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

The atmosphere at the auction plummeted to freezing point due to the first clash between Hancock and Charles Saint.

The next few items, while still valuable, saw more cautious bidding.

Everyone's gazes were involuntarily drawn to the composed empress in the red dress, and to the Celestial Dragon in the private room who was panting heavily with anger.

However, this fragile calm did not last long.

When a new product.

Two fur-bearing children with rare, snow-white fur were pushed onto the display platform while chained.

Charlos Saint's humiliated anger seemed to have found a new outlet.

"One hundred million Berries! These two little bastards, Saint Charles will take them back to use as footrests!"

He practically roared out the price, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Hancock with a defiant glare.

He seemed convinced that Hancock would try to take it from him again, and was prepared to pay an even higher price to redeem himself.

The entire audience held their breath once again.

Everyone could see that Saint Charles was deliberately picking a fight to force the Empress to respond.

Hancock slowly opened her eyes, looking at the two trembling Mink children on the stage, her killing intent intensifying.

She originally did not intend to get involved with every slave.

But the Celestial Dragons' attitude of treating life as a plaything and wantonly humiliating it completely ignited her anger.

She didn't immediately make a bid, but instead used her cold, beautiful eyes.

Meeting Charles Saint's provocative gaze, she parted her red lips slightly.

The voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, carrying an extreme sense of mockery:

"Oh? Your Excellency Saint Charles, do you feel that the five hundred million you just spent wasn't enough to demonstrate your generosity, and are you prepared to use the lives of these two children to fill your pitiful ego?"

"You...you lowly commoner! What did you say?!"

Charlos Saint trembled with rage, abruptly drawing the ornately decorated pistol from his waist and pointing it in Hancock's direction.

"I'm going to kill you!!"

"Your Highness Charlos! Please calm your anger!"

Disco was terrified and quickly tried to stop him.

At that moment, the three CP0 members could no longer sit still.

The leader's figure flickered, appearing like a ghost in front of the auction stage, blocking the direction of Charles Saint's gun.

He faced Hancock, and although there was a mask between them, his cold gaze was as real as if it were real.

"Lady Boa Hancock".

The CP0 leader's voice was deep and oppressive.

"Mind your manners and words! As one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, your duty is to uphold the dignity of the World Government, not to provoke trouble! Immediately cease your actions and apologize to His Highness Charlos!"

He first exerted pressure by using his status as a "Shichibukai" (one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea), attempting to bind Hancock with the rules.

Hancock looked at CP0 without any fear on her face; instead, she revealed a half-smile.

"Apologize? What wrong have I done? Is telling the truth a sin? Or is it that the world's nobles can no longer tolerate even a single word of truth?"

She cleverly threw the question back, avoiding direct confrontation, but showed no intention of backing down.

The CP0 leader's expression behind his mask grew even uglier. He took a step forward, his voice lower and more menacing.

"Hancock! Don't think that your status as a Shichibukai will protect you forever! Don't forget Mary Geoise... don't forget the 'mark' on your back! If you continue to be so stubborn, the consequences will be beyond your ability to bear!"

The implication in those words was like a poisoned needle, piercing Hancock's deepest taboos and sore spots.

Her eyes instantly sharpened, and her aura turned icy cold.

But she knew she couldn't show weakness at this moment.

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging killing intent.

His face regained its lazy arrogance, as if the threat from before was just a gentle breeze.

"I know my limits in my actions. There's no need for the CP0 members to worry about me."

After saying that, she didn't even look at the CP0 leader anymore.

Instead, he turned his attention back to the display stand and spoke calmly to the host, Disco.

"I'll contribute two hundred million to this fur tribe."

She actually... made another bid despite CP0's direct warnings and threats.

And it's still targeting Charles Saint!

The entire room was deathly silent! You could hear a pin drop!

Everyone was stunned by the Empress's audacity in ignoring CP0 and confronting the Celestial Dragons head-on.

This is no longer a provocation, this is a blatant declaration of war!

Hawkins nearly dropped the tarot cards in his hand; he quickly shuffled and drew them.

The cards show the Chariot reversed and Strength upright intertwined, indicating conflict and potential victory, but the process will be extremely dangerous.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, but the look in his eyes as he looked at Hancock had already carried a hint of... awe that he himself was unaware of.

Bonnie sat not far away, her mouth agape, forgetting to eat the snacks in her hand.

She watched Hancock's proud and upright figure, still standing tall under the dual pressure of CP0 and the Celestial Dragons, and listened to her bid without the slightest hesitation.

An unprecedented emotion surged within me.

She slapped her thigh suddenly, unable to help but exclaim in a low voice, her tone filled with an admiration she herself was unaware of.

"Sister! You're so brave!!"

Those wealthy merchants and notorious pirates who had been watching from the sidelines were now completely silent, not daring to utter a sound.

They knew that today's auction had completely changed, becoming an arena for a power struggle between the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Celestial Dragons, and the forces behind them.

These "small fry" can be crushed to pieces if you're not careful!

Charlos was so angry he almost fainted. He pointed at Hancock and roared at CP0.

"You saw it! You all saw it! She...she dared to...seize her! I'm going to make her a slave too!!"

The CP0 leader's brow was furrowed beneath his mask; things had spiraled completely out of his control.

Faced with an empress who was unyielding, powerful, and of a special status, he was momentarily at a loss.

Forceful action?

Regardless of whether they can win, the chain reaction it would trigger would be far beyond what his CP0 team alone could handle.

Hancock felt all eyes on her.

It was a mixture of fear, shock, and the secret adoration of Bonnie and a select few.

A chill ran through my heart.

The conflict has fully erupted, and there is no room for maneuver.

She looked at the two pitiful Mink children on the stage, then glanced at the furious Celestial Dragons and the gloomy CP0.

I knew the real storm was coming soon.

And she was ready to face it all.

For power, for catharsis, and for... that sliver of justice that has never been extinguished in my heart.