One Piece: I am the Empress, and the more sycophants I have, the stronger I become.

Hancock's unequivocal ultimatum almost froze the air.

The three pirates looked ashen-faced, their clothes soaked with cold sweat.

Cut off one's own arm?

This is worse than killing them!

But they knew even better that the consequences of defying this Shichibukai would only be worse.

Colonel Finbodi was caught in the middle, unable to advance or retreat.

He had to uphold the authority of the navy, but he dared not provoke the empress.

Sweat beaded on his massive head, and his lips moved as if trying to negotiate again:

"Hancock... Lady Hancock! Please reconsider! Publicly carrying out vigilante justice in Sabaody Archipelago has a terrible impact! What about the World Government..."

He tried to invoke the World Government, but his tone was weak.

Hancock's gaze slowly shifted to Finbodi.

She wasn't angry; instead, a faint, yet captivating smile curved her lips.

Pink light shimmered in her eyes.

【Enchanting Eyes】, combined with the passive effect of 【Group Charm】, forms an invisible ripple that precisely envelops Finbodi.

This time.

She exerted a more subtle and irresistible persuasive power.

Her voice had a strange magnetism, as if it could penetrate to the depths of one's heart:

"Colonel Finbotsley, I understand your difficulties."

This understanding surprised Finbodi.

"Maintaining order is your duty. But..."

She subtly changed the subject, her eyes revealing a hint of humiliated dignity, perfectly complementing her stunning beauty.

This stark contrast shocked Finbodi's nerves.

"Does the Navy's order mean condoning thugs who publicly insult the Seven Warlords of the Sea appointed by the World Government and their families? If this matter is simply swept under the rug, how will the world view the Navy?"

"Do you think the Navy can't even maintain the most basic fairness? My actions, though seemingly a form of vigilante justice, are actually to clean house for the Navy and uphold the dignity of justice."

The Empress's powerful charm distorted Finbodi's judgment, making him feel that her words seemed to make a lot of sense.

A strong urge to fulfill all her demands and appease her grievances welled up within me.

His will was never firm to begin with.

At this moment, under Hancock's full-force charm persuasion, everything crumbled.

The struggle on her face faded, replaced by an almost obsessive submission.

"You...you're right! Lord Hancock!"

Finbodi's tone became firm, even obsequious.

"It was my oversight! These scum deserve to die! Cutting off your own arm is already an act of mercy! The Navy fully supports your decision!"

He turned to the three pirates and shouted sternly.

"You three scoundrels! Why aren't you doing as Her Majesty the Empress says?! Do you expect the Navy to intervene personally?!"

This 180-degree turn left the pirates in despair and the onlookers dumbfounded.

The rigid and cowardly Finch, with his big head, completely switched sides after just a few words from the Empress.

Meanwhile, not far away on a street corner, a tall figure disappeared into the shadow of a building.

Hawkins, the supernova known for his composure and divination, is quietly observing everything through the gaps in the straw in his palm.

He had just been passing by, but he was drawn in by the overwhelming Conqueror's Haki and the sense of conflict.

His lips twitched; he hadn't expected to run into the Empress again.

He habitually wanted to divine whether this matter would bring him good or bad fortune, and... the background of that renowned empress.

He silently took out the tarot cards, his fingertips barely touching the cards.

Their gazes, however, were unconsciously drawn to the striking red figure in the arena.

Hancock stood in the center of the field, her beauty unparalleled. She faced the navy with neither arrogance nor servility, and dealt with the enemy with ruthlessness and decisiveness.

Especially her unintentional glances and stunning profile, which seem to possess a strange magic.

It transcended distance and also Hawkins' usual composure.

Hawkins paused slightly in the hand holding the card.

His usually expressionless face showed a barely perceptible furrowing of his brows.

A certain peace within me was shattered.

"This feeling..."

Hawkins silently thought to himself, "Neither good nor bad, yet it has disrupted the course of fate..."

He forced himself to calm down and tried divination again, this time targeting Hancock.

He needed to know what this woman truly meant to him.

He gently twirled the tarot cards in his hands, and the invisible threads of fate seemed to intertwine.

However, just as the cards were about to become clear...

hum!

An even more powerful allure, as if sensing his probing, surged back like an invisible wave.

That was Hancock's [Enchanting Eyes] and her unparalleled charm as an instinctive counterattack against those who sought to uncover fate!

Hawkins felt a sudden "boom" in his mind.

He seemed to see countless pink heart-shaped lights explode in his consciousness, and a stunningly beautiful and majestic figure left a breathtaking glimpse in his spiritual world.

He almost dropped the tarot cards in his hand, and the divination was abruptly interrupted.

The backlash made his throat taste sweet, but he forced it back down.

"How is that possible?!"

Hawkins was deeply shocked, and his indifferent golden pupils suddenly contracted.

"Her charm... can actually interfere with divination and distort the gaze of fate?!"

This was beyond his comprehension!

No one has ever been able to interrupt his divination in this way!

This woman is not only incredibly powerful, but her charm itself seems to have become a force that is almost a rule.

What alarmed him even more was the moment the divination was forcibly interrupted.

He vaguely caught a glimpse of an extremely blurry fragment of a scene.

It wasn't a battle, it wasn't death, but... himself, who seemed to be standing to the side and behind that red figure.

Like a...silent follower?

This absurd premonition sent chills down his spine, yet it was also strangely unsettling.

In the cold lake of his heart, an inextinguishable flame was ignited.

His feelings for that woman instantly transformed from simple observation and assessment into extreme apprehension, intense curiosity, and a hint of...

Even he himself was unwilling to admit the thrill of being attracted by that overwhelming charm.

"Ding! Detected that the supernova 'Magician' Basil Hawkins has developed a strong curiosity and inexplicable attraction towards the host. Due to the backlash of divination and the impact of his charm, the host has lost his composure and meets the criteria for [Elite Simp] (Rational Inquiry Type)! Initial infatuation value: 35/100! Simp energy absorption in progress..."

A system notification sounded in Hancock's mind, causing her to raise an eyebrow slightly.

Oh? There was an unexpected bonus?

It seems there's a little mouse that's good at hiding, lurking in the shadows.

However, since they're already on the list, let's take it slow.

In the arena, the three pirates, in despair, completed their self-mutilation punishment, leaving the scene in a bloody mess.

Hancock casually instructed Finbot to clean up the scene, and the latter respectfully complied.

"Clean it up, Colonel Finbotsley."

She gave the order in a calm tone, as if she were a queen addressing a servant.

The colonel has become a novice sycophant.

"Yes! Yes! This humble official understands!"

Colonel Finbodi responded immediately, directing his men to handle the scene with utmost respect.

The conflict subsided, and the crowd gradually dispersed in shock and fear.

However, one figure remained.

He was a member of the Kuja Warriors squad who had been harassed by those three pirates.

A young-looking female warrior with delicate features.

She had been living in fear and humiliation until the Empress appeared.

Like a god descending to earth, he upheld justice for her and punished the wicked.

Especially the Empress's powerful, domineering, and... almost distortingly charming demeanor when protecting her subordinates.

It was deeply imprinted in her heart.

She gazed at Hancock's stunning profile.

She felt her heart pounding and her blood boiling.

An impulse to give everything, even her life, for the queen before her surged within her.

She mustered her courage and walked quickly to Hancock.

He knelt on one knee, his voice trembling with excitement.

"Lady Boa Hancock! Thank you! Thank you for upholding justice for us! I... I, Arya, will follow you forever, and pledge my utmost loyalty! Your will is the direction of my life!"

Her eyes were clear yet fervent, her emotions sincere and intense.

Hancock looked down at the young warrior named Arya and could clearly feel the pure, unadulterated fanatical faith emanating from her.

This is different from the worship of ordinary islanders; it is an obsession for which they are willing to sacrifice everything.

"Ding! Detected extreme worship, gratitude, and fanatical faith in the host from the Nine Serpents warrior Aria. The emotional intensity and willingness to dedicate herself have reached extremely high thresholds. Meets the standards for [Intermediate Simp] (Fanatical Faith Type)! Simp energy greatly absorbed!"

The system notification sound made Hanko feel happy.

Unexpectedly, a small conflict established his authority, not only deterring the scoundrels but also gaining him a high-quality "intermediate sycophant".

This kind of faith-based sycophant provides far more energy than a novice sycophant.

Moreover, they are more loyal and reliable.

She reached out her slender hand and gently stroked Arya's head, her movements carrying a rare gentleness.

"Rise, Arya. It is my duty to protect every warrior of the Nine Serpents. I have received your loyalty."

These simple actions and words made Arya so excited that she almost fainted.

Tears of happiness glistened in their eyes, and their faith grew even stronger.

She raised her head, her gaze seemingly unintentionally sweeping over the corner where Hawkins was hiding, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Then he turned and left, his red figure becoming even more mysterious in the bubble halo.

In the shadows, Hawkins slowly put away the tarot cards.

He looked in the direction the Empress had left, his golden eyes flashing with an unprecedentedly complex light.

The seeds of fear, curiosity, and attraction have quietly taken root.

"Boa Hancock..."

He whispered the name.

"Since the future is predetermined, why not accept it with joy?"