Amazon Lily.
Leno had slept until the afternoon before being stirred awake by a faint noise.
The visitors were none other than Hancock's two sisters—who had certainly grown into their own.
They treated Leno's crew—Domino, Robin, and the others—with notable friendliness.
There was even a hint of courtesy.
But when their attention turned to Leno—
Their tone cooled considerably.
It wasn't just because he had "stolen" their beloved sister.
More importantly—
The deepest secret they wished to bury would soon be revealed to this man.
That secret concerned the painful past shared by the three sisters.
Exposing it was no different from tearing open a scabbed wound—
And rubbing coarse salt into it.
Of course—
They didn't know Leno had long since known everything.
"Mr. Leno," Sandersonia began politely.
Marigold followed, "Our sister wishes to see you."
Since their attitude wasn't hostile, Leno's crew had no objections.
Besides—
The decision wasn't theirs to make.
Leno yawned lazily and stretched.
He had slept well.
After all—
The previous night had been… exhausting.
Comparable to dealing with three near-Admiral-level opponents.
The unfathomable kind.
"No problem," he replied casually.
He wasn't sure why Hancock wanted him.
But a walk wouldn't hurt.
So he followed the sisters out.
Along the way—
Women of Amazon Lily stole glances at him.
After all—
No woman of the island could resist observing a man.
Fortunately—
Unlike their monkey-examining stares at Luffy in the original timeline—
The looks directed at Leno were a mixture of admiration, fear, and intense curiosity.
"So that's the new Emperor, 'The Fallen One' Leno?"
"He looks so young… and even Admirals couldn't defeat him!"
"That's right, he even protected Lady Snake Princess!"
"What exactly do men have more of than us? Why are they so strong?"
Leno didn't know their thoughts.
And even if he did—
He wouldn't care.
What did he have more of?
Was he supposed to demonstrate it publicly?
Absolutely not.
Soon—
They arrived at the central palace.
Gloriosa stood at the entrance.
Her face sour as if someone owed her millions of Berries.
Well—
From her perspective, Leno might as well have.
The daughter she raised had been whisked away.
And she couldn't do anything about it.
Unfortunately for her—
Leno had no intention of being polite.
He glanced at her and casually tossed out a line.
"No wonder Roger didn't pick you back then. With a face like that all the time, who would?"
Gloriosa's eyes widened.
Her wrinkled face filled with shock.
Her finger trembled as she pointed at him—
But no words came out.
"H-how does he know?! How does he know about that era?! Even Snake Princess doesn't know about Roger and me—"
Her mind went blank.
Was this brat some ancient relic reborn?
Before she could demand answers—
Hancock's voice drifted from inside the palace.
"Has Lord Leno arrived? Please… let him enter alone."
The sisters exchanged helpless glances.
They didn't want to.
But they had no choice.
They pushed open the heavy palace doors.
Leno stepped inside.
The doors closed behind him.
Immediately—
He saw Hancock seated upon Salome, her back facing him.
She wasn't wearing her usual cheongsam.
A pity.
Instead—
She wore a long dress, elegant and… easily removable.
Her head tilted slightly.
One hand lifted her cascade of black hair—
Revealing her entire smooth, pale back.
And upon it—
The unmistakable slave mark.
The hoof of the Celestial Dragons.
Completely exposed.
Her body was rigid.
Her breathing almost nonexistent.
While waiting—
Fear had consumed her.
She had imagined every possible reaction—
Shock.
Disgust.
Contempt.
Each possibility drained her courage.
Yet—
None of that came.
Leno simply looked at the mark.
His expression calm.
He stepped closer.
The silence—
His lack of visible reaction—
Made her tremble more.
Then—
Instead of words—
A hand.
"Oh~~ As expected of the most beautiful woman in the world. This skin… incredibly smooth."
The inappropriate touch and comment stunned her.
Of all reactions—
This was not one she had considered.
"You… don't recognize—"
"Oh, this?" Leno replied casually. "The Celestial Dragon's hoof mark. I know."
Her body stiffened.
She turned abruptly.
Her beautiful face was filled with disbelief.
"You… you know? And you don't think…?"
"Think what?"
He shrugged.
"It's just a slave brand forced onto you. What does it prove?"
"It proves the Celestial Dragons are trash."
"It proves you suffered."
"That's all."
He met her reddening eyes.
"If anything, you should focus on slaughtering that trash."
His words shattered the shadows in her heart.
She stared at him.
For years—
That mark had been her nightmare.
She feared anyone discovering it.
Especially someone she cared about.
But Leno not only knew—
He didn't care.
Thump.
Thump.
She could hear her heartbeat roaring.
A scorching emotion overwhelmed her.
She rose from Salome and turned to face him.
Tears slid down her cheeks—
Yet her smile was more radiant than ever.
"Lord Leno… thank you…"
Her voice trembled.
Filled with attachment.
In that moment—
Nothing else needed saying.
There were her words in his ears.
And her offering before his eyes.
And that offering—
Grew closer.
Until Leno fell silent.
"Lord Leno… I… can no longer be without you…"
What lovesickness?
This was far stronger than her feelings for Luffy had ever been.
Outside the palace—
The sisters exchanged strange looks.
Gloriosa's face darkened further.
Meanwhile—
Marine Headquarters was far from peaceful that night.
Sengoku looked at the Admiral before him.
"Borsalino. Have we located the user of the Op-Op Fruit?"
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