Even Hancock was completely stunned.
The three Celestial Dragons who had been kidnapped—
one had become a courtesan, beaten and scolded at will, not daring to resist in the slightest.
The other two had become servants, beaten half to death over something as trivial as unwashed dishes.
Wasn't this exactly what she had once seen in Mary Geoise—
the lives of slaves under the Celestial Dragons?
Who could have imagined that these so-called descendants of the gods, the highest nobles in the world,
would now be living the exact opposite life?
Here—
they were the slaves.
—
"Alright, you've seen the Celestial Dragons. What do you want to do now?"
Xia Te pulled Komurasaki into his arms and looked toward Hancock.
—
Hancock's beautiful eyes were still frozen in shock.
Several minutes passed before she finally came back to her senses, her voice trembling:
"Y-you… how dare you do this?"
—
"Hm? Why wouldn't I?"
Xia Te shot the question right back at her.
"Other than this, what use do these people have?"
—
"Judging by your tone, you seem pretty afraid of Celestial Dragons."
He tilted his head slightly.
"That makes me curious… what's so scary about them?"
—
Hancock froze again.
She had never hesitated, even when abandoning her Warlord title meant being hunted endlessly by Marine Admirals.
She had never shown fear.
But the mere mention of Celestial Dragons—
made her tremble.
—
Compared to Admirals, what was there to fear about Celestial Dragons?
Strength? Military power? Authority?
None of those.
—
Her fear came from deep within—
a trauma etched into her very soul.
Like someone who was bitten by a dog as a child—
no matter how strong they grow,
they would still instinctively fear even the smallest dog.
—
"You had a grudge against them, didn't you? Wanted to kill them?"
Xia Te spoke casually.
"If that's the case, I can give them to you. These people are useless anyway—whether as servants or courtesans."
—
To him, their lives meant nothing.
As trivial as eating or drinking.
—
"D-don't kill me! Please don't kill me!"
Hearing this, Shalria immediately dropped to her knees before Hancock, kowtowing frantically.
"I-I never offended you! Maybe other Celestial Dragon families did, but not me! Please, I beg you! I'll do anything—just don't kill me!"
—
Looking at the Celestial Dragon who had once branded her back—
now kneeling and begging for her life—
Hancock felt… nothing like satisfaction.
Instead, a strange emptiness.
As if her entire worldview was collapsing.
—
After a long silence—
Hancock finally steadied herself.
Her body stopped trembling.
Biting her lower lip, she said:
"Can we… talk?"
"I want to speak with you alone."
—
Shiryu and the others paused mid-drink.
This arrogant woman—
had suddenly become… gentle?
—
"Everyone, leave."
Xia Te ordered.
—
Weevil, Shiryu, and the others quickly let go of the women in their arms and exited.
The madam dragged the dancers away as well—
including the still-begging Shalria.
—
"Komurasaki, go wait in your room."
Xia Te tapped her lips lightly with his thumb.
—
Komurasaki glanced at Hancock's flawless figure—
a trace of jealousy rising within her—
before she suppressed it and silently left.
—
Soon, only Xia Te and Hancock remained.
—
Then—
Hancock did something shocking.
She lifted the upper part of her qipao from behind—
revealing her flawless back.
Turning away, she brushed aside her long hair.
—
"…This is the secret I've kept for over ten years… even deceiving my people to protect it…"
Her body began trembling again.
—
As her hair parted—
a burned brand came into view.
—
The mark of the Hoof of the Flying Dragon.
—
"The mark burned onto slaves owned by the Celestial Dragons… a brand of inferiority that can never be erased…"
Tears streamed down her face, falling onto the tatami.
Her voice trembled.
—
"I was twelve… when my sisters and I…"
—
In the empty hall—
Hancock told her story.
A past filled with fear, hatred, confusion—
and, strangely—
relief.
—
When she finished, a long silence followed.
Only then did she slowly turn around.
Looking at Xia Te, she asked softly:
"…Will you look down on me?"
—
"That's a stupid question."
—
Hancock's face instantly turned pale.
—
"You're the most beautiful woman in the world. The Pirate Empress."
Xia Te smiled faintly.
"After seeing what those Celestial Dragons are really like… you still don't understand your own worth?"
—
Hancock froze.
—
Seconds later—
the pallor on her face was replaced with a blooming blush.
Her smile blossomed like flowers in spring.
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