Rejection?

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

"However, our Amazon Lily is very safe. No matter how great the turmoil, it is difficult for it to cross the Calm Belt and reach Nine Snake Island. In this paradise apart from the world, we are completely uninvolved in everything else. What right do you have to ask me to leave this island, leave my own country, and fight and struggle for people outside?"

Her words seemed heartless, but they actually struck at the heart of the issue, making Leo smile bitterly.

That was right. That was the problem.

No matter what, people like Norman Bethune were not the mainstream in this world. Those who realized that everyone was being oppressed were a minority among minorities, and those willing to stand up, struggle, and sacrifice for the oppressed were an even smaller minority among that minority.

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

There were far too few people like that...

He could not even ask the Empress to do more.

But he did not understand. Gloriosa turned to look at the Empress in surprise. He did not know the Empress well, but how could she not? As the one who had brought her back to Nine Snake Island and watched her grow into the Amazon Lily Emperor, Gloriosa knew that she had been moved. Otherwise, she would have rejected him long ago with a proud look, perhaps even had someone drag him away to feed Kouba. (That leopard.)

However, just as she had said, although she had vaguely accepted his argument in her heart, she had also voiced her doubts. What reason or necessity did she have to leave Nine Snake Island and plunge the islanders' lives into war?

Leo smiled bitterly, scratched at his temple, and suddenly fell silent.

"I used to think the same way." He spread his hands. "When I was free, I did not speak, because those who became Celestial Dragon slaves had nothing to do with me."

"After I became a Celestial Dragon slave, I did not speak, because I was more favored."

"After those favored slaves were sold away, I did not speak, because I had become a trusted steward of the Celestial Dragons."

"But when those Celestial Dragons planned to abandon me, there was no one left to speak for me."

He spoke softly, as though reciting poetry.

This was the warning poem I Did Not Speak by Martin Niemöller, a German theologian living under German control during World War II.

Because the poem was so blunt, direct, and philosophical, primary, middle, and high school textbooks in many countries taught it to varying degrees.

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

He did not give them time to savor it. Instead, he lowered his head toward them.

"To be honest, this world ultimately values top-tier combat power," he said with his head lowered.

"Don't think that because I speak so lightly of the Four Emperors and Three Admirals, I would have the courage to say a word when truly facing them."

"Without top-tier combat power, and being physically weak myself, I not only have to be a hundred times more cautious, but also spend more time accumulating strength and avoiding the Marines."

"Perhaps I am only someone who lays the foundation, spreads ideas, and awakens people—like Pirate King Rogers, letting more people escape the exploitation that binds them and sail toward the sea of freedom."

"But I'm unwilling to accept that." His fingers clenched tightly around his knee, veins bulging. "I'm only twenty-eight years old. I have at least fifty years left to live. I can completely overthrow the World Government before I die."

"But top-tier combat power is the one thing that cannot be cultivated at this stage. It takes a long time to nurture, and perhaps only a few can be developed in an entire lifetime. I can only use my words, ideals, and sincerity to win you over. Only then can we quickly gain this combat power and contend with the World Government."

"Mm~ So I'm top-tier combat power?" Hancock propped up her right arm and rested her chin on her hand, making an ambiguous sound.

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

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

Her dominance over lower-tier fighters could practically be called a cleanup crew for cannon fodder.

Even the Marines were probably quite wary of her. Ordinary Marines would be petrified the instant they encountered her, and who knew how many promising talents she could hold hostage in her hands.

That was likely why the Marines wanted to recruit her.

"That will be all for now. I am tired today. I need to bathe and change. Leave." She waved her hand dismissively, telling him to go. Leo raised his head in astonishment. What did that mean?

Had he succeeded or not?

Was she agreeing or refusing?

What did "that will be all for today" mean?

Was she telling him to get out of Lily Island, or merely leave this bedchamber?

He was completely baffled. They had only discussed half of it. Why was she throwing him out now?

Gloriosa remained expressionless. With a casual swing of her cane, she struck Leo and forced him to stand. His arm hurt so badly that it felt as though the bone were about to break.

The old woman drove him out with one strike after another. Leo, who lacked even the strength to truss a chicken, could only be forcibly ushered out. Then Gloriosa instructed the Amazon warrior women outside the door to take him away.

Thus, with his head full of question marks, he left the Empress's bedchamber. As for the Empress's thoughts and Gloriosa's thoughts, he could not read them at all. He could only be led out in confusion, into the common areas of Amazon Lily.

Once they left the bedchamber, both he and the guard began to worry. Gloriosa and the Empress had both told her to take him out, but neither had said whether she should keep watch over him or allow him to wander freely around the Amazon Lily Kingdom.

As for Leo, he had already given up hope of whisking away the Empress. With a turn of his eyes, he set his sights on the other Amazon warrior women...

PS: I just mailed out the contract. Until the first recommendation, there will only be one update a day as part of the ranking strategy. I hope everyone understands.