Chapter 330 - 169

Chapter 169: The Empress's Panic!!"Straw Hat Boy—! Save me!!"The miserable cry pierced through the dust, and a figure slammed hard against the rock wall before tumbling onto the ground.Pink curly hair was like a burst shuttlecock, several bluish-red lumps swelled on his forehead and cheeks, and dark red blood stained the corner of his mouth.Burned electric marks remained on the edges of his clothes—he was utterly miserable from head to toe.Luffy stared at the barely recognizable silhouette, his eyes widening suddenly: "You are...?"A memory flashed back to the scorching hell of Impel Down, and he blurted out: "Little Ivankov?!""It's me!!"Luffy was completely stunned.If his own biological father saw him like this, he'd be stunned for three seconds!"You've been rambling forever without getting to the point!"A cold voice suddenly cut close, and a dark figure appeared like a ghost, bringing with it a sharp whistle through the air."Bang!"Ivankov was kicked away, crashing back into the pile of rubble.The dark figure reached out and grabbed the den den mushi that was flying through the air, catching it steadily in his palm.In the gloom, his short blonde hair shone with a cold light, and beneath his spiral eyebrows, a cigarette burned with a scarlet tip.The figure with his hands tucked into the pockets of his suit pants—Who else could it be but Sanji?"...Sanji?!"Luffy tilted his head, utterly confused, "Why are you fighting?"The instigator himself had long forgotten the previous agreement.Sanji didn't pay attention to that at all.He took a deep drag on his cigarette, the spark flickering with his rapid breathing.His chest rose and fell violently, but his face was flushed with excitement, and his eyes shone astonishingly:"Luffy! I've taken care of that Okama!""So—can I go to Amazon Lily now?!""Huh? Oh, sure."Luffy answered casually, muttering internally: How did Little Ivankov lose so quickly?But the thought vanished instantly, and he raised his hand to ask, "Do you want me to come pick you up now?""No need!"Sanji quickly waved his hand, trying to make his tone sound calm.But his tightly clenched fists, his slightly trembling shoulders,and the deep redness of his earlobes that he couldn't hide,all betrayed his overwhelming ecstasy."That guy has the Amazon Lily Eternal Pose on him! I can leave as soon as I take it!""...Hmm?"Luffy's brow suddenly furrowed, true confusion appearing on his face.He clearly remembered that Ivankov's ship couldn't cross the Calm Belt at all.—That had always been the privilege of Marinebattleships.Could it be... was Sanji going to steal a battleship?"Straw Hat~"Ivankov looked at Luffy, who was full of question marks, and didn't hesitate to reveal Sanji's secret, his tone full of mockery and amazement:"This kid got incredibly lucky—he ate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit!!"—The Rumble-Rumble Fruit?!The four words exploded like thunder, and everyone in Sleepy Old Town instantly froze.Even the calm-looking Rayleigh's eyes twitched slightly, a trace of disbelief flashing in his gaze.The terror of a top-tier Logia Devil Fruit had long been perfectly demonstrated by the Three Admirals."So that's how it is..."Luffy muttered softly, the confusion in his eyes instantly fading.No wonder Sanji could take down Ivankov so quickly; no wonder he could venture into the Calm Belt alone.With this god-tier ability, everything made sense... Facing the admiring gazes of the crowd, Sanjimerely waved his hand casually, his expression seemingly nonchalant.But the corners of his mouth, slightly turned up and unable to suppress a smile, ultimately betrayed his satisfaction with this power.A top-tier Logia was undoubtedly a leap in strength.However, when his gaze inadvertently swept past Luffy's side, his steps suddenly halted,and he froze in place as if struck by lightning.That was a silver-haired woman dressed in a plain white Kimono.Her skin was whiter than snow, her features picturesque, and a cool, ethereal aura flowed around her, making her look like a Fairy who had descended to the mortal world, beautiful enough to take one's breath away.What made Sanji's heart clench even tighter was this:The tender, affectionate gaze in the woman's eyes as she looked at Luffy,seemed to gather all the radiance of the world into that single glance.In that instant, Sanji felt the cigarette in his mouth lose its flavor,his earlier joy completely vanished, leaving only an indescribable bitterness and anxiety."Luffy! I'll talk to you when I get there!!"He practically gritted his teeth to squeeze out the sentence, his tone filled with uncontrollable impatience, and he abruptly cut off the call before finishing his thought.At this moment, he had no intention of lingering, wishing he could tear open space and instantly flash beside his crewmate... Meanwhile, at the peak of Amazon Lily, an unusual tranquility permeated the Snake Princess Palace.The highest structure on the island had a unique charm: the interior was mostly furnished with rattan and wood, simple and antique, save for one striking feature—the extremely luxurious pink canopy bed in the center of the hall,which flaunted the Empress's exclusive splendor with its smooth velvet texture and layers of lace drapery.No lamps or candles were lit inside the hall; the thick darkness spread like ink, swallowing all details.Only the cold Moonlight, passing through the window lattices carved with winding snake patterns, filtered down a few slivers of light, barely sketching out hazy outlines and adding a touch of gloom.On the large bed, a graceful figure lay lazily on her side.Her long, jade-like legs, reputed to be the utmost perfection in the world, were casually crossed and rested on the edge of the bed.Her skin shimmered with a porcelain-like luster in the Moonlight.A sheer chiffon veil barely covered her vital areas, yet it outlined her slender waist and full curves in a breathtaking manner.A few strands of damp black hair clung to her smooth cheek and pale neck, still carrying the steam from her bath.This broke her usual aloofness, adding a vibrant and seductive vitality.—It was Hancock.She leaned against the headboard, propping her elbow on a soft cushion, holding a thick, exquisitely bound book.Her slender fingers, painted with deep crimson Koudan, gently turned the pages, making a soft rustling sound.This haughty, cold, and aloof Empress was currently completely immersed in the words.Her long lashes were lowered, casting faint shadows beneath her eyes, her expression focused to the point of obsession.However, as she read on, Hancock's breathing gradually changed pitch.The descriptions in the book became increasingly bold and explicit; the fervent words, paired with illustrations that made one blush,were like tiny flames silently licking at the dormant lake of her heart.That world-shattering face, usually cold as frost, was now slowly tinted with a light blush,spreading from her cheeks to her earlobes, and even her neck showed an alluring pale pink.Her breathing involuntarily became hot and rapid, and the proud curves of her chest rose and fell with slight tremors.Her fingertips were slightly hot, and the motion of turning the pages revealed a hint of panic."How rude..."Hancock gently bit her lower lip, her dark eyebrows furrowed, and a trace of embarrassment and helplessness flashed in her eyes.She suddenly tossed the book aside,It landed on the soft bedding with a "thud," the pages scattering open."The content of this book... how can it be so lewd and indecent?!"She exclaimed in reprimand, yet her voice contained a barely noticeable tremor,losing its usual authority and instead showing a maidenly awkwardness.Her chest rose and fell more intensely, shame and anger intertwined.This condescending Empress was now, rarely, showing a trace of adorable panic.