"The meat of giant Sea Kings indeed contains higher energy."
Reddy recalled the delicacies he had eaten during the banquet earlier and no longer wished to waste time on Amazon Lily.
"I will head to Fish-Man Island first. You can continue your discussions."
Reddy's words moved Jinbe deeply, who also wanted to leave Amazon Lily as soon as possible to avoid further trouble from Hancock.
Even now, he still couldn't understand why the Pirate Empress had developed a murderous intent toward him.
Was it because Amazon Lily was a forbidden land for men?
However, what he cared about more was Reddy's upcoming trip to Fish-Man Island.
Once both parties reached an agreement, the Fish-Man Tribe and the Mermaid Tribe would realize their long-cherished dream... to live under the sunlight.
As for the future of Fish-Man Island, Jinbe already had some ideas.
After all, Amazon Lily served as a precedent.
Fish-Man Island had many specialties, such as handicrafts, which were highly popular in human society.
"Reddy-sama!"
Marigold couldn't help but call out to Reddy, who was about to step onto the flying carpet. "Will you really purchase Sea Kings at a high price?"
Reddy nodded.
This was the future he had specifically prepared for Amazon Lily.
Amazon Lily revered martial prowess, and the vast majority of its residents had mastered Haki.
This was a force that could not be ignored.
Of course, he didn't need these combatants, but he did need them to provide Sea Kings for him.
Similarly, he also hoped Fish-Man Island could become one of his suppliers.
Hancock frowned slightly but said nothing.
Marigold excitedly asked again, "Will you reserve a dedicated shop for us in New Loguetown to sell our island's specialties?"
"Huh?"
Reddy was confused.
He only remembered briefly describing his future plans for New Loguetown to Hancock.
When had he ever promised to reserve a dedicated shop for Amazon Lily?
Hancock's expression changed, and she abruptly glared at her younger sister.
However, Marigold was already too excited to notice, eagerly pressing further. "And you'll allow us to invest in your entertainment city?"
Reddy was completely baffled.
The entertainment city was an important tool for him to profit from nobles worldwide. How could he possibly share it with outsiders?
Where did this rumor come from?
Hancock's face had now turned extremely grim.
But Marigold failed to notice her elder sister's worsening expression, only seeing Reddy's "silent agreement" to the investment proposal. She couldn't hold back and continued questioning. "And you'll perform the Perennial Youth Surgery for Big Sister, right?"
"What?"
Reddy was stunned.
For him, immortality wasn't particularly difficult.
Even without the Ope Ope no Mi, he possessed even more advanced genetic technology.
Simply put, so-called immortality meant increasing the limit of cell division.
Under ideal conditions, the division limit of ordinary cells is about fifty times, determined by telomeres.
Each time a cell divides, the telomeres on the chromosomes wear down and shorten. When division reaches a certain number of times, the telomeres become too short to protect the ends of the chromosomes, and the cell stops dividing.
Theoretically, as long as cells can divide indefinitely, conventional immortality can be achieved.
However, the human body contains many types of cells, each with different division limits. Achieving unlimited division without side effects is not easy.
Moreover, environmental factors, diet, and other influences also significantly affect lifespan.
Reddy currently had little interest in immortality and thus hadn't delved deeply into research.
Now, Marigold was inexplicably claiming that he had promised to perform the Perennial Youth Surgery for Hancock... Reddy couldn't comprehend it at all.
I never said that.
Hancock's heart was in turmoil, though she maintained a cold facade.
During their journey, she had learned of Reddy's ideals. Driven by a subconscious urge she hadn't even realized, she silently decided to merge Amazon Lily under Reddy's banner.
However, out of shame, she forgot that she was the autocratic Pirate Empress. Pressured by Elder Nyon, she subconsciously fabricated a convincing lie based on Reddy's future plans for New Loguetown.
She even claimed that Reddy would obtain immortality to strengthen her argument.
Yet Hancock hadn't expected Elder Nyon, who had once been part of the Rocks Pirates, to know many secrets—including immortality—and thus demanded a promise from Reddy.
This was why Elder Nyon had been tied up like a dumpling and barred from attending the banquet.
Hancock had thought she could deceive everyone. As long as no one dared to bring it up, no one would know she had lied to them all.
But she never imagined her younger sister Marigold would publicly seek confirmation from Reddy.
At this moment, Hancock wished she could die.
Jinbe listened in astonishment.
When Reddy met with Hancock, he had been present the entire time and had never heard Reddy make any such promises.
Just as he was about to speak up and clarify that these were mere rumors, Reddy stopped him.
"Everyone has the right to choose their own future."
Reddy glanced at Hancock, who was feigning composure, and soon smiled. "I also have the right to choose. I can only promise that if you agree, I will provide you with a suitable path forward. As long as you are willing to work hard, Amazon Lily will never fall into poverty."
These words were directed at Sandersonia and the others, as well as at Hancock.
One crucial aspect of his envisioned utopia was valuing people's efforts.
As long as they worked hard, the future would be bright.
Those who only wanted to laze around would have to find somewhere else to stay.
If Amazon Lily was willing to strive for its own development, that was fine.
He would provide the means.
But if they wanted to take advantage of him... Reddy could understand, as humans were inherently selfish and always sought more.
However, he simply didn't care.
As for whether Amazon Lily would refuse because of this, Reddy was completely indifferent. This trip was merely a gesture of goodwill since Hancock had come to him for help.
His approach to Fish-Man Island was the same.
Marigold, failing to get the answer she wanted, was greatly disappointed and tried to push further, but her elder sister Sandersonia covered her mouth.
"As long as Amazon Lily's future is secure, we have no objections."
Sandersonia knew her younger sister was trying to win benefits for Big Sister, but she also understood this was merely Hancock's wishful thinking.
Given that this Dr. Reddy remained completely unaffected by Big Sister's beauty, she knew that while reserving a dedicated shop in New Loguetown for Amazon Lily was possible, investing in the entertainment city or immortality was pure fantasy.
Right now, the most important thing was to preserve Big Sister's dignity.
Reddy smiled and looked at Hancock, silently asking for her decision.
Hancock maintained her aloof demeanor and nodded faintly. "Since you promise Amazon Lily a bright future, I will trust you this once."
Reddy snapped his fingers with a smile.
Pyo, expressionless, crouched down and pressed his hands against the ground.
Amazon Lily immediately began to tremble violently.
Sandersonia and the other Kuja Pirates officers turned pale, clutching the nearest fixed objects to avoid falling.
Soon, the sea surged with waves.
The island slowly rose from the water, massive amounts of seawater cascading down.
Once it reached a certain height, the island stabilized.
Sandersonia and the others stared in amazement at the receding sea below, each of them filled with disbelief.
When the Calm Belt could no longer protect Amazon Lily, the island's ascent into the sky provided an even more formidable natural barrier.
"You want to invest in my entertainment city?"
Reddy turned to Hancock, who remained silent. "That... isn't impossible..."