Outside the Queen's Palace on Amazon Lily, Boa Sandersonia, the Second Sister of the three sisters, and Boa Marigolda, the Third Sister, carefully knocked on their older sister's door.
"Big sister!"
"Sister Hancock, please don't lock yourself up anymore! We have more outsiders on our island!"
"Big sister, stop hiding in the shadows! Our country needs you!"
"Yes, elder sister, how can our Elder Nyon -Former Queen, before! How can we let the Former Queen, return to the throne!"
"Big sister, please don't be like this. A warship and marines have arrived near the coast. Should we engage them in battle?"
As the two continued to shout, Hancock, who was curled up in the blankets in the palace, reached out and pulled the blankets up even tighter, covering herself up even more.
Curled up in her blanket, Hancock lay on her side, hugging herself tightly. Her hair, which should have been smooth, was disheveled and stuck to her face, but she didn't care at all. Instead, she closed her eyes tightly, forcing herself back into her dream.
Because if it was all a dream, then she wouldn't have to confront the nightmare of her life and her past as a slave ten years after escaping Mary Geoise!
Meanwhile, on the coastline of Amazon Lily, the female warriors gathered together, ready to board the ship.
At the front of the crowd, Elder Nyon, with a helpless expression, held her snake-shaped staff and spoke to the tense Kuja Warrior beside her.
"Can you see the flag now? Are those Celestial Dragon coming?"
"Look closely, Your Majesty Queen Gloriosa, the flag on that ship is not the symbol of the Celestial Dragon, but that of an ordinary Marine warship!"
"Don't call me Your Majesty, I'm just the former Former Queen. But since it's not Celestial Dragon's ship, let's go and take a look!"
If they are just ordinary navy personnel, find out if they are lost. If so, take them away. If not, then find out their purpose!
"Yes, Your Gloriosa Queen Glorios!"
With a triumphant laugh, Rindo, carrying a mortar, then boarded the Kuja Pirates' Perfume Serpent.
Once the soldiers were in position, the two enormous serpents carrying the ship immediately began to move, pulling the large vessel towards the distant Marine warship.
Their boat had just set sail when a new cry of alarm suddenly rang out from the shore. Gloriosa quickly and dejectedly looked in the direction of the cry.
It turned out that Rayleigh was walking towards the crowd with a big, measured stride and a smile.
"Silbaz Rayleigh!"
The moment she saw this person clearly, Gloriosa couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. She was no ordinary, ignorant woman like those on Amazon Lily. Having sailed the high seas, she knew Rayleigh's danger better than anyone else!
"Why did you break your promise to Hancock and leave the resting place we arranged for you!"
"Haha, don't be nervous, Elder Nyon."
Your horn sounds are so loud even the bears in the mountains can hear them, so it's not surprising that I could hear them too, is it?
After all, I'm staying on your island for the time being, and I can't just stand by and do nothing if you encounter any danger.
Furthermore, you should also understand that if the person who arrives is the one I made an appointment with, then given his status, I should at least offer him a proper welcome."
As Rayleigh explained, he came to Gloriosa's side, lowered his head, and looked at the short, Elder Nyon with amusement.
"By the way, how come you're the Empress of Amazon Lily? Where's Hancock? Did she run away?"
"Hmph, how could that be? Hancock is just feeling unwell occasionally."
Until she recovers, I will temporarily assume the role of Queen of Amazon Lily!
As for you, as you can see now, it wasn't Celestial Dragon came.
Therefore, please leave the land of the Amazon Lily as soon as possible and return to the dense forest that Hancock has arranged for you!
Hearing his Elder Nyon's impolite words, Rayleigh shook his head with a wry smile.
"Alright, as a guest, even if the host confines me, I can only go along with it."
But are you sure you want me to leave?
As soon as he finished speaking, Rayleigh smiled and adjusted his glasses.
"You might not be able to sense it, but I can. There's a very capable guy on that warship!"
Unless Hancock intervenes personally, the people you sent out on that ship will absolutely not be able to stop it!
Therefore, I'd better stay a little longer. If the visitors are guests, that's fine, but if they are enemies...
"Perhaps I can lend a hand."
Just as Rayleigh was speaking, on a distant warship...
Countless marines roared at their officers.
"Lord Momonga, the Kuja Pirates' warships are heading our way!"
"Ah, so I'll finally get to see the legendary Empress?"
"The other ship is approaching, preparing to board... wait, not board, preparing to engage..."
The marines busily began their preparations, while Momonga Vice Admiral, in charge of the warship, calmly knocked on the door of one of the cabins.
Click...
The door opened, Bartholomew Kuma, who was nearly seven meters tall, walked out of the room.
Standing on the deck, Xiong, as usual, held the open Bible in his left hand. After glancing around, he asked softly with a serious face.
"Is this Amazon Lily?"
"Yes, Kuma, I hope you will obey the Five Elders' orders and not be disrespectful to the Celestial Dragon!"
The Momonga offered a cold warning, while the bear nodded slightly.
"This isn't the first time I've met Saint Gawain; I know him well."
After speaking, he closed the book and tucked the Bible under his arm.
Then he gracefully removed the glove from his right hand.
He slowly bent down and gently touched the adorable Paw-Paw in the middle of his right palm to the ground.
Instantly, the bear was thrown into the air, soaring high into the sky before falling back down towards Amazon Lily.
Seeing the bear take off from the spot, the Momonga pursed its lips in frustration. This group of Shichibukai was just like that, each one more unruly than the last!
Couldn't you have waited until the Snake Princess's ship was mounted, explained the situation, and then landed on the island?
Feeling dejected, the Momonga approached the edge of the deck, his face grim as he looked at the group of Amazon Warrior who were glaring at him...
On the other hand, on Amazon Lily, Rayleigh had barely finished speaking when Acting Queen Elder Nyon hadn't even had a chance to reply.
Suddenly, a huge figure flew in from the distant sky!
Thump!!!
The giant landed heavily, brushed the dust off his body, and then nodded to a group of women.
"I am Kuma, one of the Shichibukai. May I ask where Saint Gawain is?"
"Haha, so it's Xiong. What, did you make some kind of agreement with Little Gawain too?"
Upon recognizing the person, Rayleigh chuckled and approached the bear to greet him.
Xiong glanced at Rayleigh and pondered for a moment.
"It's actually the legendary Dark King, the right-hand man of the Pirate King Roger..."
After a moment's thought, Xiong took out Bible and turned to the page he had just read.
Then, carrying the book, he continued speaking to Rayleigh.
"Why are you here? When Saint Gawain 'Saint Gawain men sent me here to see him, they didn't mention that Dark King was also here!"
So, Saint Gawain, have you already kidnapped him?
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiong lightly clapped his left hand in the air, and his left glove instantly shattered.
"Rayleigh, nineteen years after your captain's death, do you want to repeat the catastrophe of God Valley?!"
Across from him, watching the bear's aura gradually build up, Rayleigh laughed and rubbed his cane together.
"Hahaha, please don't mess around. I've been nagging about Shakky God Valley for ages."
Can you listen to me clearly? I made a promise with Gawain that I would teach him Conqueror's Haki on this island.
I was wondering why you came here!
"I..."
Xiong frowned, picked up the book again, and said calmly.
"I don't know Saint Gawain's purpose yet, but in any case, I will wait for him here."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiong picked up the open Bible and stood there quietly reading it, like a machine.
Rayleigh shook his head with a wry smile.
"Okay, I think I know what Gawain is up to. He's really fast."
You're here. He went to the Ryugu Palace again, plus there's Little Hancock on Amazon Lily.
So that makes three already...
Inside the Amazon Lily palace, as new information was being delivered, the two sisters' words to Hancock finally changed.
"Big sister, good news! It's not Celestial Dragon who's coming, but another Shichibukai like you, Bartholomew Kuma!"
"Big sister, come out quickly! If you don't come out soon, the men will all climb onto our country!"
"Yes, sister. First it was Uncle Rayleigh, then it was Kuma, and there's even Marine Vice Admiral's ship docked on a warship near the coast. If this keeps up, who knows how many more men will come!"
Amidst the shouts of her two younger sisters, the palace gates finally reopened.
Empress Hancock, who appeared no different from her predecessor, was speaking to her two sisters with an air of grandeur.
"So the Celestial Dragon haven't arrived yet? Very well, I'll see what they're up to. Tyrant Kuma, is it!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the Empress, her face contorted with rage, stormed onto the beach where Rayleigh and Kuma were facing off.
When she arrived, the female warriors around her, who had been too intimidated by Rayleigh and Kuma's imposing presence to speak, all breathed a long sigh of relief.
"Snake Princess has finally appeared!"
"That's wonderful! Lady Snake Princess has recovered!"
"You're so beautiful, Snake Princess!"
"Long live Lady Snake Princess!!!"
Amidst the girls' shouts, Hancock strode over to Rayleigh and Kuma's left, raised her hand, tilted her head back, and angrily berated Rayleigh.
"This is getting more and more outrageous! First Rayleigh, then Kuma, what exactly are you trying to do!"
The Celestial Dragon aren't some trick you're using to scare me, are they? Otherwise, why are you stinking men crowding around one after another instead of the Celestial Dragon appearing?
Two already, two of you! Are you here to see some Celestial Dragon? Why did you have to meet on my island? Why?!
Am I to make an exception twice?
"Well..."
Hearing Hancock's pitiful, blustering appearance, Rayleigh innocently waved his hand.
"Don't blame me, little Hancock, I really didn't know the bear would come."
"By the way, Kuma, did Gawain's men mention when they'd be arriving?"
Hearing Rayleigh's question to the bear, Hancock instinctively shuddered, nervously awaiting the bear's answer.
After thinking for a moment, Xiong said softly.
"Yesterday afternoon, I received a call from one of Saint Gawain's subordinates named Kalifa. She asked me to come to Amazon Lily to see Saint Gawain, and she did tell me about Saint Gawain's whereabouts."
According to her, Gawain's boat will arrive here around noon today.
If I were to fly myself, it would take about two days to get from Sabaody to Amazon Lily. Taking a boat would shorten that time, so I contacted the Navy and had G1 branch manager Momonga give me a ride."
At this point, Rayleigh suddenly realized something, turned his head, and looked out at the sea in the distance.
"Haha, you're absolutely right! Sure enough, another large ship is approaching!"
The moment Rayleigh finished speaking, Hancock froze, turning around in a daze and looking with difficulty at the distant beach.
Sure enough, on the coastline of Amazon Lily, a new ship was steadily approaching the Perfume Serpent and the Momonga's warship.