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

The duel between Zoro and Mihawk began with an earth-shattering start, but ended as swiftly as autumn leaves being swept away by the wind.

Facing Zoro's all-out Three-Sword Style: Three Thousand Worlds.

Hawkeye easily deflected all the attacks with just that small cross-shaped dagger.

In the instant Zoro was stunned into a daze, Yoru used his black sword to leave a deep wound on Zoro's chest, deliberately avoiding any vital points.

"Why didn't you kill me?"

Zoro knelt on the dilapidated deck of the sea restaurant, his blood staining the wooden planks beneath his feet.

With trembling hands, he raised the Wado Ichimonji, pointed it to the sky, and uttered that awe-inspiring vow.

"Before defeating him and becoming the world's greatest swordsman... I will never lose again!!!"

Hawkeye sheathed his sword.

Looking at the stubborn, green-haired swordsman before him, a genuine hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes for the first time.

"Boy, state your name."

"Roronoa Zoro!"

"I've got it."

Hawkeye said in a deep voice, "Then, strive to become stronger! Roronoa Zoro! I will be waiting for you on the throne of the world's strongest! Try to surpass this sword! Try to surpass me!!!"

This duel ended with Zoro's crushing defeat and the oath he made, but it also opened the door for him to a wider world.

Hancock, who witnessed the whole thing, nodded slightly from inside the private box.

A promising talent; with this kind of determination, the future looks bright.

She could see the burgeoning, untapped potential in Zoro, which made her even more excited about the future "sycophant group" blueprint.

At this point, Hawkeye seemed to have accomplished the main objective of his trip.

He was chasing after Creek, and also encountered an interesting junior.

He steered the small raft, preparing to leave.

In the instant he turned around, his gaze met Hancock's again in the corridor.

Hancock didn't say anything more about recruiting or making empty promises; she simply nodded gracefully.

She parted her red lips slightly and spoke in her unique, slightly languid and magnetic voice.

"Until we meet again, Mihawk."

Hawkeye paused slightly.

He was a solitary person who always kept to himself and rarely said goodbye to others.

But faced with this woman who had just given him high praise and whose strength and beauty were both at the pinnacle, his cold heart seemed unable to completely ignore her.

Moreover, she seemed... not to have brought up that embarrassing incident again?

After a moment of silence, under the watchful eyes of everyone, especially Sanji who was practically spitting fire with jealousy.

Hawkeye eventually tilted his head slightly and replied in his deep, magnetic voice.

"...Okay. Until we meet again."

[Ding! Target 'Jorakoel Mihawk' has developed a slight fondness for the host due to his dignified farewell, infatuation level +1! Current infatuation level: 5/100 (Beginner Simp).]

Hancock smiled inwardly.

Indeed, you have to cast a long line to catch a big fish.

You can't push a man like Hawkeye too hard; just appreciate him appropriately and respect him from a distance.

The key to gradually eroding his defenses lies in demonstrating one's own strength and vision on par with his.

These 5 points of infatuation, though few, are a solid start.

Hawkeye's small raft slowly sailed away, carrying his unique loneliness and power, disappearing into the vast sea.

With Hawkeye's departure, the crisis at the floating restaurant has been largely resolved.

The remaining remnants of the Krieg Pirates are not a threat.

What followed unfolded as if by fate.

Zoro's resolve was strengthened by his crushing defeat, and his desire to become stronger became stronger than ever before.

Witnessing his crewmates' failures and unwavering spirit, Luffy became even more determined to journey to the Grand Line.

He needs to become stronger to protect his friends and realize his dream.

In the process of fighting Krieg together, Sanji and Zeff resolved their inner conflicts and understood the meaning of their true pursuit and the dream of "ALL BLUE".

Finally, with Zeff's unique blessing that "you won't catch a cold," Sanji, with tears in his eyes, knelt down to thank Zeff for raising him.

He decided to board Luffy's ship to pursue his own dream.

"I'm going to be the Pirate King! Sanji, come be my crewmate!"

Luffy extended his hand, his smile still bright.

"OK."

Sanji lit a cigarette and revealed a relieved yet determined smile.

The Straw Hat Pirates have welcomed their chef.

But then, something happened that shocked everyone.

After Luffy finished dealing with Sanji, he seemed to suddenly remember something.

He adjusted his straw hat, his gaze sweeping across the restaurant before finally settling on the stunningly beautiful empress in the second-floor corridor.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, Luffy walked towards Hancock.

He flashed his signature, radiant smile, and extended the invitation loudly and matter-of-factly:

"Hey! Pretty lady! You're strong too! Want to be my partner? Let's go find ONE PIECE together!!"

quiet--!

Deathly silence!

Everyone was stunned, frozen in place, their minds blank, as if struck by lightning.

An invitation...to...the Seven Warlords of the Sea...the Empress...to...board the ship?!

Join me in becoming the Pirate King?!

Zoro's lips twitched.

"That idiot..."

Usopp was so frightened that he fainted.

Nami rubbed her forehead, feeling her blood pressure spike.

"Does he even know what he's saying?!"

Sanji was instantly jolted awake from his obsession with the Empress, and jealousy and shock almost made him bite his cigarette in half.

"Green-haired guy! Stop that idiot captain! How dare he... how dare he desecrate my goddess like this!!"

Even the well-informed Zhefu opened his mouth wide enough to fit an egg.

Everyone thought Luffy had gone mad!

This is like a toad trying to eat swan meat... no, it's more like an ant trying to invite a dragon to move house together!

However, Hancock's reaction to this almost absurd invitation once again surprised everyone.

She wasn't angry, didn't feel offended, and there wasn't even a trace of surprise on her stunningly beautiful face.

She simply watched the straw-hatted boy downstairs with his clear eyes and pure smile, as if she had already anticipated that he would say such a thing.

After a long silence, Hancock suddenly chuckled.

The laughter was like the swaying of wind chimes, melodious and pleasant to the ear.

She took a step forward, elegantly folded her hands in front of her, and looked down slightly at Luffy.

"Monkey D. Luffy... Your invitation is quite interesting."

She paused, and amidst everyone's curious gazes, she parted her red lips and uttered words that shocked everyone even more.

"However, I have no interest in becoming someone else's crew member. But..."

Her gaze deepened, sweeping over Luffy and his boundless crew behind him.

"...Perhaps, at some point in the future, we can engage in some...cooperation."

cooperate? !

The Seven Warlords of the Sea, Empress, is going to cooperate with this unknown Straw Hat kid who has just set sail...?!

This news is even more shocking than Luffy inviting her to join his crew!

Does this mean that the Empress acknowledges Luffy and his crew's potential?

Or perhaps she saw some kind of investment value in this newly formed pirate crew?

Luffy tilted his head, seemingly digesting the meaning of the word "cooperation," and then he smiled and nodded.

"Cooperation? That's fine! As long as we're not enemies!"

Hancock smiled slightly and said no more.