After the successful rescue of the three Amazonian girls, Rayleigh returned to the bar with a relaxed smile. The mission had gone off without a hitch, just as they had hoped. Shakky, waiting for their arrival, took charge of the girls, leading them to one of the extra rooms in the back of the bar. She handed them blankets, offering them a much-needed chance to rest after the harrowing ordeal.
Jason, feeling the fatigue of the day settle in, headed to his room as well. But before allowing himself to relax, he opened his system interface, eager to check the status of the mission. The familiar glowing text appeared before him, signaling the completion of his task. His mind was already racing with thoughts of what rewards might come next, but for now, he pushed those thoughts aside, knowing there were more important matters to attend to.
Meanwhile, Shakky and Rayleigh sat together at the bar, quietly discussing what to do with the rescued girls and how best to get them off the island. Shakky suggested they contact the Kuja Pirates to arrange for the girls to be picked up from a nearby island. It seemed like the safest option, but Rayleigh had another idea.
"If we call the Kuja Pirates now, the World Government might still be keeping a close watch," Rayleigh said, his voice calm yet firm. "The heat from this rescue needs time to die down. I say we wait a year before sending them back. In the meantime, I can train them alongside Jason. It'll help them grow stronger and prepare them for what's ahead."
Shakky considered this and nodded thoughtfully. "That could work. They'll need to be stronger if they're going to face the world again. And having Jason alongside them will be a good experience for all of them."
With a plan agreed upon, they both turned their thoughts to the future. The girls would remain under their protection for the time being, and during that year, they would grow in strength and spirit.
Hancock's POV
As Hancock lay in the soft bed, the sensation of safety and warmth washed over her for the first time in years. The nightmares that had plagued her during her enslavement still lingered in her mind, but something had shifted. She was free—or at least, she was beginning to understand what freedom might feel like.
Her sisters, Marigold and Sandersonia, were fast asleep beside her, but Hancock couldn't close her eyes. Her thoughts drifted back to their escape, to the figures who had saved them. Rayleigh, with his overwhelming strength, and Shakky, who radiated calm authority.
But then her thoughts landed on the boy. Jason.
When she first saw him, she hadn't known what to think. He was young, maybe close to her own age, but there was something different about him. A confidence that belied his years. He had stood there, calm and resolute, watching over them as if he was far older than he appeared. There was something in his eyes that made Hancock feel... safe.
She didn't fully understand why, but she felt a strange connection to him, as if their paths were tied together by some invisible thread. For the first time in years, hope flickered in her heart.
Lying in the bed, she silently promised herself that one day she would repay this debt of freedom, no matter what it took.
And as her eyes finally fluttered closed, her last thought was of Jason—the boy who had been part of her salvation.