After leaving the Holy Land with Marco, Boa Hancock, and the two Celestial Dragons, they arrived on a deserted island within the Calm Belt.
At this moment, the two Celestial Dragons were in miserable condition, their bodies covered in severe burns. This was mostly because they kept complaining nonstop, and Marco had simply taught them a slight lesson.
Hancock still looked uneasy as she asked, "Marco, the Gorosei shouldn't come after us, right?"
"Mm." Marco nodded casually.
His gaze shifted to the two Celestial Dragons on the ground, and his blue healing flames descended onto their bodies, slowly repairing their injuries.
Even so, Hancock remained tense like a startled rabbit. The presence of Celestial Dragons alone was enough to make her uneasy. Even though these two were currently no different from useless dogs, she still felt fear.
Seeing Marco healing them, she tilted her head in confusion and asked, "Marco, why are you saving them? Is it for me?"
In her mind, thoughts immediately spiraled.
Marco had once told her to seek revenge against the Celestial Dragons, but back in the Holy Land, she lacked the courage to act. So Marco captured two of them and injured them severely, all so she could personally take revenge?
That thought moved her slightly, and at the same time, her confidence in her own beauty swelled. She believed even a man like Marco would eventually be influenced by her charm.
However, Marco had no idea what she was imagining. Even with his Observation Haki reaching an extraordinary level, he did not possess the mind-reading ability of someone like Count Red.
He simply responded, "Aren't you afraid of the Celestial Dragons? Why are you still afraid of trash like this now?"
"Hmph, don't think I'll be moved just because you did this." Hancock crossed her arms and regained her usual Empress-like pride. After a pause, she still added softly, "But… I do appreciate you saving me."
Marco let out a faint smile. He did not mind her tsundere attitude.
"Before anything else, I still have some questions for them. After I finish, I'll leave these two Celestial Dragons to you."
"Questions? What questions?" Hancock tilted her head, even more confused. Then her thoughts drifted again. Could it be for me? Truly, I am too beautiful.
Marco did not respond. Instead, he continued using his healing flames to restore the two Celestial Dragons.
Their bodies were far too fragile, even weaker than ordinary humans. They could not withstand his Destruction Black Flame at all, so they were left in this half-dead state.
At that moment, Hancock suddenly asked, "By the way, how is Luffy? Did Luffy ask you to save me?"
Marco glanced at her with a tired expression.
"You really are a hopeless romantic. You just escaped danger and you're already thinking about Luffy."
Then he continued, "Unfortunately, Straw Hat died not long after you were captured. His final words mentioned his crew, Ace, and Garp, but he never mentioned you."
"W-what? Impossible…" Hancock's eyes widened in disbelief.
During her captivity in the Holy Land, Luffy had been her emotional support, the one person she believed would eventually come for her. She had never expected such news.
Her entire perception shattered instantly.
"No, that's impossible, you're lying to me," she shouted, her voice trembling. "Luffy would never ignore me."
Marco frowned slightly at her reaction.
"If you don't believe it, go ask Ace yourself."
Hearing that, Hancock suddenly grabbed Marco's clothes tightly. Tears began streaming down her face.
Physical pain from the Celestial Dragons was nothing compared to this emotional collapse. If Luffy's absence broke her spirit, then hearing that she was not even mentioned in his final words destroyed her completely.
"No… none of this is real… you're lying to me… Luffy would never not care about me…"
"Go cry somewhere else," Marco said flatly, brushing her hand away without hesitation.
Hancock collapsed to the ground, crying uncontrollably. Her sobs carried both the weight of Luffy's supposed death and the cruel realization that she had not mattered in his final moments.
At the same time, Marco felt a faint sense of disappointment.
In his previous life, he had found Boa Hancock to be an alluring character, the so-called most beautiful woman in the world. But in reality, she was far too fixated on Luffy. Even after being saved, her gratitude seemed secondary.
Or rather, it was overshadowed completely by her obsession.
Women, he thought coldly, are troublesome when they lose perspective.
With that, any fleeting thought he had about her faded completely.
Under Marco's healing flames, the two Celestial Dragons finally regained consciousness.
"Hurts… it hurts… this saint is in agony!" one of them screamed immediately.
The other followed, "What is this… what is going on!"
Marco looked down at Saint Gre and Saint Bass, a faint smile forming on his lips.
"So you're awake."
The two immediately trembled when they saw him, as if they were staring at a demon. The lingering pain in their bodies was enough proof that everything had been real.
Still, they forced out threats through clenched teeth.
"You cannot touch us. We are Celestial Dragons, descendants of the creators of this world. If you lay a hand on us, an Admiral will kill you."
Marco's expression turned cold.
"An Admiral means nothing to me."
He raised his hand slightly, and black flames flickered at his fingertip.
"Enough nonsense. I have questions. Answer them, and I might let you live. Refuse…"
The flames intensified slightly.
The Celestial Dragons swallowed hard, fear overtaking their arrogance.
"T-tell us anything! We'll answer! Money, slaves, anything, just don't kill us!"
Marco's eyes narrowed.
"Do you know what the Soul divine blood is?"
The two froze.
"Soul divine blood?" Saint Gre repeated blankly. "We've never heard of such a thing."
"So you don't know," Marco said flatly. "Then you're useless."
The black flames on his fingertip flared stronger.
Instantly, both Celestial Dragons turned pale, their arrogance collapsing completely. One of them even lost control of his body.
"Wait! Wait! We don't know that name, but every three months, the Celestial Dragons undergo blood extraction by the God's Knights for medical examinations!"
Their voices cracked in desperation as fear consumed them.
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