"Here she comes…" Upon hearing Hathaway's name, Enel suddenly became alert again. Strange—was it some kind of ability? He admitted this Blue Sea woman was beautiful, but not enough to distract him twice.
"Hmm? Who is this?" The Empress's gaze landed on Enel after Natalie spoke. A new member of the Dawn Pirates? His bounty seemed over 400 million. Could the Dawn Pirates be in Paradise?
"That woman who killed a Celestial Dragon—I want to meet her." Since the news broke last time, the Empress had been fascinated by the incident, keeping tabs on this pirate crew.
Especially after Hathaway's bounty was updated, she was astonished. Such a beautiful woman, daring such reckless deeds—truly admirable, a model to follow.
Even she, though she despised Celestial Dragons, dared not kill them, haunted by their shadow and the world's ultimate power.
But the Scarlet Queen was different—swift, decisive, and had slain a Celestial Dragon. Cool and captivating.
"Oh my, even the dazed Empress is so cute. So dazzling…"
"Why is her face so red? Impossible… so beautiful. If I could just hold her hand, I'd die happy."
"Quiet, annoying flies… I mean, little Natalie. In honor of your sister's beauty, will you answer a few questions?" The Empress's voice was gentle, not forced. Her natural charm radiated fully, leaving onlookers blissfully stunned.
"No, you're not the most beautiful. And the most beautiful wouldn't be forgiven for mistakes… hmm, except maybe Sister Hathaway," Natalie said, glancing back.
The Empress now had a clearer idea. The woman Natalie mentioned must be the Scarlet Queen—truly stunning.
Natalie could be stubborn; once she decided, nothing could change her mind, so she refused to acknowledge anyone else as the most beautiful.
"If you won't, I'll turn you to stone." The Empress switched tactics. This brat was oddly immune to her charm and ability—strange.
The Empress was used to affecting men, women, young, and old alike.
Natalie paused, then looked at Enel. "Is this what Captain Uncle said about inevitable battles between pirates?"
Enel: ??? What's she planning?
"All right, I understand. Let's go. If I lose and die, so be it." Natalie quietly unstrapped her round shield, drew a dagger, and focused on the Empress, her aura suddenly deadly.
She wasn't a mascot. Though her Observation Haki wasn't as wide-ranging as Enel's, her emotional perception was sharper, and her combat skills had improved greatly.
In an instant, she sensed that this enemy, as beautiful as Sister Hathaway, could also be formidable.
"What's this? Such a small child radiates such killing intent." At first, spectators were dismissive, but Natalie's stance alarmed some warriors.
How could a child exude this presence? Perhaps she'd grown up among the dead—a little monster.
"Do you wish to fight me?" The Empress paused. Many had challenged her, but such a small one? Likely a first.
Yet she didn't truly want enmity with the Dawn Pirates. She just wanted to meet the Scarlet Queen.
"I'm a pirate," Natalie said proudly.
Enel blinked. A fight? He opposed it. The Blue Sea crew was strong; if a fight could be avoided, it should be. The captain and Hathaway were absent—what if…
He felt uneasy.
"Is that so, a pirate," the Empress mused, yet did not attack.
"What? Are you scared?" Natalie teased, seeing no strike.
"Hey, you can't beat her," Enel warned.
"You'll only know if I try. If you don't come, I'll attack." Natalie stepped forward.
"Damn, what a cocky little brat… this is a Shichibukai." Spectators whispered, shocked—she wasn't even ten.
"I have no desire to strike today. I surrender," the Empress calmly admitted, genuinely uninterested.
"I don't accept that. Watch my shield-dance strike!" Natalie moved, fast as a rabbit, circling the Empress with her shield, then thrusting it.
Bang!
A delicate white hand stopped the shield. Natalie's dagger swung, angled cleverly, but the Empress remained still, letting Natalie strike air.
Her arms were too short—only eight years old. Hitting the Empress' arm had no effect, especially with Armament Haki.
"Ha ha ha…" Spectators laughed at Natalie's futile dagger swings—so hopeless, her arms were too short.
"Damn it." Natalie flipped backward, landing a foot on a laughing pirate's face, leaving a shoe mark. Frowning, she realized this wasn't easy.
"All right, stop fighting. Let's focus on serious matters." Enel lifted Natalie away. This battle was meaningless; he couldn't let her fool around.
"She followed… does a side have to fall to decide the winner?" Natalie tried to struggle but couldn't.
"Am I that scary?" The Empress looked confused.
Hearing Natalie, she didn't dare approach too closely. She realized she shouldn't have frightened the child; it backfired.
"No one in the world is prettier than you," Sandersonia smiled.
"Let me go, Uncle Enel!" Natalie struggled.
"What do you mean?" Enel stopped, frowning at the Empress. If she persisted, he'd intervene.
"I mean nothing. I just wanted to see your Queen," the Empress said, pretending to be a gentle, shy girl, fingers to her lips, tilting slightly.
"Well… that's fine, but…" Enel's hostility eased considerably—damn, he was distracted again.
"Electric shock, 100 million volts." Zzzz—Enel shocked himself. Useless, but at least he expressed his frustration.
"Uncle Enel, you have no future like this." Natalie kicked his thigh. Like a doll in Enel's hands, she was helpless.
"Can you introduce yourself?" The Empress finally regained her composure.
Enel jolted himself, then walked off quickly. Frowning, the Empress followed; her feigned patience was running thin.
(End of chapter)