Chapter 35 Fight Hancock again!
"Hancock, I suggest you don't lay a finger on Gion.
She's known across the seas as Vice Admiral 'Peach Rabbit' of the Navy.
If you harm her, believe me Vice Admiral Tsuru will have a long, personal conversation with you about the meaning of life!"
Just when Gion thought she was about to completely succumb, A young yet steady and commanding voice cut through the haze from behind her.
When Gion came to her senses, she found herself safely nestled in Carl's arms.
She didn't even know how it happened.
Moments earlier, her mind had gone entirely blank no memories, no awareness.
And then suddenly, there was Carl standing firm, shielding her, holding her.
Feeling the warmth of Carl's arms steady, reliable, and protective Gion felt a strange urge to close her eyes and fall asleep right there.
"Hmph! Even if Tsuru gets involved, I won't fear her!"
"But I'd rather not waste energy on that besides, I didn't come here to fight the Navy today. I came specifically to find you!"
Hancock's voice remained cold but elegant her pride undiminished.
Though she spoke boldly, it wasn't out of ignorance. She simply found Tsuru troublesome.
The old generation of Marines, the likes of Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru, were no longer merely officers they were living legends.
And Tsuru, the Navy's Chief of Staff, was infamous for chasing down Donquixote Doflamingo across the seas without rest.
Hancock had been present during that era she knew firsthand how terrifying Tsuru's pursuit could be.
So it wasn't fear but inconvenience that led her to avoid clashing with someone like her.
"Since you're here for me, let's take this elsewhere. This isn't the right place to talk it's a Navy stronghold."
Carl didn't waste time. Seeing that Hancock wasn't here for violence, he set Gion gently down and turned to walk outside with her.
Gion felt the warmth leave her body, and she reluctantly opened her eyes
She watched Carl's retreating back, an odd disappointment stirring inside her.
Then suddenly, something within her surged an unconscious twitch of worry and she called out, soft but urgent:
"Be careful... the Empress is incredibly strong…"
Carl paused at the edge of the gate, briefly stunned by her rare concern.
Then he turned back, smiling with calm certainty.
"Don't worry. She's not my opponent."
"Heh... you're still just as arrogant as ever!"
Hancock scoffed coldly, but her expression betrayed a flicker of amusement as she followed him.
As their figures disappeared beyond the gate, Gion stood frozen for a moment
And then her face turned bright red as her thoughts finally caught up with her.
"W-what did I just say...?!"
"How humiliating…"
"But Carl should be fine, right? He pushed back Donquixote Doflamingo after all and it's not even the first time he's crossed fists with the Pirate Empress."
"No I still need to go and check. If Carl's truly in danger, then I can back him up!"
Gion took a deep breath, regained her composure, and calmly followed after him.
at the same time
Other Marines nearby couldn't help but notice Taotu's sudden emotional shift, exchanging amused looks as if watching a drama unfold.
"I didn't think Colonel Carl had that kind of charm!"
"Yeah—first the Empress herself shows up unannounced, and now Lieutenant General Gion's all worked up? If this isn't peak romance, I'll eat my justice cloak!"
"Man, I'm jealous... Two of the most beautiful women on the Grand Line, and they're both circling around Carl? Makes you wonder how many ladies he's got lined up behind the scenes..."
...
"Let's cut the small talk—why are you really here?"
Carl's voice was flat, his sharp gaze fixed on Hancock.
He didn't care how the other Marines interpreted their interaction.
To Carl, Hancock wasn't some mysterious beauty—she was a dangerous variable who needed to be removed quickly.
That's right.
Even with her title as "the most beautiful woman in the world," to Carl, Boa Hancock was just an irritating pirate.
If Hancock knew she was being seen in such a dismissive light, she'd probably mark Carl as her lifelong mortal enemy—no hesitation.
"I came for two reasons. First, to express my... 'gratitude' for what you did to those slave traffickers.
I despise slavery. Since you've crushed several trafficking operations recently, I thought you were... different.
But don't get the wrong idea. That doesn't mean you've earned my affection. You're still not qualified to receive that."
Hancock sneered as she spoke. Though the words were meant to express thanks, her tone oozed disdain and challenge.
"Spare me the theatrics. What's the second reason?"
Carl frowned, unimpressed and uninterested in her posturing.
Hancock's lips curled into a wicked smile and without warning, she launched a high-speed kick at him!
Carl's eyes narrowed sharply. He intercepted her strike with his forearm armament Haki coating his skin.
But Hancock's leg was infused not just with Haki—it carried the petrifying curse of her Mero Mero no Mi.
Even though Carl blocked the hit with hardened Haki, the impact forced him back two meters his uniform's sleeve crumbled into hardened stone fragments and broke away.
"This is this the second reason you came here?"
"You, a Warlord of the Sea, dared to assault a Marine officer on Navy ground that's a serious offense!"
"Hmph. I wasn't looking to pick a fight until you humiliated Silvers Rayleigh earlier today.
He might brush it off due to his reputation and pride, but I won't.
So don't give me your Navy rules. This is a personal score I'm settling.
And with the chaos brewing across the seas, do you really think Sengoku or the Five Elders would revoke my Shichibukai status over a little scuffle?"
Hancock's voice was full of arrogant confidence she knew the political game too well.
Then, with a graceful motion, she pressed her fingers to her lips a pink heart shimmered into existence before her.
"Mero Mero no... Pistol!"
A barrage of heart-shaped arrows fired toward Carl pure, condensed charm energy.
Carl didn't flinch.
He raised both hands and slammed them downward. A massive shockwave erupted beneath his feet, disintegrating the arrows mid-flight with pure air pressure.
Hancock's face stiffened in alarm, and she leapt back instinctively.
At that moment, a massive crater ten meters wide and three meters deep formed in a perfect ring around Carl.
Only the exact spot he stood remained untouched.
"Not bad, right? My newest move 'Air Pressure.' Still rough around the edges, but pretty effective."
Carl smirked, tilting forward slightly, a glint of fervor in his eyes.
Sakura Ten and Deadwood his twin blades flew toward him from across the base, landing in his hands with a thud.
at the same time
A voice echoed in his mind the system had returned.
But the choices this time were unlike anything before.
Ding! God-level choice has been triggered!
Option 1: End the battle and win Hancock's heart. Reward: Hancock's loyalty to the host.
Option 2: Defeat Hancock and win Gion's heart. Reward: Gion's loyalty to the host.
Option 3: Repel Hancock, reject both Gion and Hancock. Reward: +1 level to all skills and attributes.
This choice... was unlike the others.
And to Carl, the first two options barely registered.
Because in this chaotic world ruled by monsters like Kaido, Blackbeard, and Akainu there was only one thing that truly mattered.
Power.
Without it, everything else meant nothing.
Carl didn't hesitate. He chose Option 3 instantly.
Straightforward. Unsentimental. And absolute.
If being a straight-laced man meant sacrificing romance for strength then so be it. Strength was the only path forward.
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