Within the royal palace of Amazon Lily, silence reigned.
At the center of the grand chamber, a massive serpent lay coiled lazily across the polished floor its body adorned with striking vermilion patterns that shimmered faintly under the sunlight pouring in from above.
Resting atop it
Was a woman.
Boa Hancock.
Her long, raven-black hair flowed down her back in a smooth hime-cut, framing a face of almost unreal perfection. Her pale skin seemed untouched by flaw, her narrow eyes carrying a natural coldness that made others instinctively lower their gaze.
Every detail
From the curve of her lips to the elegance of her posture
Radiated absolute beauty.
Golden snake-shaped earrings swayed gently as she shifted slightly, her gaze half-lidded with disinterest.
"Snake Princess!"
A voice broke the stillness.
A Kuja warrior Belladonna rushed into the palace and dropped to one knee without hesitation.
"A Marine warship is approaching the island!"
"It shows no sign of slowing down!"
Hancock's expression did not immediately change.
She simply glanced downward at the kneeling warrior.
"The Marines…?"
Her voice was calm.
But beneath it
There was a sharp edge.
The agreement between the Kuja and the World Government was clear.
As one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, she was granted protection
And in return, Amazon Lily remained untouched.
Marine warships were not permitted to approach freely.
Yet now
They had come anyway.
Hancock's gaze hardened slightly as she turned her head.
"Have they lost their fear…?"
Her thoughts moved quickly.
Had the World Government decided to test her?
Or worse
Discard her?
"…It doesn't matter."
In an instant, her laziness vanished.
She rose gracefully from the serpent's back, her long dress cascading down as she stepped forward.
"Kuja Pirates."
Her voice echoed through the chamber.
"Prepare for battle."
The warriors around her straightened immediately.
"YES, SNAKE PRINCESS!"
"Wait!"
Another voice interrupted sharply.
From the side entrance, a small, elderly woman rushed in
Gloriosa.
"Snake Princess, you cannot act rashly!" she said, breathing slightly heavily.
Hancock frowned, irritation flashing across her face.
"…Elder Nyon."
"This is my chamber. Why are you here again?"
"I go where I please," Gloriosa replied bluntly. "More importantly have you lost your mind?! Attacking the Marines outright will break your agreement with the World Government!"
Hancock crossed her arms, completely unfazed.
"And whose fault is that?"
Her gaze turned cold.
"They are the ones who entered our waters without permission."
Gloriosa hesitated.
"…That may be true, but "
"No," Hancock interrupted.
"There is no 'but.'"
"If they step into my territory uninvited then they are enemies."
Her voice carried absolute authority.
"Besides…" she added, her lips curving slightly upward, "they must have brought treasures with them."
The Kuja warriors behind her immediately reacted.
"And since I am so beautiful "
She placed a hand lightly against her cheek.
"They will forgive me."
The statement was absurd.
But no one dared question it.
Gloriosa's expression darkened.
"This is not a joke, child!"
"If you lose your title as a Warlord, Amazon Lily will be exposed to the outside world!"
Her voice carried real urgency now.
"In the past, the Calm Belt protected us. But now the Marines have ships that can cross it freely! If we lose that protection this island will become a target!"
For a brief moment
Silence.
Then
Hancock tilted her head slightly.
"…Then tell me."
Her eyes locked onto Gloriosa.
"Why are they here?"
The question struck directly.
Gloriosa opened her mouth
But no answer came.
"…Perhaps… an accident…" she tried weakly.
Hancock's expression turned completely indifferent.
"I do not care."
She waved her hand dismissively.
"Remove her."
Two Kuja warriors hesitated briefly
Then obeyed.
"Wait !"
Gloriosa struggled as she was dragged away, her voice echoing through the chamber.
"…This stubborn girl…"
The moment she was gone, silence returned.
One of the warriors hesitated before speaking.
"…Snake Princess… was that not too harsh…?"
Hancock paused.
Then
With a casual motion
She activated the power of the Mero Mero no Mi.
A faint pulse spread outward.
The warriors' expressions instantly softened.
Their doubts vanished.
"As long as it is your will, Snake Princess…"
Hancock said nothing more.
Her gaze had already shifted outward
Toward the sea.
Meanwhile
Far from the island
A Marine warship cut steadily through the still waters.
"Teacher! Is that it?!"
Kuina leaned forward excitedly, gripping the railing as the island finally came into clear view.
Dense forests.
Towering cliffs.
A massive central peak crowned with structures carved into stone.
"It should be," said Saint Roselith Seraphina calmly.
Her Observation Haki was already active.
She could feel it.
The island.
The people.
And
One presence above all others.
"…So this is your home," she murmured softly.
But something else caught her attention.
"…No men."
Her brows narrowed slightly.
Before she could think further
A voice rang out.
"Rear Admiral!"
"A ship is approaching from the island!"
Seraphina turned her gaze forward.
A serpent-drawn vessel cut across the sea at high speed
Pulled by two massive Yuda snakes.
"The Kuja Pirates!" a Marine reported quickly.
"Captain: Boa Hancock, one of the Seven Warlords! Former bounty: 80 million Berries!"
Seraphina didn't need the report.
She had already sensed her.
Clearly.
Unmistakably.
"…Hancock."
A faint smile appeared.
But as the ship continued its direct, aggressive approach
Her expression shifted slightly.
"…That's not exactly the reaction I expected."
Her eyes sharpened.
"I only came to see you."
A pause.
"…Was a surprise really so unwelcome?"