Luffy, how can you become the Pirate King if you don't work hard!

"I'm fine!"

Hancock shook her head violently, trying to shake off the pink bubbles in her head.

Luffy's eyes flickered, and he said, "You weren't forcing yourself, were you?"

Hancock said, "Of course not!"

Please have more of this.

"Luffy, what else don't you understand? I can explain it to you," Hancock asked.

"That's enough. I've already digested enough about Armament Haki and Observation Haki. What I really want to know is about Conqueror's Haki." Luffy's eyes flickered.

Upon hearing what Luffy said, Hancock covered her cheek and said, "Conqueror's Haki is a bit difficult."

Besides one's own inherent qualities, Conqueror's Haki is more closely related to intangible things like a person's will and spirit.

Armament Haki and Observation Haki can be systematically taught, and after training, most people can master them.

However, Conqueror's Haki is said to be the imperial quality of only one in a million people, so the entry threshold is already there, not to mention the so-called systematic learning.

"Ah, I know Conqueror's Haki."

Luffy nodded in understanding.

The strength of Conqueror's Haki depends more on an individual's capacity and beliefs.

"and,"

Hancock touched her smooth cheek somewhat embarrassedly and admitted, "Luffy, the technique you mentioned before, that kind of technique of wrapping Conqueror's Haki around attacks like Armament Haki, Conqueror's Haki wrapping, I myself have not yet mastered it."

If it's about teaching that kind of thing, she probably really won't be able to help Luffy.

"That's enough,"

Luffy shook his head and said, "The Armament Haki techniques you just taught me have already benefited me greatly."

He could feel that his control over his domineering aura had become much more refined.

He also knew that Conqueror's Haki Entanglement was an extremely high-level technique, and according to Shiki, very few people on the sea had mastered it.

For the rest of the time, Luffy remained immersed in his intense training.

While his Devil Fruit abilities and Haki may reach a plateau, Luffy hasn't encountered a bottleneck in his physical growth yet.

In other words, he still has a considerable amount of room for improvement in this area.

Just like Garp, his body is so powerful that he can smash a huge warship containing steel with his bare hands.

Characters like Aokiji, whom Luffy has already fought, are quite formidable in terms of physical abilities.

Kizaru is slightly weaker, but he is still much stronger than the average strong fighter.

To succeed in this vast ocean, one cannot afford to be weak in any aspect.

The opponents Luffy defeated had particularly prominent weaknesses in this area.

Crocodile, Enel, Moria... Shiki and Zephyr still suffered from their age, which shows that the older generation of strong fighters placed a great deal of importance on physical strength.

Luffy made Nikka gigantic, using him as a portable punching bag and weight-bearing tool for high-intensity physical training and Haki output.

Hancock watched as he threw punches again and again, but what could she say?

In her fantasy, she bravely stepped forward and gently yet firmly grasped Luffy's hand, which was constantly throwing punches.

Luffy stopped what he was doing and looked at her with a puzzled expression.

She gazed lovingly into Luffy's eyes. "Luffy, you don't need to fight so hard. You're not alone now; you still have me. Rely on me, okay?"

In his imagination, Luffy seemed to be bathed in a soft-focus filter as he grasped her hand. "I know, Hancock. I'll leave it to you then."

Then, in the sun-drenched cabin, the two gazed deeply into each other's eyes, slowly drew closer, and finally kissed.

"Aha, da meyo, da me da me."

Hancock suddenly covered her burning face with both hands, letting out a series of gasps, her body involuntarily twisting and giggling.

Luffy had just finished a set of extremely intense weighted squats, tossed the gigantic Nika aside, and turned around to see Hancock covering her face, twisting and turning, grinning foolishly.

He simply couldn't comprehend the fascinating drama unfolding in the Empress's mind.

"Hancock? What are you doing now?"

"No, it's nothing!"

It took Hancock a long while to break free from her blush-inducing fantasy and manage to regain a semblance of composure.

I can't think about it anymore, or I'll be overwhelmed with worry.

"Luffy, would you like some tea?"

Hancock then noticed Luffy's sweaty and panting appearance, quickly poured him a glass of water, and went to his side.

"Ah, thank you, I was just thirsty."

Luffy took the water cup and drank it all in one gulp.

However, from Hancock's perspective, this simple act of handing someone water was transformed into a heartwarming daily scene of a newlywed wife tenderly caring for her hardworking husband.

Ah, is this what married life is like?

This is so wonderful!

She couldn't help but start giggling again, her eyes glazed over.

"Hancock, you've been acting strangely since just now."

"No, it's nothing. I was just thinking about your friends."

Hancock wiped away non-existent drool, trying to make her expression appear normal. "Could you tell me about them? I'd like to know more about you."

“There’s a lot to talk about, but it might be a bit boring for you.”

"How could that be? I'm very interested... Don't overthink it. I don't have any intention of wanting to know you better!"

Their true feelings are written all over their faces.

Nika, who had transformed back into her raccoon form, pouted.

Keep pretending.

They just wanted to find out how many potential competitors they had.

Nika lay down comfortably, with Salome behind him.

At first, Salome wanted to bare his teeth when he saw Nika, but he quieted down after being glared at.

This is a big shot, I can't afford to mess with him.

"My friends?"

Luffy sat down cross-legged, a rare smile appearing on his face since learning of Ace's execution date.

"Who should we start with? Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, Franky, Brook... and Nami, Vivi, Robin, Merry, and oh yes, Perona, whom you've met before."

Hancock's ears automatically filtered out the male names at the beginning, keenly catching the last few clearly defined female names.

Nami, Vivi, Robin, and Merry!

Luffy has four women among his crew?!

No, we also have to add Perona, the ghostly woman in a gothic dress we met on the island before!

That's five!

Hancock's smile froze instantly. She involuntarily bit her slender finger, her mind already racing with uncontrollable scenarios:

In her fantasy, she confessed her love to Luffy, but Luffy rejected her with a troubled expression: "I'm sorry, Hancock, I can't be with you."

"Why?!"

Then, Nami, Vivi, Robin, Merry, Perona, and several other women with different styles but outstanding appearances all rushed to Luffy's side at once, surrounding him and looking at him with provocative eyes.

"No! I won't lose! I will never lose to anyone!"

Hancock clenched her fists, her eyes blazing with fighting spirit, and an invisible black aura seemed to emanate from her body.

......

Meanwhile, Luffy was traveling with Hancock on a Navy warship to Impel Down.

In other corners of the world, the gears of fate are slowly turning.

The East Sea, a kingdom on a bridge.

Tchyla Wolff is known as the kingdom of laborers.

A blizzard howled and swept across the enormous bridge that stretched for who knows how many kilometers.

For centuries, countless citizens of non-member states of the World Government, as well as criminals from around the world, have been sent here and forced to participate in this seemingly endless project.

The original builders settled here and merged with the people who were constantly sent here, forming a deformed kingdom built on suffering.

In a simple attic that could barely keep out the wind and snow, Robin slowly opened his eyes.

She was slapped away by Bartholomew Bear in the Sabaody Archipelago and, after a long flight, crashed into the icy wilderness.

Fortunately, she was found by a kind girl named Solan and taken home.

Are you from outside?

Solan stared wide-eyed, full of curiosity.

Solan had never left this kingdom of bridges and was filled with pure curiosity about the outside world.

He was very curious about Robin, this so-called outsider, because she had a pleasant fragrance.

Is that the scent of freedom?

Chapter 338 The Revolutionary Army Appears, Prelude to War

"Because I have never left this place."