Shirou's Thirty Million Avatars

Specifically, the new master—the Celestial Dragon child—seemed to be a kid who didn't like going out.

He always liked stargazing alone, often holding icy treats in his hands. It was the first time she'd seen such a hobby.

Still, since the new master never left the house and seemed to have few interests, her life became much simpler.

Her daily tasks were about the same as the mansion's servants—cleaning up, trimming flowers and plants.

As for serving dishes or attending to the master, that kind of work didn't fall to slaves.

Four days ago, the Celestial Dragon child had a sudden whim to go on the Four Seas Pilgrimage.

As one of the more nimble slaves, Hancock was naturally among the attendants.

That day, something happened that would shake her to her core for the rest of her life.

On the eve of setting sail, a red-skinned fish-man infiltrated Mary Geoise, rescued tens of thousands of slaves, and was now charging over in a massive tide.

At that moment, beyond her surprise, Hancock felt more unease and hesitation.

This was a golden chance to escape—following those people, she could definitely get away.

But she didn't see her two younger sisters among that crowd of tens of thousands.

Both sisters had been forced to eat Devil Fruits, their bodies twisted into bizarre, highly conspicuous forms.

If they'd been there, Hancock would have spotted them in an instant.

They weren't there. If she ran off on her own and abandoned them, would that really be okay?

One step away, and it would be a farewell forever.

While she hesitated, she saw that fish-man charge at her master, the Celestial Dragon child.

But what followed was nothing like she'd imagined.

The Celestial Dragon child easily knocked the fish-man flying, and with a few more punches, broke his limbs, leaving him kneeling on the ground.

The scene was utterly unbelievable to her.

Hancock, who had been secretly training all along, could vaguely sense that the fish-man's strength far surpassed her own.

If it came to a real fight, she'd definitely lose.

But a fish-man stronger than her was defeated by a Celestial Dragon child—it felt like a dream.

If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she'd never believe such a thing existed in the world.

The abilities the Celestial Dragon child showed next made her doubt her own eyes even more.

Ice and snow, clones, transformation—could one person eat three Devil Fruits?

Even if that were possible, wasn't this guy way too strong?

The Black-Haired Youth he transformed into gave off an eerie pressure that made it impossible for her to even muster the will to fight.

Later, the Celestial Dragon child freed the tens of thousands of slaves and took the blame onto himself.

And then, he founded the Adventurer's Guild, ordering her and a few other slaves to register as adventurers—all of it made Hancock feel like she was living in a dream.

But whether it was the Adventurer's Guild introduction in the newspapers, the bounty reason on Tiger's Wanted Poster, or the chatter of pedestrians on the street, everything told her with stark clarity—this was still reality.

Walking along the streets of Sabaody Archipelago, holding the mission slip she'd just picked up from the Adventurer's Guild, Hancock couldn't help but glance down at her bare neck again.

There, back when she was a slave, there had always been an explosive collar—the mark of a slave.

Now, there was nothing.

The only proof of her slave identity was the tattoo on her back.

In other words, even if she tossed the mission slip and ran right now, there'd be no problem at all.

But thinking of her two sisters still enslaved in Mary Geoise, she found herself hesitating.

Should she run? Abandon her sisters and flee, never to see them again?

Or, keep being a slave and pin her hopes on her master—that Celestial Dragon child?

Since he was willing to free those tens of thousands of slaves, if she showed enough value, he might be willing to help her rescue her sisters, right?

For him, it would just be a word.

No, Celestial Dragons are all scum. She couldn't place her hopes on him.

"Keep squeezing, and you'll tear that mission slip to shreds."

The sudden voice startled Hancock. Turning her head, she saw the girl she'd fought with not long ago over refusing to eat the Caterpillar-Caterpillar Fruit, standing beside her with a smile.

"Irene, aren't you going to run?"

The girl's smile faded as she looked seriously at Hancock:

"Are you planning to run, Hannie?"

Hannie—that was the alias Hancock used to hide her origins from Amazon Lily.

After all, having it known that a warrior from Amazon Lily had been a slave was too shameful.

Plus, it was a precaution in case she ever managed to escape.

Many slaves whose true identities were never exposed actually used false names.

"Aren't you going to run?" Hancock's gaze dropped to her neck. "The collars binding you and me—aren't they already gone?"

"That's true, but even if I run, where would I go?"

The girl let out a scoff and spoke again:

"I don't know your situation, but I was sold off by my parents. I have no place to return to."

"Besides, the Adventurer's Guild—don't you think it's an opportunity?"

"In the future, the Adventurer's Guild will gradually replace the Marines. As one of the first to join, we might even land a position as an Admiral."

Chapter 36: Can Do Without, But Must Have

Section 36 Chapter 36: Can Do Without, But Must Have

Clap, clap, clap...

The applause from behind made both of them turn.

A few meters away, a tall, monkey-faced uncle draped in a Marine coat was clapping with a smile.

Both of them tensed up, instinctively stepping back.

They had seen this monkey-faced uncle before.

Back on the ship, he had been chatting and laughing beside the Celestial Dragon Child, apparently his guard.

"Ambitious! But I think your goal will be hard to achieve."

"Are you here to capture us?" Hancock couldn't help asking.

"Why would I capture you? No matter what you were before, right now you're just civilians. Or rather, two civilian adventurers."

"Then what's your purpose?"

"I just found your conversation very interesting and wanted to chime in."

Borsalino swept his gaze over the two, stopping at Irene. "Miss, you were a slave not long ago, yet your mindset has shifted so quickly. You're a fascinating person. Are you interested in becoming a Marine?"

"No." Irene shook her head repeatedly. "The Marines are doomed to decline. The future belongs to the age of adventurers."

"Oh my... I can't just let that slide. Is that your own opinion, miss?"

In that moment, Borsalino's eyes turned slightly dangerous.

Silence.

Irene unconsciously lowered her head, a hint of panic creeping onto her face.

"Hahaha... I said that. If Mr. Borsalino wants to know something, just ask me."

Shirou chuckled, stepping out from a side alley.

Behind him, a pair of CP0 members lined up on either side, following closely.

"Does the World Government intend to replace the Marines with the Adventurer's Guild?" Borsalino stared straight at Shirou.

"This has nothing to do with the World Government. It's just my personal idea."

Shirou paused, then countered:

"Isn't it wrong to lump dreamers who set sail for adventure and treasure together with villains who commit every evil—arson, looting, murder—under the same title of 'pirate'?"

"Besides, the seas have strong Marines and strong pirates, but no strong Bounty Hunters. Isn't that too dull?"

"I just want to give those men of the sea a new choice. A choice that suits them better."

Borsalino nodded slightly, pulled a Den Den Mushi from his pocket, and said with a smile:

"There you have it, Fleet Admiral Sora. Did you catch all that?"

A voice soon came from the other end:

"I'll relay the World Government's intentions to all Marines. But allow me to say this—the future will never belong to adventurers."

"Hahaha... That's not certain." Shirou laughed again.

At the same time, his gaze shifted to Borsalino.

So this guy was playing that game too.

Had he noticed Shirou was nearby all along?

Striking up a conversation with Hancock and the others—it was just bait to reel him in.

"Irene, Hancock, want to go chat over there?"

In that instant, Hancock's body trembled uncontrollably, her heart flooded with fear.

Her identity was exposed?

Where had he learned her real name?

When she was captured, she had never spoken her true name and had specifically warned her two sisters not to use theirs either.

"I... I'm Hannie."

"Who's Hannie? Oh, I get it—you were using a fake name before. Sorry, looks like I got you exposed."

"I... I..."

?? "No need to explain. I understand. If I were in your shoes, I'd have used a fake name too."

Hancock snapped her head up, staring at Shirou in shock.

Were those words something a Celestial Dragon would say?

Every Celestial Dragon saw themselves as gods of the world.

Even a joke about being compared to a slave would get a wave of people killed.

"Come on, let's sit in that fast food place for a bit."

Entering the fast food restaurant, Shirou took a seat by the window.

The other customers all kept their heads down, eating in near silence, as if trying to blend into the air itself, terrified of catching a Celestial Dragon's attention.

Shirou took the menu from the trembling hands of the waitress, placed his order, then set it on the table and pushed it toward the two girls across from him.

"Order whatever you want."

Seeing them both with their heads down, making no move, Shirou let out a soft sigh, put the menu away, and turned to the waitress instead.

"Then give them both the same thing I ordered. Mr. Borsalino, you can order for yourself."

"I won't have to pay for it myself, will I?"

"Of course not. All expenses during the escort are on me."

"In that case, give me one of everything on the menu."