A new day dawned.
Morning light streamed through the ornate windowpanes of the bedchamber, falling upon the disheveled silk quilt.
Ian stretched lazily, while Hancock, like the most obedient maid, knelt by the bed, adjusting his collar.
Just as Hancock finished, Ian suddenly raised his hand, pinching her delicate chin, and slowly said:
"Hancock, This Young Master let you leave the Holy Land back then so that you could grow and become the Empress of Amazon Lily."
"Now that you are the Empress, you should have the demeanor of an Empress. This Young Master does not like such a timid and submissive appearance."
Hancock blinked her beautiful eyes, a hint of grievance and confusion surfacing on her face, "Please enlighten Young Master, Is there something that I did not do well?"
"You are excellent, and very moist." Ian leaned over, playing with Hancock's earring, and said with a serious expression, "But from now on, in front of This Young Master, there Is no need to be so cautious. You are now This Young Master's woman."
Hancock's heart trembled, and she nodded softly, "I understand!"
"Don't just say it," Ian smiled, "Remember it in your heart. Be your true self, that proud, willful Empress, that Is why This Young Master let you leave. What This Young Master wants Is not a lowly slave. As the woman of the Young Master of the Nerona Family, the most powerful family in the Holy Land, you are equally noble!"
Upon hearing this, Hancock's delicate body trembled. The psychological trauma left from her maidenhood vanished at this moment, replaced by dependence and infatuation with the man before her.
Ian said no more, releasing her hand, "Let's go."
He turned and walked out. Hancock followed quickly without the slightest hesitation, and for the first time, she actively and generously took his arm, pressing her soft body tightly against him.
As soon as they stepped out of the bedchamber door, they ran into three figures.
It was Gloriosa, who had been waiting for a long time, and Hancock's two younger sisters.
The moment she saw Ian, Gloriosa froze, then, along with the pale-faced Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold, knelt before Ian.
"Greetings, Saint Ian..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a graceful figure had already blocked Ian's path.
Hancock looked down at Gloriosa, who was kneeling on the ground, "Granny Nyon, I did not summon you, why are you here?"
She paused, her tone growing colder, "Also, you are blocking the Young Master and my way."
Before her words finished, under the terrified gazes of Sandersonia and Marigold, Hancock raised her slender beautiful leg and kicked the hunched Gloriosa, sending her rolling to the side.
The action was swift and decisive, without any hesitation.
Her two younger sisters were so shocked their eyes almost popped out. Marigold instinctively looked up and cautiously asked, "Elder Sister, are... are you alright?"
"Do I look like I'm not alright?" Hancock glanced at them, her tone full of pride and happiness, "I am doing very well now! You two may withdraw, don't stand here and obstruct the Young Master's view!"
Before her two younger sisters could react, Hancock re-linked her arm with Ian's, tilted her face up, and the arrogant Empress aura instantly dissipated, replaced by a shy and fawning expression.
"Young Master, Is this right?"
Ian smiled and nodded: "Not bad, please keep it up. As This Young Master's woman, you should do as you please."
...After staying on Kuza Island for another day, the going merry set sail again.
This time, there was an Empress on board.
The ship sailed directly through the Calm Belt, and by evening, slowly entered the dock of Area 13 in Sabaody Archipelago.
As soon as they docked, a wave of noisy heat rushed over them.
News of the Marineford's public execution of Fire Fist Ace had long spread throughout the Four Seas and the Grand Line, and Sabaody Archipelago, as the end point of the first half of the Grand Line, had undoubtedly become the eye of the storm.
The streets, usually bustling but orderly, were now overflowing with people.
News reporters carrying cameras and microphones, hurried intelligence peddlers, and pirates from all over the world who had come to watch the commotion, packed Areas 1 to 49 to the brim.
A peculiar smell of alcohol, perfume, and gunpowder mixed in the air, and every hotel and restaurant had 'No Vacancy' signs hung up, yet people continued to pour in.
Ian and his group stepped off the ship, oblivious to the surrounding crowd and noise.
When they arrived in front of the most luxurious hotel on the commercial street of Area 13, Gunko stepped forward.
She said nothing, merely raised her hand and waved.
"Whoosh—"
A solid arrow appeared out of thin air, carrying a whooshing sound, and accurately pierced the door of the hotel manager's office.
The next second, a corpulent figure tumbled out of the office.
"Wh-who Is it, so blind..."
The hotel manager's words were cut short as he saw Gunko standing at the entrance, and behind her, the man who was too handsome to be mortal.
When he recognized the princesses and the Empress, whom he had only seen in newspapers, standing beside Ian, the manager's legs began to tremble uncontrollably.
"Ten minutes."
Gunko's cold voice rang out, "Clear the hotel. This place Is reserved by my Young Master."
"You-Young Master?"
The hotel manager's mind buzzed, a legendary identity almost on his tongue. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, his face drained of color.
"Yes! Yes! I'll do it right away!"
He scrambled to his feet, using all his strength, and bellowed into the hotel: "Everyone get out! Everyone! Now!!"
Immediately, the hotel was in an uproar.
Soon, the once bustling hotel lobby became empty, leaving only Ian and his group, and the trembling hotel staff huddled in a corner.
Hancock looked around, finally turning her gaze to Anna, Kaya, Nami, and the other women. Having received Ian's favor for several days in a row, coupled with the Empress's inherent arrogance, she made no attempt to hide her possessiveness, and declared her claim to the women in a domineering manner.
"Tonight, the Young Master belongs to me. No one Is allowed to snatch him from me!"
At these words, the others all turned to look at her.
"Why should he?"
Princess Anna was the first to object. She pulled Nami and ran in front of Hancock, complaining, "You've monopolized the Young Master for so many days, it's time for him to spread his affections, isn't it? Tonight, we two will serve the Young Master!"
"Presumptuous!"
Hancock's beautiful eyes grew cold.
Before Anna could say anything more, she directly raised her hand, and a pink heart-shaped beam flashed past.
"Mero Mero Mellow!"
Anna's smile instantly froze, and Nami, who was beside her and hadn't yet understood the situation, also turned into a lifelike stone statue.
Having done all this, Hancock triumphantly walked back to Ian's side, re-linked his arm, and with an upturned face, arrogantly said, "As long as I am here, none of you can hope to receive the Young Master's favor!"
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