Before this moment, Leo had no clear concept of the Kuja Pirates' true strength. To him, the Amazon warriors seemed mostly like a mix of simple-minded girls and sharp, capable women. Because of Hancock's affection for him, they had always treated him with a gentle warmth that lacked any "edge."
But as he watched the deck of the enemy ship, he realized with startling clarity: This was truly a Warlord-level crew.
While loners like Mihawk or Kuma existed, most Warlords commanded elite organizations. Doflamingo had his four Supreme Officers, and Crocodile led Baroque Works with ten Devil Fruit users. Strategically, the Kuja officers were easily on par with Doflamingo's top brass. In fact, the regular warriors hadn't even broken a sweat, yet they had already reduced the intruding pirates to a state of absolute terror.
Some warriors were less precise than others; several pirates pinned to the hull hadn't died instantly and were screaming in agony. Their wails only heightened the dread of the survivors. Even their captain—a massive man standing five meters tall—began to tremble.
In this world, giants could reach hundreds of meters, so a five-meter human wasn't a rarity. Such men usually dominated "normal" enemies through sheer mass and brute strength. However, against the "true players" of the Grand Line, size was often a liability. Even the weakest Zoan-type Devil Fruit could bridge that physical gap, leaving a giant as nothing more than a stepping stone for someone else's fame.
The pirate captain, "Great Scimitar" William, wasn't a complete fool. He had prepared for this journey, but a navigator's blunder had landed them in the Calm Belt. Even here, News Coos frequently passed by, dropping the latest headlines. He had read the news: The all-female Kuja Pirates had been officially sanctioned as Warlords of the Sea.
Cold sweat poured down his face. Facing certain death, his survival instincts kicked in and he made a split-second decision.
"Wait! Please!" William's voice, bolstered by his massive lung capacity, boomed across the water. "Spare us! We have treasure! A Devil Fruit!" He shrieked with every ounce of his strength. "Please, in exchange for the fruit and all our riches, spare our lives!"
His voice echoed so loudly it drew the attention of a nearby monster. A Sea King with the body of a merman and the head of a massive lion erupted from the waves. Though only a hundred meters long, its head was disproportionately large, capable of swallowing William's ship in a single bite.
Suddenly, the two black-and-purple Yuda snakes towing the Kuja ship reared up. They hissed with a terrifying, venomous intensity, their eyes locked on the lion. The Sea King's face contorted in visible fear; it immediately turned and dove back into the abyss.
The snakes didn't descend. Instead, they loomed over the pirate ship, dripping saliva and staring hungrily at the terrified men. They clearly wouldn't mind a human snack.
"Hancock, wait..." Leo suddenly spoke.
"If you want the Devil Fruit, we can just kill them and take it," Hancock replied, turning to him. In the heat of potential combat, she looked different—sharp, regal, and decisive. Her ruthlessness toward enemies was efficient and breathtaking.
Leo met her gaze with a calm smile. "My apologies, but I want to use them for an experiment. Let's spare them."
"If that is what you wish..." Hancock's face flushed slightly as she looked at him. The iron-willed Empress vanished, replaced by a bashful woman. "Then they shall live."
"Let me handle the negotiations," Leo said, extending his hand. "Will you come with me?"
"Y-yes..." Hancock's face turned even redder.
As the doors to the upper pavilion opened and Leo walked down the steps hand-in-hand with the Empress, time seemed to freeze. Every eye on both ships was fixed on them.
The pirates were instantly entranced by Hancock's radiant beauty, their eyes literally turning into hearts as they lost all sense of self. She could have turned them to stone with a snap of her fingers.
Meanwhile, the Kuja warriors—already somewhat accustomed to their Queen's charm—looked at Leo. Even though he was shorter and far weaker than their Empress, he didn't lose an inch of presence. They whispered among themselves: What a perfect couple. Has that dense man finally come to his senses?
Leo stood on the mid-level steps, effectively using the Empress's authority to command the situation. He took a deep breath, his voice carrying clearly across the silent sea.
"Everyone, listen up! The Kuja Pirates have decided to grant you mercy!" he shouted.
"However..."