The clash of the two Conqueror's Haki was not just a battle of wills—it manifested as physical force.
At the point of contact between Rengoku's right hand and Hancock's chest, a blast of dark crimson energy erupted, shaking the very room.
Hancock's bedroom was devastated in an instant.
"Nyooong!"
"Granny Nyon!"
Granny Nyon and Sonia were both blown away by the shockwave, flung across the room.
A second—no, a tenth of a second.
The clash of Conqueror's Haki ended in that brief instant.
Rengoku stared silently at Hancock's agonized face.
Through the clash, he had successfully drawn out Hancock's dormant Conqueror's Haki.
While Haki itself isn't affected by the physical condition of the body, Hancock's trauma was imprinted in her body—making it possible.
As sweat rolled down her face and her eyes fluttered open, Rengoku was genuinely relieved.
"You've come to... Boa Hancock. Are you in pain anywhere?"
"Who... who are you?"
"I am Vice Admiral Rengoku of Navy HQ. How's your body feeling?"
Still dazed, Hancock answered without thinking.
"I... I am fine. But what is going on right now?"
Although still lying down, she was aware enough to grasp the situation.
"Why is your hand on my chest?"
Her voice was weak—perhaps still affected by the recent fever.
"Ah, my apologies. It was a part of the treatment. I meant no offense."
Rengoku quickly withdrew his hand and explained calmly.
"Your sister and Gloriosa can explain the rest."
With that, he turned around and left the room.
Though Hancock still harbored some suspicion, she made no attempt to stop him.
"Snake Princess!"
"Sister!"
Granny Nyon and Sonia, who had been thrown back, rushed to her side and embraced her.
"Sis, I thought we lost you... sniff..."
Seeing her usually composed little sister in tears, Hancock gently stroked her head.
"I'm fine. There's no need to worry. But... could you explain everything that happened, Sonia?"
Touched by her sister's warmth, Sonia nodded and recounted everything—from the moment Hancock collapsed at the sight of the super-marine class battleship, to Rengoku's desperate effort to revive her, and the truth behind her past revealed by Granny Nyon.
Including the decisive moment when Rengoku poured his Haki into Hancock, igniting a clash between their Conqueror's Haki.
"This... This is all true, Granny Nyon?"
Hancock's voice trembled in disbelief.
"That's right, child! Sonia and I witnessed everything with our own eyes."
"It's true, sister. I was surprised to learn that he also has the Conqueror's Haki like you... but thanks to him, you were able to wake up."
"Are you saying... I was saved by a Marine?"
"Snake Princess! This isn't the time to argue about factions. Regardless of your affiliations, he saved your life. Whether you like it or not, that's the truth."
"Silence! I have no desire to speak to you right now, Gloriosa. I wish to be alone. Sonia, escort the former Amazon Lily empress Gloriosa out at once."
"Sister..."
"Now."
"Understood..."
…
Outside the bedroom, Rengoku found himself face-to-face with Granny Nyon and Sonia.
"Hm? Shouldn't you still be by Hancock's side to ensure her rest and recovery? Why are you out already?"
"…That's how it ended up. But wait—what's going on with you?!"
Sonia stared at Rengoku, stunned by his condition.
Injecting Haki had taken a serious toll on him. The evidence was clear: his uniform was drenched in sweat as if he'd fallen into the ocean, and a faint trickle of blood dripped from his nose.
"Inserting Conqueror's Haki with such precision requires immense control. I merely overexerted myself. I'll be fine. Please, go check on Boa Hancock."
"She's important, yes, but so are you! No—this is bad. We need to get you to a rest room immediately… no, just come to my quarters!"
Seeing how serious it was, Sonia didn't hesitate to guide him straight to her room. And Rengoku, knowing he couldn't afford to be stubborn in his current state, followed her without complaint.
"Wait—before that, can you tell me what time it is?"
"…Time?"
"Yes. It's already night, but my subordinates are still aboard the ship. I should at least inform them we'll be staying here tonight."
"No problem. I'll contact them via Den Den Mushi."
"Much appreciated."
Sonia sent a message to the ship, instructing all officers and crew to remain on standby and take the night off. Meanwhile, Rengoku was finally able to rest in her quarters.
At her suggestion, he removed his soaked uniform and handed it off for cleaning. He changed into a simple undershirt and shorts.
Sonia left to check on Hancock, and Rengoku remained alone in the room. He looked down at his right hand.
Conqueror's Haki…
He had awakened it some time ago, but he had never refined it to such a precise level of control. Compared to this, mastering Flame Breathing through the "Flame Pillar's Manual" had almost felt easy.
This had required complete focus—pushing his mental strength to the limit. And with Hancock in critical condition, it would be a lie to say he hadn't felt some panic.
Still, he had grown stronger from it.
That was enough.
Steeling his resolve, Rengoku finally laid down to rest his exhausted body.
…
The next morning, the sun rose.
The first to reach out were the soldiers aboard the warship.
"Vice Admiral! Awaiting your orders!"
They were concerned for their commanding officer who had spent the night on Amazon Lily—but they also remembered the mission at hand. If things went sideways, they were ready to request a formal recall order from HQ.
"There's no issue—for now. Hold your positions a little longer."
Yesterday, due to Hancock's sudden fever, there had been no proper discussion. Depending on her condition today, Rengoku planned to resume negotiations.
"Hey, you feeling alright?"
Sonia had returned.
"Resting properly did the trick. I'm much better, thanks to you."
After a full night's rest, nearly 80% of his fatigue had vanished. The aftereffects of overusing his Haki lingered slightly, but it was nothing he couldn't handle.
"More importantly, how's Boa Hancock? She may have woken up yesterday, but after such a severe fever, I imagine she still needs rest."
"No need to worry. She hasn't regained full strength, but she's stable now."
"That's a relief."
Sonia sat across from him and stared for a moment before speaking.
"That aside… mind if we talk? I want to ask something."
"Of course."
Rengoku nodded.
"Why did a Marine officer go so far to save my sister? Granny Nyon said you're known within the Navy as one of the most outspoken critics of the Warlord system."
"Hmph. Naturally. In the name of justice, the existence of legalized pirates is intolerable."
His response was as textbook as it got.
"But…"
"…But?"
"Saving someone in pain is the natural duty of a Marine. And for someone with the power to help—it becomes an undeniable responsibility."
"There are a hundred Marines, and a hundred kinds of justice. I might be someone who arrests criminals, but I will never accept watching someone die right in front of me."
To Rengoku, pirates were not demons.
Demons were lawless beings, ones that had abandoned their humanity. Execution on sight was the only fitting justice for them.
But pirates were still human—living beings who could and should be subjected to law. As long as they weren't unsalvageable monsters like Morganeers, Rengoku believed capture and judgment were the proper path.
"Heh~ so that's why you saved my sister, huh?"
Sonia muttered the words, half to him, half to herself.
"…If there had been a Marine like you 17 years ago… would we still have been dragged away by the Celestial Dragons?"
"The World Government may be necessary to uphold order. But the Celestial Dragons? They're obsolete. Leeching off the glory of their ancestors—one day, they'll be kicked out of Mariejois."
"Oi, can a Marine really say stuff like that out loud? You realize if word gets out, you could be disqualified from becoming an Admiral, right?"
"An Admiral exists to uphold justice—not to be the lapdog of the Celestial Dragons. If anything, hearing what Boa Hancock went through only reinforced my conviction."
Rengoku had never met a Celestial Dragon in person.
He'd only heard the rumors—never had much business on the Sabaody Archipelago, and his Vice Admiral duties rarely brought him into their orbit. Not that he ever wanted to meet them.
"And if speaking against them costs me the Admiral promotion, then so be it. I'll leave the Marines with no regrets. I'll never use power entrusted to me by the people of this world for the sake of a handful of tyrants."
Rengoku, already referred to by many as an Admiral in all but name, didn't hesitate to voice his beliefs.
"…Ha… ha ha… You really are something, aren't you…"
"Thank you for the compliment."
"Hmph… alright then. I'll head downstairs for now. I'm making breakfast, so let's eat together."
"Gladly!"
With a soft smile, Sonia rose and left the room.
Clack.
As the door shut behind her, she turned to the woman standing just outside.
"…You heard everything, didn't you?"
The woman waiting silently in the corridor met her gaze.
"…Sister."
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