One Piece: The user of the Nen-Nen Fruit, who overturned the sea.

Three days later.

Amazon Lily, Royal Palace Square.

Before dawn, the female warriors of Snake Island began their busy work.

The entire square was decorated in a brand new style, and the flagpoles on both sides were covered with snake-shaped battle flags of the Nine Serpents Clan, the red flags fluttering in the sea breeze.

In the very center of the square stood a high platform, constructed from black serpentine stone, a specialty of Amazon Lily. The platform was covered with a deep red carpet, at the far end of which rested a throne with a serpent's head.

It was a throne carved from a single piece of sea stone, with a ferocious yet majestic snake head on the back. It was the exclusive possession of the empresses of Amazon Lily throughout history.

As the first rays of dawn broke over the sea, the female warriors of Snake Island were already lined up neatly on both sides of the square.

They were dressed in traditional combat uniforms, with snake-shaped armbands wrapped around their arms. Each of them stood ramrod straight, their eyes piercing.

But if you look closely, you'll find that many people in the group don't have such pure eyes.

Their gazes occasionally drifted towards the older female soldiers on either side of the platform.

Those were the elders of various tribes on Amazon Lily, and the main force secretly opposing Hancock's succession in recent days.

Grandma Niu stood below the platform, leaning on her snake cane. Her expression seemed calm, but the fingers gripping the cane were slightly white from the force.

The elders behind her were whispering amongst themselves, glancing occasionally toward the palace, a faint, cold smile playing on their lips.

Roy stood atop a tower at the edge of the square, arms crossed, overlooking the entire square.

But Observation Haki had already subtly enveloped the entire plaza, affecting everyone's expression, breathing, and heartbeat—

Those restless elements hidden within the team were as clear to him as fireflies in the night.

"Quite a few."

Roy muttered to himself, a smile playing on his lips.

Just then, the main gate of the palace slowly opened.

All eyes turned to the door at the same moment.

Hancock came out from inside the door.

She wore the traditional empress's robes of Amazon Lily—a battle skirt woven from gold thread and snake scales, the hem of which was covered with fine snake-shaped scales that gleamed with a cold luster in the sunlight.

A black snakeskin belt cinched her waist, perfectly outlining her slender yet powerful figure.

He wore a deep purple cloak draped over his shoulders, embroidered with the Nine Serpent Clan's totem in gold thread.

Her black hair was tied up high, revealing her long, fair neck.

She wore a serpentine crown on her head, the deep blue gems on the golden serpent's eyes reflecting off her deep purple pupils.

He was accompanied by his pet snake named Salome.

Three years ago, she was a thin little girl, standing timidly behind Roy, too shy to speak.

Now, she stands tall and proud, each step firm and powerful, covering the distance from the main gate of the palace to the high platform in the square.

Her gaze remained fixed on the throne before her, without wavering.

Sandasonia and Marigold followed behind her, one on each side. The two girls were also dressed in formal attire, their expressions solemn and dignified.

The entire square was completely silent.

The female warriors who had seen Hancock when she was a child all had a look of disbelief in their eyes at that moment—

Is this girl with an overwhelming aura and a sword-like posture really the little girl who was enslaved by the Celestial Dragons and covered in wounds back then?

Hancock walked up to the platform, stood before the Serpent Throne, turned around, and faced the thousands of Amazon Lily warriors in the plaza.

Grandma Niu stepped onto the platform, unfurled an ancient scroll made of snakeskin, and spoke in a hoarse yet powerful voice that echoed across the square:

"Inheriting the will of the successive empresses of Amazon Lily, I, in my capacity as the former empress, hereby proclaim the will of Empress Torch Lotus—"

"The 73rd Empress of Nine Snake Island, Torch Lotus, passed away three days ago."

In accordance with his will, the throne of Empress was passed to Boa Hancock. Boa Hancock, step forward to receive the crown!

Hancock knelt on one knee and bowed her head.

Granny Newt handed Hancock the golden serpent crown—the one Torchflower had given her before she died.

It was solemnly placed on Hancock's head, becoming one with the one she was already wearing.

"From this day forward, Boa Hancock is the 74th Empress of Amazon Lily!"

Grandma New's voice echoed in the square.

"All soldiers, listen to my command—salute!"

Thousands of female warriors knelt in unison on one knee in the square, their right fists pressed against their chests, and shouted in unison, "Greetings, Her Majesty the Empress!"

The sound was deafening, startling the birds in the island's forest.

But just then, a discordant voice rang out.

"Wait a minute!"

Three figures rose from the crowd without kneeling. They were three elderly female warriors, dressed in the special armor of tribal elders, with jewel-encrusted scimitars at their waists.

The leader was bald and had a hideous scar running diagonally from his forehead to his chin. His name was Bilis, and he was an elder of the Cloud Serpent tribe on Nine Serpent Island.

"I do not acknowledge this empress!"

Bilis's voice was hoarse and shrill as she pointed at Hancock on the platform, her eyes filled with disdain.

"Boa Hancock has been away from the island for three years and has never made any contribution to Amazon Lily!"

She was able to ascend to the throne entirely thanks to the support of Pirate Emperor Roy!

She turned around and shouted loudly to the female soldiers in the square:

"Sisters!"

"Open your eyes and look carefully!"

"Who's standing next to that person on the high platform? It's someone from Beehive Island! It's the Pirate Emperor Roy!"

"After she takes the throne, will Amazon Lily still be Amazon Lily? Our centuries-old independence is about to be destroyed in the hands of an outsider!"

The female soldiers in the square were in an uproar.

Some people lowered their heads, while a hint of wavering flashed in the eyes of others.

Two other elders behind Bilis also stepped forward—one was a short-haired, burly woman named Tana, an elder of the Flame Serpent tribe.

The other was an old woman wearing a snake bone mask, named Meli, who was an elder of the Shadow Snake tribe.

"Amazon Island doesn't need an empress who depends on others!"

Tana drew her scimitar, the tip pointing directly at the high platform.

"Boa Hancock, if you have any sense, take off your crown and get out of Amazon Lily!"

"right!"

"Get out of Amazon Lily!"

Bilis and Merry echoed in unison.

The atmosphere in the square instantly became tense.

The female warriors loyal to Hancock drew their weapons, while the warriors incited by Bilis began to stir.

Granny New's face turned ashen. She gripped her snake staff and was about to step forward to reprimand her, but Hancock reached out and stopped her.

"let me."

Hancock's voice was so calm that even Granny New was taken aback.

She rose from her throne, walked to the edge of the platform, and looked down at the three elders below.

Her gaze swept over the faces of Bilis, Tana, and Melly, a smile playing on her exquisite face.

It was clearly a captivating face, but the smile on it was so cold it sent chills down your spine.