"Should I zap them to make them leave?" Enel offered.
"Forget it. You all go handle the important matters first. The materials aren't complete yet—Robin's still scouting for a good coastal site. Oh, and when you return to the Dawn, check who wants to eat a Devil Fruit." Rosen set aside the immediate issues.
They would need to discuss how to distribute the Devil Fruits.
"I want one! I want one!" Natalie shouted excitedly. Becoming a pirate and eating a Devil Fruit were two of her biggest dreams since setting sail.
Rosen ignored her. Natalie still didn't understand the true meaning—or the cost—of a Devil Fruit. She was too young. Once she fully grasped what they were, she could decide then.
"Do you want one?" Rosen asked Hathaway instead.
"I'll pass. That thing's too restrictive." Hathaway had no interest in Devil Fruits.
"Stingy." Natalie pouted when Rosen didn't respond. Seeing Enel already heading off in another direction, she hurried after him.
"Go ask what she wants with you. Having her tailing us like this isn't ideal," Rosen said as he entered a bar. This was one of Tesoro's Paradise management sites.
"I've been expecting you. Please, come in." A well-dressed middle-aged man greeted them politely.
"The official liaison will arrive later. We're just here to confirm. You understand your employer's instructions, right?" Rosen said calmly.
"Of course. From now on, Paradise belongs to you." The man nodded, though confusion filled his mind. Still, Tesoro's orders were absolute.
Whoever could receive such trust from Tesoro was no ordinary man.
"Looks like everything's in order," Hathaway remarked.
"Good. We'll stay here for a while. Paradise is a good place to gather information from the outside world. Let's rest here for now." Rosen ordered a few things and allowed himself to relax slightly.
The takeover of the Andia Kingdom had succeeded. All that remained was to watch the aftermath unfold. As long as the World Government didn't interfere, he could move on without worry.
Next, he had to help Moris replace one of the Shichibukai and claim the position himself—that was part of their deal. He also needed to watch for news of the upcoming Summit War. There were matters to settle with Blackbeard.
"We'll also need intel on Doflamingo and Gecko Moria. If possible, taking down Doflamingo alone might be enough." Rosen hadn't involved Moris with Doflamingo earlier because the man was too hard to control.
His ties with Kaido, the World Government, and his background as a former Celestial Dragon made manipulation nearly impossible. The only practical approach was to defeat or kill him outright.
Still, if an opportunity arose, Rosen wouldn't ignore it.
"The Empress?!" The innkeeper froze when Boa Hancock entered behind them. The "Closed" sign was still up—was she here to cause trouble? But... she was far too beautiful. If trouble came looking, he might not even mind.
"What do you want?" Hathaway asked, puzzled. She didn't know the Pirate Empress personally.
"Forgive me. I was too forward earlier. Please pardon my rudeness." Hancock sat gracefully across from Rosen and beside Hathaway, her lips curving seductively.
That was overly polite—not her usual style, Rosen thought silently. But then she spoke again.
"Don't you think I'm beautiful? Then…"
"No." Rosen immediately sensed something off. Realizing what she was about to do, he struck first—a powerful kick.
The Empress was caught off guard but reacted quickly, raising her leg to block. Still, Rosen's blow sent her flying through the wall.
"Elder sister!" Sandersonia and Marigold cried out in shock.
"I'm fine," Hancock said coolly, her voice suddenly cold. She hadn't expected Crocodile to attack her so abruptly. Had her charm failed?
"Talk if you want, but don't try using your Devil Fruit again. Next time, I won't stop at that," Rosen warned. His words startled her—how did he know what she was about to do?
She hadn't meant harm—only to enchant him, to make him hand Hathaway over or at least persuade her to join. This ability had never failed before; men were easy to control with a few words.
But not this time.
Hancock brushed the dust off her dress as she reentered, studying Rosen seriously. Things had gotten complicated.
Though her combat strength was around vice admiral level—or possibly close to an admiral—her petrification power and innate charm made her extremely dangerous. Even elite officers often had to injure themselves just to stay clearheaded in her presence.
Her Mero Mero Fruit was one of those absurd powers—like Sugar's Hobby-Hobby Fruit—where sheer strength meant little. A single touch or glance could end a battle before it began.
"Listen to him if you want to talk. Otherwise, you're an enemy," Hathaway said calmly.
She didn't know exactly what Hancock had done, but if Rosen attacked without hesitation, the woman must have made a dangerous move.
"Damn it." Hancock glared at Rosen, displeased but cautious. That one kick proved he was far stronger than rumors claimed—and worse, he seemed aware of her abilities. That made him truly dangerous.
"I only wanted to invite you to Amazon Lily as a guest. After what you did to the Celestial Dragons, I can't help but admire you. Don't tell me… you dislike me, little sister?" Hancock's tone softened, dripping with allure—but this time, she didn't use her power.
Still, her natural charm was overwhelming. Hathaway felt her heart stir unexpectedly. Wait—why was she thinking like this? Did she… like women?
"Enough. You two talk." Feeling oddly out of place between them, Rosen stood up. The tension between the two women was too intense—too dangerous. Better to retreat before things got out of hand.
As soon as he left, Hancock sighed happily. "Finally, that man is gone."
"Sit a bit farther away," Hathaway said, confused by her earlier thoughts but keeping her composure. She'd never cared much for romance—staying alive had always been enough.
"It's fine. We're both women."
"So big and… uh… round…" Hathaway glanced awkwardly at Hancock. People outside dressed more freely than she was used to—and Hancock's outfit certainly drew the eye. Even as a woman, Hathaway had to admit she was stunning.
"But about the Celestial Dragons—you should know that was our captain's doing. I just helped a little. If you're inviting me because of that, forget it."
"Your captain was the mastermind?" Hancock froze in surprise.
(End of Chapter)
T/L: Title is "Kicking the Empress" :P