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

The port where the Kuja Pirates docked.

When Hancock arrived, all the Amazon Lily warriors had already taken their battle positions.

On the gun emplacements on both sides of the harbor, the gunners had already loaded the cannonballs into the breech, the archers had drawn their bows, and everyone was on high alert.

Grandma New stood at the front of the harbor, leaning on her snake cane, her face more solemn than ever before.

Roy had somehow stood up from the reef, hands in his pockets, on the high platform of the harbor, looking in the direction of the calm zone.

The sea was as calm as a mirror.

But at the end of this mirror, three warships were slowly approaching.

Those were three standard Navy Headquarters-class medium-sized warships.

The ship was painted with dark blue navy paint, and a navy ensign was flying on the mainmast. The bow cannon had its cover removed.

The waterline of the ship is much shallower than during normal navigation.

That was after a period of intense sailing.

Hancock's pupils contracted slightly.

Her Observation Haki instantly expanded, although its range was far less than Roy's.

But this doldrums area was enough to ascertain the situation of those three warships.

"Three warships, each carrying about two hundred naval soldiers, with two auras on the lead ship—"

She paused, her tone becoming even more serious.

"One is a rear admiral, the other is a CP agent."

Grandma New's face darkened further: "CP? People from the World Government?"

Roy stood on the high platform, not turning around, his voice calm and even:

"Make them stop their ships. Tell them that anyone who enters the harbor without the Empress of Amazon Lily's permission will face the consequences."

Hancock nodded and gestured to the female warriors in the harbor.

On the port observation tower, a female soldier took out a megaphone and shouted loudly in the direction of the warship—stop the ship, and state her purpose.

A moment later, the three warships slowly came to a stop outside the port.

The lead warship lowered a small boat with three people on board.

A rear admiral, a civilian official of the World Government, and a CP agent with an expressionless face.

The small boat slowly sailed into the harbor and came to a stop on the dock.

The rear admiral was the first to step onto the stone slabs of Amazon Lily.

He looked to be in his forties, with dark skin, a square jaw, and eyes that exuded a chilling aura of someone who had been through many battles.

He glanced around at the female warriors standing guard at the harbor, his gaze finally settling on Hancock.

To be precise, it landed on the serpentine crown on her head.

"Boa Hancock".

The rear admiral gave a slight bow, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.

"Rear Admiral Lacourrova of the Naval Headquarters."

"By order of the World Government, I will deliver official documents to the new Empress of Amazon Lily."

The civil servant behind him took a scroll bearing the World Government's cross emblem from his briefcase and presented it to him with both hands.

Hancock didn't take it, but Granny New stepped forward, took the scroll, unrolled it, and quickly scanned it.

Her expression became extremely complex after reading the contents of the scroll.

"What does this mean?"

Grandma New turned the scroll over so that Hancock and Roy could both see what was on it.

The scroll was neatly inscribed in gold lettering: "The World Government officially recognizes Boa Hancock as the 74th Empress of Amazon Lily and issues her an invitation to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

The Seven Warlords of the Sea.

The seven legal pirate groups directly under the World Government possess the right to plunder, immunity from punishment, and status as naval allies.

According to the World Government's official documents, the Seven Warlords of the Sea are one of the "Three Great Powers" alongside the Marine Headquarters.

Hancock's eyes changed the moment she saw the words "Seven Warlords of the Sea".

It wasn't excitement, nor hesitation. It was anger. Pure, undisguised anger.

She threw the reel on the ground, her voice as cold as wind blowing from an ice cellar:

"Go back and tell your master—I, Boa Hancock, will never bow down to the World Government."

"Hancock!"

Grandma New rushed forward to stop her, lowering her voice while giving the naval rear admiral a fawning smile.

"Her Majesty the Empress is young and impetuous, please forgive her, generals."

This matter is of great importance. Please grant Amazon Lily three days. A formal response will be provided after three days.

Just as Hancock was about to push Granny New away, Roy's voice suddenly rang in her mind.

It was a mental connection established through telekinesis; only she could hear: "Calm down."

Hancock paused in her movements.

Hancock didn't know why Roy had stopped her, but she was sure that Lord Roy had his reasons.

Seeing that Hancock had calmed down, Granny New rolled up the scroll and put it back into the civil servant's hand:

"Three days later, Amazon Lily will give the World Government an answer."

Prior to this, the three warships were not allowed to enter the port of Snake Island, land on the island, or allow anyone to approach the coastline.

Otherwise—you'll bear the consequences.

Major General Lacourrova's cheek twitched.

He looked at Granny New, then at Hancock. The aura that the girl had just unleashed sent a chill down his spine.

Laclow looked first at Granny New, and then at Hancock, whose face was cold.

Finally, he gave a military salute, then turned and boarded the small boat with the civilian official and the CP agent.

The small boat returned to the warships, and the three warships slowly turned around, leaving the port and anchoring in the calm sea.

The distance wasn't too far, nor too close; it was just outside the firing range of the Nine Snake Island forts.

At the port, Grandma New relaxed her tense nerves, and her whole demeanor became somewhat listless.

Leaning on her snake staff, she turned and looked at Hancock, her eyes filled with solemnity:

"Hancock, I know you don't want to accept this."

But please come to the secret chamber of the palace. I have a few things I must say to you and Captain Roy in person.

The secret chamber of the imperial palace.

Hancock, Sandasonia, Marigold, Roy, and Granny New are all together.

Grandma New took a deep breath and cut to the chase: "Do you understand what it means that the Navy was able to safely cross the Calm Belt?"

Hancock's face darkened, and she didn't reply.

"It's been hundreds of years!"

Grandma New's voice rose eight octaves.

"Jehol Island has not been directly threatened by the navy for hundreds of years!"

This is because the sea king's nest in the doldrums is a forbidden zone that no warship can cross!

But now they're here!

Three warships arrived safely and intact at our doorstep!

She pointed to the nautical chart of Snake Island hanging on the stone wall of the secret room, and pressed her finger heavily on the calm zone on the chart.

"This means that the Navy has mastered the technology to navigate safely in the doldrums."

"Either they installed seastone on the bottom of the ship, or they developed some new type of propulsion device."

Whatever it may be, Amazon Lily's natural barrier is completely gone!

Hancock crossed her arms and paid no attention to Granny New's words.

"If we break ties with the Navy now—"

Upon hearing this, Grandma Niu's voice also lowered.

"The navy can send a large force to encircle and annihilate Snake Island at any time."

Even with Beehive Island as a backup, a distant solution cannot quench an immediate thirst.

How long does it take to fly from Beehive Island to Snake Island in Ark: The Proverb?

This period of time is enough for the Navy to thoroughly annihilate Amazon Lily.

Sandasonia and Marigold both looked at their sister, their eyes filled with nervousness.

The room remained quiet for a long time.

"But……"

Hancock finally spoke, her voice soft but carrying an unyielding anger.

"Grandma, how can I accept this? The World Government. Celestial Dragons."

Mary Geoise—you know what I went through in Mary Geoise.

Her voice trembled as memories of anger and humiliation swirled in her mind.

"Back then, on the auction stage, the Celestial Dragons treated us like commodities, picking and choosing us."

They branded my sister and me with hot irons.

You want me to bow down to the world government?

I'd rather die.