As the Kuja Pirates' fleet drew closer, the Marines on the port grew disorderly, jostling each other to get a better look.
Momonga put a hand to his forehead, saying helplessly, "It's truly shameful... and they call themselves G-7 elites. With this kind of reaction, Hancock could wipe out the entire G-7 with a single ability."
Doberman burst into laughter. "Hahahaha, that's enough, you have to understand these young men. Hancock truly deserves the title of the world's most beautiful woman. What man wouldn't be moved by her?"
"Are you too?" Momonga suddenly asked.
Doberman's face crumpled, and he said stiffly, "I'm only moved by the appreciation of beauty, nothing more. I absolutely harbor no other intentions. We watched that young girl grow up..."
"Meaning you are also affected by Hancock's charm, right?" Momonga pressed further.
Doberman glared at Momonga. "Yes, so what? Must you keep probing and make it awkward?"
"No, don't misunderstand. I'm just confirming that I'm not the only one. Hahaha, if you're the same, then I'm relieved." Momonga laughed heartily.
Doberman was stunned for a moment, then also laughed. "Hahahaha. According to the Admiral's analysis, while Hancock was beautiful before, she didn't have the potential to wield her charm to this degree. Normally, no one should possess such irresistible allure. Therefore, the reason we feel 'moved' and uneasy is simply the Love-Love Fruit unconsciously influencing us. Her ability has an immense gap between its upper and lower limits, and Hancock is undoubtedly someone who can utilize the Love-Love Fruit to its maximum potential..."
"So, these Warlords of the Sea are all monsters. So powerful at such a young age..." Momonga nodded, sighing with emotion.
"It's a good thing many of them are on our side," Doberman replied, nodding in agreement.
"That's true. It's fortunate they are on our side," Momonga smiled.
While Momonga and Doberman were talking, the Kuja Pirates' ships slowly docked at the port.
Then, Hancock's peerlessly beautiful face peered out from the deck and immediately spotted Doberman and Momonga.
Having lived at G-7 for so long, as Doberman mentioned, he practically watched her grow up, Hancock had a very good relationship with Doberman.
She had only expected to see Momonga here, but was surprised Doberman was present too. She excitedly waved her hand and shouted, "Hey, Doberman-tenchō!" (manager)
"Call me Vice Admiral, you wretched Snake Princess," Doberman countered, rolling his eyes at her.
Unlike the original story, having not been enslaved and oppressed for years in Mariejois and instead enjoying a happy life at G-7, Hancock had not developed the negative trait of shifting from intense self-loathing to extreme arrogance. She was a person of relatively normal personality and behavior. Of course, she was still inevitably a bit proud, but that arrogance stemmed from a pure, 'I am the most beautiful woman in the world' mentality, unrelated to slavery, inferiority, or the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon.
"Are your relations really that good? I always thought Hancock was a bit difficult to approach," Momonga watched the interaction, slightly surprised.
"Once you get to know her, you'll find she's a very interesting young woman," Doberman waved his hand dismissively.
Meanwhile, the massive crowd of Marines gathered on the port went absolutely wild after seeing Hancock wave to Doberman.
"Empress-sama!!!"
"Hey, Snake Princess!!!"
"Is this the world's most beautiful woman? Honestly, the reason I volunteered to transfer to G-7 from Headquarters was because I heard I might get a chance to see the Pirate Empress!"
"With that beauty, never mind her being a Warlord of the Sea, even if she wasn't, I couldn't bear to arrest her! Whatever she wants, we should just give it to her! Could that even be considered robbery?"
"I declare my love for her!"
"Shut up, you shameless man! Is that love? You're just lusting after her body!"
"I am the only one for true love, Snake Princess-sama!"
"Petrify me! Please petrify me!"
For some unknown reason, one person started shouting the ridiculous request to be petrified. But soon, the phrase spread like a virus through the mouths of these bored 'Marine elites.'
Three to five minutes later, every Marine surrounding Hancock's pirate ship was shouting in unison, "Petrify me, Snake Princess-sama!"
Doberman looked at Momonga beside him, utterly bewildered. "I only left G-7 two years ago, right? What have you turned these bastards into?!"
Momonga was taken aback, then said, "I didn't! I'm innocent! Don't talk nonsense! This is clearly a trend you left behind! I feel ashamed just watching this!"
"Bullshit! When I was the G-7 Base Commander, this never happened!" Doberman countered.
Neither of them would take responsibility, as the scene was too embarrassing.
Just then, Hancock, likely fed up with the harassment from these tedious Marines, sharply stomped on the ship's railing. Her tall, beautiful figure stood high above them. Lifting her chin, she adopted a haughty pose. "Oh, you fools! This Empress will grant your absurd and laughable request!"
The moment Hancock spoke, the atmosphere below became even more feverish. At first glance, it truly looked like a fan meet-up for a celebrity.
"Empress-sama!!!"
"Bring it on!!! Petrify me!"
In that moment, Hancock fiercely tossed her hair. Her beautiful, smooth black hair fluttered in the wind. She then formed a heart shape with her hands and exclaimed sweetly, "Mero Mero Mellow!"
The port instantly fell silent. The previously fanatical crowd had completely cooled down.
Well, they had cooled down into several hundred stone statues.
Doberman clasped his head, saying helplessly, "Isn't that a little too reckless? Momonga, you..."
He turned around and found that Momonga, too, had somehow been turned into a stone!
"What the actual hell!" Doberman was so angry he almost kicked Momonga into pieces. You were in on it, and you still had the nerve to say that trend wasn't started by you? If I hadn't been here today, you'd probably have been the loudest one shouting!
Soon, with no more fanatics around, Hancock came over to Doberman. She looked at the petrified Vice Admiral Momonga and said, slightly surprised, "Ah, well..."
"Ignore him, that bastard..." Doberman muttered angrily.
Hancock smiled, then pointed at the hundreds of statues behind her. "And them? Should I un-petrify them now?"
"No. These little bastards are only gathered here because they have nothing else to do. Let them be statues for a while," Doberman shook his head again.
G-7 Base has 30,000 personnel. It was perfectly normal for a few hundred people to be on rotation or resting. These men were all just idle, which was why Doberman and Momonga hadn't bothered to disperse them earlier. Entertainment options at a Marine base are limited. Having the Empress show up to let them blow off some steam was actually fine.
Although Doberman told her to ignore Momonga, Hancock quickly reversed the petrification on the Vice Admiral.
Momonga, with his thick skin, immediately said straight-faced, "Don't misunderstand. I've been having some minor lower back issues recently. Doberman, you don't know, but Hancock's petrification can effectively treat these little ailments. The feeling is like being completely reforged..."
Doberman looked at Momonga as if he were an idiot, thinking, Do you actually think I believe that?
However, he couldn't be bothered with Momonga, who seemed proper on the surface but was secretly incredibly repressed and dramatic. Instead, he asked Hancock, "Why did you come here?"
"I wanted to ask you the same thing! Didn't you go to the New World to be G-5's boss? Why are you back at G-7?" Hancock asked curiously.
"Came back for some business," Doberman said, waving his hand dismissively.
Hancock didn't press for details and continued, "I traveled from Amazon Lily. I'm stopping here to resupply, and then I'm heading to Alabasta."
"Alabasta?" Momonga was surprised and jumped back into the conversation. "I heard the situation in Alabasta isn't very good lately. That Dalmatian guy has been there for a while now, with no news."
"You're at G-7, and you're so well-informed about Headquarters' news?" Doberman asked, surprised.
"The trip from here to Headquarters, via the Gates of Justice at Impel Down, is only half a day's sail, okay?" Momonga retorted.
"The situation seems quite bad. Crocodile received authorization from Mariejois to summon us Warlords of the Sea to Alabasta to assist. I heard Mariejois wants to test the strength of us Warlords of the Sea or something. How boring!" Hancock said, annoyed.
"You didn't refuse?" Doberman asked.
Hancock looked left and right, then whispered, "I heard from Commodore Hina that the Admiral is also traveling there. I haven't seen him in two years. This is the perfect chance to cling to him so he doesn't forget about me."
This wasn't out of romantic affection. In reality, neither Hancock nor Diarmuid had any complicated feelings for each other. When Diarmuid first met Hancock, she was just a child. During that period, he was already an Admiral in Marineford. Hancock grew up at G-7 under the care of Gion. They had minimal contact, so how could there be romantic feelings?
The reason Hancock wanted to show her face to Diarmuid was primarily because she was considered part of the G-7 faction, or Diarmuid's faction, and her identity was, in fact, Marine. Especially now that Amazon Lily relied on its cooperation with the Navy for prosperity. It was logical and reasonable for Hancock to go and foster a connection with an Admiral who wielded immense influence in the Navy and was the initiator and actual controller of the Calm Belt project!
Doberman nodded. "Speaking of which, it's true. Since you became a Warlord of the Sea, the Admiral hasn't seen you, has he? Did he assign you any tasks? Like Smoker?"
"Never. Becoming a Warlord of the Sea hasn't made much difference. I still spend my days with the people of Amazon Lily, cooperating with the Navy on the Calm Belt projects. No other missions," Hancock shook her head.
After a slight pause, Hancock continued, "This time, I'll go to Alabasta and put on a grand show, dealing with Crocodile's incompetence and letting him see my strength and ability. Maybe then he'll take me more seriously..."
"Then I look forward to your performance," Doberman replied with a smile.
"It's not just you, right?" Momonga suddenly asked.
"No. I heard Doflamingo, Jinbe, and that 'World's Greatest Swordsman' were also summoned," Hancock nodded.
After a pause, Hancock added, "Doflamingo seemed to have outright refused the summons... That guy is truly arrogant."
"He has someone backing him," Doberman raised an eyebrow.
After a few more minutes of idle chat, Hancock quickly reversed the petrification on the Marines. She then purchased a large amount of supplies from G-7, preparing for a non-stop expedition, sailing directly to Alabasta in one go!
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