"Lord Luo Ye, are these two your younger brothers?"
Though her words were about Ace and Sabo on the competition stage, Boa Hancock's gaze remained fixed solely on Luo Ye.
After seeing Luo Ye give a small nod, Hancock's eyes shimmered with admiration.
"As expected of Lord Luo Ye… even your two younger brothers can reach such strength under your guidance."
Forehead…
Luo Ye silently pressed his fingers to his forehead.
Hancock's exaggerated reverence made him visibly uncomfortable.
Just as he was about to say something to ease the situation, a cold voice cut through.
The smile vanished instantly from Hancock's face as she turned, her eyes frosty as she glared at Vice Admiral Momousagi.
"Marine woman, are you provoking your beloved Empress again?"
Momousagi met her glare head-on, unmoved.
While she, too, acknowledged that Ace and Sabo's growth was in part thanks to Luo Ye, she had no tolerance for Hancock's openly flirtatious praise.
Having known Luo Ye for years, Momousagi had never acted so forward, and she wasn't about to let Hancock's theatrics go unchallenged.
"Oh dear… it's starting again. This kind of drama is rare entertainment."
Kizaru observed from behind, an amused smirk on his face.
Though he begrudgingly admired Luo Ye's power and presence, Kizaru had no desire to be in his position—surrounded by chaos caused by overzealous women.
Luo Ye frowned but didn't intervene.
Instead, he turned his attention back to Ace and Sabo on the stage.
Their fight had reached its climax.
Though their bond was unbreakable, neither was willing to lose and face Luo Ye's wrath later.
"Sabo, better watch out! Don't get burned by my next move!" Ace shouted with a grin.
Sabo didn't respond.
He knew Ace's strength too well—any hesitation would spell defeat.
"In order to grow stronger, we must be willing to get hurt," Sabo reminded himself.
"Let's go, Ace!"
Sabo's arms glowed with Armament Haki as he advanced.
Ace raised a massive fireball overhead.
Since his battle with Jack the Drought at Punk Hazard, he'd refined this signature move.
"Entei!" (Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor)
"Ryusoken!" (Dragon Claw Fist)
As their attacks were about to collide, Luo Ye vanished from his position and reappeared between them in a flash.
With one hand, he stopped Sabo's Haki-imbued punch, and with the other, he unsheathed his blade to slice cleanly through Ace's fireball, dispersing it.
"Oh my… Luo Ye's growth is truly frightening," Kizaru muttered, surprised.
If there had once been doubts about Luo Ye's rumored clash with Admiral Aokiji, those had now been put to rest.
Such explosive progress… he was truly living up to the title of "monster" once given to him.
Luo Ye glared at the two stunned fighters.
"You brats trying to destroy the competition stage?"
If he hadn't stepped in, Ace's Entei alone could've obliterated the entire arena.
And then Sengoku—already stressed—would've given Luo Ye another long-winded lecture.
Both Ace and Sabo looked sheepish, but what they really wanted to know was who had won.
Luo Ye smirked at their expectant expressions.
"This match is a tie. Now, both of you team up—against me."
Ace: ??
Sabo: ??
Was this a joke?
They'd fought tooth and nail only to be told it was a draw?
They looked at him with barely concealed resentment.
They'd been tricked again.
Luo Ye had done this countless times—pit them against each other, only to change the rules midway.
And once more, they fell for it.
Luo Ye, unbothered, stepped down from the stage.
Hancock immediately hurried to his side, sparkling with admiration.
"Lord Luo Ye, that was incredibly gallant just now!"
Ace and Sabo eyed her curiously.
Who was this bizarre, lovestruck woman, and what was her connection to Luo Ye?
Luo Ye didn't bother explaining.
Instead, he turned and asked,
"Are you and Moria the only Shichibukai here at Marineford so far?"
"My beloved doesn't need to concern himself with those filthy men," Hancock said flatly. "My heart belongs only to Lord Luo Ye."
As always, Hancock showed open disdain for other men—even those like Rayleigh, who once saved her.
But Luo Ye was different.
Her time as a slave to the Celestial Dragons had left a scar too deep to erase.
And yet, Rayleigh had once told her something shocking:
Luo Ye had dared to kill a Celestial Dragon.
That revelation alone had sparked Hancock's unshakeable admiration.
Since then, she'd offered loyalty and affection toward no one else.
Luo Ye let out a quiet sigh.
How was he supposed to respond to something like that?
He thought back.
Crocodile and Doflamingo—both former Warlords—were dead by his hand.
Of the remaining seven, only Mihawk, Kuma, Jinbei, Hancock, and Moria were left.
Kuma had already made a secret pact with the World Government, turning his body into a prototype for the Pacifista program.
As for the others… their status was still uncertain.
Sengoku intended to use the remaining Shichibukai alongside the Marines in a joint operation against the Beasts Pirates.
Luo Ye had no objections.
But if delays from unreliable allies gave Kaido time to act, that would be a critical failure.
Turning to Kizaru, Luo Ye silently asked with his eyes.
Kizaru shrugged, palms raised.
He'd only managed to bring Hancock and Moria.
He hadn't seen nor hear of the others.
At that very moment, all present turned as one—toward the distant end of the plaza.
Three more figures were approaching.