Inside the palace of Wano.
"Lord Takeda! Lord Takeda! The Celestial Dragons' fleet is being surrounded!" A guard rushed into the palace, addressing a man in his thirties seated in the main hall.
"What! The Celestial Dragons' fleet is surrounded?!" The King of Wano, Takeda, turned pale with shock.
If anything went wrong with the Celestial Dragons on his territory, the World Nobles would surely demand accountability.
He would be in serious trouble.
Takeda considered briefly and asked the guard, "How many are surrounding them?"
"Only one person," the guard replied.
"Just one? That's easy. Assemble the army!" Takeda relaxed slightly, relieved that only a single person posed a threat.
Immediately, he ordered troops to gather and march toward the docks.
About half an hour later, two thousand elite soldiers had assembled in the capital.
Looking at the two thousand troops, Takeda felt confident and commanded, "Turn and march to the docks! Rescue the Celestial Dragons!"
With his order, the army surged toward the docks.
"This… these are the three Devil Fruits and the three Kuja Pirates girls," the thin man said nervously, sweating as he approached Hunter.
He feared one wrong move might earn him a deathly slap.
"Little Sky, bring them up." Hunter said to the Sky Dragon.
Little Sky let out a low roar and slowly lowered a massive claw.
The three Hancock sisters huddled together, their black eyes wide with fear as they looked at Hunter and the massive dragon he rode.
The thin man approached, smiling at the sisters. "This master has come to bring you back."
The Hancock sisters tried to shrink away, barely moving.
The thin man's expression turned slightly embarrassed.
Hunter immediately understood that the sisters had suffered aboard the Celestial Dragons' ship. He gently said, "Elder Nyon wants to take you home. Come on."
At his words, a faint light returned to the sisters' previously lifeless eyes.
Hancock hesitated, then led her two younger sisters onto Little Sky's claw. She could see that the monstrous beast belonged to the young boy before her.
"Little Sky, bring them up."
Little Sky roared again, gently placing the three sisters and the box containing the Devil Fruits beside Hunter.
"Come here," Hunter called, and Hancock walked over to sit beside him.
Hunter ran his fingers through her hair softly. "We'll take you home soon."
"Mm…" Feeling his touch, Hancock blushed.
Hunter thought quietly that young Hancock lacked the cold, distant aura she would have as an adult, though her small, delicate form had its own charm.
The thin man exhaled, relieved to see the sisters safely beside Hunter. He rubbed his hands and said, "Master, now that you have the people and the goods, we still need to continue moving cargo. Could your mount move aside a bit?"
Little Sky's shadow loomed over the Celestial Dragons' ship, preventing any workers from moving. Hunter's calm presence made him uneasy.
Hunter narrowed his eyes. "Not urgent. We still have matters to discuss."
"Matters to discuss?" The thin man's face grew pale, a bad feeling rising in his heart.
"Whatever it is, we'll cooperate fully."
"Somewhat wise," Hunter muttered. Originally, he had expected the Celestial Dragons to refuse and get angry—then he could seize their treasures directly.
Clearing his throat softly, Hunter continued, "The people who captured me and forced me to travel here have caused me great inconvenience. For the stress, the fuel, and my precious time, compensation totals one billion Berries. Hand it over now."
"If not, everyone here will join that man in death," Hunter added fiercely.
"One billion?!" The thin man gasped. Though the tribute's value totaled a billion Berries, handing it over would certainly anger the World Nobles.
"Master, that sum is… too much," he said, bitterly.
"Little Sky."
"Roar!" Little Sky bellowed, producing a deafening roar.
A sphere of orange lightning coalesced at the dragon's mouth.
The thin man's expression froze. "This is the Celestial Dragons' fleet… don't go too far…"
"Too far? What do you mean? Prepare one billion Berries. If not, all of you will be buried!" Hunter's expression was icy.
Flying all the way from Amazon Lily, risking everything, and they think three Devil Fruits are enough to dismiss him? Not Hunter's style. And the Celestial Dragons? Their name held no weight over him.
"Pirates! How dare you disrespect the Celestial Dragons! Kill him!"
Just as the tension peaked, Takeda and his army suddenly appeared.
Hunter smiled.
The thin man, however, did not look pleased—he looked like he wanted to kill him.