Thanks to all the "preparation work" done by the Pirate Empress Hancock, everyone on Amazon Lily greeted El's arrival with great joy—at least outwardly.
Truth be told, this was the first time El had ever received such a grand welcome anywhere.
He glanced casually at Hancock walking beside him. It was clear this entire spectacle was her doing.
Nodding and waving to the crowd all the way, it took him quite a while to finally reach the palace that had once belonged exclusively to the Pirate Empress.
The journey was slow simply because there were so many enthusiastic people along the way.
This is a happy kind of trouble, El found himself thinking—a feeling he had never experienced before. It was a strange but refreshing sensation.
Just for this experience alone, the trip to Amazon Lily had been worth it.
Besides, the island did not just talk about loyalty; they acted on it.
With Hancock's full effort and persuasion, the people's resistance toward El had almost entirely faded.
To receive such treatment as a man on this island was extremely rare.
Even Silvers Rayleigh, the former right-hand man of the Pirate King, had to behave with great caution and restraint whenever he visited.
While that was partly due to Rayleigh's own personality, it also showed just how harsh and unwelcoming Amazon Lily usually was toward men.
But clearly, all those rules and prejudices no longer applied to El.
"Is the assembly hall ready?"
El sat naturally and confidently upon the throne that, until now, only the Pirate Empress had been allowed to occupy.
"Lord El, everything has been prepared to perfection."
A high-ranking official—also a woman, of course—stepped forward to report.
Hancock nodded toward El with a hint of regret in her expression.
Organizing the venue and preparations for El's speech was a task she would have loved to oversee personally.
However, she also could not bear to miss the chance to go out and welcome him in person.
She had been torn between the two duties for a long time. Eventually, unable to suppress her excitement any longer, she chose to lead the Kuja Pirates to meet him.
The arrangements for the welcoming ceremonies back on the island, as well as the preparation of the great hall, were left to the other ministers. In truth, this was how things usually worked anyway.
While Boa Hancock was the ruler, her main role had always been leading raids and battles—her strength was where her value lay.
Most domestic affairs and governance were handled by her ministers.
There were essentially two factions on the island:
- The battle-hardened officers and warriors who sailed and fought alongside Hancock.
- The civil ministers who managed the island's internal affairs and daily life.
It was this second group who were currently responsible for organizing the welcome ceremonies.
Since this was their first time handling such an unprecedented event, it explained why El occasionally felt a little awkward or overwhelmed.
If it had been handled by people more experienced—or simply better at flattering and pleasing—things might have been arranged even more perfectly.
But in the end, what mattered was the sincerity behind it. El didn't care much about trivial details.
His main goal now was to convince every last person on the island, ensuring that not a trace of resistance remained against him or his crew.
He had come here personally; it would be a poor showing indeed if he left without achieving solid results.
"Are there still people on the island who do not welcome me?"
Hearing this report didn't surprise El at all.
After all, this was Amazon Lily—a nation built on a history of hostility toward men, a hatred almost etched into their very souls.
El had done his homework before coming here.
"Just because I am a man?"
He frowned slightly.
He could understand the reason, but he hadn't traveled all this way just to be charitable or generous.
"Well… that is…"
The minister stammered, unsure how to answer. It was exactly as he said—but who dared speak so bluntly to El's face?
Besides, didn't she see the dark, ominous expression on the Pirate Empress standing nearby?
In truth, Hancock herself knew perfectly well the mood of her people.
But before this, she had believed that with her authority and prestige, she could suppress any lingering hostility toward men.
If even I—the one who hated men the most—am now devoted to Lord El, she had thought, what reason could anyone else possibly have to show dissatisfaction?
That was what she had believed.
But now she realized her efforts hadn't worked as well as she hoped. Lord El had noticed the resistance anyway.
Will he think I am incompetent? she worried. That I cannot control my own people properly? That I have failed him?
Hancock's mind was in turmoil.
At the same time, she felt deep anger toward those who opposed them.
For a long time, everything Hancock did was for the good of Amazon Lily, simply because she had nothing else worth dedicating herself to.
But things were different now.
From this moment on, anyone who embarrassed her or cast a shadow over Lord El was her enemy. Even if they had been loyal subordinates in the past, it made no difference.
That was simply the kind of person Hancock was.
The officers of the Kuja Pirates understood their captain's nature far better than the civil ministers did.
"Who dares?!"
Hancock's voice dropped to a low, dangerous growl. The ministers trembled in fear.
"I ask you—who dares to object to my decisions?!"
It was the first time El had seen Hancock look so stern and formidable.
Seeing her so obedient and soft-spoken toward him all the time had almost made him forget that she was, in fact, the fearsome Pirate Empress.
"Wait, Hancock."
El spoke up, stopping her just as she was about to explode in rage.
"Ah! Lord El… but they…"
Hancock hated the thought of appearing incompetent or undisciplined in his eyes.
El shook his head.
"I expected this would happen."
Truth be told, El didn't care much about a few voices of opposition.
He already understood where Hancock stood, and where the majority of the people stood. That was enough for him.
He knew the old saying: Haste makes waste.
He certainly didn't want his visit to trigger a civil conflict or divide the nation.
He was well aware that his arrival and rule were historic and unprecedented events for Amazon Lily.
He had prepared for unexpected situations, and in truth, the current situation was actually better than he had anticipated.
He had expected things to go much worse.
However, it seemed he could no longer just give a short speech and then leave immediately.
Since there were still those with doubts or disloyalty, he would have to stay a while longer and let Hancock handle the matter thoroughly.
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