Chapter 285: Ripples Unsettled, Arriving at Hachinosu
New World Waters · The Perfume Yuda
The night was like ink, the sea breeze ruffling the scarlet drapes on the deck.
Hancock leaned against the ship's railing alone, her hands gripping the edge, letting the sea breeze sweep through her long hair and the hem of her dress.
The red dress swayed gently in the night wind, like the afterimages of flames.
Her right leg had been simply bandaged with coarse cloth, but it still throbbed with pain—
However, this physical pain was far outweighed by the turmoil in her heart.
Shakky slowly walked up beside her. After a long silence, she finally asked softly, "Hancock, are you alright?"
Hancock didn't respond, but her fingertips unconsciously clenched the hem of her skirt, her knuckles turning white from the force.
Those scenes still lingered in her mind, refusing to fade: the humiliation of being swatted away with a single slap, the powerlessness of her "Pistol Kiss" being shattered, the shame of kneeling on the ground and begging...
Her voice was hoarse, but she still tried hard to maintain her calm: "Auntie Shakky..."
"Is there really someone in this world... who completely disregards the Celestial Dragons?"
Shakky froze. Looking at the gradually receding silhouette of Dressrosa in the distance, she let out a bitter smile. "Before, I thought there wasn't."
"But now, we have all seen it."
Hancock lowered her head. Her long hair covered her face, but it couldn't cover her trembling voice:
"What right does he have... to face the Five Elders so unscrupulously..."
"While I... don't even have the courage to look my own past in the eye..."
Her fingernails had long since dug into her palms, but she was completely unaware of it.
The formerly invincible "Pirate Empress" was now nothing more than a lost woman questioning her own existence.
Shakky remained silent, but she knew clearly in her heart:
That man named "Roy" had cast an unavoidable shadow over Hancock's destiny.
...
Waters near Dressrosa · Marine Warship
After confirming Issho's stance, Roy returned to the warship.
He had just sat down when the Den Den Mushi began ringing with its "Buru buru buru" again.
He glanced at it, answering with an indifferent expression. The Den Den Mushi instantly transformed, revealing a face with white hair, a white beard, and a majestic gaze.
—The Five Elders, St. Jaygarcia Saturn.
"Roy, regarding the replacement candidate for the Shichibukai..."
Before he could finish, Roy directly interrupted: "Decide among yourselves."
"I have no interest in this play-pretend system."
His tone was undisguisedly cold. Without waiting for a response, Roy unhesitatingly hung up the phone.
The Den Den Mushi clicked shut with a crisp sound.
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze looking out the window at the horizon, as if that unknown sea was far more worthy of his attention than any so-called "system."
...
After hanging up, Holy Land Mary Geoise · Chamber of Authority
The click of the disconnected Den Den Mushi still echoed in the air. The Five Elders sat around the long table, silent for a long time.
St. Saturn set down the Den Den Mushi, his face as gloomy as dark water: "Roy's attitude... toward the Shichibukai system is becoming increasingly hardline."
St. Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro frowned, his voice deep: "It's no wonder he's impatient. This time, it really was the Shichibukai causing trouble."
"What happened in Dressrosa—if he hadn't been there, I'm afraid it would have been another disaster."
St. Marcus Mars snorted coldly: "These pirates are becoming more audacious one after another."
"Do they really think the title of Shichibukai is a talisman that allows them to do whatever they want?"
St. Shepherd Ju Peter looked uneasily at St. Saturn: "Have we found out? Was Roy going to Dressrosa a spur-of-the-moment decision, or was it premeditated?"
St. Saturn didn't speak. St. Topman Warcury looked down, flipping through the intelligence documents, and answered calmly: "It was indeed a deployment."
"He has been keeping an eye on that Gravity Fruit user, the blind traveler Issho."
"Intelligence shows that Roy dispatched an intelligence line a month ago to track Issho's whereabouts."
"It's just that the Shichibukai causing trouble happened to coincide with his preparatory phase."
St. Mars rubbed the bridge of his nose while cursing in a low voice: "What a bunch of idiots."
"Insisting on picking a fight, insisting on throwing themselves at the muzzle of his gun..."
"They were pirates to begin with. Falling into his hands, did they really think they would survive?"
St. Saturn tapped his knuckles lightly on the table, articulating every word: "No matter how he views it, the Shichibukai system cannot be abolished for the time being."
"Public opinion is still observing, and the 'balance' has not yet been broken."
His gaze shifted. "Have CP0 immediately begin screening candidates for the Shichibukai."
"As long as their strength is sufficient, they don't even have to be pirates."
"We need someone to fill this position."
The others nodded.
But everyone knew that no matter how many people they replaced, it would be useless.
Roy's attitude was already crystal clear—the Shichibukai system would not survive for long.
...
Marine Warship · Deck
The night wind howled, blowing against the solitary, upright figure on the deck.
Roy stood at the bow, his coat fluttering in the wind. Behind him, several Marines were escorting the heavily injured, dying Hanafuda.
At this moment, he was covered in blood, his head hanging low, not even having the strength to struggle. Chains crisscrossed over him, and Seastone shackles locked his hands and feet, emitting dull clanking sounds as he was dragged across the deck.
Roy looked back. "Lock him in the ship's hold for now. Keep him alive; he'll be useful later."
"Yes sir!" The Marines immediately carried out the order solemnly.
Roy withdrew his gaze, looking out at the distant horizon, and narrowed his eyes: "Hanafuda..."
"I seem to remember he's good brothers with 'Cute-do'..." (TL Note: A mocking nickname for Kaido in the Chinese fandom.)
The sea breeze swept in, and the horizon seemed to ripple slightly because of those words.
...
The Next Day · New World Waters · Waters near Hachinosu
The morning light broke dawn, piercing through the heavy clouds and spilling over the vast sea. Golden light danced, reflecting upon the quiet waters where the fires of war were about to ignite.
A large Marine battleship slowly sailed into the waters near Hachinosu. The hull was covered in black steel armor, bristling with heavy cannons, its tall towers standing like a city.
The bow cut through the waves, the rolling surf startling flocks of seabirds.
On the bow deck, Gion (Momousagi) wore her Justice cape, her black hair flying. Konpira rested quietly in her hand, the blade trembling slightly as if it couldn't wait to drink blood.
Not far behind her, Ace and Luffy stood shoulder to shoulder, looking at the increasingly clear silhouette of Hachinosu ahead. Their faces were full of unconcealable excitement and battle intent.
"We're finally almost there..." Ace smiled slightly, flames faintly coiling around the back of his hand, his gaze burning intensely.
"I've gotten so used to Big Brother Roy just 'swish' teleporting us around all the time..."
Luffy rolled his neck, complaining casually, "Suddenly having to sail the old-fashioned way, my stomach is almost starving flat~"
Ace laughed, "You're not starving, you're just craving a snack."
Luffy's eyes then sharpened, and he turned to look at Gion. "Big Sis Gion! How are we doing this time?!"
"Are we just charging in and beating them up?!!"
His eyes shone, and his fists were already clenched, looking as excited as a kid who couldn't wait for school to let out so he could go fight.
Gion didn't turn her head, her gaze locked onto the distance like a falcon—
Hachinosu's coastline was already within visual distance. The pirate faction had long since received the intel and was waiting in full battle array.
Black pirate flags flew high. Rows of artillery and bunkers covered the defensive line like a hedgehog.
Further in the center, Ochoku, draped in a black robe, stood on a high platform, looking coldly at the approaching Marine fleet.
Gion's eyes were indifferent, but the corner of her mouth lifted into an arc of mockery. "A bunch of rabble actually dares to dream of claiming the title of Emperor?"
She slowly turned her head, looking calmly at the eager boy. "Luffy."
"Give them a 'greeting gift' in a moment."
Luffy grinned widely, roaring with high fighting spirit:
"Shishishi! Leave it to me!!!"
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