Calm Belt
Nine Snake Island — The Daughter Nation
"Five Emperors, Sugisawa Yuuto!"
"The Fifth Sea Emperor!"
"It's really him!"
"Why is the Fifth Emperor Sugisawa Yuuto here?"
"Did he actually come for Lady Snake Princess?"
"What on earth is this man planning to do!?"
The warriors of the Nine Snakes who recognized him couldn't help but cry out in alarm.
"Daughters of the Nine Snakes, don't be so tense. I have no ill intentions," Yuuto said, raising a hand casually. "I just happened to be passing through and noticed you all holding a banquet… so— I came uninvited!"
Despite his easy tone, the Nine Snake warriors remained on guard.
After all, this was the man who had indirectly defeated two Warlords of the Sea within half a year. No one could take him lightly.
Even if the outside world still doubted his title as one of the Five Emperors, and some even mocked him as a "false emperor," the Nine Snakes knew better.
A man with a bounty of 1.5 billion was no pretender — even if he wasn't an Emperor, he stood just below them.
Someone of that level wasn't to be provoked casually.
"Relax," Yuuto said with a helpless smile. "I truly didn't come looking for trouble. If anything, I just came to enjoy a meal. And as for the bill—" he gestured toward the coins, "—I already had someone pay it for you."
Margaret blinked, then hurried to show Sandersonia the money that Bonney had left earlier.
"Lady Sonia, this really was left by that girl earlier. Maybe… what he said is true!"
After all, if someone came with bad intentions, why would they pay in advance?
"This situation's beyond us now," Sandersonia said gravely. "Only my sister can decide."
Guardian Kikyo nodded toward Margaret.
"Go find your mother-in-law. Now."
"I understand!" Margaret whispered, retreating swiftly.
The tense standoff at the port dragged on for ten long minutes—
until, finally, a wave of cheers broke out among the Nine Snakes.
"Lady Serpent!"
"Lady Hancock!"
"Her Majesty, the Snake Princess, is here!"
The gathered warriors parted instinctively as a noble figure appeared—
regal, cold, breathtakingly beautiful.
She was the ruler of the Nine Snakes, the Empress of the Daughter Nation—
and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—
Boa Hancock.
Nine years ago, the eighteen-year-old Hancock had stunned the world on her very first expedition as Empress, earning a bounty of 80 million berries from the World Government.
But her beauty had made her even more famous than her strength.
Men and women alike fell before her charm.
Her looks could kill — quite literally.
The Sweet-Sweet Fruit's power allowed her to turn any who gazed upon her beauty to stone.
That same beauty had given rise to her overwhelming arrogance.
"Sister," Sandersonia said urgently, stepping forward to brief her.
"It's him… the Fifth Emperor, Sugisawa Yuuto. We're not sure why he's here, so please be cautious—"
"It doesn't matter," Hancock interrupted coolly, her flawless face serene.
"Whether Four Emperors or Five—such titles are meaningless. For my beauty surpasses all."
She finished with her signature line:
"Because this concubine… is simply too beautiful!"
Yuuto couldn't help but chuckle from his ship.
In a flash, he stepped onto the shore, facing the Empress calmly.
"The Pirate Empress, one of the Seven Warlords—Boa Hancock. I've heard plenty about you."
His gaze softened slightly. "By the way… do you want to join my Fairy Tail?"
The silence that followed was thunderous.
"What… what did he just say?"
"He invited Lady Snake to join Fairy Tail?!"
"Impossible!"
"Who does this man think he is?!"
"Even if he's a so-called Emperor, Lady Snake would never—!"
The warriors trembled, torn between outrage and fear.
No one dared to speak too loudly before the man known as a sea emperor.
Hancock, however, feared nothing. She smirked, eyes half-lidded in contempt.
"You wish for this concubine to join you? Foolish dream. If you kneel down and kiss my toes right now, perhaps I might consider it."
Before Yuuto could respond, Bonney—already seething—burst out:
"What the hell are you saying?! If you don't want to join, then don't! Who do you think you are—the center of the world? The most beautiful woman alive? Please. Don't flatter yourself!"
The Nine Snake warriors froze in horror.
No one had ever dared speak to the Empress that way.
And yet, Hancock did not rage.
Instead, she tilted her head delicately, lips curving into a coy smile.
A faint blush rose on her perfect cheeks as she whispered softly:
"Mero Mero Mellow!"
A pink beam of light shot forward.
"Bonney, watch out!"
Urrutia, seeing the future with her magic, shoved Bonney aside—
and was struck herself.
In an instant, Urrutia turned to stone.
"Miss Tia!!!" Bonney cried, panicked. "I'm sorry! It's my fault! I'm so sorry!"
Hancock's smile grew proud.
But the next moment—her expression froze.
A shadow loomed over her from behind.
A suffocating presence swallowed the air itself.
"Behind you—!!!"
"Lady Hancock!!!"
The Nine Snakes screamed in alarm.
"I could ignore your arrogance," Yuuto's calm voice said from behind her.
"Even your insult—I could let it slide. But…"
His tone turned sharp.
"…no one harms my partners."
A thunderous roar shook the island.
The overwhelming might of the Dragon King surged from Yuuto's body.
The air itself seemed to crack under his aura.
The Nine Snakes trembled uncontrollably, their bodies frozen in terror.
Even the heavens seemed to dim.
"If anything happens to my comrade," Yuuto's voice became a cold whisper,
"not only you—but this entire island will be drowned in blood."
For the first time in years, the proud Pirate Empress felt true fear.
Her beauty, her confidence—none of it mattered in front of this man.
Her heart raced wildly. She could barely breathe.
"Snake! Stop—now!!!"
An old, anxious voice broke through the tension.
"Mother-in-law!"
"The Elder is here!"
"Thank goodness!"
The Nine Snake warriors looked toward the elderly woman approaching.
It was Gloriosa, the former Empress.
"I'm so sorry, Fifth Emperor Sugisawa Yuuto!" she said, bowing repeatedly.
"Hancock acted rashly. Please, forgive her!"
Yuuto didn't move.
His aura still pressed down upon everyone like a storm.
"Snake, listen to me!" Gloriosa pleaded.
"Even if the world wouldn't blame you, would you really let your own people suffer because of your pride?"
Sandersonia and Marigold rushed to her side.
"Sister, please—!"
For a long moment, Hancock's lips trembled.
Then, at last, she sighed softly.
Her hands formed a heart once more, releasing the petrification.
"Miss Tia, you're back!" Bonney sobbed in relief, hugging Urrutia tightly.
"It's alright," Urrutia said gently. "We were the ones who barged in first. Let's not make things worse."
Yuuto remained silent.
Then, slowly, the crushing Dragon King's aura receded.
The Nine Snakes gasped for breath in unison, their faces pale.
"President Sugisawa Yuuto of Fairy Tail," Gloriosa said, her tone respectful.
"We didn't realize it was you. Please, allow us to offer proper hospitality—"
"No need." Yuuto waved his hand coldly.
"This is the first and last time."
He stepped lightly onto the air. The magic-powered vessel rose under him.
"And take back what I said earlier," he added, turning his gaze toward Hancock.
"A woman like you… isn't worthy of Fairy Tail."
He stomped once.
BOOM!
A deafening crack split the harbor.
A fissure tore through the port, across the city wall, and into the mountain beyond.
The ground rumbled violently before falling silent.
Gasps filled the air.
The destructive force of a single stomp was enough to devastate the island—
and yet, he had shown restraint.
"The president of Fairy Tail… the Fifth Emperor, Sugisawa Yuuto," Gloriosa murmured, her expression solemn.
"This man is far more terrifying than the news suggests. He's a true Emperor."
"Underneath his calm smile lies a beast," she continued.
"Touch his reverse scale—his partners—and you'll see his wrath. It happened at Enies Lobby, and it happened here. Remember that, Snake."
Normally, Hancock would have brushed her off.
But this time, she said nothing.
Her mind echoed with one word.
Unworthy.
That night, though the nation had avoided destruction, the Nine Snakes ended their celebrations early.
At dawn, Hancock sat bolt upright in bed.
"That hateful man dared to say… that I'm unworthy?"
The next day.
"Damn him! What's so great about Fairy Tail anyway!?"
Late that night—
"The concubine is so beautiful… how could he say that about me?"
Days passed.
And though she tried to ignore it, the image of Sugisawa Yuuto's face only grew clearer in her mind.
For the first time in her life, a man had left an imprint in her heart.
Four days after leaving Nine Snake Island—
Sugisawa Yuuto had already returned to his usual calm.
Buru buru buru—
The Den Den Mushi buzzed.
"President Sugisawa Yuuto," came the voice of News King Morgans.
"Those dead men are starting to move."
"Oh?" Yuuto's eyes narrowed. "So it's finally begun."
New World — Dressrosa, Underground Trading Port
"Hahaha!"
"It's finally starting—the Fairy Tail Annihilation Plan!"
"All that planning won't go to waste this time!"
"To die under this 'Monster Slaying Operation'—they should be honored!"
"Over a hundred pirate crews have joined this alliance!" someone boasted during the video conference of underworld figures.
"Of course! Fairy Tail's own actions drew this upon themselves!"
"They play heroes of the people—let them pay the price for it!"
"Heroes? Ha! The price of being a hero… is death!"
"Fairy Tail may be strong—no pirate crew can match them short of the Four Emperors. That's exactly why everyone united. We'll crush them before they can strike first!"
"But what about the spoils? The Golden Clock Tower won't split itself!"
"Bah, the Clock Tower's nothing. I'm more interested in the Fairy Tail women—each one's a beauty!"
"Hahaha! Bring them alive and you'll get three hundred million berries apiece!"
"Five hundred!"
"Six hundred!"
The underworld roared with laughter.
The First Half of the Grand Line — Baituan Island
Over a hundred pirate crews had gathered here, forming the Hundred Regiment Alliance. The island itself took its name from them.
"Hahaha!"
"The 'Monster Slaying Operation' begins now!"
"The Golden Clock Tower will be mine!"
"I'll crush that so-called Fifth Emperor myself!"
"As long as we seize their ship and capture their comrades, Sugisawa Yuuto will crumble!"
"Right now, the Five Emperor's probably lazing around in South Blue—he has no idea what's coming!"
"Alright, boys—let's go!!!"
And with that, a massive pirate fleet of one hundred and thirty-two ships surged forward—
toward Fairy Tail.
...
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