"47..."
"46..."
"45..."
Vivi continued her countdown.
The struggle in Hancock's eyes grew more intense.
"44..."
"43..."
"Do you truly have a way... to remove that thing from us?"
Hancock finally spoke, her teeth clenched. She had made her decision, but she needed confirmation first.
"Of course!" Sean nodded.
It was just a brand; with the Kaido (healing kido) in his arsenal, such a task should be effortless.
He wasn't entirely sure if he could simply restore the skin to its original state since the mark had been healed for over a decade. However, if a direct restoration didn't work, he could simply carve out the entire section of flesh and then use the Way of Return to heal the wound.
'As long as that mark is gone, I doubt the three sisters will mind a bit of pain,' Sean thought to himself.
Hancock stared intently into Sean's eyes, attempting to discern if he was lying. After more than half a minute of scrutiny, she found no sign of deception in his expression or gaze.
By then, Vivi's countdown had reached...
"7..."
"6..."
"5..."
"Stop counting! I agree. But do not let me discover that you have deceived us; otherwise, even if I must give my life..."
"Give it a rest with the threats. Seriously, you could try to give your life a hundred times and you still wouldn't be able to scratch me!"
Sean ruthlessly cut her off mid-sentence. While blunt, it was the simple truth.
Among the Warlords, the only ones whose strength truly piqued Sean's interest were Hawkeye and Kuma. While it was unclear if those two had reached the level of the Four Emperors, they were certainly at the level of an Admiral.
Everyone else, including Hancock, wasn't even in the same league. When the gap in power is that vast, "giving one's life" is a meaningless gesture.
"So, do we treat it now, or...?"
"Now, obviously!"
"Lucci, bring Sandersonia and Marigold over here!"
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
Lucci, who had been blocking the path of the Kuja warriors on the starboard side, nodded and stepped aside.
The members of the Kuja Pirates had heard the conversation between Sean and Hancock, though their interpretations differed. Sandersonia and Marigold knew exactly what Sean was referring to, but the other warriors did not.
After all, the sisters had told the people of Amazon Lily that during their disappearance, they had defeated the monster Gorgon in the Central Sea, but were cursed in the process, causing the Eyes of Petrification to grow on their backs. They claimed that if they removed their clothes and revealed the eyes, everyone nearby would be turned to stone.
Therefore, the Kuja warriors believed Sean was offering to help the sisters... lift the curse of Gorgon.
'''
A few minutes later.
Sean led the three women into the warship's medical bay and closed the door.
"Let me explain the process first," Sean began. "While I possess healing abilities, your brands have been healed for over ten years. In other words... currently, you are 'healed' but 'uninjured.' In this state, I'm not certain if my healing ability will take effect. Do you understand?"
Hearing this, Hancock frowned deeply. "You dare deceive me?"
"Would you stop rushing for one second and just let me finish talking?"
"Fine, speak. I am listening. But if I find you are lying to us, today I will give my life to—"
"Stop! Stop with the 'giving your life' routine! I already told you, you can't hurt me even if you try. Now, be quiet and listen!"
Cutting her off again, Sean continued, "What I just described was the first method. If that doesn't work, we have to use the second method."
"A second method?"
"Yes. As I said, my healing might not work on scars that have already closed. But what if the wound isn't healed?"
"You couldn't possibly mean..." Hancock paused, her eyes widening as a realization hit her.
"Exactly. It's exactly what you're thinking. That's why I need your confirmation: if the first method fails, do you want me to proceed with the second?"
Beside them, Sandersonia and Marigold were completely lost, having no idea what their sister and Sean were implying.
"Sister, what are you two whispering about?"
"He means that if a wound has already healed and only left a scar, it is no longer considered an 'injury.' In that case, the healing ability might not be able to remove the scar," Marigold explained.
"We understood that part, but what is the second method?" Sandersonia asked.
"The second method is... since the healing won't work because the wound is closed, we simply make it an open wound again. I will just cut out the flesh where the brand is..."
'Hiss...'
Sandersonia and Marigold finally understood. They understood all too well.
He could actually do that? Theoretically, it did seem to make sense.
"Alright, if you have no objections, who wants to go first?"
"I will!" Hancock answered without hesitation.
Sandersonia and Marigold immediately grew anxious.
"Sister, let me go first!"
"No, I should be first!"
They weren't rushing to have the brand removed; rather, they weren't entirely sure if Sean actually possessed such a power. They were volunteering to be the guinea pigs.
"What are you arguing for? I am the eldest sister; if I say I go first, I go first!" After silencing her sisters, Hancock looked at Sean. "What do I need to do?"
"Take off your clothes and lie face down on the bed."
"All of them?"
"Don't be tedious. How am I supposed to work if you don't?"
"This... fine!"
Hancock grit her teeth. She had come too far to back out now. She turned her back to Sean and undressed, lying across the hospital bed.
Sean stepped toward the bed and placed his right hand against her back.
"Hmm, nice skin."
"What did you say?!"
"Don't move. Do you still want this treated or not?"
"Keep your eyes and your hands to yourself! Do not look where you shouldn't, and do not touch what you shouldn't!" Hancock hissed fiercely.
Sean simply curled his lip. A moment later, he activated his power, and a glow of green light appeared between his palm and the brand on Hancock's back.
One minute...
Two minutes...
Three minutes...
"I guess it really doesn't work, huh?"
Sean sighed and withdrew his palm. Then, he drew Hekireki from his waist.
"Hancock, this is going to hurt a bit. Are you ready?"
"Do it. It is only pain. As long as this mark is erased, I do not care if you have to cut me a few more times."
"Alright, here I go!"
In the next instant, a flash of steel sliced through the air, and Hancock let out a muffled groan. Her hands gripped the bedsheets tightly. Blood poured from the incision on her back, flowing down her skin and staining the white sheets crimson.
Sean immediately pressed his right palm against the wound and activated his healing technique.
One minute later... the bleeding had completely stopped.
Two minutes later... the edges of the wound began to show signs of rapid healing.
Five minutes later... the flesh had fully closed and started to scab over.
By the seventh minute, the scab fell away, revealing flawless, pristine skin. The brand of the Celestial Dragons had vanished!
Sandersonia and Marigold were instantly overcome with excitement.
"Sister, it's gone! The mark is really gone!"
"Really...?"
"Really! There isn't a single trace left!"
"Quick, find me a mirror!"
"Yes, Sister!"
Hancock sat up abruptly and spoke to Sandersonia, who immediately scrambled to find a mirror within the infirmary.
Sean, however, felt a flicker of awkwardness.
"Uh, Hancock..."
"What is it?"
"Um... you aren't wearing any clothes. Is it really a good idea to just sit up like that?"
"Hmm?"
Hancock paused. She looked down, and her entire face flushed a deep, vivid red in an instant.
"Ah!!!!!"
'''
Outside the infirmary, the two guarding Marines looked at each other in bewilderment.
What on earth had their Vice Admiral done to the Pirate Empress to make her let out a sound like that?
They were consumed by pure, raw envy. They desperately wished they could trade places with the Vice Admiral!