I am a king. Although I am a versatile talent, I must also consider my country, reject some risky options, and develop steadily. This is a necessary stage for every monarch.
When Nero was young, she also thought about expanding her territory and taking over larger lands, but later she realized that in the New World, there was no benefit except to please those foolish people.
Charlotte Linlin's Totto Land was known as the fairy tale kingdom of the New World. Later, Nero learned that the common people living there had to surrender two months of their lifespan every year.
Life is not valuable in the New World, and there are many intelligent people here. Pirates, like carps crossing the river, come here in droves.
True idiots cannot successfully reach this domain, and the fate of these people is all too similar: enslaved or absorbed by the Four Emperors' pirate crews. This is their end.
If strength had levels, the Four Emperors, who rule the world, would absolutely be the limit people could reach. Nero thought this before meeting Imu.
But after perceiving Imu's existence, Nero understood that at that time, she could never defeat such a monster, but this problem was quickly resolved.
Nero's true power awakened, and the danger posed by Imu was no longer an issue, but then came Nero's own problem.
The desire to burn the entire world spread from within, and she would lose control one day. Nero confirmed her state.
For Niccus to survive the coming tide, its current strength is not enough to be safe, so Nero wants to develop Niccus's power as much as possible.
Whether it was becoming a Celestial Dragon, letting go of Tesoro and Doflamingo, or even guiding Hawkeye, all had this consideration.
However, today Nero saw a clearer future. The role she played, though still not the whole picture, was already incredibly clear compared to before.
There's no need for these extra considerations anymore... "Your Majesty? Your Majesty!" Hathaway called softly, gently shaking Nero.
"Hathaway? Did I fall asleep? Hmm, so slippery!" Nero woke up and found herself still asleep in the bathroom, her body still slick.
"Ah, this is what Your Majesty wanted, the essential oil Queen Otohime sent you." Hathaway knew Nero wouldn't fall, but she still opened her arms to offer support.
"Hmm, it has a very layered scent. Next time, let's try it with Otohime." Nero sniffed, the scent was very pleasant.
"Ah, then I will remind Your Majesty next time we go to Fish-Man Island."
Hathaway made a note for Nero. If there was anything Nero wasn't good at, it was probably only singing and a slightly weaker memory.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Hathaway."
Then Nero looked at Kuina, who was pulled into labor halfway through her training, sweating profusely, panting, and wiping the floor, still wearing heavy weights even in the bathroom.
Nero reminded her with concern: "Kuina, you're so dirty. You're not allowed in my bath until you've thoroughly washed yourself!"
Kuina, who had just finished cleaning the bathroom and massaging and applying essential oils for both of them, heard this and a cross mark appeared on her forehead.
Nero only enjoyed herself, while she, after working hard for a long time, was still disliked. This was simply unbearable!
Kuina, in a fit of anger, was angry. She stared with dead fish eyes, attempting to convey her displeasure with silence and cold stares to Nero.
Don't reason with someone who holds your life and death in their hands. Kuina was fortunate to understand this truth earlier than her peers.
"Hmm, are your eyes uncomfortable?" Nero tilted her head curiously.
...Sweat got into my eyes, and my hands are dirty, so it's inconvenient to wipe them." Kuina lowered her head, but still subtly complained.
The lines were rather obscure, and Nero didn't understand them at all, but she grasped the main point: "When you were applying essential oil to me, did you wash your hands properly? Your hands got dirty afterward, right?"
...That's right, they got dirty cleaning the floor over there after applying it."
The result was achieved. Nero did indeed come to care about her, it's just... never mind, I accept it!
Kuina sighed helplessly. Her current position on that ship was not Nero's disciple, but Hathaway's maid.
Nero, her biggest creditor, used her without a trace of master-disciple affection. The 'low-level chore girl' from back then was no joke; she was completely treated like an animal.
Her act of entrusting wado ichimonji to Zoro was too hasty. At least looking at herself now, the time was clearly not yet ripe.
"Hmm, then go wash your hands and get me and Hathaway two glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice."
Nero let Hathaway rinse off the essential oil from her body, then untied her hair and prepared to get into the bath.
"Yes, yes~" Kuina's eye twitched, and she answered perfunctorily. How much did she dislike her?
"One 'yes' is enough!" A cold glint flashed in Hathaway's eyes, and her voice was like an over-cooling air conditioner.
The devil instructor's tone made Kuina instinctively stand at attention, her hands pressed tightly against her thighs: "Yes!"
Her mumbling thoughts instantly vanished. Kuina was as skilled as a well-trained soldier.
While Kuina was off to make juice, Nero and Hathaway had already comfortably settled into the bathtub.
The comfortable temperature made both of them let out satisfied sighs. Their bodies seemed to merge with the warm water, and their stiff muscles relaxed.
"So comfortable~" x2
The slightly high water temperature brought a blush to Hathaway's cheeks. She turned her head to secretly look at Nero.
It's so good that Your Majesty has returned to normal.
Noticing Hathaway's gaze, Nero slightly tilted her head: "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, it's just, are we going back to Niccus next? Or continuing to Kuja?" Snapping out of it, Hathaway quickly found a new topic.
"Hmm, of course we're continuing to Kuja! That's the Kingdom of Women. I heard that the beauty of this generation's Empress can even rival mine. Aren't you curious?"
"Your Majesty's beauty is the greatest in the world. Such an outrageous statement is clearly a rumor."
"Hmm... you're right! But to be rumored alongside me, the Empress of Kuja must be a rare beauty!" Nero gave a thumbs up, stating confidently.
"Ah, not curious, because there's her wanted poster: Empress: Boa Hancock! One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea recruited by the World Government!"
"Empress? Such a cool nickname? I knew the Marine was still holding back!"
"It's no less impressive than Your Majesty's 'Rose Empress' back then. There should also be an element of elevating this Empress of Kuja to a dangerous height."
"Hmm, petty tricks that are beneath contempt. Let's not talk about that. Hathaway, do you remember Kuja's distinctive architectural style? Back then, Shakky..."
"Ah, Your Majesty can also in Niccus..."
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