[Rejection Rate: 5.23%/100%]

In the captain's quarters.

Junichi found spare ammunition, nautical charts, several Log Poses, several Den Den Mushi, account books, and diaries.

He flipped through the account books and diaries.

Junichi learned that the Red Hound Pirates operated within several fixed areas of the Grand Line.

They captured slaves and sold them to the Celestial Dragons.

Of course, a low-level pirate crew like this was not qualified to deal with the Celestial Dragons directly.

The ones they dealt with were merely a chamber of commerce that served the Celestial Dragons—a regional manager, and the team leaders beneath that manager.

Even so.

The generous chamber of commerce had allowed the Red Hound Pirates to live quite comfortably.

They worked four times a year, then spent two or three months living it up after each job.

"That fits my stereotype of low-level pirates." Junichi nodded slowly and closed the books.

He treated them as educational reading.

Having come to the pirate world, Junichi had no intention of becoming a pirate.

He planned to join the Marines and steadily grow stronger through their internal training system.

"Right, I nearly forgot about the rejection rate." As Junichi spoke, he summoned the system panel with a thought.

[Rejection Rate: 5.23%/100%]

[Note: Once the rejection rate reaches 100%, you will be forcibly returned to your original world.]

[Note 2: Changing the tide of the era and obtaining world resources will significantly increase the rejection rate. Please take note.]

"The rejection rate... went up by around five percent?"

Junichi nodded, closed the panel, and was not surprised by the result.

That additional five percent must have come from saving Hancock.

By saving her, he had changed Hancock's four years as a slave, which would inevitably have a profound impact on the future.

Of course, Junichi did not care much about such so-called impact.

He simply felt that spending five percent rejection rate to establish a connection with Hancock was an extremely profitable trade.

"Under normal circumstances, it would be hard for me to come into contact with characters from the original story."

Junichi smiled and murmured to himself:

"But now, this is a very good opportunity."

"Through Hancock, I can establish connections with Amazon Lily and Rayleigh."

"The most important one is Dark King Rayleigh!"

As Junichi spoke, a sharp glint flashed through his eyes.

Teacher Rayleigh might not be as good as Teacher Kaido, but was Kaido's teaching method really something just anyone could endure?

So Teacher Rayleigh was safer.

"Get in touch with Rayleigh, receive his guidance for a period of time, then join the Marines." Junichi considered it as he adjusted his plan of action.

Therefore.

His next objective was to use Hancock to establish contact with Shakuyaku and Rayleigh.

"She should be awake by now."

Junichi took out the captain's pocket watch, checked the time, and headed toward the cabin.

The gas he had used was not lethal.

Inside the cabin.

"Mmm..."

Hancock slowly woke up and opened her eyes.

Whoosh!

Her hairs stood on end in an instant, and her mind snapped awake from its daze.

An unfamiliar boy stood inside the cell, smiling at her.

"Boa Hancock?" The boy smiled as he spoke, directly calling out her name.

"Who are you?"

Hancock became even more vigilant, her eyes fixed tightly on the boy.

Her thoughts raced.

The pirates guarding her were gone, so... had the Red Hound Pirates lost?

Was this boy the victor?

What was his purpose?

"Haha, don't worry. I'm not interested in human trafficking or anything like that." Junichi paid no heed to her vigilance.

But Hancock still did not relax.

Her guard could not be dispelled with just a few words.

"This is for you."

Junichi tossed something toward her.

Hancock did not catch it.

Plop—

The object rolled onto the floor, let out a pained cry, and poked out a pair of wide eyes to glare at Junichi.

"A Den Den Mushi?"

Only then did Hancock realize that Junichi had tossed her a Den Den Mushi.

"This ship's route passes near the Sabaody Archipelago." Junichi said with a smile. "If you have someone there you can contact, call them."

With that, he stood up and left.

He gave Hancock a private space to make contact.

"..."

Hancock's expression turned uncertain.

He had actually given her a Den Den Mushi to contact the outside world!?

Could this person truly bear her no ill will?

Hancock lightly bit her lip. Only after Junichi's back disappeared from sight did she grab the Den Den Mushi from the floor.

Den Den Mushi in the pirate world came in many varieties.

The common type was for one-to-one communication.

But there were also types that could dial numbers.

"Sabaody Archipelago..." Hancock frowned as she thought, then placed her finger on the number buttons.

She remembered a number she could call.

That number could reach the former former empress who resided permanently in the Sabaody Archipelago—Shakuyaku.

Pururururu...

As Hancock dialed the number, the Den Den Mushi began connecting.

Sabaody Archipelago.

The first floor of Shakky's Rip-off Bar.

More than a dozen female warriors knelt on the floor with their heads lowered, being punished.

Purururu! Purururu!

Suddenly.

A Den Den Mushi on the counter jolted awake, its eyes widening as it made the sound of an incoming call.

"This..."

The female warriors looked at one another and raised their heads, unsure what to do.

They had been ordered to kneel as punishment and could not go anywhere.

But the Den Den Mushi was ringing.

As they hesitated.

The Den Den Mushi suddenly stopped making noise and slowly closed its eyes.

"Phew..."

The female warriors sighed in relief. Since the caller had hung up, they would not need to make a choice.

But the next second.

The Den Den Mushi began making the incoming-call sound again.

Pururururu!

Pururururu!

Pururururu!

It rang as though it would not stop until someone answered.

The female warriors hesitated for a long time.

In the end, the captain stepped forward and walked toward the Den Den Mushi. "I'll answer it for Sister Shakuyaku first. It might be urgent."

As she spoke, she picked up the receiver.

The next moment.

The Den Den Mushi's mimicry changed, turning into the likeness of a young Hancock as it produced Hancock's voice.

"Is that Sister Shakuyaku?"

Huh!?

All the female warriors widened their eyes and stared at the Den Den Mushi in shock.

At the same time.

On the rooftop of the bar.

Shakuyaku wore only a light robe as she smoked irritably, unable to fall asleep no matter what.

"Don't worry too much. We'll find a way." Rayleigh comforted her from the side. "The god of your Kuja tribe will bless Their people."

"A god..."

A bitter smile tugged at Shakuyaku's lips.

At this point, all they could do was pray to an ethereal god.

They did not even know when Hancock and the other two had disappeared, much less who the culprit was.

They could not find anyone at all.

For all they knew, Hancock and the other two might already be dead.

Thud, thud, thud!

Suddenly, hurried footsteps rang out.

Shakuyaku frowned and turned around.

"Sister Shakuyaku!" Several female warriors rushed up one after another.

"What is it!"

Shakuyaku looked displeased as she glared at them coldly. "Didn't I tell you to stay kneeling? Why did you come up here?"

"No, the Den Den Mushi..." The female warrior had run up in such a hurry that she was out of breath.

"What about the Den Den Mushi!"

Shakuyaku interrupted impatiently, her expression turning even colder. "Do you think I have the mood to deal with work right now?"

"Without any news of Hancock and the others, I can't even sleep!"

"Get back down there!"

She raised her hand, ready to drive them away.

If there was truly any information, it would come through her private one-to-one Den Den Mushi.

"No, Sister Shakuyaku..."

The lead female warrior took a deep breath and finally steadied her breathing. She pulled a Den Den Mushi from her clothes, raised it high, and shouted:

"Hancock called!!"

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