Heavy breathing filled the air inside the room.
Beneath the rising steam, two figures intertwined continuously.
As one of the top five strongest female fighters in the world of One Piece, the Pirate Empress naturally possessed exceptional physical prowess—stronger than Robin, without a doubt.
Meanwhile, Sanders had just used the restorative power of his Healing Fruit, leaving him in a weakened state.
As a result, his combat strength was somewhat diminished compared to his peak condition.
Given this shift in balance, the two were evenly matched—a true battle of equals, a meeting of worthy opponents.
Even with Sanders' usual dominance, subduing Hancock in an instant proved to be no easy task.
Deep in the Jungle
This secluded area, far from prying eyes, was desolate and uninhabited.
Boa Marigold and Sandersonia dragged the Tenryuubito stealthily into this isolated spot.
Although their hearts burned with hatred, yearning to rip the Tenryuubito apart on the spot, their minds remained clear. They knew they had to keep this matter a secret.
In the past, thanks to the Calm Belt serving as a natural barrier, the Marines and the World Government would have struggled immensely to launch a siege on Amazon Lily.
But things were different now.
With the Marines' advancements in shipbuilding technology, Marine warships could now traverse the Calm Belt with ease.
This was one of the reasons why the Pirate Empress had accepted the position of a Shichibukai in the first place.
If news of what had happened to the Tenryuubito got out, Hancock would surely be stripped of her title, and the Marines would descend upon Amazon Lily in full force.
The two sisters roughly threw the Tenryuubito onto the ground, their gazes cold and unforgiving.
"AAAHH!!"
Jaygarcia Magdalene shrieked in pain, clutching her wounded body, before turning to curse at Sandersonia and Boa Marigold.
Her expression was still arrogant, as if she were completely unaware of the dire situation she was in.
Even after sustaining injuries earlier, she remained convinced that no one would dare lay a hand on a noble of the world.
"You filthy, lowly slaves dare to treat a noble like this?!"
"The Marines and the World Government will not forgive you!"
"I will make sure every single person on this island is turned into a slave!"
"They will die in agony and despair!"
As Magdalene's venomous words spilled forth, the sisters' expressions grew darker, their eyes burning with fury.
Sandersonia strode forward, gripping Magdalene's chin with a powerful hand, her serpentine tongue flicking out as a cruel smile crept across her lips.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Magdalene screeched.
"You wretched filth! Heal me at once and send me away from this place!"
"I will make those two lowly insects—man and woman—pay the price for their insolence!"
She spoke in a commanding tone, her words dripping with arrogance, as though allowing them to serve her was the highest honor she could bestow.
"Big Sis, just rip out her tongue already!" Boa Marigold urged.
"This old hag's screeching is unbearable!"
Staring down at the pitiful figure of Jaygarcia Magdalene, Boa Marigold no longer felt the slightest trace of fear toward the so-called gods.
The only thing on her mind was repaying every ounce of suffering and humiliation she had endured—all at once.
"The Lowly Slave, How Dare You!"
Jaygarcia Magdalene shot Boa Marigold a vicious glare upon hearing those words.
But as she turned her gaze back to Sandersonia, she saw the woman extending two thick fingers toward her.
Magdalene's pupils shrank. She tried to speak, but before she could utter a word, those fingers forced their way into her mouth.
The fingers probed around inside, precisely finding her tongue.
With a ruthless tug, Sandersonia yanked it out.
Blood splattered onto Sandersonia's body, yet she remained unfazed, her expression filled with the satisfaction of vengeance.
"Aaahhh!"
Though Magdalene could still make sounds from her throat, she could no longer form coherent words.
And so, the two sisters continued their slow, merciless torment, listening to her agonized screams.
Before long, the screams ceased.
Magdalene lay lifeless on the ground like a discarded rag.
After exacting their revenge, neither sister spoke. They simply sat in silence, staring blankly at the corpse of the fallen Celestial Dragon.
Tears welled in their eyes and dripped onto the soil beneath them.
They clung to each other and wept.
Once their sorrow had run its course, they wiped away their tears and began digging a grave beside them.
"Let's hurry."
"Big Sis doesn't have much time left in the bath."
"We need to finish before she gets out."
Sandersonia spoke while continuing to dig.
Though they trusted the people of Amazon Lily, it was best if no one else knew about the Celestial Dragon's demise.
More importantly, they did not want their past as slaves to be exposed.
"Sanders is truly incredible. Do you think Big Sis will join the Raijin Pirates this time?"
"With Raijin Sanders as her protector—an Emperor of the Seas—she wouldn't have to serve the World Government anymore."
Boa Marigold's eyes glowed with gratitude at the mere mention of Sanders.
She knew well that their sister harbored deep resentment toward the Marines and the World Government.
After all, they were the root cause of their childhood suffering.
Hancock had only accepted the Warlord of the Sea title to protect Amazon Lily.
But if the island became part of the Raijin Pirates' territory, neither the Marines nor the World Government would dare to touch it.
That meant Hancock wouldn't need to remain a Warlord anymore.
At the same time, Boa Marigold was filled with anticipation at the thought of finally removing the accursed brand on her back.
She had long grown tired of living under a veil of lies.
"It won't just be that… the entire Amazon Lily might become Big Sis's dowry."
Sandersonia mused after some thought.
"Dowry?"
Boa Marigold gasped in shock, staring at Sandersonia in disbelief.
"Can't you see it?"
"Sanders wants Big Sis—not just for her strength or influence."
Sandersonia spoke softly.
"He... does?"
Boa Marigold scratched her head.
"I always thought Sanders just saw Big Sis as a friend."
Sandersonia let out a sigh and said—
"Big Sis is the most beautiful woman in the world. Isn't it only natural for Sanders to be interested in her?"
"Besides, with everything Sanders has done, Big Sis is bound to fall for him."
Sandersonia's tone was filled with certainty.
She didn't understand much about love between men and women.
But she understood her sister, Hancock.
A man who helped them in their time of need.
A man who didn't care about their past as slaves.
A man who captured a Celestial Dragon just to avenge them.
A man who removed the Hoof of the Soaring Dragon from their backs.
Anyone would be moved by such actions.
If she weren't sure that Sanders wasn't interested in her, even Sandersonia would want to marry him.
Big Sis would definitely be overwhelmed with emotion.
At this point, if Sanders so much as beckoned, Hancock would likely throw herself at him without hesitation.
"Now that you mention it… that does sound right."
Boa Marigold tilted her head in thought and nodded in agreement.
Just as she was about to say more, an elderly voice sounded behind them.
"What are you two doing?"
"The Snake Princess is in love with someone?"
"What dowry?"
The two sisters froze, cold sweat forming on their foreheads.
Had someone discovered them burying the Celestial Dragon?!
They turned around to face the voice—
And both sighed in relief.
"Oh, it's just Elder Nyon. I thought it was someone else."
Sandersonia relaxed.
Elder Nyon was a former empress of Amazon Lily.
If anyone could be trusted to keep this secret for the island's safety, it was her.
After all, she was the only person on Amazon Lily—besides the three sisters—who knew about their past as slaves.
Elder Nyon was a petite old woman with silver, wavy hair.
A deep pink flower was tucked behind her left ear.
Her wrinkled face bore thick lips.
She wore a red scarf patterned with snake motifs and a skirt of animal print.
In her hand was a purple, snake-shaped staff.
Like all Amazon Lily residents, she had a snake companion—hers just happened to serve as her walking stick.
She was now looking at the sisters with deep suspicion.
"What are you two doing here?"
"Shouldn't you be guarding the palace while the Snake Princess is bathing?"
Elder Nyon approached slowly, leaning on her staff.
Then she spotted the corpse lying on the ground—
And her expression darkened.
"Who is this?"
"Did you execute an Amazon Lily resident?"
"For what crime?"
"What did she do?"
A barrage of questions flew from the old woman's lips.
The body before her was in a gruesome state.
Twisted almost beyond recognition.
Bones shattered.
Blood pooled around it, soaking into the soil.
"This isn't an Amazon Lily resident. It's an outsider who trespassed onto the island."
Boa Marigold quickly waved her hand dismissively.
Sandersonia nodded repeatedly.
They didn't want anyone to know this was a Celestial Dragon.
Not even Elder Nyon.
Hearing it was an intruder, Elder Nyon's expression eased slightly.
She looked down and examined the corpse.
Indeed, the clothing didn't match that of Amazon Lily's people.
But something about the outfit seemed familiar.
And more importantly—
Even if it was an intruder, why were Sandersonia and Boa Marigold personally burying the body?
Especially while the Snake Princess was bathing.
Even if the island were under attack, they wouldn't have left her side.
She was about to press further—
And then, like a bolt of lightning, realization struck her.
"This… This attire… It's a Celestial Dragon?!"
She finally understood why the clothes seemed so familiar.
Brushing away the bloodstains—
The white garments beneath were unmistakably those of a Celestial Dragon.
She turned her gaze back to the sisters—
And found their expressions had darkened.
Boa Marigold's eyes darted around rapidly, as if she were searching for a response.
Seeing this, Elder Nyon immediately understood.
The corpse before her truly was a Celestial Dragon!
"What in the world happened here?! Why is a Celestial Dragon on this island?!"
Elder Nyon leaped onto her staff, her voice sharp with urgency.
If the World Government found out that a Celestial Dragon had died on Amazon Lily—
This was no ordinary person.
The entire island would be plunged into war.
Even the Calm Belt wouldn't be enough to stop the Marines' massive fleet!
"Elder Nyon, shouldn't we deal with the body first?"
"What if someone else finds it...?"
Sandersonia reminded her cautiously.
It was one thing for Elder Nyon to know—
But if anyone else discovered this, the risk of exposure would skyrocket.
After all, Amazon Lily's women had to leave the island to conceive children before returning pregnant.
The more people who knew, the harder it would be to keep this secret.
Elder Nyon froze for a moment.
Then, she swiftly jumped down from her staff and, despite her small stature, began furiously digging.
After a few moments, she noticed that Sandersonia and Boa Marigold were still standing there.
"Why are you just standing around?! Hurry up and dig!"
"If someone sees this, it'll be a disaster!"
The two sisters snapped out of their daze and immediately joined her.
The three worked quickly.
Before long, they had dug a deep pit.
Elder Nyon kicked the Celestial Dragon's corpse into the hole and even scraped off the blood-stained soil to bury with it.
Once the pit was filled, she surveyed the surroundings.
Seeing that no one had noticed, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Her frail body slumped to the ground, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
"Now, explain everything."
"Why was a World Noble on Amazon Lily?"
"And why did you kill them?!"
Elder Nyon stared at the two sisters intently.
Sandersonia and Boa Marigold exchanged glances.
Then, Sandersonia recounted how Sanders had brought the Celestial Dragon to them.
"You said what?"
"Sanders is here?"
"And this Celestial Dragon was your former owner?!"
Elder Nyon shot up from the ground, her face filled with shock.
"Yes. Right now, Sanders and Big Sis are in the Tenshukaku."
"He's still here?!"
"Men are forbidden on Amazon Lily! It's against our ancestral laws!"
Elder Nyon looked stern.
Sandersonia and Boa Marigold looked at her in disbelief.
Is this really the time to be worried about the island's traditions?
Shouldn't she be more shocked that they had just killed a World Noble?
Or that Sanders, the man who had defeated Whitebeard, was here on Amazon Lily?!
Yet she was still concerned about their laws?
She really is an old fossil…
No wonder Big Sis never gave her any respect.
"Do you think Amazon Lily has the power to drive Sanders away?"
Boa Marigold asked bluntly.
Elder Nyon's lips twitched.
She didn't argue.
As a former member of the Rocks Pirates, she knew all too well how powerful Whitebeard was.
If Sanders had defeated Whitebeard—
Even if the Pirate King, Roger, were still alive, he might not be able to force him off the island.
Amazon Lily was strong.
Many of its warriors wielded Armament and Observation Haki.
But compared to someone who stood at the peak of the Grand Line, they were nothing more than ants.
"Earlier, you said the Snake Princess is in love."
"You weren't talking about Sanders, were you?"
"They're alone together in the Tenshukaku… They're not doing anything inappropriate, are they?!"
Elder Nyon recalled the sisters' earlier conversation and immediately grabbed her snake staff, storming toward the palace.
She had always treated the three sisters as her own.
Now, someone was trying to take away the most beautiful flower she had nurtured.
She wouldn't just stand by and watch!
Bath time was about to end.
Soon, the castle gates would open, and the citizens would enter.
If Hancock and Sanders were up to something—
The Empress of Amazon Lily would lose all dignity!
Realizing this, Sandersonia and Boa Marigold quickly grabbed their weapons and rushed after her.
Despite her small size, Elder Nyon was incredibly fast.
In no time, she reached the outskirts of the palace.
Just as she was about to step inside—
Inside the Tenshukaku, where he was facing off against the Empress, Sanders raised an eyebrow.
A thought crossed his mind.
A surge of extreme cold air emanated from the Tenshukaku and gradually spread throughout the entire Kuja Castle.
In an instant, the castle was surrounded by towering ice mountains, making it impossible for anyone to enter.
Seeing that Kuja Castle was now completely sealed off, Sanders steadied his mind and continued his previous actions.
He was fully focused on the battle, preparing to take down the Empress—there was no way he would allow anyone to ruin his moment.
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T/N:
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