Pirate: I Can Repel Everything

The doves remained silent as ever.

Their leaders were all asleep. How could they oppose the hawks' proposal?

"So these are Marine officers. All they do at meetings is argue and make noise."

The more Momousagi watched them, the more she disliked them.

Especially Sakazuki.

He talked endlessly about justice, but nothing he did looked like the work of a Marine.

He was practically a bandit!

Baccarat's Lucky-Lucky Fruit really was incredibly powerful.

It kept influencing Momousagi, drawing her completely over to Chris's side.

She now stood against the Marines.

On the deck of the Chris.

Squawk, squawk!

A News Coo flew overhead, calling down as though asking whether anyone wanted to buy a paper.

"One copy."

Lafitte looked up, twirled his cane, and spoke with a faint smile.

With a whoosh, a white bird landed on the railing.

Its feathers were snow-white. It wore a black hat, and a reddish-brown bag hung around its neck.

The bag was for collecting payment.

"Still a hundred Beli?" Lafitte asked the News Coo politely.

The News Coo nodded without a sound.

Lafitte took the newspaper and placed a hundred Beli in the bag. "Goodbye. Have a safe flight."

"Squawk, squawk!"

The News Coo nodded again, chirped happily, and flew off to continue its deliveries.

"The First Mate is always so polite. He's such a good man."

The crewmen below watched Lafitte go. Every one of them thought highly of him.

Burgess was practicing Armament Haki. "Lafitte, any big news?" he called with a grin.

Hawkins said nothing. He was practicing Haki too.

A few days earlier, Chris had set aside some time to explain Haki training to him.

The revelation had left him stunned.

He had never known such an extraordinary power existed in this world.

His respect for Chris had risen to its peak.

He had devoted himself completely to Chris and now considered himself a member of the Chris Pirates.

"Hm?"

The moment Lafitte opened the paper and saw the photograph, he froze.

The world's most beautiful woman, Boa Hancock, was in the news.

Chris had already told them that the Seven Warlords Alliance had gained another member.

It was the queen of Amazon Lily—the woman in the newspaper.

"Just as the captain said. The world's most beautiful woman really made the papers."

Lafitte nodded to himself, deeply impressed.

Everything had happened exactly as Chris had said. Lafitte admired him more than ever.

"Shichibukai Boa Hancock made the papers."

Luo walked over, saw the woman in the newspaper, and spoke coolly.

"That's the partner the captain mentioned," Hawkins said in a low voice. "Looks like we need to pick up the pace."

Doc Q was working on a poison. He coughed. "There's no rushing it... The captain said we'd travel the four seas and recruit enough people before entering the Grand Line..."

"Damn it. Everyone else is getting all the attention!"

Burgess shrugged helplessly. "Since we set sail, we've crossed the South Blue and the West Blue. Now we're in the North Blue."

"And we haven't seen a single Marine the whole way. It's downright ridiculous."

"With Baccarat aboard, it makes sense that we haven't run into any Marines."

Lafitte headed toward the Training Room with a faint smile. "The captain should hear about news this important right away."

Luo held Kikoku in his arms, as aloof as ever. "Why would we want to run into Marines? Sailing like this is the best outcome."

"No Marines chasing us. We can go wherever we please. It saves us a lot of trouble."

Hawkins nodded. "We'll be Shichibukai eventually. The fewer clashes we have with the Marines, the better."

Outside the Training Room.

Knock, knock, knock.

Lafitte knocked instead of walking in.

"Captain, I have good news to report."

He knew Chris well enough to be sure nothing improper was happening inside. Still, knocking was the safest way to avoid an awkward moment.

"Come in."

Chris's voice came from within.

The wooden door creaked open, and Lafitte stepped inside.

It was his first time entering the Training Room.

Chris stood ahead of him, swinging a greatsword. To the left of the door sat a whole group of beautiful women.

"Lafitte, is there good news in the paper?"

Honey Queen's eyes lit up. A sweet smile bloomed on her face as she hurried to ask.

Carina nodded, her voice lovely to hear. "I bet Boa Hancock made the papers."

Two days earlier, she had arrived in Jincado Town during her travels and met Chris and the others.

With Baccarat there, the outcome went without saying: Carina had obediently come aboard.

Everyone had been delighted when they learned what she could do.

She was a singer with an exceptionally beautiful voice.

At future feasts, they could have her sing to liven things up.

It was perfect!

"I think so too," Belo Betty said, taking a drag on her cigarette.

Lafitte handed the paper to Baccarat. "It is indeed news about Boa Hancock."

"Have a look. I'll be going."

This was Chris's private space. Lafitte thought it best not to linger and promptly left.

The women gathered around and opened the paper.

"Wow!"

Perona floated in the air, wonder written all over her face. "Hancock really is gorgeous!"

In the photograph, the empress's long hair flowed around her flawless face. Her figure was just as stunning.

Even through the newspaper, she seemed almost otherworldly.

She truly was beautiful!

"The world's most beautiful woman lives up to her name."

Reiju touched her delicate chin, blinked, and smiled.

Carina gave a sweet smile, her voice as lovely as a song. "She's powerful and breathtakingly beautiful. She's practically perfect!"

"No wonder so many men adore her. I can see why."

Belo Betty exhaled a stream of smoke. "She's been busy. She took down several pirates with bounties over ten million Beli."

Honey Queen smiled. "Looks like Chris's words got to the world's most beautiful woman."

"She's proud. She must want to prove herself to Chris and make him see her in a new light."

Baccarat looked toward Chris, poised and elegant. "Chris, Boa Hancock has entered the Grand Line and drawn attention from all sides."

"According to the paper, plenty of pirates are interested in her. They want to see the world's most beautiful woman for themselves."

"She'll probably run into some powerful figures soon. I doubt she'll be able to handle them."

Chris kept training, swinging his Blood Red greatsword. "Leave her be. Let her do as she likes."

"If she gets herself killed, it'll only prove she wasn't capable enough to work with us."

How much other men adored Hancock meant nothing to Chris.

He had never placed much importance on women.

He had made that decision the moment he arrived in this world.

He meant to walk the path of the strong. He would not spend too much time on women.

The women all froze at his cold words.

She's the world's most beautiful woman. Couldn't you show a little concern?

What a ruthless thing to say.

"If Boa Hancock heard that, she'd be stunned," Honey Queen said with a rueful shake of her head. "She's the world's most beautiful woman, and a man is treating her like this. She'd be shocked."

Belo Betty watched Chris and nodded in approval. "That's our captain for you."

"Even the world's most beautiful woman doesn't impress him."

Carina covered her mouth and giggled, her laughter ringing like a bell. "If Hancock were here, I'd love to see the look on her face."

"She'd be surprised. And furious! Hee-hee!"

Perona laughed as she floated overhead. "I want to see it too. It'd be so much fun! Horo, horo, horo..."

Reiju looked at Baccarat and smiled. "Chris is as composed as ever. He never changes for anyone."

Baccarat nodded with a small smile. "He knows what he wants. No one can sway him."

"Not even the world's most beautiful woman."