Seeing the teasing glint in Liang Bing's eyes, Boa Hancock froze.
The words she was about to say were swallowed back down her throat.
This woman…
she actually knew what Hancock was about to say?
And worse—
the "secret" Liang Bing referred to was a past that Hancock and her two sisters never wanted to remember.
Ever.
Even thinking about it by accident filled her heart with fear and despair.
Yet—
Hancock's pride would never allow her to call another woman Queen.
With that thought, Hancock subconsciously took a step back, staring at Liang Bing as if she were a demon.
"How do you know my secret…?"
Liang Bing didn't answer.
The interest in her eyes only deepened.
"You have two minutes to think it over~"
"After two minutes, Doflamingo's Den Den Mushi will ring, and the news will spread."
She loved taming people like this—
proud, defiant, unyielding.
It satisfied her personal tastes and earned her another subordinate.
A perfect win-win.
Donquixote Doflamingo's face immediately darkened.
My Queen—please don't mess around!
If this keeps up, Ron will beat me to death!
Isn't Hancock basically his woman?!
Even Kaisha couldn't help cursing,
"Pure bitch behavior. Disgusting to watch."
Liang Bing didn't argue. She only smiled.
"You know exactly what she was about to say."
"I only want her to call me Queen."
"If it were you—
your punishment would be far worse, wouldn't it?"
Kaisha fell silent.
That was as good as admitting it.
Just moments ago, Hancock had been about to say:
Woman—give me the same power you gave Doflamingo!
Arrogant.
Imperious.
Completely unquestioning.
Even Liang Bing—who was unusually tolerant—felt irritated by that attitude.
Otherwise, this scene would never have happened.
"If your secret is exposed," Liang Bing continued lazily,
"you won't even be able to show this face to the world."
"No home. No country."
"In the end, you'll drift across the sea as a lonely ghost."
"What a waste of such a beautiful face… tsk tsk."
She stood up, her pale fingers gently brushing across Hancock's delicate cheek.
The warmth of that touch made Hancock's body tremble violently.
Her blood seemed to run cold in an instant.
Liang Bing's languid voice sounded like a demon whispering—
luring her step by step into a bottomless abyss.
For a moment—
everyone in the tavern looked over, horror written on their faces.
Doflamingo, The Deep, and Homelander all felt a chill in their spines.
Thank god they'd known when to submit.
Otherwise—
their fate would be no better than Hancock's.
For Liang Bing—
physical punishment was boring.
As a demon, she preferred breaking the soul.
Only when someone's mental defenses completely collapsed did she consider it a true victory.
"N-no…"
"Please… don't…"
Hancock's eyes slowly filled with fear and despair.
"Call me Queen. You lose nothing."
"I can give you power to slaughter every Celestial Dragon—
even overturn that ridiculous World Government."
"Such a simple choice."
"And yet you let meaningless pride control you?"
"It seems…"
"You're not even worthy of calling me Queen."
Her words were gentle, coaxing—
yet filled with fatal temptation.
At that moment, Ron closed Icha-Icha Paradise with a soft thud and said calmly,
"That's enough."
Liang Bing shot him a wounded look and sighed softly,
"What~?"
"Feeling sorry for her already?"
"I haven't even started trying yet~"
Just as she finished—
Hancock spoke, her voice steady.
"Queen."
In that instant—
her trembling stopped.
The fear and weakness in her eyes vanished, replaced by murderous resolve.
Liang Bing was right.
Compared to empty pride—
gaining power and slaughtering those Celestial Dragon scum was the only correct choice.
Liang Bing's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
"Congratulations."
"You chose correctly."
As she spoke, light flashed in her palm and sank into Hancock's body.
In the blink of an eye—
Hancock could clearly feel her body undergoing a qualitative transformation.
Her power surged—
multiplying at a terrifying rate.
"I preferred you when you were defiant," Liang Bing sighed lightly, then waved her hand.
"Let Doflamingo and the others explain Decadence and Freedom to you."
With that, she ignored Hancock entirely, once again excitedly watching her sister argue with the Underworld Lord.
Before Doflamingo could even open his mouth—
Homelander rushed in eagerly.
"Oh, beautiful lady!"
"God must truly be unfair to give you such a stunning face."
"Let's have a drink, and allow me—the Queen's most loyal believer—
to explain Decadence and Freedom to you."
At that moment, a certain handsome man in green battle attire shot him a look of pure disdain.
Women are boring.
Octopuses are where it's at.
"Disgusting man—get lost!"
"Take one more step and I'll kill you!"
"Doflamingo—write me a clear explanation of Decadence and Freedom."
Hancock shot Homelander a contemptuous glance—
then ran straight to Ron, instantly switching into clingy mode.
"Ron~ why didn't you help me just now?"
"If my secret had been exposed, I'd never be able to see you again!"
Ron replied calmly,
"Liang Bing never had killing intent."
"She just wanted to indulge a small hobby."
"One word—Queen—in exchange for a first-generation divine body."
"That trade isn't a loss."
Honestly—
Ron was stuck in the middle.
Helping either side would've been wrong.
Stopping it at the right moment was the best option.
Hancock's resentment faded, replaced by soft whimpering as she sought comfort.
But—
Liang Bing shot Ron an irritated glance.
Damn it!
Kaisha snooping through my memories was bad enough—
now you too?!
This life is absolutely unlivable!
At the bar—
Jiraiya sighed in disappointment.
"What a pity. They didn't fight."
Women fighting—
that's the best show.
Rayleigh, a fellow man of culture, smirked.
"It is a pity."
"But if you come to the tavern often, you'll see it sooner or later."
"In a few days, the duel arena will be finished."
"There'll definitely be female fighters."
"Pour a drink, watch women fight—
life doesn't get better than that."
Then Rayleigh suddenly changed the topic, lowering his voice.
"You said your current student is a bit slow."
"What if he doesn't amount to much?"
Jiraiya took a sip of wine and laughed freely.
"He will."
"I see my younger self in Naruto."
"A dead last—but never one who gives up."
"And besides…"
"Placing a story's success at the ending—
even failure becomes interesting."
"Just like the protagonist in my novels."
"He believes hardship is a trial from heaven and struggles to live on."
"In the end, he achieves a brilliance that erases all past failures—
and dies as a great ninja."
At that moment—
the lechery and frivolity vanished from Jiraiya's eyes.
What remained was unwavering resolve.
In Rayleigh's eyes—
this man truly deserved the title of hero.
Right then—
a system notification echoed in Ron's mind.
[Ding. Customer: Jiraiya has completed his confession.]
[Ding. Subject involved in Jiraiya's confession: Uzumaki Naruto — will visit the tavern in the near future.]
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ZoroTL442