Rei Ao couldn't help laughing at how wronged she looked.
He reached out and pinched her soft cheek—way too good of a feel.
"Hey, don't be jealous," Rei Ao said with a smile. "These three are… new companions I brought back. From now on, everyone will live here together. More people, more lively—doesn't that sound nice?"
"Not nice…" Hancock muttered softly.
But when she met Rei Ao's eyes, she didn't dare say anything harsher.
The thing she feared most was Rei Ao getting upset.
Seeing her obviously conflicted expression, Rei Ao chuckled under his breath. He leaned close to her ear and spoke slowly in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Be good. They're new here and don't know the rules yet. Help me teach them how things work."
"When I come back, I want to see them behaving properly. Then… we'll all relax together, hmm?"
His voice was low and magnetic, his breath warm against her ear.
Hancock's face flushed instantly, the redness spreading all the way to her ears.
She stole a glance up at Rei Ao, then flicked her eyes toward the three women nearby.
Even though she was still jealous inside, with Rei Ao putting it that way, how could she refuse?
After all, she had never refused Rei Ao-sama's requests.
Hancock bit her lip, then finally nodded. She spoke obediently, her voice soft and sweet:
"Yes, Rei Ao-sama. I understand. I'll take care of them properly—when you come back, they'll be well-behaved."
As she spoke, her gaze swept over Black Maria with a faint chill that was hard to notice.
Especially that Black Maria—so tall, so alluring—she didn't look like the type to stay quiet and obedient.
She'd have to be taught the rules properly, so she understood who actually held authority here—aside from Rei Ao-sama.
Rei Ao looked at her obedient expression, satisfied. He smiled, kissed her forehead again, and said:
"Good girl."
Then, without waiting for anyone else to react, he snapped his fingers once more.
His figure vanished on the spot, as if he'd never been there.
The great hall fell silent in an instant.
Only Hancock remained—along with a bewildered Yamato, Black Maria, Kozuki Hiyori, and Hancock's sisters, Sandersonia and Marigold.
The first to react was Black Maria.
She scanned the surroundings—the décor of the hall, the Kuja emblem on the throne—
then looked at the breathtaking woman in the red cheongsam standing before her. Her pupils shrank sharply.
This place was Amazon Lily? The Women's Kingdom?!
Black Maria's expression turned ugly in an instant.
She'd never imagined that man would bring her to Amazon Lily—
the legendary island said to have only women.
Just who the hell was that man named Rei Ao?!
A storm surged through Black Maria's mind.
She'd been active in the New World for years and had never heard of someone like him.
Powerful enough to suppress her Devil Fruit ability with ease, and to jump through space whenever he pleased—
it was absurd.
Meanwhile, Hiyori finally recovered enough to think clearly.
She climbed to her feet and brushed dust from her kimono.
Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings—and at the female warriors under the eaves wearing revealing armor and holding bows—
she felt deeply uneasy. She hurried closer to Yamato and whispered, her voice still trembling:
"Yamato… where… where are we? And that man… who is he, really?"
Right now, the only person she felt she could trust was Yamato.
Yamato sighed, patted her shoulder, and tried to reassure her:
"This is Amazon Lily—what people call the Women's Kingdom. It's in the Calm Belt."
"That guy just now is Rei Ao. He's… well, the one I'm with."
"Don't be scared. Yeah, he can be a bit of a jerk, but he doesn't go around hurting people for no reason. If you don't cause trouble and you follow the rules, he won't do anything to you."
"The Women's Kingdom?"
Hiyori froze.
She'd grown up in Wano. She'd only ever heard vague things about the outside seas—she'd never heard of any "Women's Kingdom."
Let alone being brought to a place like this. Her eyes reddened immediately.
"Th-then… can I still go back to Wano?"
"Uh…"
Yamato scratched her head, not quite sure what to say.
Just then, light footsteps sounded from the entrance to the hall, followed by a crisp female voice:
"Hancock? Was that noise just now? I heard you—did Rei Ao come back?"
As the voice fell, three women walked in.
In front was a woman with short orange hair, wearing a fresh, casual camisole and hot pants. Her face was full of curiosity—it was Nami.
Beside her was a woman with long blue hair, dressed in a simple, plain-colored dress with a gentle air—Nami's sister, Nojiko.
Bringing up the rear was a woman in an elegant long dress, wearing a warm, knowing smile—Nico Robin.
The three stepped into the hall, and the moment they saw Yamato, Black Maria, and Hiyori standing in the center, they all paused.
Nami looked at Hancock first.
Seeing the blush that still hadn't faded from Hancock's face, she immediately knew Rei Ao really had just returned.
Then she looked at the three unfamiliar women, understood instantly, and rolled her eyes.
Crossing her arms, she said helplessly:
"I knew it. The moment that guy goes out, there's no way he comes back empty-handed. And yup—he brought back three more women."
"Seriously… how many is this now? Rebecca, Vivi… he just keeps doing this."
"Is he trying to bring every woman in the world here or something?"
Nojiko gave a wry smile, then shook her head. She looked at the three unfamiliar women with a hint of kindness in her eyes.
Robin adjusted her glasses, her lips curling into a gentle smile as she spoke in an unhurried tone:
"Looks like Rei Ao has made new 'discoveries' again."
"And you must be Black Maria—formerly one of the Tobiroppo from the Beasts Pirates, right? I didn't expect even you would end up brought here by Rei Ao."
Hearing Robin say her name, Black Maria snapped her head around to look at her, wariness flashing in her eyes.