Chapter 178 Displaying Their Feathers
"Cough... Baby 5, Pudding, let's go!" Nico Robin called out, acting as if nothing had happened as she beckoned the other two to follow.
It was true.
Even she had been momentarily entranced by that overwhelming charm.
Her usual caution had proved utterly useless against such a display.
While she was uneasy about leaving her captain alone with such a beauty, she was even less willing to lose face by staying.
"Huh?"
Baby 5 stared at Nico Robin, her eyes wide with disbelief.
How could she be so bold?
Even she found the woman across from them captivating; there was no telling how the captain would react.
'If we don't keep a close eye on things, forget getting a piece of the pie; we won't even get the leftovers...'
'Well, maybe not.'
'That woman might be impossibly pretty, but being pretty doesn't mean she's any good in that particular department.'
'With the captain's stamina, he'll definitely be able to handle whatever comes his way.'
At that thought, Baby 5 felt a wave of relief.
She didn't resist as Nico Robin pulled her away; instead, she shot Hancock a peculiar look.
As for Pudding...
She was only fourteen, standing there like a mere background extra.
Having no say in the matter, the poor girl was simply usherred away by Nico Robin.
"Hmph, at least you're sensible!"
Hancock watched as Robin and the others departed.
Her mood brightened significantly.
In her mind, those two women had no redeeming qualities other than the fact that they knew their place.
Hancock smugly assumed her beauty had simply intimidated her potential rivals, and she felt quite self-satisfied.
"Let's head inside to talk!"
Zane invited Hancock into the tent while tasking Nico Robin, who hadn't gone far, with entertaining the rest of the Kuja Pirates.
"Lord Zane, I heard you say earlier that you fought Big Mom?"
Once inside, Hancock sat atop her pet snake, Salome, and took the initiative to ask Zane.
"Yes, Pudding is one of my people. She wasn't happy with the Big Mom Pirates, so naturally, I had to get her out," Zane replied with a nod.
"You truly are impressive, Lord Zane. I have faced Big Mom before as well, but I was no match for her," Hancock said, her eyes filled with admiration.
She brought up Big Mom not just to make conversation, but because she felt a deep sense of connection to the topic.
Although the Kuja Pirates primarily operated in Paradise, they had ventured into the New World; otherwise, Hancock could never have honed her current strength through the Kuja legacy alone, having survived many battles against powerful foes.
Charlotte Linlin was one of them.
Like poles repel.
Given that Hancock was known as the most beautiful woman in the world, it would have been strange if Charlotte Linlin hadn't reacted.
Moreover, the Kuja were a unique tribe, making them a prime target for Charlotte Linlin, who sought to collect every race in the world.
Their encounter had, naturally, ended in Hancock's defeat.
In fact, if she hadn't used the Love-Love Fruit's power to petrify the woman's Homies, she might not have been able to lead the Kuja Pirates in a successful retreat.
Receiving such a look of admiration from the world's most beautiful woman was naturally very satisfying for a man like Zane.
He then proceeded to recount the details of his battle with Charlotte Linlin with great interest.
Whether she was just playing along or was genuinely stunned by the strength Zane described, Hancock was a captive audience.
As Zane spoke, she would occasionally gasp or look at him with pure adoration.
To an outsider, she looked like an ordinary girl in love rather than one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Pirate Empress.
Of course, regardless of her supportive attitude, Hancock was truly impressed by Zane's account, especially upon learning that he had held the upper hand during the fight.
Her beautiful eyes sparkled with an even more intense light as she looked at him.
They chatted for a long time.
When evening fell, Zane hosted a banquet to welcome the arrival of the Kuja Pirates.
"Hahaha... No, no, the beasts here are indeed powerful, but they're still just animals. Look at this meat; it's from a beast I hunted earlier today."
"This scar? It's nothing special. Just a souvenir from a fight with one of Crocodile's subordinates."
"Ahem, I heard that men are forbidden on Amazon Lily. Is that true?"
"I'm actually quite curious... wait, don't get angry, I'm just asking... how do you all conceive?"
"..."
During the banquet, many members of the Hunting Team were quite restless.
After a few drinks, they could no longer contain themselves and began approaching the Kuja Pirates to strike up conversations.
It couldn't be helped; the visitors were the all-female Kuja Pirates.
As energetic young men, there was no way they wouldn't react to the arrival of so many women.
Amidst the lively chatter...
Some bold fellow managed to learn from a Kuja woman that they venture out to sea to conceive children once they reach a certain age. This news made the men of the Hunting Team start strutting like peacocks.
Using the excuse of putting on a show...
Before long, the men began to spar with one another, attempting to showcase their masculine charm through combat.
Surprisingly, it worked.
This approach perfectly appealed to the Kuja women's sensibilities.
Kuja women did not judge beauty based on looks, but on strength.
This standard also applied to their taste in the opposite sex.
During the sparring, several men quickly stood out, drawing the attention of many Kuja women.
Take Bones, for example.
He had only stepped up because his hands were itching for a fight, but after his victory, he was suddenly surrounded by several Kuja women.
Wyper also attracted quite a few admirers.
Seeing others succeed, the rest of the men became even more spirited.
As for Zane...
As the captain, he naturally wouldn't let his subordinates outshine him.
Throughout the banquet, he was the one being constantly approached.
After their long talk, Hancock was even more enthusiastic than when they first met.
Gone was the Empress's usual arrogance; instead, she was like a little girl, chirping away and staying by Zane's side the entire time.
'Dammit, why is there another one throwing herself at him!'
Observing from the shadows, Nico Robin sighed helplessly to herself as she watched Hancock's behavior.
She didn't know whether to admire her own foresight or not.
Even the Pirate Empress, the world's greatest beauty, had fallen so easily for her captain's charm.
After the lively banquet, it was finally time for the Kuja Pirates to depart.
"You must come back again; I still have plenty of stories to tell."
"A spar? Of course, that's no problem."
"Looking for me? Whenever you're free!"
"..."
Before they left, the men of the Hunting Team and the women of the Kuja Pirates shared a lingering farewell.