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In front of him was a small cup, unlike others who drank from a large jar or bowl.
Hancock, seated beside Anos, was lost in thought about what he had said. Granny Nyon, whom she recalled from the past, had spoken similar words to her.
Sitting there, Hancock's expression gradually calmed. Without turning her head, she stated firmly, "I despise those in the World Government. Just the thought of working with them in the future disgusts me!"
"And what about the people depending on you back home? How will you explain it to the citizens of your land?" Anos questioned.
Hancock fell silent, deep in thought. Around them, others lay sprawled across the deck.
Whether men or women, they had all succumbed to the wine and drifted into a slumber, with no intention of rising anytime soon.
In the current warm weather, lying on the deck was pleasant. Even at sea, the night was slightly warm, and with the sea breeze brushing across, it was like a gentle, natural massage.
"Go rest, it's getting late," Anos reminded.
"What about you?"
"I'll stay here. You should use the rooms," he replied.
Hancock didn't seem to fully understand what Anos was thinking, but eventually, she rose and made her way to her quarters.
She carefully stepped around the bodies on the deck, making sure not to step on anyone.
Those who lay near the edge leaned against the railings, and if not for them, they might have rolled right into the sea.
Daiki, captain of the Royal Guards, was also slumped in a drunken stupor. Only a handful remained awake on the ship.
Once Hancock left, Abona, who had been resting in the room atop the mast, appeared beside Anos, curiously saying, "Your Majesty, you seem interested in the Pirate Empress?"
"You can see that?" Anos replied with an amused smile.
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The next morning, as dawn broke, most were still sprawled on the deck. Suddenly, a woman's scream pierced the air, jolting everyone awake.
In a daze, they staggered to their feet, trying to make sense of the noise.
The voice belonged to a woman rushing across the deck.
She called out to Sonia, who had just barely managed to stand. "Lady Sonia, the Kuja ship is sailing towards our homeland!"
Everyone had spent the night on the deck, with no one steering the ship.
However, unlike regular vessels that rely solely on sails, this ship was led by two massive Sea Kings in front.
When the wind died down, these creatures would pull the ship forward.
No one had anticipated that, with no one at the helm, the Sea Kings would steer them straight toward Amazon Lily.
Realizing this, Sonia snapped to attention. They were only days away from Amazon Lily, closer than she had expected.
The commotion woke everyone who'd been lying down, and they scrambled to figure out what was happening.
For the people from the Tru Kingdom, it seemed unremarkable, but for the crew of the Kuja Pirates, the realization stirred a sense of urgency.
Amidst the uproar, Anos and Hancock emerged.
They hadn't shared quarters; Anos had slept in the room next to Hancock's, the one originally used by Sonia and her sister, especially prepared for him.
Upon arriving, Anos asked Daiki with a stern expression, "What happened?"
Daiki, who had appeared nonchalant moments before, now looked visibly guilty. "Your Majesty, last night we didn't check the course. When we awoke, we realized the ship had been moving toward Amazon Lily and was now nearing the Calm Belt."
"Which island are we closest to now?" Anos inquired.
"Your Majesty, we're almost at the Calm Belt. The nearest island is the Marine's Enies Lobby. It would take only a day to reach."
Daiki glanced at the map in his hands.
Amazon Lily lies in the Calm Belt on the edge of the Grand Line. Anos was not particularly eager to go there.
However, with everyone aboard identified as pirates, any approach to Enies Lobby would surely provoke an attack.
This situation presented a dilemma. Although Anos was the king of the Tru Kingdom, many on this ship wouldn't recognize him by sight. Few had ever actually seen him in person.
"Hancock, what do you make of this situation?" Anos asked, turning to her.
After the night's reflection, Hancock's expression had shifted, and she regarded Anos with a hint of confusion.
"It's farther from Amazon Lily going this way, but cutting through the Calm Belt would take us to Amazon Lily much faster. Still, Enies Lobby is relatively close."
"Otherwise, there's no other island nearby, and any detour could take half a month to reach the nearest one," Hancock explained.
"You're right, Empress," Daiki added. "We've missed the closest uninhabited island. From here, we can either go directly to Amazon Lily through the Calm Belt or detour past Enies Lobby."
Anos stood thoughtfully for a moment, then called out to Abona, who had been hidden from sight. "Abona, scan the area to see if there are any nearby merchant or pirate ships."
In an instant, Abona appeared atop the highest mast and used his Haki to survey the surroundings.
The Tru Kingdom sailors didn't understand why their king wanted to avoid heading straight to Amazon Lily.
Yet Hancock alone seemed to sense something deeper, her gaze filled with newfound respect for the man before her.
In this desolate stretch of the sea, with not even a single gull in sight, let alone ships, they faced a quiet, uncertain path ahead.
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