One Piece : Strongest Vice-Captain Mr. 3!

"Ah?"

The members of the Kuja Pirates looked up at the departing Hancock and then glanced at Mr. 3, who had been turned into a stone statue in the center of the scene.

The warriors of Amazon Lily had never been to sea, so it was normal for them not to know about the Buggy Pirates and their crew.

However, as long-time warriors alongside the Empress, they had heard plenty of rumors.

During the infamous breakout of Impel Down, which was said to be a fortress of iron and steel, and the live broadcast of the Marineford War, Mr. 3 had been involved in both events. He was even the second mastermind behind it all, aside from Buggy the Clown!

Moreover, after gathering countless powerful individuals and becoming a Warlord of the Sea, the Buggy Pirates had gained an unprecedented reputation over the past two years.

Even if Mr. 3 intended to help them, just throwing such a person into the sea as fish food could provoke the Buggy Pirates and their underground forces in retaliation.

For them, who had already lost their title as Warlords, that would be adding insult to injury!

Yet, they found themselves unable to disobey Hancock's orders, not even daring to question them.

"Hancock, isn't this a bit extreme? Our current situation is already quite dire. If he really is here to help us…"

Just as many members of the pirate crew were in a dilemma, an elderly woman who had been kicked away by Hancock earlier struggled to raise her hands and managed to push herself off the wall, landing safely.

"Granny Nyon!"

Hancock paused in her tracks but didn't turn around as she walked back into her room.

"Those hypocritical and foolish Marines are one thing, but have you really forgotten?"

"The reason we became Warlords of the Sea is because we are strong enough!"

From Hancock's perspective, with her royal qualities, she hardly considered the Marines from outside the sea as a threat.

Even if they came in full force, hiding secret weapons, she remained confident that she could annihilate them all.

For the Buggy Pirates, who had audaciously come without invitation and shamelessly claimed to help them escape safely, it was nothing short of an insult to someone as powerful and proud as her!

This was the very reason she had acted without hesitation, petrifying Mr. 3 and preparing to toss him into the sea as fish food.

The Buggy Pirates? 

What kind of nonsense is this, daring to meddle in my affairs?!

Granny Nyon stopped, using her snake staff to prop herself up on the ground.

She belatedly realized that when she had pushed off the wall earlier, she had exerted too much force and hurt her back…

"You are indeed powerful, and the Kuja Pirates fear not the bombardment of enemy warships. But what about the country beneath our feet? What about the residents of Amazon Lily?"

In response to Granny Nyon's soul-stirring question, Hancock merely tilted her head, revealing her stunning profile.

After a few seconds of silence, she slowly spoke.

"Country? Residents? If they can't defend themselves, then let them die. After all, they'll surely forgive me, because I…"

"Am simply too beautiful!"

Her cold, nearly heartless words echoed throughout the hall, resonating in the hearts of everyone present.

The members of the Kuja Pirates hung their heads in despair, unable to refute her.

Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold, the two sisters, moved their lips but couldn't find the words to persuade her.

Granny Nyon furrowed her brow; she had watched Hancock grow up, and she understood her true feelings all too well.

"Snake Princess…"

Just as Granny Nyon was about to speak, another unexpected voice interrupted.

"You are not the cold-blooded person you pretend to be, so why not hear my suggestion first?"

Upon hearing the slightly comedic yet somewhat lewd male voice, Hancock was taken aback, quickly raising her gaze toward Mr. 3, the stone statue below the hall.

Crack.

As everyone watched in shock and confusion, a crack quietly appeared on the head of the humanoid stone sculpture, spreading like spider silk throughout its body.

When the crack reached its limit, a muffled "bang" resounded as the entire statue shattered, stone shards scattering everywhere.

"Perhaps it really is worth trying?" 

Mr. 3 shook off his body, clearing the candle wax that covered his skin.

He crossed his arms over his chest, tilting his head to meet Hancock's gaze.

The wax-coated goggles sparkled brightly, reflecting his confidence and calmness at that moment.

'In an instant, shrouded by the sweet and gentle breeze, he covered his entire body in a layer of wax to evade the petrification effect.'

'After all, he is the second-in-command of the Buggy Pirates; he's not so easy to deal with…'

Hancock stared intensely at Mr. 3. Although she was shocked by his extreme reaction, deep down, she was more annoyed by his self-righteous words.

"I am not a cold-blooded, heartless person?"

Hancock elegantly moved her long, fair leg and took a step forward, her beautiful eyes filled with unmistakable anger.

"Just because you dodged my petrification, do you think you're something special? Do you think you know me?!"

Buzz! 

A powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki suddenly erupted, enveloping the entire area with an indescribable sense of suffocation! 

Many members of the Kuja Pirates immediately felt the pressure; beads of cold sweat appeared on their smooth foreheads.

Having already experienced Lady Snake Princess's Conqueror's Haki, they quickly bowed their heads as low as possible, not daring to look up at Hancock, whose clothing flared wildly in the high position.

As the primary target of this terrifying aura, Mr. 3, standing below, widened his eyes, his heart racing violently, and his blood felt as if it were in turmoil.

It wasn't a physical attack, yet he could clearly sense the air pressure around him rising several levels, creating an immense sense of oppression.

Accompanying this was a feeling of dread and suffocation that was even more oppressive than sinking to the bottom of a dark sea, as if he would die in the next second! 

'This is the genuine Conqueror's Haki of the pirate world; it's truly exaggerated…'

Mr. 3 gritted his teeth, his wide eyes filled with bloodshot veins.

Thanks to the courage inherited from Mr. 3, he barely withstood Hancock's Conqueror's Haki assault.

When he came back to his senses, he realized that his chest and back were already soaked with sweat!

Granny Nyon, leaning on her snake staff, awkwardly walked over to Hancock with a strange posture.

Perhaps she understood how troublesome it was to provoke a powerful Shichibukai at this moment, or perhaps she was impressed by Mr. 3's unwavering spirit against the Conqueror's Haki.

After a moment of thought, she spoke seriously to Hancock, who wanted to take action: "Enough, Snake Princess, let's hear his opinion. No matter what, this man represents the Buggy Pirates and their vast underground influence."

Upon hearing this, Hancock stood there, silent.

Despite usually hitting and scolding Granny Nyon without care, deep down, she still respected this person who had brought her back to Amazon Lily from the vast sea.

After seriously weighing the pros and cons, Hancock withdrew her imposing aura and sat back down on her pink snake throne.

"Go ahead, let's hear your so-called proposal."

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