"What!?" "This..." "..."
Hearing Kai's words, Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru were stunned. Not one of them had expected Kai to propose such a radical solution.
Tsuru's brow furrowed deeply as she spoke first: "Kai, do you have any idea who these seven people are!? The World's Greatest Swordsman! The Empress! The Tyrant! Heavenly Yaksha! Every single one of them is absolute trouble!"
At Tsuru's words, Kai simply smiled and asked back calmly: "More trouble than Whitebeard?"
"Uh..."
Only then did Tsuru snap back to reality—Kai had just defeated Whitebeard! Calling him the Navy's current strongest fighter wouldn't be an exaggeration at all!
Garp, who'd been standing silently, finally spoke up. Gone was his usual carefree attitude, his tone unusually serious: "Sengoku, I agree with Kai's plan. Look at this so-called 'Seven Warlords of the Sea'—it's a complete disaster! Their existence has been steadily undermining the Navy's authority throughout the Grand Line. Something has to be done!"
He paused, his voice carrying a note of melancholy: "Besides... the future belongs to the young. Old-timers like us have already become relics of a bygone era... If Kai wants to make his mark, then let him do it boldly. As for pressure from the World Government... let us old fossils handle that!" He fixed his gaze directly on Sengoku.
Meeting Garp's stare, Sengoku's entire body tensed. He fell into deep contemplation, and after a long moment, finally spoke: "Kai, I... approve your plan! How many Admiral-level fighters do you need for support? I can temporarily recall Aokiji and Kizaru from the New World."
In that moment, Sengoku had made his decision to fully back Kai's operation.
"Admiral-level support..." Kai's smile widened as he looked at Sengoku. "Unnecessary. To handle the Seven Warlords... I alone am sufficient!" A wave of overwhelming confidence radiated from his being.
Watching Kai's composed expression and absolute self-assurance, Sengoku's face lit up with relief. The Navy had been teetering on the edge of having no worthy successors. But Kai's emergence had completely transformed that situation. Though just one man, he blazed with such brilliance!!
"By the way, Boa Hancock has already passed through the Gates of Justice. Everything from here on out is entirely in your hands. Whatever happens... Navy Headquarters will provide full support!" Sengoku announced suddenly.
At Sengoku's words, Kai's composure cracked for just an instant.
Boa Hancock!?
The sole woman among the "Seven Warlords of the Sea"!
Known as the Pirate Empress and Snake Princess, she ruled the warrior nation of Amazon Lily and captained the Kuja Pirates.
Her signature features included cascading black hair, a statuesque figure, and breathtaking beauty. Snake-shaped earrings adorned her ears, and she wielded the power of the Love-Love Fruit—a Devil Fruit ability that could petrify anyone captivated by her beauty. She possessed Conqueror's Haki, a power found in only one person among millions!!!
At twelve years old, she and her two sisters had been kidnapped from the Kuja Pirates by human traffickers and sold to the World Nobles—the Celestial Dragons. The slave brand "Hoof of the Flying Dragon" was burned into her back. Later, during one of the Celestial Dragons' twisted entertainment events, she was forced to consume the Love-Love Fruit.
Four years later, Fisher Tiger scaled the Red Line with his bare hands, liberating every slave suffering in Mary Geoise regardless of race. The three Hancock sisters were among those rescued, and with assistance from Elder Nyon, Rayleigh, and Shakky, they returned to Amazon Lily.
After her homecoming, Hancock became queen of Amazon Lily. But her past as a slave continued to torment her—she even forbade anyone from entering the city during her baths!!
"Understood, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. I'll handle everything from this point forward." Kai nodded curtly before departing the Fleet Admiral's office.
Watching Kai's retreating figure, Sengoku eventually turned to Garp: "Garp, do you truly believe Kai can handle all seven Warlords?"
Garp showed zero concern, loudly crunching the donuts in his hands. After a moment, he replied: "Like Kai just said—could any of those seven possibly be tougher than that Whitebeard bastard? Relax... relax... Here, have some donuts!"
"I hope... you're right." Sengoku murmured worriedly to himself.
...
Mary Geoise Harbor.
The scene was pure pandemonium as countless Navy soldiers jostled for a glimpse of the Empress's legendary beauty.
"Stop shoving! I was here first!"
"Incredible! She really is the world's most beautiful woman!"
"Get out of my way!"
"..."
Surveying the chaotic harbor, Hancock's brow creased with irritation: "Hmph, far too noisy here. Everyone... silence yourselves!"
"Mero Mero Mellow!!!"
Hancock formed a heart shape with her hands, positioning it before her chest, then unleashed waves of pink light. Every person touched by those rays transformed into gray stone statues!
"Sister... this is Navy Headquarters. Turning Navy soldiers to stone here might not be wise," Boa Sandersonia cautioned from beside her.
Hancock completely ignored the warning, instead speaking with intoxicated self-admiration: "It matters not. Whatever I do will be forgiven, because I am simply too beautiful!"
Seeing her sister slip into this familiar state, Boa Sandersonia fell silent, knowing any further words would be pointless.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the air near Hancock's ear: "At Navy Headquarters, treating Navy soldiers this way is hardly appropriate, 'Pirate Empress'—Boa Hancock!"
"Who dares!?"
Hancock's anger flared—someone had the audacity to interrupt her! Truly... With irritation clouding her features, Hancock whipped around toward the source of the voice.
The moment she laid eyes on the speaker, Hancock's face erupted in crimson, her expression shifting to one of pure bashfulness as she whispered: "I... I was wrong..."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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