Chapter 108: Hancock who fell in love!

Many Naval Headquarters Marines had cold sweat on their foreheads, and some Vice Admirals, renowned on the sea, looked at the sky-high bounty order with trembling eyes.

A pirate's bounty represents their strength and power, as well as the threat they pose to the world government. Like the Red-Haired Shanks among the Four Emperors, in terms of pure personal power, the peak Haki of Shanks must be more formidable than the bloated Big Mom. Even Kaido of the Beasts, known as the strongest creature, and Whitebeard, the former strongest man in the world, can't claim they can definitely defeat Red-Haired Shanks. However, Shanks, with the smallest crew and the smallest territory among the Four Emperors, has the lowest bounty among them.

The Entei Pirates' fleet follows a similar elite route. However, the biggest difference between the Entei Pirate Fleet and other Four Emperors' groups is that Entei Portgas D. Ace has almost no territory. After only a year at sea, the man at the top of the sea has had no time or inclination to expand his territory. The forces commanded by Ace are currently limited to the officers of the Entei Pirate Grand Fleet and the Giant Corps of the Fourth Division.

Logically, compared to the lack of troops and territory of other Four Emperors forces, Ace should not have the highest bounty in the world. However, Ace is the most powerful figure in this era, able to use all Devil Fruit abilities and evolve the Mera-Mera Fruit's powers toward the sun, making it the strongest Devil Fruit power in history. In the previous era, not everyone reached Ace's level of strength. Figures like the former Pirate King Gol D. Roger and Rocks D. Xebec, who sought to subvert the world, were also king-level in their prime.

Based on personal strength alone, Entei Portgas D. Ace shouldn't have the highest bounty after the former Pirate King. But consider what Ace has done: in just a year at sea, he triggered the Alabasta incident, the Enies Lobby incident, and the Entei incident in Sabaody Archipelago, where he publicly executed three Celestial Dragons in a globally broadcast event. He led Naval Headquarters into an unprecedented defeat and, under the world's eyes, smashed the head of Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, one of the Five Elders. His terrifying skill and wisdom forced the Five Elders to make concessions, suspending the Buster Call for the first time ever.

Portgas D. Ace, the Flame Emperor, has subverted the absolute justice of the world government. With his peak combat powers and renowned cadres, along with the blood of the Pirate King and the potential to gather the old members of the Roger Pirates, the title of the source of evil causing the current sea riots is no exaggeration. For this man, the strongest and most Haki figure in the world, with the potential to subvert the world and justice, the Marine has offered a bounty of 5.055 billion Berries, the highest in the world today.

Just looking at this man and his sky-high bounty, many Naval Headquarters elites couldn't suppress the fear in their hearts. Their whole bodies trembled, and they were drenched in sweat.

The name of Flame Emperor, just by its prestige, is enough to make even the famous figures on the sea tremble in fear.

"Don't show such an expression! He's just a pirate with a bounty of five billion Berries!"

Marine Marshal Sengoku's eyes suddenly froze as he shouted angrily.

"Brannew."

Sengoku looked at Brannew, who was in charge of bounty orders at Naval Headquarters, and said solemnly.

"Then I would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you the Four Emperors who are as famous as Entei, as well as the bounty and deeds of the Pirate King who died at the hands of our Marine!"

Brannew, awakened by Sengoku's shout, looked at the many Naval Headquarters generals and raised his voice according to Sengoku's previous arrangement.

"First of all, the youngest of the Four Emperors, with subordinates like Beckman, Lucky Roo, Yasopp, and other cadres who are all famous. The most balanced, iron-walled pirate group that prides itself on high bounties per capita!

Red Hair Pirates leader! Red Hair Shanks!

Bounty: 4,048,900,000 Berries!"

Brannew shouted loudly.

For many Naval Headquarters generals, it was the first time seeing the full bounty amounts and deeds of the Four Emperors, and they looked at the floating bounty orders with horrified expressions.

"Next, the Strongest Female Pirate, who is said to have attacked the village of Elbaf, a giant race, when she was young! She doesn't believe in anything but blood, and, together with her 85 children, she creates the dictatorial queen of the sweets country called the Totto Land Kingdom.

Captain of the BIG-MOM Pirates, Charlotte Linlin!

Bounty: 4,388,000,000 Berries!"

Many Naval Headquarters generals showed shocked faces.

"Then, he once worked in the Rocks Pirate crew. Although he was just a trainee pirate, he later relied on his own strength to win the respect of ferocious pirates until he was called one of the Four Emperors.

Governor of the Beasts Pirates! Kaido of the Beasts!

Bounty: 4,611,100,000 Berries!"

The high bounty represents the great majesty of the emperors, making many Naval Headquarters generals hold their breath.

"The last of the Four Emperors was once with the Pirate King Roger. After the destruction of Rocks Pirate, he dominated that era and was known as the strongest man in the world! A man with the power to destroy the world! Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, Edward Newgate!

Bounty: 5,046,000,000 Berries!"

Many Naval Headquarters generals held their breaths as they looked at the reward order for this man, a legend from the last era and still one of the Four Emperors, and swallowed hard.

"Finally! Captain of the Roger Pirates! One Piece, Gol D. Roger! Executed publicly by our Marine!

Bounty: 5,564,800,000 Berries!"

Brannew mustered up his momentum and shouted loudly.

"With a bounty of over 5.5 billion, the pirate king who conquered the Grand Line is our dead soul! Before the rise of the Flame Emperor, the total bounty of the Four Emperors we faced at Naval Headquarters exceeded 18 billion Berries! Even so, we still maintained balance on the sea!

The reason for the failure of this war is me, the Marshal! All the responsibility lies with me! Because of Flame Emperor Portgas D. Ace's wisdom and the unknown power that allows him to use all Devil Fruit abilities, our Naval Headquarters was completely passive at the beginning of the war!

But now, we already know the comprehensive information about Flame Emperor Portgas D. Ace! If it's a head-on fight! Our Naval Headquarters still has the upper hand! We can still protect justice on the sea! The pirates are not united anymore; Kaido of the Beasts has been confirmed as an enemy of Entei!

And we, Naval Headquarters, represent justice on the sea! We are the guardians of justice! We can concentrate our efforts to destroy all pirates! Let this failure be used as nourishment for us to protect justice.

Be angry! Marines! Roar! Marines! Fight! Marines!

Justice! Will win!"

Sengoku roared passionately, veins popping out on his forehead. Taking all the blame on himself, he used the Pirate King who once died at the hands of their Marines to arouse the fighting spirit of the Marines. This was the last thing he, the Marshal, could do.

"Justice! Will win!"

Many Naval Headquarters generals swept away their previous decadence. In Sengoku's roar, their necks were also covered with veins as they roared with all their strength.

"Crack!"

Sengoku stood up, opened the window sill, and walked to the rooftop above the Naval Headquarters Square. Those lined up in the square were all the marines from Naval Headquarters!

Sengoku's speech spread throughout Marineford through the video phone bug. Many Marines looked at Sengoku's appearance, and their excitement due to Sengoku's speech completely exploded at this moment.

"Justice! Will win!"

Tens of thousands of Naval Headquarters elites raised their swords and guns and roared.

"Justice will prevail!"

Sengoku raised his hand and responded to the sailors.

In the conference room, Aokiji, Garp, and Tsuru's heads were slightly lowered. Taking the initiative to take the defeat of the war upon himself in front of all Marines, Sengoku would soon resign as Marine Marshal. Was this a way to arouse the fighting spirit of the Marines? As expected of Sengoku.

Garp and Tsuru looked at the back of Sengoku, who seemed to be a speaker, and felt a bit nervous. Aokiji, on the other hand, just looked at the many roaring Marines silently.

Marine, it's time to change the coach. It was also time for him to leave.

Calm Belt!

A large ship, dragged by two colossal sea snakes, headed towards Amazon Lily. This was the main ship of the Nine Snakes Pirates, the Perfume Serpent, helmed by the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock—the most beautiful woman in the world.

In the Calm Belt waters, dozens of nautical miles away, another ship came into view. With a flaming skull on its bow and a hull that resembled burning flames, it sailed like a blazing phantom. This was the main ship of the Entei Pirates' fleet, the Merry, accompanied by the ships of two captains, swiftly approaching the Nine Snakes Pirates.

On board the Perfume Serpent, the atmosphere was tense.

"Okay, I feel so uncomfortable. Will I die?" Hancock covered her heart, her exquisite face flushed with an unusual redness, and she exhaled in hot breaths. Her beautiful visage was marked by a rare expression of pain.

"Sister!"

Sister! What's wrong with you?"

Hancock's sisters, Sandersonia and Marigold, looked at her with anxious expressions, watching her in pain.

The Entei Incident ended with the Marine's defeat and the complete victory of the Entei Pirate Fleet. The World Government's official news claimed that the Entei Pirate Fleet, alongside the Red Hair Pirates, Whitebeard Pirates, and Kaido, only managed to break through the outer blockade without achieving a complete victory. However, only those completely under the control of the World Government would believe such a tale.

Anyone with a semblance of awareness knew the truth: in the great Entei Incident, the Flame Emperor achieved a resounding victory. The Naval Headquarters had fallen into a disastrous rout. It was the intervention of the World Government that prevented a total collapse of the Marines in the face of the most terrifying pirate, Flame Emperor Portgas D. Ace.

This public spectacle, witnessed globally, spread rapidly. The Revolutionary Army took advantage of the chaos to liberate several countries, leaving the Five Elders deeply concerned. Consequently, the Shichibukai quickly disbanded after returning to the Holy Land Mariejois. Although the Five Elders desired to capture 'Moonlight' Moria, strip him of his Shichibukai title, and Torture him about his daughter Perona's allegiance to the Entei Pirates in usual World Government fashion, they ultimately decided against it.

The Entei Incident had already cast a shadow over the justice and power of the World Government and the Naval Headquarters. Pirates had grown bolder, even attacking Marine branches directly. The Shichibukai, as crucial deterrents, had to be maintained to prevent further destabilization.

Furthermore, the Five Elders recognized that Portgas D. Ace's ability to hunt Moria for the Shadow Fruit without killing him indicated a deeper connection between them. Capturing Moria could provoke Portgas D. Ace to storm Impel Down, leading to another catastrophic event for the World Government. If the Underwater Prison fell, it would be the third major institution defeated by Portgas D. Ace, following the destruction of Enies Lobby and the defeat of the Naval Headquarters.

The Five Elders were left with almost no viable strategies against Ace, who could use Multiple Devil Fruit abilities and had access to the Gate Fruit's power. They couldn't risk further embarrassment or loss of authority. Even when Kuma's Paw Fruit ability allowed Portgas D. Ace to utilize multiple Devil Fruit powers, they refrained from retaliating against Kuma or his daughter, Jewelry Bonney, to avoid provoking Ace.

Kuma was still transformed into an unconscious human weapon as initially agreed. Meanwhile, Saint Saturn, responsible for World Government scientific research, went to Egghead Island to explore technological solutions to counter Portgas D. Ace's abilities. This included finalizing the Seraphim project—world's most powerful weapons combining Shichibukai capabilities, Lunarian blood, and Paramecia Demon Fruit powers, enhanced with Kizaru's Sparkling Fruit laser power.

Hancock had left the Holy Land Mariejois immediately. Initially, she was supposed to be escorted directly back to Amazon Lily by a Marine warship, but something felt off. She sensed something was wrong with her. Thus, she quickly contacted her two sisters, Sandersonia and Marigold, who led the Kuja Pirates, and they met up. However, instead of improving, her symptoms worsened.

"It's so painful!" Hancock gasped, clutching her heart.

"Sister!" Sandersonia and Marigold exclaimed, their concern evident.

Their sister, who had protected them since childhood, had always been exceptionally strong—even in the face of unimaginable horrors. After returning to Amazon Lily, Hancock had awakened Conqueror's Haki and assumed the role of emperor, earning the title of Pirate Empress and becoming one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. They had never seen her in such pain.

"Hey, mother-in-law, look at what happened to my sister. Is she going to die?" Sandersonia, the green-haired sibling, urgently asked Granny Ze, who stood beside them.

"This, this is..." Granny Ze's face paled as she observed Hancock, whose face was flushed and sweating profusely. The symptoms were all too familiar.

"Why, why did you get this disease, Hancock? Who did you fall in love with?" Granny Ze trembled as she spoke, her words shocking Sandersonia and Marigold.

"Fall in love with?..." Hancock's eyes filled with mist at the mention of the word. Her red lips parted, and she murmured. An image appeared in her mind, unbidden.

"Love, love, sister-sama, falling in love with a man?!" Sandersonia and Marigold exclaimed, their faces covered in disbelief.

"That's right! This damn virus actually found Hancock. The last emperor died because of it, and I survived only by leaving this country. This disease occurs when you truly fall in love and face separation. Snake Girl, who do you want to see the most right now?" Granny Ze's voice was urgent.

"I, I, who do I want to see the most..." Hancock murmured, clutching her heart. Slowly, she opened her red lips.

"...."

"Who?" Granny Ze, Sandersonia, and Marigold all stared at Hancock, holding their breath.

"Portgas D... Ace..." Hancock whispered, her face reddening further, her eyes glazed.

"Why?!!!" Granny Ze, Sandersonia, Marigold, and all the members of the Nine Snakes Pirates gathered in the cabin let out horrified exclamations.

The Snake Princess, their sister-sama, had fallen in love with the man standing at the top of the sea, Flame Emperor, Portgas D. Ace!