The morning mist left the beach sands cool as waves crashed against the rocks, scattering silver droplets into the air.
Hancock stood quietly on the shore in her crimson dress, flanked by several Kuja warriors. Her snake-shaped earrings swayed gently in the breeze, her eyes brimming with unconcealed reluctance.
On the deck of Ark Maxim, Enel leaned against the railing with crossed arms, electricity crackling around him in clear impatience. "Are we leaving or not?" he snapped, his voice dripping with disdain. "We've wasted enough time in this place."
For him, this past month had been pure torment.
Bahr turned to Hancock with a faint smile. "It's time for me to go."
"Lord Bahr..." Hancock took a step forward, her voice trembling with barely concealed pleading. "Couldn't you stay a few more days? I'll have the finest fruit wine prepared for you..."
Bahr decisively shook his head, gently brushing her nose with his fingertip. "No. The time for parting has come." He chuckled softly. "The comfort of a gentle embrace is the hero's grave. Any longer and I might truly lose the will to leave."
Hancock pressed a hand to her forehead, her long lashes fluttering as her voice took on an intoxicated tone. "Even this cruel demeanor... it makes me... makes me adore you all the more."
In her eyes, Bahr's resolute determination was even more captivating than his tenderness during their intimate moments.
Amused, Bahr stepped forward and pulled Hancock into an embrace, capturing her lips in a deep kiss that left her breathless before finally pulling away. "Wait for me," he murmured against her ear, his voice low and clear.
"Mm..." Hancock's face flushed crimson as her legs gave way, collapsing onto the sand. She covered her burning cheeks with trembling hands, gazing up at Bahr with dazed eyes.
Could this... could this be a marriage... vow!
Her fingers quivered slightly as her heart burned like fire, her voice trembling with excitement. "I... I will absolutely wait for Lord Bahr!"
Bahr then turned to Margaret standing nearby and gave her a meaningful glance.
Margaret's cheeks also bore a faint blush. Over this past month, she'd gone from naive confusion to complete understanding of this man's nature.
Composing herself, she gave Bahr a slight nod, her clear voice carrying a hint of shyness. "May you have smooth sailing, Lord Bahr."
With a smile, Bahr nodded back before flashing onto Ark Maxim's deck in an instant.
As gears groaned and machinery roared, Ark Maxim slowly ascended, its golden hull cutting through the morning mist as it headed toward the distant horizon.
Hancock scrambled to her feet on the beach, watching the shrinking golden speck as she shouted with all her might toward the sky: "Lord Bahr... I will wait for you! No matter how long it takes!"
The sea wind carried her voice, chasing after the departing Ark Maxim long after it had vanished from sight.
On the beach behind her, the Kuja warriors exchanged knowing glances at the sight of their Pirate Empress clutching her blushing cheeks, hearts practically visible in her eyes.
On Ark Maxim's deck, the sea wind howled.
Miss Valentine and Porche clung to Bahr's arms on either side—the former swinging his arm playfully while the latter chattered excitedly about their time on Amazon Lily, both faces alight with joy.
After enduring over a month, their boss was finally theirs alone again!
Nico Robin leaned against the railing nearby. Hearing Hancock's cloud-piercing cry in the distance, she glanced at Bahr with a teasing smile. "The boss has quite the skills, to have the Pirate Empress so thoroughly wrapped around his finger."
"I'll have you wrapped just as tight eventually," Bahr retorted with a raised brow, his tone carrying playful threat.
Robin's lips twitched as she mentally cursed "in your dreams," but her expression remained neutral as she smoothly changed topics, gazing toward the distant sea. "So boss, where to next?"
Bahr paused, his eyes glinting with interest as he looked toward the horizon. "We'll coat the ship at Sabaody Archipelago, then head straight for Fish-Man Island."
Having missed out on that "man's paradise" last time due to unforeseen circumstances—how could he possibly abandon such a dream destination?
"Sabaody now?" Miss Valentine immediately frowned. "Isn't that under heavy Marine surveillance? Too dangerous, isn't it?"
"The entire world's in chaos right now," Robin interjected smoothly, her calm gaze sweeping across the sea. "The Marines have dispersed their forces to suppress rebellions everywhere. If we're careful, it shouldn't be a problem."
Bahr shot Robin a knowing look—she'd probably been itching to visit Fish-Man Island for its Historical Text all along.
But he didn't call her out, simply nodding. "Robin's right. Have Shura use the Invisibility Fruit to conceal Ark Maxim. We'll keep a low profile while finding a coating craftsman at Sabaody."
Turning toward Enel on the opposite side of the deck—who stood with crossed arms and closed eyes, faint electricity crackling around him in clear "do not disturb" mode—Bahr warned, "When we reach Sabaody, behave yourself. No causing trouble on the island. After we get coated, you can do whatever you want."
"This god has no interest in dealing with mere mortals," Enel scoffed without opening his eyes, his arrogant tone nevertheless signaling reluctant agreement.
Bahr didn't press further. For all his arrogance, Enel remained manageable—especially after he'd actually broken into Impel Down to rescue him. That act alone had shifted Bahr's opinion of the man.
Whatever his motives might have been, the action itself spoke volumes.
After all, deeds matter more than intentions!
"I'm tired," Bahr announced, patting the hands clinging to his arms before heading toward the cabin without looking back. "You all handle the navigation."
"Oh," Robin called after his retreating figure, suddenly remembering something. "What should we do about that woman from Impel Down locked in the hold?"
Bahr's steps halted abruptly as he belatedly recalled Sadi, forgotten in the lower decks during his month-long indulgence on Amazon Lily.
Remembering how she'd whipped him daily with those barbed lashes, a cold glint flashed through his eyes. His voice remained calm but carried unmistakable menace. "Keep her locked up."
After all the suffering she'd inflicted, how could he possibly let her off easy? Once he'd rested properly, he'd make sure she tasted double the pain.
Recognizing the dark glint in Bahr's eyes, Robin wisely didn't press further, simply watching silently as his figure disappeared into the cabin entrance.
The sea wind continued to howl across the deck, carrying the salty tang of the ocean as it propelled Ark Maxim toward its course to Sabaody Archipelago.
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