Crash!
The waves surged, as ships under the flag of the World Government intercepted the Kuja Pirates. The CPO, standing at the bow, spoke coldly yet firmly.
"Hand over Leno. He must be escorted by us."
This authoritative command ignited a fire within Hancock, who had recently become a staunch supporter of Leno.
"How dare you!" Hancock glared at them, her voice dripping with disdain. "Is Leno's name something you have the right to utter?"
The CPO represented the highest authority under the Celestial Dragons, but Hancock… She wasn't just anyone. She was not only Leno's ally but also a partner he valued greatly. She considered her status even higher than the CPO's.
Her pride stemmed from her firm belief: Leno was a Celestial Dragon—the strongest of them all.
Fueled by her delusion, Hancock regained her former imposing demeanor, especially when facing anyone who wasn't Leno. The sheer confidence radiating from her left the CPO dumbfounded.
Was this woman out of her mind?
Did she not realize they were the CPO?
She spoke as if they were beneath her. And to suggest they weren't even worthy of calling Leno by name? Could she truly believe that Leno, of all people, was a Celestial Dragon?
The crew of both the Kuja Pirates and the World Government ships fell into stunned silence.
Meanwhile, Leno stood there quietly, wiping the sweat from his brow. He wasn't fond of the CPO's arrogance, but Hancock had taken care of that problem for him. He couldn't just step in and ruin her moment, after all.
Hancock stole a glance at Leno, and seeing his stern face and silent approval, her confidence soared.
"Seems like Leno is as annoyed by these fools as I am!" she thought.
With a dramatic flair, she pointed at the CPO and declared, "Hmph! Why haven't you made way for Leno yet?"
The CPO bristled at the audacity of the pirate captain. She dared to tell them, the elite of the World Government, to move aside? Even if she was the ruler of Amazon Lily, she was still nothing compared to them.
A white-robed man from the CPO could no longer hold back. "How dare you, pirate Hancock? Do you even know who we are?"
Hancock's icy gaze pierced through him. "You dare ask? Do you even know who Leno is?"
The CPO exchanged confused looks. Did she not know who Leno was? Of course, everyone knew! He was the president of the Hunter Guild—nothing more, nothing less. What could Hancock possibly mean by suggesting there was more?
But Hancock smirked and, with full confidence, sneered, "You should be kneeling and begging for forgiveness."
Her words were filled with arrogance and righteous indignation. She didn't care about the CPO's prestige, and it showed.
"Begging?" one of the CPO muttered under his breath. They are the Shield of the Celestial Dragons, but Hancock… could she be implying Leno was one of the Celestial Dragons?
It couldn't be… right?
In the midst of the CPO's confusion, Leno, amused by Hancock's outburst, decided to back her up. With a subtle activation of his Fearless Heart, his confidence surged. He locked eyes with the CPO and unleashed his Conqueror's Haki.
In an instant, the golden energy burst forth, flashing like lightning. The power of his Haki was overwhelming.
A single glance was enough.
The CPO at the bow collapsed, eyes rolling back as he plunged into the sea.
Even Hancock, who possessed Conqueror's Haki herself, was momentarily shaken. But the CPO? They didn't stand a chance.
The two remaining CPO members behind him trembled, falling to their knees as if gripped by a primal fear.
On the World Government ship, the remaining crew stood in stunned silence. If even the CPO had been brought to their knees, what hope did they have? Without a moment's hesitation, they all dropped to the deck, bowing before Leno.
Hancock, witnessing the scene, was filled with elation. Her theory had been right all along!
She shot a glance at Leno, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. See? she thought. And you said you weren't a Celestial Dragon!
The rest of the Kuja Pirates were just as stunned. Could it be? Was Leno really one of the Celestial Dragons? Had they been wrong all along?
As Leno's Conqueror's Haki dissipated, he stood tall, his voice calm but commanding. "Move aside."
"Y-Yes!" The two remaining CPO members stammered, trembling with fear.
They had heard whispers before, legends of a golden Conqueror's Haki that belonged only to the king among the Celestial Dragons—a figure whose might had once appeared during the legendary battle in the Valley of Gods.
Though few had ever seen him, the boldness of Leno's Haki matched those rumors.
And now, they realized just how lucky they were to still be alive.
No wonder Hancock, the most beautiful woman in the world, had become this man's slave.
It all made sense.
As expected from a grown-up.
Only interested in being number one in the world.
Leno wasn't sure exactly what they were thinking, but judging by the changes in their eyes and the way their hearts were pounding, he could tell they were contemplating something.
The people in this world of pirates are indeed powerful.
But when it comes to IQ, it seems there's still room for improvement.
Buggy followed Luffy and became one of the Four Emperors before him, thanks largely to the wild assumptions of a bunch of people.
Leno didn't mind letting these guys keep guessing.
Pretending to be a Celestial Dragon to bully the weak? Not his style.
But when it comes to the Celestial Dragons and their lapdogs, he doesn't mind showing them some force.
Sometimes, as long as it doesn't violate his principles, one has to be adaptable.
This situation in front of him didn't conflict with Leno's values.
It was the CPOs who had acted rudely first, brimming with veiled hostility.
Leno maintained a calm demeanor, speaking in a cold, steady voice, "As punishment, slap yourselves thirty times!"
"Yes!"
Punishment?
The remaining doubts of the two CP0 agents vanished in an instant, replaced by a sense of relief. They nodded as if everything now made sense.
Leno continued indifferently, "Don't tell anyone about what happened just now, including the Five Elders, or else..."
"Yes, yes!"
"Rest assured, your will is our command!"
The two CPOs bobbed their heads in agreement, as eager as chickens pecking at grain.
As their ship sailed away, they looked at each other, relief written all over their faces—a celebration of surviving a close call.
"I never thought I'd meet that legendary man!"
"He really made it!"
"Shh! Don't say anything more. Let's pretend we know nothing."
"Right! What about the others on board?"
"There are many of them. We'll find a deserted sea and deal with them. We can't let anyone know that secret!"
"If someone asks, we'll just say there was an accident."
"Yeah, plenty of accidents happen on the sea!"
As they left the sea area, all the Kuja warriors—except for Hancock—stared at Leno in awe.
Even their manner of speaking had started to resemble Hancock's.
Reluctantly, Leno called them together and emphasized again, "I'm not a Celestial Dragon!"
He let out a sigh, explaining, "It's just a quirk of my Conqueror's Haki. Those people misunderstood."
Hancock and the rest of the Kuja Pirates nodded in unison.
"Yes, Leno! Whatever you say is true!" they chorused.
Hancock was already accustomed to this routine. Her gaze was steady, unfazed by the situation.
The others, taking their cue from Hancock, mimicked her serious expression.
Leno was speechless.
He shook his head, saying sternly, "You must not tell anyone about this. If you do, it will bring disaster upon you!"
This situation could crumble with a single poke. If the Kuja Pirates spread rumors, it would lead to enormous trouble, possibly even to the point of their own destruction.
Hancock's face turned serious at Leno's words, convinced that he harbored a grand secret.
What is he planning?
He must be plotting something big!
But Leno is indeed different from those arrogant Celestial Dragons.
He is so gentle, so kind.
Her heart pounded with emotion.
"Yes, we will guard the secret with our lives and never interfere with Leno's plans!" Hancock declared, her eyes shining with determination.
Leno could only sigh as he watched the expressions on the faces of the warriors from the Kuja Pirates. They were like starstruck fans, ready to defend him no matter what.
Even if Leno denied being a Celestial Dragon, they would still twist reality in their minds to fit their belief.
Women, especially when they become emotionally invested, can be even more stubborn than men.
Leno took a deep breath.
Forget it. I'll deal with this later.
Right now, there's something more important to handle!
Leno turned his gaze toward the Red Line.
His battlefield lay ahead, atop that imposing cliff.
To prevent damage to Mary Geoise, the World Government had designated an area as the battlefield.
Already, a large contingent of Marines, led by Vice Admiral Borsalino, had taken up positions in the waters below.
Although fewer Marines were stationed in the Paradise section compared to those in the New World, their ships lined up in dark formations, bridging the sea and land.
As the Kuja Pirates' ship approached, the Marine warships parted, opening a passage for them.
On the deck of the Marine ship, countless eyes were glued to the approaching vessel.
"What a stunning woman..." someone murmured.
Hancock's beauty had captivated the entire world.
Her long, black hair cascaded like a waterfall, her deep blue eyes were mesmerizing, and her lips, crimson and slightly curved, exuded a disdainful elegance.
She was like a beautiful yet dangerous serpent, alluring and lethal.
Those without strong Haki could easily find themselves frozen by her presence, their thoughts petrified.
"Hey, don't get close to her!"
"That's the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock!"
"Why is she standing with Leno?"
One of the Marines, stunned by Hancock's beauty, was quickly reprimanded by the Vice Admiral.
Everyone has an appreciation for beauty, after all.
And with Leno, the President of Hunter Guild, about to clash with Kaido, this was a sight no one wanted to miss.
Hancock's allure left many Marines entranced.
"Turn around! Face away from the ship!" came the last desperate order from the Vice Admiral.
"Is that Leno?" Smoker muttered, eyeing the figure at the bow.
With his black hair, black eyes, and a hunter's coat fresh from the Sabaody Archipelago, Leno cut an imposing figure.
Two swords hung at his side, one black with a hint of purple, the other blood-red.
His mere presence was electrifying, like a storm ready to erupt.
"Really, so young!" muttered Hina, not far from Smoker.
"I think Leno is quite handsome, don't you?" said one of her subordinates.
"Hmm, maybe, but Hancock is in a league of her own."
Before she could finish, Hancock's gaze turned in her direction, causing the woman to freeze with a blush.
"Women!" Smoker shook his head, dismissing their shallow remarks.
Meanwhile, on the flagship, Borsalino and other Vice Admirals watched with interest.
Leno met Borsalino's gaze.
Kizaru, with his unpredictable strength and enigmatic demeanor.
Borsalino shrugged, smirking at Leno.
"Oh my, how scary!" he said with a mock pout, hands in his pockets.
Leno turned his attention back to the Red Line.
The World Government wasn't going to sit idly by—it was clear they had plans of their own.
But no matter!
"In some battles, there's no turning back!" Leno declared, eyes fixed on the towering cliff of the Red Line.
Beyond it, the New World awaited.
In a distant part of the sea, Kaido, the dragon, prepared himself for the coming clash.
His transformation was swift—a mighty dragon soaring toward the skies.
And in that same moment, Leno launched himself upward, propelled by a massive whirlwind, the ocean currents lifting him into the sky.
His battlefield lay above, at the very peak of the Red Line!
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+30 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg