On the Perfume Yoda.
Although the warriors had all disembarked, Sandersonia and Marigold remained on board, their faces etched with anxiety.
Just then, an energy portal opened at the harbor, and Sean stepped through.
"Vice Admiral!"
"Kaku, where is she?"
"Still on the ship!"
"Alright, I'll go up and check. You handle the arrangements for the people from Amazon Lily first."
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
After giving the order, Sean climbed the gangplank and stepped onto the bow deck.
"Vice Admiral Sean, you're finally here! Hurry, I'm afraid Sister can't hold on much longer!"
Seeing Sean appear, the two women became visibly excited, rushing over to call out to him.
"Don't worry, leave it to me."
With a nod, Sean walked briskly toward the cabins.
He pushed open the door to reveal a massive cabin, designed more like a palace than a ship's room. In the furthest reaches of the room, Hancock lay upon a bed, her consciousness hazy, her breathing ragged and heavy.
"Hancock..." Sean sat by the bedside and called her name softly.
The moment he spoke, the woman, who had been drifting in and out of consciousness, snapped awake.
"Se... Se... Sean! Why have you come to Amazon Lily? And why did you come straight into my bedchamber!"
Now lucid, the first thing Hancock saw was Sean sitting right beside her bed. She immediately became flustered, her words tripping over one another as a deep blush crept across her face.
Seeing her reaction, a streak of mischief hit Sean. He let a suggestive smile play on his lips and reached out his hands as if to pull her closer.
"There's only you and me here right now. So, tell me... what do you think I should be doing?"
"Don't you dare do anything reckless! This... this kind of thing... must wait until after we are married!!"
Sean paused.
That answer was... unexpected.
Looking at Hancock, who had curled into a ball in the corner of the bed, clutching her blankets tightly, Sean was momentarily speechless.
She wasn't against it; she just insisted on marriage first?
'Hancock, you truly are something else,' he thought.
"Alright, I'm done teasing you. Do you know where you are?"
"Where else could it be? My bedchamber... wait, that's not right. Is this on the Perfume Yoda?"
Halfway through her sentence, Hancock finally noticed her surroundings. This wasn't her palace; it was the royal suite aboard the Perfume Yoda.
"Exactly. The Perfume Yoda, and we are currently docked at the harbor of my 16th Branch."
"Impossible. Why do I have no memory of this?"
"You fell ill and lost consciousness. Sandersonia and Marigold brought you here so I could treat you."
"Ill? Unconscious? Even so, why would they bring me here and seek your treatment? What on earth is wrong with me?"
"Love Sickness!"
Hancock froze at those three words. Then, the memory rushed back—Shakky had previously explained exactly what Love Sickness was. Coupled with the fact that her sisters had specifically brought her to Sean for treatment, Hancock's entire face flushed a brilliant crimson.
'''
Outside the door, Sandersonia and Marigold were pacing back and forth, anxiety written all over their faces.
"I wonder how Sister is doing. I hope it isn't too late!"
"Marigold, stop jinxing it! Sister will definitely be fine!"
"But it's been so long. Why hasn't he come out yet? Should we go in and check?"
"This... alright."
Sandersonia was equally worried, so she nodded and agreed to Marigold's suggestion. She stepped forward and gently pushed the door open.
They immediately saw Hancock huddled in the corner of the bed, wrapped tightly in her blankets, a look of panic and confusion on her face.
The sisters gasped.
"Sean! What did you do to Sister?!"
"That's right! And here I thought you were a good man! How dare you do this to Sister...!"
The two of them roared in anger, charging toward Sean. They looked ready to fight to the death, or even take him down with them.
However, before they could move more than a few steps, Sean released a burst of Reiatsu. The oppressive spiritual pressure slammed down on them, pinning them instantly to the spot.
"I didn't do anything. Your sister just woke up and was a bit confused about the situation."
"Since you've both come in, this is perfect. Why don't you explain everything to Hancock?"
Sean walked past them and continued forward, leaving the royal suite. As the door closed, the pressure vanished, and Sandersonia and Marigold regained their mobility. They rushed to the bedside to check on Hancock.
"Sister, are you okay?"
"If Sean really did something to you, Sandersonia and I will give our lives to take him down with us!"
Lying on the bed, Hancock looked at her two sisters, feeling a surge of irritation. She had just barely managed to compose her emotions and was waiting for Sean to formally propose to her, only for them to ruin the moment!
If they weren't her sisters, she would have hit them both with a Perfume Femur!
Fortunately, Sean didn't know what was going through Hancock's mind. Otherwise, he surely would have wondered where she got the idea that he was about to propose.
Ten minutes later, after listening to the detailed account of recent events from her sisters, Hancock found herself at a loss.
The illness would flare up a month after she left Sean's side?
And the best solution was to renounce her throne and stay by Sean's side?
If she didn't hold the title of Empress, Hancock would have agreed instantly. But she was a woman of immense responsibility. To abandon her people and her duties was a hurdle her heart struggled to cross.
"Sister, it's useless even if you return to Amazon Lily. It will just happen again in a short time, and you won't be able to govern the country. It would be better to..."
"That's right! Didn't Shakky say that almost every generation of the Amazon Lily Emperors ended up this way? There is no other way!"
Sandersonia and Marigold continued to urge her. Compared to the throne of Amazon Lily, they cared far more for their sister's life.
"Let me think about it."
"Sister!!!"
"I said let me think about it! Now, leave me be!"
"Yes, Sister!"
"By the way... ask Sean to come back in."
"Right away!"
Seeing that they couldn't convince Hancock for the time being, the two sisters retreated. A moment later, Sean walked back in. He sat down by Hancock's bed without hesitation; after all, he had already established the habit earlier.
Hancock didn't protest.
"You wanted to speak with me?"
"If I leave Amazon Lily... are you certain you can protect my people?"
"As for that matter, since I've made a promise, there will be no change. Not even the Celestial Dragons will set foot on Amazon Lily without my permission," Sean said seriously.
Sean placed a great deal of importance on his promises.
"Then who do you think is more suitable to inherit the throne of Amazon Lily, Sandersonia or Marigold?"
"Shouldn't that be your decision? I'm not really in a position to interfere," Sean replied.
"It's fine. I just want your opinion as a reference. I want to hear what you think!"
"Alright then. Sandersonia is probably more suitable."
"Why her and not Marigold?"
"That... just a gut feeling!" Sean said, rubbing his nose.
He certainly wasn't going to tell Hancock that if Jabra actually succeeded in his pursuit, Marigold might end up with Love Sickness just like Hancock within a few months of taking the throne. In that case, Sandersonia was naturally the better choice.
"Fine. One last question!"
"Go ahead."
"What rank is the Marine planning to give me?"
"Uh..."
"Since I'm abdicating and will be stationed with you in the future, you can't expect me to be just an ordinary marine, can you?" Hancock's gaze grew somewhat unfriendly.
Since he had essentially proposed, he had to provide a dowry, right?
Trying to get her for free? Not a chance!
In Hancock's mind, since Sean had suggested Sandersonia succeed her, it meant he accepted her staying by his side. And accepting her staying by his side was equivalent to a marriage proposal.
Therefore, it wasn't unreasonable for her to ask for a dowry. Furthermore, if she became a high-ranking Marine officer, it would provide another layer of protection for Amazon Lily.
Good grief, without even knowing it, Sean had just completed another marriage proposal.
"Alright, I'll give old man Sengoku a call and ask," Sean said, not overthinking things. He nodded and pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
'Purupurupuru...'
"Sengoku speaking!"
"Old man Sengoku, it's me!"
"You brat, Sean! What do you want this time?"
"Don't be like that. Wasn't it the information I provided that let you look great in front of the Five Elders? And now, just a few days later, you're already turning your back on me?"
"Fine, I admit you did a good job this time. Speak, what is it?"
"It's like this: Boa Hancock intends to give up her throne on Amazon Lily and her position as a Warlord to join the Marine and become a glorious marine!"
'What...'
'Am I hallucinating?'
Sengoku was completely stunned.
Hancock giving up her throne and her Warlord status to join the Marine? That was simply impossible!
"You brat, are you calling me just to play a prank?"
"Just tell me, old man, if it were true, what rank could the Marine give her?"
"It's impossible! But if it were actually the case, giving her the rank of Vice Admiral and placing her among the Elite Vice Admirals would be entirely possible!"
Sengoku didn't believe it for a second, thinking Sean was just bored and messing with him. However, in the next moment, he heard something even more shocking.
"Well, Hancock, are you satisfied with the rank of Vice Admiral?"
"While it's a bit different from my expectations, I suppose it'll do. After all, you're only a Vice Admiral yourself; it wouldn't be appropriate for my rank to be higher than yours. It might affect our married life."
Hancock spoke that last sentence in a very low voice.
But both Sean and Sengoku froze instantly.
Sengoku, in particular, was floored.
'What the hell?'
'If I heard that correctly, was that Hancock's voice?'
'And... married life?'
'My god, what on earth did this brat Sean do? Did he actually manage to win Hancock over?'
"Sean... is Hancock next to you?"
"Yeah, is there a problem?"
"So, everything you just said... was serious?"
"Of course! Old man, you promised—Vice Admiral rank!"
"Uh..."
'Can I say that I was just talking out of my ass?'
'Even as the Fleet Admiral, I can't just hand out Vice Admiral ranks on a whim. This requires a high-level meeting and a report to the World Government for approval!'
"Look, this is very sudden. I'll call a meeting with the high command and get back to you!"
"Old man, you're the Fleet Admiral. Are you saying your word doesn't count?"
"Be quiet, you brat! There shouldn't be a major problem, but we still have to follow the proper procedures, understand?" Sengoku replied.
In truth, it wouldn't be a huge problem. Hancock's strength was sufficient—she was even stronger than some Elite Vice Admirals, and her power wasn't far off from an Admiral candidate.
But such a matter couldn't be decided with a single phone call. Necessary protocols had to be followed.
"Fine, I'll wait. But if you go back on your word, I'm not giving Garp that warship, and I'll stop supplying the cola fuel!"
"You little brat, you're actually threatening me now..." Sengoku was so exasperated he actually laughed.
'''
After the Den Den Mushi hung up, Sean turned to look at Hancock.
Good grief, the woman's pupils had completely turned into heart shapes, and they were dyed pink.
'What's going on?'
Sean had no idea that, at this moment, Hancock's inner thoughts were:
'As expected of my husband! He actually threatened the Fleet Admiral of the Marine just for my sake!!!'