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"Mam-ma-ma-ma~ You Kuja women really are all love-brained!"
Big Mom Charlotte Linlin watched Hancock on the light screen, completely disregarding her status and fretting anxiously over Luffy's safety. She couldn't help but loudly tease Shakky and Gloriosa.
"I can see this little girl has already thrown her whole heart at Garp's grandson! But let me tell you, the feelings between men and women can be a real headache!"
Big Mom's words carried the teasing tone of someone experienced. Though she had countless children and many husbands, deep down she had never truly felt that heart-fluttering devotion to just one person.
For her, romance between men and women was merely a necessary tool to achieve her goals and obtain powerful bloodline offspring.
Hearing Big Mom's teasing, Shakky simply leaned elegantly against Rayleigh, the corners of her mouth curving into a faint, serene, and happy smile. She didn't bother to refute Big Mom.
To her, being able to stay by the side of the one she loved—
What was so bad about being "love-brained"? Wasn't it actually a kind of blessing?
Meanwhile, Gloriosa next to her paid no attention at all to Big Mom's comment. She was huddled beside Roger, affectionately teasing little Shanks with a loving expression.
"I already told you, Linlin!"
Gloriosa didn't even turn her head, but her voice came through clearly: "You, who pop out kids like popcorn, definitely can't understand the worries and sweetness of pure love like ours!"
Turning the tables, Gloriosa's tone carried the special pride of a Kuja woman.
Big Mom, however, didn't mind at all. Instead, she snorted as if it were only natural: "Men are just providers of strong bloodlines, that's all."
In her worldview built on blood ties and power, emotions were a luxury—even a weakness.
She had many husbands, but once they fulfilled their "mission," they were mercilessly driven away… All except Streusen; the rest were kicked out…
Only the children carrying her bloodline were Big Mom's true "wealth" and extensions of her power.
"But speaking of which,"
Golden Lion Shiki stroked his chin, his gaze firmly locked on Hancock's breathtaking beauty on the light screen, full of admiration in his eyes.
"Even if they're all love-brained, this Boa Hancock… is just too gorgeous!"
Even a legendary pirate as arrogant as Shiki had to admit that Hancock's level of beauty was off the charts!
It was a pure impact of beauty that transcended factions and eras.
"Hey, hey, hey, Shiki! Get a grip on the situation!"
Big Mom immediately seized the chance and looked mockingly at the Golden Lion: "This is a future scene! In the future, you might already be dead, you know!"
As she spoke, she thought back to her own decrepit, old-lady appearance from the earlier light screen: "Even this old lady turned into that granny in the future—what makes you old geezers think you'll fare any better?
Even the youngest Kaido turned into that brutish, meat-faced thug in the future, didn't he?"
"Hey—Linlin, I'm way better off than you! I just got more muscular, while you turned into that old hag…"
"?"
Hearing Kaido say that, Big Mom flared up again, but this time she didn't unleash massive killing intent—she just punched Kaido hard.
To Kaido, though, it was no different from a scratch.
"Alright, alright, I get it!"
Golden Lion waved his hand, not getting angry at Big Mom's taunt.
He raised his head, his signature golden mane fluttering without wind, pride and confidence burning in his eyes as a true strong one.
"I don't know exactly what the future holds, but this old man isn't going to die that easily!"
Shiki had a strong premonition: even on that future sea…
Golden Lion Shiki would surely remain a top-tier force stirring up storms, not losing to any of the Four Emperors!
"Is that my future granddaughter-in-law?"
Garp, sitting on the ground, stroked his chin while watching Hancock's undisguised concern for Luffy.
The gloomy mood caused by the war and the World Government actually lightened quite a bit—he even started chuckling to himself…
"Even though she's a pirate, as long as Luffy likes her, this old grandpa can only bless them! Hahahaha!"
Though Garp didn't know this grandson yet, the familial closeness in his blood, combined with the tenacity and purity Luffy showed on the battlefield, made him like him more and more…
Even the fact that the kid chose the "crooked path" of becoming a pirate didn't seem so hard to accept anymore.
At this moment, tense atmosphere spread around the Polar Tang.
The hatch opened. Trafalgar Law removed his signature spotted cap and mask, walking out with a grave expression.
Even with his usual calm, he couldn't help but pause slightly upon seeing Hancock's otherworldly beauty…
But he quickly composed himself—this wasn't the time to be distracted.
"The situation with Straw Hat-ya… is not optimistic."
Law spoke concisely, voice low: "I've done everything I could. The surgery was successful, and his life is preserved. But…"
He paused, sweeping his gaze over the tense group in front of him.
"Whether he can truly 'live' depends on his fate next… and on whether, after waking up, he can bear the fact that his brother is already dead."
As the Surgeon of Death, Law had absolute confidence in his medical skills—he could mend physical wounds, but he could not heal a shattered heart.
"No problem! No problem at all!"
A high-pitched voice cut in. Ivankov had arrived on a small warship and nimbly leaped onto the submarine's deck with his massive frame, tone utterly resolute.
"Straw Hat Boy's mental strength is incredibly powerful! He's a man who endured hellish Impel Down and the Summit War and still held on! He definitely—definitely will live! I believe in him!"
Suddenly, Ivankov's huge eyes turned toward Law, carrying scrutiny: "By the way, are you Straw Hat Boy's friend?"
This question was crucial. If he was a friend, risking life to save him was only natural.
If not, then this stranger's motives deserved serious questioning.
Sure enough, upon hearing Ivankov's question, Hancock immediately shot a sharp gaze toward Law, her beautiful eyes filled with vigilance.
If this man harbored even the slightest ill intent toward Luffy, she wouldn't hesitate to turn him to stone on the spot.
Facing the pressure from two powerhouses—one of them a Warlord—Law helplessly shrugged, tone still calm: "I'm not his friend."
Seeing Ivankov's expression change abruptly, as if about to press further, he added with a hint of sarcasm, "If my 'meddling out of kindness' makes you all so uneasy… how about I just make up a reason you can accept right here and now?"
Just as the atmosphere grew awkward and tense, a weak but steady voice came from inside the cabin:
"Al… although I don't know who you are… thank you… for saving me…"
Jinbe, supporting himself against the cabin wall, shakily walked out.
His body was wrapped entirely in bandages, face pale, but his eyes had regained their former resolve.
Seeing Jinbe awake and personally thanking him, Ivankov and Hancock's tense expressions finally eased somewhat.
At least this proved Law really had been saving people.
Jinbe walked up to Law and bowed solemnly once more in thanks: "Thank you so very much!"
Law waved it off: "What you need now is rest. Your injuries are severe too."
"I'm fine…"
Jinbe shook his head. His massive frame swayed slightly from weakness. He looked toward Luffy inside the cabin, eyes filled with heavy sorrow.
"It's just… right now my heart is extremely uneasy. For me, this time I lost Pops, lost Ace… lost too many important things… but…"
Jinbe's voice choked for a moment. This fish-man hardcase who had weathered countless storms—even as a former Warlord—had tears glinting in the corners of his eyes: "For Luffy… his pain is simply immeasurable.
From Impel Down to Marineford, all along the way… this old man saw it with my own eyes. He watched helplessly as Ace… right in front of him… then fainted from the sheer agony…"
The heartrending pain seemed to permeate the air again through Jinbe's description.
Perhaps it was precisely this extreme grief that triggered the body's defense mechanism, keeping Luffy unconscious all this time.
But the moment he woke up, the reality he would face would be a "lingchi" far crueler than any physical wound.
Jinbe's words moved everyone present. They had all personally witnessed Luffy's struggles and despair during the Summit War.
To save his brother, he broke through every obstacle, even raising his hand against his own grandfather standing in the way.
That blazing emotion, followed by the massive gap of losing everything, was enough to shatter anyone's will.
The Empress Hancock was silent for a moment, a flash of determination crossing her stunning face.
She suddenly turned to the nearby Mink Bepo and ordered: "Hey! You bear! Hurry up and bring me the Den Den Mushi!"
Taking the Den Den Mushi, her tone brooked no argument, her expression growing urgent: "Right now Luffy is still the Navy's highest-level wanted criminal. It's too dangerous here…"
Hancock looked at Law and Ivankov, announcing her decision: "I'm taking Luffy to Amazon Lily! That's the island I rule—it's in the Calm Belt.
And with my status as a Warlord of the Sea, ordinary Marines absolutely won't dare set foot there lightly!"
There would be the safest haven she could offer the one she loved—until he recovered, until he stood up again.
Hearing Hancock's words, Jinbe, Law, and Ivankov all nodded. For now, this was the only option.
While this group was still concerned for Luffy's safety, on the other side the Marines were really having a hard time.
They had thought that after Whitebeard's death, peace would come—that countless pirates would quiet down for at least a year or two…
But they were all idiots. The pirates were even more rampant and unrestrained than before!
And after killing a Whitebeard who wasn't that troublesome, several utterly irredeemable pirate prisoners had escaped…
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