"Marguerite!" Aifrande quickly rushed to Marguerite's side and carefully checked her condition. After realizing Marguerite was still breathing, she sighed in relief. "She's alive...thank goodness."
Everyone around her relaxed a bit after hearing that.
Enel scoffed, "Tch, she survived my five million volts of lightning? It seems the people on this island are tougher than the weaklings outside."
Aifrande glared at Enel, just about ready to attack him, when a proud, commanding voice came from inside the ornate sedan chair, "Stand down, all of you."
The doors to the sedan were opened by the two attendants standing beside it, and a woman with long, jet-black hair styled in a traditional hime cut, deep blue eyes, and golden serpent-shaped earrings emerged. Her figure was tall and voluptuous, her face exquisitely beautiful, exuding a cold elegance.
"Sister Hancock, Marguerite has been injured by the invaders, Molli's condition is unknown, and the enemy has some strange power that seems to control lightning," Aifrande said with a serious expression.
The woman referred to as "Hancock" was none other than Boa Hancock, the ruler of Amazon Lily and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Boa Hancock cast a cold glance at the unconscious Marguerite and Molli lying not far away, before turning her gaze toward Enel. Her eyes filled with disgust.
"Even the World Government isn't allowed within three kilometers of our island, yet these people managed to make it through the Calm Belt filled with Sea Kings. Sister Hancock, we need to be careful. This man's strength shouldn't be underestimated," Aifrande cautioned.
Boa Hancock simply waved her hand, dismissing the concern.
With that simple gesture, the women behind her, each of whom had been on edge moments earlier, were instantly captivated.
"Ah, as expected of Sister Hancock! Even her smallest movement is so beautiful!"
"Ahh~ Sister Hancock!"
Boa Hancock smiled slightly, tossing her long hair with a graceful flick. The sight sent her loyal followers into a frenzy.
Enel, observing the scene, couldn't help but feel a little perplexed by this strange woman.
Originally, he had intended to hit Boa Hancock with a lightning strike. But the moment he laid eyes on her, for some reason, he felt an overwhelming sense that he shouldn't hurt her. That he couldn't.
With one hand on her hip, Boa Hancock raised the other, pointing at Enel with a haughty expression. She nodded slightly and said, "No matter what I do, even if I kill someone, I will always be forgiven. However, I don't wish to dirty my hands. Would you mind killing yourself?"
Enel: "..."
"What's wrong with this woman?" Enel muttered, looking completely baffled.
"Hmph! A man is still a man. In the face of my absolute beauty, even you can't stay calm," Boa Hancock declared arrogantly. She clasped her hands together in the shape of a heart and continued, "Behold the power of my Love-Love Fruit! The Sweet Wind of Temptation will harden your body with the guilt of your lust!"
A wave of pink heart-shaped energy radiated from her hands, spreading toward Enel.
Sensing the incoming danger, Enel tried to move but found that his body refused to respond. Frozen in place, he was struck by Boa Hancock's Sweet Wind and instantly turned into a stone statue.
Kaku, who had been working on the ship, heard the commotion outside. Setting down his tools, he walked over to the ship's edge to see what was happening.
When he saw that Enel had been petrified by Boa Hancock's ability, he froze in disbelief.
Boa Hancock's cold gaze shifted to Kaku on the ship.
At first, Kaku felt fine, but as soon as he met her eyes, he found himself unable to look away. Just like Enel, he felt an irresistible pull toward Hancock and a sense that he couldn't disobey her.
"Is this due to her Devil Fruit power?" Kaku wondered, feeling the weight of the situation as he fought the urge to run but found he couldn't move.
"Hmph," Boa Hancock sneered as she slowly walked toward him.
Behind her, her followers quickly carried the injured Marguerite and the unconscious Molli away to tend to their wounds.
"Sweet Wind of Temptation," Hancock said coldly, not even bothering to ask Kaku any questions as she unleashed her power once again.
Kaku frowned, but just as the attack hit, he instinctively drew one of his swords and slashed his own arm without hesitation.
The sharp pain and the sight of his own blood shifted his focus, breaking the spell of Boa Hancock's petrification ability.
The Sweet Wind of Temptation only worked on those who were captivated by Hancock's beauty and had all their attention fixed on her.
By causing himself pain, Kaku had diverted his attention and successfully avoided being turned to stone.
Boa Hancock glanced at Kaku's bleeding arm and smirked. "Hmph, using pain to distract yourself? Clever monkey."
"We don't mean any harm," Kaku said with a serious expression. "We're just travelers, stopping by Amazon Lily briefly. We'll leave soon."
"Travelers?" Boa Hancock snorted disdainfully. "How laughable. Do you think cutting yourself gets you off the hook? Foolish."
With that, Hancock took a quick step forward, launching herself onto the ship and delivering a swift kick aimed directly at Kaku.
Kaku immediately leaped back to dodge her attack.
Hancock's kick struck the ship's cabin door, and the area around the impact point began to turn to stone, spreading outward.
Seeing the door turn to stone, sweat broke out on Kaku's forehead.
Boa Hancock wasn't just any Warlord of the Sea; she had earned her position. With her unique and dangerous Devil Fruit ability, most people wouldn't be able to resist her power.
Fortunately, he had dodged her attack. If he hadn't, it would have been him turning to stone.
Kaku wasn't planning to stick around any longer. The only solution he could think of was to find Takumi, who had just left not too long ago.
However, just as he began to think of leaving…
Hancock's voice rang out once more, "Do you really have the heart to leave me behind when I'm this beautiful?"
The casual, emotionless statement caused Kaku to falter. His body slowed as his mind struggled to process what he had just heard.
Damn it…
Kaku knew he couldn't escape. Just as Hancock's kick landed, he saw a familiar figure moving swiftly toward the ship from a distance.
By the time Takumi arrived back at the ship, it was already too late. He watched helplessly as Kaku was turned into a statue by Boa Hancock's kick.
"Tch, another one?" Boa Hancock muttered, looking at Takumi with disdain. "Hmph, looks like we've got another fool who's too brave for his own good."
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