Hancock knew that these three dangling ornaments represented three lives—such precious accessories, how could someone as beautiful as herself not possess them?!
If she wanted them, even a Marine Admiral would have to offer them with both hands!
After all, she was as beautiful as a goddess!
Hancock glanced at Wright with a touch of smugness:
"I'll consider this as compensation for your earlier disrespect towards me!"
What the hell kind of disrespect?! You, a Warlord, attacked me—a Marine Admiral—who's disrespecting whom here?!
Wright suppressed the urge to retort, knowing that reasoning with an ordinary woman was already difficult, let alone with the Pirate Empress, the woman among women.
Too much reasoning only leads to tears.
"Ahem… Well then, to commemorate this amicable first meeting, I'll give you an extra gift."
"I hope your cooperation with the New Fish-Man Island will help you gradually abandon the pirate identity—after all, my thoughts on pirates lean more towards eliminating them."
Wright raised his right hand, where a cluster of Holy Light began to glow, growing brighter as his arm lifted.
Hancock instinctively prepared to defend herself at his last words, but she felt a warm, golden beam of light descend upon her. Turning her head, she saw that every member of the Kuja Pirates was bathed in the same light.
"You…"
Hancock was about to cry out in alarm when she realized the light felt like soaking in warm water, making her sluggish and relaxed, unable to suppress a contented sigh.
"This is…"
Her sharp senses detected that the light rapidly healed some hidden injuries within her body. Even her flawless skin, seemingly immune to blemishes due to her Devil Fruit ability, became even more radiant.
A tingling sensation spread across her back, as if a heavy burden was slowly lifted, leaving her light and unburdened.
Her back?!
Hancock fought the urge to reach behind her, her shocked eyes locked onto the Marine Admiral opposite her.
Meeting her gaze, Wright's golden eyes shimmered with divine light, as if seeing straight through her heart.
"He found out…"
Hancock recalled asking Wright what he had "heard" from her earlier.
"You guess?"
Even if she could guess, how could she dare to believe it?
Hancock's expression grew complex as the golden light slowly faded. Across the way, Marines and Fish-Men alike watched with envy.
"It's here!"
"Admiral Wright's 'Holy Light Beauty Treatment'!"
"In Marine Headquarters, only Vice Admiral Tsuru's female officers ever redeemed it with military merits!"
"Ah~ It's the ultimate luxury! They say even the worst scars can be erased!"
"The Grand Healer performed this miracle at Fish-Man Island once!"
"They say it was for Princess Shirahoshi's birthday, and the mermaid beauties at Mermaid Beach rioted!"
"As expected, this is the perfect gift for the Empress and her subordinates!"
"Ah~ Admiral Wright is so considerate!"
...
Hancock understood what had happened. She cast Wright a complicated look before leaping onto the head of Salome.
"Thoughts on pirates lean towards eliminating them? Are you warning me?"
Her voice was stiff as she struggled to maintain composure. Noticing her crew's reactions, she turned back around:
"However, I… am quite satisfied with this gift."
"This time, I will not pursue your disrespect. If you offend me again, I will not forgive you!"
"Admiral Wright!"
Leaping onto the deck of the Perfume Yuda, Hancock signaled to her two bewildered sisters and strode toward the cabin, giving a loud order:
"Set sail! Return to Amazon Lily!"
"But, Snake Princess-sama, we haven't filled the cargo hold yet!"
Hancock halted, her beautiful eyes narrowing:
"I said return to Amazon Lily! Are you questioning the will of someone as beautiful as I am?!"
"Ah~ Snake Princess-sama!"
"The majestic Snake Princess-sama is so beautiful!"
"We'll do as Snake Princess-sama says!"
"Snake Princess-sama, you've become even more beautiful~"
"Ah~ I'm going to faint~"
...
Wright, Queen Otohime, and Prince Fukaboshi watched the Perfume Yuda sail away under the tow of the giant sea serpent, letting out a collective sigh of relief.
"Dealing with these women… well, goddess maniacs… is truly exhausting."
Wright massaged his temples, annoyed at the Marines who had fallen into a melancholic daze since Hancock vanished from sight.
"Looks like you all need some serious training…"
"Uh… Admiral Wright, could you please train our guards as well? This is most unbecoming," Queen Otohime requested.
Noticing the similarly despondent Fish-Men and mermaid guards, Wright's lips curved into a wicked smile:
"No problem. They'll never forget it."
...
Aboard the Perfume Yuda, Hancock and her sisters locked the cabin doors and windows, forbidding anyone from entering.
"Ane-sama… that Admiral Wright…"
Sandersonia's trembling hand hovered near her back, unable to summon the courage to touch it.
"If… if what those Marines said is true…" Marigold's voice quivered.
"We'll know by looking."
Hancock's own voice surprised her with its calmness.
She took a deep breath, turning her back to her sisters:
"Look closely…"
Sweeping her hair forward, Hancock gritted her teeth and closed her eyes.
Her qipao slid down, revealing her creamy white shoulders, then her flawless back…
Flawless.
Hancock heard her sisters' stifled sobs, her own vision blurred with tears.
"Ane-sama…"
Sandersonia collapsed to her knees, tears soaking the floor:
"You… are perfect!"
Marigold shakily placed two mirrors before and behind Hancock:
"Ane-sama… see for yourself!"
Hancock slowly opened her tear-filled eyes. In the mirror, she saw the dream she had chased countless times in her sleep.
Her trembling hand reached behind her, fingers brushing against smooth, flawless skin—
The slave brand, the "Hoof of the Soaring Dragon," which had haunted her for fifteen years, was gone, as if it had never existed.
"Ahhhhh…"
She could no longer hold back, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Sonia, Mari!"
"Ane-sama!"
"You…"
"Our marks… are gone too!"
Sandersonia and Marigold wept freely, having already confirmed each other's unblemished backs.
Hancock turned and embraced her sisters. Amid their quiet sobbing, her voice grew resolute:
"We deceived the entire nation, leaving no one any leverage against us!"
"We were so afraid of falling into that nightmare again… so afraid…"
"But now… we are finally free of it!"
"We will never again be ruled by anyone!"
"Admiral Wright… just what kind of man are you…?"
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