Chapter 208: Training Begins
"Eric !" Seeing the two discussing the alliance, Hancock joyfully approached.
"We'll be meeting often from now on, right?"
Looking at Hancock's eager face, Eric felt awkward and was about to say, "I'm just here to complete the system task."
Although Boa Hancock was humorously dubbed the ugliest world's most beautiful woman by some readers, the Hancock standing before Eric genuinely smelled pleasant!
"I'm sorry, Pirate Empress," Kurumi, playing the villain once again, stepped in, "I'm afraid I can't let you and Eric meet often."
After hitting a dead end, Hancock didn't show any impatience but instead suggested, "Since Eric wants to train, he could train here on Daughter Island! Our Nine Snake warriors aren't weak."
"We've already decided on a training spot, and," Kurumi kept smiling, "I'm afraid that among the Nine Snake warriors, only you would be a match for us."
"Also, Amazon Lily's rules don't allow men to step onto the island. Aside from Eric , we have many other male crew members."
"Where will you train, then? I can send food and clothes to Eric ?"
"There's no need for that," Kurumi was not foolish enough to reveal their training location, which would only allow the new rival to frequently meet Eric .
Pretending to be gentle and refined in front of Eric , Hancock finally couldn't help but explode, "What exactly is your relationship with Eric ?! You keep interfering with me and Eric talking!"
With a victorious expression, Kurumi smiled, "I'm the one who has promised to spend the rest of my life with Eric ."
"Clunk."
Hancock felt as if her chest was struck by a rifle. She staggered backward and almost lost her balance.
"You... you're married to Eric ?" Hancock asked, trembling, as she finally voiced her greatest concern.
"When..."
"No, Eric is my man," Esdeath's voice, sharp as a breaking ice shard, interrupted Kurumi.
The small-framed Kurumi, wearing black boots, turned and faced Esdeath with ease.
The two women, usually at odds, were now silently facing each other, like the calm before a storm.
"What? It was all a lie," Hancock softly touched her chest, finally at ease.
Beside her, Gloriosa watched Esdeath and Kurumi, who were at least as beautiful as Hancock—if not more—and thought, 'Eric , could it be that he plans to use his womanizing skills to overthrow the World Government?'
Seeing even the icy Hancock easily taken down, Gloriosa couldn't help but wonder, 'Could it be... he intends to woo all the princesses from allied nations, and without bloodshed, seize all their thrones to create a new world government?'
...
The next day, as they were about to part, Hancock unwillingly asked, "Eric , when will we meet again?"
Eric pulled out the life paper he had prepared and handed it to Hancock, "This is my life paper, with my snail phone number. If you need anything urgently or want to contact me (whispering), you can call me."
"So this is the life paper that can attract each other? This is my first time seeing it." Hancock carefully accepted it and placed it on her chest...
"Gulp," seeing the scene, Eric couldn't help but swallow.
Gloriosa observed everything silently, thinking, 'The life paper from the New World... so he really did just return from the New World...'
"Eric , can't you stay a little longer? There's still so much delicious food on Amazon Lily you haven't tasted." Hancock tried to persuade again. One day wasn't enough, and every time they had a chance to talk, that girl with the twin tails kept interrupting.
"Mm, mm." Akame nodded repeatedly behind Eric , having been enjoying Amazon Lily's food non-stop, and the chefs were exhausted from serving them.
Eric placed his hands on Hancock's delicate shoulders, the warmth of his palms transmitting to her.
Hancock immediately stiffened, her face turning red, steam rising from her head.
"I'm still too weak right now, I need to get stronger. Only when I overthrow the World Government can I free you from the shackles of the Seven Warlords. I hope you understand, Hancock."
Hancock weakly nodded and whispered, "Is this what marriage is... grabbing my shoulders and calling my name?"
The others replied in unison, "No."
After the farewell, Eric and the others boarded the ship and left.
"Eric !" Hancock stood on the shore, waving her hand high, "Remember to come back to see me!"
"I'll come see you after this training!" Eric replied loudly, "You need to become stronger too, Hancock!"
Hearing Eric 's words, the girls behind them felt sharp glances piercing through them.
"Yes, Eric !"
...
"Ah, they're leaving…" Watching the steel warship disappear into the horizon, Hancock sighed, her heart feeling like a piece of it had been hollowed out.
Sandersonia comforted her, "Sister, there will be another chance to meet again."
Marigold followed with, "Yes, sister."
The ever-appearing Gloriosa popped up again beside the three sisters, "Snake Empress, you really are a naive girl."
"What did you say?!" Hancock's anger flared, her forehead veins bulging, and she almost tossed the old woman who had annoyed her.
Her two younger sisters quickly stopped Hancock.
"Since Eric gave you the life paper, you can easily use it to find them," Grandma New ignored Hancock, who was now acting like a kitten.
"Right." Hearing Grandma New's words, Hancock suddenly had an epiphany.
"Based on their departure direction, I suspect they went to Luscaina for training." Grandma New said, "With its extreme climate and fierce beasts, it's a great place for training."
"Isn't that near Daughter Island?" Hancock clapped her hands, "Then I can send food to Eric every day..."
"Stop it, Hancock." Grandma New stopped Hancock's actions, "You'll only make things worse. Never underestimate a man's determination to get stronger."
"Instead of trying to see Eric , focus on getting stronger, so he won't be able to do without your strength."
Gloriosa's words struck Hancock's heart like a heavy blow.
...
Eric and the others had just arrived on Ruskaina.
"Roar!" A giant roar met them.
The timid Perona and Porche hugged each other. "Ugh~ Do we really have to train here for a year?"
"Yes," Eric looked up at the towering mountains in the distance, "It's very dangerous here. You need to improve your Haki quickly, or you won't even be able to sleep peacefully at night."
"Ah! I want to go back!" Perona shouted, running back toward the ship.
She was immediately grabbed by Esdeath.
"Chiron-sensei, this week you'll need to teach them Haki first. Carla and Kana are still weak, so you'll need to take extra care of them."
Deidara, looking gloomy at being assigned to the newbie group, couldn't even use Armament Haki and had to start from scratch.
"Leave it to me, Captain," Chiron said kindly.
"Next week, it'll be the Master, then Esdeath, and then me. We'll take turns teaching every week until the year-long training ends."
The two named individuals nodded in agreement.
As the main fighting force, the group spread out across Ruskaina.
The year-long training had finally begun!
(END CHAPTER)
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