Chapter 199 Hancock Boards the Ship
"Let's eat first."
Aoki withdrew his gaze.
He knew that Amazon Lily was inherently averse to men, and the torture she had suffered as a slave had made Hancock extremely disgusted with men. The reason
she could communicate with him calmly was probably because Hancock believed that they had escaped Mary Geoise with his help.
That was indeed the case, but there was no need to provoke her.
The table was full of food, which they had bought along the way.
The three of them didn't stand on ceremony and began to wolf down their food.
They had been hungry for a day and only ate a small piece of bread.
Aoki waited silently, and when they had almost finished eating, he asked, "What are your plans next?"
Hancock was taken aback, and her eating slowed down.
She hadn't considered this question yet.
After escaping Mary Geoise, they had been living in constant fear, only thinking about not being caught again, and hadn't considered the future at all.
Aoki said, "You have two choices. First, I can help you return to Amazon Lily."
He had already seen Rayleigh yesterday, so Shakky should also be in the Sabaody Archipelago.
Shakky, the former emperor of Amazon Lily, would definitely help.
It wouldn't be a problem for him.
Sandersonia and Marigold both showed expressions of surprise.
They had been longing to return to Amazon Lily.
Hancock remained calm and asked, "What's the second option?"
Aoki smiled and said, "Want to come with me?"
He was still considering his companions yesterday, and today Hancock had delivered herself to his doorstep.
Hancock possessed all three types of Haki, as well as the Love-Love Fruit, a Devil Fruit that was highly compatible with her, giving her limitless potential.
In the original timeline, she successfully became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, undoubtedly one of the strongest beings on the sea.
He had saved her by chance, gaining her some trust.
Why miss an opportunity to gain a valuable subordinate?
"Follow you?"
Hancock and the other two were stunned.
Aoki picked up the newspaper and the wanted poster, throwing them on the table.
"Think about it. Besides, following me will be very dangerous."
He had "space teleportation," so his safety was generally guaranteed.
However, his ultimate goal was to kill the Celestial Dragons; he couldn't keep running away forever, and a direct confrontation was inevitable.
Danger was unavoidable.
Sandersonia and Marigold remained silent, watching Hancock, waiting for her decision.
Hancock picked up the newspaper, read it, and fell silent. After a while, she looked up.
"I want to go back to Amazon Lily."
"Of course."
Aoki was somewhat disappointed, but he didn't insist.
Although it was a coincidence that helped Hancock and the others escape Mary Geoise ahead of time
, that wasn't his intention.
It would be good to take Hancock in as a subordinate, but since she refused, he couldn't bring himself to take advantage of her.
Anyway, it was a pleasant surprise, and it's good to have formed a good relationship.
Hancock quickly said, "That's not what I meant. I want to go back to Amazon Lily to study for a while, and then come back to you when I'm strong enough!"
"What?" Aoki looked surprised.
"Aoki, your bounty is higher than the entire Kuja Pirates combined, and the enemies you face are extremely powerful."
Hancock clenched her fist, her eyes resolute: "I'm too weak right now. Even if I follow you, I'll only be a burden!
So, I want to go back to Amazon Lily to study and improve my strength before I come to follow you!"
Aoki's feelings were somewhat complicated. Hancock's current personality is completely different from what he remembers.
However, Hancock wasn't always that arrogant, willful, and domineering.
It was because she lived in fear and anxiety for a long time, her heart filled with hatred, that her personality gradually became extreme.
She used arrogance to mask her intense inferiority complex.
This new Hancock is also easier to approach.
Unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better. Aoki thought for a moment: "Perhaps you don't need to go back to Amazon Lily. I can find someone else to teach you."
What Hancock needs to learn is definitely Haki.
Amazon Lily is indeed skilled in Haki, but it's definitely not comparable to the Pirate King's right hand.
Although many people criticize him for "misleading the young," the old man's level is undeniable.
Yesterday, Rayleigh drank a 200,000-yen bottle of his wine. He shouldn't refuse this small request, right?
Hancock nodded and said, "However, I hope you can send my two sisters back to Amazon Lily."
"Sister!"
Sandersonia and Marigold were anxious.
Although they wanted to go home, it was on the condition that they were with their sister.
"Aoki's enemies are the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. It's extremely dangerous. You two should go back to Amazon Lily to study. When you have enough strength in the future, come find me again!"
Hancock's eyes held a strange glint.
Sandersonia and Marigold understood her meaning, and after a moment of silence, they agreed.
"We understand, sister."
Hancock looked at Aoki.
"Of course, you can come with us when we send them back. After all, it's been three years since we left."
Aoki said.
All he really wanted was Hancock.
Even if Sandersonia and Marigold came along, they would only be able to do odd jobs or deal with minor enemies.
"Okay!"
Hancock didn't refuse.
Amazon Lily was her hometown, and she had deep feelings for it.
Aoki didn't waste any more words and stood up, saying, "Let's go. Find a way to send Sandersonia and Marigold back!"
The four of them went downstairs.
Seeing them, the boss jumped and rushed to greet them.
"Sir, is there anything you need?"
Aoki now understood why the innkeeper's attitude had changed so drastically, but he had no interest in bullying such a nobody.
"Nothing is needed. We're leaving. Let's go get the rooms ready!"
Ignoring the innkeeper's reaction, he led the three sisters outside.
Stepping out of the hotel, Aoki's face subtly changed. Although his features remained the same, he looked like a completely different person.
Judging from the innkeeper's reaction, his reputation and appearance had probably spread throughout the Sabaody Archipelago.
Disguising himself would save him a lot of trouble.
Hancock and the other two didn't need to.
If they were caught, they would certainly be executed.
However, no one would put a warrant for their arrest, and probably few people would even remember what they looked like.
After showering and changing clothes, they were like completely different people, and no one could recognize them.
Led by Aoki, the four arrived at Area 13, circled around, and quickly found their target.
A clearing formed at the base of a tall mangrove tree, upon which sat a building.
Above the main entrance hung a plaque that read "Shawn's Rip-off Bar".
(End of Chapter)