Amazon Lily, Empress's bedchamber.
Hancock, like a docile kitten, curled bonelessly in Ian's arms. She looked up, her beautiful eyes reflecting Ian's face.
The fear had long since dissipated, replaced by an inexplicable dependence and infatuation.
These past three days, she felt as if she had lived again.
Her mind was no longer filled with cold dungeons and humiliating marks, but instead, it began to uncontrollably play out scenes of bizarre fantasies.
A grand wedding, enough to make the world take notice, with Ian wearing the gown she had personally sewn, placing a ring on her finger amidst everyone's blessings.
The more Hancock thought about it, the redder her face became. Looking at Ian's handsome face so close to her, her gaze grew even more fervent and hazy.
"What?" Ian felt Hancock's gaze, which almost seemed to melt him, and spoke languidly, "Haven't I fed you enough?"
Hancock gently shook her head, her cherry lips parting slightly, "This concubine just didn't expect it to be like this. This concubine always thought that This Young Master would be like that year... but I didn't expect it."
Her words stopped abruptly. She dared not, and could not, say the rest.
In short, she was very happy now, happier than ever before.
Ian smiled, "Not scared anymore?"
Just as Ian was about to revisit their old game, a knock sounded.
Gunko entered with a den den mushi, bowing, "This Young Master, we just received news from Marineford that Ace has been handed over to the Marine by Lafitte, the navigator of the Blackbeard Pirates."
Ian's hand, holding a feather, paused in mid-air. Then, a playful curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"In the future This Young Master saw, the Marine won this war, but it was a Pyrrhic victory."
"It's not that the Marine are incompetent, but that there are too many useless people within the Marine."
Because Gunko was still nearby, Hancock dared not make any sound, only biting her lip tightly, which caused her whole body to tense up.
Ian took in all of Hancock's reactions, a curve rising at the corner of his mouth.
"What a little glutton," Ian raised his hand to pinch her smooth chin, teasing with a smile, "Even more gluttonous than Nami."
Gunko understood, blushing slightly and turning her head away, cautiously speaking, "This Young Master, do you need to tell the Marine anything specific?"
Ian said unhurriedly, "Of course! You personally go to Marineford and tell Kizaru and Aokiji that if they dare to be passive after the Marineford War begins, This Young Master will personally twist off their heads and kick them like balls!"
"Also, tell Sengoku that This Young Master doesn't want casualty numbers, only a complete victory in this war. This Young Master wants the Whitebeard Pirates to completely disappear from this world!"
Gunko noted everything down one by one. A moment later, she cautiously spoke again.
"This Young Master, the whole world is now watching this war. If the Whitebeard Pirates come out in full force, the other three so-called Sea Emperors in the New World might take the opportunity to cause trouble."
She paused, adding, "Especially Kaido. In the God Valley battle that year, Whitebeard, Kaido, and Charlotte Linlin all chose to stand by Rocks at the crucial moment. If Whitebeard personally goes to Marineford, Kaido is very likely to seize the opportunity to make trouble, or even come directly to support Whitebeard!"
"That would be best," Ian sneered, "This Young Master will just use this opportunity to replicate the God Valley battlefield of that year. They escaped then, but this time This Young Master will make sure they have no return..."
Mid-sentence, Ian suddenly stopped, waving his hand, "Gunko, you go out first!"
"This Young Master is a bit hot-tempered right now!"
...When Gunko returned to the Empress's bedchamber again, it was two hours later.
Ian was already fully dressed, standing by the window, looking down at the daughter country still reveling below.
Before Gunko could speak, Ian said first, "If Kaido really makes a move, Shanks will most likely stop him."
"While you're at Marineford, contact Shamrock."
"Tell him to keep a close eye on Shanks' movements. If Red Hair really goes to stop Kaido, then have the God's Knights immediately raid all the Red Hair Pirates' territories!"
"Furthermore," Ian turned around, his black eyes gleaming with a cold light, "Tell the Gorosei to prepare for an all-out war and await This Young Master's orders at any time."
"If there is any delay, they will be severely punished!"
"Yes, This Young Master!" Gunko no longer lingered, turning and walking out quickly.
Gunko, upon leaving the palace, dared not delay. She immediately activated her Arrow-Arrow Fruit Ability, soaring into the air on a giant arrow made of bandages and heading straight for Marineford.
Soon, Gunko landed in front of the Marineford Marine Headquarters building.
Just then, the three Admirals who had finished their meeting, along with various Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals, successively walked out of the building.
Seeing this, Gunko decisively spoke, facing Kizaru and Aokiji, who were walking closely behind Akainu, and said coldly, "Kizaru, Aokiji, This Young Master sent This Lady here to give you an early warning. If you dare to fight passively in the war against the Whitebeard Pirates, you will bear the consequences yourself!"
Before her words finished, Gunko soared into the air, her arrow-footed form appearing outside the Fleet Admiral's office window, leaving Kizaru and Aokiji standing in place, staring at each other.
"Oh, how scary, to have Gunzogū-sama personally deliver the message!"
Kizaru blinked, looking up at the figure suspended outside the Fleet Admiral's office window on an arrow, and said languidly, "It seems Saint Ian-sama attaches great importance to this war."
Akainu turned his head to look at Kizaru, saying in a deep voice, "You all better be on your guard. If Saint Ian-sama blames you for fighting passively, none of you will keep your heads!"
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