Chapter 224: Hancock Charms Mikita; Mikita Anger!

Rifan explained something to Mikita, Robin, and the others before turning to Hancock of the Nine Snake Pirates, wearing a smile.

He then employed his Flower-Flower Fruit ability to sprout arms on the deck where Smoothie lay flat. With Smoothie's body in tow, he moved towards the cabin of Smoothie pirate ship.

However, Rifan had only taken a few steps with Smoothie on tow when Cinnamon and Citron, leading a group of Big Mom Pirates, blocked his path.

"Big Mom Pirates, please don't impede me," Rifan implored. "If you wish for Miss Charlotte Smoothie to recover swiftly, kindly step aside and allow me to take her to the infirmary on your ship."

Cinnamon and Garrett exchanged hesitant glances, their eyes finally resting on Smoothie, who was lying flat on Rifan's Flower-Flower Fruit-made arm for support. Once they saw Smoothie nod in agreement, they reluctantly moved aside.

With someone leading the way, Rifan was guided to the medical room inside the cabin.

On the Black Pearl, Gion frowned as she observed the scene. "Hina, I'll go take a look."

Gion earnestly informed Hina, who was beside her. The Big Mom Pirates had extended an invitation to Rifan to marry Smoothie, with Rifan and Smoothie as potential husbands. Gion couldn't help but worry about Rifan and Smoothie's interactions, especially since Smoothie possessed an extraordinary charm.

Although Robin had been merciless when she had faced Smoothie before, Smoothie's remarkable beauty couldn't be denied. Gion was genuinely concerned that Smoothie might try to seduce Rifan.

Hina, sharing the same concerns, didn't stop Gion from going. However, while Gion wanted to see for herself, the Big Mom Pirates weren't keen on allowing her to board their ship. As soon as she leaped onto Smoothie's ship, the Big Mom Pirates intercepted her.

"Stand back! You are not permitted on board!" Charlotte Citron declared sternly, brandishing her weapon.

Citron had witnessed the previous exchange between Smoothie and Gion, leading her to believe that Gion might join Rifan in confronting Golden Lion. Since Smoothie was gravely injured, Citron had no intention of letting Gion board.

Gion gave Citron a penetrating look, then glanced at Robin, Mikita, and the others aboard the Black Pearl. She hoped they could convince Citron to let her see Rifan and Smoothie.

However, both Robin and Mikita had shifted their focus to the Nine Snake Pirates, showing no interest in helping her bypass Citron's blockade.

In her frustration, Gion let out a soft sigh and returned to the Black Pearl.

…

"Sister, perhaps we should depart," she suggested. "Rifan is quite an enigmatic figure."

"In addition to the darkness and lightning powers reported in the newspapers," she continued, "it seems he can use the same Devil Fruit ability as Robin. If we linger, our situation may become quite unfavourable."

Sandersonia got close to Hancock and proposed the same idea. Earlier, they couldn't leave because they were being watched by other members of the Big Mom Pirate group. However, with the Big Mom Pirates' attention now focused on Smoothie's condition, the Nine Snake Pirates could potentially depart without interference.

Hancock frowned, having observed the battle between Robin and Smoothie. She recognized Smoothie's strength but was equally astounded by Robin's clean victory. And Rifan's ability to utilize various Devil Fruits had raised Hancock's concerns.

However, Hancock was not overly worried about Rifan because he was a man, and she believed no man could resist her charms. "What exactly does that man want to discuss with me?" Hancock wondered, looking towards the cabin where Rifan, Smoothie, and the others had disappeared.

Meanwhile, as Sandersonia and Marigold made their proposal, Mikita hovered above them. "Haven't you heard what my Captain said earlier?" she questioned. "Captain Rifan expressed his desire to speak with you. If you depart now, are you defying my Captain's wishes?"

Mikita frowned, her gaze locked onto the three Boa sisters.

While Rifan had set his sights on Gekko Moria, Hancock was also a Shichibukai. This meant that defeating Hancock here would expedite Rifan's path to becoming a Shichibukai.

Therefore, Mikita had identified Hancock as a potential opponent and prey, making it impossible to allow the Nine Snake Pirates to depart so easily.

"Woman, do you wish to challenge me?"

Hancock heard Mikita's voice and glanced up at her. After a moment, she furrowed her brow, raised a finger toward Mikita, and questioned her in a condescending tone, "Impudent! Who gave you permission to look down upon this empress? I command you to descend!"

Upon hearing this, Mikita also frowned and retorted, "Huh?! Who do you think you are to order me around?!"

The exchange between Hancock and Mikita caught the attention of Gion, who had been contemplating how to reach Rifan.

"Are these two women about to engage in a fight?" Gion wondered. Considering Empress Hancock's haughty nature and Mikita's demeanour, she couldn't help but ponder this possibility.

Behind Marigold and the other Amazon warriors, Leigh furrowed her brow. She glanced at where Rifan was and then at Mikita and Hancock who were locked in a standoff. She felt somewhat helpless.

"Come out quickly, Rifan-sama. Something doesn't seem right!" Leigh thought urgently.

Hancock, still fixated on Mikita, frowned slightly. After a moment, her expression suddenly changed, and she put a hand to her lips with a look of extreme vulnerability.

"Well, can I ask you to come down?" Hancock implored. "I truly dislike it when people look down on me."

In this moment, Empress Hancock's allure as the most beautiful woman in the world radiated fully. Mikita, who had been annoyed, couldn't help but freeze upon seeing Hancock's expression. Moreover, a desire to comply with Hancock's request welled up within her.

"Wow... What a beautiful woman, like a goddess!" Mikita thought, momentarily captivated. "No, no, my devotion belongs solely to Captain Rifan!"

Mikita, who had descended slightly, abruptly halted. The next instant, she gazed at Hancock with a deep-seated vexation.

"Damn woman, how dare you charm me!" Mikita muttered under her breath. "The only one who can win my heart is Captain Rifan, no one else!"

She clenched her teeth secretly, infuriated that she had almost been drawn to someone other than Rifan, and it was a woman. This realisation only fueled her anger.

In response to her mounting embarrassment, a powerful aura emanated from Mikita, who was now seething with anger.

"This is C-Conqueror's Haki?!" Leigh exclaimed. "Apart from Robin, can this woman also wield it?!"

Sandersonia widened her eyes in disbelief. "Even if it's not as potent as my sister's, it's stronger than Robin's Conqueror's Haki! How can two members of the Black Pearl Pirates possess Conqueror's Haki?!"

Marigold, too, was astounded. "You baatard!"

Hancock, feeling both surprised and challenged, glared at the Nine Snake Pirates who had fallen behind. Then she focused her gaze on Mikita with a deeply unfriendly expression.

The next moment, an equally formidable aura burst forth from Hancock's body, colliding with Mikita's Conqueror's Haki. In an instant, a red and black electric shimmer crackled between Mikita and Hancock.

"A clash of Conqueror's Haki! Are they really going to fight?" Gion muttered anxiously as she supported Hina, who was a little unstable due to the scattered Conqueror's and frowned.

Though if Rifan had defeated Hancock now, allowing the Marines and the World Government to recognize him as a Shichibukai, Gion preferred that Rifan didn't attain that status too soon. After all, if Rifan became a Shichibukai, Gion wouldn't be able to remain by his side and closely observe Rifan and the Black Pearl Pirates.

"Want to challenge me in Conqueror's Haki?" Mikita taunted with a raised corner of her mouth, revealing a slightly deranged smile.

The next moment, an even more overwhelming Conqueror's Haki surged forth from Mikita, pressing directly toward Hancock.

Boom!

The invisible Conqueror's Haki, though not visible, produced a resounding collision as if physical objects were clashing due to Mikita's increased power.

"Damn it! I can't believe that I am being overwhelmed! What's happening with this powerful Conqueror's Haki!?" Hancock took two involuntary steps back, her wide, beautiful eyes fixed on Mikita, who stood at the bow of the Black Pearl.

Then, a sound like breaking glass resonated through the air. Hancock's Conqueror's Haki was suddenly overpowered, and Mikita's Conqueror's Haki swept through the entire Nine Snake Pirates!

Boom!