They were both allies and, in effect, part of the inner circle of the El Pirates.
As long as no one was strong enough to defeat the El Pirates outright, no one would dare attack Amazon Lily.
This remained true even now, even though the Kuja Pirates and their captain, the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, had effectively severed ties with the World Government and Marines.
News spread quickly that El and Hancock were preparing to leave the island.
Some people panicked, while others remained calm.
Those who panicked worried that without powerful rulers present, the island would be vulnerable.
But many others had absolute faith in the strength of the El Pirates. With their guarantee, not even the World Government or Marines would act rashly.
After all, El was someone who could force even Marine Headquarters to negotiate. His power was beyond doubt.
Even if he wasn't there personally, his crew's reputation alone was enough to keep enemies at bay.
Amazon Lily was no longer just a nation protected by the title of Warlord—back then, they only avoided being hunted by the Marines.
Now, anyone who provoked them would face direct retaliation from the El Pirates. That was the clear difference between being protected by pirates and being protected by the Navy.
By now, El had spent several days on the island.
Located in the Calm Belt, Amazon Lily was naturally rich in resources.
Additionally, before El's arrival, Hancock had ordered her crew to clear out all nearby islands and stockpile supplies, greatly increasing their reserves.
Even after holding such a grand welcoming ceremony, the island remained well‑supplied, and ordinary warriors lived in comfort and plenty.
Everyone knew this prosperity was directly linked to El's visit. In fact, his approval rating among the people had risen slightly—not by much, but every bit helped.
Still, he had no plans to stay longer. It was time to depart for the Sabaody Archipelago.
While Amazon Lily was abundant in resources, it could not compare with Sabaody—the great hub between the first and second halves of the Grand Line, where news, trade, and influence from everywhere converged.
El had stayed these past few days partly to see if anyone would be foolish enough to challenge his authority right under his nose.
As it turned out, even in the New World, there were none so bold.
During his stay, the seas around the island were utterly quiet—not just because of the Calm Belt's natural stillness, but because pirates passing nearby deliberately altered their courses to stay far away.
Only when he was certain that the island faced no immediate danger did El decide he could safely leave to handle the small matter at Sabaody.
As El and Hancock prepared to set sail, Crocodile and Doflamingo were still slowly approaching in their badly damaged ship.
"Have you prepared vessels for them?" El asked Hancock.
"Rest assured, my Lord. Amazon Lily has several other ships. Once they reach the shore, they can transfer directly to new vessels without stepping onto the island."
El was, of course, the only exception—the only man ever permitted to set foot there.
Hancock had no intention of showing mercy to anyone else. The only person she would ever make exceptions for was El.
So even when Crocodile and Doflamingo arrived, she would never allow them to land. Handing over ships at sea was the most she would do—and only because El had ordered it.
Hancock had joined forces with the El Pirates not to build relationships with other crew members, but solely to earn El's regard and fulfill his wishes.
So when Crocodile and Doflamingo were told they were forbidden from landing, they were utterly baffled.
"But… we are allies now, are we not?" Doflamingo asked, staring in disbelief at the fully armed female warriors surrounding them.
"Not even a short visit? We've been drifting for days—surely we can rest for a while?!"
No matter how much they argued, the answer remained the same:
"Absolutely not."
"Rules are rules."
"No men are allowed on Amazon Lily."
"Hmph—" Crocodile's fists tightened, ready to fight.
Doflamingo quickly held him back.
"Easy now… our captain never ordered us to fight each other."
Crocodile scoffed. "It doesn't feel like they see us as allies at all."
By this time, El and Hancock had already sailed away. Only the Kuja warriors remained behind.
Yet even without their strongest leaders present, these women did not flinch in the face of two former Warlords.
"You may exchange ships as Lord El instructed," one warrior said firmly.
"Lady Hancock has prepared new vessels for you. The transfer will take place here, at sea. As long as you do not approach the island, everything is fine."
Truth be told, this was the most lenient treatment they could expect from the Kuja.
They already knew the women of Amazon Lily were formidable—but only after this encounter did they realize just how formidable.
Crocodile and Doflamingo finally understood why the Kuja Pirates held such high standing in the Grand Line.
These women did not care about reason or compromise at all!
For El to stay there for days as a welcome guest was something no ordinary person could ever achieve.
Reluctantly, they accepted the rules. After all, they were now part of the same alliance and dared not go against El's wishes.
They had heard El's speech from other sources and knew that Amazon Lily was a key piece in his plans, a vital part of the El Pirates' territory. Ruining things here would be unforgivable.
They exchanged ships right there on the open sea. The damaged vessel—ruined during El and Rayleigh's fight—was left behind.
Once aboard their new ships, Crocodile and Doflamingo prepared to return to their own territories.
"Our captain's gone to Sabaody… should we follow and offer help?" Crocodile asked.
He knew very well that a large part of the slave trade operating secretly in Sabaody belonged to Doflamingo.
"No need, no need…" Doflamingo waved his hand quickly.
"If Lord El needed us, he would have told us in advance. Since he left without saying a word, he clearly wants us to stay out of it."
Within the El Pirates, Doflamingo was still responsible for intelligence operations and managing key sources of income—roles he had mastered as head of the Donquixote Family.
El had ordered him to keep using those strengths for the crew.
Doflamingo already knew exactly why El was going to Sabaody: there was trouble at one of the auction houses formerly under Doflamingo's control.
Because of Sabaody's unique location, Doflamingo rarely went there personally to handle problems.
He always preferred to solve issues from a distance, using strategies no one else saw coming.
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