-----
-----
"Can someone tell me where the Snake Princess went?!"
"She didn't come back all night. You're seriously telling me none of you thought to go look for her?!"
Inside the grand hall of Amazon Lily, tiny Granny Nyon was fuming, smacking her cane against the floor so hard it rang like a bell.
The warriors standing below couldn't give her any answer. They just stammered and stared at their feet, completely clueless.
Even Sandersonia and Marigold could only force awkward smiles. Neither of them had expected their dear big sister to vanish for the entire night.
Actually, they didn't even know when Hancock slipped out.
The two of them had been too busy tormenting Saint Charlos.
"And Logan? Didn't you say he went to Boa Hancock's room? Where did he disappear to? And Charlos… how dare you—"
Before she could finish, Granny Nyon swayed on her feet, almost fainting.
She'd only been gone for one day, and Amazon Lily had already spiraled into chaos.
Forget Hancock for a moment—what worried her most was the Navy and the World Government's retaliation.
When she rushed back yesterday, she had arrived just in time to see a sea king swallow the mangled, barely-recognizable Charlos whole.
There wasn't even a chance to save him.
That man was a Celestial Dragon.
If word ever got out about what Amazon Lily had done, Navy warships would be surrounding their shore by tomorrow morning. Their country would be wiped off the map like a footnote in history.
"Go find the Snake Princess immediately!" Granny Nyon's voice cracked with fury.
"Why are you yelling so early in the morning in my own hall?" A cold, haughty voice drifted in from outside.
Everyone froze, recognizing the voice instantly. They turned toward the entrance.
And the next moment, every jaw dropped.
It wasn't just their Empress walking in. Logan was there too… along with seventeen stunning women.
They were chatting comfortably with Hancock as if they'd been sisters for years.
Granny Nyon's sleepy face even twitched when she noticed that many of them—like Vivi, Nami, and Robin—were every bit as beautiful as Hancock.
But her surprise quickly froze over, and she snapped, "Hancock, where exactly were you last night?"
Even she had barely seen the normally icy Hancock behave so… feminine.
Suddenly, something clicked in Granny Nyon's mind. Hancock had been gone all night. Could it be…
"Do I need to report my whereabouts to you?" Hancock stepped inside, cold and regal once again, staring Granny Nyon down without flinching.
"E–Elder sister, don't be mad. Granny Nyon was just worried." Sandersonia rushed forward to smooth things over.
Hancock snorted and looked away. She casually reached out and intertwined her fingers with Logan's, leading him straight toward the throne.
Everyone in the hall turned to stone on the spot.
They're holding hands already?!
Logan then sat on Hancock's throne.
Only then did the warriors snap back to their senses.
"This is rebellion! Absolute rebellion!"
"Hancock, you're the Empress of Amazon Lily! That's your seat!"
"Logan, get up right now! Do you think that's where you should be?!"
Granny Nyon shook her cane at them so hard spit flew everywhere.
"Shut your mouth." Hancock's eyes sharpened. "Since you know I am the Empress, then you should obey my decisions."
She looked around the hall, voice firm and solemn. "From this moment on, Logan is the ruler of Amazon Lily. His words are my words. Anyone who disobeys him disobeys me… and will be executed."
Then she leaned gently against Logan's shoulder, looking at him with soft, devoted eyes.
Granny Nyon trembled from head to toe.
One night. One single night, and the Snake Princess had been completely flipped inside out.
She had even handed over Amazon Lily without hesitation.
"Logan, you—"
"Granny Nyon." Before she could erupt again, Logan waved it off and said casually, "Relax. I'm only interested in Hancock. Amazon Lily is still yours."
He wanted the beauties from the story. A small island wasn't even worth mentioning.
As for most of the women here… well…
He didn't want to comment.
Honestly, after seeing the world for himself, he felt the legends about Amazon Lily's beauty were pretty exaggerated. Aside from Hancock, there were maybe two or three he'd call truly beautiful. The rest…
Granny Nyon sighed with relief at his words, but then her expression darkened again.
Having Hancock was basically the same as having Amazon Lily. What difference did it make?
She stared at Hancock suspiciously and asked, "Hancock, last night… you two…?"
"I already belong to Logan." Hancock cut her off with a sweet smile.
Granny Nyon's knees buckled instantly, and Sandersonia and Marigold had to catch her.
Her face twitched with anger, but after thinking about everything Logan had done for Hancock, she forced herself to calm down.
She was one of the few who knew the sisters' tragic past. She understood why Hancock would cling to the one person who had protected her.
Still…
"Hancock, we can deal with that later. What are you planning to do about the Celestial Dragon?" Granny Nyon said grimly.
"If the Navy or World Government finds out Charlos disappeared because of us, you know exactly what fate awaits Amazon Lily."
The hall fell silent. Every warrior's face turned pale.
Amazon Lily's strength and the Calm Belt kept outsiders away, but that meant nothing against the Navy or the World Government. If they wanted to erase Amazon Lily, they could do it in minutes.
Hancock glanced at the worried faces around her and scoffed. "Why should we be afraid? Even if they find out, so what? No matter what I do, they'll forgive me. Because I am simply too beautiful."
She arched her back and struck her signature pose, looking down at Granny Nyon from above.
"Everyone forgives the Empress…"
"Lady Hancock is just too beautiful…"
Granny Nyon's pupils turned into hearts for a second, then she snapped out of it and yelled, "This is not the time to be joking!"
"If they send an admiral, we won't stand a chance!"
Her face turned bright red with frustration while Hancock was still acting leisurely.
Finally, Hancock's playful expression faded. A hint of worry appeared.
Killing Charlos felt great, but Granny Nyon wasn't wrong. As Empress, she had an island full of warriors to protect.
"Logan, what should we do?" Her voice softened instinctively.
If the World Government decided to investigate a Celestial Dragon's disappearance, there would be traces no matter how careful they'd been.
Unconsciously, she had already started relying on Logan.
Facing the Navy and the World Government, even she felt powerless. Logan was her only hope.
"The World Government won't notice anything for now. And even if they do, I can guarantee your safety." Logan smiled calmly.
He wasn't just bragging.
As long as they didn't know about his relationship with Hancock, Amazon Lily would never be implicated.
And even in the worst case, he could lift the entire island using the power of clouds and teleport it somewhere else.
Though uprooting an island that had lived in the Calm Belt for generations was a last resort.
"I knew you'd have a solution." Hancock immediately kissed Logan on the cheek, beaming with happiness.
If he said it'd be fine, then it would be.
"Hancock! You're the Empress! Have some dignity in front of everyone!" Granny Nyon practically exploded again.
What kind of spell had Logan cast on her?!
She wasn't acting like herself at all.
The warriors exchanged embarrassed looks.
"Granny Nyon, don't worry. Big Brother Logan is amazing. If he says he can solve it, he will." Vivi walked up with gentle steps, smiling soothingly.
Even she could tell Granny Nyon was only harsh on the surface. Inside, she truly cared.
"Yeah, Granny Nyon, since we're here for the first time, why don't you show us around?" Makino and Nojiko chimed in with warm smiles.
"You… you girls…"
Even with her sharp tongue, Granny Nyon couldn't lash out at so many sweet and pretty women at once.
"Fine…" After a long sigh, she muttered, "Logan, if that day does come… I hope you really can protect Amazon Lily."
With that, she turned and headed toward the entrance.
"You girls coming or not? Didn't you want a tour? Why are you still standing there?!"
"Oh, you're here, Grandma."
"I'm here, I'm here."
"…"
Nami and the others shot Logan a look that basically said you're on your own, then hurried after Granny Zha as she walked out of the grand hall.
"Logan, don't blame her. She only did it for Amazon Lily." Once the others were gone, Hancock crouched in front of him, apologizing softly.
She was worried he'd feel offended by Granny Zha's sharp tongue.
"It's fine." Logan smiled and gently brushed his hand across Hancock's forehead, showing he didn't mind.
"Sanda Sonia, Marigold." Logan lifted his head, looking toward the two sisters standing at the center of the hall.
"Here!!"
"Lord Logan, I'm here!!"
They snapped to attention, full of respect.
If even their beloved sister was completely tamed by him, there was no way they dared act up.
"Take Kaya to a private room. She'll help you."
While the two sisters were still confused, Kaya stepped up to them and smiled. "Ladies, I can help remove that ugly thing for you."
She didn't say the words out loud in front of the other Kuja warriors.
Sanda Sonia and Marigold froze like they'd been struck by lightning, their bodies trembling.
Could it be…
Instinctively, they looked to Hancock.
Hancock gave a tiny nod. The sisters stopped hesitating and, ignoring the puzzled looks from the other warriors, hurried out of the hall with Kaya.
Watching the three leave, Hancock let out a quiet sigh.
After today, she and her sisters could finally live in the sunlight without fear, without that shadow pressing down on their hearts.
"Don't overthink it. It's all behind you now." Logan gently patted Hancock's shoulder and spoke softly.
The Celestial Dragon was dead, their slave marks were gone—only a good life waited for them now.
"Mm." Hancock nodded like an obedient little cat.
Below, a bunch of Kuja warriors kept swallowing hard.
It had only been one day, but it felt like their Empress had been possessed by something.
Hancock suddenly noticed their strange looks. Her eyes lit up and she snapped, "You there, all of you, come here!"
That commanding tone, that absolute authority—yes, that was the Empress they recognized.
The warriors exchanged glances before rushing forward. "Empress, what are your orders?!"
Hancock stood slowly, her expression serious. "Since I already belong to Logan, from now on, every member of Amazon Lily belongs to Logan."
"If he has any… physical needs, every one of you must satisfy them. Understood?!"
The warriors all turned bright red.
Even if they didn't interact with men, Hancock couldn't have been more direct. Only an idiot wouldn't get it.
Logan nearly choked on his own breath.
He stared at the Kuja warriors lined up below him.
Gentian, Aster, Daisy, Bluebell, Bellflower, Sweet Pea, Broom…
Stop!!
Logan suddenly felt a headache coming on and quickly looked away.
Seeing his conflicted expression, Hancock assumed he was overwhelmed by too many choices. She immediately spoke in a tone that allowed no refusal. "Everyone, go bathe immediately, and then—"
"Hold up!!" Logan jumped to his feet.
"What's wrong?" Hancock frowned slightly. "Logan, is it not enough people?"
"If you want more, anyone on Amazon Lily—anyone at all—I can give you permission to choose."
She looked completely confident.
Amazon Lily had plenty of women, after all.
She could guarantee Logan would have a new experience every moment of the day.
"Hancock, I only need you." Logan waved his hand casually, trying to laugh it off.
"Huh?!" Now Hancock was the one surprised. She stared at him suspiciously.
Since when was Logan this serious? His whole crew was made up of gorgeous women.
Wait…
Realization hit her and her expression darkened. She shot him a glare.
"Marguerite!!"
"Empress, present!!"
From the very back of the line, Marguerite stepped forward—short blond hair, leather bikini top, tiny skirt, and the aura of a national warrior.
Hancock placed a hand on Logan's chest, a playful smile curling at her lips. "Logan, what do you think of Marguerite?"
Logan silently cursed this little temptress, but still took a moment to look Marguerite over.
Aside from Hancock, Marguerite was definitely one of the few true beauties on Amazon Lily.
A certified plot-line beauty.
Even in Logan's own crew, she'd rank easily in the middle tier of looks.
"Not bad," he said with a satisfied nod.
Hearing his praise, Marguerite blushed hard and lowered her head, unable to stop certain unspeakable thoughts from popping into her mind.
Was Lord Logan… interested in her?!
"I knew it," Hancock whispered into Logan's ear, teasing.
"Marguerite, go bathe and change right now. You'll be serving Logan with me later."
"Wha—?!" Marguerite shrieked, her jaw practically hitting the floor.
Serve Logan… together with the Empress?!
Every other Kuja warrior turned into stone on the spot.
"....."
