The night was as dark as ink, merging the sea and sky into one.
The training ship sailed smoothly through the Calm Belt, with the massive Sea Kings on either side merely watching from afar, not daring to approach in the slightest.
It was as if there was something aboard that made them tremble from the depths of their souls.
Inside the captain's quarters, the lights were bright.
Orion sat behind the desk, looking sternly at Hancock, who sat across from him, cheeks cupped in her hands and hearts in her eyes.
"I allowed you to stay on the ship, but that doesn't mean you can live in my room," Orion said, setting down the documents in his hand.
"Go to your room now."
Instead of leaving, Hancock stood up, swayed gracefully over to Orion, leaned down, and breathed out a fragrant sigh.
"This humble one sneaked aboard. There is no room prepared for me on the ship."
Without waiting for Orion's response, she slipped into his arms like a boneless serpent.
"Orion, I'm ready. I've even thought of names for our children."
With her warm, soft body in his embrace and that familiar, subtle fragrance drifting into his nostrils, Orion stiffened.
Ever since that night in the Flower Chamber with Sharlia, who was possessed by Imu, the tightly wound string inside him seemed to have truly loosened.
A primal urge rose from the depths of his heart.
Since the floodgates were already open, why not...
The moment this thought emerged, Orion quickly suppressed it, his eyes instantly regaining clarity.
He pressed down on Hancock's restless shoulders, pushing her slightly away from him, and said with a serious expression.
"Take off your clothes."
"Huh?"
Hancock froze completely.
She had fantasized countless times about romantic scenarios with Orion but had never imagined it would be so direct.
Orion was even more straightforward than she had expected!
Though caught off guard and her heart pounding wildly, Hancock blushed and obediently turned around.
Her slender fingers trembled slightly as she unfastened the buttons on her back.
The elegant cheongsam slipped away, revealing a vast expanse of snow-white, smooth skin and a branded mark.
"Put your hair up," Orion's voice sounded again.
Hancock complied, piling her jet-black hair atop her head.
The "Heavenly Dragon's Hoof" mark, symbolizing humiliation and nightmares, was now fully exposed under the light.
Without hesitation, Orion raised his hand, his warm palm gently pressing against the slave mark.
Hancock's delicate body trembled slightly as a warm current flowed from his palm, instantly spreading through her limbs.
She closed her eyes, thinking about what might happen next, her cheeks burning hot enough to fry an egg.
However, just as her imagination ran wild, the warm current suddenly vanished.
"Done."
Orion's calm voice sounded behind her.
Hancock paused for a moment, coming back to her senses, and instinctively reached back to touch her own back.
The once uneven branded area was now as smooth as it had been originally, as if that unbearable memory, along with the ugly mark, had been completely erased by an invisible hand.
From body to soul, she was utterly and completely free!
Hancock whirled around, tears streaming down her face.
Only then did she understand that Orion's request for her to undress was not to possess her but to erase the deepest scar in her heart in his own way.
That tenderness shattered her defenses more effectively than any sweet words could.
...
Early the next morning.
The booming voice of Captain Morgan, the Fleet Admiral's personal guard, echoed across the deck, rousing Hancock from her slumber.
She opened her eyes to find the bed beside her already cold—Orion had risen at some unknown hour.
She hurriedly dressed and stepped out onto the deck.
The sight before her made her freeze instantly.
On both sides of the training ship, stretching as far as the eye could see across the boundless sea, civilian merchant vessels sailed past one after another under Marine escort, forming a massive, seemingly endless fleet.
The continuous procession of ships resembled an unbroken dragon spanning the horizon, creating an utterly spectacular scene.
Luffy, Zoro, Ace, and all the other trainees were leaning against the deck railings, captivated by the breathtaking spectacle, their jaws agape.
"Whoa! What's going on? Why are there so many ships on the sea?" Luffy exclaimed, his mouth wide open with childlike wonder.
Beside him, Sabo—still without his memories—adjusted his goggles and calmly explained.
"Those ships are likely carrying royal families from North Blue affiliate nations. Last month's Reverie established a new policy requiring all affiliate royals to relocate to Mary Geoise within three months to become the new World Nobles."
"So cool!" Luffy marveled without fully understanding.
Nearby, Franky stroked his chin, perplexed.
"Super! But if all the royals move away, what happens to their kingdoms?"
A depth beyond his years flickered in Sabo's eyes.
"The World Government will dispatch special commissioners to take over governance. According to the new plan, all affiliate nations will be unified under centralized management."
He added as an afterthought, "The term 'affiliate nations' will cease to exist. All former kingdoms will become 'cities,' just like Water 7. Their rulers won't be kings anymore—they'll be mayors appointed by the World Government!"
"What?!" Franky's eyes widened in shock. "Such a massive undertaking! How much manpower and resources would that require?!"
Orion stood at the ship's bow, hands clasped behind his back, silently observing the youths' discussion.
He watched Sabo's eloquent explanation with interest, inwardly nodding in approval.
Despite his amnesia, the boy's perception and knowledge far surpassed his peers—he was truly promising material.
Just then, an unexpected disturbance occurred.
On the deck of a nearby escort vessel, a Marine officer scanning the surroundings with binoculars suddenly froze.
He rubbed his eyes vigorously and raised the binoculars again.
When he clearly recognized the familiar figure standing at the training ship's bow, his blood surged with excitement!
"It's... it's the Fleet Admiral!!"
His voice cracked with emotion.
Every marine on the warship—officers and sailors alike—rushed to the deck railings at his cry.
When they saw the godlike figure standing steadfast at the bow, fanatical devotion erupted on every face!
He was their faith!
The sun who led the Marine to glory and brought new order to the world!
The leading Marine captain took a deep breath and abruptly stepped forward, faced the direction of the training ship, straightened his body rigidly, raised his hand in the most precise Marine salute, and roared with all his might.
"Captain of the North Blue Marine's 199th Branch, leading all officers and soldiers, salutes the Fleet Admiral!"
The soldiers behind him stepped forward in perfect unison, chests held high, erupting in a thunderous, synchronized roar like crashing waves.
"Loyalty!"
The sound was like a stone cast into a lake, instantly stirring up endless ripples.
The warships following closely behind heard the commotion, and officers and sailors on their decks turned to look.
"It's the Fleet Admiral!"
"It really is the Fleet Admiral!"
"Salute the Fleet Admiral!"
One ship, two ships, ten ships...
As if a fuse had been lit, the massive escort fleet erupted into a frenzy!
Marine officers and sailors from every warship spontaneously surged onto the decks, facing the training ship where Orion stood, standing tall and saluting!
"Salute the Fleet Admiral!"
"Loyalty!"
"Salute the Fleet Admiral!"
"Loyalty!"
One heartfelt shout after another, countless fervent and reverent gazes converged into a mighty torrent, reverberating endlessly across the vast sea!
On the deck, Luffy and the others were completely stunned by the sudden, grand spectacle.
They stared blankly at the countless saluting figures, listening to the continuous, deafening roars, feeling an inexplicable surge of hot blood rushing to their heads.
Luffy's mouth hung open, unable to close for a long time.
He looked at Orion, then thought about his own dream of becoming the Pirate King and suddenly felt that being the Fleet Admiral seemed even more impressive than being the Pirate King!
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