Chapter 52
Ren, Shirahoshi, Yamato, and Hancock walked toward the famous amusement district of Sabaody Archipelago, the massive mangrove roots towering around them like pillars of a living city. Colorful bubbles floated through the air while distant laughter and music echoed from the park.
It should have been a lively scene.
Instead, the moment people noticed who had arrived, chaos erupted.
Hancock was glued to Ren's right arm, holding it possessively as if it naturally belonged there. Yamato walked on his left side, grabbing his other hand while pretending to look around casually.
Her slightly pink cheeks betrayed her calm act.
Above them, Shirahoshi floated gently on Nimbus, her long pink hair swaying softly in the breeze as she stared around with wide, curious eyes.
The moment the crowd recognized them, cold sweat broke out everywhere.
"It's the Monkey King!!!"
"Run! The new Emperor is here!"
"The Oni Princess is also here!"
People started scattering in panic, bumping into stalls and knocking over chairs as they fled the street in terror.
Then someone suddenly noticed something else.
"Wait… that's the Pirate Empress???"
"And she's hugging his arm?!"
For a brief moment the crowd froze.
Then, strangely enough, the fear disappeared.
Instead, furious shouting erupted.
"Damn it! Why is the Empress so close to him?!"
"Nooooo! The Empress's heart has been taken!"
Some cursed Ren with jealousy while others clutched their chests dramatically as if their hearts had shattered. A few even dropped to their knees in complete emotional devastation.
Their fear of the Emperor was completely forgotten.
Yamato blinked in surprise as she looked at the dramatic crowd reactions.
"Well damn… you've got quite a huge amount of admirers, Hancock."
Shirahoshi also looked around in amazement.
"Yeah… they even stopped fearing Ren and started cursing him to his face."
Hancock proudly raised her chin and flipped her long black hair in her signature elegant motion.
"Of course."
Her voice carried effortless confidence.
"Because I am the most beautiful woman in the world. It is only natural."
Yamato immediately had a vein pop on her forehead.
"Damn! That was a sudden personality change."
She pointed accusingly at Hancock.
"Just a few seconds ago you were clinging to Ren like he might run away somewhere. And now you're acting all proud and arrogant."
The people around them had completely fallen into Hancock's charm.
"Empress is the most beautiful woman!"
"Empress!"
"Empress!"
Shirahoshi clapped her hands softly with admiration.
"Big sister Hancock's charm is really something."
Hancock smiled with clear satisfaction at Shirahoshi's praise.
"Don't worry," she said confidently. "Big sister will protect you two."
Yamato instantly frowned.
"Oiii! When did you become big sister?"
She crossed her arms stubbornly.
"And who needs your protection? I'm stronger. I'll protect you two."
Hancock's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh?"
She stepped closer until they were nearly nose-to-nose.
"When did you start living under that illusion?"
Yamato leaned forward as well, refusing to back down.
The air between them suddenly cracked with small bursts of Conqueror's Haki.
Invisible lightning sparked as the two women pushed against each other with pure willpower.
Ren's mouth twitched.
They looked exactly like two twin sisters arguing on Amazon Lily.
He still remembered when Hancock convinced Yamato to team up with her to fight him. The two of them had disappeared into Hancock's bedroom afterward for two entire days.
Now they were fighting like angry cats.
Ren sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"Okay, you two. Stop it."
Both women glanced at him.
Ren spoke calmly but firmly.
"You three are all beautiful."
Hancock blinked.
Ren continued.
"Hancock is mature and alluring. Shirahoshi is kind, sweet, and innocent."
Shirahoshi's cheeks turned pink.
"Yamato is wild, kind, and protective."
Yamato scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Ren shrugged lightly.
"I like you three. So stop fighting and let's go."
He pointed ahead casually.
"Otherwise I'll just go with Shirahoshi and you two can keep bickering."
All three women instantly blushed.
"Ahem… let's go buy something and eat."
Yamato quickly looked away while scratching her cheek.
"I want to see if there's any food I haven't tried."
Hancock cleared her throat with a faint red tint on her face.
"I want to buy some new clothes."
She turned away slightly.
"Let's go."
Shirahoshi smiled warmly as the four of them walked forward together, laughing and teasing each other along the lively street.
Around them, however, the crowd had already collapsed.
The brief clash of Hancock and Yamato's Conqueror's Haki had knocked out nearly everyone nearby.
---
At Marineford, chaos had also begun.
The door to Sengoku's office suddenly slammed open as a Marine soldier rushed inside without permission.
"Sir! Sir! It's urgent!"
Sengoku immediately looked up with irritation.
"What is it?!"
The soldier saluted nervously.
"Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, Oni Princess Yamato, the Mermaid Princess… and the new Sea Emperor Ren have all been reported on Sabaody Archipelago!"
Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, and Kuzan all went pale at the same time.
Tsuru sighed quietly.
"We expected that."
She folded her arms calmly.
"With how large Noah is, they would need to coat it before returning to Fishman Island."
The soldier trembled nervously.
"S-sir… there is also another report."
Sengoku slammed his desk angrily.
"Then say it! Why are you dragging it out?!"
The soldier nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Sengoku," Garp said calmly, "stop releasing your anger on innocent soldiers."
The soldier looked at Garp with grateful eyes.
"S-sir…"
He swallowed nervously.
"A clone of Ren has placed a statue in the middle of Sabaody Archipelago."
Everyone froze.
"Many reporters are present… and the statue looks exactly like Admiral Sakazuki."
Sengoku slowly collapsed back into his chair, his face completely drained of color.
"N-no… Sakazuki?"
He shook his head desperately.
"A statue? How? No… that's impossible."
Tsuru sighed again.
"Face it, Sengoku."
Her voice was calm but heavy.
"Hancock's Devil Fruit turns people into stone."
She looked at him seriously.
"And we haven't received any news from Sakazuki since he left for Amazon Lily."
Sengoku grabbed his head in disbelief.
"Nooooo! How can Hancock defeat Sakazuki?!"
He suddenly laughed nervously.
"It must be a statue made to scare us. Yes… that's it!"
But even he didn't believe his own words.
Garp sighed deeply.
"I told you not to rush things."
He shook his head.
"Now everything has become a massive mess."
At that moment—
Peru Peru Peru Peru
The Den Den Mushi on Sengoku's desk began ringing loudly.
The room instantly went silent.
Sengoku's eyes turned red with frustration as he prepared to answer and curse the Gorosei.
Before he could pick it up, however, Tsuru calmly reached forward and grabbed the Den Den Mushi first.