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In a refined manner, Laffitte gently placed Boa Hancock and her sisters safely on the deck, refraining from any further actions.
Once they were on board, Hancock instinctively wrapped her arms around her sisters protectively, scanning her surroundings with caution and vigilance.
A group of graceful attendants, both young and mature, stood around a black-haired man at the ship's center. Though nothing seemed overtly strange about him, it was clear he was the focal point, with everyone nearby poised in respectful attention.
Even the intimidating, white-haired girl who radiated an aura of thunder was by his side, displaying a rare, close-knit intimacy.
'Could he be the key figure on this vessel—Captain Alex, whom he had mentioned earlier?'
Hancock quietly sized him up, noting that he didn't resemble the heartless slave traders they had encountered. Growing up in Amazon Lily, she had always viewed men as crude and dangerous beings, yet, oddly, she didn't feel that way now. Maybe it was the atmosphere around them or her own desperation for a glimmer of hope in this unfamiliar place.
Observing the three vulnerable sisters huddling together, Alex's expression softened. He stepped forward and leaned down to speak to them. "You poor girls, stolen away by human traffickers… can you tell me your names?"
Feeling a bit anxious but determined, Hancock, as the eldest, took the initiative to respond. "My name is Boa Hancock, and these are my younger sisters, Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold."
"Lovely girls, don't worry," Alex assured them with a gentle smile. "We are not the scourge of the seas like those vile traffickers."
Relieved, the three sisters exhaled softly. His words, coupled with the safe atmosphere around him, began to ease their fears.
His kind tone, the rescue, and the notion that he might be their only way back home all left a strong impression on Hancock. In that moment, her perception of him shifted, and a glimmer of trust began to form.
Emboldened by this warmth, Hancock spoke with hopeful earnestness, "We come from Amazon Lily. Please… help us find a way back home."
"We ask for your assistance, a kindness we will never forget," her sisters added in a chorus, their voices filled with longing.
Seeing the sisters' plight, the women aboard also felt a surge of compassion. Many understood the horrors of human trafficking and empathized deeply with the Boa sisters' suffering.
Yet, even though their hearts stirred with kindness, none of them acted without permission. Not even Maria, with her deeply nurturing nature, spoke out. They instinctively awaited Alex's decision, conditioned to align their actions with his will.
"A kindness that will be remembered forever? Then I accept your request," Alex replied warmly.
Coincidentally, meeting these sisters presented him with an unexpected opportunity—one that aligned with his own plans for Amazon Lily.
Sandersonia and Marigold, unaware of his true intentions, thought their request had been fully granted. They brightened with gratitude and joy. "Really?! Thank you so much, Shogun Alex!"
Hancock, too, bowed deeply in sincere gratitude, using the most formal etiquette she knew. "Thank you very much for your kindness."
"Maria," Alex called.
At his command, Maria, a poised woman standing nearby, approached. "Have the geisha escort them and help them freshen up. They've been through much in captivity; they need a chance to regain themselves."
Hancock suddenly realized she hadn't bathed in over a week, and the thought of standing before her benefactor in such a state made her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She tried not to think about her own smell and quickly, quietly, followed the girl named Maria into the cabin.
Seeing her lowered head and obedient manner, Alex couldn't help but smile. Who could connect this shy, self-conscious girl with the future Empress who would stand proud and disdainful, her beauty and power mesmerizing all who beheld her?
Initially, he had planned to travel to the Sabaody Archipelago to gather information on the three Boa sisters. However, finding them by chance along this route changed his plans—he could head directly to Amazon Lily.
It wasn't just the allure of Boa Hancock, famed as the "most beautiful woman in the world," that intrigued him, but the strength of Amazon Lily's people as well. A country with soldiers who all possess formidable Haki skills would be a valuable ally to Wanokuni's military might. Although Wanokuni's army was already formidable, the addition of Amazon Lily's Haki users would only increase their strength. If his people could learn advanced Haki techniques from Amazon Lily, the power of his forces would grow even further.
Moreover, uniting with the nation of women would be the realization of an old fantasy of his.
As for the three Boa sisters, rescuing them after their capture would certainly make a favorable impression on them.
Especially Boa Hancock, who would possess the Sweet-Sweet Fruit at that time.
However, he doesn't want them to be tainted by others, especially the Celestial Dragons.
After all, if he could win over even Kozuki Toki with the right approach, then a young Hancock, still impressionable, would not be an impossible task. It would only take time, patience, and care.
It was a shame, he mused, to risk the Sweet-Sweet Fruit's remarkable abilities combined with Hancock's future beauty and strength, which would make her a powerful force.
But Hancock's natural talents were well known, and she possessed Conqueror's Haki—the potential for greatness was undeniable. In a few years, she would rise as Amazon Lily's empress, and controlling her reign could help him unify the island with Wanokuni.
Traveling to Amazon Lily now, meant taking the first step toward "bringing the island under his wing." Once he had a foothold, he could gradually influence its people, merging Amazon Lily into Wanokuni's sphere.
For now, he put aside his intentions for the Sabaody Archipelago, even the debt he owed Shakky. Amazon Lily's importance took precedence, and so he directed Laffitte to send a white gull with payment to the tavern, handling the debt remotely.
Meanwhile, Sandersonia and Marigold, after being bathed and dressed in the ship's spare geisha costumes, were led to rooms where they could rest. The intense emotions of fear and relief had left them drained.
Hancock was equally exhausted, but she managed to rally herself, intent on thanking her benefactor for saving them.
As the ship sailed on, Hancock grew concerned about their journey through the Calm Belt. When she noticed the ship gliding effortlessly across the sea's still waters, her amazement only grew. She had never seen a vessel capable of crossing the Calm Belt, and the sight filled her with curiosity and awe.
Her upbringing in Amazon Lily had instilled a sense of reverence for the powerful, and this instinctive respect was now directed at Alex. His actions and abilities had already begun to elevate his status in her heart, even if he wasn't fully aware of it yet.