Harbor Square.
Hancock straightened her nose and angrily bit her sleeve.
How could any man resist her beauty? This man must be using some special trick.
She would try again!
Hancock pulled open her collar, revealing a glimpse of her smooth, fragrant shoulder, instantly capturing Gurd's lecherous gaze.
It worked!
"Mero Mero Mellow!!!"
"Ugh!"
Gurd bent over, covering his mouth with his hand.
"Blegh—"
A rainbow of vomit spewed out.
"This man?!"
Hancock clutched her face in agony, collapsing into her sisters' arms. In her entire life, this was the first time a man had vomited at the sight of her.
Disgrace! An absolute humiliation!
She couldn't tolerate this man's existence!
"Ugh—stop playing these petty tricks!"
Gurd stood up, wiping his mouth.
During the war with Red Hair, when he saw the Navy summon the Pirate Empress, he knew she was specifically sent to deal with him.
He was well aware that his willpower alone couldn't withstand the Empress's allure—what veteran could pass such a test?!
Though he possessed Groudon's power, which might dispel petrification, that was a last resort. He couldn't risk it unless absolutely necessary.
So, he came up with a countermeasure!
An animated image from his homeland.
If he couldn't resist a woman's charm, he'd take a different approach!
Even now, the wretched image of Blackbeard blowing kisses at him—"Mero mero mero"—echoed in his mind, assaulting his psyche once more.
Super effective!
"Pah, disgusting!"
Gurd leaned forward, his muscles swelling as veins like tiny snakes surfaced across his skin.
This was power!
"You stinky woman, I'll make you taste my ultimate finisher combo!"
"He called me 'stinky woman' again?!"
Hancock threw her head back, unable to accept being disliked. The next moment, her Observation Haki caught Gurd's next move.
"Move!"
Pushing her sisters aside, Hancock leaped into the air just as Gurd lunged at her like a ferocious beast!
Without hesitation, she spun mid-air and kicked!
"Perfume Femur!"
"Slap!"
Her fair calf was caught in a massive hand!
"I can't move!"
Hancock tried to pull her leg free, but no matter how hard she struggled, his grip was unyielding—like iron pincers!
"Idiot!"
Gurd tilted his head up, grinning mockingly at Hancock. "With Haki alone, I can suppress this level of ability!"
"Silence, you insolent fool!"
Hancock shrieked in fury, bending her other leg before thrusting it straight at Gurd's face!
"Don't kick my face!"
Gurd dodged sideways, staring at the long, pale leg before him. Without thinking, he bit down hard, teeth sinking into flesh.
Blood spurted!
"Ugh!"
Hancock gasped in pain, only to be swung violently by Gurd and slammed into the ground!
"BOOM!"
The ground shattered!
Even with Haki defense, the impact left her dazed, a mouthful of blood spraying out.
"Release Sister Hancock!"
Her two sisters charged forward, transforming into snake-human hybrids.
"Don't interfere!"
Gurd's eyes sharpened as Conqueror's Haki erupted!
The sisters froze mid-step, bodies trembling uncontrollably—the instinctive fear of prey before a king!
During this brief respite, dozens of giant warriors had surrounded the Nine Snakes Pirate Crew in the square.
"Are these women the intruders?"
"How bold!"
Facing a group of women, the giants didn't feel much fighting spirit, only curiosity. These were the first enemies they'd encountered since leaving Elbaf.
"Capture them!"
Against top-tier fighters, giants often became stepping stones, but against ordinary warriors, they were nightmares!
The arrows shot by the Nine Snakes warriors felt like mere tickles, and even cannonballs only caused minor disturbances to the giant warriors.
There was no resistance whatsoever.
Hancock was also in dire straits, her face covered in blood, her left calf bleeding severely, greatly hindering her movements.
Gurd slowly approached Hancock. The pitiable sight of the battered woman now held no allure for him.
"Taste this properly!"
Gurd pushed off with his legs, suddenly charging at Hancock with explosive speed that left her unable to defend.
"Smack!"
His hands locked around her waist!
Upward throw!
Leap!
Grabbing her again!
Spin!
"Finishing Move - Spiral Pile Driver!"
"BOOM!!!"
The ground shattered layer by layer as dust spread!
Gurd raised his hands skyward!
Win!
"Ooooh!!!"
His comrades quickly applauded and cheered!
"A bit rusty there."
"Should've started with a body slam, followed by elbow strikes, added a few moves depending on the situation, and finished with a windmill."
Gurd thoroughly critiqued himself.
Lately, he'd been fighting strong opponents where martial arts were hard to execute, causing his skills to decline. But he couldn't forget his signature moves.
Next time for sure!
Chikara hurried over to Gurd, timidly requesting, "Lord Gurd, could you spare her life?"
"What's the matter?"
Gurd slightly raised an eyebrow.
Chikara shook her head, glancing at Hancock embedded in the ground. The woman's clothes were mostly destroyed in the fight, revealing a corner of a mark on her back.
She definitely wasn't mistaken—that was the Celestial Dragon's Hoof. This woman, like her, had once been a slave of the Celestial Dragons.
Gurd glanced at it and nodded, "Her supervision is your responsibility. Remember to put Seastone handcuffs on her. Once she's recovered enough, assign her to brick-carrying duty!"
"Huh?"
Chikara's mouth fell open.
Brick-carrying?
Gurd snorted coldly and walked toward his petrified subordinates.
So what if she was the most beautiful woman? Anyone coming to this island had to work—he wasn't running a charity!
By afternoon, nearly a hundred women of the Nine Snakes Pirate Crew were shackled, contributing to the construction of the Beast Fortress without any special treatment.
"Snake Princess!"
The female warriors were deeply worried.
With the Snake Princess's beauty, what would befall her in men's hands...
Night fell in the dungeon.
The brazier crackled, containing red-hot branding irons, while the surrounding racks were filled with bloody torture instruments.
Chikara's eyes were full of concern.
"Lord Gurd."
"Don't show mercy to enemies!"
Gurd scolded, then turned his gaze to the woman on the rack.
Regardless, she was a lackey of the World Government. Had he not been present, they might have been completely wiped out.
The power of the Love-Love Fruit combined with Hancock's peerless beauty was nearly unstoppable—no one could resist it.
Their crew was full of lechers. Even Kaido had his lover, always getting cozy with Black Maria during parties.
Gurd studied Hancock carefully.
Even as a prisoner, the woman exuded an astonishing charm that made his heart race, itching to remove her shackles immediately.
"Sizzle~~"
Gurd picked up the red-hot branding iron.
Interrogations of the Beasts were usually handled by King, but since King wasn't here, he had to take over.
Heh heh heh heh~~
(End of chapter)