Refuse?

Chapter 006: Refusal?

"An interesting argument." The Empress leaned against her pet snake Salome, narrowing her eyes as she looked at the man before her.

"But our Amazon Lily is very safe. No matter how great the storm, it's difficult to cross the Calm Belt and enter Nine Snake Island. We are in this paradise, completely detached from all worldly affairs. What right do you have to ask me to leave this island, leave my own country, and fight for the people outside?"

Her words seemed heartless, but they actually hit the core of the issue, making Leo smile wryly.

That's right, this was the problem.

No matter what, people like Norman Bethune were ultimately not mainstream in this world. Those who realized everyone was being oppressed were the minority among the minority, and those willing to stand up and fight and sacrifice for these oppressed people were even rarer, the minority of the minority of the minority.

People like Norman Bethune, Hideo Miyakawa, Robert Shaw, and Hans Selye who fought and even sacrificed in foreign lands for their ideals.

There were too few such people, far too few...

He couldn't even ask the Empress to do more.

But he didn't understand. Gloriosa turned her head in surprise to look at the Empress. She wasn't familiar with the Empress, but wasn't she? As Gloriosa, who had brought her back to Nine Snake Island and watched her grow into the Amazon Lily Emperor, she knew that her heart had been moved. If not, she would have already rejected him with a haughty gaze, or even had him taken away to be fed to Cobola (that leopard).

However, just as she said, although her heart had already vaguely agreed with his words, she also voiced her doubts. What reason or necessity did she have to leave Nine Snake Island and bring the islanders' lives into the midst of war?

Leo smiled wryly, scratching his temple, and suddenly fell silent.

"I used to think the same way," he said, spreading his hands. "When there was freedom, I didn't speak, because those who became slaves of the Celestial Dragons had nothing to do with me."

"After becoming slaves of the Celestial Dragons, I didn't speak, because I was more favored."

"When those favored slaves were sold, I didn't speak, because I had already become a trusted steward of the Celestial Dragons."

"But when those Celestial Dragons decided to abandon me, no one spoke for me anymore."

He spoke softly, as if reciting poetry.

This was a cautionary poem, "I Did Not Speak," by the German theologian Martin Niemöller, who lived under German control during World War II.

Because of the poem's directness, clarity, and philosophical depth, it was taught to varying degrees in school curricula in various countries.

Now, he had slightly adapted it as a cautionary poem to warn the Empress without threatening her, instantly moving both the Empress and Gloriosa.

He didn't let the two savor it, but lowered his head towards them.

"To be honest, this world is all about high-end combat power," he said, lowering his head.

"Don't get me wrong, I dismiss the Four Emperors and Three Admirals, but when I actually face them, I might not even have the courage to speak."

"Without high-end combat power, I, who can neither carry on my shoulders nor lift with my hands, must be a hundred times more cautious and spend more time accumulating strength and evading the Navy."

"Perhaps I am just the one to lay the foundation, to spread the ideology, to awaken people, like Pirate King Rogers, so that more people can break free from the exploitation that confines them and head towards the open sea of freedom."

"But I'm not reconciled." He clenched his knees tightly, veins bulging: "I'm only twenty-eight years old now, and I have at least fifty years of life left. I can completely overthrow the World Government before I die."

"But the only high-end combat power cannot be cultivated at this stage. It requires a long time to cultivate. Perhaps only a few can be cultivated in a lifetime. Only by using my words, thoughts, and sincerity to win you over can you quickly obtain this combat power and confront the World Government."

"Mmm~ I am high-end combat power?" Hancock propped up her right hand, supporting her chin, and made an unclear sound.

"That's right, even in the New World, your combat power can rank among the best."

Although she couldn't compare to the Three Sweet Commanders under Big Mom or the Three Calamities under Kaido, she had no problem fighting others. In the first half of the Grand Line, she was basically invincible. In fact, Crocodile and Gekko Moria might not be able to defeat her, and Doflamingo, Bartholomew Kuma, and Jinbe would be evenly matched with her. After all, she possessed Conqueror's Haki, Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and the Love-Love Fruit simultaneously.

Her crushing power against lower-tier combatants could almost be described as clearing out grunts.

Even the Navy was probably quite wary of her. After all, ordinary Marines would be petrified in an instant if they encountered her, and who knew how many potential seeds she held hostage.

This was probably why the Navy recruited her.

"That's all for now. I'm tired today and need to bathe and change. You may withdraw." She waved him away with a hint of disgust. Leo looked up in astonishment. What did that mean?

Was it a success or not?

Did she agree or disagree?

What did "for now" mean?

Did "withdraw" mean he should get off Lily Island or leave this palace?

He was confused. They were only halfway through their conversation, so why was he being kicked out now?

Gloriosa remained expressionless. The staff in her hand easily made Leo stand up. He only felt a piercing pain in his arm from her blows, as if his bones were about to break.

As the old woman drove him out, the powerless Leo could only be forcibly expelled. Gloriosa then ordered the Amazon warrior women outside to escort him away.

He walked out of the Empress's palace with a head full of questions. He hadn't understood the Empress's thoughts or Gloriosa's intentions at all, and was only dazed as he was led out of the palace and into the civilian areas of Amazon Lily.

After leaving the palace, he and the escort began to worry. Both Gloriosa and the Empress had told her to take him out, but neither had said whether he should be confined or allowed to roam freely within the Amazon Lily Kingdom.

As for Leo, he had given up hope of abducting the Empress. His gaze shifted, and he set his sights on the other Amazon warrior women...

PS: I just sent out the contract. There will be one update before the first recommendation. This is a strategy for ranking. I hope everyone understands.