"Th this… this is a man!" "Nani?!"
The moment Gloriosa's trembling voice rang out, the warriors of Amazon Lily fell into stunned silence. Every pair of eyes locked onto the lone figure standing at the shoreline.
They had rushed out to defend against the massive waves caused by the falling islands. Not a single one of them had expected to find a man standing there instead.
"This is what a man looks like?" "So this is a creature with a different gender from us…" "He really does look strange."
Then a clear, cold female voice cut through the whispers.
"A man? Drive him out of Amazon Lily at once."
"Yes!"
At that command, dozens of warriors instantly raised their snake shaped bows and aimed their arrows at Rolan.
"Man, leave this island immediately. Men are not welcome here!"
Rolan shifted his gaze toward the speaker.
For a brief moment, even his normally indifferent expression paused.
Long jet black hair flowed down her back, her eyes deep and radiant like a dark blue sea. Snake shaped earrings swayed beside her face, giving her an air of dangerous beauty. Beneath her red slit dress, her long legs were perfectly poised, radiating absolute confidence.
Boa Hancock.
The Pirate Empress of Amazon Lily. The most beautiful woman in the world of One Piece.
Even having known her existence long before, seeing her in person was still overwhelming. Her beauty was not exaggerated in the slightest. If anything, reality surpassed every rumor.
Yet her expression was filled with absolute arrogance.
She raised her hands slowly and formed them into the shape of a heart.
"Mero Mero Mellow!"
Pink heart shaped waves surged toward Rolan.
The warriors watched with worship in their eyes.
Every man who had ever faced this attack had been instantly turned to stone. There had never been an exception.
But this time, the hearts passed straight through Rolan's body.
Nothing happened.
He stood exactly where he was, unscathed.
"What?! He did not turn to stone!" "How is that possible? Even women cannot resist Hancock sama's charm!" "This man must be using some kind of sorcery!"
Even Hancock froze.
For the first time in her life, her power had failed.
Rolan lifted a hand and rubbed his temple, his tone flat and unimpressed. "Is this how you treat someone who just saved your island?"
His words caused the tension to waver.
A young blonde warrior hesitated before speaking softly, "He… he really did save Amazon Lily. Do we still have to chase him away?"
Before she could finish, a stern warrior beside her snapped, "Margaret, this is the island of women. There has never been a man allowed to step foot here. That is a law left by every Empress before us. It cannot be broken."
Margaret lowered her head. "Understood, Kikyo sama."
Rolan glanced at the dozens of arrows aimed at him and gave a slow shake of his head. "This started as a misunderstanding. If forcing your Empress into submission is what it takes to make you stand down, then so be it."
In the blink of an eye, he vanished.
He reappeared directly beside Hancock.
The warriors gasped in unison, panic surging as they hurriedly re adjusted their aim.
Rolan looked at Hancock calmly. "You are the ruler here. I happened to pass by and blocked the tidal wave that would have destroyed your island. Is this how you repay someone who saved you?"
Only now did Gloriosa finally get a clear look at his face.
Her pupils shrank violently.
"T this man is… one of the Five Emperors… Rolan of the Ion Tempest!"
"Nani?!"
Shock rippled through the entire formation.
Even in isolation, news of monsters at that level still reached Amazon Lily. A man with a bounty exceeding three billion berries was not someone they could ignore.
Gloriosa steadied herself and spoke cautiously, "May I ask why Emperor Rolan has come to Amazon Lily?"
Rolan showed no interest in explanations. "I was passing through. I stopped the waves out of convenience. That is all."
Gloriosa's face stiffened with embarrassment.
But at that moment, something far more dangerous was happening.
Hancock was staring at Rolan in absolute silence.
The color drained from her face, then surged back all at once.
Her entire face turned crimson.
"Rolan sama… you finally came," she whispered. "I have been waiting."
Rolan frowned slightly. "This is our first meeting. You are mistaken."
Instead of replying, Hancock raised a hand.
"Stand down. All of you."
Gloriosa's eyes widened. "Hancock, he is an Emperor with a bounty of over three billion berries. You must think carefully. He is not someone you can treat lightly!"
Hancock turned her head sharply. "Be silent, Gloriosa. Former Empress of the past, past, past generations."
"Even if my decision leads to the destruction of this nation, they will forgive me."
She leaned back dramatically, striking a pose so extreme that her face nearly vanished behind her hair.
"And if you must know why… it is because I am too beautiful."
Instantly, the warriors exploded with adoration.
"It appeared again, Snake Princess's ultimate disdain pose!" "Ah, Hancock sama!" "Hancock sama, I love you!" "Hancock sama, I cannot breathe!"
Hancock straightened and pointed at Gloriosa. "You once abandoned the throne and left the island. You are the traitor of Amazon Lily."
Gloriosa snapped back, "That is why I abdicated and lived quietly afterward."
"Then remain quietly in your corner," Hancock said coldly. "Do not question the authority of the current Empress."
Gloriosa stared at her for several seconds before releasing a long sigh. She had no power to interfere anymore.
She turned and slowly walked back into the island's depths.
One by one, the warriors lowered their bows.
"Hancock sama, we will withdraw."
With lingering devotion, they all retreated.
The moment they were gone, Hancock's entire presence changed.
The arrogant Empress vanished.
In her place stood a shy woman fidgeting with her fingers, unable to meet Rolan's eyes.
"Rolan sama… I really have been waiting for you."
Rolan watched her silently. His face showed no warmth, only faint curiosity. "Why."
The single word was flat and emotionless.
Hancock's face grew even redder. "Ever since you attacked the Celestial Dragons, I began watching you from afar. I never missed a single piece of news about you."
"I wanted to meet you, but as a Shichibukai and as Empress, I could not leave whenever I wished."
"So… I could only hope that one day, you would come to Amazon Lily."
Steam practically rose from her head as she whispered, "Could this… be love?"
Rolan looked at her blankly.
There was no fluster. No bashful reaction. No hint of softness.
Only a measured, unreadable gaze.
For the first time since becoming Empress, Boa Hancock felt completely unsettled by a man.
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