Come to think of it, the giant sea beasts roaming the surrounding islands were actually more of a nuisance.
But since it was all in preparation for welcoming Lord El, those massive creatures would just have to lend a hand.
The Calm Belt's waters were home to colossal Sea Kings. And the creatures living on the islands nearby were no ordinary beasts either!
As for the Kuja Tribe, they were famous throughout the seas—every fully trained female warrior could wield Armament Haki.
"Kuja Haki" had practically become their trademark.
Even on the islands surrounding Amazon Lily, there lived many powerful, monstrous beasts that were far from human.
To welcome El's arrival, all these creatures had to be cleared out.
After all, they couldn't let wild beasts roar and disturb Lord El while he inspected his new territory.
Those were the exact words of the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock herself.
And this went far beyond mere "willfulness."
The ferocious beasts of the Calm Belt were not easy opponents to deal with.
Even mobilizing every single warrior on the island, it would take far more than a day to clear the surrounding lands.
But the Empress had given her order, and she showed no sign of taking it back. Reluctantly, the Kuja warriors had no choice but to obey.
Some were sent to clear the neighboring islands and create a peaceful, beautiful environment.
Others stayed behind to prepare the main island itself, determined to raise the atmosphere of welcome to the highest possible level.
The entire population was mobilized.
Some prepared fine foods, fruits, and delicacies.
Others gathered rare treasures and unique, handcrafted items from all over the land.
The scale of these preparations even exceeded the celebrations held when Hancock herself first ascended the throne.
Instead of being angered by such excessive extravagance, Hancock was absolutely delighted.
Though she kept her expression calm and composed while inspecting the work, deep down she was overjoyed.
Perfect! This is wonderful!
Everything is being prepared so perfectly. Lord El will surely praise me when he sees this!
Ah… his praise… I can hardly wait!
When will he arrive? How much longer must I wait?
"Amazon Lily is fully prepared. Let's not delay any longer—we set sail now!"
El had just received word from Hancock. Through a Den Den Mushi, he learned that everything on the island was ready for his arrival and inspection.
This was far from the first territory he had claimed. He was already quite experienced with these kinds of visits.
While there were no major issues to worry about, the journey still required careful attention. It was essential to clearly demonstrate his control over the island.
Another factor made this important: Amazon Lily's location was unique. Very few territories under his command were situated deep within the Calm Belt.
He was determined to take possession of this island without the slightest mistake.
For this voyage, El brought not only his crew but also Doflamingo and Crocodile.
He wanted to show his authority, but also display his strength openly.
How could he claim true control without letting them see his power?
Every member of his crew was an elite fighter. Even one of them alone was more than a match for anything Amazon Lily could throw at them.
With such a powerful entourage, any remaining voices of dissent, resistance, or hostility on the island would surely be suppressed.
El was fully aware that Amazon Lily was a nation of women that had never once been ruled by a man.
What he wanted was their submission and the expansion of his territory. Naturally, there would be stubborn traditionalists who opposed him.
He had prepared himself for resistance even before leaving Water 7.
He also knew that Hancock had already done much work on the island to pave the way. But whether it had been successful… that remained to be seen.
"Pack everything up and get the men ready—we leave immediately!"
El gave the order earlier, and now Crocodile and Doflamingo should have everything prepared.
After all, both were former emperors of the sea. One had nearly stolen control of an entire kingdom; the other had ruled a country openly for years.
Taking over a new territory was something they both did with great skill and experience.
And indeed, they moved fast.
After inspecting their work, El was very satisfied with their efficiency and methods.
"Captain… are you absolutely certain the Kuja Pirates are ready on their end?" Doflamingo asked with a smile.
He was always cautious and careful, and seemed to trust no one completely.
"Hmph! What difference does it make whether they are ready or not?" Crocodile replied sharply.
He preferred things simple and direct.
"With our strength here, and considering our alliance…"
"Honestly, if we really wanted to, we could take Amazon Lily by force whenever we wished."
Crocodile was arrogant—though perhaps that was only because he stood firmly under El's banner.
"Only because you, Captain, have some history with Hancock… otherwise… hmph!"
Crocodile had been a Warlord himself. He knew exactly how strong Hancock and her crew were.
But he also knew that even with their full strength, they stood no chance against El's crew.
While Amazon Lily was bustling with preparations—whether the enthusiasm was genuine or just for show, at least the appearance was perfect—El's ship had already departed from Water 7.
With Crocodile and Doflamingo assisting him, El didn't even need to lift a finger. He could simply rest in his cabin and wait for arrival.
In the world of pirates, strength was the only thing that mattered. Everything else was secondary.
If they could choose, both Crocodile and Doflamingo would gladly trade all their experience and cleverness for even more power.
But there was no magic in this world—not even among the countless Devil Fruit abilities—that could simply grant unlimited strength.
"We should be approaching the edge of the Calm Belt soon, Captain," Crocodile reported, stepping into the cabin.
Once one of the greatest pirates in the world, now he served only as an assistant under El.
But in the eyes of someone of El's caliber, even fighters as strong as Crocodile or Doflamingo were no longer enough to impress.
"I know," El nodded.
The Calm Belt.
To almost every pirate sailing the Grand Line, it was an impassable natural barrier.
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