Sanders carried the unconscious Celestial Dragon to the main gate of the Tenshukaku (Imperial Palace).
At this moment, besides the Boa sisters, the entire Nine Snake Castle was devoid of people.
Sanders' sudden arrival startled Sandersonia and Marigold.
"Who's there?!"
The two sisters' expressions changed drastically. Before they could even see the intruder clearly, they attacked without hesitation.
Sanders raised an eyebrow, surprised by their vigilance.
Releasing a wave of his freezing power, he immobilized the sisters by encasing their lower bodies in ice, halting their movements.
It was only then that Sandersonia and Marigold got a clear view of the visitor.
They both let out a sigh of relief upon recognizing him.
Sanders was one of the few people aware of their past as slaves, and even if he saw the mark on their elder sister's back, it wouldn't matter.
Before they could exchange greetings, the massive doors of the Tenshukaku suddenly collapsed with a loud crash.
Through the swirling dust, a tall, graceful figure burst forth with great speed.
Sandersonia quickly called out in alarm:
"Sister, he's—"
Before she could finish, Hancock had already charged toward Sanders.
Barefoot, in her haste, Hancock raised her right leg and delivered a powerful kick aimed straight at Sanders' face.
"Perfume Femur!"
Faced with Hancock's attack, Sanders didn't dare let his guard down.
He had no intention of being turned to stone.
Hancock's Perfume Femur was a move capable of petrifying both living and non-living targets, regardless of whether they felt love or admiration for her.
In an instant, Sanders' left arm was wrapped in Haki, and he reached out to catch Hancock's incoming kick.
"Hancock, long time no see!" Sanders said with a smile, meeting her attack head-on.
At this moment, Hancock was dressed in nothing but a bathrobe, her long, elegant legs fully exposed to Sanders' view.
Her entire body radiated a delicate fragrance, her skin glistening with the misty steam that still clung to her.
Her long black hair, damp and silky, had a few strands clinging to her cheeks, adding a touch of allure.
"Sanders?!"
"How can it be you?!"
Hancock froze in place, maintaining her kicking posture, a trace of surprise flickering in her eyes.
Clearly, she hadn't expected the intruder at Nine Snake Castle to be Sanders, the man who had recently defeated Whitebeard.
"An old friend comes to visit, and the first thing you do is kick me? Is this how you treat your guests, Hancock?" Sanders said lightly, his tone teasing and playful.
Hancock withdrew her leg, her long legs disappearing beneath the folds of her bathrobe.
She brushed her hair back and tilted her chin up slightly, exuding an air of pride and confidence.
"Whatever I do will be forgiven!"
"Because I am far too beautiful!"
Sanders chuckled and waved his hand, undoing the ice binding Sandersonia and Marigold's lower halves.
The two sisters immediately began rubbing their legs to restore warmth.
Although Sanders hadn't intended to harm them, the freezing cold of his ice still left them feeling chilled to the bone.
"Why have you come to Amazon Lily?"
Hancock furrowed her brows slightly and asked.
"Of course, to fulfill the promise I made earlier."
"Promise?"
Hancock was momentarily stunned. Suddenly, she remembered Sanders once mentioning that he would help her remove the mark on her back.
Her almond-shaped eyes began to glisten slightly.
She had initially thought Sanders was joking when he said that.
Even though Sanders had asked Shakky to pass along his words before heading to Fish-Man Island, she still couldn't bring herself to believe there was any way to erase the scar on her back.
As the Pirate Empress and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, she had tried countless methods over the years to remove that mark, all to no avail.
"Can you really do it?"
Hancock looked at Sanders, her eyes filled with hope.
"Of course, didn't I promise you?"
Sanders' lips curled into a confident smile, his tone reassuring.
Hancock's body trembled slightly at his words, her face showing disbelief.
The mark on her back symbolized a past she loathed and desperately wanted to erase—a haunting reminder she carried every day.
"But for now, there's something more important to take care of."
Sanders spoke again, interrupting her thoughts.
He tossed the unconscious Celestial Dragon he had been carrying onto the ground.
"This is my first gift to you, Hancock," Sanders said with a calm demeanor.
Until now, the three Boa sisters had been too focused on Sanders to notice the person he was carrying.
But after hearing his words, their gazes simultaneously shifted to the ground.
In the next moment, all three sisters began trembling uncontrollably.
Memories from the past flooded their minds.
Even though it had been many years, those events were still etched vividly in their hearts—
Recurring nightmares that haunted their dreams on countless sleepless nights.
This person... was the very Celestial Dragon who had purchased them as slaves!
"T-That's... that Celestial Dragon!"
Sandersonia was the first to speak, her voice quivering.
Marigold, upon recognizing the person on the ground, instinctively took a step back.
Her massive frame trembled as though she were facing a monstrous beast.
Hancock also retreated two steps, her pupils trembling violently, her eyes filled with terror.
Sanders stepped forward slowly and gently placed a hand on Hancock's fragrant shoulder.
The delicate aroma enveloped him, tempting him to take a deep breath, but he resisted. Instead, his voice softened, steady and comforting:
"Don't be afraid."
"She is now your prisoner. You can do with her as you please."
His gentle yet firm voice acted like a tonic, giving Hancock the strength to pull herself out of her haunting memories.
"But... she's a Celestial Dragon!"
Even as she regained her composure, Hancock's voice still trembled slightly.
The Celestial Dragons represented unparalleled authority and nobility in this world.
Behind them stood the World Government and the Marines, ensuring their untouchable status.
To harm a Celestial Dragon was to defy the very powers that governed the world.
The World Government wouldn't hesitate to obliterate anyone who dared to harm a Celestial Dragon.
The Marines would even deploy their Admirals—their most powerful forces—to deal with such matters.
"Just a fat pig. No need to worry so much."
Sanders spoke with utter disdain, not bothering to conceal his contempt.
"I've killed so many Celestial Dragons I've lost count of the number on both hands and feet combined."
"Don't be afraid. You can deal with her however you like."
"Kill her, torture her, anything goes."
"If anything happens, I'll take full responsibility."
Listening to Sanders' firm and confident words, Hancock felt her heart tremble.
A sensation she had never experienced before, something akin to security, enveloped her.
As a child, when she was captured and thrown onto a slave ship, she screamed for help, but no one answered her cries.
Even after growing up and becoming the Pirate Empress, the ruler of Amazon Lily, tasked with the heavy responsibility of protecting her people, she had never felt this way.
There were few who could truly shield her from harm or stand above her as a protector.
But now, this powerful man had captured a Celestial Dragon—a member of the world's ruling class—and was willing to bear any consequences for her.
It stirred something deep within Hancock, unsettling her calm.
Sanders extended a finger, pointing at the unconscious Celestial Dragon lying on the ground.
Sparks of electricity crackled and flashed as they hit their target.
The Celestial Dragon, Jaygarcia Margo, let out a piercing scream as she was jolted awake from her unconscious state.
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T/N:
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