By the time Hancock and Gloriosa reached the tavern, the place was a madhouse.
Hundreds of Kuja women were packed inside, hanging onto every word. Outside, a long line of warriors waited impatiently for a turn to enter. The tavern's runner stood at the door, collecting coins from everyone entering, while those who couldn't fit simply scaled the walls to listen through the second-story windows.
As the Empress and her sisters approached, the crowd parted like a red sea. Hancock stepped in, her sisters Sandersonia and Marigold flanking her, their eyes wide as they took in the electric atmosphere.
The tavern owner, Ren, was seated in the front row, her chin resting in her hand. She wasn't even working; she was staring at Leo with a look of pure, unadulterated admiration.
Leo sat in the center of it all, unfazed by the hundreds of eyes tracking his every move.
"The slave was once a princess of a small kingdom," Leo's voice rang out, clear and rhythmic. "Her family was kind. They refused to exploit their people just to pay the Heavenly Tribute. But because they wouldn't pay, they weren't recognized by the World Government. The Navy didn't protect them."
He leaned in, lowering his voice. "Without the Navy, the pirates came. The princess was captured, dragged to the Sabaody Archipelago, and sold to a Celestial Dragon."
"Now, this particular Noble was a monster. He had been betrayed by a slave-wife once, and he had grown paranoid and cruel. He demanded a new maiden every night, and every morning, he would have that girl executed."
A collective gasp rippled through the room.
"When it was finally the princess's turn, she didn't beg for mercy. Instead, she looked him in the eye and said: 'Before we share a bed, let me tell you a story from my homeland.' The Noble, bored and restless, agreed. And so, she began to speak..."
"The first story," Leo smiled, "was called The Fisherman and the Fishman."
He was retelling One Thousand and One Nights, but he had stripped away the ancient religious fluff. He kept the core—the rebellion against a tyrant through the power of wit. He localized the terms, making the 'gods' and 'monsters' fit the lore of the Grand Line.
The effect was instantaneous.
For Hancock, the story of the princess was a mirror of her own stolen youth. For Sandersonia and Marigold, it was a reminder of the trauma they shared. For the common warriors, it was a tale of female empowerment that resonated with their very souls.
Just as the first story reached its climax, Leo stopped.
He went silent, leaning back and taking a slow sip of his drink. A massive groan erupted from the crowd—a wave of disappointment so synchronized it nearly shook the roof.
"Why did you stop? Keep going!"
Hancock stood in the center of the aisle, the undisputed focal point of the room. Her red dress flowed like liquid fire, and her presence was overwhelming.
The women around her clutched their chests, whispering her name in awe, but Hancock ignored them. Her eyes were locked on Leo. "Why did you end it there?"
"This story is called The Thousand and One Nights," Leo said, offering a wise, slightly smug smile. "This was only the beginning. Every night, the princess would stop just as the story got interesting. The Noble couldn't kill her because he had to know what happened next. She bought her life, one story at a time."
He looked around the room. "I can't give you everything at once. Since it seems I'll be on Amazon Lily for a while, I thought I'd save some for tomorrow. Give you all something to look forward to."
"Oh? So you're staying?" Hancock asked, her hand moving to her mouth in a gesture of surprise that didn't quite hide her delight.
"Well, you haven't agreed to join my revolution yet..." Leo started, but then he saw the faint flush on the Empress's cheeks and felt a sudden chill. He had missed something.
Gloriosa stood behind Hancock, a knowing smirk on her face. She was finally convinced this man wasn't a spy. A spy with this many obvious blunders would have been caught and executed on day one.
"In that case," Hancock said, her regal composure returning with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "you shall stay as long as you like."
The tavern erupted. "Long live the Empress!"
Leo rubbed the back of his neck, mentally recalibrating. He had been looking at this through a cold, political lens, assuming he had to "negotiate" every step. He had forgotten that in this world, an emotional connection could be more powerful than any contract.
His departure was delayed, but perhaps that was for the best.
"Fine," Leo laughed, his eyes bright with resolve. "My body hasn't fully recovered from the sea anyway. I'll take some time to enjoy the hospitality of Amazon Lily."