"Heeey, seriously? I expected something amazing from a place called 'Amazon Lily,' but it's literally just... a 'women's island'?"
"I thought there'd be stunning beauties everywhere, but it doesn't seem like that's the case."
"If you want to see beautiful women, it's gotta be the mermaid cafe on Fish-Man Island... Not that I've been there."
On the deck of the Navy warship entering the inner sea of Amazon Lily under Rengoku's orders, the sailors chatted idly as they looked at the border guards.
"Lieutenant Vivi's way prettier, honestly."
"Hey, no more idle chatter. This is Amazon Lily—a pirate nation. Even if they're under the Warlords' system, don't let your guard down!"
"S-sorry!"
...
"Hey! What are you doing!? How dare you dock a Marine vessel in the Snake Princess's domain!"
The border guards moved to block them, but their voices didn't reach Rengoku.
"Since negotiations with Boa Hancock have already been established, I take full responsibility for any consequences. You have nothing to worry about."
"T-thanks, but—no! The negotiation was between you and the Snake Princess, not the Marines! We want the ship out of here!"
"Once a ship is docked, it's not easy to just turn it around. Plus, the Calm Belt is teeming with Sea Kings. If we anchor out there, the lives of my men will be in danger!"
Despite the border guards' objections, Rengoku made his way directly toward the main village of Amazon Lily.
Using Observation Haki, he moved briskly in the direction of the largest group of people—and before long, he arrived in the village.
"A man?"
"Why is a Marine here...?"
"What's the border guard doing?"
"Don't tell me they were taken out?"
Rengoku's arrival caused a stir in the Amazon Lily village.
Soon after, several armed women appeared and blocked his path.
"This is Amazon Lily, the domain of the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock! What business does the Navy have here?"
"Yeah! What did you do to the border guard, huh?"
"It'll be a problem if you go any further than this..."
A blonde girl, a chubby woman, and a towering one—all three eyed Rengoku with more suspicion than hostility.
"I am Rengoku, Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters—the Flame Pillar! My presence here has already been approved through successful negotiation with Boa Hancock. It would be troublesome if you continue to block my way."
Rengoku introduced himself to the three women.
"'Flame Pillar'?"
"What's that supposed to mean, huh?"
"Kinda sounds familiar... or maybe not..."
None of the three showed any sign of recognition.
They clearly had no idea what the title "Vice Admiral Rengoku, the Flame Pillar" implied.
All except one.
"Nyonyon?"
A short, elderly woman came hobbling up with a serpent-headed cane, waddling quickly toward them.
"Who said they were Vice Admiral Rengoku, the Flame Pillar, of Marine Headquarters~nyon?"
"Nyon Granny?"
"Huh? What kind of fancy title is that~dongle?"
"If even Nyon Granny's surprised, he must be pretty famous..."
Spotting the squat old woman, Rengoku stepped forward and addressed her.
"Hmm! So your intel isn't entirely cut off from the outside world after all!"
"You say you're that Vice Admiral Rengoku, the Flame Pillar~nyon?"
At Nyon Granny's question, Rengoku nodded firmly.
"Indeed, I am Rengoku. I've come under orders from the Navy and World Government to meet directly with the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock!"
"Nyon nyon... If it's official business involving the Navy and World Government, it must be serious. I'll take you to the Snake Princess's palace myself~nyon."
"That's most appreciated!"
Following Nyon Granny's lead, Rengoku headed deeper into the heart of Amazon Lily.
...
"Hold on! Nyon Granny! Are you sure it's okay to take him with you like that?"
"Yeah~dongle! We don't know what that guy might try to pull!"
"But... if it's Nyon Granny, isn't it fine?"
At the objections from the three women, Nyon Granny raised her voice for the first time in a while.
"Read the newspaper once in a whilenyon!"
"An Admiral?"
Even if they were behind on current events, the women still knew the sheer power and authority that came with the title of Admiral.
"Marguerite, Sweet Pea, still... if he says negotiations with the Snake Princess have already been established and Nyon Granny is escorting him personally, maybe we should just let it go?"
"Aphelandra...!"
"Tch, guess we have no choice~dongle."
Thanks to Nyon Granny, Rengoku was able to enter the inner palace of Amazon Lily.
Along the way, some palace guards tried to block them, but they backed off after learning of the negotiations with Boa Hancock—and after a stern word from Nyon Granny.
...
"Hmm! Even the palace guards couldn't stop you. And from how well you seem to know the layout of the palace... Are you, by any chance, Gloriosa, the Empress from three generations ago?"
"How do you know that name?"
Nyon Granny was startled to hear her real name spoken aloud.
"I heard the two Empresses before Boa Hancock died of illness. Since the current ruler is Boa Hancock, the only remaining candidate is the Empress three generations prior—Gloriosa. A simple deduction."
"Nyon... not many would know that much. You're surprisingly observant~nyon."
With Nyon Granny's quiet admiration, Rengoku arrived at the palace's guest chamber.
"This is Amazon Lily's reception room for honored guests~nyon. You said the negotiations were successful?"
"Yes! I confirmed the return of the Kuja Pirates through the border guard's Den Den Mushi at the southeastern promontory."
"Well, that's a relief~nyon."
...
Meanwhile, aboard the Kuja Pirates' ship, the Perfume Yuda, inside the captain's quarters…
"Sis, why are you so mad?"
Boa Sandersonia, a tall, curvy woman with long wavy green hair and a slender waist, flicked her tongue as she looked at her older sister—the captain of the Kuja Pirates and Empress of Amazon Lily, Boa Hancock.
"Yeah, sis, who cares about some dumb Warlord summons? Just don't go."
The reply came from the youngest of the three sisters, the voluptuous Boa Marigold.
"Ugh, so annoying, SO annoying! That Marine! He kept saying my name even after I told him not to!"
Hancock was furiously gnawing at her fingernail, her irritation plain for all to see.
"Well, you did agree to a negotiation in the end, so I'm sure he's waiting quietly near the island. Even if it's our waters, the Calm Belt is teeming with Sea Kings."
"Right, sis! By now, he's probably exhausted just fending off Sea Kings. And if worst comes to worst, we can always turn him to stone and make it look like he died in a tragic sea accident."
Her sisters tried every trick in the book to calm their infamously volatile sister.
She was their big sister, sure—but when it came to personality, even they had to admit she was the worst.
"Let's see, you damn Marine… Let's just see which 'great' Marine they were arrogant enough to send to me!"
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