#50 Hancock's Doubts

Without any emotion, Carlo's calm words sent the crew's blood boiling again!

Flexing is easy when everyone's already hyped you up, and Carlo had to play along. The more he exaggerated his strength, the better it would be when he showed his true power, thanks to his system upgrades. Otherwise, it would be suspicious for someone who never trains to suddenly become insanely strong.

The best way? Let everyone believe he's always been this powerful!

Not convinced? Challenge me! No one on this ship could push Carlo to his limits. Even Blackbeard wasn't a match for him without a Devil Fruit.

"Zehahaha, I knew it! Carlo, your strength is incredible! Now I don't have to fear that old man!"

"He's hunting me down? If he comes to us, it'll be a real surprise!"

"We'll take his power and make you even stronger. Just thinking about it gets me excited!"

Blackbeard's laughter filled the air as he expressed his confidence in Carlo's strength, more thrilled than if his own power had increased.

The others felt the same, especially the four who had just joined. They knew they had made the right choice coming to Saraca.

They had joined a team that was more formidable than they could have imagined!

"He's really that strong…? Even stronger than Lady Hancock?"

"No wonder Lady Hancock joined their team. Our country now has a powerful new ally…"

On the other side, Daisy and the others from Amazon Lily watched the exaggerated gestures and shocking conversations with disbelief.

They thought their queen had recognized Carlo's strength and wanted to find a new protector for their island.

They didn't know about the Empress's past with the Celestial Dragons, and they knew the Shichibukai title was unreliable. As pirates, collaborating with the World Government and the Navy was risky.

Everyone understood this.

"Mr. Carlo is so powerful?" Boa Hancock's eyes sparkled with admiration. "With such ambitious goals, will I hold him back?"

The Empress's eyes were full of stars, her admiration and infatuation clear on her face. But her internal drama was unrivaled.

One moment she was basking in her admiration, and the next, she worried about being a burden to Carlo.

"No, Mr. Carlo wouldn't let me join if he thought I was weak!" she reassured herself. "Besides, he might also be charmed by my beauty. After all, I am the most beautiful woman in the world!"

Her mood shifted rapidly from self-doubt to blushing fantasies, covering her face in embarrassment.

But then another thought struck her. "What if I can't keep up with Mr. Carlo's progress? Will he abandon me for someone else?"

Her face turned from shy to determined anger as she imagined some other woman taking her place.

"No one can take Mr. Carlo from me! I am destined to marry him!" she declared in her mind.

Seeing the Empress's rapidly changing emotions, Carlo found it amusing. Was she trying to hide her thoughts or just terrible at it?

"Well, having a beautiful woman's attention is better than dealing with rough guys like Burgess," Carlo thought. He found it flattering that he could elicit such a strong reaction from the world's most beautiful woman.

Meanwhile, Blackbeard continued to drink and recount the story of how he and Carlo met and formed their pirate crew, boasting to the crew with a pride that matched the Empress's admiration.

The grand feast lasted all night, and it wasn't until dawn that the Blackbeard Pirates extinguished the bonfire, cleaned up, and ended the party.

"Teach, where are we going next?" The Empress, now following Carlo like a shadow, asked as they walked to the port.

Carlo smiled at her persistence and asked Blackbeard.

"We're off to find that Devil Fruit!"

"Brother, your strength is incredible, putting a lot of pressure on me. If I don't get stronger, it's awkward to be the captain! Zehahaha!"

"Not my fault you boasted too much," Carlo thought, shrugging.

But Blackbeard's words made Carlo pause. "Are you sure you know where that fruit is now?"