Hathaway and Shanks, who had been waiting at the port, had long since received the newspaper announcing Roger as the Pirate King.
A crimson meteor descended from the sky, landing in front of Hathaway and Shanks. It was Nero, with a sour expression on her face.
"Big Sister, why are you alone? Where are Captain Roger and the others?" Shanks curiously craned his neck, looking out at the sea, but the oro jackson was nowhere in sight.
"Hmm, we'll talk about that later. How's Buggy?" Nero's face was downcast, and she didn't answer Shanks' question.
Sensing that Nero's mood was off, Shanks didn't press further.
"Buggy's fine. He and we have been taking turns guarding the port these past few days. He's probably resting at the inn now."
"Hmm, you've all worked hard these past few days, Hathaway too." Nero walked in front, "There are some things I need to tell you. Let's talk about it at the inn."
Hathaway nodded silently, following Nero with Shanks.
"Hey! Look, isn't that Nero of the Roses?!"
"Nani? The one from the Roger Pirates?"
"Idiot! She should be a top executive of the Pirate King now!"
"To actually see such a big shot here..."
The 'whispers' of the surrounding people reached the trio's ears, making Nero, who usually loved being the center of attention, feel a surge of irritation.
Because whenever people discussed her, they inevitably brought up that idiot Roger, which made her mood grow increasingly foul along the way.
Shanks and Hathaway, who had originally intended to tease her, gave up the idea when they saw her expression.
"Buggy, stop eating!"
When they arrived at the inn, Buggy was wrestling with a chicken leg. Hearing Shanks' voice, he turned around, immediately switching to a surprised expression.
"Big Sister! You've returned! Where are Captain Roger and the others?"
Conqueror's Haki surged, and everyone in the room except Nero and a few others lost consciousness. This display startled Buggy.
Grabbing a bottle of juice from the table, Nero twisted open the cap and gulped down half the bottle as if it were alcohol, then slammed the bottle heavily onto the table.
"Hmm, I've broken ties with Roger and those bastards! Who do you two want to follow?"
The unexpected words caused everyone's brains to freeze for a moment. And why did it sound like parents divorcing and asking their children who they wanted to live with?
"B-Big Sister, you're kidding, right?" Buggy swallowed hard, stammering.
"Yeah, Big Sister, did something happen between you and Captain Roger?" Shanks also asked anxiously.
Although Hathaway didn't speak, she looked at Nero with a puzzled expression.
"I haven't just broken ties with Roger, but with all those bastards! All of those idiots!"
As if remembering something, the slight anger Nero had just managed to quell flared up again. "Stop talking nonsense! Who do you want to follow?"
"Big Sister!" x2
Shanks and Buggy remained silent, both looking at Nero with hesitation.
"Hmm, I understand! I'm sorry, this really has nothing to do with you two. I was a bit angry at you." Nero seemed to calm down somewhat and apologized to the two of them.
"Then..."
"But, it's absolutely impossible for me and Roger to make up!" Nero's tone shifted, and she sternly declared, "You can tell them that later! There's no room for negotiation on this matter."
"Big Sister! What exactly happened?!" Buggy, sensing something, slammed his hand on the table and stood up, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Hmm... Let Roger and the others handle this. In a way, he left the future to you two." Nero pondered for a moment, then looked at Buggy and Shanks with a complex expression.
"Left the future to us?" Shanks and Buggy felt a bit dazed, as if something heavy, something that could determine the world's direction, had been placed in the future... "Your Majesty, is this enough?" Hathaway asked cautiously on the way.
"Hmm, no problem! For a man, the feelings in his heart are more important than gains and losses when making a choice."
Nero stopped, looking at the ships docked in the port.
A ship that had weathered storms and traveled the world, one day, at an ordinary port, stopped and never sailed again.
"Hmm, let's pick a good ship to set sail! From now on, I am the Captain!" Nero's eyes scanned the many ships, picking and choosing.
Hathaway frowned upon hearing this. "Your Majesty, we have already been to the Final Island. Now we should return to the Nicuss Empire. Duke Livord has been urging us these days."
"Hmm, what nonsense are you speaking? My adventure has just begun! Anyway, even if I go back, I won't handle state affairs; I'm just a mascot. Besides, the name of Nero of the Roses carries far more weight on the sea than the name of the Nicuss Emperor!"
Nero's well-reasoned statement left Hathaway speechless. The current situation was indeed as she described.
As a great pirate and crew member of the Pirate King, the name of Nero of the Roses, with a bounty of 3 billion, was far more intimidating than that of the Nicuss Emperor, who resided in a corner of the New World.
However, Hathaway was Hathaway. If a direct approach wouldn't work, she would use a roundabout tactic. She cleared her throat and spoke.
"But you've been away for so long. You should at least go back and visit, shouldn't you? After all, you are the Emperor, and everyone must surely miss Your Majesty's concerts after all this time."
At the same time, far away in Nicuss, Livord, who was overseeing the construction of the Golden Palace, and a group of ministers suddenly shivered, as if their Observation Haki had issued some warning.
And here, as expected, upon hearing Hathaway's words, Nero, who had been resolute just moments ago, immediately wavered.
But remembering the purpose of her voyage, she shook her head and still difficultly refused Hathaway's suggestion.
"Hmm, no need for more words! I have made my decision, and it cannot be changed! At worst, when I return, I'll give them a three-day and three-night concert as compensation."
Hathaway's eye twitched. Isn't that pure suffering?
"However, hmm, Hathaway, what you said does have some truth. So, for the next voyage, I alone will be enough. You should return to Nicuss first!"
Her eyes widened slightly, Hathaway looked at Nero in disbelief. This was the first time in her life she had experienced the feeling of 'losing both the wife and the army' with Nero.
"No! Your Majesty, at least I must stay by your side. If I'm not there, how will Your Majesty dress yourself? How will you eat? Bathe? What will you do if you're thirsty...?"
"Silence! Hmm, don't make me sound like a helpless invalid!"
Seeing Hathaway about to continue, Nero's face turned crimson as she covered Hathaway's mouth. "I can do all these things myself!"
Hathaway: "Hmm... @<% how+>!"