North Blue: Waters near Lvneel Kingdom
The wind rolled gently across the sea, stirring the crimson sails of the Kuja Pirates' ship.
At the bow stood Boa Hancock.
Her gaze stretched across the horizon toward Lvneel Kingdom, eyes sharp yet distant, as if she were looking beyond what ordinary sight could perceive.
Behind her, the Kuja warriors murmured quietly among themselves. The fight with Admiral Kizaru had ended strangely. No clear victor, no decisive conclusion. And yet Hancock remained there, unmoving, staring into the distance.
Then suddenly—
Her body stiffened.
Her eyes widened.
Her heart began to race.
Thump.
Thump.
'…He's here.'
Even though the ship was still too far away for anyone else to see clearly, Hancock could feel it. A presence she recognized instinctively.
Tenjin.
Her chest tightened.
Behind her, Sandersonia tilted her head. "Sister?"
Marigold leaned forward slightly. "Did something happen?"
Hancock didn't answer.
Far on the horizon—
A new ship appeared.
A Marine warship.
At first it was only a silhouette against the sunlight, but as it sailed closer, its unique design became unmistakable.
A massive dog-shaped figurehead at the bow.
Kizaru saw it too.
His relaxed expression shifted slightly as he scratched his cheek.
"Ooooh~," he murmured. "This is troublesome."
He adjusted his glasses.
"Vice Admiral Garp has arrived."
The Kuja pirates erupted in alarm.
"What?!"
"Another Marine warship!"
"Snake Princess-sama, we should retreat!"
"An Admiral and Vice Admiral together is too dangerous!"
But Hancock didn't move.
She stood completely still at the bow, eyes glowing faintly.
Little hearts practically swirled in her pupils.
Sandersonia blinked.
"Sister…?"
Marigold frowned. "Why are you… smiling?"
Hancock clasped her hands together near her chest.
'He's coming…'
The Marine ship closed the distance quickly.
At its bow stood a broad-shouldered old man laughing loudly.
Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp.
"HAHAHAHA!" Garp's booming voice echoed across the sea. "I told Sengoku not to bring an Admiral!"
Behind him stood several familiar figures.
Bogard, calm as ever, adjusting his hat.
Koby and Helmeppo standing nearby, eyes wide as they stared at the scene unfolding ahead.
And then—
Another figure stepped forward.
Tenjin.
The young Marine captain walked calmly to the bow of the ship, stopping beside Garp.
He looked directly at Kizaru.
"If you think I'm just going to let you capture me without a fight," Tenjin said flatly, "then you must be mistaken."
His confidence was obvious.
After all.
Vice Admiral Garp stood beside him.
Kizaru raised both hands lazily.
"That was the original plan~," he admitted. "But orders have changed."
He gestured casually toward the two ships.
"Besides… I wouldn't be able to take you anyway."
Tenjin frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Kizaru tilted his head.
"With two monsters protecting you it would be impossible."
Tenjin blinked.
"…Two?"
Kizaru slowly lifted a finger and pointed across the water.
Toward the Kuja ship.
Toward Boa Hancock.
"She's been protecting you as well."
For a moment—
Everyone froze.
Tenjin turned slowly toward Hancock.
The Kuja pirates looked at their Empress.
Koby and Helmeppo stared in disbelief.
Bogard quietly watched the entire exchange with interest.
Tenjin scratched his head slightly.
"…Thank you, I guess."
That was all he said.
Across the water—
Boa Hancock lost her mind.
"IT'S NO TROUBLE AT ALL!!!" she shouted instantly.
Her face flushed bright red.
Then she lowered her head slightly and began mumbling to herself.
"…He thanked me… he's so kind… he must love me…"
She clasped her cheeks dreamily.
"He said he loves me…"
Sandersonia and Marigold froze.
Slowly—
Horribly—
They realized what was happening.
"Oh no," Sandersonia muttered.
Marigold's face paled.
"Sister… please don't start…"
But it was too late.
Hancock had already entered full delusion mode.
On the Marine ship—
Garp burst into laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
He slapped Tenjin on the back hard enough to nearly knock him off balance.
"You're quite the lady killer, kid!"
Tenjin grimaced. "That's not what's happening."
Koby leaned forward nervously.
"Vice Admiral Garp… isn't that Boa Hancock?"
Helmeppo nodded quickly. "Yeah! One of the Seven Warlords!"
Bogard folded his arms calmly. "It would appear Captain Tenjin has made quite the impression."
Garp scratched his nose.
"Hmm… speaking of that…"
He turned toward Hancock.
"Well now," Garp said loudly. "Boa Hancock is still technically a pirate that disrupted official Marine business."
He cracked his knuckles dramatically.
"Maybe I should capture her while I'm here."
The Kuja pirates gasped.
But Garp suddenly waved his hand dismissively.
"Ah, never mind. I'll let it slide this time."
Tenjin sighed.
"That's reassuring."
Then suddenly.
Hancock leapt across the sea.
She landed gracefully on the deck of Garp's ship, directly in front of Tenjin.
Everyone froze.
Hancock placed a hand on her chest and stared deeply into Tenjin's eyes.
"Tenjin."
Her voice trembled slightly.
Tenjin blinked.
"Yes?"
Hancock took a dramatic breath.
"Marry me."
Silence.
Then—
"EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!?!"
The entire battlefield erupted.
Koby's jaw dropped.
Helmeppo screamed.
The Kuja pirates fainted.
Sandersonia grabbed her head.
Marigold collapsed to her knees.
Even Bogard raised an eyebrow.
Meanwhile—
Tenjin calmly reached into a crate beside him, picked up a random fruit, and took a bite.
"…No."
Everyone froze again.
Tenjin continued chewing.
"I won't marry a pirate."
Hancock's brain malfunctioned.
"…!"
But somehow
Somehow
Her mind twisted those words.
Her face exploded with joy.
"He said… he won't marry a pirate…!"
She clasped her hands together.
"That means if I stop being a pirate he'll marry me!!!"
A giant imaginary love arrow pierced her chest.
"KYAAAAAAA!!!"
Hancock collapsed backwards in pure bliss.
The Kuja pirates scrambled forward immediately.
"Snake Princess-sama!"
"Catch her!"
"Don't let her hit the ground!"
Sandersonia and Marigold grabbed their sister as she fainted dramatically.
Garp stared at the entire scene.
"…This is weird."
Koby nodded nervously. "Very weird."
Helmeppo whispered, "Is this normal for Warlords?"
Bogard shook his head. "Not usually."
Garp scratched his chin.
"…Yeah. We should probably leave."
Tenjin nodded calmly, still eating his fruit.
"Agreed."
The Marine ship slowly began turning away from the chaos behind them.
Meanwhile, on the Kuja ship—
Hancock was still unconscious, smiling blissfully.
"Tenjin…" she whispered dreamily.
"…my husband…"
Sandersonia buried her face in her hands.
"This is going to be a problem."
---
Find early chapters and daily updates on my patreon
[Patreon.com/tenten100?]