"Chase them! Those two hostages are escaping toward Wano!"
Kaido froze for a moment, then immediately roared at everyone.
"What about Hanafuda?" Blackbeard Teach, standing beside him, said calmly. "Although that last strike was terrifying, Hanafuda still has a chance of surviving… After all, he's an Ancient Zoan user. Whether it's physical defense or vitality, both far surpass people of the same level."
"Hanafuda?" Kaido only glanced at Hanafuda's completely obliterated pirate ship, the corner of his mouth lifting into a cold smile.
"What's the point of saving him? Do you really think any of you will share Wano's resources with someone who can't even keep an eye on hostages?"
With just one sentence, Kaido made Blackbeard close his mouth.
One less unimportant ally meant more benefits for himself. A huge win.
The only strange thing was… how could a Revolutionary Army officer be that strong?
Perhaps unless Kaido or Red the Aloof took action, no one else could capture the person who threw out that strike just now.
"That strike earlier—didn't it feel familiar to you, Kaido?"
"Of course it did… The last time I saw such exaggerated physical arts was decades ago, in God Valley…" Kaido frowned. "I didn't expect Garp to have such an incredibly strong successor… But why would it be the Revolutionary Army?"
"Unless… that Revolutionary Army officer is just a fake identity!" Blackbeard Teach said in a low voice.
"Female, possessing Conqueror's Haki, Garp's prized disciple… Why does that sound exactly like that Marine near the Calm Belt—'Empress' Hancock?"
"That Marine called Hancock, known as the world's most beautiful woman…"
"After disguising her identity, disguising her appearance is nothing difficult." Blackbeard took a deep breath and looked at Kaido. "Seems the Marines already learned beforehand that we planned to attack Wano…"
"What do you think we should do?"
"There are only two options now…" Blackbeard raised two fingers. "Retreat immediately… or move even faster, seize Wano before the Marine forces arrive."
"I won't retreat."
"Then we seize Wano at the fastest speed! As long as we hold Wano's civilians in our hands, the Marines will hesitate and won't dare act rashly." Blackbeard's eyes were full of calculation. "The Marines now are no longer the weapon of the former World Government. This weapon has its own will, claims to be justice… That will become their restraint."
"So… we can only let those two go?"
"Even though they're fleeing toward Wano, we can completely accelerate while pretending to pursue… But even if we fail, it doesn't matter. Holding them was just icing on the cake."
"Blackbeard… you really think exactly like me." Kaido laughed, then reached out and patted Blackbeard's shoulder.
"Since that's the case, I'll hand temporary command to you… I'll personally go catch those two hostages!"
With that, he leapt high into the air, and in an instant, transformed into a massive Azure Dragon.
Fish-Fish Fruit · Mythical Zoan · Azure Dragon Form.
"You… won't disappoint me, will you, Teach?"
"Of course not. Until Michael disappears… we are absolutely unbreakable allies."
...
"Michael, a fierce battle just occurred at Wano's perimeter… That powerful strike briefly pierced the sea." Nico Robin crossed her hands before her chest, eyes closed, continually describing.
"Confirmed! It was Hancock! She's already fleeing toward Wano with Weevil!"
"And chasing them—besides Kaido's fleet… is also an Azure Dragon!"
"It's Kaido! Kaido is pursuing personally!"
Michael's eyes lit up.
Has Kaido become so impatient?
Or after losing the Revolutionary Army and the Whitebeard Kingdom hostages, did he decide to seize naturally fortified Wano as fast as possible?
Either way, the enemy has launched a full assault.
Then…
"Relay to everyone: begin intercepting Kaido's fleet!"
"As for Kaido himself, leave him to me."
As soon as Michael finished speaking, Robin transmitted the orders to all members of the SWORD Secret Special Force.
And Rosinante, who was standing beside Michael, tugged on the justice cloak behind him, then headed toward Kaido's distant fleet.
...
"Hohohoho! With just you lot, you dare try to stop me?"
Even while carrying the giant-like Weevil, Hancock still relied on Geppo to twist and turn through the air with extreme agility.
Most of the cannon fire and Devil Fruit long-range attacks were dodged by her.
The ones she truly couldn't dodge—she simply wrapped Armament Haki around her leg and kicked them apart.
"Cough cough cough! Slow down! I'm seasick…" Weevil said weakly. "I think I'm gonna… urgh!"
Hancock complained while shifting Weevil farther away.
"Those Seastone chains on you were shattered into ocean debris by my strike!"
"Urgh… that's true." After vomiting, Weevil looked pale. "But I almost died from that strike too!"
"But you didn't, did you… At least you still have enough strength to throw up." Hancock smiled. "As long as you're alive, that's enough. With a body like yours, recovery is just a matter of time."
Hancock had intended this from the beginning—one blow, two results: remove the guards and free Weevil.
So when she touched Weevil earlier…
Besides mocking him, she was also checking his physical strength.
Although that kick was terrifying, Hancock had controlled the range.
The outer shockwave shattered the Seastone chains on Weevil, but wouldn't kill him.
Finishing two tasks at the fastest possible speed.
"You really are a clever woman… Looks like you really are that one they call 'Empress' Boa Hancock."
A thunder-like voice sounded behind her. Turning back, she saw Kaido's enormous Azure Dragon head.
"Hey hey hey, I was just rescuing a hostage—why did the final boss show up?"
"Hand Weevil over to me now, and I can spare your life."
"Sorry, I can't do that."
Hancock flashed a radiant smile.
"So, can you endure a moment without any hostages?"
"After all… I'm simply far too beautiful."
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Fanfic is finished. 583 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg