After the incident in the Sorbet Kingdom, Kuma and Ginny joined the Revolutionary Army.
Not long after, Ginny became the commander of the Revolutionary Army's East Army.
Does this mean Ginny is preparing to head to West Blue?
Black stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, then ordered:
"In that case, capture her after she enters West Blue."
"No disguise, no concealment capture her openly and with great fanfare."
"But, Your Highness, this might lead to..."
Aramaki's words were cut short by Black.
"I have my own arrangements."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Aramaki could only comply.
Black encouraged him a few more times, then hung up the Den Den Mushi.
Simply destroying a Revolutionary Army base in West Blue was not enough to make them truly hate the World Government.
Ginny's appearance was actually not much different from a grown-up Bonney, and she was very popular within the Revolutionary Army.
If Black openly and with great fanfare abducted her back to Mary Geoise, could the Revolutionary Army still tolerate it?
Well... judging from the original history, they actually endured such losses more than once.
But what if Black deliberately created a seemingly perfect opportunity for them?
And this opportunity was successfully transmitted by Ginny, a communication genius.
Could they still endure it?
If the Revolutionary Army could tolerate even this, then Black would accept it.
Gaining a heroic female warrior wouldn't be a loss for him...
...After a few days, Hancock gradually began to adapt to life in Black's manor.
She discovered that within the manor, the daily lives of ordinary maids were strictly regulated.
Only she, Stella, and the others could move relatively freely.
Perona and Robin even often provoked Black without consequence.
One day, Black took the women to visit the Celestial Dragons' domestication grounds, where Slaves were broken and trained.
But just when their fear reached its peak, he turned and led them away:
"Your eyes should be used to see more beautiful things."
Black, walking at the very front, suddenly spoke these words.
Back at the manor, Hancock silently joined Mandy and Koala's training.
Marigold followed Hancock closely, also stepping onto the training ground.
When training ended, she immediately handed Hancock a glass of water:
"Sister, this Celestial Dragon seems a bit different from the others."
"Yes... he is indeed different."
...Of course, all of this was deliberately orchestrated by Black.
Hancock's situation was different from Mandy and Stella; she had not completely resigned herself to her fate.
As a future powerhouse possessing the potential for Haoshoku Haki, Hancock's will was far stronger than theirs.
She was also different from Robin, Perona, and the others.
At twelve years old, Hancock already possessed a considerable degree of independent thought, and her worldview was beginning to take shape.
Unlike younger children, who could be molded from the very beginning.
Furthermore, Hancock was currently the most talented among all the women in the manor. Even without the support of ability cards, she could reach the level of a top-tier fighter on the seas in the future.
It was not impossible for her to grow into an Admiral- or Emperor-level powerhouse.
After all, Hancock in the original history was only in her early thirties, and her strength had likely not yet reached its peak.
She was far stronger than Eneru who knew how far she could go.
Therefore, Black had high expectations for her and needed to cultivate in her a strong sense of belonging.
Black's current strategy toward Hancock had a specific term in his previous life
Stockholm Syndrome.
Every calculated action contained a dual mechanism: the display of power and the construction of emotional dependence.
Using contradictions to destabilize Hancock's cognitive framework.
The most famous Stockholm case in his previous life involved a hostage who, after prolonged captivity, joined her captors and even participated in a bank robbery.
Even after being rescued, she did not view it as salvation and instead retained a strong sense of belonging to her captors.
Of course, Black had to carefully control the intensity to avoid damaging Hancock's future potential...
Black's quiet schemes did not affect the shifting tides of the outside world.
After parting ways with Buggy, Shanks began forming the Red Hair Pirates, which had now grown considerably.
He also encountered his destined meeting with Uta.
When Uta was found, her situation was almost identical to how Shanks had been discovered by Roger at God Valley.
Logically, Shanks should not have retained clear memories from that time, yet he felt a strange resonance and chose to raise her.
Meanwhile, Kyros who, in another path, would have defeated invading pirates, become captain of the guard, married a princess, and stood at the peak of his life had instead become a completely numb Slave.
The trauma he endured far surpassed that of Moriah or Crocodile.
Even if his Seastone chains were removed now, he had already lost the will to escape...
...Aramaki, following Black's orders, arrived near Reverse Mountain and lay in wait.
Although there were multiple routes into West Blue, the Revolutionary Army, needing both secrecy and efficiency, had limited options.
Thanks to Dragon's connection with Vegapunk, as well as the research of Lindbergh and others, the Revolutionary Army had developed methods to traverse Reverse Mountain and access the Four Seas.
Thus, Ginny would almost certainly descend from Reverse Mountain.
In fact, Reverse Mountain was no true obstacle for powerful pirates either.
Black's sanctuary also possessed the capability to cross it.
However, such methods carried risk and were far less stable than passing through Red Port.
Dense sea fog still clung to Reverse Mountain.
Aramaki sat cross-legged at the bow, a twig in his mouth, humming an off-key tune.
His green hair swayed like vines in the wind, and the muscles of his bare upper body were clearly defined.
"What a troublesome assignment."
He glanced toward the towering mass of Reverse Mountain in the distance:
"Do those Revolutionary Army rats really have to show up in weather like this?"
Just as he muttered, an unremarkable sailboat shot down from Reverse Mountain.
Relying on gravity and a propulsion device mounted at the stern, the vessel accomplished the near-impossible descending safely into the Four Seas.
Ginny stood aboard, chatting with several Revolutionary Army cadres.
"I heard the Army Commander failed again trying to chase Mr. Kuma."
"Army Commander, don't hang yourself on one tree how about considering me?"
"Look at yourself first! If she's choosing anyone, it should be me!"
"It's me!"
"It's me!"
After just a few exchanges, the group devolved into noisy bickering.
Ginny showed no embarrassment, gnawing on a large bone, laughing cheerfully as she watched.
Just as things were about to escalate into a fight, Ginny slammed the table and stood up:
"Enough! Stop dreaming! I'm not giving up on Kuma!"
"No..."
Snowflakes drifted, and the north wind howled...
The cadres let out exaggerated wails, collapsing onto the deck as if their hearts had shattered.
At that moment, the lookout atop the mast suddenly shouted:
"Something's happening!"
Ginny immediately turned her gaze in that direction. The cadres, who had been sprawled dramatically across the deck, instantly sprang up, their expressions turning serious as they focused on the ship stationed near Reverse Mountain.
Ginny picked up a pair of binoculars and observed carefully:
"No pirate flag... and it's not a Marine warship."
A cadre beside her exhaled in relief:
"Army Commander, no need to be too cautious."
"After what happened in West Blue last time, we've been far more discreet."
"This operation is confidential the other party might not even be here for us."
Ginny lowered the binoculars and picked up a massive sniper rifle resting nearby:
"Whether they are or not..."
"I'll know after one shot."