"From today onward, the Kuja Pirates will be incorporated under our command. That means, before the Whitebeard Pirates and the Navy clash, we've got one more task—head to Amazon Lily and relocate all the remaining citizens of the island to the Flower Capital."
The moment Xia Te gave this order after everyone re-entered the brothel, both his crew and the Kuja Pirates exploded in shock.
Especially when they saw Hancock's gaze toward Xia Te—
a hazy, almost dreamlike look, practically spelling out adoration in her eyes.
—
"Heh… now this is interesting."
Shiryu raised an eyebrow.
—
"As expected of Captain! Not only did he take in a beauty like Komurasaki, even the Pirate Empress didn't escape him!"
Behind Law, Shachi, Penguin, and the others looked on with envy.
—
"If you've got time to talk nonsense, you might as well go train."
Law pressed down the brim of his hat, sounding helpless.
"You've already fallen way behind."
—
Not just his subordinates—Law himself knew it.
He had fallen behind too much.
—
There were less than three days left until the decisive war between the Whitebeard Pirates and Marine Headquarters.
He knew he wouldn't be able to play a major role in that battle.
And precisely because of that—
he couldn't afford to waste any more time.
—
That night, while celebrating the Kuja Pirates officially joining Xia Te's crew,
Xia Te also made a call to the president of the World Economy News—one of the Underworld Emperors, "Big News" Morgans.
For someone who operated across both the underworld and the surface world, getting his contact wasn't difficult.
—
"Morgans, I've got a headline for you."
"The Kuja Pirates have joined my crew. And the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock, personally executed three Celestial Dragons."
—
After the call ended, Morgans and his entire newsroom pulled an all-nighter.
By dawn, before the sun had even risen—
countless News Coo birds carried fresh newspapers across the world.
Branches everywhere printed and distributed copies to every corner of the seas.
—
A month ago, Xia Te's crew had already shocked the world by kidnapping Celestial Dragons.
Most people assumed he would use them as bargaining chips for ransom.
—
No one expected—
he would kill them outright.
—
And the one who carried it out—
was none other than the Pirate Empress, freshly stripped of her Warlord title for defying the Government.
—
This news was enough to shake the entire world.
Even Morgans hadn't expected such a bombshell right before the war between Whitebeard and the Marines.
Naturally—
he pushed it out without hesitation.
—
Within hours, as the sun climbed into the sky—
the entire world erupted.
—
"You've got to be kidding! Kidnapping was one thing, but they actually killed them!?"
"Boa Hancock? How did she end up with Xia Te? Doesn't she hate men?"
"A Celestial Dragon is dead? Hahaha! Serves those bastards right!"
"That crew was already terrifying, and now they've got a former Warlord? Only the Four Emperors can match them now!"
—
The news spread like wildfire.
Some were shocked by Xia Te's audacity.
Others focused on Hancock joining his crew.
—
Though Xia Te was clearly the mastermind,
Hancock—the one who carried out the act—
once again drew the world's attention.
But this time—
not for her beauty.
—
She became the first person in 800 years of World Government rule—
to kill a Celestial Dragon.
—
To many who despised the Celestial Dragons,
she was now nothing short of a hero.
—
And yet—
who would have imagined that this woman,
who dared to kill a god,
had once been a slave beneath them?
—
Amazon Lily, Calm Belt
The citizens of the Kuja tribe packed their belongings,
preparing to relocate to the Flower Capital under Hancock's orders.
—
Inside the royal palace—
"Snake Princess! You did something this huge and didn't even tell me!?"
Elder Nyon slammed the newspaper down, furious.
—
"Silence!"
Hancock placed one hand on her hip, leaning back arrogantly, pointing down at her.
"Whatever I do will be forgiven—because I am simply too beautiful!"
—
"And you, a former ruler who abandoned her people, have no right to criticize me!"
—
Elder Nyon nearly had a heart attack from anger.
—
"Hancock, are you ready?"
Xia Te appeared on the palace balcony, stepping inside as he spoke.
—
"L-Lord Xia Te! Why are you here so suddenly? I—I'm not ready yet…"
Hancock instantly dropped her arrogance, clutching her cheeks, blushing as her mind ran wild.
—
Having her personally execute Roswald, Charlos, and Shalria—
had been Xia Te's suggestion.
—
The goal was simple:
to help her break free from her inner demon.
—
And the result—
was better than expected.
—
"Captain of the Xia Te Pirates,"
Elder Nyon spoke seriously,
"are you really planning to involve yourself in the war between Whitebeard and the Navy?"
—
She knew stopping the Kuja from joining Xia Te was impossible.
So the only thing left—
was to think about what came next.
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