One Piece: Who still has dreams?

Redio walked over to a girl with messy short black hair, who looked to be only 10 years old and had big eyes. He squatted down in front of her, took the chains on her hands, and said, "Move your hands, but don't touch them, okay?"

The big-eyed girl stared at him blankly, then nodded and did as he said.

Then the chain vanished into thin air for a moment, then reappeared in the older brother's hand, and he tossed it aside with a clatter.

Redio followed the same method, taking away and discarding the hand and foot chains of the 20 girls through the system's inventory... It can only be said that they were indeed very thin from hunger, and their wrists and ankles could easily avoid touching these shackles.

……

Perhaps because she felt it was just a vivid dream, Hancock didn't think much of it when Redio made a replica of the small boat and threw it into the sea.

She was even more shocked that Redio had rescued the little girls as well.

With the help of her two younger sisters, Hancock defeated Somaz without taking any damage, freezing Somaz in place while he was activating his Thorn-Thorn Fruit powers.

Sandasonia and Mariegreed smashed the statue to pieces in a fit of rage, and screamed as they threw the beating steel heart into the sea.

As they boarded the small boat with their older sister to leave, the two younger sisters broke down in uncontrollable sobs, their bodies convulsing and tears streaming down their faces.

【"Little Sister" mission completed】

[Quest Rewards: 33 Essence; 1 Poké Ball]

?

Redio was picking up the little girls he had brought along and getting them to sit in a row when he saw the system notification that suddenly appeared, and couldn't help but ask a question mark.

What kind of lousy system is this?! After such a tragic experience, they give me this kind of item? Is this some kind of hellish joke? I really need to give you a piece of my mind!

Redio collected the reward and brought the last little girl onto the boat.

They were small and thin, and very light; two small boats could easily fit them.

Infected by Sanda and Mary's emotional outbursts of crying, the little girls who had been quietly following Redio, listening to his instructions, and watching the slave ship sail away into the night, finally couldn't help but cry as well.

"This is not a dream,"

Hancock squeezed in, finding no place to sit, so she simply sat on Redio's lap. She tilted her head back, her starry eyes dreamy, and murmured, "Otherwise, you wouldn't have needed to save them..."

Redio put his arm around her and smiled slightly: "Don't try to understand, just feel it."

"Ah."

Hancock let out a soft moan and nestled comfortably in his strong embrace.

Sandasonia and Mariegrad, their eyes red and teary, looked at their sister and the man from the sea whose name they didn't yet know, and smiled at each other.

A few minutes later, after the girls had calmed down a bit, Redio gave each of them a 100-Berry coin and said, "Now, let's see who has the better luck."

You have chosen to return.

Chapter 58 The Vice Emperor

[Chapter Introduction Series: Executive Vice President Miss Quan, Sundays 8 - "There's a Warship"]

[On the horizon ahead, a naval warship bearing the ensign for seagulls slowly approaches.]

*******************************************************

[Back to the present, Nine Serpents City, the Emperor's Palace]

Redio, the three Boa sisters, and 14 little girls still dressed in their tattered clothes appeared out of nowhere.

Sandasonia wiped away her tears, and her third sister exclaimed in surprise, "Why are some people missing?"

"The question should be €€€€"

Sanda looked at Redio in shock, "How did they get here?!"

"..."

Redio smiled at the 14 nervous and bewildered little girls and said, "Never mind that for now, are you all hungry? Let's go eat!"

-----------------

Hancock had intended to order the royal chefs to prepare some food and send it over, but Redio waved his hand and conjured up food that almost filled the entire palace hall. The indescribable hot aroma quickly filled everyone's hearts, and just smelling it brought a sense of happiness.

The little girls drooled, but most of them didn't dare to reach out.

"Eat."

Redio didn't try to stop him. He sat down, picked up a plate of seafood porridge, and gulped it down in one go. He deliberately chose easily digestible foods and ate noisily, making a big fuss as if it were delicious. Soon, a little girl couldn't resist and pounced on him, wolfing it down. Before long, the entire imperial hall was filled with the sounds of chewing, crying, and laughter...

Sandasonia and Marigold also tried a little, their eyes lighting up. It really was that delicious! They glanced at their sister and saw that she was already sitting with Redio, gently feeding him. They smiled and sat down to eat with him.

Why only them?

Hancock peeled fruit for Reddio one by one, watching the girls who should be around her age but were still children, wolfing it down, and asked in a low voice, "The rest of the ones who didn't show up..."

Redio said, "They're unlucky; they're still alive."

Perhaps he is still someone's slave.

Perhaps, like the three Boa Hancock sisters back then, they escaped during the chaos caused by the fishman Tiger in Mary Geoise and are now living happily in their homeland... Let's hope so.

……

While eating, Redio finally had a chance to take out the new gadget from his pocket and examine it.

Poké Ball

[Description: Animals that are very friendly to you, or that you have defeated, can be added to this Poké Ball and carried with you.]

[Note 1: Humans cannot be captured.]

[Note 2: Poké Balls can be placed in the system inventory.]

?

Reddio wondered why the last note that always appeared, "This item cannot be duplicated," was no longer there.

Is it...

He threw the Poké Ball into the three-in-one and saw that slot 2 displayed a total price of 800 Essence.

It's not expensive.

Wow, it can really copy!

Redio was delighted. Since he was now flush with cash, he simply copied 10 of them in one go, spending a whopping 8000 essences.

[Remaining Essence: 252036]

【系统背包（4/4）：游云x1；御厨子x1；伏魔x1；精灵球x9】

"what is this?"

Hancock looked curiously at the small red and white ball that Reddio was playing with in his hand.

Redio pressed a button on the ball, and the red and white ball suddenly grew to the size of a fist, just the right size to hold in his palm.

Redio smiled and whispered in her ear how to use it.

Hancock's eyes sparkled as she listened, finding it utterly unbelievable.

……

"In short, they are in your hands. Whether you send them home or let them stay and join Kuja is entirely up to you, Snake Princess."

After the feast, the 14 girls were taken to the bathhouse by Sanda and Mary. Reddio pinched Hancock's pert nose and laughed, "It's your turn to keep your promise."

Hancock blushed and smiled, "Alright. But first, tell me, how much do you know about Haki?"

"Teacher Boya, I have zero experience, please teach me how to become a powerful master!"

"..."

Hancock smiled, her beauty unparalleled, and took his hand. "Let's go."

-----------------

At the heart of Isla Mujeres is a hollow mountain, like a filled-in volcano, within which the entire Amazonian nation of the Lily is built. At the top of the "crater" rises a V-shaped canopy, adorned with nine giant serpent heads in groups of three, symbolizing the "Nine Serpents," the warrior tribe of the Amazons who inhabit this land.

Beyond the mountains, within this vast, dense forest surrounding the island, lurks many ferocious beasts…

"Most of these jungle animals are our food source, but a small portion are raised specifically as a trial for young soldiers."

Hancock, dressed in an emperor's cloak, led Reddio through the island's jungle, introducing him to the island's features.

"Lady Snake Princess!" "Lady Snake Princess..." "Ah, it's Lady Snake Princess!"

Occasionally, you'll encounter the Nine-Headed Serpent Warriors in the woods, all dressed in the same white cloaks and exuding a cool, wild aura. They all react similarly upon seeing the Empress, their eyes sparkling with hearts as they bow respectfully in greeting. Then, they all become quite curious about the strange "woman" accompanying the Serpent Queen.

"These are the guardian warriors of the Amazon Lily,"

Hancock explained to Reddio, "They are all skilled in using Haki, and some of them are so powerful that they are no less capable than the regular members of the Kuja Pirates."

Then, addressing the curious soldiers, he introduced him: "His name is Redio. Although he is a man from the outer sea, you should treat him with the same respect you would show me. Do you understand?"

"Okay..." "This is the 'Man's Scroll'?" "This is the first time I've ever seen one..."

Each of the warriors protecting the nation was accompanied by a pet snake that could flex its body to act as a bow and arrow. Upon hearing the Empress's command, they respectfully obeyed. Although such a command was capricious and contrary to tradition, what could they do when the Snake Princess was so beautiful? They had no choice but to listen to her.

Am I now the vice emperor of Nine Serpents?