"Finally back!"
Looking at the massive port before her, a smile appeared on Hancock's face.
"Serpent Princess!!"
"Wonderful, the Serpent Princess has returned safely!"
Hearing the crowd's words, Hancock smiled and nodded to them.
"Huh?"
Seeing this scene, Sandersonia was momentarily stunned.
Then, she leaned close to Marigold and said, "I feel like our sister's temperament has changed quite a bit."
"I feel the same way..." Marigold replied.
In the past, their sister would never be this enthusiastic - at most she would give a glance or a slight nod.
But this time she...
After thinking for a moment, Marigold glanced at Sandersonia's back and said, "Perhaps it's because of that."
Sandersonia paused briefly, then nodded. "You're right."
Now they no longer needed to worry about people seeing the marks on their backs, so there was no need to maintain such aloofness.
Looking at Hancock's retreating figure, smiles appeared on both Sandersonia and Marigold's faces.
If possible... they hoped their sister would smile more often.
Soon, the Kuja Ship reached the shore and docked steadily.
Seeing Hancock disembark from the Kuja Ship with her crew, the crowd became excited again with their cheers.
"Serpent Princess!"
"Welcome back!"
Hearing this, Hancock smiled and nodded to these people, then walked along the red carpet toward her chamber.
Meanwhile, Sandersonia said, "Go and unload all the supplies from the ship."
"Supplies?"
Hearing Sandersonia's words, the others were momentarily confused.
Hadn't the Nine Serpent Pirates gone out to retrieve the Serpent Princess? How did they acquire supplies?
Could it be... they encountered some unlucky souls along the way?
"Yes, supplies," Sandersonia said. "We actually plundered a warship."
Recalling the warship that had delivered Sister Hancock earlier, Sandersonia couldn't help but smile.
Although there were no treasures or similar items aboard, even just taking the military supplies was enough for them to profit handsomely!
"To actually plunder a warship... as expected of the Serpent Princess!"
"So amazing!"
"Quick, go aboard and unload the supplies!"
"Right away!"
The warriors immediately rushed onto the Kuja Ship upon receiving the command.
After watching the warriors depart, Sandersonia said to Marigold, "Let's go, we should follow Sister back to her chamber."
"Alright."
Marigold nodded, then quickly followed beside Sandersonia as they hurried to catch up with Hancock.
Soon, the three of them returned to Hancock's chamber.
"Welcome back, Lady Hancock," Enishida said respectfully.
"Mmm."
Hancock nodded, then asked, "Has Meiser returned?"
"Lord Meiser returned to Kuja Island half a day ago."
At these words, Hancock's eyes instantly lit up.
"Meiser has already returned?!" Hancock asked, "Where is he?"
To think the Meiser she had been longing for had already returned... this was truly wonderful!
'He's back already?'
Sandersonia and Marigold exchanged glances, both showing surprised expressions, clearly not expecting him to return to Kuja Island before them.
"Lord Meiser is with Granny Nyon," Enishida said.
"Granny Nyon..."
Hancock thought for a moment, then nodded. "Very well, I understand."
Having said that, Hancock glanced at her two younger sisters and said, "Come, let's go bathe first."
Marigold showed a puzzled expression, clearly not expecting her elder sister to intend to bathe before meeting Meiser.
However, she didn't say anything more, simply nodding before obediently following her elder sister as they left the area.
"During the time I was away at war, did anything happen in the village?" Hancock asked as they walked.
"Nothing at all," Enishida shook her head. "The village remains exactly as it was."
"That's good," Hancock smiled and nodded.
"Hmm?"
Seeing Hancock's smiling face, Enishida instinctively felt something was different.
'Why does Serpent Princess seem changed?' Enishida wondered to herself.
Was it just her imagination?
With this thought, Enishida followed the others to the hot spring pool.
"Serpent Princess, call me if you need anything," Enishida said, standing at the entrance.
"Hmm... prepare a cup of wine for me."
"Yes, Serpent Princess!"
After watching the three enter, Enishida murmured, "Serpent Princess really does seem different somehow."
What could have happened to make Serpent Princess change like this?
Thinking this, Enishida fell into deep thought.
After pondering for a while and realizing she couldn't figure it out, Enishida decisively gave up thinking.
"If I can't understand it, I won't think about it anymore," Enishida shook her head.
After all... this version of Serpent Princess was better, wasn't she!
Then, Enishida turned and walked toward a nearby building.
"Ahh~"
"Soaking in the hot spring really is the most comfortable," Hancock said.
As she spoke, Hancock adjusted to a more comfortable position in the hot spring, looking completely at ease.
"Indeed," Sandersonia agreed with a nod.
If not for the lack of hot spring facilities on their ship, she would want to bathe like this every day.
Just then, Enishida's voice came from outside.
"Serpent Princess, I've prepared your wine. May I come in?"
"Enter."
"Yes!"
With permission granted, Enishida entered and respectfully approached Hancock's side.
"Place it here," Hancock indicated the space beside her.
"Yes."
After placing the wine next to Hancock, Enishida stood up to leave, saying, "Call me if you need anything."
"Alright."
After watching Enishida leave, Hancock picked up the wine and took a sip, her expression becoming even more relaxed.
"Elder Sister seems much more relaxed than before," Sandersonia said with a smile.
Hearing her sister's words, Hancock smiled. "Aren't you all the same?"
Sandersonia and Marigold exchanged glances upon hearing this, then burst into laughter: "So are we!"
Ever since the mark on their backs had disappeared, their tense nerves had gradually relaxed, allowing them to live more freely!
They greatly cherished this feeling and were deeply grateful to Meiser.
At that moment, Marigold spoke up: "Speaking of which... Meiser will soon leave here with Straw Hat Boy, right?"
During casual conversations earlier, Granny Nyon had mentioned this to them.
After rescuing Fire Fist Ace, he would return to Sabaody Archipelago to reunite with his crew, so he wouldn't be staying with them for long.
When Hancock heard Marigold's words, her body froze in place, the hand holding her water glass hovering mid-air.
Sandersonia didn't notice this and instead looked at Marigold saying: "Well, he needs to reunite with his crew after all."
"But before that, we should properly express our grat..."
Crack~
The sound of shattering glass immediately drew the attention of the two sisters.
"Sister Hancock?"
"What's wrong?"
"Could it be... the water temperature too high?"
Seeing Hancock had accidentally broken her glass, the two sisters rushed over, looking at her with concern.
Hancock paid no mind to the shattered glass, instead staring at Marigold asking: "You're saying Meiser will completely leave Kuja Island?"
As if realizing something, Hancock's complexion gradually turned pale.
"Yes," Marigold nodded. "That's what Granny Nyon said."
"Probably after they return to Sabaody Archipelago, they'll head to the New World," Sandersonia speculated.
Someone with Meiser's strength wouldn't remain in the first half of the Grand Line for long - he was bound for the New World!
"I wonder what achievements they'll make in the New World," Sandersonia thought to herself.
"To the New World..."
Their words struck Hancock's heart like a heavy hammer.
Then, the woman went limp and collapsed into the bath, completely submerged in the hot water.
"Sister Hancock?!!"
Seeing Hancock collapse for no apparent reason, the Sandersonia sisters were stunned.
She was fine just moments ago - why did she suddenly faint?
"Hey, Sister Hancock, what's wrong?"
"Hey!"
"Quick, go get Belladonna!!"
"No, get Granny Nyon and Meiser!" Sandersonia said. "They might understand what's happening to Sister Hancock."
Especially Meiser - since he could remove the marks from their backs, his medical skills must be exceptional!
Bringing him here might help identify the problem.
"Right!"
The frantic Marigold scrambled out in a panic.
"Fool, put on your outer robe!"
"Got it!"
"This guy really can sleep," Meiser shook his head helplessly, looking at the still unconscious Luffy.
Then he turned his gaze to Granny Nyon and asked: "That bell earlier - does it mean Hancock has returned?"
If I'm not mistaken, this bell chime is the same as the previous one.
"That is indeed the bell that rings only when the Nine Serpent Pirates return," said Granny Nyon. "But I'm not sure if Hancock is aboard."
After speaking, Granny Nyon paused briefly before continuing, "Though normally she would be."
Meiser fell silent upon hearing this, then said, "Let's go take a look then."
No matter what, he needed to have a talk with Hancock.
"Then let's go," said Granny Nyon.
With that, she picked up the Serpent Cane nearby and headed outside.
Meiser glanced at Merry and asked, "Merry, do you want to come along?"
"I'll pass," Merry shook her head. "I need to stay here and watch over Luffy."
After all, one of them had to stay with Luffy.
"Alright, understood," Meiser nodded. "If Luffy wakes up, use the Reverse Summoning Technique to call me over."
"Got it!" Merry nodded.
The little creature then wobbled over toward Luffy.
Seeing this, Meiser smiled and turned to follow Granny Nyon outside.
"What is this Reverse Summoning Technique you mentioned?" Granny Nyon asked curiously.
"It's a special Ninjutsu," Meiser explained. "Merry can use it to summon me regardless of distance."
Granny Nyon: !!!
Granny Nyon stared at Meiser in shock, her face full of disbelief. "There's actually such a Ninjutsu?"
Summoning regardless of distance?
That's truly terrifying.
"Of course," Meiser said with a light laugh. "The wonders of Ninjutsu exceed your imagination!"
Hearing this, Granny Nyon fell silent for a moment before sighing with emotion. "As expected of a Ninja."
It seemed this young man was far more capable than she had imagined.
Just then, Margaret entered from outside.
"Granny Nyon, Meiser," Margaret said. "Are you two heading out?"
"Yes," Granny Nyon nodded. "The Serpent Princess has returned, so we're going to see her."
After speaking, Granny Nyon paused briefly before pointing to her house and continuing, "Your timing is perfect - go keep Merry company."
With Margaret there, any issues could be dealt with immediately.
"Alright, understood," Margaret nodded.
After watching the two leave the courtyard, Margaret turned and headed inside.
Meanwhile, Meiser and Granny Nyon walked toward the direction of Hancock's Chamber.
"With Margaret girl here, Merry won't..."
Before Granny Nyon could finish her sentence, she spotted Marigold running toward them from a distance.
Granny Nyon: ???
Seeing Marigold's panicked expression, Granny Nyon instinctively frowned. "Why is she in such a fluster?"
"Could it be... Hancock is injured?"
"That shouldn't be," Meiser said. "She was perfectly fine when I left."
"Maybe the Marines did something?" Granny Nyon speculated.
At these words, Meiser's expression immediately darkened.
Thinking about it carefully... it wasn't impossible, especially since that battle had already concluded!
"Granny Nyon!"
"Meiser!"
"Hurry... hurry and save Sister!" Marigold shouted.
"What happened?"
Arriving before the two, Marigold gasped for breath and said, "Sister fainted in the hot spring pool."
"Is she injured?"
"Probably not." Marigold shook her head. "Sister was fine when she came back, without any injuries."
At least... that's what her sister had said on the ship.
"Not injured, then."
Meiser first breathed a sigh of relief, then said, "Then it might be from soaking in the hot spring for too long."
"Soaking for too long..."
Granny Nyon muttered, "How could she faint from soaking?"
Wasn't soaking in hot springs Hancock's favorite thing? How could she faint from it?
After thinking for a moment, Granny Nyon said, "Tell me what you did in the hot spring room."
"We didn't do much," Marigold scratched her head. "We were just chatting."
"What did you talk about?"
"Let me think..." Marigold pondered for a moment, then said, "Oh, right."
"I mentioned that Meiser will soon be leaving Kuja Island with Straw Hat Boy, and then Sister shattered her wine glass."
"After that, she asked a question and fainted."
Granny Nyon:
Could that girl be lovesick...?
As if thinking of something, Granny Nyon furrowed her brows.
"Let's go check the situation first," Meiser said. "Saving her is the priority."
Hearing this, Granny Nyon fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "You're right."
"Marigold, lead the way!"
"Yes!"
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