Chapter 39: The Empress: "I Am the Current Ruler of This Kingdom!"
Amazon Lily — Empress's Private Chambers
Granny Nyon, Sandersonia, Marigold, and every Kuja present stared in stunned silence at the handsome young man strolling in.
They could barely process it.
Someone had actually killed a Celestial Dragon.
And that someone was standing right in front of them, casual as you please.
Granny Nyon, having lived through multiple eras, knew better than anyone how untouchable Celestial Dragons were.
Countless people died every year at their hands, directly or indirectly.
Yet their throne never shook.
One insult, and an Admiral was dispatched.
That was the terror of their authority.
Even Sandersonia and Marigold, who carried the deepest scars from Mariejois, looked at Rok with newfound respect and awe.
"This must be Granny Nyon. Don't worry. Luffy and I will leave Amazon Lily soon. We won't drag the Kuja into this."
Rok set the petrified Marine Commodore down like a piece of furniture and spoke sincerely.
He had overheard the entire argument.
Truthfully, the old woman wasn't wrong.
From the kingdom's perspective, he and Luffy were walking disasters.
One leak, and the entire island could be wiped out.
He had no intention of endangering these people.
What he hadn't expected.
Was Hancock protecting him so fiercely.
Rok glanced at her.
And met a pair of deep blue eyes brimming with affection.
His heart skipped.
…Oh no.
He'd gone and caught the world's most beautiful woman's heart.
"Good. Very good. I admire your actions, young man. In decades, I've never seen someone your age with such courage. The seas are about to get very exciting."
"But still, leave as quickly as possible. Amazon Lily needs peace."
Granny Nyon's voice was heavy.
She genuinely respected him.
But peace came first.
Rok opened his mouth to agree.
BAM!
A gorgeous figure blurred.
Granny Nyon, snake staff and all, was punted straight out the window by a single kick.
"Damn old hag! I am the current ruler of this kingdom! As long as I'm here, no one expels Rok!"
Hancock landed gracefully beside Rok, cheeks slightly pink, voice uncharacteristically shy:
"Rok… wherever I am… that place is your home."
"?!"
Rok froze.
From ice queen to lovesick maiden in one night?!
Even with mental preparation, this was too fast.
Sandersonia and everyone else: jaw on the floor.
Their proud, man-hating, world's-most-beautiful big sister.
Blushing and stammering because of a guy?!
"Hancock… I need a favor."
Rok decided not to poke the romance bomb just yet.
He was a healthy man. Of course he wasn't immune to her beauty.
And she was clearly the devoted type.
But Nami and Robin were still in danger.
No time for flirting.
"Hancock… Rok called me by my name… I-I'm so happy…!"
Hancock nearly swooned.
Rok caught her before she hit the floor.
The contact made her face explode into crimson.
Sandersonia and the others looked like they'd seen ghosts.
Their arrogant Empress had a shy maiden mode?!
"Speak, Rok. Anything you want. I'll do it."
After a long moment of internal screaming, Hancock regained (some) composure.
"First, un-petrify this Marine. It's safe, I promise."
"Second, accept the mandatory Shichibukai summons."
"This isn't just for your people. I need you with me at Marineford."
He laid everything out: Ace's execution. Nami and Robin captured. The public execution at Headquarters.
Hancock didn't hesitate for a single second.
The moment she heard "Rok needs me".
Decision made.
Marineford? Fine.
If Rok was going, she was going.
Granny Nyon, who had just climbed back through the window, heard the answer and exhaled in relief.
Rok had actually solved a massive crisis for them.
Refusing the summons would've doomed the island.
Accepting it saved them.
And now the Empress was willingly walking into the lion's den.
For a man.
Soon.
Under Hancock's power, the petrified Commodore was restored to flesh.
"Sh-Shichibukai… Pirate Empress?!"
Hancock had restrained her charm and was hiding slightly behind Rok, so the man wasn't instantly lovestruck.
But he still recognized the world's most beautiful woman immediately.
Then he saw Rok.
His face went stiff as a board.
"Heh. Commodore Barrens. What's with that look? Forgot me already after just a few days?"
Rok's smile was all teeth.
"Y-You!!! Rok?! Why are you here?! With the Shichibukai?!"
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