Dragon Child displayed afterward made her doubt her own eyes even more.
Ice and snow, avatars, transformation... Could one person eat three Devil Fruits?
Even if he could, was this guy not absurdly strong?
The Black-Haired Youth he transformed into gave off an eerie sense of pressure that made her completely unable to summon any desire to fight.
Then there was how the Celestial Dragon Child released those tens of thousands of slaves and took responsibility for the matter.
As well as how he established the Adventurer's Guild and had her and several other slaves register as adventurers. For a while, Hancock thought she was living in a dream.
Yet whether it was the Adventurer's Guild introduction published in the newspaper, the reason for the bounty on Fisher Tiger's wanted poster, or the noisy chatter of Yukito on the streets, all of it told her with perfect clarity—this was still reality.
Walking along the streets of the Sabaody Archipelago, task sheet freshly received from the Adventurer's Guild in hand, Hancock could not help lowering her head to look at her bare neck again.
There had once been an explosive collar there when she had been a slave. It had also been proof of her status as a slave.
But now, there was nothing there.
The only thing proving that she had once been a slave was the tattoo on her back.
In other words, even if she threw away the task sheet and ran away immediately, there would be no problem at all.
But when she thought of her two younger sisters, who were still slaves in Mary Geoise, she found herself unable to make up her mind.
Should she escape? Leave her two sisters behind and never see them again.
Or should she continue being a slave and place her hopes in her master—the Celestial Dragon Child?
Since he was willing to let those tens of thousands of slaves go, if she showed enough value, he should be willing to help save her sisters, right?
For him, it would only take a single word.
No. Celestial Dragons were all scum. She could not place her hopes in him.
"If you keep squeezing it, you're going to crumple that task sheet."
The sudden voice startled Hancock. Turning her head, she saw the girl she had fought not long ago over refusing to eat the Caterpillar-Caterpillar Fruit standing beside her, smiling at her.
"Irene, aren't you going to run away?"
The girl put away her smile and looked seriously at Hancock.
"Are you planning to run away, Hannie?"
Hannie was the false name Hancock had deliberately used to avoid exposing her origins on Amazon Lily.
After all, it would be far too humiliating if people learned that a Kuja warrior had become a slave.
Moreover, it was preparation for the possibility that she might escape one day.
Quite a few slaves whose real identities had not been exposed were using false names as well.
"Aren't you going to run away?" Hancock lowered her gaze to Irene's neck. "The collars that bound us are already gone, aren't they?"
"That's true, but even if I run away, where could I go?"
The girl sneered before speaking again.
"I don't know about your circumstances, but my parents sold me. I have nowhere to return to."
"Besides, don't you think the Adventurer's Guild is an opportunity?"
"In the future, the Adventurer's Guild will definitely gradually replace the Marines. By then, as some of the first people to join the guild, maybe we can even become admirals."
Chapter 36: You May Not Need It, But You Must Have It
Section 36: Chapter 36: You May Not Need It, But You Must Have It
Clap, clap, clap...
The applause behind them made both girls turn around at once.
Several meters away, a tall monkey-faced uncle draped in a Marine coat was clapping with a smile.
Both of them became somewhat tense and involuntarily took a step back.
They had both seen this monkey-faced uncle before.
Back on the ship, he had stayed by the Celestial Dragon Child's side, chatting and laughing with him. He seemed to be his guard.
"Ambitious! But I think your ambitions will be difficult to achieve."
"Are you here to capture us?" Hancock could not help asking.
"Why would I capture you? Whatever your identities may have been before, you are now merely civilians. Or rather, two civilian adventurers."
"Then what do you want?"
"I simply found the conversation between you two young ladies quite interesting and wanted to say a few words."
Borsalino looked the two of them over, then fixed his gaze on Irene and asked with interest,
"This young lady was a slave not long ago, yet her way of thinking changed so quickly. What an interesting person. Are you interested in becoming a Marine?"
"No." Irene repeatedly shook her head. "The Marines are destined to decline. The future is the age of adventurers."
"Oh my... I cannot pretend I did not hear that. Is that this young lady's own opinion?"
At that moment, Borsalino's eyes became slightly dangerous.
Silence.
Irene unconsciously lowered her head, a trace of panic appearing on her face.
"Hahaha... I said that. If Mr. Borsalino wants to know anything, just ask me."
Shirou chuckled as he walked out of a side alley.
Behind him, a pair of CP0 agents followed in two lines, step for step.
"Does the World Government intend for the Adventurer's Guild to replace the Marines?" Borsalino stared straight at Shirou.
"This has nothing to do with the World Government. It is merely my personal opinion."
Shirou paused, then asked in return,
"Don't you think it is highly inappropriate for dreamers who sail the seas seeking adventure and treasure to bear the same title of pirate as scoundrels who commit every kind of evil, burning, killing, and looting?"
"Besides, there are powerful Marines and Pirates on the seas, but no powerful Bounty Hunters. Isn't that far too boring?"
"I merely want to give those men of the sea a new choice! A choice better suited to them."
Borsalino nodded slightly, took out a Den Den Mushi from his coat, and said with a smile,
"That is how it is, Fleet Admiral Sora. Did you hear all that?"
A voice quickly came from the other side.
"I will convey the World Government's intentions to every Marine, but allow me to say this: the future will absolutely not belong to adventurers."
"Hahaha... That remains to be seen." Shirou laughed again.
At the same time, his gaze shifted toward Borsalino.
He had not expected this guy to play that trick too.
Had he noticed Shirou nearby long ago?
Talking to Hancock and the others had been nothing more than baiting him out.
"Irene, Hancock, shall we go chat over there?"
At that instant, Hancock's body began to tremble involuntarily, her heart filled with fear.
Her identity had been exposed?
How had he learned her real name?
After being captured, she had never revealed her real name. She had even specifically warned her two sisters not to use theirs.
"I... I'm Hannie."
"Who is Hannie? Oh, I get it. You were using a false name before. Sorry, it seems I exposed you."
"I... I..."
"You don't need to say anything. I understand. If I were in the same position as you, I would definitely use a false name too."
Hancock abruptly raised her head and stared at Shirou in shock.
Was that something a Celestial Dragon would say?
Every Celestial Dragon regarded himself as a god of the world.
To compare himself to a slave, even as a joke, would surely get a great many people killed.
"Come on, let's sit in that fast-food restaurant for a while."
After entering the fast-food restaurant, Shirou sat down by the window.
The customers inside all lowered their heads and ate in complete silence, as though trying to blend into the air itself, terrified of catching a Celestial Dragon's attention.
Shirou took the menu from the trembling waitress, ordered his meal, then placed it on the table and pushed it toward the two girls opposite him.
"Order whatever you want."
Seeing that both girls had lowered their heads without making any move, Shirou sighed, put away the menu, and turned to the waitress.
"Then bring them each the same thing I ordered. Mr. Borsalino can order for himself."
"I won't have to pay for it myself, right?"
"Of course not. I will cover all expenses during your time as a guard."
"In that case, bring me one of everything on the menu."
Before you continue