The voice belonged to Kai, who was currently wearing a completely bewildered expression. Was this woman before him really the "Empress" Boa Hancock, who embodied beauty, strength, arrogance, and narcissism all in one?
It wasn't just Kai—even Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold, who knew Hancock extremely well, stood frozen with blank stares.
Marigold nudged Sandersonia with her elbow and whispered, "Sonia, have you ever seen our sister like this?"
"Never... could it be that our sister is sick?" Sandersonia looked utterly confused.
Seeing Kai's bewildered face, Hancock's expression grew panicked as she hurriedly said, "I... I'll release their petrification right now!"
"Sweet Sweet Wind - Release!!!"
Hancock quickly undid the petrification of the Marines, then looked at Kai with expectant eyes, asking, "Is this okay now? Kai-kun!?"
Hancock's expectant expression seemed to be waiting for Kai to praise her.
"Uh... that's fine." Kai still felt somewhat lost.
Who would have thought that hearing Kai's voice, Hancock acted as if she'd received the greatest praise. She clasped her hands tightly together in front of her chest, saying with an intoxicated expression, "This is pure bliss! Kai-kun... Kai-kun is praising me!!!"
Seeing Hancock like this, Kai pondered for a moment and roughly understood why.
Thinking about Hancock's attitude toward Luffy in the original storyline, he could pretty much guess that Hancock's behavior was definitely related to his beating up the Celestial Dragons five years ago.
Having been a slave to the Celestial Dragons as a child, Hancock's heart held not only hatred toward them but more so fear, and the "Hoof of the Flying Dragon" mark on her back was like a nightmare constantly haunting her!
And Kai was the first person Hancock knew who dared to strike a Celestial Dragon, naturally earning an incomparable position in her heart.
The reality wasn't far from Kai's speculation. Ever since learning five years ago that Kai had actually beaten up a Celestial Dragon, Hancock had devoted all her attention to him.
She began collecting all sorts of information about Kai, gradually falling deeper and deeper until Hancock was even prepared to go directly to Sabaody Archipelago to find him. But who could have imagined that before Hancock could go find Kai, he had already left Sabaody Archipelago for the New World.
This time, hearing that all the "Seven Warlords of the Sea" were being summoned to Marine Headquarters, Hancock's first thought was of Kai. So she eagerly sailed her pirate ship, using two massive "sea serpents" to pull the great vessel, directly crossing the "Calm Belt" to become the first to arrive at Marine Headquarters.
Otherwise, with Hancock's arrogant, narcissistic personality, she wouldn't have paid the slightest attention even to a World Government summons.
"What just happened to me!?"
"Weren't we turned to stone!?"
"..."
Seeing the chaotic scene, Kai frowned and shouted loudly, "What the hell are you all doing? Do you have that much free time!? Then right now, get to Training Ground No. 1 and run fifty laps with full gear!"
Hearing Kai's words, every Marine present looked dejected, no longer paying attention to Hancock nearby. Marine Training Ground No. 1 was the largest training ground in all of Marineford—one lap was a full ten kilometers!
Fifty laps!!
That would be five hundred kilometers!!!
Even regular field officers couldn't endure that, let alone most of the Marines present who were just petty officers! But with Kai's current prestige in the Marines, which was no less than Sengoku's, most Marines wouldn't harbor the slightest complaint, and even those few who did wouldn't dare voice it.
"So... commanding... I... I can't take it anymore!" Hancock swayed left and right, her face slightly flushed.
In Hancock's eyes, Kai's every movement was filled with charm!
Seeing Hancock like this, Kai didn't know what to do. While having a great beauty express such admiration was certainly wonderful, when it reached Hancock's level, it became somewhat troublesome.
"Just follow me for now. As for the Seven Warlords meeting... handle that however you want." Kai said somewhat helplessly.
With Hancock in her current state, there was no point in her participating in the summons! Forget fighting against him—if he just said one word, Hancock would probably switch sides immediately.
...
Three days later, the final day of the assembly deadline!
All of Marine Headquarters was on high alert. After Hancock's arrival, Sengoku no longer concealed Kai's summoning of the "Seven Warlords of the Sea"!
Seven great pirates second only to the "Four Emperors" on the seas were coming to Marine Headquarters!
How could this not draw the attention of the entire Marine force!?
Looking out from Marineford's harbor, one could even faintly see the outline of the Gates of Justice! Suddenly, a Marine on the watchtower shouted, "The Gates of Justice... are opening!!!"
Hearing this voice, instantly all Marines turned their gaze toward the sea.
The opening of the Gates of Justice signaled the passage of ships, and at this time, the only ones who would pass through the Gates of Justice were the pirate ships of the "Seven Warlords of the Sea" summoned by Kai!
"It's 'Sea Hoodlum' Doflamingo's pirate crew!!!"
"And... it's 'Moonlight' Moria! The Thriller Bark pirate ship from the Devil's Triangle!!!"
"Behind them... there's another one! It's Baroque Works' pirate crew, Crocodile!!!"
The opening of the Gates of Justice allowed three pirate crews to pass through in succession—Doflamingo, "Moonlight" Moria, and Crocodile arrived at Marineford one after another!
One hour later.
"Tyrant"! Bartholomew Kuma arrived at Marine Headquarters!
Three hours later.
"Knight of the Sea"! Jinbe also set foot on Marineford's harbor dock.
In the final minutes before the summons deadline.
The "World's Greatest Swordsman"! Also arrived on his small boat, drifting through the Gates of Justice!
At this point!
The Seven Warlords of the Sea—fully assembled!!!
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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