Chapter 197: The Disposition of a King?

Chapter 197: The Disposition of a King?

The night grew late. The silver moonlight remained brilliant,spill on the quiet mountainside.

In the bathhouse, figures lay scattered all over the ground. Only a few faintly glowing and flickering campfires danced in the wind.

Clink! Clink! Clink!

Lighting the cigarette in his mouth, Reiner tossed the torch back and sat down, leaning against a large rock.

After soaking in the hot spring, the group, their passion unabated, simply started a banquet on the spot, making a ruckus for half the night.

"That was really fun."

Luffy rubbed his round belly, patted it, and stood up with satisfaction. "Well, I'm going back to sleep now."

"You clearly had your fill of eating, Luffy."

Usopp's throat was dry, his entire person looking dejected. "I can't go on either. I'd better go back and get some rest."

He had been boasting all night, from Kuro of a Hundred Plans in the East Blue to Magellan in Impel Down.

Usopp had beaten every enemy they had encountered along the way with his mouth, to the point where his throat was almost worn out.

"Sigh~~, I have to go back to the ship to recharge."

Franky pushed himself up from the ground with difficulty, his face full of exhaustion, the perky blue pompadour on his head had gone limp and was covering his forehead. "I can't believe there isn't a single bottle of cola on this whole island."

"In that case, let's just go back together."

Zoro hung his swords at his waist, then bent down, grabbed the unconscious Sanji, and slung him over his shoulder. He glanced down at him. "Aren't you going?"

"You guys go back first."

Reiner waved his hand casually. "I'll bring Nami back later."

"Then we'll head back first," Luffy waved, then turned and swaggered away with the others.

"Hey Usopp, that Gorgonzola Sea King noodle just now was super delicious!"

"It's Gorgonzola, Luffy."

"I saw so many panties tonight, I was so happy I could have died. Though I've already died once, yohohohoho~~."

Not long after they left, inside the screen deep in the hot spring area, six girls wrapped in bathrobes sat around a campfire, warming themselves.

Hancock bent her knees, her hands outstretched over the campfire, the flames dancing unceasingly in her quiet eyes.

"That girl named Vivi is indeed a remarkable princess. I never thought you would have experienced so many stories on your journey."

At her side, Sandersonia looked thoughtfully at Hancock's figure. The sister before her now had completely lost her usual high-and-mighty demeanor.

Except for when it was just the three sisters in private, she had never seen her sister show this side of herself in front of others.

The always proud and cold empress would one day chat with others like an ordinary woman.

It was as if they had returned to their childhood, before they had experienced that tragic period, when they also lived ordinary lives like normal people.

"So Hancock, Sandersonia, Marigold,"

Nami hugged her knees, looked up, the corners of her mouth curving up like a crescent moon, and said, "You must live for the future. Only then will you have the chance to meet the one who will heal you."

Looking at the innocent girl before her, Hancock smiled faintly, stood up, and couldn't resist reaching out to gently pat Nami's head.

"What a gentle and kind girl. Thank you."

Withdrawing her hand, she took the fur cloak hanging on the screen and draped it over herself, speaking gently, "It's getting late. I'm going back to take care of some things. You all should get some rest too."

"Mm, goodbye," the three of them, Nami included, nodded in response and stood up to change their clothes.

Hancock led her two sisters and turned to leave. She suddenly stopped at the exit of the screen, slowly turned her head, and asked tentatively, "Are we... friends now?"

"Eh?" Nami was a little confused, then smiled. "Is there even a need to ask? Of course, we're friends."

"Mm."

Receiving a positive answer, Hancock just smiled faintly and walked straight out.

The one who would heal them had already appeared.

Watching her gradually receding back, a corner of Robin's mouth curved up slightly. "She's like a completely different person from during the day."

"Is she? What was she like during the day?" Perona couldn't help but ask, puzzled, as she lifted a slender leg to pull on her black-and-white striped stocking.

"During the day..."

Nami looked up and rubbed her chin, thinking for a moment. Feeling she couldn't come up with a good description, she just said directly, "Well, anyway, she seemed not very easy to get along with. But..."

"I never thought she would have such a gentle and mature side. It's really incredible."

She couldn't help but think of when Hancock had patted her head just now. For a moment, she had suddenly mistaken her for Reiner, giving her a sense of strength and reliable security.

Thinking of this, Nami suddenly stopped changing her clothes and turned to say, "You guys go back first, Perona, Robin. When you go out later, help me call Reiner over."

"Mm."

Robin understood in her heart and showed a knowing expression. As she buttoned up her white shirt one by one, she suddenly added, "But it's so late, they might have already left."

"They won't have."

Nami's bathrobe slipped from her fragrant shoulders. She stepped forward and slowly walked back into the hot spring, turning back to say confidently, "It's already so late, so Reiner is definitely waiting for me outside."

And outside, after Hancock and her two sisters had left for some distance, she suddenly covered her face with both hands, revealing a shy expression.

"Sandersonia, Marigold, did you hear that just now?"

"We heard, sister."

"Not just sister. We are also friends with Miss Nami and the others," Sandersonia and Marigold replied with a smile.

And at this moment, a light and airy voice suddenly came from the side.

"Yo, what's making you so happy?"

Hancock was instantly startled. Following the sound, she saw a blond figure in a blue shirt sitting on a large rock.

As if seeing something novel, he was looking at her with great interest.

Hancock, who had been full of joy just a moment ago, had her face instantly darken.

"Black Snake Reiner," she spread her legs, tilted her face to the sky, pointed at him, and ordered in a low voice, "I command you now! Immediately delete the memory of what you just saw!!"

"..."

Delete it just because you say so?

A black line appeared over Reiner's head. He looked at her cringey pose and fell silent.

As long as you're not embarrassed, I'll be the one who's very embarrassed.

Before he could reply, Hancock continued, "That meeting gift, was it from you?"

Just now, hearing Nami mention that Reiner had prepared a meeting gift, she had immediately thought of that Celestial Dragon.

"Ah, it's not bad, right?"

"Disgusting."

Hancock said coldly, "In the future, don't bring any trash into my palace."

Her tone was ice-cold, but Reiner just looked at her calmly.

Now, when she mentioned the Celestial Dragons, her eyes only showed pure disgust and contempt, unlike during the day when there was still a trace of hidden fear.

Nami and the others probably put in a lot of work. Reiner was too lazy to think much about it.

"Let me test you."

At this moment, Hancock's face suddenly turned serious. The sand and stones under her feet began to tremble continuously. "Let's see if you are truly worthy of standing by Nami's side."

The next moment.

As if a fierce wind had suddenly arisen, a powerful pressure suddenly erupted!

This wave of Conqueror's Haki did not affect anything else, but rushed straight at Reiner!

The figure sitting on the large rock did not move, letting the impact of the Conqueror's Haki engulf him, unmoved.

A corner of Reiner's mouth lifted. The disposition of a king should be like this!

The next moment.

Swish!

Silence.

Swish again!

Huh, it's not coming out.

Oh well.

He hadn't learned any techniques for using Conqueror's Haki. It was normal not to be able to control it freely.

Reiner's expression did not change at all, until the impact of the Haki, like a fierce wind blowing past him, subsided and dissipated.

Hancock didn't speak, not knowing what she was thinking. She stood there, meeting his gaze for a while, then stepped forward and continued to leave.

Only as she passed by him did she faintly leave a few words, "A good gift. Thanks."

"Mm," Reiner replied casually.

Not long after the three of them left, two more figures walked out from the depths.

It was Robin and Perona. They raised a hand in a gesture of greeting. "Have the others gone back?"

"They've all gone back. Where's Nami?" Reiner nodded.

Robin smiled enigmatically, glancing behind her out of the corner of her eye. "She's still inside. Probably waiting for someone."

"Goodnight, Robin, Perona."

Swish!

A gust of wind blew up. When the dust settled, Reiner's figure had already vanished from the spot.

"Looks like it's just the two of us for company."

Robin smiled faintly. "Let's go. Time to rest."

In the Kuja city, above the fighting arena, in front of the main hall, a red-and-white striped serpent was coiled up. Hancock sat on it with her legs crossed.

And below the fighting arena, Sandersonia and Marigold opened a coffin-like wooden box, revealing the figure inside, on the verge of death.

Sandersonia brutally pulled out the daggers nailing him down. The intense pain instantly drew a pig-like squeal from the nearly unconscious Celestial Dragon.

"Waaah!!!"

Saint Rosward's expression was contorted in pain, and scarlet blood gushed from his wounds.

"Who... who are you!"

Waking up and seeing the person before him, he immediately crawled forward on his powerless limbs, roaring and shouting:

"I am a Celestial Dragon! Save me from the pirates, and I will grant you endless wealth! And heal me! Quickly!"

The two sisters looked down at the Celestial Dragon before them in silence. They had never thought that one day, they would see him in such a pathetic state, kneeling and prostrating.

"What are you standing there for? Didn't you understand my words!"

Seeing the two of them motionless, Saint Rosward's roar grew louder, his tone laced with anger.

However, the other party seemed to be deaf to his wails, and there was even a trace of... smugness? Anger? Or contempt in their eyes?

His heart instantly skipped a beat.

"You... you... you're with that pirate, aren't you!!"

Saint Rosward's eyes looked like they would split. The suffering of the past few days instantly turned into a surge of anger in his heart.

"You damn commoners! What are you trying to do! Let me go back! Otherwise, when the Admiral arrives, I'll definitely have you chopped to pieces and fed to my pets!"

"A good idea."

Only then did Hancock, from above, finally speak coldly.

Hearing the voice, hope immediately ignited in Saint Rosward's heart. He jerked his head up to look!

"That's right! What about it! Let me go back quickly! Heal me! As long as you can send me back to Mary Geoise, I can even spare your lives!"

"I was talking about the other idea, Bacura," as Hancock's voice fell.

"Roar!!"

A massive black panther suddenly leaped out, landing on the execution platform and roaring fiercely at the Celestial Dragon.

"W-wait a minute! What do you want!"

Saint Rosward's eyes were filled with terror, his face pale. He dragged his bloody body across the ground, struggling to crawl, trying to escape the black panther that wanted to swallow him alive.

Hancock didn't say another word to him, but coldly ordered, "Don't eat too fast. Tear him to pieces, chew him up, and then swallow him."

"Roar!"

"Uwaah!!"

"No!"

"I beg you!!"

The tragic wails and the sound of bones being crunched were incredibly piercing in this deserted palace, echoing up to the heavens.

Under the quiet night sky, a hazy silver moon peeked out from behind veil-like dark clouds. The faint moonlight seemed even more enchanting.

In the hot spring, mandarin ducks played in the water. The calm surface rippled in circles, and the gurgling water sounded like lapping waves.

At the crack of dawn, when the gray sky brightened slightly, Reiner carried Nami back to the Merry.

"You should get some sleep first. I'll prepare for our departure. I'll call you when we're about to leave in the afternoon."

"Hmph."

Nami pinched his waist. "You still know we have to leave in the afternoon? And you couldn't just take it easy."

(End of chapter)

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