In the dimly lit dungeon, charcoal burned steadily.
Chikara worked tirelessly, quickly preparing clean and elegant chairs and tables, along with premium red wine and food.
The young girl pulled out a chair and bowed slightly.
"Lord Gurd, please have a seat."
"Mhm."
Gurd sat down, taking a small sip from the wine glass.
Hah, so bitter!
He had to admit, Chikara's housekeeping skills were absurdly impressive, making him feel the extravagance of a Celestial Dragon. It also showed just how tragic her experience as a slave had been—
Never daring to make even the slightest mistake.
He wondered how Hancock's housekeeping skills were. Given that the Celestial Dragons had fed her a Devil Fruit, she was most likely the kind of slave used for gladiatorial entertainment.
Gurd set down his glass and looked at Hancock.
The woman was already awake, staring at him quietly. There wasn't a trace of fear in her eyes—only disdain.
It was an expression that should have been irritating, but against the backdrop of her beauty, it instead evoked an urge to be trampled under her feet.
"Still acting so arrogant even as a prisoner!"
Gurd couldn't help but laugh.
He was starting to understand—these second-rate fighters were all ridiculously cocky, daring to provoke even an Emperor Crew before getting thoroughly beaten.
Old Sand, Moria, and those brats who didn't know their place—none of them could recognize reality until they were properly thrashed.
They just needed a good lesson.
But well.
The lady was as delicate as a flower—no use getting angry.
Gurd spoke calmly.
"Chikara, take off your clothes."
"Yes, my lord."
Chikara obediently removed her garments.
After over a year of recovery, the girl's once stick-thin body had filled out considerably. Not only had her chest grown from tiny screws to thunderous peaks, but even her belly had gained a little softness.
"Quite plump now."
Gurd pinched Chikara's belly, watching as her cheeks gradually flushed red, and fell into thought.
This girl must have been eating well!
Maybe she should lose some weight—
Never mind, a little extra meat wasn't bad.
"Turn around and lift your hair."
"Mhm!"
Chikara turned her back toward Hancock, who was bound to the torture rack, then lifted her long hair to reveal the mark on her back.
"That's—!"
Hancock's pupils trembled violently, her face instantly drained of color. Her entire body shook uncontrollably, a far cry from the aloof Pirate Empress she had been moments ago.
The Celestial Dragon's Hoof!
Gurd waved his hand.
"Alright, put your clothes back on."
"Understood, my lord."
Blushing, Chikara dressed herself.
Having stayed by Gurd's side for over a year, she knew very well that he didn't treat her as a slave, nor did he scorn her past. To him, she was no different from his other subordinates.
This filled her with immense gratitude.
The terror of her days as a slave gradually melted away in this warmth.
Gurd stood up and walked over to Hancock, whose body was still trembling violently. He reached out and gripped her chin.
So beautiful—wait, no!
"Gehehe, who would've thought? The so-called world's most beautiful woman, the Pirate Empress, was actually a slave of the Celestial Dragons. If I sold this information to Morgans, he'd pay a fortune for it."
"Morgans..."
Hancock trembled even harder, despair creeping into her eyes. If her identity as a slave were exposed, the Celestial Dragons would drag her back without hesitation.
She would rather die than return to that hopeless hell.
"What a troublesome situation."
Gurd smiled threateningly: "Boa Hancock, you wouldn't want anyone to know about your past as a slave of the Celestial Dragons, would you?"
"This concubine..."
Hancock shook her head in fear.
Slap!
A sharp slap landed on her face.
Gurd's gaze was icy.
"Speak clearly. If your answer doesn't satisfy me, I won't hesitate to return you and your sisters to the Celestial Dragons."
"NO!!!"
Blood trickled from Hancock's lips, but there was no anger at being struck—only the deepest terror in her heart.
Anything but this.
Tears fell.
The woman sobbed and pleaded, "Please... don't hand this concubine over to the Celestial Dragons. I'll do anything."
"Now that's more like it."
Gurd's expression softened slightly.
A prisoner should know their place. Did she really think he'd go easy on her just because she was beautiful?
Well, he would—but only for his own people.
"Chikara, let her down."
"Yes!"
The chains loosened, and Hancock collapsed weakly to her knees, trembling as she hugged her arms, not even considering resistance.
Gurd picked up a red-hot branding iron.
"Strip her."
"Yes."
Chikara nervously removed Hancock's clothes, revealing the woman's flawless body to Gurd's gaze.
Hiss— Damn, she's stacked.
Gurd took several deep breaths, suppressing the rising heat in his chest.
Focus on the task at hand!
Branding time!
He was going to brand her!
"Hmm, let me think."
Gurd examined the shape of the branding iron and frowned in dissatisfaction. He reshaped it with his hands, molding it into the form of Groudon.
Perfect!
Heh heh heh!
Hancock watched as Gurd approached, her mind flashing back to her days as a slave—especially at the sight of the branding iron.
No, please no!
"Chikara, hold her down."
"Yes."
Chikara pinned Hancock down, unable to bear watching and turning her head away.
"Stay still."
Gurd barked the order, pressed the branding iron against the Celestial Dragon's Hoof mark on Hancock's back, and pressed down without hesitation.
"AAAAAHHH!!!"
Flesh sizzled, smoke rising.
Hancock screamed in agony before quickly passing out from the pain, her body drenched in sweat, her long hair plastered messily against her skin.
Half an hour later.
Hancock awoke, biting her lip to stifle any sound as the searing pain on her back flared.
Gurd sat at a tea table, glancing at her.
"Awake? Take a look for yourself."
Chikara crouched beside Hancock, holding up a mirror.
Hancock stared at her reflection—at the Groudon-shaped brand that now replaced the Celestial Dragon's Hoof. She froze for a long moment.
Since it had been hastily shaped, the brand lacked any imposing presence. Instead, it looked like a child's doodle of a little monster, all jagged and abstract.
...It was kinda cute.
After a long silence, the woman muttered two words:
"So ugly."
The cell fell into an eerie silence.
Gurd's face darkened as he crushed the teacup in his hand with a crack.
Damn woman! That was his carefully crafted Groudon brand!
How was it ugly?!
Tch, terrible taste.
Gurd's voice was cold. "This brand is only to conceal your slave status. It doesn't mean I intend to enslave you—but your position as my prisoner hasn't changed."
After all, she was one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, with unique combat abilities. If possible, he'd prefer to recruit her as an asset.
The most important point was that this woman lacked the same ambition as Luffy and Kid, making her truly possible to subdue.
So he didn't plan to be too harsh.
Hancock bit her lip, hugging her knees as she curled up, appearing like a timid little woman. Weak tears fell once again.
Erasing the mark of the Celestial Dragons was an immense kindness to her. She had once considered removing it herself but could never muster the courage to face it.
She had finally shed her identity as a slave.
Gurd frowned. "Tell me everything you know. How much does the World Government and the Navy know about our operations here?"
"I don't know much..."
Hancock's arrogance was gone.
Before long, Gurd left the cell with Chikara.
Hancock didn't know much—the only useful piece of information was that the Navy had already discovered the fortress under construction.
"Lord Gurd."
Chikara tugged at Gurd's sleeve, her legs trembling with fear, yet her gaze was unwavering.
"I... I also want to erase the mark on my back!"
"You too?"
Gurd raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Do you think it's ugly?"
"N-No! Not ugly!"
Chikara guiltily averted her eyes.
"I think it's... kinda cute!"
"..."
Gurd's face darkened.
Damn brat!
Look me in the eyes!
"Come to my room. This time, I'll make it prettier!"
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