Kuja Empress: Reuniting with Luffy

The Calm Belt, near the coast of the Amazon Lily.

"Boss, is it really okay to park here?"

Borgin glanced at the Great Sea King corpse floating beside him, its surface riddled with crisscrossing sword marks, frozen traces, and craters burned by lava. It was clearly the work of their Team 211.

"What's the panic? As long as it's not a giant Sea King, why would we be afraid of these 'big fish'? Besides—"

Although Marine warship are equipped with Seastone devices on their hulls to interfere with the senses of Sea King, over time they inevitably encounter those with strong curiosity—a troublesome situation that most naval personnel would avoid at all costs. But for Roman:

"Life Return!"

"Swallow-Snake!"

As Roman unleashed his full power, the Iron Barrel expanding from his palm was still as tiny as a miniature toy next to a burly man compared to the Sea King. But with the continuous opening and closing of the gaping maw, a Sea King several times larger than Marine warship was rapidly reduced to... no, it didn't even have a skeleton; it was completely devoured!

It transformed into emerald green pages.

"Give,"

He handed these pages, brimming with life force, to Nami as the power source for activating "The Art of the Thief." Roman then looked at the pirate ship slowly approaching from the other side—pulled by two enormous, venomous sea serpents, enough to make even Sea King retreat. However:

The entire Amazon Lily only has this one Perfume Serpent,' which is comparable to the warships that the navy can mass-produce:

They'll be left behind sooner or later.

Therefore, science and technology are the primary productive forces!

"You've got some skill to take down a large Sea King, Navy."

Rin, the combat captain of the 'Kuja' Pirates: A girl with a rocket launcher hanging from her arm, a cigarette dangling from her lips, and her hair in a bun, looked up at Roman. He was casually wearing a shirt draped over his shoulders, and from his open chest, it was clear he wasn't wearing a mask—

"Who told you to observe so closely?!"

Thump!

"Cough cough,"

Roman, who had taken a punch to the stomach from Nami, nodded calmly.

"Being able to hurt me means you've improved."

"·····"

"Snake Princess is waiting for you inside, but—" another combat captain Shion, pointed to Roman and Nami, "Only the two of you can come over."

"Let's go,"

Roman took Nami's hand, then turned to look at Isca and Borgin.

"You two take good care of the warship, we'll be right back."

"Yes!" x2

As Roman led Nami aboard the 'Perfume Serpent', they entered a building that resembled a palace or boudoir rather than a ship's cabin, surrounded by numerous Kuja combatants.

"Navy, what business do you have with me now?"

Facing the stunningly beautiful woman lounging lazily on the large bed, Nami's eyes sharpened: That fierce look, those long legs, that long, straight black hair, that domineering yet slightly provocative aura...

He truly is an unparalleled formidable foe!

"Has the Empress read the letter that the World Government Communications Bat sent a few days ago?"

"... A letter? What letter?"

"Hey~~" The Granny Nyon next to her paused, tapping her snake staff. "Snake Princess, that's the letter you tore up a few days ago. — It was the World Government's order to gather the Shichibukai."

"Why?"

Hancock paused for a moment, then tossed her long hair. "Even if I tear up the letter, everyone will forgive me. Because: I am just too beautiful."

"Lord Snake Princess ~~"

"That's right, Snake Princess cannot be wrong!"

"Exactly, exactly. They just finished the Marineford War, and now they're gathering the Shichibukai..."

"What do you take us 'Kuja' for?"

"My wedding~~"

?!

Did something strange sneak in just now? Oh well, never mind.

"That's not the case. This matter is actually related to Kuja."

Another voice drowned out the group of female warriors in the cabin who were swooning over their leader, and a figure in pure white armor stepped out from the side:

White Knight.

"The Navy has summoned the Shichibukai this time to deal with 'World Destroyer' Bondi World. And I've received 'information' that this guy has also set his sights on the Shichibukai."

"He intends to take one of the Shichibukai hostage—and the closest Shichibukai to him is your Kuja Pirates."

Hancock Three Types of Haki, certainly knew that the White Knight was a creation of Roman's power. Otherwise, she wouldn't have allowed Roman and Nami to board the ship. As for the other members of the Kuja, they at most assumed that Roman knew Luffy's friend, the White Knight.

"Then let him come."

Empress Boa Hancock, who was sitting on the python Salome, rose proudly.

"I was appointed as Shichibukai because of my strength!"

A confident and domineering aura rose within him, and Roman believed that he might not be a match for the Empress in a one-on-one fight with Bondi World. —Of course, in terms of destructive power, a hundred Empress wouldn't dare compare to Bondi Waldo.

The title of "World Destroyer" isn't given lightly!

"No, I'm not worried that the Empress can't defeat that World Destroyer. What I'm worried about is:"

The White Knight picked up the conversation, pointing to the surrounding area in a circle.

"Luffy around here too? What if he runs into that guy..."

No, it should be said that with Luffy's "monster-attracting" constitution, he will definitely encounter Bondi World!

"Oh no, Luffy ~~"

The once composed Empress instantly lost her composure, transforming into a shy and bashful woman, drawing Nami's attention. —What's so great about Luffy, that goofy rubber guy, that he could possibly win the heart of such a stunning beauty?

"Anyway, let's go to the island where Luffy."

Bondi World is truly courting death. Putting aside how powerful the Empress with her Three Types of Haki is, Pluton Rayleigh on his Luffy, and Hawk Eyes, who has nothing better to do, has also come on a small raft.

Any one of these experts would be more than Bondi World, who had just escaped, could handle. Hiding somewhere would be fine, but this constant jumping around...

His fate was sealed long ago; he was destined to fail.

"Then what are we waiting for? Turn the ship around immediately and head towards the island where Luffy is!"

As the Empress suddenly stood up, her legs towering over 1.8 meters, the officers of the Kuja Pirates kept giving her meaningful glances, and several impatient ones even drew their weapons and pointed them at Roman and Nami.

After all, in other people's eyes, is it really appropriate for these two people, who are dressed as generals and field officers and are obviously high-ranking officers in the Navy, to openly discuss Luffy, a "wanted criminal"?

Keep in mind that Luffy just made a name for himself in the Marineford War, making him an absolute target for the Navy to eliminate.

Sigh, it seems Snake Princess has truly been blinded by love...

"Step back!"

With a wave of the Empress's hand, the stunned captains, though not understanding their leader's intentions, obediently put away their weapons.

"This... Marine is Luffy's good friend, he can be trusted."

You don't even know their name, and you're talking about trust?!... Fine, whatever you say, Snake Princess.

"Brigadier General Roman, what did the Empress say?"

Back on the warship, Roman nodded in response to Isca's question.

"The Empress has agreed to help defeat Bondi World."

"Phew~~~"

The second-generation naval leaders, including Borgin, breathed a long sigh of relief. As second-generation naval leaders who grew up in Marineford, the Marine Headquarters, they might not be very strong, but at least they had a broad perspective.

Whether it's Bondi World or Hancock, they're both too far away for them. If they were to face them, they'd be instantly killed, right?

100% sure!

"That's settled then. You guys sail the ship back to the Grand Line first. I'll take Major Ann and the Empress with me..."

"Boss, we can fight too—"

Brigadier General Roman...

Faced with Borgin's volunteering and Isca's discontent, Roman thought for a moment and decided to find them something to do.

"Alright, I'll be back in no more than a week. — Until then, you two will command the warships to hunt down the pirates, and let me see how much you've improved."

"Yes!" x2

"Nami, are you worried about them?"

"Hmm," Nami, standing on the deck of the 'Perfume Serpent' watching the warship sail away, "What will they do if they encounter pirates without us?"

"... It hasn't been that long, and you've already put yourself in the position of 'strong'?"

Roman couldn't help but complain. While Nami's weather perception was undeniably invincible on the high seas—just think of the Battle of Edd War —where Golden Lion's massive fleet, facing godlike storms and waves, ultimately lost to Roger ...

While natural disasters may not be able to harm skilled fighters, they are still deadly to most pirates and marines!

If Nami were to unleash a raging storm, 99% of pirates would be relegated to the depths of the ocean as fish food. Even if a few skilled individuals could fly and ride the waves, they would be powerless to stop it alone.

The high efficiency of the Team 211 is based on Roman's extensive search and Nami's weather manipulation, which allows them to sail smoothly while the enemy faces raging waves! This leaves any pirate crews they encounter with nowhere to run and no chance to fight back, leaving them mercilessly toyed with.

"No, I just meant that without you and me, Isca..."

"Don't worry," Roman patted Nami on the shoulder. "Before Isca joined us, he was a naval officer who led a ship alone to hunt down pirates, and was known as 'The Nail'."

The Nail represents perseverance.

The fact that Isca has survived to this day with such a title shows that he's quite capable. — It's just that he can't compare to the Straw Hat crew, who encounter extraordinary enemies every day.

········

As the Kuja's ship approached an island, a boy with short black hair, wearing a red vest, blue denim shorts, and straw sandals, was already jumping and cheering on the shore.

"Roman, Nami!"

Hehehe, I miss you all so much—

The only one who always wears a confident smile is:

"Luffy!"

In an instant, Roman and Nami's moods improved. It was as if all their scheming, the navy, and the pirates could be thrown to the back of their minds.

"Come here quickly, I'll take you on an adventure on the island!"