Wave Rider
On the deck, Hancock's hands were shackled with Seastone cuffs. Despite her restrained posture and disheveled appearance, she stubbornly raised her chin, her deep blue eyes fixed fiercely on Ryan—this was the last vestige of the "Empress's" pride. Even as a prisoner, she refused to show the slightest weakness before her enemy.
"What are you staring at?" Ryan stepped forward, amused by her defiance. He reached out, tilting her chin with his fingers, his thumb brushing against her smooth skin. "This is the fate of a loser."
The cuffs had been acquired by chance. While searching through Hogback's experimental equipment on Thriller Bark, Ryan had stashed them away, thinking they "might be useful." He never imagined they'd end up on the "Pirate Empress" so soon.
Hancock's abilities were too dangerous. Without Seastone suppression, Ryan wouldn't dare get close. These cuffs were practically tailor-made for her.
"Take your filthy hands off me!" Hancock jerked her head away, her cheeks flushed with humiliation. She hated this feeling of being controlled, hated that she couldn't even resist.
"Sister!"
"Release Empress Boa immediately!" Sandersonia and Marigold, standing atop the Giant Snake, were livid. The Kuja warriors raised their bows, arrows aimed at Ryan, their voices thick with fury. Yet none dared advance—their Empress was still in his grasp. A single wrong move, and she would suffer.
Ryan ignored their shouts. Instead, he pulled Hancock into his arms, his grip tightening around her slender waist as he leaned in, whispering mockingly, "Your subordinates are so noisy… Should I deal with them?"
"Don't you dare!" Hancock stiffened, her face paling. The hatred in her voice was replaced by panic.
This man was no pushover. Without her, the Kuja Pirates stood no chance against him—it would be a massacre. She stopped struggling, afraid any movement might provoke him and endanger her sisters and crew.
"Don't want me to act?" Ryan smirked, fingers tracing her waist teasingly. "Then keep them in line. If I lose my temper, every woman on that ship will suffer my wrath."
Hancock bit her lip, took a deep breath, and turned to the warriors on the Giant Snake. Her voice was firm, brooking no argument.
"Sandersonia, Marigold—take everyone back to Amazon Lily at once!"
"Sister, we can't!" Sandersonia protested desperately. "We can't leave you here!"
Marigold nodded, her eyes burning with fury.
"Staying will only make things worse. Return home and find Elder Nyon—"
Hancock's voice rose sharply, but before she could finish, her body tensed. A soft, involuntary sound escaped her lips, her face flushing crimson as she shot Ryan a glare filled with rage and shame.
This bastard—how dare he humiliate her like this!
But she swallowed her words. Her sisters and crew weren't safe yet. Provoking him now was out of the question.
Taking another deep breath, she suppressed her fury and turned back to the Kuja warriors, her tone even sterner.
"This is an order!"
The warriors watched helplessly, their Empress held hostage, forced to submit. Their grips tightened on their bows, teeth clenched in frustration, but none dared act.
Sandersonia and Marigold exchanged glances, their hearts aching at the sight of their sister's flushed face and forced composure. They understood—staying would only make things harder for her.
"Set sail," Sandersonia finally ordered, voice heavy. "Return to Amazon Lily."
The Giant Snake slowly turned, heading back toward their homeland.
Hancock watched the ship fade into the distance, relief washing over her—only for Ryan to pull her closer, his familiar, invasive touch making her bristle.
"Enough!" She struggled violently, her voice thick with suppressed fury. Even with her hands bound, she tried to push him away.
The Pirate Empress, feared and revered across the seas—how could she endure such humiliation?
"We're just getting started."
Ryan didn't let go. His palm glided over her soft skin, admiring her unyielding pride. The Pirate Empress truly lived up to her reputation—stubborn to the core.
"Don't think your crew is safe yet. That distance means nothing to me." His fingers tightened slightly, his tone mocking. "You wouldn't want… anything to happen to them, would you?"
"You—!" Hancock's face burned red, her teeth sinking into her lower lip. Humiliation burned in her chest, but she couldn't afford to care. She glared at Ryan, her breathing ragged.
This man could control Flame Clouds, move at inhuman speeds—if he wanted to attack the retreating Kuja ship, her sisters and crew wouldn't stand a chance.
"We—we're both Seven Warlords!" she blurted, grasping at straws. "The World Government granted us privileges! We shouldn't fight each other!"
"Seven Warlords?" Ryan scoffed. "When you ambushed my ship and turned my crew to stone, did you remember we were both Warlords?"
Hypocrisy meant nothing here. He wasn't some starstruck admirer playing the fool.
Hancock opened her mouth but found no retort.
"Speechless?" Ryan tightened his grip, steering her toward the cabin, his smirk widening. "Now, let's discuss matters between us."
Hancock had no choice but to follow, acutely aware of his overwhelming dominance. A sense of despair crept into her heart.
This man made no effort to hide his intentions. She didn't need to guess what awaited her—this helplessness, this loss of control, reminded her of her days as a slave in Mary Geoise.
Back then, she had been chained, powerless to resist, forced to submit to another's will.
Men were all the same—disgusting creatures!
The crew watched from the deck. Rob Lucci and Daz Bones paid no mind, while Hogback and Absalom lamented the rough treatment of the world's most beautiful woman.
Mikita and Porche, standing nearby, exchanged knowing glances, smirking. After traveling with Ryan for so long, they knew his methods well. Once their captain set his sights on someone—be it a warrior or a beauty—escape was impossible.
Now that Hancock was in his grasp, even the "World's Most Beautiful Woman" wouldn't get off easy.
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