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

Hancock looked down at Vice Admiral Momonga, who appeared to be facing a formidable enemy.

His serious, defensive demeanor, as if trying to resist her charm, only fueled her amusement.

Just like a cat catching a mouse, it always has to play around a bit to be satisfied.

Flying squirrel, is he really the legendary Sigma man?

She gently raised her hand, her fingertips gracefully tracing a line across her lips.

She formed an alluring flying kiss gesture, her sweet voice possessing a heart-stirring magic:

"Since you are so persistent... then let me see if the will of a vice admiral is truly as hard as steel."

"Sweet and refreshing!"

"Miller, Miller, Miller~"

A huge pink heart-shaped ray of light emanated from her.

It spread rapidly like ripples, instantly covering the entire deck of the warship.

"what!"

"It's the Empress's power!"

"I can't look...uh!"

The gasps of surprise abruptly ceased wherever the pink light passed.

The naval soldiers who had just been captivated by Hancock's beauty.

The infatuation on their faces froze instantly, and their bodies turned gray and stiff at a visible speed, transforming into stone statues in various poses.

Apart from Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel, there was no one else on the entire deck who could move.

The moment the pink light struck, Lieutenant General Momonga's pupils constricted sharply!

He almost instinctively covered his entire body with powerful Armament Haki.

He bit his tongue hard, the intense pain keeping him conscious until the very end.

He gripped the knife tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the force.

Veins bulged on his forehead as he forcefully withstood the alluring power that could melt steel.

He wasn't petrified!

A look of "I knew it" flashed in Hancock's eyes.

In the original story, the flying squirrel could maintain its senses by self-harm, and it is no exception now.

She never expected to take down an elite vice admiral from the Navy Headquarters in one move.

Did you kill the flying squirrel?

That would be incredibly foolish; it would be a direct slap in the face to the World Government.

When the time comes, it won't be just a warship arriving, but a personal greeting from a naval admiral.

Now is not the time to confront the strongest force head-on.

But these ordinary naval soldiers... well, they were petrified.

This serves as a warning to the navy and is also a small testament to her willful nature as empress.

The World Government wouldn't completely turn against the Seven Warlords of the Sea over a ship of soldiers.

Her gaze returned to the only standing flying squirrel, noticing that he had resisted petrification.

But his breathing was rapid, and his eyes were filled with vigilance and lingering fear, clearly indicating that he was not at ease.

Hancock smiled, but the smile was no longer aggressive.

Instead, it carries a sense of curiosity and exploration, as if examining an interesting toy.

She took a few light steps forward, reaching the very edge of the cliff. Standing there, looking down, her voice carried a hint of lazy teasing:

"Oh my~ You actually managed to withstand my 'Sweet Breeze', as expected of a Vice Admiral from the Marine Headquarters~ Your willpower is truly extraordinary."

Her gaze, like the finest feather, gently swept across the flying squirrel's tense face and the tightly gripped knife handle.

And that body trembling slightly from trying so hard to control itself.

"but……"

She abruptly changed the subject, her tone becoming ambiguous.

"Isn't it too boring to just resist? I'm very curious, Lieutenant General, is your heart... truly as unyielding as your appearance?"

As she spoke, Hancock deliberately turned slightly to the side, revealing her graceful curves in the sunlight.

Her long, slender, snow-white legs were faintly visible through the slit of her cheongsam.

She stuck out her tongue and seductively licked her red lips.

His eyes were unfocused, his voice lowered, yet possessed a magnetic quality that struck straight to the heart:

"Why suppress yourself so hard in front of me? It's not a sin to relax occasionally and appreciate 'beauty'~ Or perhaps... Lieutenant General, your heart is actually churning with turmoil, but you're just putting on a brave face because of your position?"

With each word she spoke, she unleashed the full power of [Enchanting Eyes (Intermediate)], her invisible charm crashing against the squirrel's defenses like waves.

Lieutenant General Flying Squirrel's face turned extremely ugly.

He must concentrate all his energy to fight against the pervasive temptation.

He could feel his heart racing, his blood surging, and some primal impulse trying to break free of the cage of reason.

Every word Hancock said, every glance, every subtle movement.

It was like dancing on his taut nerves, challenging the steely will honed by his decades of military service.

He stared intently at Hancock, trying to find a flaw in her captivating eyes, but all he saw was unfathomable mockery and confidence.

He knew that this woman was enjoying the process, enjoying watching him struggle.

"Boa Hancock! You...you won't be able to disturb my mind!"

The flying squirrel squeezed out the words through clenched teeth, its voice hoarse from restraint.

He strained again, his nails almost digging into the flesh of his palm, trying to stay awake with the intense pain.

"Ding! High-quality target 'Vice Admiral Momonga' detected. Under the host's sustained and intense charm, its mental defenses are fluctuating violently, and its inner struggle has reached its peak! Its mixed emotions of 'attention' and 'fear' towards the host have rapidly sublimated, producing a strong and lasting psychological imprint! Meets the conversion criteria for [Elite Simp]!"

"【Elite Simp】Description: Unlike ordinary simps with a maximum infatuation value of 50, elite simps start with an infatuation value far exceeding that of ordinary people and have a maximum infatuation value of up to 100 points. For every certain increase in infatuation value, the host will receive unique rewards, and the quality and quantity of 'simp energy' provided are far beyond that of ordinary simps."

"Congratulations, host, for successfully transforming 'Flying Squirrel' into the first [Elite Simp]! Current infatuation level: 15/100."

"Ding! Due to the birth of the first [Elite Simp], and the fact that he is a master swordsman, a special reward has been triggered: a slight increase in swordsmanship comprehension. Host's current swordsmanship level: [Apprentice Swordsman]."

A subtle realization quietly flowed into Hancock's heart.

That was a clearer understanding of the action of "slashing", and a slight improvement in the grasp of the angle and timing of force application.

However, this felt quite strange to Hancock, who was used to using charm and Devil Fruit abilities and almost never touched a sword.

It's like a top chef suddenly gaining some insights into woodworking techniques.

It's useful, but we don't need it right now.

She pursed her lips, her attention quickly returning to the flying squirrel.

As Hancock listened to the notification in her mind, her smile grew even brighter and more captivating.

Sure enough, the more serious a person is, the more fun it is to tease them!

This caused even a resolute naval admiral to lose his composure and be torn between his inner thoughts and his own.

The feeling of even turning them into "elite sycophants" with growth potential is much more satisfying than easily petrifying a group of lowly soldiers!

She found the flying squirrel's contradictory behavior—wanting to stay rooted to the spot yet irresistibly drawn to her—very amusing.

She decided to add fuel to the fire.

"Sigh, what a heartless man."

Hancock sighed with feigned sorrow, but her eyes still gleamed with cunning.

"I meant well, wanting you to experience the world's most exquisite beauty, yet you resist so much... Never mind."

She waved her hand dismissively, and the alluring aura surrounding the warship seemed to diminish somewhat.

"Take your stone subordinates and leave. Go back and tell Fleet Admiral Sengoku that I have no interest in the Seven Warlords' meeting. If there is a next time..."

Her eyes instantly turned icy. "What comes won't just be stone statues."

After saying that, she stopped looking at the flying squirrel, turned around, and left him with an infinitely beautiful silhouette.

She walked gracefully towards the palace, as if everything that had just happened was just a casual game.

Vice Admiral Momonga watched Hancock's departing figure and breathed a heavy sigh of relief, only then realizing that his back was soaked with cold sweat.

He glanced at the deck full of stone statues, his face turning ashen.

This mission was a complete failure, and we were even mocked by that woman...

An indescribable sense of humiliation and defeat, mixed with a hint of something he himself was unwilling to admit.

The profound impression of that existence, which was both exquisitely beautiful and powerful, was deeply imprinted in his heart.

This impression is complex and distorted, containing both extreme resistance and an indelible mark left by a crack that was forcibly pried open.

He knew that this Empress Boa Hancock would be an extremely unforgettable and troublesome figure in his naval career.

Hancock walked along, gleefully watching the information flashing on the system panel.

"Elite Simp Acquired, with a 100-point cap and growth rewards! The swordsmanship boost is a bit unorthodox, but it's still a benefit."

"It seems that dealing with the Navy, especially with this Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel, can be done in a more 'interesting' and 'sustainable' way from now on." She was already looking forward to what interesting rewards would come when the vice admiral's "infatuation level" increased further.