How could Luo Xing not know?
Standing so openly beside the world's most beautiful woman, the Pirate Empress, was bound to draw countless eyes.
Sabaody Archipelago lay extremely close to Marine Headquarters, and no one knew how many Marine spies were hidden there.
It was entirely possible that someone had already recognized his identity through the Cybertronians.
Yet Luo Xing remained completely unconcerned, continuing to act as he pleased.
This was utterly different from his usual low-key, covert style.
There were two main reasons for this.
The first was that the Summit War was about to erupt.
The colossal conflict initiated by the Beasts Pirates was on the verge of beginning, and there was no longer any need for him to hide.
In this war, he intended to openly challenge the Marines and the World Government.
The second reason—
Was that Luo Xing was deliberately drawing their attention.
This operation of his was a two-front war.
On one front, his father-in-law Kaido and Big Mom's alliance would seize Whitebeard's territories in the New World.
The enemy they would mainly face was the Red-Haired Pirates.
Though Shanks's crew was formidable, against the combined forces of Kaido and Big Mom, they would no longer be able to stop them as they once had.
Thus, the New World battlefield posed little concern.
However—
The operation personally led by Luo Xing to seize Sabaody Archipelago carried enormous risk.
Sabaody was simply too close to Marine Headquarters.
Too close to the Holy Land Mary Geoise atop the Red Line.
It was impossible to predict what level of force the Marines and the World Government would dispatch to stop him.
Even with the Whitebeard Pirates tying down most Marine power at Marineford, no one could be certain whether the World Government possessed hidden top-tier combatants.
Luo Xing had to think several steps ahead.
Otherwise, if he were stalled by hidden forces while the Marines finished dealing with Whitebeard and then mobilized in full—
His situation would become extremely dangerous.
Although the Anywhere Door allowed him to retreat at any time, that would mean the entire Sabaody plan would collapse.
That was something Luo Xing would never tolerate.
The solution he devised—
Was misdirection.
He would confuse the enemy, making the Marines and the World Government unable to determine his true objective.
First—
His appearance alongside the Pirate Empress at Sabaody would inevitably prompt the Marines to dispatch at least one admiral.
Admirals were powerful, yes.
But with Luo Xing's own strength—plus Zoro and Enel enhanced by Dragon-level Monster Cells—handling one admiral would be effortless.
After causing chaos in Sabaody, he would withdraw.
Then, using the Log Pose Hancock had recorded for him, he would open the Anywhere Door and head straight to Impel Down.
At that moment, the Marines would not be able to react in time.
He would then storm Impel Down, subjugating the tens of thousands of prisoners inside—
Especially the monstrous criminals imprisoned in Level Six, the Eternal Hell.
Once successful, his forces and overall strength would skyrocket.
Only then would the Marines finally receive news of Impel Down.
Sengoku and the Five Elders would be utterly shaken and hastily dispatch forces there.
But unfortunately for them—
They would be too late.
Because Luo Xing would once again use the Anywhere Door, leading his newly conquered tens of thousands of subordinates straight back to Sabaody.
At the same time, the zombie legion aboard Thriller Bark would converge with him.
By then—
Luo Xing would command tens of thousands of ferocious troops.
Under his banner would stand Zoro, Enel, the elite criminals of Level Six, and countless other monsters.
While the Marines were running in circles—
He would seize Sabaody Archipelago in a single, thunderous strike.
The moment that happened—
The world would be shaken.
This was Luo Xing's complete plan.
Sengoku might be called the "Wise General," but at best, he could see two or three layers ahead.
Luo Xing, however, was standing on the tenth layer.
Their understanding of the future, their grasp of the overall situation—
Were not even on the same level.
How could Sengoku possibly contend with him?
Boa Hancock, standing at his side, had no idea that the man smiling and chatting beside her carried ambitions vast enough to engulf the world.
Luo Xing had no intention of boasting either.
And Hancock's thoughts were not on such matters at all.
In truth, the two of them shared a strangely similar state of mind.
Both wanted to draw closer.
Closer still.
Their arms were pressed tightly together—
Yet they were not holding hands like lovers.
Luo Xing did not wish to offend her.
And Hancock, her delicate face slightly flushed and her heart pounding, still retained a final trace of restraint and clarity.
She had indeed fallen for Luo Xing—
But she had not completely lost herself.
If he acted impatiently, like other men, it would likely spark her resentment instead.
Precisely because he understood this, Luo Xing behaved with remarkable self-control.
It was not yet time for him to be domineering.
He smiled at her and said,
"We're almost at the slave auction house. It used to belong to Doflamingo. They say slaves of all races are sold there—there are even mermaids."
Hancock's long hair draped casually to her hips.
She pursed her red lips and replied,
"Mermaids? I've never seen one before. But no matter how beautiful they are, they couldn't compare to even a fraction of me."
When it came to beauty, the Pirate Empress possessed absolute confidence—and pride.
And she had every reason to.
Judging from the way her cheongsam strained tightly across her chest, her "capital" was indeed quite extraordinary.
Luo Xing suddenly thought of another woman whose "capital" surpassed even hers.
The mermaid princess—Shirahoshi.
Of course, that was mainly because of her enormous size.
What truly puzzled him was this—
Queen Otohime had been slender and delicate, so how had she given birth to such an enormous daughter?
Truly mysterious.
Luo Xing decided that once the war was over, he would make a trip to Fish-Man Island.
After all, it lay directly beneath Sabaody.
Close by—and strategically indispensable.
But that was for later.
For now—
Luo Xing and Hancock entered the slave auction house.
Many seats were already occupied, clearly indicating that something extremely valuable would be auctioned today.
Luo Xing found an empty row and sat down beside Hancock.
Her two sisters, along with Zoro and Enel, naturally chose seats elsewhere.
As for the three Cybertronians, they remained outside, standing guard.
Since Luo Xing had already anticipated the arrival of a Marine admiral, he would never come unprepared.
Sitting beside Hancock, his right leg pressed lightly against her left.
He could clearly feel the smoothness of her skin.
Her faint, sweet fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose.
Luo Xing felt thoroughly at ease.
Hancock, on the other hand, trembled slightly.
This was the first time in her life she had been so close to a man.
The sensation was both tense and strangely wonderful.
At that moment—
After several valuable items were auctioned off, a massive glass tank was wheeled onto the stage.
Inside was a young mermaid girl.
Boom!
The entire auction hall erupted instantly, eyes blazing with excitement.
"A mermaid! I'm finally seeing a real mermaid!"
"Hahaha, she's adorable! That fish tail must be incredibly smooth!"
"Hey, you're human—why are you so obsessed with mermaids? Planning to have children with one?"
"Wait… how would humans and mermaids even have children? That's a very profound question…"
On this matter, Luo Xing admitted he was also quite curious—
And fully intended to discuss it someday with Princess Shirahoshi herself.
The appearance of the young mermaid sent the auction atmosphere soaring to its peak.
The price skyrocketed at a terrifying pace.
Until—
A grotesque figure wearing a glass bubble helmet stepped onto the auction stage.
The feverish atmosphere froze instantly.
"I bid five hundred million Berries!"
"This mermaid is mine! You filthy lower creatures are forbidden from competing with me!"
The ugly man shouted arrogantly, mucus dripping from his nose.
The auction hall fell deathly silent.
Many faces turned pale.
Because the man wearing the helmet—
Was a World Noble.
A Celestial Dragon.
They were the rulers of this world.
The so-called creators.
The descendants of gods.
Who would dare offend a Celestial Dragon?
No one bid again.
Saint Charlos looked smugly at the terrified audience.
Then he turned toward the fish tank, grinning lecherously.
"Little mermaid… from now on, you belong to this Saint."
The young mermaid's face turned deathly pale as tears streamed down her cheeks.
In the audience—
The moment Charlos appeared, Luo Xing felt Hancock's left leg tense sharply against his.
Her slender hand clenched into a fist.
Her body trembled faintly.
Had she recalled the nightmare of her childhood?
Luo Xing's gaze softened with tenderness.
He suddenly reached out, wrapping her tightly clenched fist within his palm.
His voice was calm—yet resolute—as he whispered beside her ear:
"Hancock… don't worry."
"Everyone who makes you feel this pain…"
"Will die."
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