"How does this outfit look on me?" Hancock asked, examining herself. "Does it seem strange?"
"What are you saying, Lady Snake Princess?" Enishida smiled. "A beauty like you looks good in anything."
"But I…"
Seeing Hancock's cheeks turn red, Enishida and the others' eyes instantly transformed into hearts.
"Ah!"
"Lady Snake Princess is so beautiful!"
"Lady Hancock!"
They didn't know why Lady Snake Princess was showing such an expression, but she was even more beautiful than usual!
At that moment, Granny Nyon and Jin walked in from outside.
The first thing they saw was Hancock covering her face, seemingly lost in thought.
Granny Nyon: "???"
What was wrong with this girl now?
"Ah, it's Granny Nyon!"
"And Lord Jin!"
"Lord Jin!"
Jin: "???"
Jin stared at them in confusion.
Why had their attitude changed so much?
Earlier, they looked like they wanted to kill him.
Now they were greeting him with smiles?
Did Hancock tell them what I did?
"Lord Jin, you were the one who removed Lady Snake Princess's curse, right?" Enishida looked at him gratefully. "Thank you!"
Hearing her words, Jin understood.
His guess had been correct.
Hancock had indeed told them what he had done.
Jin smiled.
"It was nothing."
"You are too modest."
Seeing Enishida about to say more, Granny Nyon interrupted, "Enough. Save your gratitude for after Jin returns from Impel Down. Right now, we have serious matters to handle."
Since Granny Nyon had spoken, Enishida nodded and said nothing more.
"Hancock, do you still have that thing?"
"That thing?"
Hancock, who had been hoping Jin would comment on her outfit, froze for a moment.
Then she asked in confusion, "What thing?"
"Your Vivre Card, of course."
"Vivre Card…"
Hancock thought for a moment, then looked toward Enishida.
"Enishida, do we still have my Vivre Card?"
"Yes, Lady Snake Princess."
Enishida skillfully walked to a nearby cabinet and took out a white piece of paper.
Then she brought it to Hancock.
"Here you are."
Taking the Vivre Card and glancing at it, Hancock asked, "Granny Nyon, why do you need this?"
"Obviously for this brat." Granny Nyon pointed at Jin.
Hearing that, Hancock's eyes lit up immediately.
Then, with slightly flushed cheeks, she said, "Jin, you actually need my Vivre Card?"
"I'm the one who thinks he needs it," Granny Nyon explained.
"This brat captured a Sea King to use as transportation, but because the Sea King's vision is poor and Marine warships are special, tracking the warship underwater will be difficult."
"So I thought of the Vivre Card."
With this Vivre Card, Jin only needed to have the Sea King follow the warship at a steady pace.
That way, they could also rush through the Gates of Justice before they closed.
As long as they entered the waters around Impel Down, it would be considered a success.
"So that's how it is…"
Hancock looked at the Vivre Card in her hand.
Then she walked toward Jin with her long legs and handed it to him.
"Then I shall entrust my Vivre Card to you."
"Alright. Thanks."
Jin tore off the section with Hancock's name written on it, then returned the rest to her.
"This much is enough."
Hancock blinked, but she didn't say anything.
She accepted the remaining Vivre Card and handed it back to Enishida, signaling for her to keep it safe.
That way, if Jin needed it again next time, she could still provide it.
"Jin, make sure you keep that Vivre Card safe," Granny Nyon said seriously.
"After you rescue Fire Fist Ace, you'll still need that card to return to Amazon Lily."
If they lost their direction in the Calm Belt, it would basically be no different from death.
After all, there were super Sea Kings there over a thousand meters long.
So she hoped that after Jin rescued Ace, he would immediately return to Amazon Lily.
As for the war between the Marines and Whitebeard…
That had nothing to do with them.
In the end, Jin and Straw Hat's goal was only to rescue Ace.
"Granny Nyon is right," Hancock said softly. "Jin, you must… come back safely."
When she said that, Hancock's cheeks turned slightly red, and her whole appearance became unexpectedly shy.
"Ah!"
"Lady Hancock is too beautiful!"
Seeing Hancock's expression, Enishida and the others screamed excitedly.
Looking at Hancock's flushed face, Jin smiled.
"Don't worry. I'll definitely come back alive."
Jin was still confident in his own strength.
After all…
With those visual jutsu, he was practically undying.
"Everything is ready, right?" Granny Nyon asked.
"Yes." Hancock nodded. "I can leave at any time."
In truth, she had been ready for a while.
She had only been hesitating over what outfit to wear.
"Then depart now."
Granny Nyon glanced at the sky.
"That way, you can reach Impel Down earlier."
Right now, she only hoped the Marines wouldn't transfer Fire Fist Ace to Marine Headquarters ahead of schedule.
Otherwise…
Jin and Luffy would arrive too late.
"Understood."
Jin and Hancock exchanged a glance, then walked outside together.
Watching the two of them leave, Granny Nyon tightened her grip on her snake staff.
"You both must return safely…"
The Impel Down Jin was heading to was extremely dangerous.
One careless mistake could cost him his life.
And the Marine Headquarters Hancock was going to was even more dangerous.
After all…
That was a battlefield against a pirate crew led by one of the Four Emperors.
Still, with Hancock's personality, she probably wouldn't risk her life against the Whitebeard Pirates.
At most, she would put on an act.
Thinking this, Granny Nyon gradually relaxed again.
I wonder whether Edward Newgate will survive Marine Headquarters this time…
His strength was unquestionably terrifying.
He was hailed as the strongest man in the world.
But…
In the end, he was old.
Thinking of that, Granny Nyon's eyes became somewhat wistful.
…
Meanwhile, on the sea outside Amazon Lily, Vice Admiral Momonga was currently crouched on top of a Sea King corpse, cutting pieces of meat to eat.
"Hmm. Sea King sashimi…"
He rubbed his chin.
"It's actually not bad."
Although it wasn't as tasty as the food made by the ship's cook, this was no time to be picky.
Then he turned to look toward Amazon Lily.
"What exactly is Boa Hancock thinking? I already sent the message to her, so why still hasn't she come out?"
Could she be planning to break her word again?
Thinking of that, Momonga's gaze sharpened.
"If you act willfully again this time, there won't be another chance, Boa Hancock."
If she refused again, he would report the situation without hesitation.
At that point, it would be the end of Amazon Lily.
Suddenly, Momonga noticed movement from the direction of the island.
"Is that… light?"
Seeing lights appear near the harbor, Momonga immediately stopped what he was doing.
He returned to the ship and picked up a telescope to observe.
After clearly seeing the situation in the distance, his tense nerves finally relaxed slightly.
"So she finally came out…"
Looking at the woman standing at the bow of the ship, Momonga said quietly, "Looks like this mission can finally be completed."
Although this woman was incredibly willful, her strength was undeniable.
With her joining the war, the Marines' chances against the Whitebeard Pirates would increase.
Thinking of that, a faint smile appeared on Momonga's face.
But after remembering her previous behavior, that smile quickly vanished.
He glanced at his subordinates still petrified on the deck and sighed.
"These fools…"
Right now, he only hoped they weren't dead.
Otherwise, the losses this time would be far too severe.
Shaking his head, Momonga walked to the side of the ship and waited while eating the Sea King meat in his hand.
Soon, the Kuja Pirates' ship approached and stopped beside the Marine warship.
"Marine…"
Looking at the Vice Admiral eating meat on the deck, Hancock narrowed her eyes.
Then she stepped onto Salome's head and slowly approached the warship.
"You finally came, Boa Hancock," Momonga said, looking at her standing on the snake's head.
"The only ones going to Impel Down are you and that snake, correct?"
As he spoke, Momonga carefully examined Salome.
After confirming the snake matched the intelligence reports, he secretly relaxed.
Not a Devil Fruit user.
"Yes."
"Good." Momonga nodded.
"Normally, pirates—including the Seven Warlords—are not allowed anywhere near Impel Down."
"This time is an exception."
After a brief pause, he continued.
"But I need to make this clear in advance."
"We don't have much time, so you won't be allowed to stay in Impel Down for long. Is that understood?"
He had to make this point clear to the woman first.
Otherwise, unexpected problems might arise later.
"I understand."
She didn't actually want to meet that man anyway.
She was only guiding Jin.
So even if she could only stay for a short time, it didn't matter.
"As long as you understand. Come aboard," Momonga said.
Although he didn't know why she wanted to see Fire Fist Ace, that was no longer his concern.
Just as Fleet Admiral Sengoku had said, once Hancock entered Impel Down, she would be placed in Seastone handcuffs.
Magellan would also follow her the entire time.
Under those conditions, even if she wanted to do something, it would be impossible.
Of course, if this woman decided to do something stupid…
Then dying would be her own fault.
"Lady Snake Princess, have a safe journey!"
"Please return safely!"
"Yes. I leave Amazon Lily to you," Hancock nodded.
"Yes!"
Glancing at the women aboard the Kuja ship, Momonga thought to himself:
It would be great if we could bring them too.
As the crew of a Warlord, their strength certainly wasn't weak.
But Momonga knew that was impossible.
After all, a Warlord had no obligation to bring her subordinates to die for the Marines.
Thinking of that, Momonga sighed.
"Alright. Let's depart," Hancock said.
"I have no objection," Momonga replied. "But before that, can you undo the petrification on my crew?"
He pointed toward his subordinates.
"If it's only me, sailing will be a problem."
He wasn't a navigator and couldn't find the Tarai Current by himself.
Besides…
A Marine warship couldn't be operated by a single person.
"I see."
Hancock glanced at the petrified Marines and thought briefly.
"Fine."
"That's good."
Momonga let out a breath of relief.
As long as she was willing to compromise, things would work.
Otherwise, he really wouldn't have been able to bring her back.
Hancock wasted no time.
She walked toward the petrified Marines and activated her Devil Fruit power.
Hum…
Pink light passed through the Marines' bodies.
Then, one by one, the petrified soldiers returned to their original state.
"Huh?"
"Was it night just now?"
"No, wasn't it daytime?"
Looking at the darkened sky, the Marines were stunned.
It felt as though their memories had been scrambled.
So that's how it is. After being petrified, they don't remember what happened during that time.
Momonga thought silently.
What a terrifying Devil Fruit ability.
Then he shouted coldly:
"You fools, hurry up and move! We're leaving this place at full speed!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Before heading to Marine Headquarters, we're stopping at Impel Down first! Understood?"
"Understood!"
Although they didn't know why their superior had given such an order, as soldiers, they only needed to obey.
Watching the Marine soldiers grow busy, Hancock let out a soft breath.
Then she looked briefly toward the side of Amazon Lily.
I wonder if Jin and the others have caught up…
However, she didn't do anything unnecessary.
She was afraid of exposing Jin.
So after only one glance, she withdrew her gaze.
"What is it?" Momonga asked.
As he spoke, he also glanced toward Amazon Lily's direction but saw nothing strange.
"Nothing," Hancock said calmly. "Where shall I rest?"
Momonga didn't think too much about it.
He turned and led Hancock toward the captain's quarters.
"Follow me."
After arriving outside the room, Momonga pointed to the door.
"This is the best room on the ship. You can rest here for the time being."
As if remembering something, Momonga added:
"This warship is brand new. No man has stayed in this room before. You can rest assured."
This was something Fleet Admiral Sengoku had specifically instructed.
After all…
They were also afraid this woman might complain about such things.
This gesture slightly surprised Hancock.
Then she nodded in satisfaction.
"Very well. If there is nothing important, do not disturb me."
"Understood."
Bang!
Looking at the door closing heavily in front of him, Momonga let out a long breath.
Finally managed to deal with her…
This woman was probably the most difficult Warlord to serve.
Fortunately, he had completed the mission.
Shaking his head, Momonga turned toward his subordinates.
"Quickly! Find the Tarai Current at full speed!"
"Yes, sir!"
Splash…
Soon, the warship moved at full power, gradually leaving Amazon Lily behind and sailing toward the distant sea.
In a place they couldn't see, a man floated silently in the water, watching everything.
"The warship really does move fast," Jin muttered, narrowing his eyes.
No wonder Nami had once said ordinary ships couldn't escape Marine pursuit.
With that kind of speed, how could a normal ship outrun them?
Shaking his head, Jin sank into the sea and quickly returned to Erha's mouth.
After passing through the protective water sphere, he entered the storage shed.
Looking at Luffy, who was still eating and drinking inside, Jin said speechlessly:
"You really can eat."
"Jin, you're back!" Luffy grinned. "Want some food?"
"I'll eat a little."
Jin picked up some food from the table and began eating.
His previously furrowed brows relaxed a bit.
"Come to think of it, I haven't eaten anything since afternoon," Jin said.
Aside from eating a little when he first arrived here, he hadn't touched food afterward.
"Oh right, Granny Nyon said you haven't slept in three days."
Luffy looked at him worriedly.
"Why don't you sleep first?"
"If I fall asleep, who's going to watch the direction?" Jin shook his head.
The only reason Erha could follow the Marine warship was because the Vivre Card in Jin's hand pointed the way.
If he fell asleep, there would be no one to guide them.
Luffy scratched his head.
"Then what do we do?"
After so many battles, and now three days and nights without sleep…
Could Jin really endure it?
If Jin collapsed now, Luffy wouldn't even be able to go out and find a doctor.
"Don't worry. I'm fine," Jin smiled.
"Once we enter the Marine's special current, I'll find a chance to rest."
After entering that current, they wouldn't need the Vivre Card to guide them anymore.
They only needed to follow the current.
"Alright…"
After saying that, Luffy still looked worried.
"But don't force yourself."
If Jin got hurt because of this, Luffy really wouldn't know what to do.
"Relax. I know my limits," Jin replied.
He wasn't an idiot.
He wouldn't gamble with his own life.
If he hadn't awakened this special Mangekyo Sharingan, he wouldn't be pushing himself this hard.
Thinking of the Mangekyo's ability, Jin subconsciously raised a hand to his eyes.
The eye that reflects the heart…
Before awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan, two thoughts had appeared in Jin's mind.
The first was:
If only time could turn back.
The second was:
If only everything in front of me were an illusion.
Perhaps it was precisely because of those two thoughts that he awakened this invincible Mangekyo Sharingan.
Although he had no offensive visual jutsu and couldn't gain overwhelming attack power from the beginning…
For him, in this world, these eyes were actually far better.
The only question was…
Could these eyes evolve into something even higher?
Thinking of that, Jin narrowed his eyes.
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