Chapter 157 - 45

Chapter 247At the same time.On the sea, outside the perimeter of Amazon Lily.Two massive, ferocious venomous sea snakes were pulling a giant pirate ship with a colossal snake carving as its figurehead, slowly sailing towards the direction of Amazon Lily.It was the vessel of the Kuja Pirates.Due to the potent venom these two Yuda possess, even the colossal Sea Kings inhabiting the Calm Belt mostly dared not attack them lightly.The area around Amazon Lily was within the Calm Belt, teeming with a large number of Sea Kings, making it an absolute forbidden zone for pirates and merchant ships alike.However, today, this forbidden zone had welcomed a group of uninvited guests.A fleet flying the Marine flag was quietly anchored on the sea's surface.On the deck of the lead warship stood a stern-faced middle-aged man with a mohawk hairstyle.Navy Headquarters Vice Admiral — Momonga.Lan, one of the officers of the Kuja Pirates.She stepped out, staring at the Marine soldiers on the ship ahead, her tone laced with a hint of mockery: "To anchor right in the middle of a sea where monsters gather, you really have guts."She noticed a massive Sea King corpse floating on the sea surface not far away, bearing a huge, clean-cut sword wound."Yes, we were just attacked by it."Vice Admiral Momonga stepped forward, his voice low: "Even aboard this warship equipped with Sea Stone, which can somewhat mask our presence, staying anchored for too long will still be detected by these creatures with their keen sense of smell."He glanced at the Sea King's corpse and continued: "However, according to the agreement between our government and your Kuja, we are prohibited from invading the waters within three kilometers of the coast of the Island of Women. Therefore, we had no choice but to wait for you right in the heart of this monster's nest."The Marine soldiers behind him whispered among themselves, their gazes filled with curiosity and a trace of fear as they scrutinized the legendary Kuja Pirates.Rumors said the Empress of the Kuja was a monster who could turn people to stone.Lan ignored the Marines' murmurs, pointing at the dead Sea King and asking: "Did you take that one down?""While Sea Kings are not uncommon in the Grand Line, those in the Calm Belt are the real giants—no, calling them monsters is more accurate. That Sea King tried to swallow the entire warshipwhole, so we had to deal with it."Momonga abruptly changed the subject, his sharp gaze turning towards the Kuja pirate ship: "We've been waiting for you for a long time, Kuja Pirates. One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, come out! I'm here to escort you!"The war is about to begin!The Marines needed to utilize the power of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.Though the very idea sounded utterly perverse.As expected, it drew collective ridicule from the Kuja Pirates."The Empress will not come out. We have given this reply many times.""Men truly are creatures without grace.""And they want us to join a war? They must be too weak.""But it's been a long time since we've seen living men. As soon as they see the Kuja flag, whether pirates or merchants, they always scramble onto small boats and flee for their lives."Listening to their chattering discussion, Momongasuppressed his anger and threw a newspaper over to them:"We received your reply, saying you would consider responding to the summons, but there's been absolutely no sign of actual action!This is this morning's newspaper!The execution location and date for Portgas D. Ace, the 2nd Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, have been officially set!We will not make any more concessions! This mandatory summons of the Shichibukai is a strict order from the World Government! Refusal will result in the revocation of your Shichibukai title! Do you understand what that means?"His voice rose, "You, who have been acting willfully under the World Government's protection, will be reduced to ordinary pirates! Furthermore, you will be regarded as hostile forces by the World Government and the Marines! Do you hear me? Boa Hancock!"Silence fell over the scene.Finally, the ornate door of the pirate ship's cabin slowly opened, and crisp footsteps could be heard.A woman wearing a high-slit red cheongsam, draped in a light cloak, with jet-black long hair and breathtaking beauty, walked out with elegant and haughty steps.Her expression was placid, as if nothing in the world was worth her attention.The Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock!She didn't even look directly at Momonga, stepping lightly onto the head of one of the Yuda sea snakes and arriving on the deck of the Marine warship. She placed one hand on her hip, looking down at Momonga from her elevated position."How noisy."Her crimson lips parted, her voice carrying a natural allure and coldness, "Have you forgotten why this Empress is called one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"Momonga's expression darkened.Why were the Seven Warlords of the Sea called the Seven Warlords of the Sea?Because they themselves were the most troublesome great pirates!It was precisely because of their strength! Influence! Power! that they were qualified to cooperate with the World Government."The reply from the other day was merely to put you off. This Empress will not participate in the war."Boa Hancock shifted her tone, lightly tapping her chin with a finger, revealing a seemingly innocent smile, "However, I also do not wish to have the Shichibukai title revoked. Also, I want all the cargo on your ship."Momonga finally couldn't hold back, cursing: "What foolish talk! You're not a naive child, do you think such a rude demand would be accepted?!"Boa Hancock smiled without speaking, merely gently brushing back her long hair.Alarm bells rang in Momonga's mind. He whipped his head around to see the Marine soldiers he had brought along, their eyes glazed over, cheeks flushed, actually starting to obey Hancock's words and actively move to unload the ship's supplies!These fools!"What are you doing! Snap out of it!" Momongaroared.But it had little effect.Sweating profusely, he turned back to face Hancock, his voice cold:"One week from now, Portgas D. Ace will be publicly executed at Marineford Square!That is to say, in order to rescue Ace, the Whitebeard Pirates are bound to make a move!Our Marines have mobilized all forces, led by the Three Admirals, to counter them! Will you choose to have your Shichibukai title revoked and become pursued pirates, or accept the summons? Choose now!"To be honest, after the incident at Sabaody Archipelago, as a Navy Headquarters Vice Admiral, Momonga was privy to some internal information.That Straw Hat pirate is too terrifying!The world's structure is bound to undergo earth-shattering changes afterwards.Deep down, Momonga harbored doubts about the Shichibukai system, but he understood that in the upcoming war, the Marines needed every ounce of strength they could muster, even if it came from these uncontrollable pirates.Boa Hancock sat down, crossing her slender legs."This Empress likes the Shichibukai title and does not wish it revoked. But the World Government is detestable, and I do not want to obey their orders."She tilted her head, revealing a smile captivating enough to enchant anyone, "How about this? The Marines who came to welcome this Empress met with an inexplicable accident at sea, their bodies all turned to stone, resulting in total annihilation."As soon as these words were spoken, the Marinesoldiers still in their infatuated state sobered up a bit, remembering the terrifying rumors about the Kuja Empress's petrification ability, fear appearing on their faces."I've already warned you! Don't think throwing a tantrum will be forgiven!" Momonga fumed.Beside her, Hancock's two younger sisters, Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold, wore cold smiles."Big Sister's temper is quite bad, but everything she does is forgiven.""Yes, there is a reason she is forgiven."Boa Hancock slowly stood up, stepped onto the Marine deck, surveyed the surrounding Marines, and lightly parted her red lips to utter the words she firmly believed: "Because this Empress is the most beautiful.""Aaaah! Empress Boa!!""So beautiful!!"Both the Marine soldiers and the Kuja Pirate warriors instantly erupted, their eyes filled with fanaticism and adoration."Mero Mero Mellow!"Hancock formed a heart shape with her hands, and a pink heart-shaped beam instantly expanded, enveloping all the Marine soldiers on the deck.The soldiers pierced by the beam, their expressions of infatuation instantly froze, their bodies rapidly turning from the bottom up into ash-gray stone.In that instant, Momonga, relying on his formidable willpower, fiercely stabbed his own palm with his sword. The intense pain dispelled the wicked thoughts in his heart, allowing him to barely evade the petrification."Oh? The older ginger is spicier, using pain to resist this Empress's charm? Not bad."Boa Hancock praised faintly.Could this method be used once and then again and again?She didn't believe anyone would constantly cut or stab themselves.No one in this world existed who could remain completely unmoved by her beauty!Chapter 329 Charm Ineffective? Impossible, Absolutely Impossible!Boa Hancock paid no further attention to Momonga, directing her subordinates to plunder all the supplies from the Marine ship.The Kuja Pirates' objective was to plunder pirate ships passing nearby.Ships of the World Government and the Marines were also within their scope of plunder.There was no reason to refuse when Momongaand his men had delivered themselves to their doorstep.Boa Hancock watched all this coldly, then, like a queen, surrounded by her sisters and subordinates, returned to her pirate ship.The ship sailed towards Amazon Lily.Amazon Lily would welcome back their queen.Momonga watched the deck full of stone statues and the departing Kuja Pirates, his face ashen. In the end, he could only leave behind a stern warning:"Two days! At most two days! If Boa Hancock does not respond, it will be considered a complete breach of the agreement! You'd better watch yourselves!"Amazon Lily.The Kuja Pirates were the heroes of this nation, welcomed by citizens lining the streets.Boa Hancock made her way all the way back to her palace chambers.And discovered something that should not have been there."What is that?" Boa Hancock asked, looking at the clay figurine that bore some resemblance to her, her brow slightly furrowing."It is a clay handicraft the children carefully prepared for you."Boa Hancock waved a dismissive hand, "This Empress's beauty cannot be replicated!"The clay figurine fell to the ground with a thud.The female guards looked at each other."Is that not allowed?""Empress Boa, everything you do is forgiven!"Instantly, the female warriors erupted in fanatical shouts.This was Hancock's status in this country; everything she did was forgiven.Hancock leaned lazily against her throne, rubbing her temples, and asked the stewardess Enishidastanding by her side: "Where have the guardian warriors gone?"The guardian warriors were an important reserve force for the Kuja Pirates.She hadn't seen them at the welcoming area earlier.Enishida's eyes flickered. As the stewardess, she had caught some vague whispers about Margaretbringing back a man.She was even more aware of the Empress's extreme aversion to men.If the Empress found out there was a man on this island, it would be a disaster. So, she chose to conceal it."They are still on patrol duty. A male and a female monkey broke in!" Enishida said.Hancock's brow twitched.Monkeys?A male and a female?Just then, a voice came through."Boa!"Boa Hancock narrowed her eyes, a dangerous glint flashing within them, as she saw Granny Nyuleaning on her snake-head cane.