When they accepted the Warlord positions, their previous bounties had been temporarily suspended.
Now that bounties were reinstated, it meant their status had changed in the eyes of the World Government.
However, there was no news about Doflamingo.
Lost in thought, Cyrus stood up, puzzling Issho.
Without explanation, Cyrus headed straight to the training room.
Hancock and the other two were training under gravity's heavy effects when Cyrus entered, drawing their attention.
"Hancock!" Cyrus beckoned to her.
Hearing him, Hancock immediately stopped her exercises and stepped out of the gravity field.
"You should return home first." Seeing Hancock's confused expression, Cyrus handed her the newspaper.
"Your Warlord status has been revoked, and you've been given a new bounty."
Hancock took the newspaper, read it for a moment, then looked up at him.
"Lord Cyrus, I don't care about these things. The reason I became a Warlord was because of my own strength," Hancock said earnestly.
"I know, but Amazon lily is located in the Calm Belt, and Marine warships can navigate through it."
At these words, Hancock visibly frowned.
She understood Cyrus's implication.
To prevent the Marines from targeting Amazon lily with Buster Calls, she needed to return and defend it.
The thought made her expression conflicted.
"Don't overthink it. I can't be sure if the Marines will target Amazon lily now, but it's best you return during this period, just in case."
"I understand," Hancock nodded, though she still seemed deeply troubled.
"I'll take you back to the Sabaody Archipelago first. Rayleigh and Shakky are still there. I'll have Crocodile arrange for someone to escort you back to Amazon lily."
After speaking, Cyrus turned and headed for the deck, with Hancock following closely.
Robin and Baby 5 in the training room overheard the conversation and emerged as well.
Moments later, Cyrus scooped Hancock up in his arms and glanced at Issho, Robin, and the others standing nearby.
"Continue sailing. I'll return after taking her to the Sabaody Archipelago."
With that, flames surged skyward.
Robin watched as Cyrus carried Hancock into the distance.
He hadn't used this method of travel in a long time.
"Let's keep going. We'll stop at the next island and wait for him!" Robin said to Issho.
Issho nodded.
Without Cyrus's flames for propulsion, the ship returned to the era of oar-powered sailing.
Robin used her abilities, controlling massive oars with numerous arms to steer the ship forward with the aid of the sea breeze.
Meanwhile, Cyrus flew swiftly using the power of Flame, carrying Hancock in his arms.
Like Robin before her, Hancock wrapped her arms around Cyrus's neck, her eyes fixed intently on his face.
For some unknown reason, the woman's face flushed red, and her body suddenly tensed.
Noticing this, Cyrus glanced down at the blushing Empress and increased his speed once more.
...
At Whole Cake Island.
The banquet had ended, but Charlotte Linlin had not yet confirmed any cooperation with Kaido.
With a deafening roar, Kaido transformed into a colossal Dragon and soared straight into the clouds, vanishing from sight.
Witnessing this, Charlotte Linlin furrowed her brow.
Kaido had actively sought cooperation solely to deal with Cyrus—a potential adversary whose intentions remained unclear.
It seemed Kaido was deeply wary of the Hunter Guild.
Yet, at the thought of Cyrus, Charlotte Linlin's expression also turned grave.
She, too, was highly apprehensive.
Cyrus's strength was undoubtedly real—at the very least, he was on the same level as her and Kaido.
"Mom!" Just as Charlotte Linlin's mood shifted unpredictably, Katakuri approached.
"We've spotted Cyrus's ship."
Hearing this, Charlotte Linlin whipped around, her eyes bloodshot. "Has that guy reached Totto Land?"
"Not yet, Mom. But he's heading in our direction. Our brothers at sea spotted his ship but didn't approach or engage."
After a moment of silent contemplation, Charlotte Linlin spoke. "Understood. Keep the ship under surveillance. I want to know exactly where it docks next."
"Right away, Mom!" Katakuri nodded in acknowledgment.
As he turned away, his expression grew solemn.
He had been closely monitoring Cyrus's activities all this time, and his understanding of the man surpassed that of Charlotte Linlin or any other member of the Charlotte Family.
Precisely because of this, he understood all too well the terrifying consequences that could arise if the family were to clash with Cyrus.
At the very least, the family would suffer devastating losses.
And that was assuming their mother could hold Cyrus at bay.
If even Charlotte Linlin failed to stop him, everything the Charlotte Family had built would be utterly destroyed.
Though Katakuri's face remained stern, his mind raced with one thought after another.
"Brother Katakuri!" As the grim-faced sweet commander passed by, the younger siblings of the family called out to him.
Hearing their voices, Katakuri clenched his fists tightly.
Such a catastrophe must never happen.
Though he had wished countless times for Charlotte Linlin to be defeated—her frequent fits of madness had inflicted immense suffering on his siblings—he also knew that Charlotte Linlin was the very foundation of their family.
Meanwhile, after hearing Katakuri's report, Charlotte Linlin immediately tried to contact Kaido.
But by then, Kaido had clearly taken his Dragon form and was flying high in the sky.
"That bastard!" Charlotte Linlin had intended to let Kaido test the waters first.
As Kaido's former companion and current rival, she knew his strength all too well.
'If nothing else, if we can't win, we can at least run away,' Charlotte Linlin thought to herself.
'But since the previous negotiations fell through, who knows what Kaido is planning to do now.'
...
"We've been discovered. That was likely a scout ship from the Charlotte Family earlier," Issho spoke up on the deck of the Rose Hunter.
"Charlotte Linlin's power is terrifying," Baby 5 said instinctively.
"Could she possibly be stronger than Cyrus?" Robin turned her head and asked upon hearing this.
At these words, Baby 5 immediately fell silent.
She definitely couldn't compare the Emperor to the Guild Master.
"Let's dock at the next island," Robin suggested.
However, when she looked at Issho, she noticed his expression was very serious.
Issho's white, unseeing eyes turned toward the sky.
In the sky, heavy thunderclouds had gathered at some unknown time.
Streaks of lightning flashed violently within the dark clouds, and a massive, serpentine figure appeared amidst the electrical flashes.
"Wait on the ship. It seems we have quite the formidable visitor."
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