Chapter 195: The Open-Air Bath, Sanji's Paradise

Chapter 195: The Open-Air Bath, Sanji's Paradise

Walking down the steps to stand before the gray stone statue, Hancock raised her hand, palm facing up to her lips, and gently blew at Reiner.

"Release."

As a fragrant wind blew past, the petrification slowly faded, and Reiner's skin color returned to normal.

He had no memory of the period he was petrified. He only saw the scene change, and Hancock's face was suddenly right in front of him.

"Ah, I was just turned to stone, wasn't I?" Reiner said, coming back to his senses.

"What do you think, you idiot!"

Thump! Nami knocked him on the back of the head, crossed her arms, and turned her face away, saying irritably, "Look at Zoro, then look at you. Hmph."

Although Nami had expected it, she was still upset.

"Give me a break. You'd be at a huge loss if I became like him," Reiner and she exchanged an eye-roll, his gaze couldn't help but shift to the side.

Women only slow down the speed at which you draw your sword. This saying was surprisingly fitting for Zoro.

No women in the heart, the sword drawing is naturally divine. Brother Tree really didn't lie to me.

But then again, Reiner could understand why Zoro wasn't charmed. In terms of women, he was just as clueless as Luffy.

No one could imagine Zoro looking lustful.

Reiner himself was a normal person, while Sanji had three pervert-nerves, making up for Luffy's and Zoro's shares.

Scientifically speaking, this was called the Law of Conservation of Perversion. It was logical.

After de-petrifying Reiner, Hancock turned and walked back up the steps.

Roronoa's performance had indeed shocked her. This was the first time Mero Mero Mellow had completely failed on a man, or rather, on anyone at all, and the opponent hadn't resisted with Haki.

In comparison, Reiner's performance was unremarkable. Not to say it was bad, after all, even women would be turned to stone by this move. It was just a bit disappointing; he was no different from other men.

"You should already know Shakky," Hancock said, sitting down on the seat formed by the coiled snake. She leaned back, crossed her legs, and said coldly:

"She sent a letter to Elder Nyon telling her about what you did on Sabaody. My second question is... why did you attack a Celestial Dragon? Answer me."

Hearing her words, the two sisters behind her couldn't help but stare intently at the two of them, holding their breath as they waited for them to speak.

On the other hand, the other female warriors were all stunned, gasping in shock.

"They attacked a World Noble?!"

"Doesn't that summon an Admiral?!"

"Hey, don't tell me they were chased here."

As pirates, they naturally knew some information about the World Nobles, unlike the islanders who lived in isolation.

The thought that the Straw Hat crew might have come here to escape an Admiral's pursuit made everyone's gazes turn wary.

Killing a Celestial Dragon was a major crime that couldn't be forgiven even with the title of Warlord. If they were implicated, the entire country would be plunged into a merciless cannon bombardment.

Even launching a Buster Call would not be out of line.

Seeing their reaction, Robin was the first to explain, "We weren't chased here by an Admiral. The World Government doesn't know our current whereabouts. You don't need to worry about that."

Zoro then spoke faintly, "As for your question, I cut the Celestial Dragon because he pointed a gun at me. I was just defending myself normally."

This was the most concise summary of the facts, without a single extra word.

Reiner's answer was the same. "An Admiral was dispatched, so I captured them to use as hostages."

"To use as hostages?" Hancock's tone carried a hint of doubt.

If you take hostages, shouldn't you release them after you leave? Why did you kill them? What kind of move is that?

Reiner understood her meaning. The survival of the hostages is the basis for a trade. This is common sense for most people. Even pirates have their own code of honor.

But.

"Because I never promised to let them go in the first place," Reiner explained nonchalantly:

"Attacking a World Noble brings an Admiral. Killing them doesn't bring any bigger trouble, and letting them go won't get things written off. I won't leave two people who wish they could tear me to shreds to go back."

The reason was not complicated at all; it was a very pure pirate style.

Taking a huge step back, even if he had no grudge against the Celestial Dragons, he didn't need a reason to attack. Dislike was the biggest reason. It wasn't just Reiner.

Their entire crew had always done things this way. Pirates are free. They are only bound by their own morals.

"Is that so," Hancock closed her eyes and leaned back, saying softly, "I understand."

There was no great cause, no grandiloquent speech. It was completely different from the hero Fisher Tiger, who had climbed the Red Line with his bare hands to liberate the slaves.

These people were simply acting out of their own interests.

If someone pointed a gun at them, they would draw their sword. If they couldn't beat an Admiral, they would use hostages to force a retreat. As a pirate, doing these things seemed unremarkable.

But, when the target was a World Noble, how many pirates on the sea dared to make such a so-called unremarkable move?

How was this not a form of great courage, or perhaps...

Hancock slightly lifted her eyelids to size up the few people below. It seemed this topic was nothing for them to be concerned about.

Perhaps from the very beginning, this crew had never regarded the Celestial Dragons as some lofty existence.

If they needed to be cut, they would be cut. If they needed to be captured as hostages, they would do so. The Celestial Dragons, whom others avoided at all costs, were nothing special in their eyes.

Thinking of this, Hancock's gaze changed slightly again. A sense of admiration arose spontaneously, because...

She admitted she couldn't do it.

The shadow of the Celestial Dragons still loomed deep in her heart. The slave mark on her back was still her unspeakable shame.

Even after so many years, that pain had not diminished in the slightest.

Time had not healed her wounds. Time cannot heal everything.

Thinking of these things, her mood became more and more dejected. Her head suddenly felt dizzy. She weakly raised her hand to her forehead, her face looking somewhat listless.

"I am tired. Sandersonia, Marigold, take me back to rest first."

"Yes."

"Let's go, sister."

"There is an open-air hot spring on the mountain behind the palace."

Hancock propped herself up with the snake's body and stood up with difficulty, speaking in a low voice to Reiner and the others below, "It will be open for you for the next two days. You can let your companions outside come in together."

"Wait, Hancock!"

Hearing this, Elder Nyon hurriedly spoke out, "Have you forgotten the prohibition of this country! Men are forbidden to enter! Black Snake Reiner and Roronoa are exceptions, but the others..."

"Shut up, old woman."

Interrupting her, Hancock turned her head coldly. "Are you questioning my authority? In this country, my word is absolute."

Leaving behind these irrefutable words, without giving Elder Nyon any chance to speak, she left with her two sisters, passing through the screen and walking straight towards the depths of the main hall.

"Sister, is this really okay?"

The slender, green-haired Sandersonia couldn't help but worry. Although it was not appropriate to say anything outside, Elder Nyon's words were not without reason.

"It's fine. I just want to see what kind of people their crew are," Hancock said calmly.

Outside the main hall, Reiner's group of four and the female warriors of the Kuja Pirates were left staring at each other.

Lady Snake Princess would actually let the Straw Hat crew use the Kuja Pirates' exclusive hot spring, and...

There will be many men coming in!!

Their eyes all sparkled with anticipation, because Lady Snake Princess didn't seem to object to them interacting with these people.

Robin smiled faintly. "In that case, we can let Luffy and the others come in."

"And we can soak in the hot spring!"

Nami couldn't help but look excited. She hadn't expected such a good thing. They could take a good rest before setting off tomorrow.

She immediately pointed and ordered, "What are you waiting for! Reiner, Zoro, go and bring Luffy and the others in! Robin and I will go first!"

"Stop ordering me around, you woman," Zoro said, looking displeased.

Reiner silently sidled up to Nami and nudged her arm with his elbow.

"In your dreams!"

Pressing her palm on Reiner's face and pushing him away, Nami turned her face away, not wanting to bother with him at all. "You have no chance today. I see those beauties are quite enthusiastic. Go play with them."

"Okay."

"That was a test. Now you have absolutely no chance."

"Eh?!"

Before long, on the coast at the edge of the Kuja island forest, a falcon flew over from the sky. Reiner and Zoro leaped down from above.

"Luffy, we can enter the city."

"Where are Sanji and the others?" The two walked over, and Reiner looked around and asked.

"Reiner! Zoro! You're back! They just went into the forest to hunt and gather fruits and vegetables!"

Seeing the two of them, Luffy waved his hand excitedly. "Look at this! A mushroom that makes mushrooms grow on your body after you eat it! You guys should try it too!"

As he spoke, a mushroom popped out from his shoulder.

Luffy instantly lowered his head and bit it into his mouth, chewing while looking at them.

Reiner: "..."

Greeting me with a shockwave right off the bat, are we?

Zoro walked over with great interest and rubbed another mushroom that had popped out. "Oh! Quite interesting!"

"Luffy!"

Just then, several figures rustled out of the forest.

It was Sanji and the others, who had gone to find food, returning.

"Did you eat those mushrooms just now?!"

Chopper rushed over, his face a little pale, as if he had just seen something bad.

"Mmph~, I didn't sneak any!"

Luffy hurriedly covered his mouth, his face panicked, cold sweat continuously dripping from his forehead.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, he saw stars, and with a thump, he fell backward.

"So dizzy~~."

"You did eat it, you bastard!!"

Seeing a mushroom pop out of thin air on Luffy's body, Chopper bared his teeth and shouted, plucking the mushroom and throwing it hard in his face!

Reiner looked speechless. "Let's go. We've been allowed into the island. Take him into the city and have someone deal with it."

"Allowed into the island?!"

Thud! Thud!

The vegetables in Sanji's hands fell to the ground as he stared blankly at him.

The next moment.

Swish!

A gust of wind suddenly blew up from the flat ground!

"Wait for me, sisters!!!"

A raging fire seemed to burn around Sanji's body. He instantly shot past Luffy and rushed towards the city, his speed so fast it was difficult to see with the naked eye!

Bang!

Until he passed by him, Reiner directly stuck out a foot and tripped him. Sanji's face scraped along the ground for several meters.

"Don't be a fool, you bastard. You'll have plenty to enjoy later."

Soon, Zoro carried the unconscious Luffy, and Reiner carried the chain-bound Sanji, leading Usopp and the others as they walked majestically into the island's interior.

On the way, they found someone to help deal with Luffy's mushroom poison and explained to the others what had happened in the city.

Soon, the group arrived at the palace and were led to the hot spring by a guard.

There were many hot springs of various sizes here. Nami and Robin were inside, and the Kuja had already been asked to put up a screen around it.

And outside, a large hot spring was surrounded by several smaller ones. The members of the Kuja Pirates had already started soaking, not at all shy about the arrival of Reiner and the others.

Gentian, wrapped in a bath towel, was sitting on the edge of the large hot spring. Seeing them, she immediately smiled, waved, and shouted, "Lord Reiner! Lord Roronoa! Come over here!"

As she spoke, she also patted the ground beside her in a gesture. The other women in the area were all smiling, looking at them with curiosity.

"So many men."

"There's a skeleton-race among the men. Quick, make a note."

"Mmph! Mmph!!"

Clang! Clang!

Sanji, slung over Reiner's shoulder, struggled fiercely, two lines of moved tears streaming down from his heart-shaped eyes.

As expected of the fierce and valiant Land of Women! This is simply paradise!!

I've arrived in paradise!!

"Sigh~~," Reiner sighed.

Even a prisoner on death row gets a good last meal. To think that Sanji is about to head to the bottomless purgatory for two years of training...

Tossing Sanji to the ground and undoing his chains, he said comfortingly, "Cherish this moment, Sanji."

The moment he was freed from the mummy-like iron chains, a torrent of blood erupted from Sanji's nostrils, carrying him into the sky like a rocket.

"Here I come, sisters!!"

Splash!

"I can't wait either, yohohohoho~~"

Splash!

"What an idiot," Zoro sneered with contempt and walked into a nearby wooden hut to change.

"I didn't expect to be able to soak in a hot spring before a battle."

Luffy grinned cheekily and swaggered towards the changing room, completely unfazed by the crowd of beauties before him. "Hee hee hee, everyone is so enthusiastic. Let's go too."

"Wait for me, Luffy!" Chopper followed excitedly, without a trace of shyness.

After all, as a reindeer, humans in his eyes were only distinguished as female animals and male animals.

People immune to the Mero Mero no Mi's charm are so easy to find, aren't they?

Reiner couldn't help but think that if Hancock had used her ability to test these three just now, she would probably have had a crisis of confidence on the spot.

(End of chapter)

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