The next day—
Thanks to Robin's status as an archaeologist, Elder Nyon had quickly grown familiar with her. The old woman spent the morning asking all sorts of strange and unusual questions, while Robin patiently answered every one of them.
As they talked, the conversation eventually drifted to the Ohara Incident.
Faced with Elder Nyon's curiosity, Robin did not avoid the topic at all.
After all, she had long since emerged from the shadows of Ohara.
She could now face everything calmly.
In a pavilion overlooking Kuja City, Elder Nyon and Robin sat facing one another, enjoying their conversation.
"It really wasn't easy, was it?"
Looking at Robin, who was recounting the tragedy of Ohara with such calmness, Elder Nyon slowly stepped closer and said softly,
"To be able to speak so peacefully about your past... that man must have influenced you quite a bit."
"Hm?"
Robin blinked in surprise.
Soon afterward, however, she understood what Elder Nyon meant.
A gentle smile appeared on her face as she nodded lightly.
Meanwhile, in another pavilion nearby, Kairo paid no attention whatsoever to their conversation.
Compared to the discussion between Robin and Elder Nyon, the scenery below was far more entertaining.
Under the guidance of Sandersonia and Marigold, Perona had quickly become acquainted with the island's warriors.
She was having the time of her life.
Unfortunately, someone apparently annoyed her.
And so—
She immediately unleashed her Devil Fruit ability.
A moment later, the female warriors who had been happily playing with her all dropped to their knees in unison.
One after another, they began lamenting their existence and begging for death.
"Mr. Kairo."
A pleasant voice suddenly sounded behind him.
Moments later, Hancock—fully recovered after a night's rest—walked over and stood beside him.
Looking down at the warriors kneeling in neat rows under the influence of Perona's powers, she showed not the slightest intention of stopping it.
Instead, she smiled.
"That little girl is called Perona, right?"
"Her Devil Fruit ability is quite interesting."
Unlike the shy and flustered Hancock of yesterday, today's Hancock appeared completely natural.
She gracefully sat down beside Kairo.
Seeing Hancock radiant and full of energy, Kairo couldn't help being slightly surprised.
Judging by her condition, she seemed to have completely recovered from lovesickness.
Yet the system notification still hadn't appeared.
That left him somewhat puzzled.
Did he really have to make his feelings clear to Hancock before the hidden mission could be completed?
"Hancock seems to be in great spirits today."
After a brief pause, Kairo smiled.
"Have you had breakfast?"
"Ah!"
Hancock immediately looked up nervously.
Her beautiful eyes fixed on him.
"M-Mr. Kairo... have you all eaten already?"
"Why are you so nervous?"
Kairo looked confused.
"We already ate."
"Elder Nyon arranged everything. It was delicious."
The reason Hancock had become nervous was simple.
After Kairo left yesterday, she had felt strangely empty inside and ended up oversleeping.
Only when he mentioned breakfast did she realize she had forgotten to arrange meals for him and his companions.
If they had gone hungry because of her negligence, she would have felt terrible.
Now that she knew they had already eaten, she immediately relaxed and smiled happily.
"Mr. Kairo..."
"Could you tell me some stories about your travels?"
"They must be very interesting."
"You want to hear stories?"
Kairo blinked.
Seeing the anticipation in her eyes, he smiled and nodded.
"Of course."
After a brief pause, he began recounting various interesting adventures and amusing experiences from his travels across the Four Blues.
As she listened, Hancock's emotions rose and fell with the stories.
Sometimes she laughed happily.
Sometimes she became so nervous that she nearly forgot to breathe.
At this moment, there was none of the coldness expected of an Empress.
She looked exactly like an innocent young girl listening eagerly to fascinating tales.
After all, Hancock was only around Robin's age.
Her first voyage beyond Amazon Lily had ended with her being captured by traffickers.
Not long after returning home with the help of Elder Nyon and Rayleigh, she had become the ruler of Amazon Lily.
Compared to Kairo's adventures, her own world had been incredibly small.
Even the simplest story sounded exciting to her.
Watching Hancock laugh and gasp along with his stories, Kairo found himself smiling as well.
There was no denying it.
Without the mask she normally wore, Hancock was truly beautiful.
"That's enough for today."
After sharing several interesting stories and adventures, Kairo looked at Hancock, who still seemed eager for more.
"If you enjoy them, I'll tell you more another day."
Hancock nodded repeatedly like a child unwilling to stop listening.
"Anything Mr. Kairo says, I like."
Then she suddenly remembered something.
Quickly standing up, she said,
"Mr. Kairo must be thirsty!"
"I'll make some tea."
Before long, Hancock returned carrying a teapot and several cups.
After sitting beside him once more, she poured tea for Kairo while speaking softly.
"Then... let me tell Mr. Kairo a story as well."
"Oh?"
Kairo looked slightly surprised before smiling.
"Alright."
"I imagine Hancock's story is quite interesting too."
After handing him a teacup, Hancock slowly raised her head and looked at the sky.
Then she took a deep breath.
And began her story.
"A few years ago, my sisters and I joined a Kuja pirate ship on our first voyage..."
Kairo's eyes narrowed slightly.
He immediately understood.
Hancock was preparing to tell him about the darkest chapter of her life.
Although surprised, he didn't interrupt.
For Hancock to willingly speak about those painful memories meant she had thought long and hard about it.
Accepting the past and moving toward the future could only benefit her.
The truth was, Hancock had never wanted to share her past with anyone.
But after Kairo entered her world so suddenly, she no longer wanted to hide anything from him.
Even though he already knew what the mark on her back represented, she still felt it was better to tell him personally.
As for why...
Even she didn't fully understand.
She only knew that she trusted this man deeply.
And she didn't want to keep any secrets from him.
From being captured by human traffickers...
To becoming a slave in the Holy Land...
To finally escaping and returning to Amazon Lily...
And ultimately becoming the Empress of Amazon Lily...
Hancock recounted every part of her journey without omitting a single detail.
Although she had prepared herself mentally beforehand, once she finally finished telling her story—
She could no longer hold back.
Instantly, she burst into tears.
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