One Piece: I am the Empress, and the more sycophants I have, the stronger I become.

Hancock's merciless sarcasm and her abrupt departure completely enraged Shiki the Golden Lion.

He had roamed the seas for decades; when had he ever been so disrespected and humiliated by a "little girl"?

"Stop right there, little girl! Stop right there!"

Shiki roared, his voice like thunder, shaking the surrounding sea of ​​clouds.

He flashed forward, exuding a violent aura, and once again blocked Hancock's path, his eyes burning with rage and obsession.

"You think you can just walk away after you've humiliated me?!"

Hancock stopped in her tracks, her stunningly beautiful face still displaying that infuriatingly lazy and arrogant demeanor.

She slightly raised her chin, glancing at Shiki out of the corner of her eye, especially at the conspicuous ship's wheel above his head, her tone filled with undisguised "pity".

"What? Senior Golden Lion, do you have any further instructions? Do you perhaps intend to fight this 'little girl'?"

She paused deliberately, a mocking smile curving her red lips.

"However, I have never liked bullying... well, people with physical disabilities. If word gets out, it might ruin my reputation."

The words "physical inconvenience" were like a poisonous thorn, piercing Shiki's heart.

The veins on his forehead bulged, and he almost lost control and attacked.

"Hehehehe!!!"

Shiki laughed in fury, his voice filled with madness.

"What a sharp-tongued girl! She looks down on me? She thinks I'm crippled?!"

He stared intently at Hancock, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous and calculating light.

"Since you think I'm not worthy to fight you, how about we make a bet?!"

"Oh?"

Hancock raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued. "What are we betting on?"

Shiki waved his hand, pointing to the vast floating archipelago beneath his feet, maintained by his abilities, and the enormous creatures faintly visible in the distance.

"Let's bet on this territory! We'll bet on luck, on guts, on our control over this skies! I'll decide the specifics of the bet! If I win..."

His gaze turned greedy and intense again, locking onto Hancock.

"You and your crew, you'd better stay here obediently and become my women and subordinates! How about it?!"

"Lady Snake Princess! No!"

Robin's expression changed drastically upon hearing this, and she couldn't help but speak up to dissuade him.

The Golden Lion is infamous for its ferocity. Even when it's not in good shape, its methods and cunning are far from easy to deal with. This bet is too risky.

Arya gripped the hilt of her knife even tighter, her eyes sharp.

However, Hancock ignored their advice.

Looking at the arrogant and self-satisfied Shiki, her beautiful face showed no fear, but instead revealed a meaningful smile.

"Can."

Hancock's voice was clear and firm, which startled Shiki, Robin, and the others.

She took a step forward, meeting Shiki's astonished gaze, which was quickly replaced by ecstasy, and slowly began to speak.

"I can bet with you. If you win, I will do as you say. But if I win..."

A glint of cunning and undeniable authority flashed in her beautiful eyes.

"You, Shiki the Golden Lion, must unconditionally agree to do three things for me. No going back on your word, no disobedience!"

Three things unconditionally!

This bet is incredibly high!

It's almost equivalent to gambling away one's own freedom and dignity.

Shiki's pupils contracted, and he quickly made a mental calculation.

He had absolute confidence in his bets; this was his domain, and he had countless ways to manipulate his opponents.

In his view, the empress was merely arrogant and conceited because of her beauty and strength, and had no chance of winning.

"Fine! I'll bet with you!"

Shiki agreed with a sneer almost without hesitation, as if he could already see this stunning beauty groveling at his feet.

"Your Majesty! This is too risky!"

Robin whispered again urgently, not believing that the Golden Lion would abide by any fair bet.

Hancock turned her head and gave Robin a reassuring look, speaking softly with confidence.

"It's alright, I know what I'm doing."

She looked again at the determined Golden Lion, her tone tinged with a hint of provocation.

"Since the bet is settled, Senior Golden Lion, tell us your terms. Is it a race to see who can run the fastest on this cloud-covered ground? Or a race to see who can attract the attention of those giant insects?"

Shiki was so angry at her attitude that he choked and said fiercely.

"Sharp-tongued! Let's see if you can still laugh later! The bet is simple! I'll randomly select three locations in these archipelago and bury three tokens! You and I will each search for them, by any means necessary, regardless of the process. Whoever finds all three tokens first wins! The time limit is one day! How about it?"

This betting method, seemingly fair, is actually full of traps.

Shiki knew this sky island like the back of his hand; he knew exactly where to hide things and where to take advantage of the environment.

Hancock, a newcomer, was like a headless fly.

However, after hearing this, Hancock's face lit up with an even brighter smile.

"Searching for a keepsake? That sounds interesting."

Hancock nodded slightly, as if she were merely commenting on an interesting game, "I agree."

She looked at Shiki and added one last sentence, her tone light but carrying an invisible pressure.

"I just hope that when the time comes, Senior Golden Lion... won't be a sore loser."

Shiki snorted coldly: "I, Golden Lion, keep my word! I'm just afraid you'll go back on your word later!"

"Since that's the case..."

Hancock said no more, turned and walked toward his ship, preparing to rest for a while before facing this seemingly unfair gamble.

Robin and Arya followed closely behind, their hearts still filled with worry.

But seeing Hancock's confident and composed expression, he felt inexplicably more at ease.

Shiki watched Hancock's departing figure, his eyes flashing with a sinister and determined light.

"Hehehe... You're destined to be my woman! I've already won this bet!"