Hancock sat motionless, and Werther's mischievous streak surfaced again.
Werther dipped a finger into the tea before him and drew a circle on his palm. Under the startled gazes of the other Shichibukai, he rose and walked toward Hancock.
As he approached Hancock, Werther noticed that she was trembling faintly. Who would have imagined the mighty Pirate Empress Boa Hancock like this?
The other Shichibukai might not have noticed, but Werther, standing in front of Hancock, did.
So Werther sat down beside Hancock.
Hancock might have remembered something terrible. When Werther approached her just now, she had not reacted, only noticing him after he sat down.
Hancock flew into a rage and was about to leap up and kick Werther away. But when she saw the symbol on the palm he held out before her, her body went limp. Overwhelming fear engulfed her as that horrifying scene from her past returned.
Werther was not about to miss such a golden opportunity. This was the Pirate Empress, after all. Although Werther knew that anything happening between him and Hancock now was impossible—this proud woman had already fallen completely in love—he could still take a few liberties.
So Werther wrapped an arm around Hancock and pulled her close.
"If you can't overcome even this, how can you protect your country?"
Hancock looked up at Werther in astonishment, and he let her go.
"What exactly do you know?"
Hancock had recovered somewhat from her initial fear.
"I know just about everything concerning your past. And I know an excellent doctor who can remove that mark."
A fervent light appeared in Hancock's eyes. If she could get rid of that mark, she could finally sever all ties with her past.
"Who? If he really can remove it, name your price. And why would you