Windless Zone, Amazon Lily.
Sunlight filtered through the gauzy curtains of the Nine Serpents Imperial Palace, spilling onto the throne.
Boa Hancock finished her nap on the throne, waking up groggily.
Hmm?
Why is drool at the corner of my mouth again? Did I dream about that man again?
But what good does dreaming do?
Even though she is the Nine Serpent Empress, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, universally acknowledged as the world's most beautiful woman.
What you can't have, you still can't have...
She bit her lower lip, a little dejected, as she just sat up straight, her long fingers brushed against something, instantly raising her eyebrows. She gently picked up a newspaper from the throne.
"Sonia, what is this?"
She lazily glanced at her sister beside her.
"Elder sister, Granny Zaz just sent the latest newspaper."
Sanda Soniya smiled brightly, "I saw you were sleeping soundly, so I made sure she didn't disturb you, but Granny Zaz said, once you see it, you'll definitely be happy. Oh, I think so too."
Really?
Hancock rubbed her forehead with one hand, while casually flipping through the newspaper with the other.
Upon opening it, the bold headline immediately caught her eye - [First in History! World Government and Navy Headquarters' Villains' Bounty Order Released Publicly!]
Swish!
A pile of warrants slipped out simultaneously.
Hancock's gaze instinctively swept over them...
[Navy Headquarters Grand Admiral, "Akainu" Sakazuki, Bounty 3.5 billion Belly!]
[Five Elders "Financial Martial God" Nusjuro, Bounty 6 billion Belly!]
...
[All Heavenly Celestial Dragons, bounty 1 billion Belly each!]
"Celestial Dragons… have been warranted?"
Hancock was stunned, what was this situation, was she seeing it wrong?
Just seeing these three words made memories flood back like a tidal wave.
The hoof of the Flying Dragon branded in childhood, the cries of Holy Land Marie Geoise, those twistedly smug faces of the cloaked "gods"... her back seemed to burn painfully again.
Finally, it's reversed, these Celestial Dragons become bounty targets now?
Who did this?!
Could it be, could it be...
Hancock's eyes shone, she quickly unfolded the newspaper again, reading carefully.
Sure enough, the newspaper followed up with a feature report, detailing the crimes of these Navy and World Government high officials, and the detailed reason behind Endgame releasing the warrant.
In the end, the leader of Endgame himself, declared to the world, that he would protect anyone daring to strike against the Celestial Dragons!
Endgame's territory is the real Holy Land where the World Government and the Celestial Dragons could never intrude!
For the sake of layout, this feature report naturally came with photos.
The handsome young man in the photo, with black hair flying, exuded a whimsical charm mixed with a strangely irresistible friendliness and softness.
Hancock gazed at this photo, entranced for a while.
"Elder sister?"
Seeing Hancock suddenly freeze, Sanda Soniya and Marigold exchanged a worried glance, softly calling out.
Hancock remained unresponsive, still motionless.
She stared at the face she longed for day and night in the photo, her breathing gradually quickened, her pale cheeks flushed with two spots of pink.
"Oh no, elder sister might be falling ill again, right?"
Her two sisters were equally shocked, the last time her sister fell ill, they had spent great effort just to stabilize the situation.
Sure enough, the next second.
"Ah~~~"
Hancock suddenly let out a soft sigh, her whole body almost collapsing onto the throne, her legs unconsciously rubbing together:
"Truly, Lord Xiano, daring to warrant even Celestial Dragons, even the Five Elders, such a Haki, such a formidable man..."
Her gaze was dreamy, her fingertips lightly caressing the photo of Shano on the newspaper, her voice thinning to an inaudible whisper:
"I, I have already... Eek!"
She completely fell, her breaths shallow and difficult, her face entirely scarlet.
"Elder sister!"
Sanda Soniya hurriedly stepped forward to hold Hancock.
She touched, whether it was the forehead or the skin, everything was scorching, the temperature intimidating.
Seeing this, Marigold panicked too: "Elder sister, get hold of yourself! This, this is just a newspaper, isn't it..."
"Newspaper?"
Though Hancock found breathing difficult, she still managed to whisper: "No, this isn't just a newspaper, don't you see, these words convey Lord Xiano's will shining brightly, such brilliance, so dazzling..."
Finished.
Her two sisters increasingly felt unease.
To even speak of newspapers glowing.
This nonsense level, clearly the malady is even worse than last time.
Broo Broo~
Just as the sisters were fumbling, the Radio Snail in the palace corner suddenly rang.
Sanda Soniya quickly went to answer it.
As soon as the connection was made, Granny Zaz's urgent voice came through the receiver:
"Sonia! Quickly have the Snake Princess take the call, Admiral Kong personally called, saying there's some major war about to start, and the Snake Princess must attend a meeting at Marinfanto within seven days!"
"Now?"
Sanda Soniya looked worriedly towards the throne.
At this moment, Hancock was ignoring her own condition, clutching the newspaper curled up, cheek rosy rubbing against Shano's photo, just like a drunken kitten.
"Uh, maybe you better come to see for yourself, we are currently quite distressed..."
Sanda Soniya gently suggested, following after Hancock's last severe punishment, respect towards Granny Zaz and the nationals had been regained, and further, they too had grown to revere this elder.
"Elder sister might not... be able to take the call anytime soon."