"Maybe it's a case of 'difficult for those who can't, easy for those who can.' Mansherry's abilities happened to be the perfect solution for your problem. Let's set sail, then."
"Mm. Sandersonia and Marigold will be so happy."
"Badak, what are Mansherry and I supposed to do?"
"Hmm... Leo, you're the ship's fighter, Mansherry is the doctor, and I'm the captain. Hey, Hancock, want to join us officially? I'll make you the first mate."
"..."
After hesitating for a moment, Hancock still refused. "Badak, Senior Shaki told me that Amazon Lily hasn't had an empress for many years. Over these years, I've been the most qualified candidate. She hopes I can protect the Kingdom of Women in the future. But my current strength is still too weak. I've decided—for the next few years, I'll push myself to the limit to improve. Senior Shaki promised to help me find a teacher. Why don't you train with me?"Isn't this just going back to learning from Rayleigh again? Badak shook his head once more. Learning from Rayleigh was a good thing, but the concept of "mentorship" carried too much weight in this world, and Badak didn't want to be completely tied to figures like Roger and Rayleigh.
"Then you'll just have to be the temporary sniper and lookout on the ship. Let's set off!"
To be honest, Badak's initial interest in Hancock had been purely for her beauty and future strength, thinking that recruiting a future Pirate Empress would be a huge win.
Right, what I've always wanted was the Pirate Empress—but she isn't one yet. Since she refused this time, I'll just consider it as Rayleigh and the Kuja helping me train talent.
Badak raised the sails of the Handsome Monkey King and flew toward the direction indicated by the Vivre Card.
...
"Badak, there's a pirate ship ahead."
Hancock gazed into the distance, fulfilling her duty as the lookout.
What was Badak doing at this moment?
He was sparring with Leo.
Right now, aboard the Handsome Monkey King, Badak had expended some extra energy to form an additional arena using the Somersault Cloud. A golden-haired monkey, roughly the same size as Leo, was teasing him.
Badak's Size Alteration ability increased his strength but reduced his agility when enlarged, and the opposite when shrunk—greater agility but weaker strength.
The dwarves were small in stature, but their strength and speed were extraordinary. Despite his young age, Leo was highly talented—his strength even surpassed Badak's when shrunk, and his speed was only slightly inferior.
In other words, Leo was currently weaker but faster than Badak's normal form, but stronger and slower than Badak's shrunken form.
Badak had nearly been caught off guard at first. Fortunately, he quickly adjusted by playing to his strengths and exploiting Leo's weaknesses. Already faster than Leo, he then used Shave, making it impossible for Leo to catch up. Instead, Badak flicked Leo's forehead a few times, leaving it red.
"So, Leo, how about it? This move's pretty cool, right? I can teach you. Let's call it here for now."
With that, Badak returned to his original size and looked into the distance.
"Damn it! Once I learn that, I'll flick your forehead too!"
"Leo, are you okay? Let me heal you."
"Hmph, it doesn't hurt at all."
Leo stubbornly protested but obediently accepted the treatment, recovering instantly.
"Judging by their direction, they're heading for Dressrosa. The pirate flag isn't from any well-known crew. Do you sense any strong presences on board, Hancock?"
"Just a bunch of weaklings."
"In that case, Hancock, show off your Devil Fruit powers. Let's not waste these free test subjects."
Hancock hesitated but eventually convinced herself. Since she was determined to grow stronger at all costs, she couldn't neglect the power of her Devil Fruit.
"Slave Arrow."
Hancock lightly touched her lips, forming a giant pink heart. She pulled back on it as if drawing a bowstring.
With a flick of her fingers, countless pink arrows rained down on the pirate ship. Everything they struck—whether people, sails, or the hull—turned to stone.
Even Hancock herself was stunned by the result, let alone the other three.
"That's incredible, Hancock! With this ability, you won't need to carry a bow anymore."
"W-what? Everything turned to stone?""Sister Hancock, is this your Devil Fruit ability? It's amazing!"
"Is there anyone on the ship who hasn't been hit by arrows?"
"No, earlier when they saw our ship flying in the air, they all rushed to the deck."
"Alright then, let's do a quick test. Board the ship."
Though he said "board," Badak simply landed their small boat directly onto the enemy's deck.
After some exploration, Badak concluded that these people had all turned to stone. Paramecia-type abilities were truly outrageous—completely unreasonable.
"Leo, stitch these two to the deck."
"Understood, Captain."
Leo sewed the two pirate statues to the deck as if they were mere rags. Even if they reverted, they wouldn't be able to move easily.
Yet another absurd Paramecia ability—stone and deck offered no resistance, letting Leo sew them effortlessly.
"Mansherry, try restoring this one. Remember, if it's too draining, stop immediately. Hancock, you try releasing the other pirate's petrification."
"Captain, I can restore him, but it consumes too much stamina. I can't do it right now."
"That's fine, Mansherry. You're still young. Remember, don't force your abilities, okay?"
"Mm! Captain!"
Hancock, on the other hand, easily released her ability on the other pirate. The pirate, still disoriented, started shouting, "You bastards, looking to die? Let me go right now!"
After yelling, he leered at Hancock, about to say something else.
"Mero Mero Mellow."
A heart-shaped beam shot out, and the unlucky pirate turned to stone again.
Badak himself had many more experiments in mind, but with two innocent kids now on board, those tests were too cruel. He decided to drop the idea.
After searching the ship, Badak only found some Belly—these guys didn't even have an Eternal Pose.
"Let's go, let's go." Badak returned to their ship and called everyone aboard.
As Badak and the others sailed away, where would this ship of stone pirates drift? What would people think when they found it? All of that remained unknown.
...
After several more days of intermittent flying, Badak was mentally exhausted.
The return trip was just as bad as the journey out—terrible weather all the way. They should have reached Sabaody Archipelago long ago.
"Badak, I really think you should learn navigation properly. Or at least hire a skilled navigator. I'm worried your ship might capsize in some corner of the sea one day."
"Quit nagging. Isn't that the Red Line right there?"
"Yeah, the Red Line..."
Hancock gazed at the Red Line. This time, her body didn't tremble.