Why Fear the Navy?

At this moment, Hancock had only just escaped alive from the hell of the Holy Land, Mary Geoise.

She was not yet the lofty, universally revered Empress of Amazon Lily.

The "tyrant" demeanor she would later use to wrap herself in pride and coldness had yet to take root within her.

Right now, she was merely an Amazon girl who had just crawled out of the abyss, having endured oppression and abuse.

As the footsteps drew closer, Hancock did not hesitate in the slightest. She took a deep breath and stepped straight out of the shadows.

The moment she emerged, her bearing changed dramatically.

Her body was so haggard that a gust of wind seemed enough to knock her over. Tear tracks still lingered on her cheeks, and her long lashes hung wetly, revealing only a pair of reddened, tear-filled eyes that made her look heartbreakingly fragile.

Anyone who saw her weak and helpless appearance would feel pity for her.

The clothes wrapped around her during her escape were tattered beyond repair. Through the gaps, a stretch of fair, delicate shoulder was exposed, making her seem even more pitiable.

During their days in the Holy Land, they had worn Seastone handcuffs at all times.

Even so, relying on her innate talent and resilience, Hancock had still gradually mastered most of her Devil Fruit abilities.

And her inborn beauty was itself a powerful weapon.

She knew that beauty was her advantage, and she knew even better how to use that weapon.

"Love-Love Mellow!"

Hancock stared fixedly at the Marine before her. When his steps paused, a spark of hope immediately flared in her heart, and she thought she had successfully charmed him.

As long as she turned him to stone, she could buy more time for her sisters to escape!

Her hands swiftly formed a heart shape. A faint pink glow bloomed at her fingertips, and a small yet lethally powerful heart-shaped beam shot straight toward Beiyuan Heng.

Meanwhile, Beiyuan Heng, who had followed the sensation of being watched toward the corner, happened to encounter Hancock slowly emerging from the darkness.

He paused slightly, surprise flickering in his eyes.

He had seen Hancock as she was now, without the pride, Haki, and coldness of the future Pirate Empress.

Her tattered clothes barely covered her body, and the grievance and panic on her face had yet to fade.

No child should have to suffer like this...

Beiyuan Heng had no improper thoughts. He merely sighed inwardly.

He stopped walking, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. He was about to offer a kind, gentle smile and use the effects of the [Basking in Spring Breeze] trait to gain her goodwill.

But before his smile could fully form, before he could even say a word—

A pink heart-shaped beam came rushing toward him.

It was so fast that there was barely time to react. Rather than a tangible beam of light, it seemed more like an invisible force of seduction that silently landed upon him.

However...

The beam passed through his body without the slightest obstruction. It caused no ripple and brought no strange sensation, as though nothing more than a breeze had brushed past him.

Beiyuan Heng froze slightly. He instinctively lowered his head to look at his chest, then raised a hand to touch it, his face full of confusion.

What just happened?

Not far away, Hancock completely froze at the sight. Her face was filled with disbelief, and even the pink glow around her fingertips gradually faded.

How is that possible? This man wasn't turned to stone? That can't be possible!

She was well aware of her own beauty, which only made her even more shocked.

Seeing Hancock's stunned expression, Beiyuan Heng quickly understood. A strange look appeared on his face as doubt rose in his heart.

I'm obviously a Marine. Why is she afraid of me? Did I look that scary just now?

Beiyuan Heng lightly cleared his throat, suppressing his doubts as he spoke softly to Hancock.

"Don't be afraid. I mean you no harm. I won't hurt you."

He deliberately softened his voice, his tone brimming with sincerity. He tried to show his goodwill through that gentleness and dissolve Hancock's wariness.

But Hancock, standing opposite him, seemed not to have felt his goodwill at all.

Her disgust and hatred for men, along with her fear of being captured again and reduced to slavery once more, had long overwhelmed the gentle effects brought by the [Basking in Spring Breeze] trait.

At this moment, her mind was completely blank. She could not hear a single word he said. Her eyes held nothing but fear and resolve.

Her gaze gradually became firm as she made up her mind.

No matter the cost, she had to protect her sisters.

The corner of her eye quickly swept toward the corner behind her. She watched her two sisters quietly inch away into the distance while the Marine's attention was drawn to her, their figures gradually receding. Hancock felt a little more reassured, and even more determined.

She took a deep breath, summoned all her courage, and charged straight at Beiyuan Heng.

Even if it cost her life, even if she could only delay him for a single second, she had to hold on until her two sisters completely escaped this dangerous place. She could not let them return to that hellish place!

Her long, slender legs drove forward with all their strength. The delicate fragility and pitiful weakness on her face had now been completely replaced by fierce determination.

Worthy of the woman who would one day become the Empress of Amazon Lily, even without systematic training in her youth, her physical strength and explosive power far surpassed those of ordinary pirates.

She raised her leg high and viciously kicked toward Beiyuan Heng's chest, instinctively activating the power of the Mero Mero no Mi at the same time.

"Perfume Femur!"

However, her current strength was still far from enough before Beiyuan Heng.

Beiyuan Heng had already seen through her intentions. Facing her kick, he merely shifted slightly to the side and took a small step back, easily evading the deadly strike.

He could not take a Perfume Femur head-on. If it hit and petrified his body, things would get troublesome.

When her strike missed, Hancock did not hesitate at all. She immediately withdrew her leg and forcefully stepped forward, her body staggering slightly.

But she still did not retreat. She raised her leg again, intending to continue her attack.

"I told you, I mean you no harm."

Seeing her reckless determination, Beiyuan Heng felt somewhat helpless and let out a soft sigh.

Words were useless. The instant his words fell, the long blade at his waist suddenly left its sheath in a flash of cold light, yet without the slightest killing intent.

Taking advantage of the moment when Hancock had raised her leg and could not dodge in time, Beiyuan Heng flicked his wrist. The back of his blade landed precisely on the back of Hancock's neck.

He controlled the force perfectly—enough to make her lose consciousness instantly, but not enough to hurt her.

Without any surprise, Hancock felt a faint, dull pain at the back of her neck. Her vision went black, her taut body instantly went limp, and she closed her eyes, completely passing out.