Between Two Worlds: Nen and Haki

"It really is a shame. But if that boy Zane truly helps Hancock break free from her nightmares, could it lead to her falling down the rabbit hole of lovesickness?" Rayleigh mused with a sigh, before another thought occurred to him.

"Lovesickness, huh? That is the fate of every Kuja Empress. If Hancock were to fall ill with it, Zane would certainly be a suitable candidate, wouldn't he?" Shakky replied with a chuckle.

"Tch, isn't that a bit too easy for a brat like Zane?" Rayleigh curled his lip, looking slightly annoyed.

He and Shakky had no children of their own.

Thus, in his heart, he viewed Hancock as his own daughter.

Rayleigh wasn't sure whether he should be happy or depressed at the thought of Zane actually winning Hancock over.

*

*

*

"He's gone?"

Having just stepped out of the bath and changed into fresh clothes, Hancock—her hair still slightly damp—was eager to find Zane again.

She had ultimately lost to Zane in their recent spar.

However, this didn't make her feel depressed; on the contrary, she was in an exceptionally good mood.

In her mind, it was only natural for Zane, a man brave enough to kill a Celestial Dragon, to be stronger than her.

Furthermore, her heart was already inclined to think that way.

Yes.

From the very beginning, Hancock never had any intention of winning their spar; she simply wanted to understand Zane better.

She couldn't wait to see him again.

But the moment she left the bath area, she received some unwelcome news.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Mr. Zane took his leave while you were bathing," the maid waiting outside the bathhouse reported truthfully.

Hancock subconsciously bit her sleeve.

Her initial joy was instantly replaced by a wave of disappointment.

How could this happen?

Could it be that her earlier probing had made him unhappy?

Or maybe...

'No, I am so beautiful, how could Mr. Zane not like me?'

Hancock couldn't help but fall into a spiral of wild imagination.

The New World.

After leaving Amazon Lily.

Using the coordinates he had left behind in the New World long ago.

Zane used the Door-Door Fruit to return directly to a certain stretch of sea in the New World.

Thunder Wing Sky Drive!

Thunder bloomed, condensing into a pair of brilliant wings.

With a flap of those wings, Zane soared steadily through the air.

'The Pirate Empress... a woman who appears so proud on the outside but is so fragile within. I wonder how she's reacting right now.'

Glancing back in the direction of Amazon Lily, Zane couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

Though his contact with Hancock hadn't been particularly long.

In that short span of time, he could clearly feel her favorability toward him rising in a straight line.

If favorability were a numerical value, Hancock's rating of him would have already soared past ninety.

In other words, if he were so inclined, winning her over was already a sure thing.

Naturally, Zane had every intention of making Hancock his.

After all, whether it was her strength, her face, or her figure, she fit his aesthetic perfectly.

But one mustn't rush these things.

Now that her favorability was high enough, he was content to let things simmer for a bit.

Women, after all, were just the seasoning of life.

Having already arranged the training for the Hunting Team.

Zane still had plenty of his own business to handle.

This was the very reason he had returned to the New World.

Temporarily putting the matter of Hancock aside.

Zane flapped his wings and vanished into the distance like a bolt of lightning.

The New World was the sea where pirates were most rampant.

Yet, even with the Four Emperors reigning supreme, the Marines had managed to drive many 'nails' into these waters.

G5 Branch.

This Marine base was one of the many nails the Marines had planted in the New World.

Thunderclap!!

Lightning descended from the heavens.

Amidst a deafening roar, a massive hole was blasted straight through the G5 Branch headquarters building.

Crash!!

A side wall was smashed open as a robust figure leaped desperately from the building, landing heavily on the plaza below.

"What happened?"

"Was that lightning just now?"

"What's going on? How could lightning strike in this kind of weather!"

"Vice Admiral Vergo, are you alright?!"

"

Compared to other Marines, the soldiers of the G5 Branch were quite an anomaly; many of their behaviors resembled pirates more than they did Marines.

However, the G5 Marines were exceptionally devoted to their commander—the man known as Vice Admiral Vergo.

In this moment.

As the building was struck by lightning, the soldiers of G5 stationed in the plaza were all struck with shock.

But the moment they saw the figure leaping from the building, their expressions changed. They rushed forward in concern to check on him.

"Yo, the pathetic remnant of the Donquixote Pirates sure knows how to win over people's hearts!"

Thunder exploded, and the wall at the base of the building shattered.

As the dust cleared, Zane stepped out slowly with his hands in his pockets.

He looked at Vergo, who was surrounded by concerned Marine soldiers, a cold, mocking smirk playing on his lips.

On the surface, Vergo was the Base Commander and Vice Admiral of the Marine G5 Branch.

But in secret, he was one of the top officers of the Donquixote Pirates.

He was the mole specifically planted within the Marines by Doflamingo.

His entire body was shrouded in Armament Haki.

From the moment the lightning pierced the building to his desperate leap.

Vergo was already treating this as a battle against a formidable foe.

Now, as Zane stepped into view, Vergo glared at him with eyes overflowing with murderous intent.

As one of the top officers.

He had naturally been aware of Monet and the others' attempt to seek revenge on Zane; in fact, he had been a participant, using his rank as a Vice Admiral to provide them with significant support.

He hadn't gone with them only because he wanted to remain as a failsafe.

If Monet and the others failed, he could have used his Marine identity to mobilize the navy against Zane.

However...

Before Vergo could even begin to implement his plans, Zane had clearly taken the initiative to find him first.

When Monet and the rest came for revenge.

How could Zane have failed to notice that a top enemy officer like Vergo was missing from their ranks?

Now that he was back in the New World.

His first stop was to clean up this remaining piece of trash.

After all, when dealing with an enemy like Vergo, pulling them out by the roots was always the best choice.

"Who are you?"

"Wait... you're Three-Eye Zane?"

"Damn it! Was it this bastard who just attacked Vice Admiral Vergo?!"

"Protect Vice Admiral Vergo!"

Zane's appearance also drew the attention of the G5 Marines.

Upon recognizing Zane, many looked horrified.

Yet many others remained fierce and loyal.

While glaring at Zane, they rushed to shield Vergo behind them.

It had to be said that Vergo was a very successful spy.

Not only had he climbed to the rank of Vice Admiral and Base Commander, but he had also turned the G5 Branch into his own personal territory, earning the absolute trust of the soldiers here.

Boom!!!

Conqueror's Haki swept across the area.

Looking at the crowd of brainwashed Marines, Zane had no interest in entertaining them.

The overwhelming Conqueror's Haki acted like an invisible heavy hammer. As it swept through, every Marine—save for Vergo and a few high-ranking officers—rolled their eyes and collapsed unconscious to the ground.

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