"Please wait a moment, Snake Princess. This man doesn't seem like the type to lie. As for the other one, you can tell at a glance he's up to no good. Please spare him and punish that one instead."
Margaret leapt onto the central platform, her expression calm as she gazed toward the high dais. Her sudden appearance drew gasps of shock from the crowd all around. To oppose the Empress—this was a grave crime!
"Hey! Hey! Hey! What do you mean, 'just looking at me, I don't seem like a good person'? I'll give you one more chance—rephrase that properly!"
Jiang Lin looked speechless at Margaret. If his powers weren't sealed right now, he might have already lost his temper and smacked that little girl around.
"Why do you say that?"
The Empress looked down curiously, her face utterly calm, as if she wasn't angry.
"Because… because… I was the one who brought this man back to the village."
Margaret hesitated several times before finally revealing the truth.
"I see…"
The Empress slowly rose from her "seat," stepping gracefully down the stairs until she stood before Margaret.
"Hey! Boa Hancock! Our battle isn't over yet! If you've got any pride, release me and we'll fight it out again!"
Jiang Lin didn't want to watch Margaret turn to stone before his eyes. Her words may have been a little cutting, but he knew she was kind-hearted.
"Mero Mero Mellow!"
The Empress ignored Jiang Lin's provocation. Smiling faintly, she turned to her subordinates and unleashed her ability.
"Bring Bacilla here."
After issuing her order, Hancock turned elegantly and returned to her throne atop the dais.
"Hey! Boa Hancock! Aren't you supposed to be from a nation of warriors? What's wrong—don't even dare to face my challenge?"
Jiang Lin intended to use the Empress as a trial for his fresh abilities, yet she dismissed his provocations. Only when a massive black panther leapt onto the stage did Hancock finally speak slowly:
"Defeat it, and then you'll be qualified to challenge me."
"Snake Princess!"
Thunderous cheers erupted from the audience, accompanied by laughter and joyous cries that echoed through the arena.
"You people are insane! Your comrades were just turned to stone by that woman, and you're still laughing?!"
Freed from his restraints, Luffy punched the black panther flying with a single blow, then glared furiously up at Hancock on the dais.
"Whatever I do will always be forgiven… because I am beautiful beyond compare."
Her soft, enchanting voice drifted across the arena, stirring up another wave of frenzied cheers, shouts, and cries of devotion.
"What a bunch of lunatics… This is straight-up classic PUA tactics."
Jiang Lin muttered in exasperation. He genuinely liked Hancock's character, but under the current circumstances, he couldn't afford to care about that. Ace's execution was less than two weeks away. Now that he had acquired Hancock's ability, he needed to leave quickly with Luffy.
"Luffy, I'll leave things here to you! I'm going to Hancock!"
Once freed from his bindings, Jiang Lin transformed into a flash of golden lightning, reappearing instantly at Hancock's side.
"That power…"
Down below, Elder Gloriosa stared in shock at Jiang Lin's ability.
"Empress, I'm returning your power to you!"
With a charming smile, Jiang Lin unleashed a "Mero Mero Mellow" directly at Hancock.
"That was… Snake Princess's power! Who exactly is he? What kind of terrifying ability is this…?
Gloriosa's gaze locked onto Jiang Lin, her attention on him now surpassing even Luffy.
"Oh my… It seems I can't capture your heart after all."
Jiang Lin shook his head with a sigh. Hancock's ability was formidable, but without someone feeling true infatuation, the Love-Love Fruit's power could never reach its full effect.
Jiang Lin was handsome, yes—but not Hancock's type.
"Why… why do you possess my ability?"
Hancock looked at Jiang Lin in shock. Her powers came from a Devil Fruit, and Devil Fruits were unique—only one person in the entire world could ever wield a given ability.
"Surprised already? You're still too early."
"Devil Fruit Fusion complete! Congratulations, Host—Lightning Fruit (enhanced with Love-Love Fruit) acquired."
"Lightning Fruit (Love-Love Amplified) fully equipped!"
Jiang Lin chuckled softly, transforming into a bolt of crimson lightning. His lightning now exceeded even the destructive force of the original Pika Pika no Mi, and on top of that, it carried a hint of the Love-Love Fruit's petrification effect.
"Fall in love with me!"
In a flash, the crimson lightning struck out. A faint pink mist drifted into Hancock's nose, instantly catching her attention. Heart-shaped pupils rapidly filled her eyes.
The enhanced crimson lightning carried a charm effect—no need for the target to feel genuine affection. It could petrify directly. Jiang Lin could also transmit the petrification through physical contact, though that would only affect the touched area rather than the whole body.
"Light-Speed Kick!"
While Hancock was dazed under the influence of his power, Jiang Lin raised his left leg high and drove a blazing kick straight toward her chest. But as the strike drew near, Hancock remained motionless, showing no reaction—as though she hadn't seen it.
"Forget it. Since I've already tested the fused fruit's power… let's have you change seats."
Just before the kick struck Hancock's chest, Jiang Lin lowered his leg slightly, diverting the blow into the massive serpent coiled at her throne. Knocking it aside, he replaced it—seating himself in its place while scooping Hancock into a princess carry.
"Snake Princess!"
"Snake Princess!"
Shouts erupted instantly. In that moment, every gaze shifted to the throne. Where once Boa Hancock had stood, there was now only Jiang Lin—holding the Empress in his arms.
In Jiang Lin's embrace, Hancock's eyes were clouded and dazed, her expression of intoxicated infatuation.
"Wake up! Hey—wake up!"
As Jiang Lin withdrew his Devil Fruit power, Hancock quickly regained consciousness. Shock filled her eyes as she looked at the man holding her.
"You dare…!"
Furious, she leapt from Jiang Lin's arms, summoning a massive glowing heart without hesitation.
"Slave Arrow!"
A torrential downpour of pink arrows rained down upon Jiang Lin.
"Don't move!"
Just then, Luffy leapt forward, wrapping his arms around Sandersonia's burning back. Through the rip in her back, a faint symbol shimmered in the glow of the flames.
"That man!"
Luffy's action carved itself deeply into Hancock's mind. She knew what he was doing—and she knew all too well what that mark meant for the three sisters.
"Yo! Boa Hancock! You dare get distracted in the middle of our fight?"
A pink flash of lightning appeared behind her, and Jiang Lin locked her arms from behind, restraining her completely.
"You… man!"
The same words—but spoken to Jiang Lin, were full of loathing, while toward Luffy, they carried a strange, unspoken weight.
"Oh dear, looks like I'm interrupting a lovers' scene here. Don't worry—I won't touch you. Luffy's my brother, I'd never do anything to you."
With a light laugh, Jiang Lin released her. He knew his own goal and would not force anything further.
"You…"
Hancock glanced between Jiang Lin and Luffy, her eyes filled with complex emotion.
"The tournament is over. Everyone, leave the arena quickly before Gorgon's Eyes are revealed."
Finally, Hancock announced her decision. The onlookers scattered in fear at her words, and in an instant the enormous arena was nearly deserted, leaving only a few figures behind.