Chapter 169: The Pirate Empress’s Panic!!
"Straw Hat boy—! Save me!!"
A shrill cry tore through the dust-filled air.
A figure slammed violently into a rock wall before rolling onto the ground.
Pink curly hair exploded outward like a shattered shuttlecock. Several swollen bruises had formed on the forehead and cheeks, dark red blood hung from the corner of the mouth, and burnt marks from electricity charred the edges of the clothes.
From head to toe—there wasn't a single part of the body that didn't look miserable.
Luffy stared at the barely recognizable figure, his eyes widening.
"You are…?"
Memories flashed back to the scorching depths of Impel Down.
"Little Ivankov?!"
"It's me, you idiot!!"
Luffy froze.
In this state, even Ivankov's own father might hesitate for three seconds before recognizing him.
"Enough nonsense—get to the point!"
A cold voice suddenly cut in.
A shadow flashed forward like a ghost, slicing through the air with a sharp sound.
BANG!
Ivankov was kicked flying again and crashed back into a pile of rubble.
The shadow reached out and caught the Den Den Mushi that had been tossed into the air.
Under the dim light, golden hair glinted faintly.
A cigarette burned red beneath a spiral eyebrow.
Hands in the pockets of his black trousers—
If it wasn't Sanji, who else could it be?
…
"Sanji?!"
Luffy tilted his head, completely confused.
"Why are you two fighting?"
The instigator himself had already forgotten the agreement they had made earlier.
Sanji didn't care about that at all.
He took a deep drag from his cigarette. The ember flickered with each sharp breath.
His chest rose and fell violently.
Yet his face was flushed with excitement, and his eyes sparkled intensely.
"Luffy! I defeated that okama!"
"So now—"
"Can I go to Amazon Lily?!"
"Huh? Oh. Sure."
Luffy answered casually, silently wondering why Ivankov had lost so quickly.
But the thought vanished almost instantly.
"Do you want me to come pick you up now?" he asked.
"No!"
Sanji waved his hands quickly, trying to appear calm.
But the clenched fists, the slightly trembling shoulders—
and the bright red ears—
completely betrayed the ecstatic joy inside him.
"That guy had an Eternal Pose to Amazon Lily!"
"I'll just take it and go myself!"
…
"Hm?"
Luffy frowned.
Real confusion finally appeared on his face.
He clearly remembered that Ivankov's ship couldn't cross the Calm Belt.
That was usually a privilege only Marine warships possessed.
Unless…
Sanji planned to steal a Marine ship?
"Straw Hat boy~"
Seeing Luffy's puzzled expression, Emporio Ivankov immediately exposed Sanji's secret with a teasing grin.
"This brat got unbelievably lucky!"
"He ate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit!!"
—Rumble-Rumble Fruit?!
The four words exploded like thunder.
Everyone present instantly froze.
Even Silvers Rayleigh, who had been calm the entire time, slightly raised his eyebrow in surprise.
The terrifying power of a top-tier Logia Devil Fruit had long been demonstrated by the three Marine Admirals.
"So that's it…"
Luffy muttered softly.
The confusion in his eyes disappeared instantly.
No wonder Sanji had defeated Ivankov so quickly.
No wonder he dared cross the Calm Belt alone.
With a god-tier ability like that—
everything suddenly made sense.
…
Facing the astonished gazes around him, Sanji merely waved his hand casually, pretending not to care.
But the upward curve of his lips revealed how satisfied he was with his newfound power.
A top-tier Logia was undoubtedly a massive leap in strength.
However—
when his gaze casually swept past Luffy's side—
his steps suddenly froze.
It felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
Standing beside Luffy was a silver-haired woman dressed in a plain white kimono.
Her skin was fair as snow, her features delicate and flawless.
An otherworldly aura surrounded her, like a celestial maiden untouched by the mortal world.
Beautiful enough to steal one's breath.
But what struck Sanji even harder—
was the look in her eyes.
When she gazed at Luffy, her crimson eyes were filled with unmistakable tenderness.
A soft affection that seemed to gather all the light in the world into a single glance.
In that instant—
Sanji suddenly felt the cigarette in his mouth lose all flavor.
The joy he had felt moments ago vanished completely.
Only a strange sourness and anxiety remained in his chest.
"Luffy! I'll talk to you after I get there!"
He practically forced the words out through clenched teeth.
Before anyone could respond—
CLICK.
The call ended.
At that moment, Sanji had no intention of lingering.
If possible, he would tear open space itself and teleport straight to his captain's side.
…
Meanwhile—
at the peak of Amazon Lily, inside the Snake Princess Palace, a strange stillness filled the air.
The tallest structure on the island had a unique aesthetic.
Most of the furniture was made from simple vines and wood, giving the palace a natural and ancient atmosphere.
Except for one glaring exception.
At the center of the room stood an extravagant pink bed, luxurious beyond measure.
Soft velvet sheets and layers of lace curtains declared unmistakably—
this was the bed of the Pirate Empress.
The room was unlit.
Darkness spread like ink, swallowing nearly every detail.
Only faint moonlight slipped through windows carved with serpent patterns, scattering pale silver across the room.
On the bed lay a graceful figure.
Her long, flawless legs—praised as the most beautiful in the world—were casually crossed over the edge of the bed.
Moonlight flowed across her skin like polished porcelain.
A thin chiffon veil barely covered the essentials, outlining her slender waist and breathtaking curves.
Several damp strands of dark hair clung to her cheeks and neck, remnants of a recent bath.
The sight softened her usual cold elegance, adding a touch of alluring vitality.
It was Boa Hancock.
The Pirate Empress leaned lazily against the pillows.
In her hands was a thick, beautifully bound book.
Her crimson-painted fingernails gently turned the pages with soft rustling sounds.
This proud and aloof ruler—
who normally looked down upon the entire world—
was now completely absorbed in reading.
Her long eyelashes cast shadows beneath her eyes as she focused intensely on the pages.
But gradually—
her breathing began to change.
The descriptions within the book became increasingly bold.
The passionate text and suggestive illustrations stirred something deep inside her quiet heart.
The beautiful face that normally remained cold and arrogant slowly flushed red.
The color spread from her cheeks to her ears.
Even her neck turned a delicate shade of pink.
Her breathing grew warmer and quicker.
Her chest rose and fell more noticeably.
Even her fingers trembled slightly as she turned the pages.
"How improper…"
Hancock bit her lower lip lightly.
Her brows furrowed, embarrassment flashing across her eyes.
Suddenly—
THUMP.
She threw the book aside onto the bed.
The pages spread open across the soft sheets.
"How can this book be so indecent…?!"
She scolded aloud.
But her voice trembled slightly.
The usual imperial authority was gone.
Instead—
the Pirate Empress looked unusually flustered.
For once, the proud ruler of Amazon Lily revealed a rare moment of girlish panic.
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