96. Healing the scars

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Perhaps it's simply too early in the current timeline, as many pirates aren't as powerful as expected.

Hancock's strength was far below what he had imagined. But after hearing her words, Anos straightened his clothes, smiling as he replied, "I don't have any major demands; I just want to borrow a Ship. So there's no need to be too hostile."

"I know your story. We're not interested in that, and we certainly won't share it. As long as today passes peacefully, let's pretend nothing happened. How does that sound?"

"Do you think I have any other choice now?" Hancock responded, clearly displeased, but helpless nonetheless.

"Then, I'll be troubling you. Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention I know a way to remove that mark on your back. Interested?" Anos added, turning to Hancock with a smile.

However, the three sisters were too shocked to respond.

Hearing Anos's words made their faces turn pale, and their eyes lost focus.

They didn't need to think hard to feel their deepest fears exposed.

"Hey, hey, relax! I only mention this as a way of repaying your help. Or, if you'd rather, maybe someday you could consider being my queen?" Anos teased, grinning.

After speaking, he entered his system space, spending nearly 200 million Beris to buy three bottles of something that could heal their scars.

Anos knew that the biggest fear for the three sisters was others seeing the Celestial Dragon's hoof marks on their backs a permanent mark of slavery.

Even his companion, Suzu, had such a mark, though she didn't seem to mind it.

"How do you know so much? Who are you?" Hancock asked, her voice trembling.

After Anos boarded, Hancock had already sensed that this man, around her age, knew too much about her and her sisters.

They had never told anyone about their past, so where did this stranger learn it?

This knowledge made her feel a chill of horror, as she desperately wanted to keep their Celestial Dragon past the most painful chapter of their lives.

"Well, what difference does it make if I know? I just came back from Mariejois and took something from a Celestial Dragon. Your names were recorded on it, but I burned it. Also... I killed that Celestial Dragon."

"Abona was his slave, but I took him away. Now, He follows me of his own will. Does that answer satisfy you?"

Anos weaved a blend of truth and lies, creating a story that fit his intentions.

"You killed a Celestial Dragon?" Hancock asked in shock.

The two sisters beside her looked equally stunned, unable to believe what they were hearing.

"Why do you think our ship was damaged? Less than half an hour ago, Marine Admiral Kizaru came here to investigate. Failing to find anything, he damaged our hull in secret, leaving us in this state," Anos explained with a slight smile.

"I heard they called you 'Your Majesty.' Are you the king of the Tru Kingdom in the South Blue?" asked a curious Marigold, looking at Anos.

Anos remained seated, gazing calmly at the three sisters before him. Around them, no one else on the ship had regained consciousness.

Meanwhile, the people on the Tempest were all staring in this direction.

"Let everyone board your ship! Yours won't hold up much longer," Hancock said to Anos, not responding to Groud.

She regained her usual haughty demeanour, though her tone now carried a certain gentleness and composure.

After speaking, she turned and walked towards the large snake, subdued by her Conqueror's Haki. She wanted to check on its condition.

Her two sisters exchanged surprised, curious glances. Since when had

Has Hancock spoken so gently to a man? And even agreed so casually to his request?

Anos chuckled. From the moment he first saw her after boarding, he had been drawn to her.

Hancock, despite her pride, represented a goddess in the hearts of many men.

Though her personality had rough edges, understanding her painful past made her current demeanour easier to empathize with.

"Which is the nearest island from here?" Anos asked, looking at Gold and Sonia with a smile.

"You're asking about that? The nearest island should be our home, Amazon Lily. It'll take about three days from here. There's another island closer, but it's uninhabited no people, no ships."

"After that, the next inhabited island is far; it would take at least seven days to reach," Sonia answered quickly.

Anos pondered. Just moments ago, the two sides had been at odds, yet now they felt like old acquaintances. His crew lay unconscious, yet here he was, conversing with ease.

Gold also looked at him with admiration, not bothered at all by the earlier confrontation.

"This sounds like a bit of a headache to solve," Anos sighed.

While he was talking, Daiki had already begun loading supplies onto their ship.

It was a good opportunity to share some of the women's clothing they'd brought items now repurposed as gifts for the women of Amazon Lily.

In addition to clothes, they loaded other provisions, including daily food, though there was little in the way of gold, silver, or jewellery.

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