Deliberation

Shakuyaku, who had still looked casual just a moment before, immediately turned solemn. "What on earth is going on? Tell me in detail."

Accordingly, Sanya immediately told Shakuyaku everything that had happened at Amazon Lily.

Hearing this, Shakuyaku furrowed her brows slightly. "How very bold. I never expected that our Amazon Lily would reach the point where anyone could casually bully us! But as for me going back, forget it."

Hearing this, Sanya and the others instantly grew anxious. "But, Former Generation Lord!"

Shakuyaku blew out a puff of smoke and said, "Don't worry, don't rush. As the Former Empress of Amazon Lily, naturally I won't watch Amazon Lily decline like this. Though I won't go back, I can recommend someone to you."

Sanya felt a sudden surge of curiosity. "Who? Aside from you? Who else is qualified to be our empress?"

Shakuyaku: "The great-great-great-former empress of Amazon Lily, Gloriosa."

Hearing this, Sanya's expression darkened instantly. "That sinner of Amazon Lily, Flame Flower? No way! She has no qualifications to continue leading us!"

Kikyo also said with a serious expression, "I've also heard of that Flame Flower. I heard that during her reign, she brought quite a few disasters to Amazon Lily. If we let her continue leading us, wouldn't Amazon Lily perish even faster?!"

Shakuyaku: "During Gloriosa's reign, she certainly did a lot of foolish things, but surely it hasn't reached an unforgivable point, has it? Besides, this is only an expedient measure, letting her act as a proxy temporarily. Once Amazon Lily elects a new empress, you can do whatever you want with her."

"..." Sanya and the other women all looked at Shakuyaku in silence.

Shakuyaku spread her hands and said, "Don't look at me like that! There's no way I'm going back. I'm already at such an advanced age, and you know all about my illness. If you make me go back, isn't that going to cost me my old life? But Gloriosa no longer has issues of that sort, so having her go back with you is the most suitable thing of all."

Sanya hesitated for a moment and said, "But I'm afraid everyone won't agree."

Shakuyaku: "In extraordinary times, extraordinary means must be used. If you don't want Amazon Lily to decline from this point on, you should cast aside the prejudices of past years. People must look forward."

Hearing this, the expressions of Kikyo and the other women shifted somewhat. It seemed that in their hearts, they truly felt a strong resistance toward Gloriosa.

Seeing Shakuyaku repeatedly refuse, Lu Ge figured she was dead set against going back to be empress. After all, sickness or no sickness, those were just excuses. He was well aware that Shakuyaku certainly also understood that the problem of lovesickness was not an issue as long as she stayed by her lover's side. Therefore, as long as she returned to Amazon Lily together with Rayleigh, there would be no problem. Her refusal meant she truly did not want to go back.

Taking Gloriosa back seemed like a pretty good idea, too. In the original story, it seemed Gloriosa was the one who temporarily assumed the position of empress and, after successfully nurturing Hancock, helped her ascend to the throne of the empress.

This was precisely an opportunity to have Rayleigh help him rescue the three Hancock sisters.

Lu Ge: "Actually, this problem is very easy to resolve."

"How do you mean?" Shakuyaku and the others immediately looked toward Lu Ge.

Lu Ge: "Since Gloriosa committed wrongs and the populace cannot easily forgive her, then let her do a good deed and return with the identity of a hero. Presumably, the populace will accept her."

Shakuyaku grew thoughtful. "Return with the identity of a hero? Then how is this hero supposed to act?"

Lu Ge: "Right now, the people of Amazon Lily are all very concerned about news of the three Hancock sisters, since after all this is the empress's dying wish. If we can bring them back, the populace should be able to accept Gloriosa's return."

Hearing this, Shakuyaku fell silent for a moment before letting out a sigh. "This is impossible..."

Mana looked perplexed. "Eh~ Why? Could it be that the Former Generation Lord knows news of Hancock and the others?"

Seeing their eager expressions, Shakuyaku sighed once more. "The three Hancock sisters have already fallen into the hands of the Celestial Dragons. Trying to save them is practically impossible."

Hearing the words Celestial Dragons, Robin's pupils abruptly constricted at the side.

Kikyo asked somewhat uncomprehendingly, "What are these Celestial Dragons?"

She was still young, and because news did not travel well in Amazon Lily, she failed to understand how terrifying the Celestial Dragons were.

Shakuyaku said with a serious expression, "The Celestial Dragons are called World Nobles. They rule over the World Government, styling themselves 'descendants of the Creator', and enjoy every privilege. Once they are offended, admirals or CP0 are bound to dispatch to protect them. Therefore, once you cross them, Amazon Lily will sink into the sea overnight and become history just like that."

"!!!"

Hearing this, the expressions of Kikyo and the other women changed drastically. "D-Does this mean that Hancock and the others are beyond saving?"

Shakuyaku nodded helplessly. "Yes. No one dares to offend the Celestial Dragons."

Kikyo and her group instantly fell silent.

Meanwhile, Lu Ge looked toward Rayleigh. "Is that really true? Could it be that even the legendary Dark King Rayleigh wouldn't dare?"

Rayleigh looked at Lu Ge and smiled. "While I wouldn't mind giving the Celestial Dragons a sound beating, I have to consider the consequences behind this matter. If we risk the entirety of Amazon Lily just to save them, that clearly isn't cost-effective."

Lu Ge: "As long as you have the guts for it, that's enough. I intend to go and rescue the three Hancock sisters, and I wonder if you, Uncle Rayleigh, might have any interest in coming along with me?"

Rayleigh looked at Lu Ge with some surprise. "You punk really dare to offend the Celestial Dragons?"

Lu Ge flashed a grin. "Don't talk about offending them. If I run into them, I'll slaughter them for you to see."

By now he truly had nothing to fear. Not only was his strength comparable to an admiral's, but he also possessed the Door-Door Fruit and the Time-Time Fruit, allowing him to traverse freely regardless of spatial distance, and even shuttle through the future at will. Furthermore, without a devil fruit user's weaknesses, one had to ask who else in this world could possibly capture him.

Rayleigh immediately burst into hearty laughter. "Good! Good! Very good! Truly, the youth are to be feared! Fine, since you have such guts, then tell me, how do you plan to save people? You must know that trying to snatch people from the hands of the Celestial Dragons is no different from seizing food from a tiger's jaws. Even for me, it's a nine-deaths-and-a-life ordeal."

Without answering directly, Lu Ge simply opened a door right in front of him with a casual wave of his hand.

At this sight, both Rayleigh and Shakuyaku lit up in surprise. "The Door-Door Fruit? Good kid! I never expected you to have this ability as well. Excellent! If you have this ability, then what harm is there in this old man accompanying you on this trip?"

Shakuyaku: "What is the distance limit for your Door-Door Fruit travels?"

Lu Ge: "The travel distance is determined by physical stamina. The further I travel, the more stamina it consumes. With my current stamina, I can reach a maximum of ten kilometers. Once I use the maximum distance, I'll be worn out to the point of collapsing."

Of course, what Lu Ge did not mention was that the Nascent Dimensional Power within his body possessed extremely strong restorative effects. Even if he collapsed from exhaustion, within a few breaths he could recover to the point of free movement, and in the time it took to brew a cup of tea he could recover completely. This was his secret, and he would never mention it to anyone.