Candidates

Candidates

Without wasting words, Lu Ge stepped forward and directly released Conqueror's Haki. An invisible wave of pressure instantly crashed down upon those dozen or so Yudas. As if struck by a heavy blow, the twelve Yudas all abruptly widened their eyes. Dazed and disoriented, they toppled over in a continuous thud, thud.

Wow~ Th-th-this—what just happened?!!

Such a scene instantly dumbfounded the crowd watching the show from behind. They widened their eyes one by one, failing to understand what had actually happened.

Only Sanya, who understood what had transpired, stared in shock for a moment. So strong, and so overbearing! It's actually even more majestic than Her Majesty the Empress's, and this mastery of it is so pure. It doesn't harm the surrounding civilians at all and targets only the Yudas ahead. Th-this is too incredible!

Hiss~ Hiss-hiss~~!!!

In the arena, only the two Yudas tamed by the Empress were not knocked unconscious, though they were still swaying and had suffered a massive impact. The looks they cast toward Lu Ge were now filled with apprehension and awe, and they periodically let out low whimpers and hisses.

Seeing this, Sanya was overjoyed. "That's it! That's it, Lu Ge! That's enough, hurry and withdraw your Haki. They've already surrendered."

"Huh? They've already surrendered just like that?" Lu Ge was clearly somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected the effect of this Conqueror's Haki to be so good. Just by intimidating them, the taming was successful? He hadn't even started fighting yet.

"It's because your Haki is too strong!" Sanya looked at Lu Ge with an expression of complete admiration. "You were even able to knock Yudas unconscious. This is the first time I've ever seen such astonishing Conqueror's Haki."

At this, the young maidens all around also exploded into a flurry of commotion. "Wow! It really worked! Doesn't this mean Lu Ge already possesses the qualifications to become the new Emperor of Amazon Lily?"

As soon as those words fell, someone retorted, "I already told you men have no way of becoming our Empress~"

"Ahem~ What a pity! Actually, I quite like Lord Lu Ge, you know."

At this moment, Sanya was just as thrilled and excited as the surrounding women. "Mana, hurry and fetch the harnesses! Our Kuja Pirates can set sail again!"

"Oh~!!!"

Hearing this, the surrounding crowd all cheered happily in unison.

Soon, amidst everyone's enthusiastic and concerted efforts, the two Yudas were fitted with harnesses and connected to the Kuja Pirate Ship.

Looking at the familiar scene before them that they hadn't laid eyes on for over a year, some of the emotional maidens shed tears of moving gratitude.

Sanya and the other women also walked up to Lu Ge with solemn expressions, bowed respectfully, and made a gesturing sign inviting him forward. "Lord Lu Ge, please. You will be the first man in the entire history of Amazon Lily to board the Kuja Pirate Ship."

Hearing this, Lu Ge immediately rubbed the back of his head. "Is there any need to be this formal? You're even calling me 'Lord'."

"This is as it should be. If not for you, Amazon Lily would surely have met with disaster, let alone restarting this Kuja Pirate Ship. Therefore, this first person to board belongs to none other than you."

Lu Ge stood on ceremony no further, and amidst the adulation of a crowd of beauties, he boarded the Kuja Pirate Ship that people the world over dreamed of.

For a time, the women hailed and chanted his name like a roaring tidal wave, making Lu Ge feel a bit embarrassed. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought he had ascended the throne as the Empress of Amazon Lily.

Still, the feeling of being surrounded and supported by a large group of beauties was truly fantastic.

"Captain Sanya, shouldn't we celebrate the restarting of our Kuja Pirate Ship?" someone asked.

Sanya nodded solemnly. "That is only natural. However, we still have an important mission on our hands this time, and we must bring back Former Empress as soon as possible. Therefore, let's wait until we return from this trip to celebrate the banquet together!"

"Does that mean you plan to set sail today? What about the candidates, then?"

Hearing this, the women all grew quiet one by one. Then, with a swish, everyone's gazes converged on Lu Ge and Sanya. The previous Kuja Pirates had more or less disbanded, so setting sail now meant they would have to re-elect members, didn't it? At this moment, everyone became incomparably expectant and excited. After all, being able to join the Kuja Pirates was their proudest and most yearned-for aspiration.

Even though this time wasn't about reforming the Kuja Pirates, just being able to set sail and witness the outside world was still something they yearned for.

Feeling the gazes coming from all around, Sanya said with an earnest expression, "Our primary objective for setting sail this time is to find Former Empress, and along the way, we also need to gather news about Hancock and the others. Therefore, we don't need to take too many people. It should be just about enough to bring along a few ship doctors, cooks, and a navigator."

After the incident with the three Gorgon sisters, she didn't dare to take too many people out to sea.

"Ah? Just that few people? Isn't this a bit insufficient? At least we have to bring along a few sisters who can sing and dance! After all, the boundless sea is dry and dull, and having some entertainment will keep us from getting bored, right?"

Hearing this, Lu Ge's eyes involuntarily lit up. "This we can have."

Hearing this, a woman in the crowd happily stepped out. "Speaking of being good at singing and dancing, there should be no one more suited than me, right?"

"Bolan? You're even skilled at this?" Seeing the newcomer, Lu Ge was somewhat surprised. She was precisely that older sister among the eight people captured not long ago who had recognized Lu Ge.

Because Lu Ge was her savior, the two of them had already grown quite familiar with each other during this period.

"Your big sister here is the top star of opera and dance, you know~" Bolan looked at Lu Ge and smiled sweetly. "Moreover, I am not entirely without the power to truss a chicken. I'm also a trainee warrior, my use of Armament Haki is fairly decent, and I barely qualify as a sharpshooter, oh."

Hearing this, Lu Ge immediately looked toward Sanya. "What do you think of her?"

"She'll do." Since Lu Ge had already spoken up, Sanya naturally agreed with a nod. Moreover, having a music and dance artist on the ship was indeed very necessary.

"Yay~" Bolan immediately made a victory sign, walked up to Lu Ge, and chuckled softly. "It's a good thing big sister here didn't pamper you in vain these past few days."

"Our dancing is quite good too! We should be all right, right?" At that moment, two more young maidens ran out together. That curvaceous figure truly only existed in a two-dimensional world.

"Aren't those the Zhuju and Zhutao sisters from the opera house? Neither of you are even warriors, so don't go joining in the fun."

"But we dance really well, you know!" The two sisters refused to show weakness, simultaneously looking toward Sanya. "Captain Sanya."

"No!" Sanya resolutely refused. Without the power of self-preservation, they would only become a burden if they encountered danger. Having already witnessed the cruelty of the outside world, it was impossible for her to take these two sisters along.

"Aah~ How can you be like this." The two sisters were instantly devastated.