'[Cover Story: Chopper and the Quack Doctor (Final) - "Who Goes There?"]'
'After gently placing a paper cherry blossom on the quack doctor's grave, Chopper tearfully hugged the research notes Hiriluk had left behind and turned away with Kureha. The master and disciple had not gone far when they suddenly looked up. Through the endless snowstorm, a vague figure was slowly approaching them...'
---
Smoker barely managed to stop himself from coughing from the cigar smoke. "Why are you here?" he asked with a frown. "You're only a Captain."
The pink-haired Marine officer bit down on her cigar. "Hina may not be a field-grade officer yet, but Hina is a Logia user. Hina isn't afraid of the Pirate Empress's petrification gaze..."
'That used to be my Logia fruit!' Smoker took a deep breath.
Still, after all these years, he had already grown accustomed to the Cage-Cage Fruit. Even if Giorno offered to swap their fruits back now, Smoker probably wouldn't agree.
The two of them continued toward the harbor. Before long, they spotted Vice Admiral Akainu standing watch beneath the night sky, his Justice coat fluttering in the sea breeze. Under the dim moonlight, the giant sea serpents at the bow of the Kuja ship slept quietly.
Then, a tall figure emerged onto the deck. She stood at the railing and gazed up at the moon. Smoker could clearly hear the sighs and murmurs of admiration rising from the nearby Marines.
'Seriously? It's only a silhouette...'
But when he turned his head, he discovered that even Hina was staring. Looking at the breathtaking figure standing alone beneath the moonlight, she sighed. "She's even more beautiful than she was back in South Blue..."
---
The Marines throughout the harbor town silently watched the Pirate Empress. Unable to sleep, she had come outside simply to enjoy the night air. Yet she didn't spare them even a trace of attention.
After looking at the stars for a while, Hancock turned and returned to her cabin. As her figure disappeared, many Marines sighed. Without her presence... even the stars and moonlight seemed dull.
---
### The Next Morning
"Elder Sister! They've arrived!" Marigold burst excitedly into the room.
Sitting before a mirror, Hancock immediately lit up. "Really?"
Sandersonia entered behind her and added, "The Marines reported that Giorno and Princess Jolyne have reached the Red Port at the Red Line."
Hancock immediately shot Marigold an annoyed look.
Marigold stuck out her tongue. "That's basically the same thing! They're already on a battleship heading here."
"That's completely different!" Hancock huffed and sat back down.
---
Meanwhile, the Marines stationed around the harbor had little to do except chat. Some even took the opportunity to strike up conversations with Kuja warriors who came ashore, claiming they were "gathering intelligence from pirates."
"Wow... she's been waiting a really long time."
"With the Pirate Empress's personality, after being kept waiting this long, I wonder if she'll attack the JoJo Pirates the moment they arrive?"
"Haha! Maybe she'll turn them into stone out of anger!"
"Ever since she arrived at Headquarters, I haven't seen her smile once. She must be furious."
"You dared look closely enough to see whether she smiled?!"
"I only looked below her eyes! Just one glance at the lower half of her face! My life is complete now! Waaaah..."
---
By noon, the Marines were practically fighting each other for the privilege of delivering lunch to the Kuja Pirates. It nearly escalated into actual bloodshed.
Sandersonia and Marigold accepted the meals on deck with cheerful smiles. The Marine Commander delivering the food hadn't seen the Empress herself, but he had seen her two younger sisters.
'They're beautiful too... That means I've indirectly met the Empress, right?' The Lieutenant Commander walked away grinning foolishly.
After tasting the food themselves, Sandersonia and Marigold carried it back inside for Hancock. Unfortunately, Hancock had little appetite. She lazily ate a few bites before setting the meal aside. Resting her cheek in her hand, she stared out the cabin window toward the sea.
---
A little while later...
"Elder Sister! They've arrived!" Marigold came running back. "This time they really arrived!"
Hancock felt as though electricity shot through her body. She immediately turned toward the door.
Marigold nodded vigorously. "Really really!"
Sandersonia appeared behind her. "Princess Jolyne and Giorno are already meeting Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Akainu at the harbor. Elder Sister, let's go see them!"
"They've really arrived..." Hancock cupped her face and murmured softly.
"Come on, Elder Sister!" Marigold said with a blink. "You've wanted to see them for so long." She exchanged a glance with Sandersonia. "Is Elder Sister... shy?"
Hancock looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks felt warm. Two years had passed. She wondered whether they were doing well.
---
### Harbor Town
"They're coming out!" The Marines pointed toward the figures emerging from the red pirate ship. Then they quickly looked away again, not daring to stare.
Surrounded by Kuja warriors, the Pirate Empress descended from her ship and entered the harbor town. Gasps and whispered praise followed her everywhere she went. She walked straight toward the two members of the JoJo Pirates, who were currently speaking with Sengoku and Akainu.
Many Marines assumed the Empress was about to explode in anger after being kept waiting so long. Then, Giorno and Jolyne turned around.
Seeing Hancock approaching, Jolyne smiled warmly. "Hancock, you've become even prettier."
Judging from the tension in the lower half of her face, Hancock still appeared annoyed. 'Yep, she's definitely angry...' That was what many Marines thought.
Then Giorno stepped forward. To the horror of every observer, he casually reached out and ruffled Hancock's long hair. Then he rubbed her impossibly beautiful face, the same face that most Marines didn't even dare look at for more than a few seconds.
And then he said, utterly without respect, "Hey, pretty girl. It's been a long time. Did you miss us?"
---
'He's dead.' That was the unanimous thought of countless Marines. 'He's actually provoking her. Does he have a death wish?'
Yet the next moment... they witnessed something that completely shattered their understanding of reality.
A blush appeared on Hancock's face. She allowed Giorno to knead her flawless cheeks however he pleased. Then, with obvious embarrassment, she softly replied, "...Mm."
---
My God...
The Marines who witnessed the scene stood frozen, their minds completely blank. Was this really the same Pirate Empress? The same Empress who would turn people to stone just for staring at her too long? The same Empress who never cared about anyone else's feelings? The same Empress who treated everyone with cold indifference?
---
'Click! Click! Click!'
Camera flashes erupted everywhere. Photographers desperately captured the historic moment of Giorno stroking the Pirate Empress's face. Every reporter present was simultaneously jealous and ecstatic.
'This was BIG NEWS!!!'
---
'(End of Chapter)'
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