Pirates: I Can Repel Anything

A heavyset woman nearby hurriedly scooped up the white cat, knelt, and apologized. "I'm very sorry, Snake Princess. I'll be more careful from now on."

Hancock ignored her. With a cold, haughty expression, she walked toward the harbor with graceful, regal strides.

"Snake Princess, please let me go to sea with you!"

"Your Majesty, take me with you! Waaah!"

"Snake Princess, the sea is where a woman belongs. Please take me with you. I'm begging you..."

"I can still fight! I still want to serve our country! Please don't leave me behind, Snake Princess..."

"No! I want to go to sea too!"

Marigold looked at Hancock and said respectfully, "Sister, everything is ready."

Sandersonia nodded and added, "We haven't forgotten the food, weapons, or anything else we need to bring."

"Snake Princess, the Grand Line is nothing like the Calm Belt. It's full of danger. You must be careful."

Leaning on her cane, Elder Nyon gave her an earnest, concerned warning. "Especially in the New World. Nearly everyone there can use Haki."

"If you meet an opponent who's too strong, you must be cautious. If you have no other choice, then..."

Before she could finish, Hancock cut her off.

"Shut up!"

Hancock shot Elder Nyon a cold glance and pointed at her. "Gloriosa, are you telling me to run from a fight?"

"I am a Shichibukai and the queen of Amazon Lily. How could I possibly lose to anyone?"

"You abandoned our country, traitor. Just stay here and watch over Amazon Lily. Stop saying such foolish things."

With that, she swept her hair behind her and strode aboard the ship.

Elder Nyon nearly lost her mind. "Snake Princess, you can't always be so arrogant! If you meet someone you can't defeat, you must retreat!"

"Don't worry, Elder Nyon. We'll be careful."

Marigold and Sandersonia spoke in unison, then hurried after Hancock.

Elder Nyon shook her head gently. A helpless look crossed her weathered face as she murmured to herself, "It seems the Snake Princess needs to learn the hard way."

"Perhaps that's for the best. Once she enters the New World, she'll see where she falls short. A setback might do her good."

Before long, the great ship set sail, slowly leaving the harbor and heading into deeper waters...

Inside the lounge.

What should I do? I want to call Chris so badly.

Hancock sat on Salome, cupping her cheeks in her hands. Blushing, she murmured to herself, "No, I can't. Chris must be busy right now. I mustn't disturb him."

Marigold and Sandersonia exchanged helpless looks.

Hancock had been like this for the past two days.

Whether she was sitting or standing, she kept talking to herself.

And every time, the name on her lips was Chris.

At first, the two of them had no idea what was going on. Only after Elder Nyon explained it did they realize Hancock had fallen in love with Chris.

But everyone on Amazon Lily was a woman, and neither of them understood what it meant to be in love.

They were utterly baffled by the way Hancock was acting.

"Sister, if you want to call him, just do it. I'm sure he won't be angry."

Marigold smiled at Hancock. "After all, you're the most beautiful woman in the world. Of course he'll forgive you."

Sandersonia nodded in agreement. "That's right, Sister. You can sit here thinking about him, but Chris won't know."

"Why not call him and tell him we're heading for the Grand Line? Wouldn't that be nice?"

The real reason was that both of them wanted to see what this Chris looked like.

How had he managed to leave their sister so distracted that she could barely eat or sleep?

(Everyone, Hancock is far too arrogant and looks down on everyone, even though she isn't all that powerful. Trouble is definitely coming her way. Who will her opponent be? Will Hancock be beaten to a pulp? Will Chris come to save her? All the excitement is still to come! ︿(￣︶￣)︿)

"That's right! Since I'm about to head for the Grand Line, I should at least tell him."

Hancock's eyes lit up, excitement spreading across her flawless face. "I must let him know that I'll be the first to enter the New World."

Without hesitation, she took out her Den Den Mushi and made the call...

Aboard the Chris, inside the Training Room.

"I just reported Chris's strength to my family."

Reiju leaned back in her chair with her legs crossed. Touching her fair chin, she smiled. "My father and the others were all shocked."

"They never imagined Chris could be this strong."

Perona floated over to Reiju. She was especially fond of this gentle older sister.

"Reiju, why didn't you tell me you were calling? I wanted to hear how shocked they were."

"It must have been so much fun! Horo horo horo..."

Honey Queen rolled her eyes at her. "All you think about is having fun. Was that a call you should have listened to?"

"She was on the phone. You can't just stand there eavesdropping."

Belo Betty glanced at Reiju and said evenly, "Chris trusts you. You know what you should and shouldn't tell them."

Baccarat waved a hand and smiled. "What are you saying? Reiju is so gentle and gracious. She would never do anything to hurt us."

"Besides, none of that is top secret. Why shouldn't she report it?"

Of everyone there, Baccarat undoubtedly knew the most.

If Chris had wanted to hide something, he would never have let Reiju learn so much.

Anything Reiju could hear was something Chris was willing for her to know. It was that simple.

His partnership with Momousagi, on the other hand, was a closely guarded secret.

No one but Baccarat knew about it.

"Baccarat, the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia."

Chris stopped training and walked over.

The women all paused, puzzled by his request.

Chris had never shown any interest in such things. Why did he suddenly want to look at it?

"Chris, can I ask if you've discovered something?"

Honey Queen gazed at him, curiosity written all over her face.

Belo Betty took a drag on her cigarette. "You don't have to ask. Something's definitely up."

Baccarat took the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia from a drawer and handed it to Chris with a sweet smile.

"Once someone eats a Devil Fruit, they can't eat a second one."

Chris opened the encyclopedia and patiently explained, "Ever since I obtained the Repel-Repel Fruit, I've been studying one question."

"How can I use its power to eat two Devil Fruits—or even more?"

"Now I've found a way. I can keep two Devil Fruits completely separate, prevent them from clashing, and use the powers of both."

Shock.

Utter shock.

Chris's revelation stunned every woman in the room.

Everyone knew a person could eat only one Devil Fruit.

That was an ironclad rule. No one could change it!

And yet the man before them had found a way.

How could they not be astonished?

"Chris, is that really true?"

Honey Queen's eyes widened in surprise. "I know you're not one to joke, but this is unbelievable."

Belo Betty was usually composed, but even she couldn't stay calm. "Chris, are you sure it'll work?"

"This is no joke. If you eat two Devil Fruits and their powers clash inside you, you'll explode."

She looked at him gravely. "Please don't try it. It's far too dangerous, and there'd be no turning back."

Perona nodded. "Something that scary is better left alone. If you really exploded, it would be horrifying."

"Chris, I know you aren't reckless, but I think you should give it more thought."

Reiju looked at him with concern. "After all, no one in history has ever eaten two Devil Fruits."

"The risk is simply too great."

Baccarat watched Chris, a sweet smile appearing on her elegant face. She spoke with certainty.

"Don't worry. He'll be fine."

"My instincts tell me Chris will succeed."

The other women all turned to look at her, stunned.

This was Baccarat, the goddess of luck.

If she said that, it meant one thing.

Chris really could eat two Devil Fruits!

"If Baccarat says so, then there won't be a problem."

Belo Betty shrugged, sounding entirely casual.

Honey Queen nodded, still looking astonished. "How is that possible? One person eating two Devil Fruits..."

"If the outside world found out, it would cause an uproar!"

Reiju touched her chin and said with absolute certainty, "If word got out, the whole world would be in an uproar."

"Don't worry. I won't report this. I'll act as though I never heard it."

(Everyone, Chris can now eat two Devil Fruits! What would you suggest for his second one? The Dark-Dark Fruit, or a Mythical Zoan? Leave your thoughts in the comments, and I'll consider them.)

Brring, brring, brring...

Just then, the Den Den Mushi on the boulder began to ring.

Chris went straight over without hesitation.

He knew perfectly well that only one person in this world would call him: the world's most beautiful woman, Hancock.

Honey Queen and the others exchanged curious glances.

Since they had come aboard, the Den Den Mushi in the Training Room had never rung.

No one said a word. They watched closely, eager to see who it was.

Chris reached the boulder, picked up the Den Den Mushi, and answered.

"Chris, I hope I'm not disturbing you!"

The Den Den Mushi took on Hancock's appearance, with flowing hair and a dark red outfit.

She truly was the world's most beautiful woman. Even the Den Den Mushi's imitation of her was gorgeous.