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The palace. Outside the curtains, Law and the two Sandersonia sisters were present, while rustling sounds came from within.
"Man, are you really a Marine? And only a new recruit? How can you be so strong?" The battle made Sandersonia realize Law's power, and yet Law was so young.
"Strong? Compared to the Four Emperors and Admirals, I'm far from it." Law had never been arrogant or complacent. Even being seemingly invincible among his peers, he never became conceited. He always understood his ultimate goal. He was only just beginning; what right did he have to be arrogant? Only when he became an Admiral would he have that right.
"Admirals? Four Emperors?" The two Sandersonia sisters looked at Law in shock. Admirals and Four Emperors were equivalent to the peak figures of the Marines and pirates. The total number of pirates and Marines on the sea exceeded ten million, while the number of Four Emperors and Admirals combined was less than ten. It was incredibly difficult. This man before them, his goal was actually to become an Admiral or a Four Emperor?
"Come in, man!" Hancock's voice came from behind the curtain, very calm, but on closer listening, one could detect a slight tremor.
"Inside?"
"Inside the curtain!"
"Excuse my intrusion." Opening the curtain, Law's pupils involuntarily dilated. Although he had long anticipated this scene, and had seen it many times these past few days, this was the first time he was viewing it clearly and directly from such a close distance: "Why are you naked?" Although staring directly was impolite, in Law's eyes, the act of lowering one's head and pretending not to look while secretly peeking was more hypocritical.
"What an impolite act." Hancock slowly raised her hand, preparing to brush her hair aside. Her soft, flowing hair, however, felt like a thousand jin in her hand at this moment. She gathered a great deal of courage but couldn't bring herself to part it. Memories of that painful past constantly flashed in her mind, and her tightly closed eyelashes trembled slightly.
"Forget it." Slowly turning around, she presented her smooth back to Law, and slowly, little by little, lifted her hair, revealing her jade-like back. The mark of the Celestial Dragon's hoof was fully exposed: "You... you said you'd seen this before. Look closely again, where have you seen it?"
"Celestial Dragon's hoof?" The three Hancock sisters visibly trembled slightly.
"You really do know."
"You once were...?" Law feigned shock, looking at the three Hancock sisters.
"Yes, we once were..." The three sisters revealed painful memories. It was a past they would forever refuse to recall, yet it tormented them constantly.
"Is it the Celestial Dragons again?" Law frowned. "Those swine, their good deeds?"
"Swine? Man, you are a Marine. Marines are the Celestial Dragons' dogs." The three sisters' voices held resentment. They hated the Celestial Dragons the most, but they also had reason to hate the Marines. If the Marines weren't the Celestial Dragons' protectors, how could the Celestial Dragons be so arrogant that no one dared to provoke them?
"Those fallen Marines weren't me. I won't submit to any organization or anyone, nor will I be anyone's dog. I only follow my heart." These were Law's true words; he genuinely thought this way and intended to act accordingly in the future. Becoming a Marine was, in Law's eyes, simply because Admirals and other top figures lived more comfortably than pirates. As for the Celestial Dragons, Law hadn't thought of actively eradicating them, but if the Celestial Dragons provoked him, Law had no intention of swallowing his anger. As long as he had the strength, any identity could allow him to live very freely on the Grand Line. Thus, Law had been frantically training, precisely to gain the ability to fear nothing.
"There are actually people in this world who aren't afraid of the Celestial Dragons?" Hancock clutched her forehead, her body trembling slightly. No matter how good the acting, it couldn't compare to reality. The words above weren't acting; they were Law's genuine thoughts. He truly didn't hold the Celestial Dragons in high regard, let alone feared them. What did it matter if powerless swine held high status? They were still swine.
"That was a painful experience I'd rather not recall." A mournful and pained Hancock slowly recounted their eternal sorrow. It was a very long story.
Law already knew it, but he still listened very attentively. Having told the greatest pain, perhaps it wasn't as painful anymore, but rather a release. Buried in her lap, Hancock's voice was hoarse; she was already crying: "If you hadn't protected Sandersonia at the last moment, we could no longer stay in this country. We don't want anyone to know our past, nor do we want anyone to dominate us again." She cried, crying very sadly. It was the first time she had opened her heart to an outsider, expressing the deepest, most painful secret of her heart. Sandersonia and Marigold were also silently shedding tears, but the three sisters' faces no longer held the bitter, deep-seated hatred of the past; instead, there was a sense of relaxed relief.
"Man, this is Hancock and her sisters' most unwilling secret to reveal, and their greatest fear. Once the outside world knows, they won't just be unable to stay on this island; they won't have a place to live even on the Grand Line, do you understand?" Elder Nyon said seriously.
"Do you want me to stay here?"
"No, Amazon Lily cannot keep men." The first to object was actually Elder Nyon, which somewhat confused Law. Wouldn't staying here be absolutely reassuring? But Elder Nyon thought more. Looking at Law, she was certain that although this man was still a recruit, such character and strength would definitely make him very important in the Marines. If he stayed here, the Marines would inevitably come looking for him.
"Old hag, how did you get in here? I decide what happens here." Hancock, now dressed, had reverted to her usual haughty and domineering personality.
"Snake Princess, you must understand that to perfectly protect Amazon Lily, you must become a Warlord of the Sea. We, the Marines, trust you, but please, for Amazon Lily's sake, persuade the Snake Princess to become a Warlord of the Sea," Elder Nyon pleaded. Her primary goal in helping Law earlier was to hope that Law could facilitate this matter.
"Do my words even have an effect?"
"Man, don't you know that you are the first person who has made the Snake Princess willingly reveal her..."
"Old hag, you talk too much nonsense." The Snake Princess grabbed Elder Nyon and walked to the window.
"Snake Princess, wait, wait! My old bones absolutely cannot be thrown out again!"
"You will forgive me, won't you?" The pitiful Snake Princess said weakly.
"Yes, no... Ah!" Elder Nyon was thrown out.
Having dealt with everything, the Pirate Empress slowly walked back, her demeanor and tone calm and indifferent: "Man, you may leave. Tomorrow, this empress will personally arrange a ship to escort you all away."
"Thanks." Law turned calmly and walked towards the door.
"Wait, man." Hancock's voice suddenly came from behind: "Will you look down on... us, who were once slaves?"
Turning his head, Law realized Hancock also had her back to him, unable to see her expression at that moment. But through her slight trembling, he understood that her mood was far from as calm and nonchalant as her voice suggested.
"Huh? Celestial Dragons? They are indeed filthy and an eyesore. The only ones I look down on are them, so how could it be you?" These were Law's true feelings, and thus sincere. Standing with her back to him, Hancock opened her tightly closed eyes. Her clenched fists, tense from nervousness, also relaxed.
"Haha." After a while, Hancock's joyful laughter resounded. She turned to look at Law: "This empress fancies you. Tomorrow, this empress will personally dispatch a ship to escort you away."
"Thanks." Law also smiled. Looking at Hancock, who was smiling and slightly flushed, he knew he had largely succeeded. Such a captivating woman, who wouldn't want to conquer her?
"Farewell." Law also knew the principle of moderation. He didn't linger, turning and leaving. Before exiting, he softly said, "The Seven Warlords of the Sea are not about submitting to the World Government; it's just a cooperation. Becoming a Warlord of the Sea might not be bad at all."
"Seven Warlords of the Sea?" The Pirate Empress silently watched his retreating back: "Where's that old hag? Tell her to come over. This empress wants to know everything about the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"Elder Sister, Elder Nyon was thrown out by you!"