After using her Mero Mero Mellow, Hancock surveyed the scene.
Her originally confident and arrogant expression suddenly froze, replaced by utter disbelief.
Luffy not being petrified was something she could anticipate; after all, she had already tested this when he had entered her bath.
At that moment, her heart had already trembled.
The straw-hat-wearing boy was the first human she had encountered who could resist her charm.
But now, something even more unbelievable was happening.
So many people remained unaffected by her Devil Fruit ability—this was truly incredible!
...
Just as Zoro was about to be enveloped by the Mero Mero Mellow, his subconscious survival instinct suddenly erupted.
An image of himself being petrified flashed through his mind.
Without hesitation, he stabbed his own stomach with his sword.
No matter what, he had to maintain consciousness!
The pure and resolute heart of a swordsman saved the marimo's life in that critical moment.
As for Franky, the cyborg had turned to stone.
Though he is a pervert, his sexual orientation is normal, so he couldn't resist.
Brook became a stone skeleton instantly.
What did having no eyes matter? He could still see.
As long as there was lustful intent, it could not hide from Hancock's ability.
Before being petrified, he was still thinking about what color Hancock's panties were.
Chopper remained completely normal and utterly unfazed; human females simply don't compare to female reindeer in his eyes.
The spirit of the Merry was, ahem, petrified.
He is a boy, and Merry's personality is a combination of the Straw Hat crew.
Just Sanji's influence alone meant Merry couldn't escape this fate.
Nami, Robin, and Mikita felt nothing at all.
It seemed that since meeting Ray, they had become immune to anyone else's charm.
As for Mr. 2 Bon Clay, Bartolomeo, Mr. 3 Galdino, Miss Goldenweek, Gem, and the others, they stood no chance of avoiding petrification.
Interestingly, the great God Usopp closed his eyes and hid inside the cave the moment Hancock appeared, refusing to come out.
The Future Sight Haki he had awakened on the Sabaody Archipelago gave him ample time to avoid the risk.
Otherwise, being a normal man, he would certainly have turned to stone today.
Regarding the final four, Rayleigh and Shakky, being familiar with Hancock, had already begun avoiding the risk early on.
Even though Rayleigh was confident he could break the petrification with Haki, the amount required to counteract Hancock's ability was too great, and he didn't want to waste it here.
The two had also brought Kuma and Bonney behind a large rock.
Thus, those who remained conscious were Luffy, Zoro, Robin, Nami, Mikita, Usopp, Chopper, Rayleigh, Kuma, Shakky, and Bonney—eleven people in total.
Seeing these eleven unaffected individuals, Hancock fell into confusion.
But when she spotted Rayleigh and Shakky, her confused expression immediately turned to excitement.
It had been so long since she had last seen them.
Shakky was the former Pirate Empress of Amazon Lily and her senior, while Rayleigh was her savior who had rescued her.
Since Rayleigh was gathered with these people, did that mean she had misunderstood something?
Therefore, Hancock ordered her subordinates to cease their attack.
Using her long legs, she leaped directly to Rayleigh's side, and communication began.
...
One hour later, Boa Hancock had released everyone from their petrification.
She, Rayleigh, and the Straw Hat crew were all sitting together in the valley.
Hancock's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she watched Luffy eating meat.
Originally, she had been furious that Luffy had barged into her bath and seen the Celestial Dragon slave mark on her back.
But later, she learned from Rayleigh and Shakky that Luffy and his crew had actually killed four Celestial Dragons on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Upon hearing this news, Hancock felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
What she had always wanted but never dared to do, this Luffy had accomplished without hesitation alongside his pirate crew.
Even more shocking developments followed.
The Five Elders, the highest authority of the World Government and leaders of the Celestial Dragons, had been slaughtered by Ray from the Straw Hat Pirates.
Although she rarely paid attention to the news, Ray's reputation was too prominent; she had still heard about him through her subordinates' discussions.
He had slain Big Mom in the New World and Kaido soon follow after.
This time, he had killed five top Celestial Dragons—the Five Elders.
What kind of person could achieve such feats?
And as Ray's captain, what unique qualities did Luffy possess?
The Straw Hat Pirates were truly unlike anything she had ever encountered; so many of their members could resist her Devil Fruit powers, and their strength was terrifying.
The dignified Pirate Empress now stared at the Straw Hat crew members like a curious child, examining them one by one.
Consequently, Sanji voluntarily turned to stone again.
Hancock was somewhat puzzled; Luffy was the first person she had met who could ignore her Mero Mero Mellow, and Sanji was the first man who could be petrified by just her gaze.
'What a strange group of people.'
And those three women—why were they completely unaffected by her too?
Even Shakky had to avoid her Mero Mero Mellow, so why could Robin, Nami, and Mikita completely ignore her?
Hmm... Today, Hancock's understanding began to change, the world seemed different from what she had imagined.
...
Three hours later, Hancock concluded her conversation with Rayleigh
Just then, a short elderly woman came rushing over.
She was the former, former, former Empress of Amazon Lily—the empress before Shakky—Gloriosa.
"Hancock, the Marines are summoning you to Marineford again. They say it's to deal with the Whitebeard Pirates. If you don't go, the government will revoke your Shichibukai status. Oh, Rayleigh, Shakky, you're here too."
Then, Gloriosa glanced at the others present and was shocked, her mouth gaping wide.
"My goodness, the Straw Hat Pirates and two other Supernova crews? Heavens, Bartholomew Kuma—there's even another Shichibukai here? What in the world is happening?"
Hancock looked at Gloriosa's exaggerated behavior with disdain.
"You were a former empress—can't you be more composed?"
Gloriosa immediately retorted, "I'm doing this for your own good! If you refuse the government's summons this time, your Shichibukai status will be revoked, and our Amazon Lily will face a Marine siege."
Upon hearing this, Hancock fell into thought.
Though proud and confident, she didn't want to plunge all of Amazon Lily into war.
Hancock understood clearly that the power of the Island of Women could never withstand the government's forces.
"Then I'll set out another day. By the way, why is the government insisting I must go?" Hancock voiced her doubt.
At this, Gloriosa scanned the crowd and said very seriously, "Be prepared for what you're about to hear."
Rayleigh and Kuma had already guessed what she was going to say, but they didn't interrupt.
Gloriosa took a deep breath and announced it loudly.
"The government is going to publicly execute the Whitebeard Pirates' 2nd Division Commander—Fire Fist Ace! And then through this..."
Before she could finish speaking, the Straw Hat Pirates crew erupted first.
"Fire Fist Ace? Isn't that my brother? Granny, what did you say about Ace?" Luffy, who had been eating meat, hadn't heard the specific words clearly, only catching Ace's name.
After hearing this, Zoro clenched his teeth, his expression turning extremely serious.
"Well, this battle is going to be huge."
After their initial shock, Robin and Nami looked seriously at Luffy.
"Captain, should we find Ray first or save Ace first?"
At this moment, Luffy seemed to sense that something was wrong.
Usopp reminded him from the side, "Luffy, this old lady said the Marines are going to publicly execute your brother Ace."
Hearing this, Luffy slowly stopped chewing, his eyes trembling violently as if he were unwilling to believe it.
"How could Ace be captured by the Marines?"
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