Chapter 76

Dressrosa, Royal Palace, Top Floor:

Inside a room, Doflamingo hesitated for a while before picking up the den den mushi and dialling a number. After a ten-second wait, the den den mushi was answered from the other side.

"Hello?" a sharp voice came through.

Doflamingo raised his eyebrows, then smiled and replied, "Queen."

"Oh, it's Heavenly Yaksha!" Queen's voice lightened up a bit. "What happened to your place to call us?"

"I have something urgent to discuss with Kaido, Queen. Could you help me get in touch with him?" Doflamingo raised an eyebrow as he spoke.

"Huh? Urgent matter?" Queen expressed surprise. "If you say it's urgent, then it must be. Just wait; I'll call the boss right away."

After a few minutes, Kaido's laughter echoed from the other end of the line.

"Wow, Doflamingo, it's quite rare for you to take the initiative to call me."

"Kaido, the God-Slayers Pirates are approaching Dressrosa, and their sailing path appears to be heading towards my location," Doflamingo reported with concern. "I'm worried they might destroy the Smile Factory. They seem to have no regard for the rules."

"Um?" Kaido furrowed his brows, and a sinister smile crept onto his face. "Doflamingo, that's a God Slayer we're talking about! Not only is he unruly, but he also seems to have a particular interest in the descendants of the Celestial Dragons. Moreover, your primary business is still the slave trade. Did you watch the live broadcast of Punk Hazard that day? If he finds out that you're behind child trafficking, you might end up just like the executed Celestial Dragons."

Doflamingo had already considered this. Hearing Kaido's words made his headache worsen. He was also apprehensive about the Buggy Pirates.

Nowadays, people on the streets are hesitant to even mention the Buggy Pirates by their names. It had become taboo to call the esteemed group by anything other than the God Slayer Pirates since Buggy acquired that title.

Doflamingo also recalled the tragic demise of St. Charlos, prompting him to make this urgent call to Kaido.

"Kaido, what should I do? Smiles are our speciality. I assume you wouldn't want the Smile Factory to be destroyed either, right?" Doflamingo implored.

Kaido raised an eyebrow and replied nonchalantly, "That Buggy guy isn't someone to be trifled with! If necessary, relocate the factory to Wano Country. Doflamingo, you wouldn't want to end up killed by Buggy, would you?"

Doflamingo, on the other end of the phone, was rendered speechless by Kaido's response. Kaido's nonchalance seemed to imply that if the factory couldn't be saved, it could be abandoned with minimal loss. But if he didn't escape, the chances of being killed by Buggy were alarmingly high. It was clear that Kaido was not coming to his rescue.

Doflamingo had no choice but to concede that Kaido was not going to be of much help in this situation. He sighed and replied, "I'll need to think about it, Kaido, and discuss it with others in the family."

"Worororo..." Kaido chuckled on the other end of the line, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. "Sure thing. Once you've made up your mind, give me a call, and I'll send someone over to assist with the relocation of the factory."

"Alright, Kaido," Doflamingo sighed again after hanging up the phone. He hadn't expected to be caught up in this trap due to a drunkard's actions. Rubbing his forehead, he decided to convene another family meeting the next day.

Calm Belt, Amazon Lily Palace:

In the palace of Amazon Lily, Sandersonia, with her long green hair, rushed in from outside and exclaimed anxiously, "Sister, it's not good! Ten warships are approaching us!"

"What?"

Hancock and Marigold's eyes widened as she continued speaking.

"Because the Shichibukai have been disbanded, do these Marines think they can handle our Kuja Island?" The empress crossed her long, fair legs and leaned against the giant snake, her tone icy.

"Sandersonia, have you seen who's leading the fleet?" Marigold inquired.

"It's not entirely clear yet, but two individuals are standing at the bow of the boat," Sandersonia replied after a moment of thought. "One is a man with a black mohawk and a moustache. The other appeared to have no rank but was also wearing a cloak and a white suit. The latter of the two people is quite unusual, and I don't recall seeing many figures like him in the Marines."

The empress snorted coldly, stood up straight, and headed for the exit.

"Let's go! No matter who they are, if they intend to attack our Island, they are our enemies!"

Boom! Crunch!

As the empress got up, Elder Nyon urgently knocked on the door and rushed in.

"Hancock, it's bad; a Marine fleet is heading towards our Island!"

Boom!

The empress kicked Granny Nyon aside and said coldly, "Gloriosa, watch your words; address me as 'Empress.' Take care of her; ensure she stays put and doesn't wander around!"

"Yes, Empress!" The palace soldiers immediately nodded in acknowledgement.

The empress, halfway to the exit, playfully flicked her hair and said with a hint of faux helplessness, "No matter how rude I may be, you'll forgive me, won't you? If you're wondering why, it's because I'm incredibly beautiful!"

"Ahhh! Forgive! Forgive!"

"Empress is incomparably beautiful!"

When the female warriors in the vicinity heard the words, they all shouted excitedly with admiration in their eyes, instantly forming a fan club for the empress.

But why was her Granny so furious upon witnessing this scene?

As the empress approached the palace gate, she suddenly remembered something and called back to her Granny, "Hancock, be cautious! The person who came this time seems to be the green-haired guy named Green Bull who appeared during the Punk Hazard battle."

"His previous records indicated he was a Marine Admiral backup! However, the Marines have undergone significant changes recently; Sengoku has abdicated, and one of the three veteran Marine Admirals must have taken the position of Fleet Admiral. Well, this Green Bull is likely to replace one of the admirals! He can't be underestimated. Do you understand, Hancock?"

"Hmph!" Hancock responded before pausing, flicking her black hair hanging above her buttocks, and striding out with her long legs.

As soon as the empress departed, Elder Nyon roared angrily, "Give me the Den Den Mushi; I'm going to call a reliable man!"

Outside the palace, Hancock continued forward, giving instructions to the soldiers around her without pause, "Guard the palace gate; no matter what happens to me, do not let that old woman leave! If the situation goes awry, immediately contact the Previous empress Shakky."

"Do not kill the Marine underlings; capture those you can and severely injure those you cannot! Furthermore, to ensure the safety of our citizens, allow them to join the battle if they wish. As for all Marine Admiral, leave him to me; is that clear?"

"Yes, Empress!"

The female warriors of Amazon Lily promptly began arranging matters upon hearing the news. The two younger sisters accompanying the Empress appeared concerned, witnessing their sister's serious demeanour for the first time. After a brief pause, Sandersonia finally spoke up:

"Sister, has the situation become so serious?"

The Empress continued walking, nodding slightly and maintaining a calm expression as she replied, "Yes, it seems to be a Marine Admiral this time. The Marines have undergone significant changes lately; Sengoku has stepped down, and Akainu and Aokiji are competing for the position of Fleet Admiral. Regardless of who becomes the Fleet Admiral between them, one of them will have to leave."

"Their differing philosophies make it impossible to work together. Neither Akainu nor Aokiji are like Sengoku or Garp. So, if two Marine Admirals are gone, two new ones will likely replace them. Among the two Admiral substitutes, Fujitora and Green Bull, who were present during Punk Hazard, Fujitora has already proposed the 'Shichibukai Abolition Policy' at the World Summit as a Marine Admiral."

"Therefore, the green-haired individual Gloriosa mentioned earlier is probably Green Bull. Although the World Government and Marines haven't officially announced it yet, he's likely the new Marine Admiral."

Hearing her sister's analysis, Sandersonia and Marigold were shocked and exclaimed simultaneously, "Ah!? A Marine Admiral!?"

"Eight or nine out of ten," the Empress replied in a deep voice. "It seems the World Government and Marines are aiming to use us to establish their reputation once again."

Upon hearing this, Marigold responded angrily, "Hmph! They wanted to transition from the Shichibukai but chose only us, the Kuja Pirates! They sent only ten warships. Are they underestimating Amazon Lily, where everyone is a warrior?"

"It might not just be us they're targeting on Amazon Lily," the Empress replied thoughtfully. "Now that the Shichibukai are essentially defunct, there are still a few with considerable influence. Besides us, Moria was captured by the God Slayer Pirates, Bartholomew Kuma lost consciousness, and Jinbei joined the God Slayer Pirates."

"Currently, it's just me, Edward Weevil, Blackbeard Teach, and Mihawk. If Green Bull is coming here, the most likely target for Fujitora or Kizaru would be Edward Weevil. As for Blackbeard, we haven't heard from him since the Summit War. Hawkeye was last seen in Shanks' territory and given their friendship. Our Kuja Pirates are bound by Amazon Lily, which they likely consider their best shot."

As she spoke, a touch of cold determination flickered across the Empress's charming face, and she added, "If they think they can take me down, it depends on whether the Marines are willing to pay the price!"

In the forest around Amazon Lily Island, the green bull, Araki, who had just landed, spread his arms and laughed heartily. "This ancient forest is remarkable, full of vitality—it's like my home turf! Fighting here will double my combat strength, and I'll charge ahead! Pirate empress Boa Hancock has likely figured out our strategy."

Back in the forest, Momonga couldn't help but feel uneasy.

After the warship had been docked, 5,000 Marine soldiers disembarked and began preparations for their mission.

At that moment, a rustling sound emanated from the jungle, prompting everyone to turn and look simultaneously. Members of the Kuja Pirates, led by the Empress, emerged from the forest, their expressions cold as they regarded the Marines.

"Ah!" Aramaki couldn't help but whistle and laugh heartily upon seeing the beautiful Pirate Empress. "Hahaha, the world's most beautiful pirate empress truly lives up to her reputation! Your reaction time isn't bad either! How about this: Our government seeks your cooperation, Empress. If you're willing to accompany us, there's no need for conflict. You wouldn't want your Amazon Lily to be affected by the flames of war, would you?"

As soon as Green Bull finished speaking, an uproar erupted among the Kuja Pirates.

"Presumptuous!"

"You think our Empress would go with you?"

"Mere Marines!"

"You lot are not even a match for a small group from our Kuja Pirates!"

"That's right; let's compare strengths. Our Amazon Lily has hundreds of thousands of warriors!"

Witnessing such a fiery response from the Kuja Pirates, Green Bull narrowed his eyes and focused on the Empress.

"Kuja Pirates, your attitude isn't making things easy for me."

"Difficult to accomplish? If it's challenging, then don't even attempt it!" The Empress sneered and continued, "If you wish to fight, then fight! We will not cower. Let's deal with some easy prey before engaging in a war."

With her words, Hancock's gaze locked onto her target, and an overwhelming Conqueror's Haki surged directly toward the Marines ahead. None of the Marines possessed the Conqueror's Haki, leaving them defenceless. In the next moment, over half of the 5,000 Marine soldiers fell unconscious, their eyes rolling back, while the remaining thousand or so soldiers were left in a dazed state with significantly reduced combat abilities.

"Conqueror's Haki! As expected of the Pirate Empress!" The sight displeased the green bull, and he clapped his hands together, roaring, "In that case, don't blame me for forceful! Mora Mora no Transform, soldiers!!"

Following the green bull's roar, it seemed as though the entire forest was in motion. The grass beneath his feet grew rapidly, blossoming into a vibrant life. The surrounding trees shot up, growing over ten meters tall, and transforming into massive trees dozens of meters in height.

These colossal trees quickly condensed into formidable fists, while even the smaller trees turned into formidable soldiers, their stature exceeding three meters. This overwhelming transformation created a double advantage against ordinary foes.

The numbers of such soldiers continued to swell, and within mere breaths, thousands of them stood ready. These transformed soldiers, wielding swords and shields, moved with remarkable speed, encircling the members of the Kuja Pirates.

"Hahahaha!" The green bull's laughter echoed through the forest. "Do you still dare to challenge the World Government, Kuja Pirates? Understand that within this forest, I am invincible! Even if you have hundreds of thousands of fighters, it means nothing to me, for my soldiers are invulnerable! Do you still wish to fight, Pirate Empress? Hahaha!"

The Empress, though taken aback by the green bull's astonishing abilities, did not hesitate. Instead of retreating, she charged towards the green bull and shouted, "Sweet Wind!"

As she advanced, a burst of pink breeze radiated from her, and the colossal tree soldiers surrounding the Kuja Pirates turned into stone sculptures upon encountering these pink gusts. Witnessing the Empress's approach, a fierce glint appeared in the green bull's eyes, and with a mere thought, several massive tree fists with diameters of several meters were hurled toward her.

"Great Perfume Femur!" The Empress remained undeterred. In the face of multiple colossal tree fists, each several meters in diameter, she leapt into the air and delivered pink-black lightning kicks.

Boom, boom, boom!

A tremendous explosion rocked the forest of Amazon Lily. Simultaneously, unnoticed in the sky, a spatial portal abruptly opened. Emerging from within, a man made his appearance. A striking blue horsetail fluttered in the wind, his handsome face adorned with clown makeup. He wore a white cloak upon his shoulders and a white suit, giving him an air of elegance and composure.

The man nonchalantly slipped his hands into his pockets, gazing down at the battle unfolding below. A smile crept across his face. "Interesting; it appears I've arrived at just the right moment."

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